Chapter 1

Big girl... from now on, you must not come out... you must not speak... your father is no longer able to protect you... if you are found, no one can save you... you must survive at all costs... my child, my child, I cannot watch you grow up, I cannot accompany you through all your happy and unhappy moments... you will not remember me... who will come to save you, who will come to save you, I am willing to tie grass and form a ring in the next life... my child, my child, I cannot watch you grow up, I cannot accompany you through all your happy and unhappy moments... you will not remember me... who will come to save you, who will come to save you, I am willing to tie grass and form a ring in the next life..." She cried out, suddenly gritting her teeth, her face twisted in rage as she looked at the big girl, and with her last breath said: "You must remember one thing... your Uncle Lan is not a human! Do not believe him, do not approach him! He is a venomous snake, the snake that has harmed us!"

Your enchanting eyes always seem to be inviting yet resisting, aren't you just calling me to do such things? On a night like this, it has its own unique charm! Knowing full well that this shameless woman is naturally alluring and can easily engage with others, much like a wild dog, Wei Guan simply could not resist. He let out a low grunt, lunged forward, and pinned Lan Qing down, hastily tearing open her clothing

Strange and peculiar sounds scattered in the sky with the wind, while the girl in the wild grass remained still, tightly holding onto Lanqing's cloak. Occasionally, when the wild grass was swept aside, she saw Lanqing's elegant long gown being blown away by the wind, along with the intertwined and rolling bodies

Do not be afraid, Uncle Lan and Uncle Wei will definitely protect you. That bad person wants to steal the sword, but we cannot let him take you away... Let's leave this place first, shall we?

"Wait a moment, you..." The official was completely baffled

Even when performing in front of a two-year-old child, one must put in full effort. This Lan Qing, clearly just an eighteen-year-old youth, possesses an excessive amount of cunning. In order to scheme for the Pair of Sworn Swords, he infiltrated the Guan family, expending great effort to gain Guan Changyuan's trust and extract all secrets.

Guan Changyuan treats you like a brother, yet you...

Will she definitely know? Wei Guan squinted. If she doesn't know, then why keep her?

The man's tiger-like eyes were filled with tears as he tightly embraced his only daughter

She did not respond, her small eyes fixed on him

Big girl! Those ink-like eyes are filled with anger. "If you don't speak, do you want your father to die without knowing?"

Suddenly, she heard someone say: "Guan Changyuan is dead, and his wife's corpse is right here in this room, isn't it?"

Are you taking her away?

He followed his gaze and saw that Guan Changyuan's wife had committed suicide by poisoning herself, her face still filled with hatred even in death. However, her eyes were closed, presumably believing that Daniu could escape this calamity, which is why she closed her eyes and passed away. ... Foolish! Truly foolish!

"You heard everything, didn't you..." As soon as he stepped out of the official's hearing range, he whispered in the girl's ear: "Uncle Lan knows that you are not as foolish as your father claims. You must remember what your father said about the sword. If you reveal the whereabouts of the sword, everything will be fine. Your parents would not want you to stubbornly hold onto a sword."

Is Lan Qing trying to make this child truly believe that they are here to help the Guan family? Is she trying to make this child trust them during the time of escape?

The Eagle Guard Officer listened to him speak, initially thinking he was merely trying to flatter the young lady, but to his surprise, Lan Qing actually hurriedly carried the child outside.

Indeed. Lan Qing remarked nonchalantly, "Brother Changyuan has always regretted that this child has poor aptitude, and he does not want her to bring shame to the Guan family, so he does not allow her to meet outsiders"

At this time, she should have been asleep, but her father wanted her to look carefully with her eyes. She had to listen to her father's words, rubbing her small eyes and trying hard to open them wide. ... Mother, the ground is very cold ... ... It is really cold, why does mother have to keep lying there ... ...

He chuckled softly: "Alright! You are truly obedient, little girl!" He moved his limbs slightly, letting out a quiet sigh; his internal organs ached a bit, but this minor pain was nothing compared to the shame he felt from the little one witnessing his wild, dog-like coupling.

Therefore, I will allow Guan Changyuan's wife to remain intact. Once the girl reveals the location of the sword, I will not kill her; instead, I will abandon her in a desolate place to fend for herself.

He turned his head to glance at the guard who was vigilantly watching this place, gently shaking his head to indicate that the girl had just crawled over. Lan Qing took the cloak and wrapped it tightly around the girl's cold little body, then picked her up in his arms

Find the Guanjia wet nurse, she is dead! The child she was holding in her arms is also dead

I know you have done many things for me, and once this matter is resolved, I will certainly not forget you. Lanqing, by then, under my protection, who would dare to harm you again

The official's sword-like eyebrows were furrowed together

The man's eyes were bloodshot, and he exerted all his strength to strangle her. However, due to his severe injuries, his strength was greatly diminished, preventing him from snapping her neck in an instant

Big girl ... ... let's hurry up and go

You said, what strategies do you have

For him? The official sneered coldly in his heart. It would be better to say that Lan Qing hoped for someone in the future who could completely protect him, so that he would no longer suffer from the brutal bullying of those in the martial world. After pondering for a while, he still had doubts and asked again:

Someone rushed in, saw her corpse, and shouted

Indeed. We rushed here overnight, hoping to save Guan Changyuan's family, but unfortunately, we arrived just a step too late... We can only hope that the one who died in the wet nurse's room is not the daughter of the Guan family; otherwise, the Guan family will truly face extinction. He had a handsome face, dark skin, and a pair of eyes that were sinister and concealed a murderous intent

The man looked at his still dazed daughter and hoarsely asked

The official suddenly realized the truth

Lan Qing did not reply to him, murmuring softly

Why is everyone in the Guan family so foolish? The Black Hawk guards would rather shatter everything than let innocent lives go unscathed. Does Guan Changyuan never seek to understand these ugly matters of the martial world?

Big girl, I am sorry for you!

The girl is about two or three years old, with a slightly wide skull, resembling him, and is currently squinting her eyes in a dazed manner

Father! Father! Her small body struggled in the air, her little face flushed, and her short limbs flailed desperately, even hitting the man's face

Quickly, he arrived at the cliff and looked towards the girl.

Lan Qing and Wei Guan exchanged words, expressing their regret and sorrow over the extermination of the Guan family. Suddenly, he exclaimed, "This trunk..." He swiftly opened the lid of the trunk, coming face to face with the big girl's eyes.

The Black Hawk guard glanced at him and said

Lan Qingbai shot him a glance. "Isn't it all for you!"

This is terrible, not leaving a single living soul from the Guan family, we have no way to explain this! The Black Hawk must leave the Guan family's child alive!

Wei Guan thought carefully and understood that Lan Qing was selfish. Allowing Guan Da Niu to fend for herself was the best outcome in Lan Qing's hands. Thus, he finally nodded

Indeed, a tiger does not eat its own cubs. I almost thought that Guan Changyuaning was willing to sacrifice his daughter to preserve the Mandarin Duck Sword

I remember there was a cliff not far ahead, the cliff was not high, I pretended to lead the girl to escape, personally taking her to jump down...

You are a stranger, I am an acquaintance. For the past six months, she has been spending time with me. Do you think she trusts me? I also find it strange that she has not yet spoken to me. After thinking it over, it must be because you, as an outsider, are present. Her demeanor is frivolous, clearly superficial, in stark contrast to her appearance when she was at the Guan family.

"Child, come with your parents. This place is not suitable for you; you are foolish and cannot face others..." This made him secretly angry. Even if the Guanjia child is not a prodigy, they should not be a fool... He had originally planned to have his wife conceive again in the next two years, preferably giving birth to a boy to inherit the Guanjia name, so that in the future, a clever younger brother could protect this foolish sister... But now, his dream is shattered. In this lifetime, he can only have this one foolish child. He had originally planned to have his wife conceive again in the next two years, preferably giving birth to a boy to inherit the Guanjia name, so that in the future, a clever younger brother could protect this foolish sister... But now, his dream is shattered. In this lifetime, he can only have this one foolish child.

He buried it in that small shoulder hollow for a while

You bastard ... ... It's now three in the morning, and you finish before four! I still want to resolve the matter of that silly girl as soon as possible ... ... Hey you ... ...

Lan Qing gently brushed over her eyelids, offering a slight smile

Is he a fool?" the official asked in a low voice

Unbeknownst to him, the girl was once again staring at him. No longer looking at her mother, she chose instead to observe him, capturing every expression of his in her gaze. Why?

Daughter... the young girl wanted to reach out and wipe away her mother's blood

Do you only doubt me? Which task have I not completed as you instructed?

The official displayed a strange expression. "Do you want to die?"

"Indeed, she is already dead; it appears to be a case of suicide by poison," he said with a cold smile. "She was somewhat clever, knowing how terrible the torment would be if she survived."

Her beautiful face was smeared with sorrow, as if she had just lost her dearest relative, yet when she passed by the corpse of the big girl’s mother, she did not even glance at it.

"Brother Yuan... let her go... she is only two years old, she will soon forget us... I beg you..." The woman who had taken poison earlier had blood continuously flowing from the corner of her mouth

Your act of taking her to jump off the cliff to test trust was rather bold, yet it is indeed a remarkable idea, though it has put you in a difficult position

Guan Changyuan is indeed a man, completely disbelieving the legends of the martial world that one can acquire evil skills through the body of Lan Qing. Between him and me, there is nothing but purity, unlike you, who tried again and again before finally giving up. Lan Qing did not even glance at Wei Guantie's pale face and casually said: If you do not believe me, you can handle it yourself, so I won't have to coax a foolish girl.

Someone is calling outside again

He called her, big girl

He protected the girl's head and body, leaping off the cliff without a second thought. Guan Changyuan once said that there is a cliff here, and the cliff is not high; if one unfortunately falls, as long as one is prepared in advance, it is certain that serious injury can be avoided

The little child was still foolishly staring at the two of them, his chubby little hand reaching up to touch his face

"Big girl must know," Lan Qing said without hesitation. "The secret of the Mandarin Duck Sword is known only to the three members of the Guan family. The Mandarin Duck Sword has always been passed down to males, not females. However, in this generation, there has been an exception. Unless Brother Changyuan has children in the future, Big Girl has been the sword master since the moment she was born. This is what Brother Changyuan personally told me."

"Little girl, did you just crawl over to find Uncle Lan?" He noticed her small shoes nearby, paused for a moment, and quickly helped her put on her shoes properly. Her little hands and feet were as cold as ice, clearly having been here for quite a while.

Indeed, it is Guan Changyuan's wife! Where are his children? Why are they not in sight? Has anyone seen them?

The little doll in his arms ignored him. Was she really so scared that she was dumbfounded? ... She didn't even react upon seeing such a disgusting thing ... . ... Gritting his teeth, he quickened his pace, almost moving with lightness by the end.

Suddenly, the small bedroom was empty

In the darkness, small eyes stared ahead without blinking

How is it possible

She stayed in the wardrobe for a long time, her mother's figure gradually obscured by darkness, yet she kept her little eyes open, straining to look in the direction where her mother lay

Hmph, you want to drive me away and take the mandarin duck sword for yourself? You wish!" Wei Guan pulled Lan Qing over and actually embraced her. Lan Qing pushed him away and said angrily

Girl, tell Uncle Lan, have you ever seen a short sword?

"It is my misunderstanding, it is my fault. What do you think I should do now to obtain another sword?" Lan Qing pressed her beautiful lips together and said reluctantly

The cold wind fiercely swept through, parting the wild grass before her while also bringing with it the intermittent sounds of conversation

"Alright, let's go quickly!" the official urged.

The night wind was very strong, almost blowing away the cloak that Uncle Lan had draped over her. She clutched the oversized cloak tightly, swaying as she walked or crawled through the wild grass

She peeked through the narrow seam of the wardrobe, observing a young man of about seventeen or eighteen years old walking ahead. His long hair was casually tied up with a jade hairpin, and he had a very handsome face, dressed in simple and elegant white clothing. Usually, he liked to toss her into the sky and then catch her with a hearty laugh.

Do you not believe me? Then do you believe yourself?

As the voices of people outside drew near, he and his wife exchanged a deep glance. After his dying wife nodded tearfully, he rushed out of the room without looking back, shouting: "No one is allowed to touch my wife's corpse!"

His only child is just over two years old, and her learning ability is slower than that of her peers. Moreover, she is a girl. If she were to recognize a thief as her father and even be exploited by the criminal, it would be the most terrible disgrace for the Guan family. It would be better, it would be better...

Big girl, I almost thought you had left as well. I can't believe your father actually softened his heart and kept you here, which shows that I still do not know him well enough

The official stood at the door, receiving the message

It is best that you have seen her. Come with me to see if that deceased child is truly Guan Daniu

"Big girl, do you remember, you just need to believe your own eyes! Do not trust anyone else, just trusting your eyes is enough! Even if you are foolish, as long as you look carefully, you will eventually understand everything!" After a pause, he forcefully pulled down the small tender hand that was wiping his tears, his voice becoming even more hoarse: "From now on, you are not allowed to have the surname Guan! You will only bring shame to the Guan family, you do not have the surname Guan, do you understand? I, Guan Changyuan, do not have a child like you!" He hugged her soft body tightly once more, looking around before opening the wardrobe and stuffing her inside. His voice became even more hoarse: "From now on, you are not allowed to have the surname Guan! You will only bring shame to the Guan family, you do not have the surname Guan, do you understand? I, Guan Changyuan, do not have a child like you!" He hugged her soft body tightly once more, looking around before opening the wardrobe and stuffing her inside.

The official slowly turned his head, meticulously scanning every corner of the bedroom. Finally, his hawk-like black eyes rested on the trunk.

"My dear girl, we cannot stop here. Although I have relaxed the guard's vigilance, his suspicion is too strong, and he will come to spy on us soon. The next moment will be crucial for our survival." He lifted her small body.

She tightly pursed her lips

Lan Qing casually responded and, as she and the official left one after the other, a soft "click" echoed in the quiet little sleeping chamber, barely audible.

Why not take a gamble? I will find an opportunity to elope with the girl.

She heard someone outside shouting: Guan Changyuan is dead! Tears suddenly streamed down her face as she exerted all her strength to close the trunk, leaving only a small gap for the child to breathe. Without hesitation, she let out her last breath and passed away.

Rationality tells him that Lan Qing cannot stay for long; otherwise, he will face a backlash every day, and he may not be able to kill this young man in time... However...

As Lan Qing crossed over the corpse of Guan Changyuan's wife, she discovered that the big girl was staring straight at her mother

It seems that the little girl is frightened. Lan Qing covered the little girl's small ears and said softly, "Do you really think a child just over two years old can endure your kind of torture? The little girl is too young and foolish; if she doesn't take this opportunity to understand, when she grows a bit older, she will surely forget everything her father once said completely.

Lan Qing did not stop until he noticed that the attendant behind him had halted. A trace of an indescribable emotion flickered in his beautiful eyes before he turned to ask:

Look at how insincere you are; you are just eager for me to take the girl and leave quickly so that you can obtain the sword as soon as possible... What are you doing?

He had a strange odor about him, yet the girl did not protest.

The official, upon hearing this, endured the humiliation in silence

"Girl, your Uncle Wei has something to attend to, let's leave for now, okay? We should go a bit further so we won't encounter those bad people." The doll in his arms showed no signs of struggle, simply allowing him to hold it.

Lan Qing turned to look at him, and that glance was filled with calculation

If you have the ability, then take her with you! Who told you not to infiltrate the Guan family yourself? Otherwise, by now you would have already become familiar with that silly girl, and I wouldn't have to go through all this trouble. The Mandarin Duck Sword, hum, can that pair of broken swords even catch my eye?

Uncertain how much time had passed, Lan Qing rose to pick up his long robe and put it on, taking a hairpin to tie up his long hair as he walked towards her. His eyes were cold and devoid of emotion, yet he scolded with a smile: "You have no sense of restraint. I will go check on that girl and make some preparations..." Suddenly pausing, he gazed into the pair of doe-like eyes of the little child.

The young woman gazed at him with bright eyes, not blinking at all.

She remained silent, continuously looking at her mother, hoping that she would wake up soon to help her lift the heavy lid of the trunk

The orange light outside was bright, and the voices of people were bustling. A strong smell of blood and burning flesh permeated the Guanjia household. It would not be long before someone would come here to kill. The man could no longer bring himself to strike the fatal blow, gritting his teeth and whispering in her ear

This child, Mingming, was not foolish before. Even though her reactions were slow, every time she saw him coming to find her, she would smile and call him Uncle Lan. It was he who harmed her

Cannot find the wet nurse! Could it be that she fled in advance

"Are you talking about that girl?" The young man scoffed and said, "Didn’t someone say that she died along with her wet nurse? Brother Guan, take a look at your subordinates; it seems you have gained nothing from this."

Then the handsome Uncle Lan came to the place where her mother lay, lowering his gaze to observe.

The sound continued incessantly, intermittently resembling the labored breathing of her aged wet nurse, and she never once averted her gaze.

"Pah, I would rather die than find a foolish child to accompany me to the grave. The cliff is not high. How could I die? I will take her and jump off the cliff; I will surely be injured. You wait until dawn to come find me; by then, she will be so frightened that she will be at her wits' end. I will then coax her and deceive her with some words. I do not believe that after this jump, she will not completely depend on me!"

Indeed, the girl resembles Brother Changyuan very much... The girl, Uncle Lan has come late. " Lan Qing wiped away the bloodstains on her small face, gently soothing her: "It's all right now, it's all right.

Is that so ... ... The gaze of the official is tinged with cruelty. In that case, it would be better to subject him to torture and see if this little fool will speak!

Lan Qing was silent for a moment before speaking

She called him Uncle Lan

Lan Qing, are you reveling in someone else's misfortune? That girl called Daniu is kept under strict protection by Guan Changyuan, and outsiders do not easily get to see her. It is only because Guan Changyuan regards you as a brother that you are able to have contact with her, isn't it?

"Spare her life? So that she can recognize the thief as her father and serve the thief?" The man gritted his teeth, pushed his wife away, and was determined to give the girl a swift death without suffering. However, he found that his daughter was no longer struggling, merely staring at them blankly with her eyes.

Is this the big girl? The official stepped forward to take a closer look. This child has a shadow that is seven parts similar to her, it is indeed those eyes... These eyes are upright, but slightly lack clarity, it seems she is indeed not a clever child

He instinctively turned his eyes away, his face full of embarrassment and shame. Then, as if that shame was merely a misunderstanding, he shifted his thoughts and once again wore a beaming smile, saying:

Lan Qing understood his implication and smiled at the girl, saying: "Girl, do you still remember Uncle Lan? I was just playing with you yesterday... Do you know where your father has gone?"

He slowly got up, stretched his limbs, and after confirming that he could endure the pain and run, he turned to look at the big girl sitting on the muddy ground watching him, and said softly

Lan Qing remained calm, striding forward with large steps, her lips slightly pursed as she sighed: "What should I do? Both Changyuan and his wife have encountered trouble; if the big girl also faces an issue, I would be failing Changyuan!"

"Big girl, you are still alive!" He awkwardly picked her up, and she did not struggle at all. He couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief; it seemed that the big girl had not understood their earlier conversation. He secretly caressed her small, soft body, confirming that she had not suffered even the slightest harm.

The woman forced a warm smile

Lan Qing followed the gaze of the guard, landing on a box that could fit a child. He exchanged a glance with the guard, knowing that a child could not remain in a confined space for long; there must be a gap for breathing. Therefore, the girl must be watching or listening to their every move at this moment

Father ... ... do not cry ... ... Mother, Honghong, is bleeding ... ...

Hmm? Lan Qing looked at him

She still does not respond

When Lan Qing looked at the big girl again, his heart suddenly skipped a beat

Two men stepped into the small sleeping room one after the other

"Big girl, your father is a good man, but unfortunately he is too foolish and has been misled by others. However, there is one thing he said that I am very grateful for. He said that the rumors about the demon god Lanqing in the martial world are all false, and that they are simply tarnishing my reputation. For the first time, someone has acknowledged that I am being wronged." Then, his expression turned fierce as he lowly shouted, "Guan Changyuan, I am taking your daughter away!"

I apologize, Brother Changyuan, for my tardiness. Since you have entrusted me with Daniu, it is the last vestige of your trust in me, and I will certainly protect her. He took a deep breath, disregarding his internal injuries, and disappeared into the hazy night with Daniu in his arms

The girl is also watching him

Lan Qing is very patient, gently stroking her fine hair. "Your father has gone to a faraway place, you... you be good, will you follow Uncle Lan from now on?"

I would rather she recognize a thief as her father than let the girl come with us!" The woman cried out, rushing forward to embrace the man. "Brother Yuan, let her go, as long as she is alive, I just want her to be alive, please let the girl go...

Lan Qing pondered for a moment, raised her eyebrows, and smiled, saying: "I see that she does not believe you."

At last, she was exhausted from climbing and sat on the damp grass, allowing the taller wild grass to obscure her view. Her little shoes had fallen into the mud, and her small feet were covered in dirt. A gray mouse jumped onto her little shoe, blinking its small eyes as it caught the scent of blood on her, before quickly disappearing into the wild grass, never to be seen again

The big girl was never a clever person. Long-term brother once revealed the truth after getting drunk, and even he did not expect to have a foolish child. It is very difficult to extract the mandarin duck sword from her mouth, yet it can also be easy if one wishes to simplify it. Lan Qing laughed dismissively.

When it comes to ruthlessness, Lan Qing is absolutely no match for him. It is now easy to coax Lan Qing; once the sword is in hand, it will be simple to deal with Lan Qing, as this tender young lad cannot endure even a little hardship. Wei Guan, who is adaptable and flexible, said:

Wei Guan was well aware that Lan Qing had a delicate temperament. If it were not for her considerable cunning and the fact that she had been involved in several major cases where she showed no hesitation in killing, the usual Lan Qing was no different from an ordinary young nobleman who could not tolerate grievances and loved to act spoiled.

But he forgot that the strong winds were relentless tonight, resulting in a swift wind speed. While he protected the girl, he could only manage to shield his own head and feet, and then he fell into the muddy ground by the creek.

The official immediately took out a thin paper depicting a bronze sword. "Look, it looks exactly the same," Lan Qing's tone softened. "Your father must have mentioned it, right? It's called the Mandarin Duck Sword. Think carefully about what your father said about the Mandarin Duck Sword, and if you tell me, this Uncle Wei will surely avenge you.

The girl in the wardrobe, with small eyes that did not blink, was watching her mother sleeping on the ground through a narrow crack. She could not go out, she could not go out, a voice in her heart kept repeating.

He kicked the corpse several times in disgust, and all of this fell into the pair of small eyes in her clothing box. "There should be one more person in the Guan family," said another man, much older than Uncle Lan, whom she was completely unfamiliar with.

The tall man hurriedly entered the child's bedroom, without uttering a word, and rudely dragged the sleeping girl up.

His whole body was in excruciating pain. He gritted his teeth and endured it, first checking to see if the girl in his arms was injured. As he lifted the cloak, to his surprise, she remained calm and unafraid, still looking at him.

Aren't you unable to endure the pain?

Then... the official gritted his teeth. Lan Qing pondered for a moment and then said to the big girl:

"Alright, alright, keep your voice down. I finally managed to get her to sleep."

The woman wiped away the black blood trickling from the corner of her mouth and staggered to the trunk. Gasping for breath, she forcefully pushed her beloved child back into the trunk

Yuan Ge... Yuan Ge... Don't! She is the big girl! She is your daughter with me!" The woman stumbled into the bedroom, using all her strength to hold onto the man's arm. "Please spare her life! The big girl is a descendant of the Guan family! She is your daughter!"

"How long must we endure this escape?" The official expressed some impatience. "Using torture might drive her insane, but if I don't press her, it feels like talking to a mute. If in the end I gain nothing, then I will personally execute Guan Changyuan's daughter!"

She detected a nauseating odor and was about to say it stinks when suddenly, a sharp pain struck her neck, rendering her unable to breathe

Lan Qing's heart skipped a beat, and she forced a smile, exclaiming in surprise