Deep in the gloomy dungeon, the damp smell of mildew mingled with the stench of decay. Only a faint glow from the distant passage swayed uncertainly in the darkness.
Footsteps rang out. Gao Bingxue and her mother rose to their feet and turned toward the approaching lantern.
The iron lock on the cell door rattled. Two jailers stepped aside, and Gao Mingmo entered carrying a vermilion food box.
"Second Sister-in-Law," he called softly, his gaze sweeping over the mother and daughter's faces with a complicated expression.
"Third Brother," Gao Bingxue's mother hurried forward. "Why didn't Mingqing come?"
Gao Mingmo looked troubled as he set the food box on the ground. "Second Brother was beaten by Eldest Brother. The two of them were locked up by Father. After all, Eldest Nephew lost his life..."
Gao Bingxue's mother remained silent, merely nodding lightly. She understood. Gao Lianghu was the heir to the next generation of the Gao family, yet he had died at Xue'er's hands. This matter would probably be difficult to resolve.
"Second Sister-in-Law, you and Bingxue have suffered in here." Gao Mingmo took several small dishes and a bowl of hot soup from the food box. "Father had the kitchen prepare these. Have something to fill your stomach first."
"My own son Mingwei also said that Eldest Nephew was at fault first, and Bingxue wasn't to blame. Besides, she's only a girl—where could she have gotten so much strength? Perhaps the real killer was someone else. Father has already sent people to investigate."
"Thank you for coming to see us, Third Brother, and for speaking up for us in front of Father," Gao Bingxue's mother said softly.
Gao Mingmo waved awkwardly. "There's no need to thank me, Second Sister-in-Law. Eat first. I'll go upstairs and find out what's happening."
Gao Bingxue's mother rose to see Gao Mingmo off. When she turned back, her daughter was already wolfing down the food.
"Mother, it's delicious! Come eat too!"
"All right! Xue'er, slow down!"
About an hour later, it was impossible to tell whether it was day or night in the dungeon. Gao Bingxue suddenly clutched her stomach and curled up on the ground. Fine beads of sweat covered her forehead, and her entire body was burning hot.
"Mother, my stomach hurts so much..."
Her mother hurriedly crawled to her side, only to see that her daughter's lips had already been bitten open. Blood mixed with cold sweat dripped down her face.
"Mother, am I going to die? What's happening to us?"
"Xue'er, we've been poisoned." Her mother forced herself to stand and rushed to the cell door, shouting, "Someone! Help! Please, help!" Her hoarse cries echoed through the empty dungeon, but no one answered. She struggled to sit cross-legged and circulate her energy, but she could not summon even the slightest bit of strength, and the pain in her abdomen intensified.
The mother and daughter huddled together in the corner of the cell, waiting for death.
After Gao Bingxue was poisoned, her spiritual consciousness began to scatter. At the same time, she felt the jade pendant around her neck growing hot. She pulled it out and held it tightly. An aura surged forth and entered her body through her palm.
Gao Bingxue immediately began vomiting and suffering diarrhea, expelling most of the poison before feeling somewhat better. She then passed out.
At Penglai Immortal Island, White Deer Immortal sat cross-legged and formed hand seals. Green smoke rose from her head, and sweat drenched her face. After letting out a long breath, she said, "At least I managed to save her life."
Using her supreme power as a Golden Immortal, White Deer Immortal had drawn upon the water in the Small World within the pendant. It was immortal spirit water that had saved Gao Bingxue's life.
Chen Renfeng saw the Twin Fish Jade Pendant again. It hung around the little girl's neck and was clutched in her palm. After searching for ten years, he had finally found a clue.
At the entrance to the Gao residence, the White-Clad Swordsman drew his sword and forced his way in. Every guard who tried to block him was knocked down. Hearing the commotion, Gao Mingmo led a group of men out from the inner courtyard and shouted from afar, "Who are you? How dare you cause trouble at the Eastern Estate!"
The White-Clad Swordsman had swordlike brows and bright eyes. He said coldly, "Where have you locked up Bai Bing?"
Gao Mingmo shouted, "What does it have to do with you? Leave while you still know what's good for you."
"You're courting death!" The White-Clad Swordsman lightly tapped the ground and flew three zhang forward, stabbing toward Gao Mingmo's lower abdomen.
Gao Mingmo recoiled in fright. The four men behind him attacked at the same time. Four swords formed a formation that stopped the White-Clad Swordsman, and both sides were forced back a step.
"Not bad! Even if you're a Grandmaster, you should still restrain yourself in Southern Expedition Country!" a Dian Cang disciple barked.
The White-Clad Swordsman frowned and was about to fight again when a voice suddenly came from the inner courtyard: "Stop!"
Everyone followed the sound and saw a middle-aged man standing before the gate, dressed like the Dian Cang disciples. He said solemnly, "Third Young Master, the Marquis ordered you to take this hero to the dungeon to see the Second Madam."
Gao Mingmo reluctantly replied, "I understand, Hero Tianhui."
"Tianyang, Tian Wei, Tianwu, Tianlin, the four of you come along. Be careful," Liu Tianhui said. They were all disciples of the Dian Cang Sect, and all had the surname Liu.
The White-Clad Swordsman thought, So they're the four brothers from the Dian Cang Sect known as Spreading Might Through the Martial World. They have some ability, at least.
When they reached the dungeon entrance, Gao Mingmo said, "Go ahead! Let's see whether you can bring them back to life."
The White-Clad Swordsman did not understand what he meant. He drew his sword, hooked the lantern aside, and went down the steps alone.
"Bing, Bing... What happened to you?" In her daze, Gao Bingxue's mother heard someone calling her, but she did not even have the strength to open her eyes. She only felt someone helping her up, then placing both hands against her back as a steady stream of internal energy poured into her body. The energy circulated through her organs before carrying the poison out.
After the time it took an incense stick to burn, Gao Bingxue's mother suddenly opened her eyes and spat out a mouthful of black water. The pair of hands behind her continued pouring internal energy into her body.
"Xue, is that you?" Gao Bingxue's mother asked excitedly.
"Bing, focus on your dantian. Concentrate and circulate the remaining poison in your body along with my internal energy," the White-Clad Swordsman said.
One of them was named Su Xue, and the other was Bai Bing. This was their first meeting after being separated for ten years.
Suddenly, applause rang out with approaching footsteps.
"Second Sister-in-Law, you're truly lucky!" Gao Mingmo walked in laughing. "A Grandmaster is actually willing to use the Great Blood Exchange Art to cure your Fire Poison!"
Behind him, Liu Tianyang sighed. "What a martial arts genius. He reached the Grandmaster realm in his early thirties! What a pity..."
Bai Bing was shocked when she heard this. "Xue, stop! Don't worry about me anymore!"
Su Xue acted as if he had not heard her and continued circulating his energy.
Bai Bing glanced at her unconscious daughter on the ground and said anxiously, "Xue, save Xue'er first. She's your... our daughter."
Only then did Su Xue stop circulating his energy, slowly withdrawing the qi and blood he had sent into Bai Bing's body. His entire body was burning hot like charcoal. He could only circulate his energy to suppress the poisoned blood in a corner of his dantian.
He gathered his concentration and energy, then struck out with one palm. Gao Bingxue rose into the air upside down, the top of her head pressed against his. The two slowly revolved in midair. One side of Su Xue's face was crimson, while the other was deathly pale, as their vital essence rapidly exchanged.
After an incense stick's time, Su Xue shouted, "Done!"
Gao Bingxue drifted gently to the ground and was caught in Su Xue's arms. After spitting out a mouthful of black water, she fainted again. Su Xue also grew dizzy and collapsed to the ground.
"Xue! Xue! Wake up!" Bai Bing struggled to crawl toward him.
Gao Mingmo stepped between them and said with a sinister smile, "Second Sister-in-Law, Father asked me to give you a message."
Bai Bing glared at him, her eyes nearly spitting fire.
His spine prickling under her gaze, Gao Mingmo turned his face aside and said, "Father says you know the secret of the Green Fragrance Tree at Luoqie Lake. Bring it here in exchange for the freedom of this father and daughter."
Bai Bing's phoenix eyes brimmed with murderous intent. She said coldly, "Don't even think about it!"
Gao Mingmo waved his hand, and two guards answered the summons and entered.
Gao Mingmo ordered, "Carry the Second Madam to the dock by the southern gate. If she hasn't returned within ten days, throw this father and daughter into Dian Lake to feed the fish."
The guards stepped forward. Bai Bing struggled desperately. "Third Brother, where is Mingqing? I want to see Father!"
"Take her away!" Gao Mingmo waved impatiently.
"Don't you dare hurt Xue!" Bai Bing was dragged outside, her voice shrill. "If anything happens to Xue, the warriors of Ziqi Country will ride their horses into Shànchǎn City!"
Her cries echoed through the dungeon and spread throughout the entire Eastern Estate.
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