It's you after all

  To bring down Shen Tianbin, one must first remove the loyal Gu. However, this is no easy task. Firstly, the Gu has been deeply embedded in his blood, and forcibly removing it would alarm Shen Tianbin. Secondly, the method of removal is unconventional: one needs a virgin to ingest a poisonous plant from Miaojiang, wait for the poison to penetrate her heart and lungs, and then use her heart's blood to extract the Gu worm. Moreover, to prevent the Gu worm from counter-attacking the person extracting it, that person must also possess the skill of Golden Needle, sealing their own blood vessels in time when the Gu worm emerges.

  One moment too soon and the Gu parasite will be startled back into its host's body, one moment too late and it will have entered the body of the person summoning it, extremely dangerous.

  "So this is something that could cost you your life, and if you don't want to do it, I really won't blame you!"

  Xiang Lan finally said: "This matter requires complete willingness, if the person being bewitched has even a hint of unwillingness, it will make things counterproductive, so I won't force you!"

  I was shocked and amazed, I used to think that these kinds of things like Gu worms were just something writers made up, but it turns out they're real!

  She thought for a moment and asked strangely: "Why did you choose me?"

  It's not hard to find a virgin who can play the guqin, she doesn't think there's anything special about herself that would make Xianglan look at her differently.

  Who would have thought that Xiang Lan said a few words, and really looked at her with new eyes. Xiang Lan said: "Third Miss, do you know what I thought of when I came in and saw you that day?"

  "What's on your mind?" Xiao asked curiously.

  Xiang Lan's icy face revealed a hint of a smile as she said, "When you told me to rest, I felt that something was off about you, so actually, I've been keeping watch on the rooftop!"

  "Umm... I think it was raining heavily that day!" Xiao Zongrong couldn't imagine how Xiang Lan managed to stay on the rooftop in the heavy rain, she had done similar things as a special police officer in her past life, but Xiang Lan's dedication to monitoring her was impressive!

  "This is nothing, I used to lie in the snow for two days just to kill someone!"

  Xiang Lan's gentle words made Xiao feel a sense of mutual understanding, she really hadn't misjudged the person, Xiang Lan and herself were people of the same kind.

  "So I saw everything from the acupuncture needle to your fainting spell! Third Miss, I'm not a person who easily admires others, but that night I was moved! I really didn't expect that you, a delicate and pampered princess from the royal palace, could endure such suffering... If it were me, I might not have been able to do it either!"

  Xiang Lan looked at Xiao Zongrong with unreserved admiration in her eyes. Xiao Zongrong was also moved, such a ruthless killer, she could actually win her respect, this is a huge gain!

  I thought about it and felt ashamed: "I didn't even notice you were on the roof!"

  Xiang Lan smiled: "What's wrong with that? It's raining heavily outside and I'm being very careful. You're not paying attention in your pain, which is not surprising at all!"

  That's no excuse! Xiao Congrong couldn't ignore her own negligence, fortunately Xiang Lan didn't have ill intentions towards her, if it were someone else, she would have ruined herself.

  "Third Miss, to be honest, I've also heard some things about you before, and my impression of you wasn't very good! But after that night, I felt like I needed to reevaluate you... Not just me, but even my master and the others were searching for information about you, getting to know you all over again. And as a result, they all came to the same conclusion: if there's anyone who can help us, it's you!"

  "I?......" Xiao Zongrong bitterly smiled, not knowing how this 'honor' inexplicably fell on his own head.

  Xiang Lan sighed and explained, "You might think that there are many people who have never been married and can embroider the Golden Needle everywhere, so why is it you? In fact, it's true that we're looking for someone with these two conditions. However, this matter can only be done once, otherwise, if Shen Tianbin finds out, everyone will die. So the person we want must have something special about them, not only must they have high moral character, but also remain calm in the face of danger and have a spirit of self-sacrifice..."

  She glanced at Xiao Congrong and smiled bitterly: "After Master heard me tell you the details of your self-inflicted torture, he thought you were calmer than ordinary people. Your performance in Tianlao also received high praise from them, so they think that you are the person they want to find!"

  Xiao Congrong burst out laughing: "This selfless act of saving others, I'm not worthy of it! My moral character is not that high, my reputation is so bad, they're not wrong!"

  Xiang Lan smiled again and said, "My master said that this is a small matter, it can only be seen that you are a romantic person, not caring about the worldly views, living very freely! If you were conventional, they might not necessarily think highly of you!"

  "Haha, your master really understands me!" Xiao Zongrong now feels that Yu Jiang is not so old-fashioned after all. At least when she crossed over, he was the second elderly person who didn't mind her becoming a concubine.

  Although there was no one who would die for him, Xiao Zhen also couldn't bear to disappoint the few elderly people who were struggling to take the right path, so he readily said: "Since they all entrust their lives to me, I shouldn't let them down either. I agree to help you, just tell me when to do it!"

  Xiang Lan didn't expect her to agree so readily and was somewhat surprised, saying: "Don't you want to think about it some more?"

  Xiao Zongrong shrugged and asked in return: "How long have you been looking for someone like this?"

  Lan hesitated for a moment and said: "Three years!"

  Xiao Congrong said again: "Then if I don't do it, how much longer will you look?"

  Xiang Lan bitterly smiled: "We don't have time either, even if you don't do it, they will take the risk to find someone else to do it! Because Shen Tianbin can't possibly keep them threatening himself, as long as he can find someone to completely replace Master and them, they won't have any meaning of existence!"

  "So, this is the main reason I'm willing to help you!" After all, as someone from modern times, Xiao Zong's perspective on things was quite far-sighted. Relying on such a technique to control people was risky after all; if she were Shen Tianbin, she would only replace them with people she trusted.

  Xiang Lan thought for a moment, and suddenly understood. She looked at her in surprise, shaking her head and saying: "Third Miss, you're really at a disadvantage being born as a daughter after the gate was closed. Otherwise, you would definitely be able to revive your Xiao family!"

  Xiao Congrong disapprovingly said: "What's wrong with being a daughter? I don't agree with your views, men can do things that women can also achieve. Look at us, where are we inferior to men? If there is an opportunity, we will also make achievements, you believe in yourself and you can!"

  Xiang Lan nodded, her eyes shining brightly as she stood up and said: "Third Miss, Xiang Lan has learned from you. I'll go tell Master and the others right away, we'll choose a date soon to ask for your help!"

  She had already walked to the door and turned back with a sly smile, saying: "Third Miss, you won't regret helping us!"

  Is there any benefit? Wait until you're alive and well before considering this issue!

  "Prince of Chu, I don't want to marry you..."

  "As long as Lord Chu gets me the only bottle of Bone-Breaking and Tendon-Repairing Ointment in this world, and heals Rong's leg, I will immediately marry you... otherwise, I wish you both happiness..."

  "Don't come again, I won't see you anymore!"

  Chu Qing was drunk, his mind filled with Xiao Cong Rong's words of rejection and that unfamiliar gaze. He hugged the wine jug, drinking dazedly, shouting upside down: "Rong'er... how can you go back on your word... you promised me... you said you'd marry me... how can I fall from heaven to hell in an instant... how can it be like this?"

  It's getting late and the small wine shop is about to close, the young waiter looks at this drunk young master and walks back to ask the boss what to do?

  The landlady let out a big yawn and said bluntly, "Feel him to see if he has any more silver on him? If he does, we'll consider it tonight's lodging fee. If not, throw him out! This isn't a charity!"

  The shopkeeper scowled and muttered under his breath, "This young master gave you fifty taels of silver as soon as he came in, which is more than enough to buy this small tavern. Are you going to let him stay overnight for free?"

  "You little scoundrel, how dare you speak of me like that?" The landlady picked up the account book and started hitting the shop assistant on the head with it, scolding as she hit: "You eat my food and live under my roof, yet you still help outsiders scheme against me. Don't you want to live?"

  The shopkeeper hastily dodged and bumped into a table piled with chairs, which clattered loudly to the ground, making a big noise.

  Chu Qing crazily and dazedly opened her eyes, saw that the store only had herself and those two people, then shook and swayed as she stood up, stumbling and staggering as she walked out.

  The boss's wife and the shop assistant stopped their playful fight and watched as he almost crashed into the door, dodging at the last moment.

  "Hey, young master, why don't you take a rest here?" The landlady finally couldn't bear it and called out.

  Chu Qingcang seemed not to have heard, still holding the wine jug and walking further away. The shopkeeper's assistant looked at the boss's wife with disdain and said: "Hypocrite! If you wanted to keep him, why didn't you speak up earlier? Now it's time to close the door and go to sleep! He can still walk, he'll find his way home! Heaven takes care of drunkards and foolish children, they'll send him back home!"

  The boss's wife thought about it and said, "Even drunkards can find their way home. What a pity that this handsome young man is also a drunkard!"

  Look at the wine jars piled up like a small mountain by his desk, with a smile on his face. The goods that had been stored for two years were finally sold out today. If someone came to drink every day, it would be strange if he didn't become rich!

  After closing the door, the landlady quickly went to bed to count her silver and completely forgot about the guest who made her rich, whether he safely returned home alone on this cold night...