A peasant girl travels through time with a hospital, rising to become an empress.

(Two chapters combined)

Overwhelmed with emotion, Jiang Lingyang felt his blood surging and a sweet, metallic taste rose in his throat – the taste of blood.

Ecstasy burned like fire in my chest, but this was quickly followed by a bone-chilling cold.

If Jingyang is alive but living in anonymity, and if his appearance has changed so much that even he himself almost doesn't recognize him, then the so-called "accident" from back then is probably...

Jiang Lingyang snapped out of his daze, met Lord Hu's anxious gaze, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, and forced himself to calm down.

Although her heart was still pounding wildly inside her chest, almost bursting out of her chest, her face had regained some composure.

He said in a hoarse voice, "It's nothing... It's just that, as you said, this article is truly unprecedented and unparalleled. It's so amazing that I was momentarily lost in thought."

Lord Hu, a scholar who had immersed himself in academia all his life, did not think much of it upon hearing this and nodded repeatedly: "That's right! I felt the same way when I reviewed them. Every time I read them, I felt thoroughly satisfied and ashamed of my own inferiority. The younger generation is truly formidable!"

At this moment, Jiang Lingyang had completely lost interest in reading the article. He had only one thought in his mind—to immediately return to Haitang Alley and find Gu Xiao!

Ask him what exactly happened back then? Why did his appearance change so drastically? Why didn't he return to the palace? And why did he end up in Fulin County?

Before him lay a series of mysteries, and behind these mysteries, he vaguely sensed that a truth, cruel enough to shake the world and chilling to the bone, might be hidden.

He hurriedly thanked Lord Hu and left the archives almost as if he were fleeing. His steps were unsteady yet urgent, as he wanted to fly to Gu Xiao immediately and uncover this secret that had been buried for many years.

Stepping out of the government office, the afternoon sun was so bright he could barely open his eyes. Jiang Lingyang leaned against the wall, finally coughing up a mouthful of blood, but he didn't bother to wipe it away, focusing only on hurrying towards Begonia Alley.

---

Meanwhile, inside the courtyard of Haitang Lane.

Old Qiao was leading Tuantuan and Tiedan in practicing martial arts in the courtyard.

His martial arts skills were unfathomable, far surpassing Nie Qianqian's. Nie Qianqian learned countless moves from him and now wanted Tuantuan to lay a solid foundation as soon as possible, so she asked him for help.

Old Qiao had always liked Tuantuan. The child was innocent and pure, and could soothe people's hearts. He agreed almost without thinking and had been teaching her in Fulin County for some time.

He slowed down his movements again in the courtyard and said to the two little ones in a deep voice, "Tuantuan, Tiedan, watch carefully this time. I'm only demonstrating one last time."

He deliberately slowed down, clearly demonstrating the connection, transition, and exertion of each move.

Tuantuan and Tiedan watched intently, completely absorbed.

Suddenly, Old Qiao's expression changed drastically, and he stopped moving abruptly.

Before Tuantuan could even see how he moved, a blur had already flashed past her.

The next moment, Old Qiao had already flashed in front of the two children, picked them up one in each arm, and his figure swept into the door like a ghost, slamming the door shut with a "bang".

An unprecedentedly stern voice came from outside the door: "Stay inside, don't come out!"

Tuantuan and Tiedan usually joked around with Old Qiao, but when it came to this critical moment, they became unusually sensible and obedient.

The two ran hand in hand to the bedside, quickly drew the curtains, and huddled deep inside the bed. They looked at each other, and although they were scared, they remained obediently still.

Tie Dan whispered, "Old Qiao's voice just now was so scary..."

Tuantuan nodded gently: "Something must have happened. Old Qiao told us not to come out, so we listened to him."

The two huddled under the covers, holding their breath.

The next instant, Old Qiao reappeared in the center of the courtyard.

He was usually carefree and slightly hunched over, but now he stood with his legs apart, chest out, back straight, and hands behind his back, his whole demeanor like a drawn sword, his aura suddenly changed.

A pair of eyes, sharp as an eagle's, swept across the empty courtyard; his voice was cold and deep as ice.

"Hmph, which friends have come uninvited? Since you're already here, show yourselves."

In the shadows, Su Xuanzhang and Su Yeheng exchanged a glance, their expressions grave.

Su Yeheng lowered his voice: "Elder, we clearly used a clan secret technique to conceal our presence, so how could he have detected us?"

Su Xuanzhang's cloudy old eyes were fixed on the figure in the courtyard. He said in a deep voice, "This person is already a top expert in the mortal world. His skill is probably even above yours and mine. Even if we use a secret technique, we can't hide it from him."

Su Yeheng narrowed his eyes: "My clan's secret technique has been passed down for a hundred years, yet he was able to see through it at a glance..."

“Now that we’ve been discovered, there’s no need to hide anymore,” Su Xuanzhang said slowly. “Let’s go down and meet him.”

As soon as they finished speaking, the two of them leaped down and landed in the courtyard.

Old Qiao looked up and saw two people standing in front of him.

The two landed silently in the courtyard, one after the other, without even disturbing a single fallen leaf.

The elder in the lead had half-white hair and beard, wore a dark gray cloth robe, and held an ebony staff with a black tortoise carved on the top. Ancient seal script patterns were hidden among the black shells. His eyes were slightly closed, but he seemed to have the whole courtyard under his control. He exuded a sense of majesty and unfathomable depth that had been accumulated over many years without making a sound.

Behind him stood a man in black robes, his posture as upright as a pine tree, his appearance handsome and dashing. Although he showed signs of age, he did not appear old at all; on the contrary, he exuded a calm and composed demeanor.

A pure white fox lay quietly on my shoulder, its fur smooth as satin. Its eyes were lowered and motionless, as docile as an ordinary ornament. Yet, the occasional glint of light in its eyes revealed an extraordinary intelligence.

The two men's auras were restrained, yet subtly harmonious; one was still and the other steady, one calm and the other agile. Just their presence alone made the air in the entire courtyard seem heavier.

Both men possessed profound auras and were top-tier experts.

Old Qiao was secretly shocked—how could such a person suddenly appear here?

He suppressed his last trace of nonchalance, his gaze fixed intently on the two of them, and said in a deep voice, "I wonder what brings you two here uninvited?"

Knowing that the other party's strength was unfathomable, Su Xuanzhang slowly said, "We've come to find someone."

Old Qiao raised an eyebrow, his tone cold and hard: "I'm afraid the person you're looking for isn't here."

Su Xuanzhang gently tapped his ebony cane on the ground and said in a deep voice, "I have been searching for him for more than a month, narrowing down the search area as I went. I can't have gone astray."

As soon as he finished speaking, the white fox on Su Yeheng's shoulder suddenly opened its eyes wide, its pupils as bright as glass. It looked towards the house with great intelligence, gently patted his shoulder with its little paws, and then slowly closed its eyes.

Su Yeheng immediately replied, his tone firm: "We're certain, the person we're looking for is right here."

Old Qiao's heart sank, and his first thought was of Gu Xiao.

In this mansion, only Nie Qianqian and Gu Xiao's backgrounds remain a mystery. Now that Nie Qianqian's background has been revealed, Gu Xiao has become the most secretive one.

He had long seen that Gu Xiao was no ordinary scholar, yet he lived a life of poverty in Fulin County. Before Nie Qianqian cured him, he was also plagued by hand ailments, clearly deliberately avoiding his enemies.

For someone of such high status to be forced into hiding, their enemies must be incredibly powerful. And now that they've been found, the newcomer is certainly no ordinary person.

Old Qiao's voice grew even colder, like ice covering a face in winter: "Since you two are looking for someone, why don't you reveal your identities? But I, Old Qiao, am determined to protect everyone in this mansion. If you insist on forcing your way in, you'll have to get past me first."

Su Yeheng sensed his wariness and quickly said, "We are friends, not enemies. I only ask to see this person once, and everything will become clear. I hope you can do me a favor."

Old Qiao's gaze was fixed intently on Su Yeheng.

This person was dressed in black robes made of a special material, as black as ink, but upon closer inspection, they reflected a faint silver light in the sunlight, clearly a rare protective garment.

But beside such luxurious clothing, there was an old, faded red rope hanging from her waist, the knot crooked and out of place with her overall demeanor.

This man was clearly not someone to be trifled with; the sense of oppression he exerted on Old Qiao was even greater than that of Su Xuanzhang beside him.

Old Qiao snorted coldly, full of disdain: "Do you think I'm some young brat? You think you can make me believe you with just a few empty words? With me here today, none of you will see anyone, let alone take anyone away!"

As soon as he finished speaking, his body moved without any wind, and the fallen autumn leaves on the ground suddenly swirled up, forming a small leaf tornado around him, rustling softly.

Old Qiao's full head of white hair danced wildly, his sleeves bulging as if filled with wind, stirred by the internal energy, causing his clothes to flutter wildly.

He lightly stomped one foot, causing the ground to tremble slightly, and a powerful aura emanating from him swept over Su Xuanzhang and his companion.

The two of them stubbornly endured it.

As the oppressive aura dissipated, Old Qiao drew a soft sword from his waist. The sword was as supple as silk and seemed to have no power, but when infused with internal energy, it revealed a chilling glint.

He raised his hand and swung it hard at the ground. Where the soft sword struck, the blue bricks shattered, and a trench several inches deep was carved into the ground, with gravel flying everywhere—this was clearly a show of force to the two men.

Old Qiao pointed his sword at the ground, the tip gleaming with a chilling aura, his voice as cold as ice: "Today, this line is the boundary. Anyone who crosses it, this old man will show no mercy!"

Both men were proud and arrogant, and their politeness towards Old Qiao was merely out of respect for his strength, not out of fear.

Seeing that Old Qiao's attitude was firm and he was clearly about to take action, they naturally wouldn't back down.

Su Xuanzhang held his cane horizontally in front of him and said coldly, "Since you insist on making a move, we will accompany you to the end."

The two sides were on the verge of exploding, and the atmosphere was tense.

Just then, a soft creaking sound came from inside the courtyard gate.

Gu Xiao walked out slowly, his face calm and composed.

He showed no martial prowess whatsoever, yet standing between two top experts, he remained calm and composed, his gaze steady without a trace of emotion.

"stop."

He spoke softly, his voice not loud, yet it made Su Xuanzhang pause.

When Old Qiao turned around and saw that it was Gu Xiao, worry instantly welled up in his eyes.

He was saved by Nie Qianqian and had long been as close to her as family. If Gu Xiao were in danger, he would never back down.

At the same instant, Su Xuanzhang and Su Yeheng's gazes were fixed on Gu Xiao.

Su Xuanzhang squinted, carefully examining his eyebrows, eyes, bone structure, and aura, not wanting to miss a single detail.

Su Yeheng stared intently into his eyes—this usually shrewd and composed ruler of the dark web, upon meeting those eyes, seemed to be pulled into a distant memory, his mind instantly losing focus.

While Su Xuanzhang was still repeatedly confirming, Su Yeheng stepped forward and slowly walked towards Gu Xiao.

Old Qiao immediately drew his sword to block, but Gu Xiao gently tugged at his sleeve. Gu Xiao shook his head slightly at him, his voice calm: "Old Qiao, he's one of us."

own people?

Old Qiao was startled.

These two people have unfathomable auras and terrifyingly powerful backgrounds. They are actually old acquaintances of Gu Xiao.

Su Yeheng had already walked up to Gu Xiao, his gaze fixed on his face, his voice steady, yet unable to conceal the excitement he was trying so hard to suppress:

"Your eyes look just like your mother's."

His gaze lingered, as if he were looking through the person before him at a figure that was no longer in this world.

The white fox on his shoulder also looked up at Gu Xiao, its round eyes seemingly understanding human nature, slightly reddened, and filled with a tear.

Su Yeheng's voice was soft and melancholy: "My companion spirit fox and your mother's were siblings. They had been inseparable since childhood and could sense each other. The year your mother passed away, it knew that its sister was gone."

The white fox leaped lightly and landed on Gu Xiao's shoulder, nestling against him obediently, as if it had finally rediscovered the long-lost warmth.

Upon seeing this scene, Su Xuanzhang immediately understood—living beings would not mistake one for another, and Su Yeheng would certainly not mistake another. The person before him was none other than Su Jingshu's son, a direct descendant of the Yin clan who had been separated from his family.

He suddenly knelt on one knee, his white hair falling down, his voice deep and powerful:

"Your subordinate, Su Xuanzhang, greets the young master."

Several people behind him moved in perfect unison, as if they were one person, and knelt down in unison, their voices in unison: "Greetings, Young Master!"

Su Yeheng looked at Gu Xiao and said in a deep voice, "I am your mother's younger brother, the fourth in the family. You can call me Fourth Uncle."

"……uncle."

Gu Xiao spoke softly, the two words sounding unfamiliar and distant, yet they finally fell gently.

Old Qiao stood behind, watching the scene before him, and found it utterly unbelievable.

He had long suspected that Gu Xiao's identity was extraordinary, but he never expected that it would be such an astonishing background—this group of imposing people, whose movements were as precise as if cut by a knife, actually called him Young Master.

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats and wheels came from outside the courtyard gate.

Jiang Lingyang finally arrived.

He was usually calm and composed, but today his clothes were slightly disheveled and he looked distraught; he practically burst through the courtyard gate.

But as soon as he stepped into the courtyard, seeing the people kneeling all over the ground and the familiar yet unfamiliar figure in the center, he froze.

What kind of formation is this?

But he couldn't care less about anything else; his gaze was fixed on Gu Xiao.

Gu Xiao met his gaze and knew that Jiang Lingyang had already recognized him.

From the moment he picked up his pen to answer the question, he knew that his mentor would definitely recognize his handwriting.

And he didn't want to hide it anymore.

Over the past few years, he had been like a walking corpse, as if something was slowly draining his strength, making him almost forget his hatred, forget his past, and even forget who he was.

It was Nie Qianqian's arrival that, like the dawn breaking through the long night, dispelled the gloom around him, pieced together his lost memories, worn-out courage, and scattered spirit, allowing him to become his complete self again.

Once you are complete, there is no need to hide anymore.

Gu Xiao looked at Jiang Lingyang, his throat slightly choked, but he uttered two words clearly:

"teacher."

A soft call, yet it struck Jiang Lingyang's heart like a heavy hammer.

His eyes suddenly reddened, and he raised his hand to touch Gu Xiao's cheek, but his fingertips hovered in mid-air, trembling violently.

A thousand words were stuck in his throat, and he couldn't utter a single one. Only the bittersweet emotions surging in his heart almost overwhelmed him.

It's his Jingyang, it really is his Jingyang...