A few fake Golden Silkworm Gus flew to the side of the Gu Mother, much like a weary bird returning to its nest, circling around the Gu Mother a few times before finally landing on her hand.

The Miao Borderlands Gu Mother is said to be the mother of all Gu insects, able to control all the Gu insects in the region. Even Gu insects that have owners will see the Gu Mother as their true master. These fake Golden Silkworm Gus are no exception in the presence of the Gu Mother, such is the Gu Mother's authority.

With a silver-bell-like laughter coming from her lips, the Gu Mother reached out to play with the few fake Golden Silkworm Gus, murmuring a few words as she brought them to her mouth, then gestured towards Huo Ying. These fake Golden Silkworm Gus seemed to understand the Gu Mother's thoughts and flew to Huo Ying's side, landing on her shoulder.

Seeing these fake Golden Silkworm Gus, Huo Ying grew tense. Although she could control them before, now she found herself unable to do anything. These fake Golden Silkworm Gus had completely submitted to the Gu Mother and were beyond her control. Moreover, even though these are fake Golden Silkworm Gus, they possessed some characteristics of the true Golden Silkworm Gu, their abilities surpassing even the Twin Life Gu, with terrifying power. Whoever they landed on would have to be extremely cautious.

The Gu Mother, unfazed by Huo Ying's anxiety, casually said, "Huo Ying, go out and find these two people for me. I'll gift you these un-evolved Golden Silkworm Gus as protective Gu insects. Remember, if they are in danger, you must help rescue them, no matter what, understand?"

"Yes!" Huo Ying responded promptly, overjoyed. The Gu Mother's words informed her that she could control these fake Golden Silkworm Gus once again.

Huo Ying's previous Gu insects had been killed in battle, so she was now wholly focused on cultivating a new Gu insect, though this required time. In the world of Miao Borderlands Gu Masters, having no Gu insects equated to being nearly useless. Without her new Gu insect fully cultivated, she had few advantages over ordinary people. Going out as she was, the thought of self-protection was worrying.

With these few fake Golden Silkworm Gus from the Gu Mother, she suddenly found herself able to deploy Gu insects. Importantly, the power of these fake Golden Silkworm Gus was formidable enough to significantly increase her strength, allowing her to roam the world unchallenged!

Beside her, the Wood Stretching Gu Master watched Huo Ying's excitement, cold sparkle flashing in his eyes. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately remained silent.

After discussing the affairs of the Miao Borderlands with the Dong Master of Seventy-Two Dong, the Gu Mother dismissed the crowd, and Huo Ying immediately left the mountains with the few fake Golden Silkworm Gus. She followed the Gu Mother's orders to seek out Ye Qing and Huangfu Ziyu.

Though the others departed, the Gu Mother stayed in the grand hall, seeming to wait for something. About half an hour passed when a woman hurriedly entered, bowing and saying, "Sacred peace to the Gu Mother, Wood Stretching Protector requests an audience."

The Gu Mother laughed softly and said, "Let him in."

"Yes!" The woman exited the grand hall and shortly returned with the Wood Stretching Gu Master.

The Wood Stretching Gu Master entered the middle of the grand hall, and like everyone from Miao Borderlands, greeted the Gu Mother with a bow and said, "Sacred peace to the Gu Mother."

The Miao people's respect for the Gu Mother required kneeling and saluting at first meeting, and even someone as highly esteemed as the Wood Stretching Gu Master was no exception. Their reverence was from deep within their hearts.

The Gu Mother said, "Wood Stretching Protector, your arrival wouldn't be regarding Huo Ying, would it?"

The Wood Stretching Gu Master was slightly startled; the Gu Mother's guess was spot on. He truly came because of Huo Ying. Moreover, upon arrival and reporting, entry was granted immediately, showing that the Gu Mother had remained in the hall and hadn't left. The Wood Stretching Gu Master, an astute person, realized that the Gu Mother was likely waiting for him, implying she knew his true purpose for visiting.

Others might not know the Gu Mother well, but being familiar with her, the Wood Stretching Gu Master understood her a bit. Before becoming the Gu Mother, the Fire Sang girl was merely a spurned and disliked girl in the Miao Borderlands. She lived through inferiority and fear, surviving as she did was already remarkable. Even after becoming Gu Mother, the Wood Stretching Gu Master questioned her ability to lead the Miao Borderlands, yet now it seemed all his worries were unnecessary.

After becoming Gu Mother, the Fire Sang girl seemed utterly transformed. Her prior feelings of inferiority and fear vanished, leaving behind boundless confidence and extraordinary wisdom, unexpectedly.

"Gu Mother, Huo Ying bears resentment; I fear her trip isn't to seek those two people." The Wood Stretching Gu Master whispered, "With her going alone, I'm genuinely worried she might ruin the Gu Mother's significant plans."

The Gu Mother said, "I know."

"But..." The Wood Stretching Gu Master was somewhat surprised. Knowing this, why did the Gu Mother send Huo Ying out?

"However, she harbors the issue internally and it must eventually come out. If I don't let her go and have her completely give up, she'll never be calm in the Miao Borderlands!" The Gu Mother sighed lightly and said, "No matter what, she's still my sister."

The Wood Stretching Gu Master slowly nodded. After becoming the Gu Mother, the Fire Sang girl did not make things difficult for the Huo Family. She even kept Huo Ying by her side, showing how much she valued familial bonds. Her current consideration for Huo Ying is indeed moving.

"I'm just afraid she will be deceived again by Zhou Yuliang." The Wood Stretching Gu Master sighed, "This Zhou Yuliang is the second apprentice of King Yan Ning Qianshu. Ning Qianshu is a man full of deceit, and the apprentices he takes in are more despicable one than the other. If they truly exploit Huo Ying, it would be troublesome."

"You don't need to worry about that, I naturally have it in mind," the Gu Mother said. "What I am most concerned about is the matter of Brother Ye Qing and Ms. Huangfu. Wood Stretching Protector, can I trouble you with a favor?"

The Wood Stretching Gu Master knelt immediately and said aloud, "No matter if I have to go through fire and water, Wood Stretching will never refuse anything the Gu Mother orders!"

"It's not a big deal. Huo Ying, going out this time, will definitely not help me find Brother Ye Qing and Ms. Huangfu. So, I must send another person out to help me find them." The Gu Mother looked at the Wood Stretching Gu Master and said, "Wood Stretching Gu Master, you are the most suitable person for the job."

The Wood Stretching Gu Master understood the Gu Mother's thoughts. Back when Huo Ying was believed to be the Gu Mother, it was he who sent Ye Qing and Huangfu Ziyu away, showing his good relationship with Ye Qing and Huangfu Ziyu. Now, the Gu Mother entrusted him to help find Ye Qing and Huangfu Ziyu based on his relationship with them. He is indeed the most suitable person for the job.

The Wood Stretching Gu Master nodded and said, "Gu Mother, I will pack up now and set out at dawn. I will definitely help you find them!"

"Wait." The Gu Mother lightly moved her elegant foot, descended from her seat of honor, and walked in front of the Wood Stretching Gu Master. She slowly extended her right hand, and with a soft rustling sound, the Silver Fox Gu that had been hidden on the Wood Stretching Gu Master's body leaped out and landed on the Gu Mother's right arm.

This Silver Fox Gu was completely snow-white without a trace of mixed fur, looking extremely beautiful. Moreover, the Silver Fox Gu was not large in size, but it looked very cute. Its four small paws clung tightly to the Gu Mother's clothes, and its meatball-like body snuggled against the Gu Mother's arm like a child returning to a mother's embrace. Its entire body was covered in white fur, soft and warm, with a smooth touch that was very comfortable to feel.

If only viewed from the outside, everyone would be deceived by this Silver Fox Gu's beautiful and cute appearance. No one would guess that this Silver Fox Gu is actually an extremely terrifying Gu, with incredibly strong powers. If angered, it could even tear a person into fragments.

This Silver Fox Gu is the protective insect of the Wood Stretching Gu Master. In the last Gu battle with Huo Ying, the Silver Fox Gu was severely injured by Huo Ying's few Fake Golden Silkworm Gu and almost lost its life. Fortunately, the Gu Mother returned just in time to save this Silver Fox Gu, otherwise, the Wood Stretching Gu Master would have no Gu to use now.

The Gu Mother gently laughed and teased the Silver Fox Gu, which simply clung to her arm unwilling to come down.

Seeing this situation, the Wood Stretching Gu Master felt somewhat awkward, softly calling twice to get the Silver Fox Gu to come down. However, this little fellow, upon seeing the Gu Mother, paid him no mind, just curling up on the Gu Mother's arm, acting spoiled, unwilling to leave.

The Gu Mother lightly laughed, stroked the fur on the back of the Silver Fox Gu, and softly said, "This Silver Fox Gu is one of the three most powerful Gu in the Miao Borderlands. However, your Silver Fox Gu is still in its infancy; to enter adulthood, it still needs much nourishment from spiritual medicine. Yet in our Miaojiang Hundred Thousand Mountains, spiritual medicine has always been scarce. For thousands of years, most Silver Fox Gu remain in their infancy, and those that grow into adulthood are almost nonexistent."

"Yes!" The Wood Stretching Gu Master sighed, "The Silver Fox Gu is already so formidable in its infancy. I can't begin to imagine what power it would have upon reaching adulthood. I fear that an adult Silver Fox Gu's might could rival that of the Twin Life Gu."

"Hehe..." The Gu Mother chuckled gently, "That's something we don't need to speculate about. Why not let it reach adulthood to see for ourselves?"

"Let it enter adulthood?" The Wood Stretching Gu Master looked at the Silver Fox Gu, clinging like sticky candy on the Gu Mother's arm, with surprise and said, "How... how could we possibly let it reach adulthood?"

The Gu Mother smiled faintly, rolled up the sleeve of her left arm, revealing her jade-like arm tender as lotus roots. She suddenly took out a dagger and made a small cut on her left arm, from which bright red blood immediately surged.

"Gu Mother, what... what are you doing?" The Wood Stretching Gu Master's eyes widened in shock, as it was all beyond his expectations.

The Gu Mother did not speak but merely pressed the Silver Fox Gu to her left arm, gently caressing its body.

The Silver Fox Gu, smelling the scent of blood, seemed to be summoned, immediately sprang forward, and began to suck the blood on the Gu Mother's arm.

"Xiao Bai!" The Wood Stretching Gu Master was shocked, quickly wanting to stop this, but was stopped by the Gu Mother's hand.