Gu Chengming looked at the exquisite storage pouch in his hand, embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in the water. He could still feel a trace of warmth on his fingertips.
Though he had many questions, seeing Fu Xiaoxiao's state, he ultimately refrained from asking and silently tucked it into his robe.
"Thank you for the treasure, Senior Sister Fu?"
On the other side, Li Suizhuang had a faint smile on her lips, her eyes darting back and forth between Gu Chengming and Fu Xiaoxiao. Although she saw her senior sister's embarrassment, she had no intention of helping her out. Instead, her expression of watching a good show became increasingly obvious. She even had to tactically lower her head to hide the curve of her lips.
With the storage pouch having changed hands, the tension in Fu Xiaoxiao's body finally relaxed slightly.
She took a deep breath, as if trying to forcibly suppress the shame and indignation in her chest.
"Whew—"
Fu Xiaoxiao closed her eyes and pressed her index and middle fingers together, lightly touching the center of her brow at the Ancestral Aperture.
In that moment of qi flow, Gu Chengming clearly recognized it as the Red Dust Technique that Fu Xiaoxiao had just taught him.
Only this time, she was performing it in reverse, intending to sever her own stray thoughts.
After a moment, Fu Xiaoxiao slowly opened her eyes and looked up, her gaze fixed gloomily on Gu Chengming.
She truly hadn't expected this.
She had been immersed in the Red Dust Dao for hundreds of years and prided herself on having a dao heart as hard as iron, capable of manipulating human hearts as easily as reaching into a bag. Today, she had actually stumbled in such a shallow ditch.
"Senior Sister Fu?"
Gu Chengming felt a bit uneasy under her gaze. Coupled with a certain cultivation art that kept shouting, 'Emperor Gu, it's my turn to be on top this time,' which was giving him a headache, he had to take the lead in breaking the silence. He asked tentatively, "What happened just now was...?"
Fu Xiaoxiao's body stiffened, and she finally realized.
That's right. Although this boy had used the Red Dust Technique, he hadn't fallen for it himself, so he naturally didn't know what had happened in that Red Dust Illusion.
"It's nothing."
Fu Xiaoxiao coughed dryly, attempting to regain her dignity as a senior sister and elder, though her voice still carried a bit of bluster from a lack of confidence. "It was merely a test of your comprehension."
"A test?" Gu Chengming raised an eyebrow.
A light laugh suddenly came from the side.
Li Suizhuang set down her teacup, seemingly unable to watch any longer. She smoothed her sleeves and said warmly, "Just now, Senior Sister Fu was hit by your Red Dust Technique. Her mind faltered, and she fell into a Red Dust Illusion. It should be..."
Before Li Suizhuang could finish, she felt a piercing gaze glaring at her.
Fu Xiaoxiao's eyes were wide, her cheeks puffed out like a hamster's, and she was already pinching a hand seal. Her posture clearly said: 'If you dare say it, our sisterhood is over!'
Li Suizhuang paused, naturally shifting her tone and following the lead. "...It should be that she mistook you for a target of karma that must be settled. Therefore, these five hundred spirit stones are to sever that karma."
"Karma?" Gu Chengming became even more confused.
"You didn't think that my Hehuan Sect's Red Dust Technique was just some low-level trickery or charm art, did you?"
Seeing his ignorant look, Fu Xiaoxiao regained some of her confidence.
"If that were the case, how could my Hehuan Sect be ranked among the top sects of Daqian? By relying on skin-deep business like listening to music in brothels?"
"The so-called Red Dust is not about physical appearance, but about karma. The Red Dust Technique is a dao art that can trigger karmic positions."
Gu Chengming's heart stirred at her words. Law of causality?
"I hope Senior Sister Fu will explain in detail."
Seeing his humble attitude in seeking knowledge, the frustration in Fu Xiaoxiao's heart dissipated quite a bit.
"Stupid."
She rolled her eyes at Gu Chengming but still explained patiently, "Most of the world's myriad laws follow the principle of cause first, then effect. For example, swinging your sword is the cause, and the sword qi wounding someone is the effect. Your cultivation is the cause, and the breakthrough in realm is the effect."
"But my Hehuan Sect's Red Dust Dao practices reversing cause and effect."
"The so-called Red Dust Illusion is actually just the most superficial and crude way to use Red Dust Qi... The principle is to use Red Dust Qi to directly plant an 'effect.'"
"Once this 'effect' is established in the soul, in order to make this absurd 'effect' reasonable, the mind will automatically complete the 'cause.'"
"Thus, in the Red Dust Illusion, the mind will automatically generate countless scenes of meeting, knowing, and staying together."
Gu Chengming was speechless. Establish the result first, and then let the opponent's brain automatically fill in the process?
No wonder the Hehuan Sect was one of the top sects. He had been wondering why the Hehuan Sect methods he worked so hard to learn were useless; it turned out he simply didn't know how to use them.
"So, what Senior Sister Fu means is that when the Hehuan Sect's arts reach mastery, they can modify reality?"
"A teachable student."
Fu Xiaoxiao nodded with satisfaction and sat back on the cloud couch, crossing her legs. "A true grand cultivator can use Red Dust Qi to set the 'effect' of 'you have already been defeated' in a single thought. Then, no matter how you struggle, the karma of heaven and earth will push you toward the outcome of failure."
"Of course, that is an extremely profound realm. Even I..."
At this point, she seemed to remember something, and her expression darkened slightly, but she quickly returned to her carefree self.
As Gu Chengming digested this startling information, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck him. He connected it to what he had seen at the Elegant Garden and the Drunk Dream Boat, as well as Fu Xiaoxiao's phrase 'settling karma' when she gave him the money.
"So, the Hehuan Sect's rules are strict. When disciples travel outside and engage in dual cultivation, they must pay spirit stones or items of equal value. This isn't just a simple transaction or for a living, but because..."
Fu Xiaoxiao took over, praising him, "Your mind works fast."
She tapped her finger lightly on the table. "Dual cultivation is essentially the blending of qi. If both parties are dao companions, then this karma is an emotional bond to be shared. But if it's only for cultivation or harvesting, then this karma is a 'debt.'"
"Those cultivators who are harvested have given up their essence and cultivation; that is the 'cause.' If they aren't given an 'effect,' the karmic entanglement will surely cause their dao foundation to collapse."
She pointed to the storage pouch in Gu Chengming's robe. "So, giving money is giving that 'effect.'"
"The transaction is settled, and neither side owes the other."
Gu Chengming realized the truth, but then he thought of something else and asked, "So, Senior Sister Fu gave me these five hundred spirit stones just now because...?"
Li Suizhuang, who was nearby, could no longer hold it in and burst out laughing.
Fu Xiaoxiao's face, which had just returned to normal, turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye. She reached out to cover Gu Chengming's mouth.
"That's a reward because I saw your talent was good! Do you understand?!"
After a bit of commotion, Fu Xiaoxiao glared at Gu Chengming and said seriously, "Alright, jokes aside."
"Since you've understood the true essence of the Red Dust Technique, you should also realize that this technique is not easy to practice."
"You can use it to plant karma in others, but others can use the same means against you."
"You are born with a constitution that attracts karma. If you don't learn to control this Red Dust Qi, forget five hundred spirit stones—even fifty thousand might not be enough to settle the bill."
Gu Chengming set aside his playful thoughts and cupped his hands. "Thank you for the advice, Senior Sister Fu. I will keep it in mind."
He knew that Fu Xiaoxiao's words were not alarmist.
"Alright."
Fu Xiaoxiao waved her hand in a dismissive gesture, though the tips of her ears were still somewhat red. "The lesson is taught, the money is given. Now get lost."
"Remember, don't use the Red Dust Technique recklessly outside. And those five hundred spirit stones—don't you dare try to return them! That's karma! You must keep them!"
Gu Chengming suppressed a smile and bowed again. "I understand. I shall take my leave then, and won't disturb Senior Sister and Senior Li's catching up."
With that, he turned and walked out of the hall. It wasn't until Gu Chengming's figure completely disappeared at the end of the corridor that Li Suizhuang set down her teacup. Looking at Fu Xiaoxiao, who was still fanning herself to cool down, she chuckled.
"Senior Sister Fu, this time you've not only passed on your art, but your purse is empty, and you've even lost face."
"Shut up!"
Fu Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes at her, her body slumping backward as she lay sprawled on the floor, staring blankly at the ceiling.
After a long while, she suddenly covered her face with her hands. "Aaaah!!"
Leaving the solemn vermilion gates of the Imperial Academy, the hustle and bustle of the long street flooded back into his ears.
Gu Chengming was in no hurry to return to his courtyard. Instead, he strolled through the crowded streets of the East Market, his mind still replaying the feeling of that single finger strike.
"Effect first, then cause..."
Gu Chengming murmured to himself, his gaze falling on an old man selling candied haws by the roadside.
The old man was looking dejectedly at the fading sun. His straw bundle was still stuck with more than half of the unsold candied haws, clearly worrying about his livelihood for the day.
Gu Chengming's heart stirred. He didn't use spiritual power to confuse the man's mind, but instead tried to mobilize that extremely faint, newly refined strand of pink Red Dust Qi within him.
He constructed an extremely simple 'effect' in his Sea of Consciousness—【The candied haws will be sold out】.
With a light pinch of his fingers inside his sleeve, that strand of Red Dust Qi instantly dispersed and sank into the old man's brow.
In the next moment, Gu Chengming felt a distinct resistance.
It felt like using a thin strand of hair to pull a thousand-pound boulder. It was the resistance of reality's logic and personal karmic instinct.
Snap.
That 'hair strand' broke.
"It failed."
Gu Chengming frowned slightly and tried a few more times.
For example, trying to make a running stray dog suddenly stop, or making a falling leaf defy the wind and drift into his palm. Most of the results were unsatisfactory.
"It seems that with my current level, trying to interfere with reality's karma through Red Dust Qi is still too forced."
Gu Chengming sighed, inevitably feeling a bit of self-doubt. "Perhaps my realm is still too low? A second realm soul strength simply can't support such high-dimensional operations?"
Just then, a lazy yet somewhat arrogant voice came from his Sea of Consciousness.
【Seeing your discouraged look, the Yin Yang Creation Strategy couldn't help but speak up.】
【Being able to do this much at the second realm is already quite impressive. Right now, you are worth at least ten female leads!】
Gu Chengming felt a strange sensation in his heart. Although he knew the Yin Yang Creation Strategy was comforting and praising him, why was the method so odd?
【Furthermore, the Red Dust Qi you've accumulated from your cultivation is far too little. When ordinary Hehuan Sect cultivators fight, they consume months' worth of Red Dust Qi.】
Hearing this explanation, the sense of failure in Gu Chengming's heart dissipated significantly.
True. If one could freely modify karma at the second realm, the Hehuan Sect would have unified the Jiuzhou Continent long ago. Why would they need to open brothels to make money?
Just as Gu Chengming composed himself...
The cultivation arts that had been pulled into the Red Dust Illusion finally began to snap out of it one by one.
【The Huiyuan Sword Manual opened its eyes dizzily, its gaze still somewhat unfocused, clearly not having fully withdrawn from that beautiful dream.】
【In that dream, it seemed to finally have a physical form, nestled softly in a warm embrace, listening to someone say that it was their only love.】
【It subconsciously opened its arms: Mmm... want a hug...】
【However, as it gradually realized the reality...】
【"Eh?"】
【The Huiyuan Sword Manual froze in shock.】
Gu Chengming: "..."
It seemed Huiyuan's dream was indeed very cozy.
【The Qingxin Art coughed twice, pretending to be calm, trying to use this method to cover up its encounter in the illusion just now.】
【This Red Dust Technique indeed has some tricks. If one isn't careful, it's easy for the mind to be disturbed. Yes, that's all.】
Finally, there was a line of very regretful text.
【Hundred Bones Resonating smacked its lips, its eyes full of a sense of loss, as if it hadn't had enough.】
Gu Chengming found it funny, but he was also curious about what the Qingxin Art and Hundred Bones Resonating had experienced in the Red Dust Illusion.
In the end, one remained tight-lipped, and the other was evasive.
'Qingxin Art, even if you don't speak now, you can't save your image!'
【The Qingxin Art huffed and ignored him.】
'Emperor Bai, trying to make up for it now really makes you look pathetic!'
【Hundred Bones Resonating got angry for a moment, but eventually backed down.】
As dusk fell, the lights along the street began to light up one by one.
It was about time to head back.
Just as Gu Chengming was considering whether to pick up some braised beef on the way home...
Vrrr—
The pitch-black Night Guard token at his waist vibrated violently without warning. Gu Chengming frowned slightly and scanned the token with his divine sense. It only showed a rough direction—Xuande Neighborhood, the busy intersection.
"Another demon?"
Gu Chengming felt slightly surprised.
Since the Drunk Dream Boat case, the remnants of the Longevity Sect had gone into hiding. The capital should have been peaceful for a while. However, he did not hesitate, leaping across the rooftops toward the source.
However, when he arrived at Xuande Neighborhood, everything seemed to have already 'settled.'
There was no grim ghostly qi here, nor any traces of evil cultivators setting up arrays.
Instead, there was only a messy street, a civilian house that had mostly collapsed, broken tiles and wood chips everywhere, and a strange, rank smell mixed in the muddy water.
Both sides of the street were already cordoned off by bailiffs in black uniforms, dispersing the onlookers.
At the core of the cordon, there was no scene of fighting. Instead, there was a suffocating silence.
Gu Chengming landed on a nearby eave, not rushing to reveal himself, but instead activated his Wisdom Eye to look down.
In the center of the ruins sat an extremely luxurious, giant carriage.
The carriage was made of agarwood, with curtains hanging low. Several figures could be vaguely seen inside, though they did not show their faces.
In front of the carriage was a massive beast covered in blue-black scales.
It was a mixed-blood Jiao-beast.
It had the head of a dragon and the body of a horse, with hooves like hooks. Although it was held by several thick meteoric iron chains, it still snorted out breaths mixed with sparks. Its dark gold vertical pupils were full of tyranny and irritation, and several bright red strips of cloth hung between its teeth.
Not far from the Jiao-beast's hooves, the corpse of an old man was already mangled beyond recognition.
A youth of about sixteen or seventeen was kneeling in the pool of blood, desperately clutching the old man's body.
His whole body was shaking, but he couldn't make a sound. Only blood-like tears flowed from his bloodshot eyes.
In front of him stood two middle-aged men in official robes.
One wore the red robe of the Ministry of Justice, and the other wore the green official robe of the Honglu Temple.
The official from the Honglu Temple looked to be about forty, with a clean face and a well-trimmed long beard. At this moment, he was slightly bowed, holding a heavy silk bag in his hand. He didn't have an overbearing air; instead, his face was full of helplessness and sincerity.
"The dead cannot be brought back to life, but this is how the world is. Some accidents are things no one wants to see."
The youth stared at him fixedly, a rattling sound coming from his throat. His gaze moved past the official to the Jiao-beast that was still snorting.
The official sighed. He didn't get angry at the youth's rudeness. Instead, he crouched down, ignoring the muddy water staining his official boots, and forced the silk bag into the youth's stiff hands.
"There are five hundred spirit stones inside." The official's voice was very low, audible only to the two of them. "Take it, give your grandfather a proper burial, buy a few acres of spirit fields, marry a wife, and live out the rest of your life in peace."
The youth's body trembled. He wanted to throw the money bag away, but it was held firmly by the official's hands, which looked weak but were actually strong.
"Don't be foolish." The official's eyes and tone carried a warning. "That is the diplomatic mission of the East Sea Whale-Shark Clan, guests of the imperial court. They have come to the capital to pay tribute with water-vein spiritual materials, for the sake of the century-old covenant between Daqian and the East Sea."
"That Jiao-beast is their auspicious beast. Although it has a bit of a temper and was startled, it represents the face of the East Sea."
"If you insist on seeking justice, insist on making this auspicious beast pay with its life..."
The official paused and lightly patted the back of the youth's hand, speaking earnestly, "Setting aside whether you can even do it... even if you really make a scene today, you won't have a good end."
"I am doing this for your own good. Taking a step back opens up the horizon. Taking the money and living on is the greatest comfort to the deceased. Do not destroy your future for a moment of impulse."
These words were spoken flawlessly and with apparent sincerity.
If an uninformed bystander heard them, they might even sigh that this official was truly a good man who loved the people, managing to secure such a generous compensation for a commoner in such a thorny diplomatic dispute.
The bailiffs maintaining order also lowered their heads one after another, seemingly accepting this 'best' outcome.
The Jiao-beast shook its head, snorting a fishy breath. Gu Chengming stood on high, watching this scene expressionlessly.
Within his Sea of Consciousness, there was a dead silence.
Normally, when encountering such a human tragedy, the Qingxin Art, while not gloating, would mostly be 'eating melon seeds' and making a few comments as a bystander about how 'the world is hard' or 'this official is truly a piece of work.'
But to Gu Chengming's surprise...
【The Qingxin Art looked at this scene blankly, only feeling as if something was blocked in its chest.】
Something was wrong...
Gu Chengming noticed that the Qingxin Art seemed particularly shaken by this matter.
Shaking his head to suppress the doubt in his heart, Gu Chengming looked down at the scene below.
That gentleman from the Honglu Temple might truly be a 'good official.' Within the framework of the system, he had achieved what he believed to be the optimal solution. While maintaining the big picture, he had indeed given the youth a way to survive.
But Gu Chengming felt disgusted.
If even this kind of 'evil' could be grandly justified in the name of 'being for your own good,' then what was the point of practicing the laws of Daqian?
Furthermore... Gu Chengming felt the emotion from the Qingxin Art, which he had never felt before.
【Hundred Bones Resonating looked at this scene and spoke concisely.】
【He should be killed, Emperor Gu.】
"Whew—"
Gu Chengming slowly exhaled that breath of turbid air, his palm pressing against the hilt of the sword at his waist.
In the next moment.
Without any omen, without any hesitation.
A figure in green robes, like a startled swan, leapt down from the high eaves.
Boom!
The moment Gu Chengming landed, the bluestone slabs beneath his feet cracked inch by inch. A cold and peerless sword intent centered on him, instantly sweeping outward and forcing the surrounding bailiffs back several yards.
The Honglu Temple official, who was about to get up and leave, was startled by this sudden turn of events. His foot slipped, and he almost fell into the muddy water.
He steadied himself and looked at the young man who had suddenly appeared, wearing the patrol uniform of the Night Guard. His brow instantly furrowed into a deep frown, and his tone carried a bit of official authority and displeasure.
"Who are you? Don't you see that the Ministry of Justice and the Honglu Temple are handling a case?"
Gu Chengming ignored him.
He didn't look at the official, nor did he look at the youth still kneeling on the ground. His gaze moved past everyone and landed directly on the mixed-blood Jiao-beast, which was lowering its head to chew on something, its eyes full of contempt.
Early stage of the second realm, with messy demonic qi. Aside from being thick-skinned, it was worthless.
"Roar?"
The Jiao-beast also seemed to feel the killing intent coming from Gu Chengming.
It stopped chewing, and its massive head suddenly reared up. Its dark gold vertical pupils were full of murderous light, and a threatening low growl came from its throat. Its scales bristled one by one, and a fishy wind belonging to a demonic beast blew toward him.
The Honglu Temple official ignored his decorum and rushed in front of Gu Chengming, lowering his voice in an urgent and stern tone.
"This is the auspicious beast of the East Sea Whale-Shark Clan! Do not act on a moment's impulse!"
Gu Chengming sneered. "A man-eater deserves to be called an auspicious beast?"
The official froze, and then his face turned red with anger.
Clang—!!!
A clear and stirring sword hum interrupted the official's unspoken words.
It was a simple draw and a slash.
The moment the Tinglan Sword left its scabbard, the mixed-blood Jiao-beast didn't even have time to scream before it was slain by the second-realm top-grade dharma sword and Gu Chengming's extremely refined sword intent.
Squelch.
A massive, hideous head, still steaming, flew into the sky.
Hot demon blood gushed out like a fountain, instantly staining the green official robe of the Honglu Temple official—representing 'diplomatic etiquette'—a deep red.
Thud.
The huge headless corpse crashed to the ground, splashing mud everywhere.
The rolling head happened to stop in front of the stunned youth. Those dark gold vertical pupils were still wide open, still containing the tyranny of life and a trace of lingering bewilderment.
The Honglu Temple official remained in a posture of open-mouthed shouting, his face splattered with a few drops of warm Jiao blood, completely stunned.
The surrounding bailiffs looked at each other. They feared Gu Chengming's sword strike, but they still gritted their teeth and drew their waist sabers, closing in on him.
The Honglu Temple official was even more exasperated. He wiped the blood from his face and pointed at Gu Chengming, cursing, "Do you know what you've done?!"
Gu Chengming performed a reverse sword flower, giving it a light flick. The blood droplets on the blade were flung to the ground, leaving a striking red line.
He pulled a token from his robe. This was the Daqian Enforcement Hall token given to him by Elder Kong of the Enforcement Hall back at the sect.
Clack.
Gu Chengming casually threw the token at the Honglu Temple official's feet, making a crisp sound.
The official subconsciously looked down. When he saw the characters and the unique patterns on the token, his face, which had been red with anger, instantly turned as pale as paper.
Gu Chengming spoke, "Daqian Law, Volume 3, Article 7: Those who kill in the streets shall be executed!"
"If you have any objections, feel free to come find me at the Night Guard Division."
"Night Guard, Gu Chengming."
It wasn't until the green-robed figure completely disappeared around the corner that the dead silence of Xuande Neighborhood was broken.
"Well killed! Well killed!"
"Was that Lord Gu from the Night Guard? So young! Such great murderous aura!"
The discussions of the commoners rose like a tide, mixed with long-suppressed relief and awe.
The Honglu Temple official, supported by his subordinates, barely managed to stand up. He knew today's task was ruined.
Not only was it ruined, but he had also provoked someone he absolutely could not afford to offend.
"Gu Chengming..."
Wenjian Sect, Enforcement Hall, Night Guard Division...
He was proficient in the ways of officialdom and knew that these three identities stacked together meant he couldn't use his usual 'muddling through' tactics.
Having already prepared the memorial to list his own faults in his mind, he gritted his teeth, stood up, and said to the bailiffs nearby, "Back to the Honglu Temple..."
After leaving Xuande Neighborhood, Gu Chengming slowed his pace.
The night wind after the rain carried a bit of coolness, blowing away the faint scent of blood on him.
Within his Sea of Consciousness, the system's notification sounds rang out one after another.
【The Zhou Rites Heavenly Rectifying Art says: The essence of punishment and reward lies in making no distinction.】
【A beast committing violence in the streets has disrupted the order of the capital, which is a violation of the foundation of 'Rites.' Those officials attempting to use their power for private gain and confuse the public are the source of lawlessness.】
【With this sword strike, you have not only slain a demon but also rectified the law and appeased the people. This is a true 'Great Rite'!】
【Favorability +5】
【Current Favorability: 73 / Like】
【Hundred Bones Resonating laughed even louder: Emperor Gu is mighty!】
【What East Sea auspicious beast? If anyone really dares to come, then wipe out their whole clan! Things that only dare to bully the weak—killing ten thousand of them wouldn't be too many!】
【Favorability +5】
【Current Favorability: 190 / ∞ (Never Abandon in Life or Death)】
【Obtained permanent attributes: Constitution +2, Strength +1】
Gu Chengming smiled and didn't speak, but instead focused his attention on the cultivation art in the corner.
【The Qingxin Art remembered the moment the sword fell and was dazed for a long time.】
【For some reason, the falling of that sword didn't make it feel relieved; instead, it felt even more lost.】
【It blankly felt the inexplicable emotion in its heart, remaining silent for a long time.】
【Finally, it slowly spat out three words...】
【Well killed.】
Gu Chengming took a deep breath, having reached a conclusion.
Presumably, this was the knot in the Qingxin Art's heart.
Since the knot had appeared, there was a possibility of resolving it.
Finally here... the Qingxin Art's Bond Event.
Undoubtedly, the emotion revealed by the Qingxin Art at that moment was worth pondering.
Walking on the way home, Gu Chengming thought to himself.
Back at the Wenjian Sect's Scripture Repository, he had specifically checked the origins of the Qingxin Art.
But this cultivation art seemed to have appeared out of thin air. Aside from knowing its creator was an eccentric sword cultivator senior, there were very few other records, and even the senior's name was vague.
Since he couldn't find the person, he could only start with the events.
Gu Chengming recalled the moment the sword fell. The Qingxin Art's rare state of being lost in thought in his Sea of Consciousness, and then that sentence 'well killed' that seemed to have been suppressed for a long time.
Was it because of the demonic beast?
No.
When he was training in the back mountain of the Wenjian Sect, the number of demonic beasts that died under his sword was at least eighty or a hundred, and he hadn't seen the Qingxin Art have any special reaction.
Since it wasn't because of the general category of 'demonic beast,' then it could only be because of that specific 'race' or that specific 'location.'
The Jiao race, or... the East Sea?
Gu Chengming's eyes narrowed as he recalled the brilliant battle record of his own Elder Yu that he had seen on the Hidden Dragon Ranking earlier.
—【At the shore of the East Sea, slew one rampaging Jiao-demon.】
Perhaps he could go back and ask Little Elder Yu?
With this doubt, Gu Chengming pushed open the wooden door of the Jishan Neighborhood courtyard.
Inside the courtyard, the lights were bright. Yu Wenqiu wasn't slumped on the swing as usual; instead, she was sitting at the stone table, fiddling with two exquisite small objects by the lamplight.
Seeing Gu Chengming return, she immediately held up the items in her hand like showing off a treasure, calling out proudly, "Xiao Gu, come quickly! Look at the good treasures this elder brought you!"
Gu Chengming walked closer and saw two purple-gold bells only the size of a thumb. The craftsmanship was extremely delicate, and the surface was covered with complex spirit-awakening runes. When shaken, they didn't make the slightest sound.
"This is?" Gu Chengming was curious.
"This is called the 'Dongdong Bell'!"
Yu Wenqiu happily stuffed one into Gu Chengming's hand and explained, "I spent a lot of money to have a master craftsman from the Tianji Pavilion custom-make this. This is a pair of sub-mother dharma treasures. As long as you ring the bell in your hand, the bell on my side will immediately emit a clear sound that pierces through the soul, and vice versa."
At this point, she puffed out her chest with a 'praise me for my wit' expression. "This bell specifically breaks all kinds of illusions and soul restraints. Its effect is many times better than those passive soul-protecting treasures on the market."
"I was thinking, didn't we suffer from that grand array on the Drunk Dream Boat last time? With this, if you are controlled in the future, I'll ring the bell like crazy to wake you up. If I accidentally... cough, if this elder is careless and falls for a trick, you can also ring the bell to save me."
"This way, aren't the two of us invincible? This is called double insurance!"
Looking at Yu Wenqiu's confident appearance, Gu Chengming toyed with the cold Dongdong Bell in his hand, a surge of warmth in his heart.
This elder usually seemed unreliable, but she had actually been brooding over her failure to protect him last time, even going so far as to seek out such an unconventional dharma treasure.
Only...
Gu Chengming looked at her and asked suddenly, "Then if both of us are controlled, who will ring the bell?"
"Uh..."
The smile on Yu Wenqiu's face instantly froze.
She blinked, looked at the bell in her hand, and then at Gu Chengming. Clearly, she hadn't considered the possibility of a total wipeout at all.
"This... that..."
She stammered for a long time, and finally, somewhat embarrassed and angry, she slapped the bell onto the table. "How could we be that unlucky! Can't you hope for something better? This elder is a third realm sword cultivator; how could I fall for it every time!"
Gu Chengming found it funny but didn't continue to tease her.
Actually, this dharma treasure was indeed very suitable for him, as illusions were basically useless against him. This bell in his hand could serve as a specialized tool for waking up this 'easy-to-be-controlled' elder.
"Elder's considerations are thorough. This disciple is impressed."
Gu Chengming smiled and tied the bell to his waist, sitting down opposite her and naturally shifting the topic. "By the way, while I was looking at the past Hidden Dragon Rankings today, I saw a familiar name."
Hearing the words 'Hidden Dragon Ranking,' the awkwardness on Yu Wenqiu's face instantly vanished.
She cleared her throat, trying to suppress the smile at the corners of her mouth, and asked with feigned composure, "Oh? You saw that ranking too?"
"I did."
Gu Chengming nodded, his tone carrying a well-timed sense of wonder. "Past Hidden Dragon Ranking, 93rd place: Yu Wenqiu. At the shore of the East Sea, with a middle stage second realm cultivation, slew one late stage second realm rampaging Jiao-demon. Elder was truly impressive back then."
These words were like scratching Yu Wenqiu's itch.
She happily puffed out her chest, practically floating with joy. She said with a beaming face, "That's right! I told you I wasn't lying, didn't I? Back in the day, this elder was also quite famous. It's just that after becoming an elder, I started cultivating my character and didn't act much. Otherwise, what would those juniors on the capital's Hidden Dragon Ranking have to do with anything?"
Watching Yu Wenqiu, who was so flattered she was almost humming a tune on the spot, Gu Chengming smiled and casually threw out the next sentence.
"By the way, I'm on the list too."
"Hmm?"
Yu Wenqiu, who was immersed in her past glory, was stunned for a moment before reacting. "Oh right, you've made such a big stir recently; it's only right that you're on the list." She asked casually, "What rank? Did you make the top hundred?"
"Sixty-fourth."
"Pfft—cough cough cough!"
Yu Wenqiu had just picked up her teacup to take a sip, and she almost choked to death. She widened her eyes, looking at Gu Chengming like he was a monster. "What?! Sixty-fourth?!"
She knew Gu Chengming was impressive and that he had been in the spotlight recently. But back then, she had fought tooth and nail, plus Senior Sister Luo's guidance, just to barely squeeze into 93rd place.
How long had this boy been in the capital? Less than two months, all told!
Directly landing at 64th?!
Admiring Yu Wenqiu's expression of shock, bewilderment, and finally a bit of gratification, Gu Chengming didn't continue to dwell on this topic.
The groundwork was sufficient.
He poured himself a cup of tea and seemingly unintentionally steered the conversation toward his true concern.
"It's just some empty fame. Compared to Elder's actual achievement of slaying a Jiao back then, it's still quite a bit behind."
"Speaking of which..."
Gu Chengming set down his teacup and looked at Yu Wenqiu with clear eyes, appearing as if he were humbly seeking knowledge. "I'm quite curious about the matters of the East Sea. When Elder slew the Jiao at the shore of the East Sea, what was the situation like? The situation in the East Sea doesn't seem as simple as it appears on the surface?"
"And... what exactly is the status of the Jiao race in Daqian?"
Yu Wenqiu didn't notice any hidden meaning in Gu Chengming's words.
She simply thought her disciple had read some miscellaneous book and was curious about the Jiao race, wanting to ask his elder about the East Sea.
"The East Sea..."
Yu Wenqiu's expression became a bit more serious. She lightly rubbed the teacup in her hand, seemingly falling into some memory. "The water in that place is indeed deeper than in the capital."
Yu Wenqiu organized her thoughts and spoke slowly, "The East Sea is vast, with ten thousand races. The most powerful among them is the Jiao race, which considers itself descendants of dragon blood. Logically, they belong to the demon race and should be mortal enemies of humanity."
"But about three hundred years ago, Daqian and several Dragon Lords of the East Sea Jiao race signed a Sea-Land Covenant. Since then, the East Sea Jiao race became 'auspicious beasts' enfeoffed by Daqian, enjoying the protection of Daqian's national destiny and becoming guardians of Daqian's maritime trade."
At this point, Yu Wenqiu curled her lip, her tone carrying a bit of disdain. "With this skin of an 'auspicious beast,' as long as they don't openly rebel, Daqian's cultivators cannot kill Jiao at will. Otherwise, it's considered breaking the covenant and subject to the court's accountability."
"However..."
Yu Wenqiu's tone shifted, and her gaze became cold. "Rivers and mountains may change, but nature remains. Those scaled and horned beasts are ultimately tyrannical and bloodthirsty in their bones."
"The Jiao race has messy bloodlines and many branches. The core descendants of the Dragon Lords might restrain themselves, but those collateral branches or mixed-blood bastards below often lose their patience, coming ashore to eat blood-food or stir up trouble."
"Regarding such matters, the court's attitude has always been ambiguous."
"If they don't go too far, the higher-ups often turn a blind eye and settle it with some compensation."
"But if they go too far..."
Yu Wenqiu sneered and gestured across her neck with her palm. "Then they are directly expelled from the Jiao registry, labeled as rampaging demonic beasts, and everyone has the right to kill them."
Gu Chengming nodded thoughtfully.
"Then the one Elder killed back then..."
"The one I killed back then..."
Yu Wenqiu picked up her teacup and took a sip, seemingly recalling a memory that wasn't very pleasant. "That Jiao-demon was a mixed-blood Jiao-beast. Relying on its status, it stirred up trouble in a fishing village on the shore of the East Sea. The local officials were so afraid of offending the East Sea that they actually planned to send people over."
"I happened to be traveling there at the time."
Yu Wenqiu's fingers gripped the teacup tightly, her knuckles turning slightly white. "In a moment of heat, I threw that bullshit covenant and auspicious beast status to the back of my mind."
"And then, I drew my sword."
Yu Wenqiu spoke nonchalantly, "That Jiao-beast indeed had some skill, but this elder wasn't a pushover either. Risking some injuries, I managed to slay it before it could swallow anyone."
Gu Chengming listened quietly.
Although Yu Wenqiu omitted many details—not mentioning the pressure she faced, the possible trouble and retaliation from the East Sea afterward, or how she managed to protect herself amidst the various factions—he could imagine it.
Hidden behind that single line of brilliant achievement, '93rd on the Hidden Dragon Ranking,' was such danger and hardship.
"Well killed," Gu Chengming said seriously.
"Of course!"
Yu Wenqiu smiled again, her eyes curving. Then she suddenly realized something. "What? Did you encounter such a mess outside today too?"
Gu Chengming didn't deny it and simply nodded. "Yes, I slaughtered one."
Yu Wenqiu's eyes lit up. She didn't ask about the consequences or the big picture. "You have the style of this elder back in the day! Those beasts wearing the skin of an auspicious beast should be killed!"
"Come, come, tell the elder, what breed was it?"
In the courtyard, the lamplight was dim.
The two of them talked back and forth, speaking of the joy of slaying demons and discussing the bit of conscience in the cracks of this world.
And that Dongdong Bell tied to Gu Chengming's waist swayed gently in the night wind, emitting a few extremely faint yet crisp sounds.
As if responding to something.
Rate on N.U.
