The night of the Spring Equinox was not too cold, and the entire courtyard was filled with the refreshing fragrance of peach blossoms.
Pei Du held Xie Jingci by the wrist, leading her all the way from the room to a corner of the courtyard. Wherever they passed, a flurry of fallen petals fluttered down around them.
She was originally a little nervous.
The plot regarding this character persona was actually quite simple.
The villainous young miss was obsessive and dark-minded. She had a unique infatuation with the young male servant who served in her family, wanting to keep him all to herself. Yet, she also despised his lowly status, feeling that he was nothing more than a servant, unworthy of standing on equal footing with her.
This extreme sense of disparity forced her to pull away, while her wildly surging love pushed her forward step by step. Under this twisted mentality, the young miss successfully evolved into a complete psychopath. She would ruthlessly humiliate him while recklessly displaying her affection, tormenting the male lead until he was half-dead.
Xie Jingci: ...
As for the ending, naturally, the beautiful and kind-hearted female lead descended from the heavens to pull the young servant out of the mire. The young miss lost her beloved and was filled with endless regret, only able to watch helplessly as her sweetheart ran far away with someone else.
This persona perfectly illustrated the definition of a possessive scumbag. Not only was she constantly jealous and prone to fits of rage, but she would also force him into various acts unsuitable for children. She was the very embodiment of a beast in human clothing and a hypocritical degenerate. If Pei Du were to act this out...
Pei Du's intention in bringing her out of the room could not be more obvious. Xie Jingci subconsciously felt a little guilty, yet upon glancing up, she caught sight of the young man's reddened ears.
He must have been thoroughly frightened by those unspeakable, suggestive lines.
...Why did she suddenly have the illusion that she was forcing a decent person into depravity!
Upon reaching the corner, Pei Du's footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
A vibrant peach tree grew here, its fragrance lingering endlessly in the air. Even the moonlight seemed to be veiled in a faint layer of pale pink, creating an exceptionally tranquil and secluded atmosphere.
Xie Jingci heard him call out again, "...Miss Xie."
His thumb, resting on her wrist, was silently caressing her skin.
A sword cultivator's fingertips inevitably bore calluses, making his touch feel slightly ticklish. Pei Du's fingers were ice-cold as they gently trailed downward, tracing the veins in her palm, as if he could seep that chill directly into her blood vessels.
Xie Jingci recalled the crimson hue of his ears and found it somewhat amusing, but his touch was far too intimate, making her feel a bit flushed.
"Have I been too indulgent lately, making you forget your place?"
Pei Du took a step forward, and she instinctively stepped back, only for her heels to hit the massive peach tree.
"Do you remember? If you are disobedient, you will be punished."
His eyes darkened. After a moment of hesitation, his voice dropped lower, "...Don't cry again when the time comes, Cici."
Pei Du: ...
He had called Miss Xie "Cici".
These two words had lingered in his heart countless times, yet he never had the chance to voice them. Now, brought to the tip of his tongue by the system's influence, they flowed out without the slightest hesitation, like a clear spring running through a mountain ravine.
As for what he had said just before that...
Was he... was he really going to punish Miss Xie and make her cry? He would never harm a single hair on her head, let alone strike her.
If the system issued a mission to punish her, Pei Du would rather bear the punishment in her stead.
"I say," the system popped out from some unknown corner of his sea of consciousness and chuckled, "You don't actually think this 'punishment' means punching and kicking her like the Pei family's corporal punishment, do you?"
Pei Du lowered his gaze. "If it is whipping or burning, I can endure it. Please do not lay a hand on Miss Xie."
The system remained silent for a moment before bursting into a fit of highly mocking laughter.
"There are many different kinds of punishments, young master."
It seemed to be in a good mood, its tone brisk and carrying a hint of mystery. "Let me find an example for you—like this one."
Pei Du focused his mind to look. Even though he had thoroughly braced himself mentally, he still could not help but freeze, the flush on his face deepening.
What did it mean by... "Spiritual energy slowly pressed down, restraining her figure like bonds, before abruptly tightening"? And what was "blindfolding her eyes, binding her hands with ropes, and using a small bell to lead her forward step by step"?
At this very moment, the worldview of the young man—who had never seen or even dared to dream of such scenes—completely collapsed.
He was truly going too far.
The moment he saw those words, vague images involuntarily surfaced in his sea of consciousness. Although they merely flashed by, it was enough to make Pei Du's entire body burn with heat.
"...Miss Xie."
The young sword cultivator's imposing aura completely dissipated as he lowered his head. "I'm sorry..."
Xie Jingci was taken aback.
"It's alright, I know. That was just a line dictated by the system."
She didn't understand why Pei Du was apologizing, but seeing that he seemed to have broken free from the system's control, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "I've been in your shoes, I understand."
Miss Xie did not understand at all.
Merely reading those words had caused his entire body to burn with heat. If he were to actually do those things to her... he definitely would not be able to handle it.
"Are you two done chatting?"
After a brief moment of silence, Mo Xiaoyang's carefree shout rang out from not too far away. "We're heading to the beach!"
"On the day of the Spring Equinox, it is said that all the spiritual energy that has lain dormant for the entire winter fully awakens. All things become restless, and rare, breathtaking sights often appear."
Gu Mingzhao truly lived up to his reputation as an old fox who had lived for hundreds of years. He spoke with absolute authority. Leading the group through Lingshui Village, he walked with a confident swagger. "Very few people know about this place. It is your good fortune that I am taking you to see it."
Thanks to that highly valuable bottle of spiritual medicine, the wound on his leg had mostly healed. Although he still walked with a limp, he was no longer howling in pain like he had been at the very beginning.
If it weren't for the fact that there were indeed a few suspicious things about him, Xie Jingci would never, under any circumstances, associate this man with High Immortal Shuifeng.
She followed behind Gu Mingzhao the entire way, her gaze never leaving Miss Han.
This young woman's identity and origins were unknown, and she was unwilling to even fully disclose her name. It was highly likely that the surname "Han" was just something she had casually made up.
However, if she truly was a Gu Master, why be so brazen and openly appear in front of everyone? After all, given her eccentric behavior and attire, she would inevitably become the villagers' primary suspect if things ever got out of hand.
"Miss Han," Meng Xiaoting, who was equally suspicious of her, asked in a light, conversational tone, "Why are you always wearing that large cloak? Is it because you are too cold?"
Her footsteps paused slightly.
"Yes."
Miss Han's voice was clear but carried a slight huskiness, as if she were not very accustomed to speaking with others. After a moment of hesitation, she softly continued, "I am sensitive to the cold."
After that, she said no more.
Refusing to give up, Mo Xiaoyang picked up the conversation and asked her, "Now that Lingshui Village is trapped by Gu sorcery, it would be best for you to leave as soon as possible—but speaking of which, why did Miss Han come to this place all alone? Are you hoping to enter the Langya Secret Realm?"
The young woman shook her head. "...I am looking for someone."
"Looking for someone? Does a friend of yours live here?"
Meng Xiaoting asked curiously, "Has Miss Han found that person yet?"
She remained quiet for a long while. After a moment, the corners of her lips actually curled up into a very faint smile, her eyes curving slightly. "Yes."
Miss Han was very beautiful. She had slender, starry eyes and a face like a peach blossom. Although she was completely devoid of color, it added a touch of frail, delicate beauty to her. Now, with a sudden smile, it was as if a figure in a painting had gained sentience and stepped right off the paper.
She didn't speak again after that, habitually pulling her clothes tighter around herself.
Gu Mingzhao clearly intended to lead them out of the village. Passing row upon row of neatly arranged houses with white walls and black tiles, it wasn't long before they could hear the ceaseless sound of crashing ocean waves.
"This way."
To the east of the coast, there was a desolate little hill. He knew this path like the back of his hand, walking effortlessly across the uneven reefs and sandy ground as if treading on flat land. Who knew how many times he had been here before.
"Just keep going up along this path."
The hill wasn't high. Halfway up, Gu Mingzhao suddenly turned his head. "The path is a bit steep. Everyone, please be care—"
Before he could finish, he saw Miss Han stumble beside him. Without a second thought, he reached out his hand to catch her. The moment he grasped her wrist, his expression froze.
Miss Han kept her head down and quickly pulled her right hand back.
Gu Mingzhao seemed a bit embarrassed. He raised a hand to scratch his head. "Well... just be careful."
This interaction was truly strange, and Xie Jingci's curiosity was piqued to the absolute peak. Unfortunately, Gu Mingzhao's spiritual power was too weak to use secret voice transmission. She could only suppress her mounting confusion, eager to reach the top of the hill so she could ask Gu Mingzhao exactly what had happened.
"Th-th-this... why do their expressions look so weird?"
Meng Xiaoting used voice transmission: "Something is suspicious."
"I know! Miss Han's wrist must be thick and sturdy, unlike a woman's. Gu Mingzhao has realized his true identity—a man dressed as a woman!"
Mo Xiaoyang still hadn't let go of this theory, successfully convincing himself.
"Later, when we get up the hill, I'll go ask him what happened."
Xie Jingci said, "Don't follow me together. If there are too many of us, Miss Han will get suspicious."
She said this completely subconsciously. Just as the words left her mouth, she suddenly remembered Pei Du's current character setting.
Striking up a conversation with another man would very likely trigger the eldest young master's possessiveness, but Miss Han's background was unknown. Investigating Gu Mingzhao for information regarding this matter... was clearly strictly business. It should be fine, right?
Xie Jingci subtly shifted her gaze to Pei Du's face.
He remained calm and handsome, his face like white jade. It seemed the system hadn't issued a task. She quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
The small hill was lush with trees, and they hadn't seen a single soul for quite some time.
Following the path all the way to the summit, they found numerous large, uneven stones of various shapes scattered among the verdant bushes and grass. They were arranged in a messy circular pattern, almost like a formation.
Above were twinkling stars, and below was the boundless, vast ocean. The waves tirelessly crashed against the foot of the hill over and over again, churning up snow-white foam in a beautiful and magnificent display.
"The scenery here is pretty good, isn't it?"
Gu Mingzhao smiled. "The main event hasn't started yet. Just wait a bit longer, I promise you won't be disappointed."
This was the perfect opportunity to pry for information in private. Xie Jingci exchanged a glance with Meng Xiaoting and took the chance to speak up, "Regarding Lingshui Village and the Gu Master, I have a few things I don't quite understand. I wonder if Young Master Gu could clear up my confusion?"
Gu Mingzhao didn't have that many twists and turns in his mind and didn't overthink it. He immediately agreed, "Sure."
Naturally, she couldn't ask in front of Miss Han herself, so using the excuse of taking a stroll to relax, she led him to the other side of the summit.
The two sides of the mountaintop were separated by a dense forest, with strange rocks blocking the way. Xie Jingci asked straightforwardly, keeping her voice low, "Earlier, when you grabbed Miss Han's wrist, why were you so surprised?"
The not-so-clever High Immortal Shuifeng finally realized that the so-called relaxing stroll was just a cover.
"Because it was really weird."
Gu Mingzhao rarely talked about others behind their backs. Feeling guilty like a thief, he looked around. "Her wrist is too thin, like a slender twig. Although they say a girl's wrist is so delicate it can be encircled by a single hand, Miss Han's is completely beyond what is normal. It's like a thin layer of skin wrapping around the bone. It's very peculiar."
...Too skinny?
Could it be that the reason she bundled herself up so tightly was because of this? And for what reason had her body become so different from an ordinary person's?
"I think there's really no need to keep suspecting her. Although I've lost my divine power, I have no problem sensing evil bones. Her body is completely clean, without the slightest trace of evil energy."
Gu Mingzhao ran a hand through his wind-mussed hair. "I've lived for so long, and I've always been a good judge of character. Although she doesn't like interacting with people, she shouldn't have any malicious intent. What's more, for a young girl like Miss Han to end up like this, she must have encountered a great disaster."
Like Xie Jingci, like Meng Xiaoting, and like many other young girls, they were all carefree and lively, smiling all day long.
Only she was excessively pale, always solitary and silent.
He remembered something, and his eyes brightened a bit. "Besides, Miss Han is very gentle! When I first met her, for some reason, I thought she looked familiar. I had a brain cramp and blurted out asking if we had met before. That was quite offensive, right? But Miss Han didn't get angry; she just smiled and shook her head."
As expected of a High Immortal dedicated to saving the world, his heart was truly exceptionally kind.
Xie Jingci was about to reply to him when she suddenly heard an unfamiliar child's voice: "Brother Gu!"
Turning her head, she unexpectedly saw two young boys.
"Did you guys come to play on the hill too?"
Gu Mingzhao clearly knew them. He narrowed his eyes and smiled. "What do you have on your backs? Wishing dolls?"
Xie Jingci only then noticed that each boy was carrying a bamboo basket on his back.
She couldn't see clearly what was inside the baskets, so she followed Gu Mingzhao's words and asked, "Wishing dolls?"
"It's a tradition in Lingshui Village."
He explained patiently, "Every Spring Equinox, we write our wishes for welcoming good fortune and warding off disasters on the dolls, letting them bear the bad luck for the coming year in our stead. Would Miss Xie like to buy one? You can use it yourself or give it as a gift. However, you can only buy one per year, otherwise, you'll be considered greedy, and none of your wishes will come true."
The two boys looked at her with bright eyes, bringing their bamboo baskets a little closer.
Xie Jingci smiled warmly and squatted down to examine the coarse cloth dolls in the baskets. "Did you make these yourselves?"
"Aunt Song taught us how to make them."
One of the children replied, "Brother Gu helped too."
"In Lingshui Village, there are many orphaned children who can't afford to go to school. The village chief opened a private school, but he's actually losing money on it. To keep the school running, he often takes the children to make small trinkets to sell."
Gu Mingzhao whispered, "...It's really not easy."
The dolls in the bamboo baskets came in all shapes and sizes. There were swordsmen wielding swords, cultivators leaning on bamboo, and flamboyant dancers, each with its own unique characteristics. Xie Jingci pondered for a long time, picked up two of them, and held them in front of Gu Mingzhao's eyes. "Here, which one looks better?"
Xie Jingci gave them a lot of money. The two children turned pale with shock, thinking for a moment that they were dreaming. They pinched each other's arms several times before leaving with endless expressions of gratitude.
"Miss Xie, I don't want to work hard anymore either," Gu Mingzhao said, shaking his head repeatedly as he hugged the doll in his hands. "Is your estate in need of a deity? The suave and charming kind."
Xie Jingci cast a sideways glance at him.
"Actually, I've been wondering," she said thoughtfully, watching the retreating backs of the two children. "Since all memories of you in Lingshui Village no longer exist, logically speaking, you should have vanished from the world without leaving a single trace. Yet, you still have a breath of life left. It's truly strange."
Gu Mingzhao's eyes widened as he nodded frantically. "Yes, yes, yes! I'm also very puzzled."
"But perhaps, even without memories, some things still remain in the mind."
She tilted her head up to look at the sky through the gaps in the leaves and took a soft breath. "Just like how the village chief vaguely remembers your appearance and followed in your footsteps to rebuild the private school... Perhaps that is also a kind of bond, even if no one knows it."
When she first met Gu Mingzhao, the current village chief was nothing more than an ignorant little girl.
Out of admiration for that person, even after decades had passed, and even after losing all memories of him, she still gradually moved forward following his footsteps. She would also remember in her dreams that there was once a tall, thin, plain-looking, yet incredibly gentle teacher.
Memory is nothing but a vessel. Even if it disappears completely, there will still be indescribable feelings hidden deep in the heart.
Gu Mingzhao glanced at the doll in his hand and chuckled softly after a long moment. "But that's just an inconsequential feeling, right? Once memories are lost, they're lost. Things can never be exactly the same as before."
His smile deepened as he continued, "Life right now is pretty good too. I'm a man of leisure. Even though I'm a useless piece of trash, at least I'm free and easy, without so many responsibilities. I—huh?"
Gu Mingzhao paused slightly, his gaze moving past Xie Jingci to look behind her. "Young Master Pei?"
Her heart skipped a beat. She quickly turned around, straightening her back the moment her eyes met Pei Du's, looking exactly like a cat caught stealing fish.
Help, help.
Could someone tell her why a perfectly fine sweet romance script... had suddenly turned into a horror movie?!
"Miss Han asked me to inform you two," Pei Du said. The Zhanyuan Sword was fastened at his waist, and his handsome features were cold and detached, revealing neither joy nor anger. "The time is almost up."
The time.
What time?
Xie Jingci's mind went blank, only to hear Gu Mingzhao beside her suddenly slap his forehead in realization. "Oh, right! It's almost time to view the scenery!"
He paused as he spoke, finally realizing something was wrong. "Miss Han? How would she know the exact time to view the scenery?"
This was clearly a secret base belonging only to him and a few children.
"Young Master Gu," Pei Du ignored his hesitation, his tone remaining gentle and proper, "if you don't go now, you'll miss the time."
Gu Mingzhao couldn't hear the hidden meaning in these words, but Xie Jingci's heart trembled.
Here it comes, here it comes. She had seen this script before. This sentence was clearly the precursor to a volcanic eruption. He was deliberately dismissing irrelevant people just to strip away his disguise and reveal his deranged true nature.
When did Pei Du get here? When she bought the doll? When those two boys left? Or when she was talking to Gu Mingzhao?
The little fool Gu Mingzhao left cheerfully.
Xie Jingci coughed lightly, trying to cover up her guilt.
"What did he say to you?"
Pei Du's expression was indifferent as he approached step by step. "Didn't I warn you to know your place?"
Xie Jingci didn't move, just raising her eyes to look at him.
According to common sense, at a time like this, she should feel dizzy, nauseous, scared, and uncomfortable like all traditional female leads. But as soon as she saw Pei Du's face and the touch of red on his ears—
Sorry, she really just wanted to laugh.
Saying such things, Pei Du definitely felt more ashamed in his heart than she did. He was like a rabbit wearing a wolf's skin, looking fierce and baring his fangs, but actually still very easy to bully.
Not to mention, the old-school, cliché flavor of these lines was simply too strong.
Xie Jingci took her time, suppressing the smile on her lips. "What is my place—Young Master?"
The young man's pupils shrank slightly, and his breathing suddenly became chaotic.
...She was really too much.
Miss Xie had definitely seen through his embarrassment and deliberately played along with his lines, clearly bullying him.
However, the system's forced guidance was irresistible. With a face completely flushed red, what slowly came out of Pei Du's mouth were incredibly shameful, domineering words: "You are nothing but a toy for my amusement, understand?"
I'm sorry, Miss Xie.
He was really so bad to actually say such humiliating things to her, like a teeth-baring fool. Pei Du was already embarrassed enough. His long eyelashes fluttered, and he caught a glimpse of the curve in her eyes—Miss Xie was definitely smiling.
He only felt his eye sockets heat up, wanting to find a hole in the ground to curl up in.
Teasing Pei Du was truly one of the greatest joys in the world.
Xie Jingci was about to collapse from laughing inwardly, but her tone remained innocent. "Why is Young Master angry?"
[Hey, hey, what's wrong with you? A perfectly fine domineering young master, how can you be so pitiful and get overpowered by a maidservant?]
The system fumed, exasperated at his ineptitude: [Be fiercer! Suppress her with your aura! Teach this little wildcat a harsh lesson!]
Pei Du gritted his teeth. "Blaming Miss Xie just because she spoke with Young Master Gu is completely unreasonable in the first place. I'm the one in the wrong."
[You can't blame me for this.]
The system let out an "oho" and a meaningful, strange laugh: [I only give out the corresponding lines when the appropriate scene is triggered. It was clearly you who didn't want to see Xie Jingci getting close to others. When she bought the doll for Gu Mingzhao, dare you say you didn't care?]
Pei Du's eyes darkened.
Of course he cared.
Miss Han had entrusted him to find Miss Xie and Young Master Gu. Through the layers of the sea of trees, Pei Du saw at a glance that she was holding her hand out to Gu Mingzhao, asking which one was better.
As he moved a little further forward, he saw the latter joyfully accepting the doll and holding it in his arms.
He knew that the doll held extraordinary meaning. His heart couldn't help but feel bitter, and he could only pretend not to care at all, comforting himself that Miss Xie had just bought it in passing.
...Only one doll could be bought a year. He had never extravagantly hoped that Miss Xie would buy it to give to him. But seeing it taken by someone else, it was still inevitable for him to feel sad.
And then he heard the ding-dong sound of the system.
Miss Xie moved a little closer to him, her willow-leaf eyes shining brightly, as if they could look straight into his heart. "Does Young Master dislike me talking to others?"
No.
Pei Du's gaze dodged, and the lines popped out uncontrollably: "...From now on, you are not allowed to give things to others."
Xie Jingci was stunned.
"I can't give things to others anymore?"
She seemed to have finally understood something. She pursed her lips and raised the corners of her mouth. Her right hand shook like a magic trick. "That's really a pity. I bought this doll and originally wanted to give it to someone. If Young Master is unwilling, then never mind."
In Miss Xie's hand, there impressively lay a small blue figure.
It didn't look particularly immortal or ethereal. It was tall and thin, wearing a long robe, looking rather blank, and holding a sword.
But Gu Mingzhao clearly still had a doll in his hands.
...Ah.
He stared blankly at the doll and saw a line of small characters on its abdomen. He couldn't see the specific content clearly, but could only catch a glimpse of the first three characters: For Pei Du.
[Damn it, a miscalculation.]
The system clicked its tongue softly: [To think your love rival is actually yourself. Take care of yourself, young master. I'm out.]
The young sword cultivator who had been so arrogant just a moment ago suddenly fell silent.
Pei Du felt a little embarrassed. His whole body felt as if it were on fire, and he awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
"I thought two of them suited you quite well, so I asked Gu Mingzhao for his opinion. As for Gu Mingzhao, he also bought one for someone else. He should have given it to them by now."
Xie Jingci poked his chest with the doll. "Do you want it?"
Pei Du carefully accepted it and finally saw the small line of words clearly.
[For Pei Du: Wishing you smooth sailing in the coming year, free from illness and worry, and may all your wishes come true.]
The corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up, but were forcefully pressed flat again out of shyness.
This was... a gift from Miss Xie.
The little person in his heart was so happy that it was rolling around, with hundreds of flowers blooming wherever it passed. Finally, it spun and flew into midair, soared for a moment, and exploded into a shower of heart-thumping fireworks.
Pei Du touched the tip of his nose, trying to hide the smile on his lips.
Xie Jingci's smile didn't fade. "Do you like it?"
He nodded.
"You can't play favorites and forget about me because of it."
She stood on her tiptoes and leaned in close to his ear. "I am also a toy for your amusement, young master."
These were the very words he had spoken himself not long ago.
Pei Du reacted like a cat whose fur stood on end, a crimson flush spreading all the way to the tips of his ears. "M-Miss Xie!"
Xie Jingci continued to smile. "No need to thank me."
Xie Jingci and Pei Du arrived at the edge of the cliff just when the scenery was at its most magnificent.
This place was remote and sparsely populated. The reviving spiritual energy gathered from all directions, converging toward the Eastern Sea. The faint light emitted by the spiritual energy looked like stardust, linking together into thin threads. Like a reversed galaxy, it moved slowly along the direction of the wind and merged into the ocean tide.
The sky, the mountains, and the water seemed to have become an intricate mirror reflecting one another. It was impossible to distinguish between illusion and reality, true and false. Only the pristine white light remained as before, filling the space between heaven and earth.
"Not bad, right?"
Gu Mingzhao was very satisfied. "This mountain offers a wide field of vision, making it the most suitable place to admire this view."
He grinned as he spoke. "Once the matter with the Gu Master is resolved, I'll take you guys to look around elsewhere. The Eastern Sea is particularly interesting, and I'm a regular here. Miss Han, will you come too?"
She had previously accurately stated the time when the phenomenon would appear, which made Gu Mingzhao quite puzzled. However, when he asked her about it, she only said that she had occasionally heard about it while in Lingshui Village.
The young girl had been silent, but upon hearing this, she gently raised her eyes and then quickly lowered her head.
Moving swiftly, she took out a few small porcelain bottles from her pocket and extended her hand, seemingly intending to hand them to Gu Mingzhao.
"Medicine to kill pests, medicine to clear weeds, medicine to make flowers grow rapidly, and medicine to cure illnesses."
She still kept her fingers hidden within her cuffs, careful not to expose them, and bit her lower lip. "...The medicine to cure illnesses is for you to use. Do not give it to the flowers."
It was the first time Gu Mingzhao had heard her say so much, and he felt flattered. "For me?"
Miss Han nodded.
"Thank you, thank you! The flowers and plants in my courtyard often get sick, especially that peony. It's always been a headache for me."
He accepted them joyfully. "Miss Han, I don't have anything to give you in return as a token of my gratitude. How about I give you some flowers tomorrow?"
She remained noncommittal, only responding in a low voice, "That peony flower... is indeed quite delicate."
"But it's very beautiful! It's the best-looking flower in my courtyard."
Gu Mingzhao smiled and said, "To be honest with you, the flower seed mysteriously appeared at my doorstep one day. Perhaps it was a blessing from an immortal. After I planted it, my luck really did improve significantly. Before that, I thought I was too useless and had been shunned by good fortune."
Hearing this, she paused. For the first time, she raised her gaze and met his eyes. "Young Master Gu... you are very good, very useful. I have rarely had such happy moments in my life, and it is all because of you."
Miss Han was truly terrible with words.
Her speech was clumsy, and as she spoke, the rims of her ears faintly turned red. She took the opportunity to lower her head. "It is getting late. I should take my leave. Please take care, everyone."
Gu Mingzhao, using his identity as High Immortal Shuifeng as a guarantee, had personally admitted that he could not sense any evil aura from her. If they were to forcibly detain her, they would become the unreasonable ones.
Miss Han's expression was as normal as ever when she left. Meng Xiaoting thought about it from every angle but still couldn't figure it out. She stared at her gradually retreating figure. "If she isn't the Gu Master, then why did she come here? And how are we supposed to find the real culprit behind the scenes?"
"Although it will most likely end up useless, I have a method."
Gu Mingzhao leaned against a tree trunk, his expression slightly solemn. "If Wen Zhilan is truly the son-in-law of the Bai family, according to the inherited traditions of Gu-arts families, a Gu poison named 'Thread of Connection' would be planted in his body, linking him to the bloodline of the Bai family. As long as we find that survivor from back then, take a drop of their blood, and use a Gu insect as a guide, we might be able to find his whereabouts."
However, the world was vast. To find someone who had no connection to them and whose whereabouts were unknown was akin to finding a needle in a haystack.
Not to mention, this kind of Gu art had distance limitations. Once Wen Zhilan achieved his goal and left Lingshui Village, even if they really found the descendant of the Bai family, the Gu insects wouldn't be able to sense each other across the ends of the earth.
Xie Jingci, however, paused in surprise.
The appearance of the mysterious Gu Master in Lingshui Village.
Ever since the murder occurred, Miss Han had come to the village alone and had been staying in the inn all this time.
The Thread of Connection, the Spring Equinox, Wen Zhilan—
She suddenly spoke up, "Xiaoting, do you know who the survivor of the Bai family from back then was?"
Meng Xiaoting also felt a hunch and straightened her back. "Let me look!"
Her storage bag contained an unknown amount of gossip and secret rumors. Searching through them one by one, she dug out a mountain of papers.
"Let me see. Five years ago, fifty-six people from the Bai family died. The only one who survived was the Second Miss, who was just thirteen years old—"
She paused. "Bai Han."
Bai Han.
Pei Du frowned. "Miss Han?"
Gu Mingzhao's expression worsened.
"Five years ago, a thirteen-year-old girl—"
He finally dropped his smile as his scattered memories came rushing back. "I think I've seen her."
It was the time of the Spring Equinox. All living things were reviving, and the Gu insects were no exception.
The young girl dressed in white had an indifferent expression. Her wrist was slashed open with a hideous bloody cut. Blood flowed down unstoppably, but she seemed to feel no pain. She watched apathetically as the blood drops took form, turning into something like silk threads that led her toward a ruined temple by the sea.
All around was dead silent as the night closed in. In the boundless darkness, a figure faintly flashed by.
"Someone from the Bai family."
A tall young man stood in the fog. The white mist was hazy, seemingly growing out from within his body, thick and unyielding. "Since you've already found me, hurry up and put away your disgusting Gu arts. Lingering around like a ghost, it's so annoying."
He paused for a moment, looked at the loose outer robe she was wearing, and burst into uncontrollable laughter. "That's right... The last time I saw you, you were just a child. For your cultivation to have advanced so much in just five short years, you must have paid quite a heavy price, right?"
As the laughter echoed, a sudden gust of wind blew up. The outer robe was abruptly blown away, and as the cuffs swayed, the young girl's hands were faintly revealed.
Those were not the hands of an ordinary person. They were as thin as twigs and as pale as paper. Beneath the skin, the shadows of Gu insects scurrying about could be faintly seen.
When Xie Jingci and the others first discussed Wen Zhilan's unbelievable cultivation speed, the first possibility that came to mind was the method of feeding Gu insects with one's own body.
However, upon closer thought, the Evil Bone was already an exceptional aptitude. Even without resorting to such harmful and self-destructive evil arts, his cultivation could still advance a thousand miles a day.
But for anyone else with mediocre aptitude, offering their body to feed Gu was the only way to rapidly increase their cultivation.
"Feeding your own flesh and blood to Gu insects, merging with them into one entity... You are already a monster, neither human nor ghost."
The man sneered, "And you even went out of your way to find me on the Spring Equinox, when my power is at its peak... Second Miss, do you really think you can be a match for me?"
The young girl said nothing.
She remained silent, her hand tightly gripping a soft, round object. After a long while, she gently stroked it with her thumb.
It was a doll shaped like a little girl, with a round face and big eyes. Written stroke by stroke on its front were the words:
[To Miss Han: Wishing you a smooth and happy new year.]
This was clearly a most precious doll, one meant to be given to only one person. When Gu Mingzhao gifted it to her, his smile had been shy yet earnest. "You came here all alone, so let this keep you company."
...What a soft-hearted fool, as always.
She had met that man fleetingly five years ago, and he obviously did not remember her anymore.
Yet it was truly magical. Even without his memories, Gu Mingzhao would still look at her in a daze whenever they met and ask, "Have I met Miss Han before?"
Hearing those words, her heart had nearly leapt out of her chest.
"I thought you were already dead."
Wen Zhilan scoffed. "The news of the Bai family's Second Miss jumping into the Jialuo River certainly spread like wildfire."
She still did not speak, secretly mobilizing the Gu insects within her body.
Five years ago, she had indeed considered taking her own life.
Wen Zhilan had always hidden the fact that he was born with the Evil Bone, secretly murdering countless people in the shadows. When her older sister noticed the clues, she had intended to persuade him to return to the righteous path. Little did she expect that her Dao companion of many years held absolutely no affection for her. Seeing that his evil deeds were about to be exposed, he decided to stop at nothing, slaughtering the entire Bai family and stealing all their secret arts.
She had happened to be out on an excursion that day and heard the tragic news halfway through her journey. The thirteen-year-old girl was left with no one to rely on. Her only option was to feed Gu with her own body, risking her life to fight for a chance at revenge.
From then on, she became a monster who could only dwell in the shadows.
With her flesh withered and Gu insects faintly visible beneath her skin, everyone who saw her body could hardly conceal the overflowing fear and disgust in their eyes. Homeless and wandering aimlessly, she arrived at Lingshui Village one day, her heart brimming with resentment and despair.
That was Wen Zhilan's hometown.
Of course, Wen Zhilan was long gone. By the seaside stood a long-abandoned temple.
She had swallowed the Gu insects, enduring a heart-piercing agony that caused her to pass out on the ground. When she woke up, she was already inside the temple. Beside her stood a slender young man with plain features, lacking any distinguishing traits whatsoever.
Seeing her sitting in the corner bawling her eyes out, he stood there at a loss for a long time. Once she had tired of crying, he handed her a cotton handkerchief.
"What High Immortal Shuifeng? He is completely useless."
She could not stop sobbing, her tears flowing endlessly. "Even when disasters happen, they never care. They only focus on enjoying their own blessings. There is so much injustice in this world... The gods are truly rotten to the core."
Whenever her emotions flared, the Gu insects would scurry wildly, surging up to her cheeks.
He must have seen her grotesque body, yet he did not back away repeatedly or avoid her like the plague as others did.
The man remained silent for a long time, clumsily wiping away her tears before suddenly speaking up in agreement. "This High Immortal Shuifeng really is quite useless—otherwise, his temple would not be this dilapidated."
"Rather than worshipping those illusory deities, it is better to take a chance and trust the person right in front of you, do you not think?"
She looked up and saw him grinning softly. "My name is Gu Mingzhao. Little sister, why are you crying? I am much more capable than High Immortal Shuifeng. If anyone bullies you, I can definitely help you get revenge."
He was nothing but a mere mortal; there was no way he could avenge her.
She could only rely on herself.
Someone who did not fear her hideous appearance and was willing to smile at her—if only she had met him a little earlier.
That day, she had fled in a hurry without looking back, the Gu insects in her body causing her agonizing pain.
The timing, the location, the circumstances—everything was wrong when she met that man.
Later, the girl watched helplessly as her body was devoured by the Gu insects, transforming into a vessel for refining Gu. She could only sneak to Lingshui Village every Spring Equinox, hiding beneath a large cloak to catch a glimpse of him from afar.
Sometimes she left him peony seeds, and sometimes she followed him up that desolate mountain, watching the spiritual energy gather beneath the vast, starry sky.
Those were memories that belonged solely to her, completely unknown to anyone else.
As for those bottles of medicine, they were the only things—and the last things—she could give him.
It was just a pity that her final farewell had been incredibly clumsy. She had wanted to comfort him, but only managed to stutter out fragmented, incoherent words.
She had not spoken to another person for a very long time.
Tonight, fierce winds suddenly rose over the Eastern Sea, the evil aura billowing like a dragon.
Amidst the wailing wind, just as she was about to activate the Gu insects in her body, she heard a familiar voice. "Miss Han—no, Miss Bai Han?"
The young girl's legs froze in place.
She wanted to reach out and cover the bulging veins surging on her face, but it was already too late.
Jogging through the layers of mist, the person looking at her while panting heavily was Gu Mingzhao.
