Yes. Of course there was a problem. He didn’t want to go at all.
Please take back those five hundred million; as for the three hundred million I owe, I’ll find a way to pay it back myself.
Going as a body double—isn’t that just pure suicide? Even someone who merely looked like his “White Moonlight” (first love) was being persecuted; what would happen to him, the actual look-alike?
Gu Ming struggled for a moment, coming up with what he thought was a reasonable excuse:
“Cult Leader, I believe this is somewhat inappropriate. I am shrouded in demonic energy. I fear that the moment I reach the borders of the Righteous Path, they will mistake it for an enemy invasion.”
Though he could use a disguise mask to alter his aura, he didn’t want to reveal the mask’s existence. More importantly, he simply didn’t want to go.
The Cult Leader took a jade bottle from his robes and tossed it to Gu Ming. Gu Ming caught it in a panic, opened it, and found six pure white, lustrous pills lying inside. A dense medicinal fragrance wafted out. One whiff was enough to tell these were high-grade spirit pills. However, he didn’t know their specific effect.
Gu Ming looked at the Cult Leader with confusion. The Cult Leader explained: “These are Spirit-Cleansing Pills. Take one, and it will convert the demonic energy in your body into ordinary spiritual energy. Under the Heavens, no one can see through it—not even the Holy Maiden.”
That powerful? They must be incredibly expensive.
Gu Ming tucked them away reluctantly; it seemed refusal was no longer an option. At this point, he could only take it one step at a time.
“However, one pill only lasts for two months. There are six pills in the bottle, so you only have one year.” The Cult Leader added afterwards.
Hearing this, Gu Ming felt a wave of pressure. So there was a time limit. It seemed this water was going to be quite deep and difficult to wade through. Gu Ming sighed inwardly.
Then, the Cult Leader took a token from his robes and threw it to him:
“In one week, the Holy Maiden Mountain will hold a massive disciple recruitment. Take this and participate.”
Gu Ming looked at the token, and his mood instantly sank. On the token, a number was clearly carved: 88.
After seeing off the Cult Leader, Gu Ming walked alone to the Heavenly King’s palace. Gazing at the throne atop the stairs, his eyes betrayed a hint of helplessness. Setting aside his personal risk, the Cult Leader’s plan was almost flawless.
He only needed to gain the Holy Maiden’s trust and lure her into a trap. The one who would deal with her wasn’t him, but someone else. Because of this, he couldn’t just fake the Holy Maiden’s death to brush it off. Furthermore, to fake her death, he would have to convince her to cooperate. But why would the Holy Maiden cooperate? Just because he was a body double for her “White Moonlight”?
Gu Ming thought it over and decided he had to sabotage the plan midway. There were two ways to sabotage it. First, reveal his identity as a double to the high-level members of the Righteous Alliance and let them deal with him. This, however, would put him in extreme danger. Unless it was a last resort, he shouldn’t take this path.
Second, rescue the Holy Maiden’s actual White Moonlight. Once the real person returned, what use would they have for a body double? But where was this White Moonlight being held? Surely not with the Cult Leader? The danger level of that scenario was off the charts!
Wait. Why should I go rescue that guy myself? I only need to find out where he is imprisoned and leak the information to the Holy Maiden, letting her figure it out herself.
Ugh. On second thought, Gu Ming felt this was still inappropriate. The Holy Maiden was so important that if she so much as blinked, the Holy Maiden Mountain would know immediately. She’d likely be caught the moment she stepped out.
Gu Ming had a massive headache and couldn’t help but sigh deeply. Just then, he felt a softness against his back. A pair of slender, snow-white hands wrapped around him from behind. Then came a familiar fragrance.
Without looking, Gu Ming knew from the scent alone that the person behind him was definitely Mu Qianqian.
“Brother, don’t worry too much. I’m here for you,” Mu Qianqian’s soft voice drifted over.
Gu Ming gave a bitter smile. This girl always appeared out of nowhere to comfort him whenever he was most troubled. She clearly knew nothing. Yet she always gave him unconditional support.
Gu Ming asked curiously:
“Qianqian, aren’t you curious about what the Cult Leader and I talked about?”
“Brother, when you want to tell me, you will. If you don’t want to, you won’t tell me even if I ask,” Mu Qianqian said plainly.
Deeply touched, Gu Ming thought it over and decided to come clean with her. After all, he needed her help to investigate where the White Moonlight was being held.
After hearing Gu Ming’s narration, Mu Qianqian knit her beautiful brows and bit her lower lip. She gazed deeply at him: “Brother, can you just… not go?”
Gu Ming turned around, patted her head, and said with a smile: “Don’t worry too much. I’ll be fine.” Mu Qianqian lowered her head, her thoughts unreadable.
Seeing this, Gu Ming pulled her into his embrace. His chin rested gently against her forehead as he inhaled the scent of her hair, whispering: “Wait for me to return.”
“Mm.”
From Gu Ming’s territory to the Holy Maiden Mountain, it was only a three-day flight. Therefore, he had exactly four days left in his territory. During these four days, Mu Qianqian did nothing but cling to Gu Ming, dragging him around to wander everywhere. Gu Ming had no choice but to let her have her way.
On the night of the fourth day, just as Gu Ming was about to go to bed, the door suddenly creaked open. Thinking it was an enemy attack, Gu Ming leaped from the bed, only to see two young women swaying their hips as they walked in slowly.
“Who are you?” Gu Ming barked. The two women immediately fell to their knees, pleading:
“Lord Heavenly King, we were sent by Lady Mu to serve you.”
Qianqian? Gu Ming rubbed his temples. What was that girl up to now? Whatever.
Gu Ming waved them off, saying, “You may leave. I don’t need your service.” Hearing this, the women turned pale, their lips trembling with fear.
“What is it?” Gu Ming was bewildered. Could his command as a Heavenly King not override Mu Qianqian’s orders? Was the hierarchy completely flipped?
One of the girls stammered, “Lord Heavenly King, we are clean… we are still virgins. So please, do not drive us away. Please let us serve you tonight.”
Gu Ming’s expression darkened. He had a good idea of what was happening, but he still found it hard to believe. That soft, weak little girl was actually capable of threatening people? That is way too ‘Demonic Cultivator’ of her!
Gu Ming covered his face, still struggling with the thought:
“Did Qianqian threaten you?”
“No, no, absolutely not! We are serving you of our own free will, Lord Heavenly King!” Their faces were ghastly white as they gestured frantically in denial.
Seeing this, Gu Ming let out a long breath. It went without saying—they were definitely coerced.
“You may leave.” Gu Ming leaned against his forehead and waved his hand, calling to the guards outside: “Someone, bring Qianqian here.”