Hidden Shadow – CH 126

Chapter One-Hundred-Twenty-Six: Is She Your Lover?

National and personal vendettas would not end until death.

Lou Mingyue thought this.

The rain stopped, and dawn broke. Morning mist lingered in the mountains, and a faint orange light shone from the east, making the trees appear lush and verdant.

Gu Jinghong and An Jiu had not yet entered Chu Dingjiang’s mental perception range, so he did not wait any longer and called for everyone to set off.

Through their conversation the previous night, everyone agreed that Chu Dingjiang was relatively easy to get along with. Even though they could not chat and laugh like on a picnic, the atmosphere along the way was much more relaxed, making the journey less arduous.

Two hours later.

An Jiu and Gu Jinghong arrived at the place where they had stayed the previous night.

Gu Jinghong’s method of travel was quite “aggressive.” He rode swiftly on official roads and slowed down on rugged paths. By this time, they had been traveling continuously for six hours, with only one rest period of less than a cup of tea.

An Jiu’s body was numb from the jolting, her stomach churning, and she forcefully suppressed the sour, bitter taste rising within her.

“It just rained nearby; the road is difficult to travel. Let’s rest here for a while,” Gu Jinghong said, slowing his pace.

The two chose to rest by a stream.

An Jiu had just dismounted, and the scenery was still undulating, making her dizzy. She had to lean against a tree for a moment.

“Let me see if I can channel some internal energy into you,” Gu Jinghong said, placing his hand on her back and using his inner energy to probe her meridians.

After a moment, he withdrew his hand, a rare hint of surprise in his voice, “Your meridians are destroyed?”

“Ha!” His reaction made An Jiu feel a surge of satisfaction, and she chuckled, “Completely destroyed. Even Elder Qi, who is said to be able to bring the dead back to life and heal the wounded, was helpless.”

Gu Jinghong fell into deep thought.

The Dragon Martial Guards were all highly skilled, their martial arts prowess no less than the sixth rank. When he chose An Jiu, he already knew her internal energy was weak, but her comprehension of martial arts was exceptional. Her innate abilities were also good; with diligent practice, she could have achieved some success within three to five years. Unfortunately, now…

“Since that’s the case, there’s no point in thinking about it further. If you survive this time, I still will not change my decision.” Gu Jinghong sat on a rock by the stream, his tone back to normal. “Rest.”

An Jiu adjusted herself and sat down about ten feet away from him to drink water and eat dry rations. After eating, she had no more strength left and lay down on the rock to rest.

The sky was clear, a deep blue like a still lake, bringing peace to the heart.

An Jiu was exhausted and fell asleep without realizing it.

After an unknown amount of time, she heard someone call, “Xuan Ren!”

She opened her eyes abruptly, her reflection appearing in a pair of clear, narrow eyes.

“Let’s go,” Gu Jinghong said.

An Jiu got up and rubbed her face vigorously. She went to the tree to untie the reins.

Mounting herself on, she subconsciously glanced at the sun, paused, and asked, “How long have I been asleep?”

“An hour.” Gu Jinghong was indeed surprised when he learned that An Jiu’s meridians were completely destroyed and she had no internal energy left. Besides that, he admired An Jiu’s performance. For the past ten years or so, she had been raised like a young lady. Her physique was not strong, and to keep up with this marching speed without internal energy was entirely due to her willpower. For someone like her, he did not mind being a little lenient.

The clothes provided by the Konghe Academy were made of some unknown material. Despite riding like this, An Jiu’s legs were not chafed, but they were still swollen, making her uncomfortable as soon as she mounted.

Fortunately, they encountered two rain showers along the way, allowing her to rest for a few more hours. On the eleventh day, they finally reached their destination.

This was a hidden stronghold of the Konghe Army, consisting of only two thatched huts, seemingly a temporary resting place for hunters going into the mountains. There were no living facilities.

“This time, we are going to take down a hidden stronghold of Piaomiao Mountain Mansion,” Gu Jinghong briefly explained the mission.

Sun Dixian exclaimed, “Really, Piaomiao Mountain Mansion?”

“What do you think?” Gu Jinghong’s tone was calm. “We will provide a map. As for how many people they have and the battle plan, that’s up to you. Complete the mission within five days. That’s all we ask for.” Chu Dingjiang distributed the map to everyone, appearing completely willing to be their follower.

“Then…” Gu Jinghong was interrupted by Chu Dingjiang halfway through his sentence. “Let’s start the mission tomorrow morning.”

Gu Jinghong looked at him and nodded in agreement.

After receiving the map, everyone found a corner to eat their rations or rest.

Chu Dingjiang glanced at An Jiu and walked out.

An Jiu leaned against the wall for a moment, then got up and went out.

Thud!

An Jiu had just stepped out when she heard a sound.

She followed the sound and, about twenty paces away, a figure in black emerged from behind a thick tree trunk in the woods. He casually leaned against the trunk, arms crossed, staring at her. He was not wearing a cloak; his fitted clothing accentuated his strong, muscular physique. A half-covered face mask revealed his tanned skin, sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, and a straight, handsome nose.

The dappled sunlight cast a deep, enigmatic light on his features.

As An Jiu approached, he tossed her a small bottle.

“What is this?” An Jiu caught it steadily and opened the bottle.

“Poison,” Chu Dingjiang said seriously.

An Jiu’s lips curved slightly. She poured out a pill, swallowed it, and handed the bottle back to him.

“Keep it. Looking at your weak body, one bottle probably would not be enough,” Chu Dingjiang teased her, then explained, “This medicine can enhance physical strength, and it is beneficial for martial artists. However, you cannot take too much at once. You took this one today; if you are not seriously injured, you can take another one in three days. There are only two left.”

An Jiu also felt weak compared to Chu Dingjiang; his assessment was accurate.

The pill melted into a warm current as it slid down her esophagus, filling her stomach with warmth before flowing to her limbs, bringing comfort and instantly relieving her aches and pains. Knowing it was a good thing, she put it away without hesitation.

“Thank you,” An Jiu said, unsure how else to express her gratitude. She paused and said, “Is it fine that you went against Gu Jinghong’s wishes?”

Gu Jinghong clearly wanted to start the trial immediately, but Chu Dingjiang interrupted him, postponing it for one night.

“What can he do to me?” Chu Dingjiang’s martial arts were superior to Gu Jinghong’s. Here, he could say and do whatever he wanted without being restrained by Gu Jinghong, but things might be different back home…

An Jiu sensed something amiss in the surrounding atmosphere; her gaze faltered, and she glanced at the treetop behind Chu Dingjiang.

“Let’s go back.” Chu Dingjiang had clearly noticed this as well.

An Jiu nodded and turned to leave.

Chu Dingjiang watched her enter the house, then turned back to look at the tall, slender figure standing upright behind him and smiled. “Lord Gu, is there something you need?”

“Since you do not try to hide it, I’ve come to see for myself.”

Chu Dingjiang acted openly, and Gu Jinghong saw it with an open heart.

“You just gave her the rejuvenation pill like that? May I ask what your relationship is with this woman, Lord Chu?”

It was not that Gu Jinghong liked to pry into other people’s private lives, but Chu Dingjiang’s actions were simply too suspicious! The rejuvenation pill could enhance internal energy and repair bodily damage, and was even said to have the power to bring the dead back to life. Therefore, anyone skilled in martial arts would fight for it. Each commander of the Konghe Army receives two pills upon taking office, while the deputy commander receives only one, with another given out only once every ten years. This was not something that could be given away casually.

Choosing the Dragon Martial Guard requires a clean background; he must be cautious.

“But two rejuvenation pills—others may see them as treasures, but to me, they are just candy. What’s wrong with using them to coax a young girl?” Chu Dingjiang said.

“Is she your lover?” Gu Jinghong frowned slightly. Because she was his lover, he was deliberately being so open about it, just to prevent him from getting Fourteenth Young Lady into the Dragon Martial Guard?

Chu Dingjiang flipped onto a tree trunk, lay down, and closed his eyes to rest. “You can think of it that way.”

The key to this matter was that he had not even figured out what he was thinking yet!

Chu Dingjiang had never valued these things too much, but the rejuvenation pill was indeed rare. He was always very purposeful in his actions, so what had prompted him to so easily give two rejuvenation pills to An Jiu this time? He did not consider himself a person of such high moral character.

Gu Jinghong used his mind-reading ability, but could not glean any useful information. He had heard of Chu Dingjiang—the youngest Transcendent Realm expert, whose official career had been tumultuous, gaining a large following in a short time after becoming the Commander of the Divine Martial Team. Aside from that, he knew nothing about Chu Dingjiang himself. However, since Chu Dingjiang had repeatedly offered assistance, he felt it necessary for someone to help Fourteenth Young Lady during the trial.

In truth, if the Emperor had not been so urgently in need of personnel and had not had so few suitable candidates, why would Gu Jinghong have bothered to pursue someone without internal energy? He had searched for a year before finally finding Fourteenth Young Lady to fill the vacancy. He was confident in his judgment and a persistent person; he would never randomly replace someone unless absolutely necessary.