Alert! The Dragon Lord has emerged from seclusion!

"If I tell them, maybe I can save my life and spend the rest of my days in prison."

Sensing the palpable killing intent, Granny Gui Gu finally broke down: "I...I'll tell you! Mu Qingyao is imprisoned in the secret chamber beneath the altar!"

"Her constitution is special. I need to use the 'Transfer of Gu' technique to slowly extract her essence. I can't drain it all at once... so I'll keep her locked up for now."

"As for the Netherworld Sect... I... I only took a small bribe from them to keep an eye out for people with special physical constitutions in Miao territory... I know a little about the 'Seven Yin Convergence' plan, but I don't know exactly what they're planning!"

"They promised me that they would give me the complete 'Netherworld Gu Scripture' after it was done..."

It really is related to the Netherworld Sect!

Although it may only be collusion on the periphery.

Lin Chen stopped wasting words, found the mechanism on the altar, and opened a stone slab passage leading underground.

The dark passageway was damp and smelled musty and faintly fragrant with herbs.

At the end of the path was a stone chamber, inside which a dim oil lamp was lit.

A young girl dressed in ethnic clothing was tied to a stone bed with specially made vines. There were marks on her wrists and ankles where blood had been drawn. She was pale and unconscious.

It was Mu Qingyao in the photo.

Even while she was unconscious, her brows were furrowed, as if she were in pain.

But a vibrant, bluish-green aura flowed around her, faintly resonating with the few dying herbs in the stone chamber—it was the Gu spirit unconsciously resisting and healing itself.

Shen Qingqiu immediately stepped forward to examine the body, his face grim: "Excessive blood loss, nearly 30% of your vital essence has been extracted, and there is also chronic Gu poison eroding your heart meridian."

"Immediate treatment is needed, otherwise his life is in danger."

She quickly provided first aid, administering medication, acupuncture, and treating the wound.

Lin Chen then untied the specially made vines—these vines seemed to have been refined and could suppress Mu Qingyao's physical strength.

The moment the vines untied, Mu Qingyao's body trembled slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Those were eyes as clear as a fawn's in the forest.

But at this moment, I am filled with confusion and fear.

Upon seeing the unfamiliar Lin Chen and his group, she instinctively shrank back, her voice weak and hoarse: "Who...are you? Where is Granny Ghost Gu?"

"Don't be afraid, we're here to save you." Lin Chen tried to soften his tone. "We've already captured Granny Ghost Gu."

"You're safe."

Mu Qingyao froze for a moment, then tears welled up in her eyes. She bit her lip to keep from crying out loud, and asked in a trembling voice, "Is everyone in the town... alright?"

Even at this point, she was still concerned about the townspeople.

Chu Ling'er's heart softened, and she stepped forward gently, saying, "Everyone is alright for now. But those brothers who were captured need your help."

"Sister Shen has stabilized their injuries, but the Gu poison has penetrated deep into their bodies, and it may require the abilities of your Gu Spirit Body to completely remove it."

Hearing that it could save lives, Mu Qingyao's eyes brightened, and she struggled to sit up: "I... I can try."

Shen Qingqiu pressed her down: "You need to regain some strength first. Your own body is in very bad shape."

She looked at Lin Chen: "Take her back to the guesthouse first, it's not safe here. There might still be accomplices of Granny Ghost Gu."

Lin Chen nodded and carefully picked up the weak Mu Qingyao.

Mu Qingyao's body stiffened, a blush rising on her pale face, but she ultimately did not resist, only whispering, "Thank you."

The group, along with Mu Qingyao and the prisoners, quietly returned to the guesthouse.

The proprietress was surprised, delighted, and frightened when she saw Mu Qingyao being rescued.

After Lin Chen briefly explained the situation, she felt relieved and helped arrange rooms, expressing her deepest gratitude to Lin Chen and the others.

After settling Mu Qingyao in, Shen Qingqiu continued her treatment.

Lin Chen, Ye Qingcheng, and Chu Ling'er began interrogating Granny Guigu overnight and contacted Su Qingxue and Xiaoyao Valley to report the situation.

They then requested assistance.

Because manpower is needed to deal with the poison, resettle the victims, and investigate any other clues about the Netherworld Sect.

Under Shen Qingqiu's meticulous treatment and medication, Mu Qingyao felt much better the next day.

She has a special constitution and her recovery ability is stronger than that of ordinary people.

When Lin Chen brought breakfast to visit her, she was sitting on the bed, sipping the medicinal porridge that Shen Qingqiu had cooked.

The sunlight shone on her face; though still pale, some of that pure and bright aura had returned.

"How are you feeling?" Lin Chen sat down on the chair by the bed.

"I feel much better, thank you all." Mu Qingyao put down her bowl and looked at Lin Chen earnestly, her big eyes filled with gratitude and curiosity.

"Brother Lin... are you really just an expedition team? Granny Ghost Gu is very powerful; even the old hunters in town don't dare to mess with her."

Lin Chen smiled, but instead of answering directly, he took out the marriage certificate that belonged to her from his pocket.

Before I answer, I want to show you something.

Mu Qingyao took the marriage certificate with a puzzled look and unfolded it.

When she saw her name, birth date and time, and portrait, she was stunned.

Upon seeing the annotation "Kaiyang Star Position, Gu Spirit Body" and Lin Chen's name, her face flushed bright red, like a ripe apple.

"This...this is..." Her voice was barely audible.

"A marriage contract is also proof of your special constitution." Lin Chen explained in a gentle tone the Nine Yin Body, the Netherworld Sect's conspiracy, and the reason why they came to find and protect her, in a way that was as simple and easy to understand as possible.

Mu Qingyao was stunned; the amount of information was too much for her to process.

A marriage contract? A special constitution? A heretical cultivator? Is he one of the Seven Stars?

"I...I'm just an ordinary elementary school teacher..." she murmured.

"No, you're not ordinary." Lin Chen said seriously, "You can understand insect language, soothe poisonous insects, and make the herbs you cultivate grow exceptionally well. These are all talents of the Gu Spirit Body."

"Granny Ghost Gu captured you to steal this talent."

"I don't know what talent I have... I just like talking to little bugs, flowers and grass..." Mu Qingyao lowered her head and looked at her hands.

"So, is it this 'liking' that brought me disaster?"

"It's not your talent that brings disaster, it's the bad people who covet your talent," Lin Chen corrected. "Like a knife, it can make delicious food in the hands of a chef, but it can hurt people in the hands of a bad person."

"The key is not the knife, but the person wielding it."

Mu Qingyao remained silent for a long time.

She recalled how she had always been different from others, the awe-inspiring yet distant looks the elders in the village gave her, and the greedy face of the old woman who had imprisoned her...

She also thought of the children she had unintentionally saved, and the herbs she had cared for that had been revitalized.

"Brother Lin," she raised her head, her eyes no longer confused, but clear and firm, "if my abilities can help everyone, can help fight against those bad people... I'm willing."