In contrast, Gu Changsheng burst into laughter the moment she heard the jingling sound!

With Gu Changsheng’s laughter, Yu Lianyi immediately halted her steps. In the next instant, she warily backed up a few steps, keeping an eye on the folding fan in Gu Changsheng’s hand!

Obviously, Nangong Yun suffered a silent loss with that fan. Yu Lianyi had learned to be proactive, resolutely refusing to allow Gu Changsheng the chance to get close and fan her!

"Miss, do you really need to be so guarded?" Gu Changsheng couldn’t hold back her laughter when she saw that Yu Lianyi’s actions caused the clinking of the bottles and jars in her sleeves to get louder.

Raising her hand, she pointed to the distance between them and then to where they stood. Gu Changsheng couldn’t contain her laughter, "Why are you nervous? We’ve only just left the stands and haven’t even reached the arena yet."

Faced with Gu Changsheng’s question, Yu Lianyi cautiously stared at her in silence.

"Miss, I must remind you, are you sure you want to use what’s in your sleeve on me? Don’t you need to reconsider?" Unbothered by Yu Lianyi’s silence, Gu Changsheng blinked her phoenix eyes and kindly reminded her.

"The elders have decided; forgive me, Lianyi cannot defy them!" Finally, Yu Lianyi broke her silence, looking at Gu Changsheng from afar, her eyes revealing a hint of anticipation she couldn’t hide, yet she pretended to be troubled as she spoke softly.

"Haha!" Upon hearing this, Gu Changsheng laughed, turned around, and glanced at the elders sitting in the side stands, a flash of disdain passing through her eyes as she spoke in a deep voice, "Alright, you want to use poison on me! I will allow it! Yu Lianyi, in terms of martial arts, you’ve already lost to me once. This time, I won’t bully the weak and give them an excuse to talk!"

Pausing here, Gu Changsheng looked up again, her bright face showing an audacious and unrestrained expression, her lips curled as she spoke proudly, "Defeated opponent, no need to fight again! If you want to use poison, go ahead, bring it on. If I resist a bit or struggle an inch, I’ll admit I’ve lost this duel!"

With that, Gu Changsheng waved her sleeve and strode toward the center of the arena!

The domineering aura filled with confidence immediately made Yu Lianyi’s face flash with disbelief, her small hand on the sleeve tightening involuntarily!

Watching as Gu Changsheng strolled to the center of the arena and stood still, the people below the stage were left dumbfounded.

Especially when they saw Gu Changsheng close her folding fan and hook it onto her waist, appearing to give up resistance, the audience below the stage erupted, and the eyes of the people on the stage showed a hint of surprise. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"My heavens! What is the Southern Emperor doing? Is she really going to surrender?"

"Southern Emperor! Don’t just stand there! They’re clearly going to use poison, you should at least take out your medicine to resist!"

"Southern Emperor! This is not a joke! You could be signing your own death warrant!"

"..."

The voices rose from the audience below, buzzing into Gu Changsheng’s ears, yet she ignored them!

Just as Gu Changsheng stood motionlessly, under the dumbfounded gazes of the crowd, Yu Lianyi slowly walked to the center of the arena, not too far nor too near, facing Gu Changsheng from the opposite side...

Looking at Gu Changsheng, who was so calm, Yu Lianyi suddenly felt less assured for some reason. She couldn’t help but turn her head to glance at the side stands...

In the side stands, the elders of the Hidden World Clan watched Yu Lianyi earnestly, especially Elder Yuh, who even stood up, nervously at the entrance of the side stands, looking at Yu Lianyi with encouragement, gesturing a cheer to her!

Yu Lianyi’s eyes shifted from the side stands to another section of the stands, finally resting on her heart’s longing, gazing at her beloved’s face. Thinking about the wealth and glory within reach, Yu Lianyi’s wavering heart quickly solidified!

Win!

Must win!

Even if the world knows she uses poison, so what? Gu Changsheng can use medicine, why can’t I use poison?

As long as I defeat Gu Changsheng, as long as I make this woman, who’s deemed unapproachable by the world, fall at my feet, I will have everything I’ve ever dreamed of!

Gu Changsheng, you think you’re so remarkable, don’t you? You stand above and look down on the world, don’t you?

The Heavenly Dao is unfair, favoring you with stunning beauty and a noble background, but so what? You will still be defeated at my feet, defeated by me—a humble concubine-born daughter in your eyes!

Jealousy’s flame burned in Yu Lianyi’s heart, spreading like wildfire, turning her once gentle gaze into icy sharpness. Yu Lianyi’s hand tightened on her sleeve until it formed a firm grip...

At this moment, in the main stands, Old Madam Zuoqiu and Zhuge Qian appeared tense, and even Shi Wujue straightened up from his seat, his slanted eyebrows slightly furrowed, worriedly looking at the woman standing in the center of the arena, gesturing invitingly at Yu Lianyi, unable to hide his concern in his eyes...

She actually put away her folding fan!

Is she intending to abandon using medicine on Yu Lianyi?

Moreover, with her current stance, relaxed to the utmost, is this complete surrender?

This woman is incredibly arrogant to a point that even leaves me speechless!

Doesn’t she realize that when the Hidden World Clan decides to use poison, it’s not just any ordinary poison they’ll use? How could she be so bold as to this extent? What’s the difference between this and choosing to be a sitting duck?

"Zhou, are you sure she’s going to be okay?"

The ones competing aren’t that worried, but those of us watching her compete are worried sick!

Shi Wujue couldn’t help but nudge Zhou Mu with his elbow again, lowering his voice to ask.

Zhou Mu, hearing this, looked up at the martial arts training ground, glanced at the red figure standing still, lowered his long eyelashes slightly, and nodded, "Mm, she’s going to bully people again..."

"Zhou, what nonsense are you talking about? Can’t you see she’s standing there like a sitting duck? How is she going to bully people? She’s obviously the one set up to be bullied!" When he heard this, Shi Wujue’s world-shocking face was immediately tinged with anger, and he sternly retorted in a low voice.

"Shi Wujue..." Zhou Mu heard this, turned his head, and gave Shi Wujue a deep look, pondering for a moment before speaking slowly, "In terms of status, martial arts, appearance, you and I are evenly matched, you know, why does this king stand by her even after owing you such a favor?"

Upon hearing this, a look of daze appeared on Shi Wujue’s world-shocking face.

His white hair fluttered, his black robe cloud-like, not hiding his slightly dazed expression. He did not expect Zhou Mu would ask this kind of question at this moment, in this setting...

"Because this king knows her more than he knows himself!"

Finally, while Shi Wujue was lost in thought, Zhou Mu looked at the back of Gu Changsheng and, in a slow voice, uttered this sentence.

Knowing her more than knowing oneself?

Shi Wujue heard this, and his expression momentarily froze.

Only by wholeheartedly caring about someone can one truly understand them, right?

This woman, whom he met on his fief, at that time, he was the undefeated War God Zhou Mu, and she was just an unknown young Medicine Lady, not yet the Southern Emperor, did he recognize her as the one then?

When he took the reckless step of asking her to marry him in defiance of the world’s opinions, offering her wealth and status with all he had, was it then that he understood her?

Turns out, what he lost to wasn’t Zhou Mu, but time...

Shi Wujue looked at the back of Gu Changsheng, and his expression gradually turned to desolation!

Even if, even if there wasn’t the long river of time between them, so what? He had no identity, no position, no qualification to be by her side, did he?

Everything is destiny, not controlled by humans in the slightest!

In that instant, Shi Wujue felt a deep sense of helplessness...

Gu Changsheng, unaware of everything on the main viewing platform, was looking at Yu Lianyi on the opposite, raising her eyebrows and blinking, impatiently urging, "Hey, girl, aren’t you supposed to customarily say ’I concede’ and then begin? Don’t worry, I’m ready, go ahead!"

As she said this, Gu Changsheng put her hands behind her back, puffing out her proud chest towards Yu Lianyi!

Girl, don’t just stand there, hurry up and start!

I’ve been eagerly waiting to taste the poison, wondering what kind of poison the Elders of the Hidden World Clan have prepared for me, hope it can catch my eye!

You know, Gu Changsheng has a very picky mouth!

Ordinary herbs won’t satisfy her appetite at all; if the Hidden World Clan tries to deal with her using laxatives or Itching Powder or something, Gu Changsheng guarantees she’ll flip out!

Because that would be looking down on her, Gu Changsheng, that’s a disgrace, isn’t it?

Hmph!

"Southern Emperor, I concede!" Finally, Yu Lianyi couldn’t hold back her eagerness any longer. Although her pretty face was cold as frost, her eyes were vicious with the desire to step forward and crush Gu Changsheng beneath her feet, she still managed to maintain a show of decorum as she bowed in pretentious politeness!

Seeing this, Gu Changsheng couldn’t help but curl her lip!

Jeez, the White Lotus is just the White Lotus! Never forgets her mission as a Lotus Bitch, performing this act to perfection!

While Gu Changsheng was silently fuming, Yu Lianyi, standing opposite, moved!

Incredibly quickly, she pulled out a Porcelain Vial from her sleeve, her martial arts practitioner’s skill executed to perfection, her movements smooth as she deftly uncorked the vial...

Then...

Then, to Gu Changsheng’s wide-eyed surprise, she straightforwardly flung the contents of the Porcelain Vial towards her face...