“Feng Yingbai.”
Gu Shi left a wisp of divine consciousness within Shen Yunsheng’s spiritual sense. As long as this connection was not severed, no matter how far apart they were, the two of them could contact each other.
Shen Yunsheng’s injuries were extremely severe, and Gu Shi urged him to rest a bit longer, but Shen Yunsheng refused, pressing forward with sheer grit as he left the cave.
Not long after Shen Yunsheng departed, Gu Shi also set out, heading outside the Western Continent Secret Realm in an attempt to contact Feng Yingbai. However, his efforts met with the same utter silence as before, like a clay ox entering the sea. The magical artifacts on his person had long since been blasted to pieces by the heavenly tribulation, and he had no way of contacting Gu Yan either, leaving him with no choice but to return to the sect first before making further plans.
On the other side, Shen Yunsheng had not been out of the cave for long when he ran into Chen Ci, greeting him out of habit, “Elder Chen.”
Chen Ci stared at him with a piercing gaze and asked in a deep voice, “What is going on with your injuries?”
Shen Yunsheng replied, “Someone was undergoing their tribulation here, and I was unfortunately injured by the lightning tribulation.”
Chen Ci asked again, “Where is the person undergoing the tribulation?”
“I was knocked unconscious by the heavenly lightning, and by the time I woke up, there was no trace of him left.”
“Did you manage to see who was undergoing the tribulation?”
“The heavenly lightning was blinding, and I had not approached closely, so I failed to see their appearance.”
Chen Ci frowned deeply. “You must have seen a general outline.”
Lowering his gaze, Shen Yunsheng answered, “I only vaguely saw a figure in green.”
Chen Ci led his disciples in searching the Western Continent Secret Realm for half a month, but found absolutely nothing. The atmospheric pressure around him was so low it had nearly turned solid. His disciples did not even dare to breathe too heavily, terrified of provoking his wrath. Only the little red bird continued to chirp noisily as it flew everywhere, completely ignoring him.
Half a month later, Chen Ci led his disciples back to the sect. Upon returning to the main sect hall, Chen Ci handed the little red bird to Shen Yunsheng. “Take it back to the spirit plant garden.”
The moment Shen Yunsheng took it, the little red bird flapped its wings and flew away, heading straight in the direction of the spirit plant garden.
Seeing that Shen Yunsheng was still standing in place with no intention of leaving, Chen Ci asked, “Is there something else?”
Shen Yunsheng replied, “This disciple wishes to see the Sect Master.”
Somewhat surprised, Chen Ci raised an eyebrow slightly. “Very well, follow me.”
Chen Ci led Shen Yunsheng to the sect’s deliberation hall. Yan Huaiyu had just hurried back from outside. After casting a glance at Chen Ci, he looked at Shen Yunsheng. “What is it?”
Shen Yunsheng dropped straight to his knees and stated in a clear, resonant voice, “During this trip to the Western Continent, this disciple nearly lost his life. At death’s door, this disciple finally realized that all loyalty and promises are falsehoods, and only strength is the absolute truth. This disciple is willing to take the Sect Master as his master and pledge allegiance to the Wuxiang Sect for the rest of his life.”
Hearing this, Yan Huaiyu was slightly startled, turning his head to look at Chen Ci. Chen Ci, however, did not look at him, simply smiling as he gazed at Shen Yunsheng with a gentle tone. “It is good that you realized this sooner rather than later. I have long said that loyalty and sentimentality are merely fleeting smoke, and a wise bird chooses its tree to nest in. That you can figure out this reasoning brings great comfort to my heart. You have had a dusty journey back. Go back and rest well first, and the master-disciple initiation ceremony will be held in three months.”
Yan Huaiyu said, “We shall do as the Second Elder says.”
Shen Yunsheng acknowledged with a “Yes,” stood up, and left the deliberation hall.
The instant his retreating figure vanished through the doorway, the smile on Chen Ci’s face vanished abruptly, his expression turning gloomy. Yan Huaiyu asked, “Did something else happen over in the Western Continent?”
Chen Ci replied, “Nothing else, except that some people’s ambitions can no longer be hidden.”
Yan Huaiyu understood immediately. “You mean.”
Chen Ci said, “Three months ago, I deliberately feigned drunkenness and spread the news that I intended to turn Shen Yunsheng into a puppet, wanting to test his reaction. Yet back then, he showed not a single ripple of emotion. How could someone so loyal and righteous suddenly turn around and defect to our sect?”
Yan Huaiyu also grasped his meaning. “It is related to that person who underwent the tribulation.”
Chen Ci stated with certainty, “He must know that person.”
Yan Huaiyu frowned. “Someone from the Yuandao Sect?”
Chen Ci’s expression grew even gloomier. “Shen Yunsheng, the little red bird, the Nascent Soul powerhouse who suddenly appeared. Just how many fortuitous encounters does the Yuandao Sect still hide from us?”
Yan Huaiyu said, “No matter how many encounters they have, anyone who threatens our sect’s Dao authority must be completely eradicated.”
Chen Ci narrowed his eyes. “Right now, the only way is to use Shen Yunsheng to lure that person out. If he cannot be used by us, we must execute him on the spot.”
“Go make the arrangements immediately.”
“Understood.”
Gu Shi returned to the Yuandao Sect and spent over half a month in recuperation, stabilizing his cultivation at the early Nascent Soul stage. During this period, everyone in the Yuandao Sect who knew the truth was even more jubilant than during the New Year. Even Yu Chanxin, who usually wore a stern face all day long, smiled from ear to ear every single day, looking beamingly at everyone he met. Only Gu Shi remained troubled by the previous heavenly tribulation. He simply kept it to himself, knowing that speaking of it would only add unnecessary worry, though he did instruct Gu Yan to keep a closer eye on Shen Yunsheng’s movements.
Good days never lasted long before news broke that Shen Yunsheng had been inflicted with a severe poison. It was said he was accidentally wounded by a three-headed snake while going down the mountain to eliminate demons, and by the time he was discovered, the poison had already invaded his vital organs. Only a thousand-year-old ice lotus could save his life. As luck would have it, a few months prior, Yu Chanxin had obtained a thousand-year-old ice lotus from the bottom of the cold abyss.
Gu Shi hurriedly used his divine consciousness to contact Shen Yunsheng, but Shen Yunsheng gave no response whatsoever.
Just as Gu Yan and Wen Qingtang were preparing to take the thousand-year-old ice lotus to the Wuxiang Sect, Chen Ci suddenly arrived. “Is the Sect Master going out?”
Gu Yan asked in return with a sinking expression, “I heard Yunsheng has been poisoned by a snake. Has the venom been neutralized?”
Chen Ci replied, “Sect Master Gu is too kind. Since I brought him back, I will naturally treat him well. The snake venom was neutralized yesterday.”
Gu Yan asked again, “Then what brings Elder Chen here?”
Chen Ci smiled. “Passing by, and figuring you would be worried about Yunsheng’s condition, I came specifically to inform you. Now that it is said, I will not stay long.”
Chen Ci turned to leave right after speaking, which only deepened Gu Yan’s suspicions. “Elder Chen, wait a moment.”
Chen Ci looked back at him. “Does Sect Master Gu have other matters?”
Gu Yan did not beat around the bush. “I want to go see Yunsheng.”
Chen Ci’s face darkened. “What, does Sect Master Gu not trust me?”
Gu Yan stared at him without speaking. “If Elder Chen has nothing to hide, are you afraid of me going to see him?”
Chen Ci said, “It is not that I am afraid of you seeing him, but rather that Yunsheng has just been saved and requires quiet recuperation. If you go and his emotions fluctuate too violently, harming his body, what then?”
The more Chen Ci said this, the more uneasy Gu Yan felt. “I only need to look at him from afar.”
Chen Ci refused without the slightest hesitation. “That will not do. For the dignified Sect Master of the Yuandao Sect to pull such a stunt, if word gets out, would it not make my Wuxiang Sect look like a bully?”
Gu Yan was equally resolute. “I must go.”
Chen Ci was even more adamant than him. “I said no, and that means no. Sect Master Gu, stay your steps.” Without giving Gu Yan another chance to speak, he turned and strode away.
Watching Chen Ci’s retreating back, Gu Yan’s face turned pitch black. Chen Ci’s attitude this time was clearly meant to stop him. It looked like something major must have happened to Shen Yunsheng.
Gu Yan gathered everyone to discuss countermeasures, and Gu Shi spoke up without hesitation. “I am the most suitable person to go. First, only I can locate Shen Yunsheng’s position. Second, the people of the Wuxiang Sect have barely seen me, so even if my cover is blown, I can still bluff my way through. Third, my cultivation is the highest, so in case things go wrong, I have the best chance of rescuing Shen Yunsheng.”
For now, this indeed seemed to be the best method, but it had an undeniable flaw: if Gu Shi’s identity were exposed, the Wuxiang Sect would never let him go.
Gu Shi had also considered this problem. When he nearly died the first time, he had been genuinely terrified. After all, he had grown up in comfort with barely a scratch, and suddenly thrust into this unfamiliar world with life and death hanging by a thread, he had felt lost as well. But here, there were people he wanted to protect, and gradually, he was not quite as afraid of dying anymore. He was only afraid of dying without value.
A problem could have countless solutions, but there was only one optimal solution. If trading his life for the male lead’s life meant gambling on a happily-ever-after ending, he would agree without hesitation. However, he could not voice these thoughts out loud, so he only said, “Do not worry, I will wear a mask and sneak over under the cover of darkness. Everything will be fine.”
Gu Yan remained deeply worried. “I will go with you.”
Gu Shi rejected the idea without a second thought. “An extra person just adds another layer of exposure risk.”
After arguing for another half hour, the group finally agreed to let Gu Shi go to the Wuxiang Sect alone.
There was no time to lose, so Gu Shi set off immediately. It was already dusk when he arrived in the vicinity of the Wuxiang Sect. To be cautious, he bypassed the market at the foot of the mountain and instead found a large tree in the nearest forest, hiding among its branches to meditate and regulate his breath.
As the night grew heavy and the moon rose to the center of the sky, the surroundings fell into a dead silence. Only then did Gu Shi open his eyes, following his divine consciousness link with Shen Yunsheng to head toward the back mountain of the Wuxiang Sect.
Roughly half an hour later, Gu Shi came to a halt. Concealing his presence, he landed quietly within the bamboo forest of the Wuxiang Sect’s back mountain. Deep inside the bamboo grove stood a single bamboo house. Extending his divine consciousness to perceive the surroundings, Gu Shi sensed only a single junior disciple at the Qi Condensation second layer dozing off inside, while Shen Yunsheng lay unconscious on the bed.
Gu Shi attempted to contact Shen Yunsheng once more, still receiving no response. Pondering for a moment, he flicked a few bamboo leaves against the door of the bamboo house. Hearing the sound, the young disciple inside snapped awake and hurriedly opened the door to investigate. A dark shadow flashed past in an instant, and the disciple chased after it while shouting, “Who is there?”
Seeing that the disciple had run far off, Gu Shi rushed anxiously into the bamboo house and immediately laid eyes on Shen Yunsheng on the bed. Shen Yunsheng’s brows were tightly knit, his complexion deathly pale and appearing extremely weak, though there was no sign of poisoning. Gu Shi quickly began channeling spiritual power into him.
Barely a moment after the spiritual power entered his body, Shen Yunsheng snapped awake. Upon recognizing Gu Shi, he was first stunned, then asked urgently, “What is this place?”
Gu Shi kept it brief. “You were poisoned by a snake, and the Sect Master was worried, so he sent me to check on you. How are you feeling?”
Shen Yunsheng looked startled for a moment before realization dawned on him. “Not good, it is a trap. You need to leave right now.”
This statement made Gu Shi’s heart sink. He naturally trusted Shen Yunsheng, but. “What about you?”
Shen Yunsheng urged him, “Never mind me, hurry up and go.”
“I am afraid it is too late.” Gu Shi was not a fool. Once he calmed down, he realized that since the other party had deliberately lured him here, they certainly would not have come unprepared.
Looking exasperated, Shen Yunsheng said, “Stop dawdling, you have to leave anyway.”
Gu Shi grabbed hold of him. “We leave together.”
Shen Yunsheng gave him a push. “Go.”
“What is the rush? Since I came all this way, why not stay and have a cup of tea before leaving?”
Chen Ci’s irritating voice rang out from mid-air. Decisive in his actions, Gu Shi pushed Shen Yunsheng away, stood up, walked out the door, and locked eyes with the figures hovering in the sky.
Aside from Chen Ci, there were several other people in the air whom Gu Shi did not recognize. Sweeping his gaze across them, he sensed that two of them possessed cultivation levels superior to his own. One was at the mid-Nascent Soul stage and the other at the late Nascent Soul stage. They must have been the supreme grand elders of the Wuxiang Sect.
Winning a one-on-one fight was already out of the question, let alone a one-on-two. Today, escaping was virtually impossible, but no matter what, he had to find a way to get the male lead out.
As the only person in the Wuxiang Sect who had ever laid eyes on Gu Shi, Chen Ci noticed that over the past half-year, Gu Shi’s temperament had undergone a heaven-shaking transformation. Furthermore, with his face completely concealed behind a mask, Chen Ci failed to recognize him at all, asking instead, “Who on earth are you?”
A night breeze blew past, stirring a few strands of hair. Suddenly catching a whiff of a familiar presence, Gu Shi hesitated for a fraction of a second before straightening his back and speaking in a composed voice, “Feng Yingbai.”