“You’re a Nascent Soul disciple too?”
Ling Huan could hardly believe it.
Since she was a Nascent Soul disciple—an actual direct disciple at that—why would she harbor such deep hatred?
She hated her master so much, she was willing to get herself killed just to cause trouble for him?
Although Gu Chengxue had dragged him into this mess and that made Ling Huan quite annoyed, after hearing that this was all just Gu Chengxue’s own lousy idea, Ling Huan felt much more at ease.
At least he now knew he hadn’t offended a real Nascent Soul.
Whether Gu Chengxue was truly a Nascent Soul disciple still needed to be seen, but just as he’d said before, since there was no way to be sure, he’d just treat her as the real deal.
Right now, he absolutely couldn’t afford to offend a true Nascent Soul.
But then, Gu Chengxue suddenly let out a cold laugh.
“Hmph, a Nascent Soul’s disciple? I’d rather not be one.Everyone thinks that becoming a Nascent Soul’s disciple puts you above the masses, second only to one, able to enjoy endless glory and wealth, with limitless cultivation resources at your fingertips.”
“But who would ever think that, above all else, the most important thing about being a Nascent Soul disciple… is to be a vessel?”
Ling Huan frowned deeply.
“What do you mean? He wants to possess you?”
Gu Chengxue nodded.
“So-called direct disciples—most of them now are just spare bodies kept by Nascent Souls for future possession. It’s all so they’ll have another shot at rebirth, so they can once again charge toward the Nascent Soul stage, break through the seal, and rise to Spirit Severing.”
“Break through the seal? Are you saying the heavenly laws of this world have sealed the realm above Nascent Soul?”
“No.”
Gu Chengxue shook her head.
“That’s not it. It’s because the great figures of the past—no one knows what they discovered or did—joined forces and set up a massive formation, completely blocking any chance of advancement beyond Nascent Soul.”
Now, all the Nascent Souls under the sky are racking their brains, trying to break through this restriction.
If it were a thousand years ago, maybe things would be better, but now many Nascent Souls are approaching the end of their lifespans—their time is running out.
I don’t know about the other Nascent Souls, but at least my so-called master came up with this method.
Hmph, he thinks I don’t know?
He thinks I’m as foolish as the ones before, believing all that talk about how thin spiritual energy caused their failures and demise.
Heh, they just couldn’t withstand being possessed by him!
“Now, after yet another failed breakthrough, he’s gone completely mad—he wants to refine my entire family! Because he found that my family is the most compatible vessel!”
As she spoke, Gu Chengxue’s voice choked, and a teardrop fell with a loud plop onto the straw-covered floor from her swollen eyes.
“I told the others, but no one would believe me. Even the Sect Master didn’t believe me… No, to be precise, they all knew.”
To them, he’s the guardian deity of the sect, the final trump card.
“They don’t care! All they want is for the sect’s ancestor to become stronger! To crush the other sects!!! And then unify the world! So I had no choice, I could only use such a clumsy method…”
At this point, Gu Chengxue was all emotion, tears brimming in her eyes, her voice full of grief as she poured out her pain and despair.
Yet on the other side, Ling Huan kept yawning.
“Your story’s pretty average, honestly. Even the storytellers on the street do better—they don’t put me to sleep at least.”
Gu Chengxue was stunned, then immediately shouted, “No, young master, I’m not lying. It’s just—”
“It’s just all bullshit.”
Ling Huan cut her off.
“Huh?”
“You think I’m stupid? Not only did you learn something that important, but you also ran off to tell the sect about it. And after the Sect Master found out, he just let you out to carry out this task?”
Anyone with a brain would lock you up in the sect, force-feed you pills or spirit herbs to get you to the right cultivation stage, and then let your so-called master possess you—that’s the normal approach.
Fine, maybe you and your Sect Master are close, or someone in the sect helped you escape, or your sect is just dumb and let you out to do this task in Qingmu City.
But what about your master?
What the hell is wrong with him?
He knows full well how important you are as a body, and he just lets you wander around?
If you pissed off the wrong person and got yourself killed, where would he find another vessel as good as you?
You’re only at the Qi Refining stage, but even so, a Nascent Soul wants your body—clearly you’re one in a million to him.
Even if you were let out, there’s no way you’d be alone without a single guard.
Even I, a mere young master from a mortal family, have a shadow guard.
So you, a Nascent Soul cultivator’s disciple?
“They just let you get beaten into a pig’s head by me? Don’t make me laugh!”
Ling Huan stood up at once and stomped on Gu Chengxue’s face.
“You just want to stir up trouble! Stop with the lame excuses. I’ll give you one last chance—what exactly did you come to Qingmu City for?”
Gu Chengxue shuddered violently, her whole body trembling, but it wasn’t out of fear, nor anger at being exposed, but excitement.
She’d found him—found the man who could lead her, found her boss, someone she could follow.
He didn’t care about her looks, wasn’t afraid to be ruthless; he could see through her lies without hesitation.
Heh, no matter how she looked at it, he was better than Lin Chuan.
No, better than anyone she’d ever met.
People need someone to lead them.
No matter how capable Gu Chengxue was, she just didn’t have the skill to lead.
She was too wild—no, too lively.
So lively she did whatever popped into her head, utterly incapable of leading a team.
She needed a strategist.
No, she needed a man who could dominate her, ride on top of her, grab her by the hair, treat Gu Chengxue like a horse, leading her and the rest.
Without question, Ling Huan was up to the task.
He had a mind far beyond his ten years, those ruthless methods and temperament, and natural talent for combat—Gu Chengxue saw it all.
He had a clear goal, and more importantly, Ling Huan had principles, and he’d risk his life for them.
He wouldn’t be swayed by her face, much less bewitched.
That meant Gu Chengxue wouldn’t have to worry about a prettier woman stealing him away, nor worry he’d be seduced and forget their agreement.
Gu Chengxue had met too many of those types—she’d play both roles herself, the ugly woman and the beauty, never even touching those men, and they’d all betray her, abandoning the ugly one without a second thought.
Ling Huan was qualified—and he was only ten!
At ten, he’d reached Qi Refining Stage Two, then soared to Stage Four and beat her up, and he even had a Nascent Soul backing him.
Could there be anyone better?
Ha!
Gu Chengxue trembled with excitement.
Who cared about stirring things up or the old guy behind her?
All she wanted was to follow Ling Huan, to be his dog, his horse, his air, to go wild with him.
Hehehe, just thinking about it made her feel feverish all over.
Suddenly, a flash of white light burst from the necklace at Gu Chengxue’s chest.
The light quickly enveloped her whole body, and Ling Huan felt a terrifying aura rising steadily.
What the—?
Shit, a magic treasure!?
Ling Huan’s face changed dramatically.
He suddenly remembered—damn, this was a cultivator!
If Gu Chengxue really was a Nascent Soul disciple, she’d definitely have a magic treasure!
Just as he thought to bolt, the white light suddenly vanished.
Gu Chengxue’s clothes had disappeared, the wounds and swelling on her face were all gone, and her broken teeth were back, even her hands and feet fully restored.
Ling Huan shouted in shock, “That’s incredible!”
He complained as he backed away, about to open the door or window and slip out.
It wasn’t that he was afraid, but this was Ling Manor—if he could call for help, he could launch a righteous punishment, so why stick around for a one-on-one fight?
But Gu Chengxue immediately pounced on him.
Recovered that fast?!
Ling Huan wailed inwardly—so close, yet he’d failed at the last step!
Just as he was bracing for his body to be pierced, he suddenly felt something soft blocking his mouth.
His tightly shut eyes snapped open—Ling Huan discovered his first kiss had been stolen by that beast, Gu Chengxue!
And she wasn’t satisfied, trying to pry his lips open with her soft tongue.
Of course Ling Huan would rather die than submit, struggling with all his might.
But just then, the door burst open with a bang, and a beam of light shone directly on Ling Huan and Gu Chengxue.
Ling Huan’s eyes went blurry, his head slowly tilting back.
As his vision cleared, he was struck like lightning—Jiang Yue was standing at the woodshed door, still wearing that black veil, and he could feel a gaze even colder than before.
…
Even as Gu Chengxue held him tightly in her arms, that searing warmth pressed close, Ling Huan’s heart had already sunk into an icy abyss, as if pierced by the chill of a thousand-year-old glacier.
“This time, do you have anything to say?”
“……”
There was nothing more to say.
After all, his mouth was still sealed.