TGCFNM -Chapter 538 Leave None Alive

Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin strode out of the Eastern Palace, clearly hearing the sound of a teacup shattering behind them, yet neither of them looked back—they simply kept walking.

Once outside the palace, they picked a random path and moved straight ahead.

Ghost Scholar gazed at the tall walls with blue tiles on either side, feeling a pang of melancholy.

Those walls stood heavy and solemn, seemingly dividing the world into inside and outside. People outside didn’t want to enter, and those inside didn’t want to leave, as if an invisible chasm had permanently split the two sides.

“Why?” Wan Sanjin suddenly murmured. “Is power really that important?”

Chu Ling nodded. “Of course it is. Look at the person upstairs—constantly using every possible method. In the end, it’s all because he can’t let go.”

“Moreover, he’s only one step away,” Ghost Scholar shook his head slowly. “At a time like this, how could he possibly give up?”

Chu Ling paused, tugging at Wan Sanjin. “I think I know where Gui Wushuang is.”

Wan Sanjin froze. “Master, you’re jumping around too much… why bring this up now?”

Chu Ling shook her head. “It’s not sudden.”

She had just barely avoided being trapped by the Empress Dowager. In that instant, her mind was filled only with two thoughts: that the Emperor was somehow involved with the Beauty Gu, and that the hidden hand behind the Xuanyuan family was actually the Emperor… But in fact, the first to possess the Gu insects and begin using them was the Empress Dowager.

Bai Zhuoxing was the Empress Dowager’s agent. So after Gui Wushuang survived by chance, he naturally sought revenge…

Chu Ling looked at Wan Sanjin. “Gui Wushuang first massacres Yun Palace, then comes to the capital—all for revenge.”

“Against whom?” Wan Sanjin asked.

“The Empress Dowager,” Chu Ling lowered her voice. “That’s why he cooperated with the Emperor.”

Wan Sanjin’s expression twisted in disbelief, as if to say, Master, are you talking nonsense?

Chu Ling sighed, recounting what the Empress Dowager had said, then whispered, “So…”

Bai Su suddenly cautioned, “Someone’s watching. Keep moving; I’ll check ahead.”

Chu Ling grabbed Wan Sanjin and silently moved forward. After a while, Bai Su said, “Anyone who can move freely inside the harem is either the Empress Dowager’s or the Emperor’s agent… Let’s leave the palace first; it’s not wise to talk too much inside.”

Chu Ling nodded slightly. “We’ll talk once we’re out… Wait, we still need Yuan Luo. He doesn’t know this either…”

“Here he comes!” Wan Sanjin exclaimed in surprise as Yuan Luo leapt down from a roof eave. Seeing them, he stopped in his tracks and waited.

Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin hurried over. Before they could speak, Yuan Luo interrupted, “I found Gui Wushuang.”

Wan Sanjin’s face went pale. “So I went into the palace and didn’t encounter a thing… knew nothing?”

Yuan Luo looked at Wan Sanjin curiously, then at Chu Ling. “Master, why is Sanjin upset?”

“He’s angry at himself for not noticing anything… Let’s move first, we’re being watched,” Chu Ling said, hurrying them along. Once they reached a quiet corner of the wall, she looked at Yuan Luo. “You weren’t discovered, right?”

“That doesn’t matter. What matters is that we must hurry to stop him. I can’t do it alone, so I came to find you,” Yuan Luo said urgently, his eyes full of disappointment.

Chu Ling decided immediately. “We’ll talk as we go. You lead; we’ll catch up.”

Wan Sanjin grabbed her in surprise. “Inside the palace?”

“The Empress Dowager already told me something so urgent. To save the Great Zhou, she will certainly make things convenient for us,” Chu Ling said. She knew she had fallen into the Empress Dowager’s trap, but there was no other way. After all, if Yuan Luo was this anxious, Gui Wushuang must have done something truly extraordinary.

Yuan Luo nodded sharply and hurriedly led the two of them through the palace.

During their rush, Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin finally understood why Yuan Luo was so anxious. Gu Wushuang had brought dozens of extraordinarily beautiful women into a certain place, but that place was heavily guarded, and Yuan Luo couldn’t get in at all.

Exhaling softly, Yuan Luo’s eyes blazed with anger. “I immediately thought of the Beauty Gu! The Beauty Gu drains a person’s essence and harms their life, and this Gu… it came from his hands!”

Chu Ling’s gaze darkened. It seemed the Emperor still hadn’t given up—he wanted to use the essence extracted by the Beauty Gu to nourish his aging body.

“I’d rather he had died back in the Ice Cave, turned into an ice sculpture, or even powder… I never wanted him to become something that harms others, like his father!” Yuan Luo gritted his teeth, pointing ahead. “It’s right there.”

At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared. Looking at Chu Ling, he croaked, “The Empress Dowager asked me to help. I can at most hold them off for half an hour.”

With that, he disappeared.

Bai Su spoke up to remind them, “That’s the same figure who was following you just now.”

Chu Ling’s face darkened. “The Empress Dowager’s plan is clever—she exposed the Gu in the palace in front of everyone, then openly sent troops to wipe them out. She didn’t lift a finger herself.”

Yuan Luo paused, guilt crossing his face. “Should I have not brought you along?”

Chu Ling shook her head. “From the moment we received the imperial decree to enter the palace, we’ve been caught in the Empress Dowager’s trap. No matter how we struggle, the outcome would be the same. Don’t blame yourself—we must give everything to catch Gu Wushuang.”

“Catch? No. Kill!” Yuan Luo’s gaze was unwavering.

Chu Ling nodded and let Yuan Luo continue leading the way.

When the three of them arrived at the location, they saw that the heavy guards had mostly withdrawn, leaving only scattered soldiers for protection.

Chu Ling lowered her voice. “We could slip in quietly…”

“Who’s there?!”

A guard shouted, and an arrow whistled through the air, striking another guard in the chest and instantly taking his life.

Chu Ling bit back a curse, glaring at Chu Yue in the eunuch’s attire with gritted teeth.

“Sir, they’re coming! Attack!” Wan Sanjin tossed a packet of poison, deftly avoiding the blades.

Chu Ling and Yuan Luo could no longer hide and had no choice but to charge in.

Chu Yue sneered. After admiring the trio’s chaotic struggle, she leapt away from the scene.

Wan Sanjin gritted his teeth. “Wasn’t Qingtong supposed to go after her? How did she get into the palace so quickly?”

“It’s all an illusion, just a distraction.” Chu Ling’s face grew serious. After dodging one soldier, she snatched the blade from her waist and charged into the courtyard.

Inside, Gu Wushuang heard the commotion and immediately flung open the door. Without looking at who was there, he raised his sword and attacked.

Yuan Luo shouted sharply, “Gu Wushuang!”

Gu Wushuang paused mid-swing and finally focused his gaze on them.

“Gu Wushuang, what are you doing?!” Chu Ling scowled and shouted.

Gu Wushuang looked at them, then suddenly whistled and waved his hand, giving the order, “Kill them!”

At that moment, the heavy troops who had disappeared earlier emerged from all corners, surrounding Chu Ling and the others.

Gu Wushuang’s voice was icy. “Leave none… kill all!”