After provoking the holy maiden of Miao territory, she was infected with a love curse.

The salted fishmonger disembarked and hid the remaining salted fish in the cave.

She rested briefly in the cave.

She then changed into a smart black robe and picked up a long sword.

With fingers lightly clasped, it was tucked into the waistband.

The woman followed the mountain path to a secluded spot, where she saw a few tents scattered along the stream.

Someone had set up a sunshade, and a map and a bowl of tea were on the coffee table.

"grown ups."

"I have found Miss Yin San."

The woman lowered her head and clasped her hands together.

She exuded the righteous and awe-inspiring aura of a soldier, where was the air of a petty, vulgar person?

Yin Qingyue put down her calligraphy brush, looked up at her subordinate, and gave him a look of approval.

"Thank you for your hard work, you did a good job."

Hearing Yin Qingyue's praise, the woman felt embarrassed and asked again, "Sir, is there any news from over there?"

Yin Qingyue nodded.

"There's a rumor that the village is indeed suspected of abducting Han people."

"However... they never committed any crimes on their own initiative. It was that group of people who disobeyed the government's orders, were greedy for cheap things, did not pay road taxes, and took the secluded paths that were not allowed to be taken."

The Tongtian Avenue was guarded by government officials, and no bandits, river bandits, or horse thieves dared to provoke it.

Even if they were an impregnable fortress, they would be nothing more than punching bags when faced with the imperial court's bows, crossbows, and firearms.

The roads are patrolled year-round, and military equipment maintenance and food supplies all need to be deducted from the road tax, so it is only natural to ask these merchants to pay.

They deserved to take such a risk.

The imperial court originally did not want to get involved in this matter.

Unfortunately... recently, several young masters and ladies from wealthy families have gone missing, including her sister.

Yin Qingyue then took the initiative to ask her superior for approval to take charge of this hot potato that no one wanted to handle.

Her colleagues in the government couldn't understand why Yin Qingyue would lower herself to such a high position, but she didn't offer much explanation. After returning from the capital, she began to investigate.

It would have been better if they hadn't investigated.

The investigation revealed a truly shocking truth.

She knew that Lingshui City bordered Miao territory and there were occasional frictions.

However... this place is not the core area of ​​Miao territory, and the Miao king rarely pays attention to it.

In addition, with the large number of merchants in Lingshui City, the city has become more prosperous year by year, and the Miao people are becoming increasingly rare.

It's baffling that so many people have gone missing in the Silver Moon River area, yet the local government offices in Lingshui City haven't taken any action.

There's definitely something fishy going on here.

Hearing the adult say this, the woman was about to sit down when Yin Qingyue stopped her.

"Wait... what's that on your shoulder?"

Yin Qingyue's eyes were sharp as an eagle's. She picked up the withered bamboo leaves that had fallen on the side of the table and flicked them away.

The bamboo leaves were as sharp as blades, pinning the small, dark insect on the woman's shoulder to the wooden stake!

The group, who were drying herbs in the distance to make medicine bags for their mountain trip, were startled by the swaying rack and all looked at Yin Qingyue's gesture of bringing her two fingers together.

They thought an uninvited guest had broken in.

They immediately gripped the knife handles and surrounded them.

"My lord... this is... an insect?"

Seeing her subordinate reach out to touch the tiny black insect, Yin Qingyue sternly stopped him.

"Don't move."

"This isn't an insect..."

"This is a Gu technique that Miao women are skilled in."

With her expression calming down, Yin Qingyue clenched her fists.

She knew this was not a good sign; it meant they were being watched by the Miao people.

The fact that the other party was able to follow us so secretly suggests that they hold a high position in the Miao village.

"Gu...Gu worm..."

"Could it be true that these Miao people are said to use Gu magic...?"

Everyone turned pale and looked at their leader, Yin Qingyue.

Yin Qingyue walked to the wooden stake and looked at it, which had begun to rot and smell from the small black insects.

She said calmly, "Yes, the court forbids us from publicizing this matter, but we have already arrived at the banks of the Silver Moon River."

"It won't hurt to tell you."

Glancing at her subordinates, Yin Qingyue remained as calm and composed as ever.

"You must be careful of all snakes, insects, rodents, and ants; that's why I asked you to make medicine pouches."

"Anyone who gets attached to a Gu worm will become its vessel, unable to live or die, and will be stripped of all their emotions and desires."

He remained calm in front of his subordinates.

The wind ruffled the strands of hair hanging down beneath the black official hat, and Yin Qingyue began to feel a vague sense of worry for Yin Huaixi.

If her sister was indeed abducted by the Miao people, and if she was given the legendary "love curse"... then not even nine oxen could pull her back.

This must not be allowed to happen.

...

"Shopkeeper, here you go."

Having found a new place to stay, Yin Huaixi slapped the silver into the shopkeeper's hand and immediately left.

She walked back along the street to where she had started. Sang Che sat by the window and heard Yin Huaixi and the coachman discussing moving things.

His words were filled with excitement.

It's easy to tell that Yin Huaixi was in great spirits after her trip.

The connection between the offspring and the mother Gu was quietly severed. Sang Che raised an eyebrow. It seemed that her guess was correct; Yin Huaixi was indeed preparing to escape.

Should we put her in shackles?

Sang Che didn't want to see Yin Huaixi being tortured, but he also couldn't bear to let her leave.

She had been in this dark and gloomy place for so long, and this was the only person who could comfort her.

How could I... abandon her?

As his fingertips caressed the rim of the teacup, Sang Che thought of the warmth between Yin Huaixi's lips and teeth.

She began crafting Gu worms by hand from a young age, and her first lesson was to select her favorites from among thousands of poisonous insects and then put them together.

Watching them kill each other, devour their companions' bodies, and finally become a complete Gu.

The most outstanding effect of a complete Gu worm is not to poison people to death, but to control their minds and use them for one's own purposes.

When Sang Che was a hostage in the palace, he used a curse on the people in the palace.

She turned all those who looked down on her into her dogs, crawling all over the place.

He never dared to utter a single disrespectful word to her again, nor did he dare to bark at her.

The Tibetan Buddha, unable to tolerate her actions, once tried to dissuade her. Sangche, looking at the hypocritical man in his robes, retorted with disdain, "Do you think your snowy land is so clean?"

"You and I are both...chosen at birth. You are a reincarnated spirit child, and I am a descendant of Chi You... How much more noble are you?"

Now that the person she loves is leaving her side, Sang Che will never allow it.

Just like when the destitute Miao King ruthlessly threw her to the court as a hostage, making her endure unbearable pain, it was the Miao King who let go of Miao territory.

She would never do something so stupid.

Sang Che slightly hooked his finger.

The two people who had collapsed in the alley last night stood up in a strange posture, startling the beggar sleeping under the eaves.

He ran out of the alley like a madman.

"My dear child, come to me."

These words drifted out softly.

The two corpses, which had long been devoured, moved forward like puppets.

Just as Yin Huaixi turned to go back to the inn to move her things, she saw two furtive faces hiding in the shadows of the inn.

The room they were looking up at was the one where Sang Che lived.

These two...could they be the uninvited guests from last night?

Haven't they given up on Sang Che yet?

Thinking of Sang Che's usual exquisite and gorgeous clothes, adorned with jingling silver ornaments, Yin Huaixi felt annoyed.

They say you shouldn't flaunt your wealth!

She quickly abandoned the coachman, lifted her skirt, and went upstairs.

She wasn't worried about Sang Che getting into trouble, but... Sang Che couldn't be hurt before she left.

Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to get out of here.