4. Pile of White Bones, Red Plum Calamity

The two women were both in a state of panic, and naturally could not come up with a solution. Gu Qiuhan appeared calm on the surface, but as he watched the rows of plum trees fall, and the enemy's footsteps grew ever closer, he felt quite troubled inside. Unable to think of any way out, he picked up a firewood stick, searching around while bitterly smiling and saying, "Raise the surrender flag, and all will be well." He wanted to find a piece of white cloth, and his gaze fell upon the curtain that wrapped around the remains of Ma Wenbi. He sighed and said, "Senior Ma, I had intended to give you a proper burial, but alas, fate has not favored me, and I have been delayed until now. If I, Gu Qiuhan, survive this calamity, I will surely come to clear your name and give you a grand burial in the future." As he spoke, a sudden flash of inspiration struck him, and he came up with a novel and bold idea.

The old man, seeing him amiable and speaking with confidence, felt reassured and said with a smile, "Get in the car." The three were overjoyed and scrambled to climb aboard. The cart was loaded with some firewood, which felt like a soft mattress laid out beneath them, making it very comfortable to lie on. Before long, the three of them fell asleep simultaneously without any prior agreement. In the evening, the ox cart slowly entered the county town of Ye County, and the three thanked the old man before settling down at an inn.

Gu Qiuhan took out a dagger and slightly widened the gap between the two door panels. He then concentrated his true energy in his right hand and nodded towards Shen Bisha on the beam. Shen Bisha gently poked open a few tiles and suddenly leaped upwards, allowing a skeleton to burst through the hole. Upon hearing the unusual noise from the roof, everyone outside looked up, and a dozen sharp arrows shot unhesitatingly towards the roof. Gu Qiuhan seized the opportunity, threw with all his might, and the dagger accurately pierced through the gap in the door, embedding itself in the neck of the man in the coarse cloth. Upon hearing the unusual noise from the roof, everyone outside looked up, and a dozen sharp arrows shot unhesitatingly towards the roof. Gu Qiuhan seized the opportunity, threw with all his might, and the dagger accurately pierced through the gap in the door, embedding itself in the neck of the man in the coarse cloth.

Gu Qiuhan smiled and said, "I was never a hero, yet I will hide in the shadows to harm others. What will you do about it?" As he spoke, he flicked his finger, and a stone shot out, striking a tree between the three of them with a loud "bang." The three were startled and quickly raised their knives to protect their chests. Gu Qiuhan sternly warned, "If you do not leave, the next stone will hit you on the head." Suddenly, a man in a coarse robe leaped forward, following the sound, and lunged towards Gu Qiuhan's position. However, after weaving between several plum trees for a moment, he inexplicably circled back to his original spot. Gu Qiuhan reiterated sternly, "If you do not leave, the next stone will hit you on the head." The man in the coarse robe leaped forward again, following the sound, but after weaving between the plum trees for a moment, he again inexplicably returned to his original position. The man's face turned ashen, and he gritted his teeth, cursing, "This is truly damn strange!" His eyes were filled with fear.

Shen Bisha felt that his words were not without reason, but the governor's office inspector Mu Tianxiong was in collusion with Hu Weiyong. Falling into their hands would undoubtedly lead to death, so what further plans could there be?

Gu Qiuhan recounted to Shen Bisha the events surrounding her encounter with Shen Bitiao that day. In the end, she said: "Believe it or not, ever since I was wronged, not only have I been wanted by the authorities, but I have also faced several assassination attempts. The true culprit is likely 'Half a Knife' Lu Li. Although he is already dead, the mastermind behind it is still at large. He must believe that I was the first person to come into contact with your sister that day, and perhaps your sister revealed some secret to me, which is why he wants to silence me." As she spoke, she began to untie the hemp rope binding her hands.

Shen Bisha said, "Shut up!" She looked at Gu Qiuhan, her eyes filled with flames of hatred, and said, "Use your life to exchange for your woman's life." Gu Qiuhan laughed heartily and replied, "Do you think I would be so selfless?" Shen Bisha gritted her teeth and said, "Then let you also taste the bitterness of losing the closest person to you"

It is no wonder that when the laborers were digging up trees and saw various bizarre skeletons in the forest, they felt a chilling sensation. When a skeleton dressed in white suddenly emerged from the roof, how could they not be afraid? Especially at the moment their attention was drawn to the skeleton, the man in the coarse cloth suddenly died, and no one saw that the dagger had been shot from inside the house. In an instant, their imaginations ran wild, convinced that it was the skeleton ghost inside the house that was causing trouble. Fearing that if they delayed their escape, they would meet the same fate as the man in the coarse cloth, they scattered in a panic, like a tide.

Gu Qiuhan examined Shen Bisha's arrow wound, which penetrated about an inch deep, likely injuring the bone. If not treated promptly, her left arm would likely be rendered useless. Without further hesitation, he reached out to wrap his arms around her slender waist, intending to carry her. Shisan anxiously said, "Hey, you are covered in wounds, do you still want to live? We can support her from both sides and carry her in." Gu Qiuhan replied with a smile, "Have you found your conscience? How rare, how rare." Shisan ignored him and lifted Shen Bisha to walk away. If one looked closely, it was not difficult to notice that her cheeks had already flushed with a rosy hue, and Gu Qiuhan could not fathom the thoughts of a young woman.

Thirteen said: "Surely the internal guard also mistook her for Shen Bitiao, and upon seeing her come back to life, they were frightened and captured her." Gu Qiuhan, feeling frustrated, replied: "You look so terrifying, why hasn't the internal guard come out to capture you?" As she glanced at Shen Bisha, she sighed: "We can only wait for her to wake up and then ask her the reason." Thirteen, however, was unconvinced and said: "You have such beautiful thoughts; when she wakes up, won't she just continue to fight you?" Gu Qiuhan thought about it and agreed, unable to help but let out a bitter laugh. She found a piece of hemp rope and tied Shen Bisha's hands together, breathing a sigh of relief: "Alright, now we need not worry about her waking up and finding her head and body separated." She sighed: "We can only wait for her to wake up and then ask her the reason." Thirteen, however, was unconvinced and said: "You have such beautiful thoughts; when she wakes up, won't she just continue to fight you?" Gu Qiuhan thought about it and agreed, unable to help but let out a bitter laugh. She found a piece of hemp rope and tied Shen Bisha's hands together, breathing a sigh of relief: "Alright, now we need not worry about her waking up and finding her head and body separated."

Shen Bisha stared blankly, ignoring it. Shisan said: "Yes, he said that yesterday just to disturb your mind. If he had killed your sister, how could he possibly save you? We are all investigating this case and will definitely provide you with an explanation."

At this moment, Gu Qiuhan had no time to argue with her and pondered, "Could it be that the one who shot Shen Bisha was the Imperial Guard? The three of them did not carry bows and arrows, and it is evident that there were more than just these three who initially surrounded her. They must have either been killed by her or shaken off. Why would the Governor's Office mobilize such a large force to pursue her? The three were dressed in plain clothes, deliberately concealing their identities; what could be the reason for that?"

Gu Qiuhan rolled up the scrolls one by one and returned them to their original place. He had only borrowed a night’s stay and did not wish to offend the late owner of the house, Ma Wenbi. Looking at the disheveled room he had created, Gu Qiuhan could not help but smile wryly. Such a shabby room was amusingly referred to by Ma Wenbi as "Shusheng Studio." He searched for a shovel, and upon realizing that the owner was indeed Ma Wenbi, who had a significant connection to his unfortunate experiences, he felt it was even more necessary to help him rest in peace.

They intend to destroy the 'Red Plum Siege'! The thirteenth voice trembled, and the three individuals immediately became restless again

Gu Qiuhan used a fire stick to lift the skeleton, watching it sway in mid-air while wearing his long gown, which was truly terrifying. He laughed and said: "Life and death, success and failure, all hinge on this one move. Miss Shen, please go to the roof and remove a few tiles to let this skeleton out, and scare these dog-bred people to death."

Gu Qiuhan clicked his tongue repeatedly, never expecting that the remarkable figure Liu Bowen would meet such a fate. Shisan continued, "Before Liu Ji returned to his hometown, he was aware that his days were numbered. He intended to have a long conversation with the Emperor, but was hindered by Hu Weiyong, who even deprived him of the opportunity to bid farewell to the Emperor. Liu Ji had no choice but to quietly write a will, detailing Hu Weiyong's crimes and the evidence of his treason, and concealed it within a painting, hoping that one day it could be delivered to the Emperor by Shen Bitiao. However, for reasons unknown, after Liu Ji's death, Shen Bitiao did not present the will. It was only recently that this secret suddenly came to light, leading to Shen Bitiao's tragic demise." Liu Ji had no choice but to quietly write a will, detailing Hu Weiyong's crimes and the evidence of his treason, and concealed it within a painting, hoping that one day it could be delivered to the Emperor by Shen Bitiao. However, for reasons unknown, after Liu Ji's death, Shen Bitiao did not present the will. It was only recently that this secret suddenly came to light, leading to Shen Bitiao's tragic demise.

The old man, who was hurrying to catch a ride, was taken aback when he heard her say: "Old sir, may we catch a ride with you?" Seeing that this man and two women were covered in dirt and had bloodstains on their bodies, he was unsure of their background. He wanted to refuse but was also afraid of provoking them and bringing about his own demise. Just as he was hesitating, Gu Qiuhan approached and said: "We were injured by robbers and took refuge in the mountains. Unexpectedly, we lost our way and have only just managed to escape. We can no longer walk, so we kindly ask you to assist us."

Gu Qiuhan said: "People!" As soon as the words left his mouth, the sound of hooves suddenly grew louder. Gu Qiuhan took a swift step to the door and peered outside through the crack.

Thirteen said: "According to Liu Jian's eldest son, Liu Lian, Liu Jian was probably harmed by Hu Weiyong." Gu Qiuhan exclaimed, "This is rather sensational!" Thirteen continued: "In the late January of the eighth year of Hongwu, Liu Jian was bedridden. The Emperor sent Hu Weiyong to bring the imperial physician to visit him. Liu Jian took the medicine prescribed by the physician, but not only did his condition not improve, it worsened instead, and he soon passed away after returning home. Two years later, Liu Lian, due to this incident, had a conflict with the Hu faction and was forced to fall into a well, resulting in his death." "This is rather sensational!" Thirteen continued: "In the late January of the eighth year of Hongwu, Liu Jian was bedridden. The Emperor sent Hu Weiyong to bring the imperial physician to visit him. Liu Jian took the medicine prescribed by the physician, but not only did his condition not improve, it worsened instead, and he soon passed away after returning home. Two years later, Liu Lian, due to this incident, had a conflict with the Hu faction and was forced to fall into a well, resulting in his death."

Gu Qiuhan said, "I am the murderer, why are you arresting her?" Shisan shouted, "Are you crazy? You are not the murderer, why do you need to admit it?"

The sharp blade cut through his palm, and blood gushed wildly between his fingers. Ignoring the pain, he stepped forward, pointing his finger like a spear, aiming for her chest. Shen Bisha pulled her sword but it did not budge, causing her to panic. She quickly released the wrist of Shisanhao and used her left hand to block Gu Qiuhan's finger. An arrow had struck her left shoulder, and the blood from the wound had just begun to coagulate when it burst open again, causing her to cry out in pain, her entire arm drooping as a result. Gu Qiuhan disregarded the distinction between genders and pressed on her 'Dantian' point, causing Shen Bisha to feel a sudden blockage in her breath and faint to the ground. An arrow had struck her left shoulder, and the blood from the wound had just begun to coagulate when it burst open again, causing her to cry out in pain, her entire arm drooping as a result. Gu Qiuhan disregarded the distinction between genders and pressed on her 'Dantian' point, causing Shen Bisha to feel a sudden blockage in her breath and faint to the ground

Gu Qiuhan glanced at Shen Bisha, then looked at Shisan and said with a smile, "You are so good that even if she truly possesses enchanting skills, she still cannot captivate me." Shisan shot him a glare, but inwardly felt quite pleased.

Gu Qiuhan's prediction was not wrong; the man in the coarse cloth was indeed the leader of the group. His mysterious death left the more than ten imperial guards in a state of panic. The two who had fallen into the "Red Plum Trap" last night remarked, "This cursed place is indeed filled with malevolent energy; otherwise... we should retreat." The crowd exchanged glances, yet none dared to volunteer to pass through the remaining plum grove and venture into the house to investigate. Ultimately, they had no choice but to turn their horses and leave.

Gu Qiuhan nodded in agreement, but saw Shen Bisha's beautiful eyes filled with tears, her expression one of sorrow and indignation. She likely recalled the destruction of her family years ago, as well as the price her sister paid for revenge with her life. Gu Qiuhan, feeling compassion, comforted her, saying: "Do not be too sad; we are all victims of Hu Weiyong. It would be better for us to join forces to find that will and avenge your sister." Shisan clapped his hands and said: "This is a good idea. If we can find the will and present it to the Emperor, Hu Weiyong will undoubtedly meet his end."

Due to Shen Bisha's serious injuries, the two of them carried her to bed to rest, and then each found a place to sleep haphazardly for the night. The next day, upon waking, they approached the bed to check on Shen Bisha, only to find her eyes open, gazing at the ceiling above, her face marked with streaks of tears. Gu Qiuhan sighed inwardly and said apologetically, "Some things are not as you imagine; to avoid misunderstandings, I had no choice but to offend you."

A group of people galloped in, quickly surrounding the entire plum grove. Leading them were the three who had escaped yesterday, along with more than ten others dressed in plain clothes, armed with bows and arrows. The rest were all officials, each holding a shovel. Shisan and Shen Bisha squeezed to the front, and upon seeing this scene, they were all terrified. Shen Bisha drew her sword and said, "At worst, we die; let's fight them!" Gu Qiuhan replied, "Do not act rashly; they cannot get in." Only then did the two women remember the protection of the 'Red Plum Formation' and breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Gu Qiuhan expressed his confusion, saying: "What are they doing with shovels? Is it possible that the government lacks weapons?" There is no doubt that these constables were summoned from the local government offices nearby. Although the world has just begun to stabilize, there may be a shortage of military equipment, but it should not reach the point of using shovels as weapons. As the three of them were filled with suspicion, they saw the constables wielding shovels and starting to dig up the plum trees. A dozen archers drew their bows and aimed directly at the door. The plum grove could trap people, but it could not trap arrows. Once the door opened, they could shoot their arrows freely, easily penetrating the plum grove. As the three of them were filled with suspicion, they saw the constables wielding shovels and starting to dig up the plum trees. A dozen archers drew their bows and aimed directly at the door. The plum grove could trap people, but it could not trap arrows. Once the door opened, they could shoot their arrows freely, easily penetrating the plum grove.

Thirteen shifted the topic and said: "Let’s stay here for a few days, and leave once the injuries have healed a bit?" Gu Qiuhan retorted: "If we stay here to recuperate, what will we eat?" Thirteen tapped his head and joked: "We can wait for a rabbit by the stump, hoping that delicious food gets trapped in the forest by itself, preferably a deer, as I like venison." Gu Qiuhan's expression suddenly changed, and he said in a deep voice: "Food that can be eaten has arrived, but you may not like it."

Gu Qiuhan pondered for a moment and then asked, "What is the position of the Three Altars?" Thirteen, feeling quite pleased with herself, pointed out to him, saying, "This one is the Purple Micro, this one is the Great Micro, and this one is the Heavenly Market. They have removed some peripheral stars but have not touched the roots. If those few high-ranking guards in the palace believe the formation has been broken and recklessly charge in, it will be a dead end for them." Gu Qiuhan tugged at her sleeve and said, "Take me in and dig up these three plants." Both women were simultaneously astonished and asked, "Why?" Gu Qiuhan replied, "This formation is no longer useful; it will only harm innocent lives. It is better to destroy it." Thirteen retorted, "What you are doing is like crossing the river and demolishing the bridge, killing the donkey after the grind, hiding the bow after the birds are gone, and cooking the dog after the rabbit is dead..." She was dragged into the forest by Gu Qiuhan.

The journey ahead is smooth, with sparse trees along the way. However, none of the three are in good condition, making their progress extremely arduous. Upon reaching the official road, they all feel utterly exhausted and can only sit by the roadside to rest. At this moment, a bullock cart slowly approaches, and the thirteen are overjoyed, standing in the middle of the road, adopting a posture as if to rob it.

Thirteen said angrily: "Do not repay kindness with enmity; he did not kill your sister." Shen Bisha spat back: "You shameless couple! The authorities have posted notices to capture him, along with his portrait. Do you still dare to defend him?" Thirteen, filled with rage, exclaimed: "Ah, you dare to insult me!" She raised her hand to strike a slap. Shen Bisha, though not in the best of circumstances, was much stronger than her. She swiftly seized Thirteen's wrist, pulling her into her embrace, and in a flash of cold light, a long sword was drawn across Thirteen's neck.

Gu Qiuhan exclaimed angrily, "Shameless." He was about to rush into the plum grove to assist. Shisan hurriedly grabbed him and said, "They are already trapped inside; all they can see is a sea of red flowers. If you recklessly charge in, you will end up like them." Gu Qiuhan urged, "Then you go in and bring that young lady out." Shisan shrugged, helplessly replying, "They are fighting fiercely; I don't know martial arts. Would I be going in to die? Moreover, even if I bring her out, those three will follow us. Can you handle them?"

Gu Qiuhan was in despair, truly not expecting Shen Bisha to resort to such a tactic, realizing it was too late to save her. Shisan seemed still unaware of the peril she was in, shouting: "You dare! Let go at once!" Shen Bisha tightened her grip on the sword, the sharp blade pressing against Shisan's skin, a chill immediately spreading throughout her body, causing Shisan to panic and no longer dare to struggle in the slightest. Shisan seemed still unaware of the peril she was in, shouting: "You dare! Let go at once!" Shen Bisha tightened her grip on the sword, the sharp blade pressing against Shisan's skin, a chill immediately spreading throughout her body, causing Shisan to panic and no longer dare to struggle in the slightest

After returning to the room, Gu Qiuhan found a medicine box, which contained a packet of wound medicine, though it was uncertain how many years it had been there; perhaps its efficacy had diminished, but it was certainly better than having none. Gu Qiuhan took out a dagger and carefully inserted it along the arrow shaft into the depths of Shen Bisha's wound. She could see Shen Bisha's delicate brows slightly furrowed, her breathing becoming increasingly labored, clearly indicating that even in her unconscious state, she could still feel the excruciating pain. Gu Qiuhan gritted his teeth and with a forceful flick, there was a 'pop' sound as the sharp arrowhead sprang out from Shen Bisha's shoulder. At the same time, she let out a soft 'uh' from her nose, and her brows instantly knitted together. Gu Qiuhan gritted his teeth again, and with another forceful flick, the arrowhead was dislodged, causing Shen Bisha to react similarly. Thirteen hurriedly poured the wound medicine onto her injury, while Gu Qiuhan cut off a piece of her sleeve and tossed it to Thirteen, saying, 'This is your specialty.' Thirteen wrinkled his nose at him and squatted down to properly bandage Shen Bisha's wound.

Three people went together to dig a pit under the plum tree and buried the body of Ma Wenbi. Gu Qiuhan looked at the uneven plum grove and asked, "Miss Thirteen, is this 'Red Plum Killing Formation' still effective?" Miss Thirteen took a look and said, "Fortunately, they only dug half of it; the most important positions of the three barriers remain untouched, and the remaining half can still exert its effect."

Shen Bisha brandished her long sword and said, "They will eventually dig their way over; it is better to strike now to prevent the destruction of a well-formed plum blossom formation." Gu Qiuhan replied, "Do not be hasty. Given our current situation, engaging in a head-on confrontation does not hold much hope for victory. This 'Red Plum Calamity Formation' is filled with countless corpses and has previously claimed innocent lives; if it is to be destroyed, then let it be." Thirteen anxiously interjected, "But if the 'Red Plum Calamity Formation' is destroyed, won't we be caught like turtles in a jar?" Gu Qiuhan responded, "It will take at least half an hour for them to dig through. If we truly cannot devise an escape plan, we might as well surrender. " Shen Bisha shook her head and said, "I would rather die in battle than live in shame." Gu Qiuhan said, "They are not your true enemies. It is not worth it to perish together; moreover, why die in vain? If you still wish to find Liu Ji's legacy and avenge your sister, you must find a way to survive."

The two women were already feeling distressed, and upon hearing his incessant muttering, they both glared at him. Shisan said, "If you can't even take care of the two of us living people, how can you make vows and wishes to the dead? This is truly absurd." Gu Qiuhan smiled and said, "If he still wishes to find peace in the grave, he will ensure that my method succeeds in repelling the enemy." With that, she took off her long robe

Gu Qiuhan scrutinized her as if she were a stranger, but it was understandable; this girl seemed to know everything, and she herself was an enigma. Shisan felt uncomfortable under his gaze and said with slight irritation, "You must be wondering why I know so much. Rest assured, I am definitely not a person like Hu Weiyong, nor will I ever harm you." Gu Qiuhan sighed; even without her saying it, he already knew.

Although Shen Bisha did not interject, she was quietly listening all along and began to understand the general situation. She said, "It is said that Liu Ji commissioned Ma Wenbi to paint a portrait of my sister, but I have never seen it. Over the years, my sister has never mentioned it. The whole matter may not be as simple as you say."

Does Hu Weiyong have treasonous intentions? Gu Qiuhan was increasingly astonished; in his view, Hu Weiyong was merely a petty individual fond of manipulating power, certainly not the kind of cunning hero who cares for the world. He tried to maintain his composure and said: "If that is truly the case, then the mastermind behind this must be Hu Weiyong. No wonder he has gathered assassins to pursue me and Miss Bi Sha; the crime of treason is no trivial matter, and he cannot afford to be careless, which is why he wants to eliminate anyone who might know the secret." Shisan remarked: "Once the memorial reaches the Emperor, it will undoubtedly implicate many, and everyone in Hu's faction may seek to kill you. Of course, the most likely culprit remains Hu Weiyong himself."

Thirteen said: "Indeed, I will not hide it from you any longer. That painting actually conceals the will of Cheng Yibo Liu Ji." Gu Qiuhan understood that in order to dispel Shen Bisha's misunderstanding of her, she was finally willing to reveal that secret, and felt deeply grateful. However, she did not expect that there was only a will hidden in the painting, so she asked in surprise: "You once said that this secret could cause the bones of the world to pile up like mountains and blood to flow like rivers. How can it be just a will?"

Gu Qiuhan signaled to Shisan, who understood and said: "If the three of you wish to survive, follow my instructions and you can exit the plum forest." The three remained silent, yet their expressions were focused as they listened intently. Shisan instructed: "Take seven steps to the left." The three exchanged glances, nodded in agreement, and stepped left seven paces. "Now take three steps back, five steps to the left, no, no, first turn around, then five steps to the left..." Under Shisan's guidance, the three exited the plum forest. When they looked back, the house that had just vanished reappeared, and in front of it stood a man and a woman, smiling at them. The distance between them was not far, merely separated by over a hundred plum trees.

The four people engaged in the fierce battle were all taken aback, quickly jumping aside and looking around, their faces filled with confusion. Gu Qiuhan secretly laughed to himself and said, "Three men bullying a single girl, do they still have any shame?" His voice, strong and resonant, echoed through the forest, yet no one could be seen, which greatly frightened the three men. One of the burly men shouted, "What business is it of yours? If you have guts, come out! Hiding in the shadows doesn't make you a hero!" The other two murmured, "What’s going on? We clearly saw a house when we came, but now there are only plum blossoms everywhere, and we can't see anything at all?"

Gu Qiuhan had been waiting for this moment, yet he did not dare to be careless in the slightest. Just now, when Shen Bisha engaged in combat with those three individuals, Gu Qiuhan had already discerned that her swordsmanship was extraordinary, qualifying her as a top-tier expert. It was only due to the constraint of her arrow wound that she found herself in such perilous circumstances. At this moment, if he could not strike effectively, he could not guarantee that she would not retaliate with a sword, potentially harming thirteen lives. Therefore, in the blink of an eye, Gu Qiuhan made up his mind; he neither dodged nor attacked, but instead employed the most prudent method by firmly grasping his long sword.

With a sudden change in expression, he said: "She kept it from you, perhaps out of fear that you would be implicated and lose your life. Back then, your father failed in his efforts to control the floods and was beheaded by the emperor, with the entire family confiscated. Shen Bitiao was sold to a brothel; how could she not harbor deep hatred for the emperor? If I am not mistaken, she must have hoped that Hu Weiyong's rebellion would succeed, which is why she concealed the memorial. Later, when she saw that Hu Weiyong was slow to act, she lost patience and used this to coerce him into submission, not expecting to meet with a tragic end instead."

Gu Qiuhan observed that the swordsmanship of the three individuals was exceptionally refined, and their martial arts skills were formidable. With his calf injured, he found himself at a disadvantage and realized he was truly no match for them. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he asked, "Are you saying that once they enter the formation, they will no longer be able to see this house or anything outside the formation?" Thirteen nodded and replied, "The power of the 'Red Plum Robbery Formation' lies precisely here; those who fall into the formation will never be able to escape in their lifetime." Gu Qiuhan smiled, stepped outside, picked up a few stones, and shouted loudly, "Stop!"

The three people in the room could hardly believe that such a large force from the government had been scared away so easily. Gu Qiuhan laughed heartily, feeling extremely proud. However, Shisan did not seem pleased; instead, she huffed and said, "What is there to be proud of? It is merely that they are too incompetent. If the government is all like this, relying on a bunch of useless people, how can we revitalize the Ming Dynasty?" Gu Qiuhan glanced at her and said, "Oh, you still have a heart for the country and the people? That surprises me even more than scaring away this group of fools."

Gu Qiuhan said: "The success of this plan relies entirely on the merit of Senior Ma's remains. We must ensure that he is buried before we leave." The two women expressed their agreement. Gu Qiuhan retrieved his long gown, which, although tattered and previously worn by a deceased person, carried a certain bad omen. However, considering the cold weather, he thought it would be unwise to freeze, so he shook it out and put it back on.

Thirteen's anger had not yet subsided, and she kicked at Shen Bisha. Gu Qiuhan quickly held her back, saying, "Let it go." Thirteen retorted, "She is so wicked, and you still help her?" Gu Qiuhan replied, "She is not wicked; the bond between sisters is deep, and her feelings are understandable." Thirteen shrugged off Gu Qiuhan's grip and said, "You speak so nicely; are you infatuated with this vixen? Just like her sister, she only knows how to confuse men, humph." Gu Qiuhan bit down on his sleeve, tore off a strip of cloth, and while bandaging his wound, said, "What nonsense are you talking about!" His left hand was not very dexterous, making the bandaging quite difficult. Seeing this, Thirteen recalled how Gu Qiuhan had used his hand to grasp the sword's edge to save her, and her heart softened. Reluctantly, she said, "Let me help you." Just like last time, she carefully and meticulously bandaged Gu Qiuhan's wound.

Gu Qiuhan engaged in conversation with her, while quickly contemplating a rescue plan in her mind. It was evident that Shen Bisha's only family in this world was her sister Shen Bitao. The bond between the two sisters was deep and profound. At this moment, Shen Bisha was completely blinded by hatred, and it would not be surprising if she truly killed someone to vent her anger. Gu Qiuhan sighed and said, "Alright, I will exchange with her." She slowly approached, preparing to subdue her at the fastest speed once she got close.

Shen Bisha is not foolish, and she said: "Stop, cut off your hands and exchange them with her." Gu Qiuhan was taken aback, thinking: "The most venomous is a woman's heart, and there is not a bit of falsehood in that saying." Shisan said: "Don't pay attention to her, she is a madwoman!"

Under the guidance of Shisan, Gu Qiuhan removed the four walls and three barriers, and the vast sea of flowers instantly vanished from sight, making his vision clear. Only then was he satisfied, as he staggered away with the two women.

The two individuals walked to the door and looked outside. In the midst of the plum grove, they saw several figures entangled together. By the light of the moon, it was clear that there were three men and one woman. The woman's hair was disheveled, and an arrow was lodged in her shoulder, with blood soaking a large portion of her floral garment, a sight that was shocking. The three men were also injured, but their wounds were much lighter than that of the woman. Three gleaming knives surrounded the woman, trapping her in a precarious situation.

Let us leave as soon as possible, lest they turn back again. This place is already on the border of Funiu Mountain; once we are on the main road, it is only fifty miles to Yexian, where we can rest for the night. Shen Bisha floated down from the beam and placed the skeleton, filled with arrows, on the ground

Gu Qiuhan picked up the arrow and brought it under the lamp for a closer inspection. He discovered that the arrowhead was triangular and had backward-facing barbs, which was quite different from ordinary arrows. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Triangular barbed arrow!" Shisan glanced at it and nodded, saying, "Indeed, it is a specialized arrow of the Governor's Office." Gu Qiuhan asked in doubt, "How do you know this?" Shisan replied evasively, "What's so strange about it? Just because I haven't seen it doesn't mean I haven't heard others talk about it." However, she merely cast a casual glance and was able to accurately identify the arrow as being specifically used by the Imperial Guard of the Governor's Office, suggesting that her knowledge was certainly not as simple as having heard it from someone else.

The white-clad skeleton flashed by on the rooftop and disappeared. Amid the cries of the constables, the man in coarse clothing fell from his horse, blood gushing out in a deep crimson stream, quickly forming a pool beneath him. Two men on either side dismounted and helped him up, only to find a dagger lodged in his throat, and it was clear he would not survive. The constables, witnessing this gruesome scene, were terrified to the core, and someone shouted first, "It's a ghost!" Those who were timid dared not remain in this place of chaos; they dropped their shovels and fled. With this lead, everyone immediately followed suit, some even running away without fully understanding what had happened, confusedly joining the escape.

Thirteen said: "Pah, how could you think of that? Do you believe that the officers of the governor's office are fools?" Gu Qiuhan replied: "That man in the coarse cloth is most likely their leader. When they see a skeleton suddenly appear from the roof, they will surely be startled, and I will take the opportunity to stab that man in the coarse cloth with my dagger." Shen Bisha nodded and said: "If we can kill the one in charge, they will fall into disarray, giving us an additional chance of success." She then took the fire stick, planted her feet on the ground, leaped onto the beam, and used her sword to split a piece of the roof board.

The man in the coarse robe was furious and charged towards Gu Qiuhan with a knife. Shisan shouted, "Do you still want to test the power of the 'Red Plum Trap'? If you fall into it again, do not expect me to guide you out; you will be left to die in the formation, turning into a pile of bones." Upon hearing this, the man in the coarse robe felt a chill in his heart and quickly halted his advance, gazing at the white bones in the forest, realizing that Shisan was not exaggerating. The three hesitated for a moment, whispered a few words in discussion, and then fled.

At that moment, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly echoed from outside, as if something was rushing towards them. The two were taken aback, each thinking: "Is there really someone coming to such a remote place? Or could it be some ferocious beast?" Following that, there was a clattering sound, the noise of weapons clashing!

Shen Bisha saw Gu Qiuhan and was momentarily taken aback. Gu Qiuhan smiled and said, "Do I look familiar?" Shen Bisha pondered for a moment and replied, "I have seen you at the Yunjin Inn." Gu Qiuhan said, "That's right, at that time I really thought I had encountered a ghost, it scared me half to death." Shen Bisha let out a soft "hmph," and suddenly a murderous aura enveloped her. Gritting her teeth, she said, "You are Gu Qiuhan, you killed my sister!" Her jade wrist suddenly lifted, the tip of her sword pointed directly at Gu Qiuhan's throat. However, due to her severe injuries, her body was weak, and with this exertion, she lost her balance and hurriedly leaned the sword against the ground to barely steady herself. She glared fiercely at Gu Qiuhan, her chest heaving, breath coming in gasps. From her appearance, if she had any strength left, she would surely tear Gu Qiuhan to pieces.

Gu Qiuhan and Shisan then carefully looked at the woman. The cold moonlight illuminated her face, making it appear even paler, especially with the bloodstains at the corners of her mouth, which looked somewhat horrifying. "A ghost!" Shisan suddenly exclaimed in terror, "She... is she... Shen Bitiao?"

Thirteen, bewildered, said: "What?"

The two women exclaimed, "What are you doing?" Gu Qiuhan pulled aside the curtain, revealing the skeleton, and then fetched needle and thread to reassemble the broken bones, binding a firewood stick to the spine, and dressing it in his own long shirt. The two women felt a chill as they witnessed him manipulating a corpse's remains, turning their faces away. Thirteen cursed, "What on earth do you intend to do?"

Gu Qiuhan stood with his hands behind his back, a strange smile on his face, and said: "Even if you were to cut off my hands and feet, it would not compare to the humiliation your sister has endured, haha. Do you know what it feels like to be violated before being killed? Your sister truly deserves the title of the world's number one courtesan. After being possessed by that old man Liu Ji for so many years, she still maintains herself so well, her skin smooth and tender..." The more he spoke, the more unbearable it became; even Shisan couldn't help but blush upon hearing it. One can only imagine how furious Shen Bisha must have been. Her body trembled uncontrollably, her teeth biting into her lips until they bled, and she suddenly cried out: "You beast!" The long sword left Shisan's neck and swung towards Gu Qiuhan.

The woman turned her gaze towards the sound, and although she could not see anyone, she still said, "I am not Shen Bitiao, nor am I a ghost." Gu Qiuhan smiled and replied, "She has dimples on her cheeks, while Shen Bitiao does not. Stop calling her a ghost; she is Shen Bitiao's sister, Shen Bisha. Go and bring her out." Shisan was left speechless for a moment before finally understanding, saying, "No wonder you asked me last time if Shen Bitiao and her sister resembled each other. It seems they not only look alike but are strikingly similar!" As he spoke, he entered the forest, leading Shen Bisha out of the 'Red Plum Ambush'.