Well, he had caused a mess.
Gu Chengming sat cross-legged on the bed, his brow furrowed.
With the enhancement of the Red Dust Technique, he could clearly "see" the scattered red dust aura.
The concentration of this red dust aura was ridiculously high, and its scent was quite mixed, leaning more toward primal desire. Because of this, if an ordinary cultivator wandered into it, they would likely lose self-control within half a cup of tea's time.
Great, he had basically turned this place into an aphrodisiac factory.
Like some "Master Alchemist: Lustful Nights of the Hehuan Sect" or something.
'Shit, I think I'm being affected too.'
The moment these thoughts surfaced, Gu Chengming quickly shook his head.
The good news was that despite being in the midst of the red dust aura, his techniques remained largely unaffected.
【Red Dust Phantom Step analyzed calmly: Things have reached this point; there is no use in talking further. The priority is to understand the situation.】
Gu Chengming agreed deeply. He closed his eyes and activated his remaining sensing power again, attempting to clarify the situation before him.
After a moment, he reached two conclusions.
One piece of good news, and one piece of bad news.
The good news was that this red dust aura was indeed being shielded by some force.
From the outside, Jingsi Courtyard appeared as calm as usual without the slightest anomaly. That shielding force came from the Yin Yang Twin Fish Array—specifically, the Yin Yang Fish itself.
For some reason, the Yin Yang Fish had taken the initiative to cover up the commotion he had caused.
This meant the Hehuan Sect's upper management wouldn't notice anything unusual for now, and his identity should still be safe.
But the bad news was—
While he hadn't been noticed by the Hehuan Sect's leadership, he was seemingly being watched by the Yin Yang Fish.
Gu Chengming could clearly feel that deep within that massive mass of yin and yang energy, a faint "gaze" was watching him.
That gaze held no malice, but it wasn't exactly benevolent either; it felt more like curiosity.
【Yin Yang Creation Strategy raised a hand and said: The red dust aura is concentrated and won't dissipate. Even if it's shielded, someone will eventually notice if it stays for long. It's better to disperse the red dust aura here first.】
Gu Chengming was momentarily stunned. Then, the Yin Yang Creation Strategy within him began to operate on its own, attempting to redistribute the red dust aura back into the Yin Yang Twin Fish Array.
'Holy crap! Strategy, you're acting so unfamiliar...'
Unexpectedly, the Yin Yang Creation Strategy had actually been reliable for once outside of matters involving men and women. Feeling the red dust aura around him thinning, Gu Chengming finally breathed a sigh of relief.
...................
Meanwhile, outside the courtyard.
The moonlight was hazy, and a pink mist lingered.
Su Xiaoshao stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at Su Qiuzhi in front of her, her pretty face flushed with anger.
"Su Qiuzhi! You called me 'desperate' and said I had 'low standards' during the day, yet you came here to peek at him yourself at night? Have you no shame?"
Su Qiuzhi was in a wretched state. The surging red dust aura from before had come too suddenly, and she had succumbed to it before she could react.
She only snapped out of it when Su Xiaoshao appeared, realizing what she had been doing just moments ago.
She lowered her head, her usual cold and arrogant demeanor completely gone. She looked like a cat caught stealing fish, stammering as she tried to explain.
"I wasn't here to peek..."
"Oh? Then what were you here for? To enjoy the moon?" Su Xiaoshao let out a cold laugh. "I suppose the moon in this courtyard is rounder than everywhere else, isn't it?"
"I came to see what that apprentice's background really was..."
"And then? You watched until you were pressed against his window?"
"Never mind that!" Su Qiuzhi suddenly looked up, trying to justify her loss of composure at the man's door. "Didn't you feel it? The concentration of red dust aura in this courtyard is wrong!"
Su Xiaoshao was taken aback.
She then noticed the faint pink mist drifting around them, which was indeed excessively dense compared to other places.
"A high concentration of red dust aura is your excuse for being pressed against his window?" Su Xiaoshao exposed her without mercy. "How come I didn't lose control?"
Su Qiuzhi was left speechless.
Indeed, they were both in the same red dust aura, so why did Su Xiaoshao seem perfectly fine?
Was her own willpower really that much worse?
"I'm telling you, it's true!"
She defended herself urgently. "I felt something was wrong as soon as I hopped over the wall. That red dust aura wasn't at a normal concentration; it was like it was being attracted by something..." She paused, her gaze landing on the guest room as she lowered her voice. "That guy surnamed Gu is definitely problematic!"
Hearing this, Su Xiaoshao went straight to the point: "You felt something was wrong after you hopped in? Then why the hell were you hopping over someone's courtyard wall in the first place?!"
"Uh?" Su Qiuzhi opened her mouth but found she couldn't explain at all.
"And!" Su Xiaoshao continued her relentless pursuit. "You say Gu An is problematic? He's a medical apprentice from the Imperial Academy, a cultivator who hasn't even reached the Third Realm. What could possibly be wrong with him?"
"Do you think the Hehuan Sect's Yin Yang Twin Fish Array is just for show? If there were any abnormalities, the sect elders would have noticed long ago. Would it really be your turn to find out?"
Su Qiuzhi was rendered speechless. Logically, Su Xiaoshao's words were flawless.
How could a medical apprentice from the Imperial Academy with low cultivation attract such a massive amount of red dust aura?
Furthermore, the sect's Yin Yang Twin Fish Array was operating normally. If there were truly an anomaly, the elders in seclusion couldn't possibly be unresponsive.
But she had clearly felt that abnormal red dust aura with her own body!
Su Qiuzhi truly couldn't find a reason to defend herself, her fair face turning bright red. "Think whatever you want! Anyway, I have a clear conscience!"
She shot Su Xiaoshao a harsh glare before turning to leave.
Watching that pathetic figure disappear, Su Xiaoshao curled her lip.
"Hmph, stubborn as a dead duck."
—After both of them returned to their rooms, they each had quite a satisfying time.
...................
Fifteen minutes later, the red dust aura in the courtyard had completely dissipated, and Li Suizhuang finally returned after gathering intelligence.
As soon as she entered the room, Li Suizhuang set up a soundproofing barrier and spoke with a sigh.
"I met with many elders in the sect and gathered some news... The situation with the Yin Yang Fish is even more serious than we expected."
As she said this, Li Suizhuang's brow furrowed tightly.
"Based on my deductions, the Yin Yang Fish's imbalance didn't just happen recently. As early as three years ago, the sect elders noticed an anomaly, but the signs were very slight then and didn't receive much attention."
"Three years ago?" Gu Chengming was thoughtful.
"Yes, three years ago, a group of disciples went out for training, and most of them met with misfortune."
Li Suizhuang's tone was heavy. "At the time, the sect blamed it on external enemy attacks and didn't investigate deeply. But thinking back now, the cause of death for those disciples was likely not simple." She paused and continued, "Since then, the fluctuations of the Yin Yang Fish became more frequent. The Sect Master and several elders tried various methods to suppress it, but with little effect. Until a month ago, the Yin Yang Fish went completely out of control, and the sect had to close its gates."
Gu Chengming pondered for a moment. "Do they know the cause of the imbalance?"
"It's unclear." Li Suizhuang shook her head. "All we know is that the yin energy within the Yin Yang Fish is constantly strengthening while the yang energy is steadily declining... If this continues until the imbalance reaches the extreme, the entire Yin Yang Twin Fish Array will collapse."
The atmosphere became somewhat heavy.
Gu Chengming picked up his teacup but didn't drink, instead looking thoughtfully at the slightly rippling tea in the cup.
He was hesitating whether to tell Li Suizhuang about what happened last night.
Logically, they were partners on this trip, and sharing information was a given... but that matter was truly too bizarre, especially since it involved the Yin Yang Fish's "gaze" on him. Saying it out loud might trigger unknown consequences.
【Red Dust Phantom Step was also thinking, and after summarizing hundreds of possibilities in its mind and weighing the pros and cons, it finally said: You can say it!】
'Holy crap, there's even an external brain phase!'
Seeing that even Red Dust Phantom Step thought it could be said, Gu Chengming felt a sense of relief and finally spoke up.
"Chief Physician Li, last night... some things happened."
Li Suizhuang raised her eyes to look at him, her gaze inquiring.
Gu Chengming weighed his words and briefly recounted his experience from the previous night.
He said he had tried to use the Yin Yang Creation Strategy to sense the condition of the Yin Yang Fish but accidentally triggered a massive amount of red dust aura.
He also said that the red dust aura was actively shielded by the Yin Yang Fish, so it didn't alert the sect's upper management.
"...So, I suspect the Yin Yang Fish has already noticed me."
After finishing, Gu Chengming took a small sip of tea, waiting for Li Suizhuang's reaction.
"..."
Li Suizhuang's expression was somewhat subtle.
She opened her mouth as if to say something but didn't know where to start.
"You're saying..." Her voice was a bit strained. "You attracted a massive amount of red dust aura in Jingsi Courtyard last night?"
No wonder she had felt the aura in the vicinity was somewhat abnormal when she passed by Jingsi Courtyard last night.
So it was this kid's doing?
And that Su Qiuzhi...
Li Suizhuang remembered the scene of her accidental encounter in the corridor last night.
At the time, Su Qiuzhi had looked flustered and hurried, her whole person appearing somewhat off. She had thought the girl had run into a problem with her cultivation, but she hadn't expected...
"Chief Physician Li?"
Seeing her silent for a long time, Gu Chengming called out to her.
Li Suizhuang snapped back to her senses, let out a light cough to clear her mind, and fell into deep thought.
A moment later, she spoke slowly, her tone carrying a hint of uncertainty.
"The Yin Yang Fish has existed for thousands of years and has long since developed a spiritual intelligence. But its essence remains a primordial spiritual item; it doesn't possess true thinking capabilities."
"All its actions are based on a certain instinct."
"The Yin Yang Fish is currently in the pain of imbalance, and its instinct will drive it to seek anything that might help it restore balance. Your Yin Yang Creation Strategy just happened to touch upon this instinct."
Gu Chengming grew thoughtful.
If Li Suizhuang's analysis was correct, then the Yin Yang Fish's attention toward him wasn't hostile, but a sort of expectation?
"There's another possibility." Li Suizhuang's voice suddenly grew lower. "The Yin Yang Fish's imbalance might not be a natural disaster, but a man-made one."
Gu Chengming had the same suspicion. "Someone is secretly controlling the Yin Yang Fish?"
"I'm not sure." Li Suizhuang shook her head. "But the cause of death for those disciples three years ago and the timing of the Yin Yang Fish's sudden imbalance are too coincidental. If someone truly is pulling the strings behind the scenes, then the Yin Yang Fish's choice to shield your presence takes on another meaning."
"It doesn't want that person to find you."
The two looked at each other, seeing gravity in each other's eyes.
"Regardless," Li Suizhuang stood up, her tone becoming decisive. "It is now urgent to understand the true situation of the Yin Yang Fish."
"I will try to gather more news from the Sect Master. As for you..."
She looked at Gu Chengming, hesitating for a moment before saying, "If you have the chance, try to get close to the Yin Yang Fish?"
Gu Chengming nodded; this was his original goal for this trip anyway.
【Hundred Bones Resonating listened to their conversation, feeling a bit lost, but that didn't stop it from imagining the upcoming script.】
【Next up is the scene where Emperor Gu solves the Hehuan Sect's crisis, seizes that Yin Yang Fish treasure, and becomes the Hehuan Sect Master, right?】
【Hmph, if you ask me, forget all the schemes and plots. With Emperor Gu's fortune, he can just crush everything in his path!】
'Emperor Bai, your dream-making skills are getting better and better.'
Gu Chengming looked at the dialogue box and smiled helplessly.
He felt like there was some kind of inverse relationship between Emperor Bai's IQ and its stats.
If Red Dust Phantom Step was his external brain, then Emperor Bai was his external super-body.
With this thought, the tension of being "surrounded by wolves" in the Hehuan Sect significantly lessened.
Since he had decided to investigate the Yin Yang Fish's situation, it was naturally best to act as quickly as possible.
Fortunately, with Li Suizhuang around, Gu Chengming didn't have to personally investigate much of the intel or collect the necessary mission items.
That night.
At the third quarter of the Hour of the Ox.
The entire Hongchen Mountain had fallen into a deep sleep, with only patrolling disciples still weaving through the pavilions as a matter of routine. Within the room in Jingsi Courtyard, Gu Chengming opened his eyes.
He had been lying on the bed for two whole hours, motionless, merely using his divine sense to sense all movements around him.
He had already figured out the patrolling patterns.
Every half hour, a team of disciples would pass through the corridor outside Jingsi Courtyard. The previous patrol had just passed, and it would be nearly another half hour before the next one arrived.
This was the optimal window for action.
Gu Chengming stood up quietly, leaving a phantom in his original position. Without lighting a lamp and using the faint moonlight through the window frames, he changed into a set of night-traveling clothes suitable for action.
He pushed open the window, the cool breeze hitting his face with a faint floral scent. The courtyard was silent, with only that old laurel tree swaying gently in the night wind.
Gu Chengming took a deep breath, and with a flash of his figure, he vanished into the night like a wisp of green smoke.
During the day, he had already committed the general terrain of Hongchen Mountain to memory. Now, relying on that memory, he specialized in traveling through secluded small paths.
...................
The moonlight was hazy, and everything was silent.
Gu Chengming's footsteps were so light they were almost silent, and every step perfectly avoided dry branches and fallen leaves, leaving only a faint sound of the wind.
He moved along the base of the walls, using the cover of rockeries and plants to quickly pass through open areas, never staying in one place for long.
After walking for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a side hall appeared ahead.
Gu Chengming slowed his pace and hid behind a tall ginkgo tree, carefully surveying his surroundings.
The door of the side hall was slightly ajar, with no light inside. It looked like it hadn't been used for a long time. But Gu Chengming knew that by passing through this side hall and walking another hundred yards, he would reach the entrance to the Yin Yang Twin Fish Array's location.
Just as he was about to bypass the side hall and continue forward, his ear suddenly caught a faint noise.
Footsteps.
Very light, but they definitely existed.
They were coming from the direction of the side hall, approaching his location.
Gu Chengming's figure immediately stiffened, and he used the Red Dust Technique to conceal his aura, blending into the shadow cast by the ginkgo tree.
A moment later, a dark shadow slipped out of the side hall's side door.
It was a male cultivator wearing Hehuan Sect disciple attire, about thirty years old with an average face that wouldn't attract any attention in a crowd. But his trajectory was very strange.
He had clearly come out of the side hall but hadn't used the main entrance, instead slipping out the side door, his whole being exuding a secretive and suspicious aura.
More importantly, the direction he was heading—was precisely where the Yin Yang Twin Fish Array was located.
Gu Chengming's eyes narrowed slightly.
A coincidence? Or was there another plot?
He decided to follow and see.
Gu Chengming kept a distance of about twenty yards from the dark shadow, neither too far nor too close, enough to see the other's movements without being detected.
The person's movement technique wasn't sophisticated—at least in Gu Chengming's eyes, it was full of holes—but for some reason, he could precisely avoid the patrolling disciples.
The two of them, one following the other, passed through several courtyards, bypassed a bamboo forest, and finally arrived at a deep valley entrance.
At the valley entrance stood a stone tablet carved with the words "Yin Yang," the brushstrokes sharp and piercing. On either side of the stone tablet, an everlasting lamp was lit, the yellow flames swaying gently in the night wind, casting flickering light on the entrance.
But strangely, there were no guards here.
Logically, the Yin Yang Twin Fish Array was the foundation of the Hehuan Sect. How could the entrance be left unguarded?
The dark shadow clearly noticed this as well. He hesitated at the entrance for a moment, then took out a jade talisman from his robe and waved it before the stone tablet.
The runes on the stone tablet flickered a few times, and that faint layer of restriction at the entrance dissipated.
The man slipped inside and disappeared into the depths of the valley.
Gu Chengming hid behind a large boulder nearby, his eyes flashing.
This person had a command talisman to enter the forbidden area.
This indicated he was either a core member with the right to enter this place or had obtained a command talisman from a core member.
In either case, the act of secretly sneaking into the forbidden area alone late at night was suspicious.
Gu Chengming didn't rush in.
He waited for about twenty seconds, and after confirming there was no other movement, he slipped out from behind the boulder and quietly arrived at the valley entrance.
The restriction had already been restored after the command talisman left, but for Gu Chengming, this wasn't a problem.
He took out a restriction-breaking talisman Li Suizhuang had prepared in advance and gently pressed it against the stone tablet. He used his sleeve to shield the light of the burning talisman, and after only three seconds, a gap large enough for a person to pass through appeared in the restriction.
Gu Chengming slipped inside.
The scene inside the valley was completely different from the outside.
A dense amount of yin and yang energy converged here, forming visible black and white air currents that slowly circulated in mid-air. The air was filled with a rather profound aura. Gu Chengming immediately activated the Qingxin Art to block the influence of that aura.
He moved along the only stone path in the valley, his steps light and slow, but his senses were stretched to their limit.
The rock walls on both sides of the valley were covered with ancient runes that glowed faintly under the nourishment of the yin and yang energy, appearing as though they had existed for countless years.
After walking for about a hundred yards, the area ahead suddenly opened up.
A massive underground lake appeared in Gu Chengming's field of vision.
The lake water presented a bizarre black and white color, clearly demarcated yet intertwining at the boundary, forming a natural Taiji pattern.
And in the center of the lake, a massive fish-shaped phantom was vaguely visible.
That was the phantom of the Yin Yang Fish. Although the Yin Yang Fish itself wasn't here, as the array eye of the Yin Yang Twin Fish Array, the array here had a certain connection with it.
Gu Chengming's mind was involuntarily drawn to that phantom, and the Yin Yang Creation Strategy in his body began to stir faintly, but he quickly snapped out of it.
Because he saw that dark shadow. The man was standing on a reef at the edge of the lake, and at some point, a bead as black as ink had appeared in his hand. He was slowly extending that bead toward the Yin Yang Fish phantom in the water.
Gu Chengming's pupils suddenly constricted.
The aura emanating from that bead... was too familiar. It was cold, decaying, and carried a nauseating deathly energy.
That was the unique aura of the Long-Life Sect!
Almost at the moment he recognized this cold aura, Gu Chengming's eyes were filled with an extreme killing intent.
He had no intention of testing the waters. He took a deep breath, and the spiritual power in his body surged wildly like ten thousand rivers returning to the sea.
'Emperor Bai, help me!'
In an instant, a terrifying aura erupted from his body. Gu Chengming's figure instantly vanished from the spot, leaving only a shattered afterimage.
...................
That Long-Life Sect disciple didn't even have time to let an expression fully surface before Gu Chengming's punch, carrying the divine might of Emperor Bai, struck the center of his back with a piercing whistle that tore through the air.
BOOM!
This punch was unstoppable!
There was no sound of bones cracking as imagined, because under the crushing force of that absolute power, the opponent's protective spiritual power couldn't even last for a second before completely shattering. Following that, the man's spine, internal organs, and muscles were shaken into dust the moment the force of this punch passed through his body.
In a muffled explosion, that Long-Life Sect disciple was like a rotten tomato hit by a heavy hammer. His upper body exploded in an instant, turning into a cloud of blood mist and blurred flesh that sprayed out in a fan shape, splashing all over the reefs ahead.
The remaining corpse fell limply like a torn sack, no longer resembling a human.
A second? No, merely an instant.
【Hundred Bones Resonating was quite happy that its judgment was correct.】
【It said that as long as Emperor Gu killed his way through with unstoppable force, he would find clues!】
Gu Chengming, on the other hand, was somewhat annoyed. Dammit, he had been influenced by Emperor Bai. His physical reaction was faster than his brain, and he had killed the person directly. If he had captured him alive, he might have been able to interrogate him for more information.
But it didn't really matter. Although this cultivator appeared to be at the peak of the Second Realm, it was hard to say if he had hidden his strength. If they had gotten into a fight and he hadn't been able to capture him alive, drawing others' attention would be a minor issue; alerting the faction planning all this within the Hehuan Sect would be losing the big picture for a small gain.
His gaze fell on the black bead that had rolled onto the ground. The bead was pitch-black, emitting a nauseating yin energy, and distorted runes were vaguely visible on its surface.
What was this thing?
He was about to reach out to pick it up when the surrounding air suddenly froze for a second.
Buzz—
A sharp alarm suddenly resounded through the entire valley!
Immediately after, the yin and yang energy above the lake surged violently, and that vaguely visible fish-shaped phantom suddenly opened its eyes.
Gu Chengming had no time to think. After quickly cleaning up the blood and flesh here, he grabbed the corpse on the ground, threw that still-bleeding body onto his shoulder, and simultaneously picked up the black bead to stuff into his robe.
...................
Fifteen minutes ago.
Main Peak of Hongchen Mountain, Meeting Pavilion.
The night was deep, but the pavilion was still brightly lit.
Li Suizhuang sat in the guest seat. The tea in front of her had been changed three times. The tea fragrance lingered, but no one was in the mood to taste it.
Opposite her sat three Hehuan Sect elders. The one in the middle was a woman who appeared to be in her forties. Her face was extremely well-maintained, and her purple palace dress made her appear elegant and luxurious. She was Elder Yun Ni, the "Senior Sister Yun" who had greeted them at the mountain gate during the day.
To Yun Ni's left was a thin old woman with silver hair combed into a simple bun and a withered face. To the right was a girl who looked no more than twenty. Her appearance was pure and elegant, her temperament ethereal, and her white clothes were as white as snow. But Li Suizhuang knew that this seemingly youngest elder was actually four hundred years old, and it was only through her youth-preserving arts that she maintained this girl-like appearance.
"Suizhuang, how have you been all these years at the Imperial Academy?"
Yun Ni's tone was gentle, as if she were merely chatting with a junior after a long separation.
But Li Suizhuang had stayed in the Hehuan Sect for over a hundred years and knew the depth of this Senior Sister Yun's schemes. Her seemingly casual questions were actually full of tests.
"I appreciate your concern, Senior Sister. Everything is well at the Imperial Academy." Li Suizhuang bowed slightly, her tone respectful. "The Master treats me very well, and my colleagues at the Academy are also quite caring."
"That's good, that's good."
Yun Ni nodded, took a sip of tea, but her gaze occasionally swept across Li Suizhuang's face.
"Speaking of which, Suizhuang, besides visiting old friends, you must have other purposes for returning to the sect this time, right?"
Li Suizhuang's heart skipped a beat, but her expression remained unchanged.
"Senior Sister, you must be joking... I've been away from the sect for many years and have always missed it. It just so happened that the Imperial Academy had a break, so I wanted to come back and see."
"Is that so?" Yun Ni's smile remained. "I thought it was because of the matter regarding Fu Xiaoxiao."
Li Suizhuang's movements paused slightly. She hesitated for a moment before meeting Yun Ni's gaze.
"My return to the sect this time indeed involves a desire to see Senior Sister Fu Xiaoxiao..."
Yun Ni watched her and, after a long silence, gave a light smile.
"Suizhuang is still that straightforward character after all."
Elder Kurong, who was on the side, suddenly spoke: "Straightforwardness is a good thing, but some things cannot be solved by straightforwardness alone. Fu Xiaoxiao's matter is much more complicated than you imagine. The water here is very deep."
Li Suizhuang lowered her head respectfully. "I ask for the Second Elder's guidance."
Elder Kurong didn't continue speaking but merely closed her eyes again.
The atmosphere became somewhat subtle for a moment.
Seeing this, Elder Jingxin spoke up to smooth things over.
"Second Senior Sister has always been blunt. Junior Sister Suizhuang, please don't take offense."
Her voice was crisp and pleasant, like spring water in a mountain stream. "Senior Sister Fu's matter is indeed troublesome; the entire sect is having a headache over it. If Junior Sister Suizhuang can truly help, that would naturally be for the best."
Li Suizhuang was about to reply when a sudden, inexplicable sense of unease surged in her heart.
That feeling came without warning, as if something had struck her heart hard.
Is it... Gu Chengming's side?
Her brow furrowed slightly, but her face remained calm.
Almost at the same time, the three elders opposite her changed their expressions simultaneously.
"This is..."
Yun Ni stood up abruptly, her gaze directed toward a certain direction deep within Hongchen Mountain.
"The Yin Yang Twin Fish Array!"
Li Suizhuang's heart skipped a beat.
She forced herself to remain calm, pretending to be bewildered. "Senior Sister, what happened?"
Yun Ni didn't answer her question but quickly walked toward the door. "Elder Kurong, Junior Sister Jingxin, come with me!"
Elder Kurong's figure flashed, and she appeared at the door, her speed completely inconsistent with her aged appearance.
Elder Jingxin followed closely behind. Before leaving, she glanced at Li Suizhuang with a hint of apology in her tone.
"Junior Sister Suizhuang, I'm afraid tonight's catching up will have to end here. Go back and rest first; we'll talk about anything else tomorrow."
"Wait." Li Suizhuang called out to her.
"Elder Jingxin, what exactly happened?" Her tone carried a fitting amount of worry. "Is there... some change with the array?"
Elder Jingxin hesitated for a moment but briefly explained, "Someone has invaded the place where the Yin Yang Twin Fish Array is located."
Li Suizhuang's face showed a look of surprise. "Invaded?"
"It's unclear." Elder Jingxin shook her head. "But whoever it is, if they dare to trespass into the core of the array, they must face the consequences."
After saying that, she turned into a white light and chased after the direction of Yun Ni and Kurong.
In the Meeting Pavilion, only Li Suizhuang remained.
After a brief thought, Li Suizhuang stepped out of the Meeting Pavilion and chased toward the direction of the forbidden area.
Her reason was simple—as a former disciple of the Hehuan Sect, hearing that the array had been invaded, it was only natural to go and help.
The night wind whistled, blowing her white hair and skirt.
Li Suizhuang's speed became faster and faster, and the unease in her heart grew heavier.
'Gu Chengming... please don't let anything happen to you.'
...................
At the same time.
On the path outside Jingsi Courtyard, Su Qiuzhi was wrapped in a black cloak, hiding behind an old pagoda tree and staring fixedly at that closed window.
She had come back.
Yes, she was back again!
What happened last night was too suspicious. That surging red dust aura was definitely not normal, but that idiot Su Xiaoshao didn't believe her at all and even treated it as if she were trying to cover up her own desires.
She was going to find evidence, to prove that this apprentice called Gu An was indeed problematic.
Then, she could throw the evidence in Su Xiaoshao's conceited face and see if she still mocked her.
With such thoughts, Su Qiuzhi had been squatting here for nearly an hour.
But that window remained tightly closed, and there was no movement inside.
Had that man already gone to sleep?
Just as Su Qiuzhi was thinking this, a faint sound suddenly came from the distance.
The footsteps were very light, but they were exceptionally clear in the silent night.
Su Qiuzhi immediately held her breath and shrank her entire body into the shadows of the tree.
A moment later, a dark figure hopped over the courtyard wall from the outside.
It was that apprentice! Su Qiuzhi's eyes immediately lit up. Sneaking out so late at night, he really was up to no good!
But immediately after, she noticed something wrong.
What was that thing he was carrying on his shoulder?
The moonlight was hazy, and Su Qiuzhi couldn't see very clearly. She could only vaguely distinguish a long, bundle-shaped package tightly wrapped in some dark fabric, which looked heavy.
Gu An pushed open the door to the room and placed the package from his shoulder onto the floor.
"RIIIP—"
That was the sound of fabric being torn by brute force, sounding exceptionally piercing in the dead of night.
Su Qiuzhi's eyes widened. She saw Gu Chengming half-squatting on the ground. The medical apprentice from the Imperial Academy, who looked gentle and low-profile during the day, now had half of his face hidden in the darkness.
He extended his slender fingers and was dragging a corpse out of that black fabric bag.
No, that could no longer be called a corpse.
It was a piece of flesh that had been violently crushed, its bones all broken, as soft as a lump of mud. The chest was collapsed, the ribs were turned outward, and the internal organs were like mud stirred by something, messily piled in the shattered abdominal cavity. The most terrifying part was the head; the entire skull was shattered, and white brain matter mixed with blood flowed down that already distorted and deformed face.
Gu Chengming's grip was very strong. He grabbed the collar of that "rotten meat" and shook it out of the bag as if he were discarding a bag of trash.
"CRACK."
That was the sound of broken ribs misaligning again during the dragging.
Su Qiuzhi only felt a chill rush from the soles of her feet to her skull. That Long-Life Sect disciple's face was facing her direction, his eyeballs protruding from the sockets due to pressure, staring into the void as if he died with a grudge, seemingly recounting what kind of terrifying slaughter he had just encountered.
"Thump, thump, thump..."
Su Qiuzhi heard her own heartbeat.
That sound was becoming louder and louder, as heavy as someone beating a drum next to her eardrums.
At that moment, Gu Chengming's movements stopped. He suddenly looked up, looking in Su Qiuzhi's direction.
The gazes of the two slammed into each other in mid-air, and Su Qiuzhi's brain instantly went blank.
...................
In the next second.
Su Qiuzhi only felt her vision blur, and the air in front of her abruptly distorted. A flying sword from nowhere instantly locked onto all the positions around her.
"Whoosh."
Gu Chengming's face had already appeared less than three inches away from her, their noses almost touching.
Su Qiuzhi could clearly see her own pale face reflected in Gu Chengming's pupils.
—Now she was screwed.
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