Chapter 102: Gu Maiden (15)

“The engagement between Xie Xuefeng and Miss Meng fell through! Rumor has it that on their wedding day, Xie Xuefeng was driven out of the Meng household!”

“That’s not all—do you know why this couple ended up in such a bitter dispute?”

The inn buzzed with chatter, filled with loud voices discussing the matter. Someone laughed uproariously before replying, “Of course, it’s because Xuezhu-gongzi… can’t get it up!”

This comment sent waves of laughter throughout the crowd, followed by someone lamenting, “Who would’ve thought? The esteemed Xuezhu-gongzi isn’t even capable as a man…”

“What a waste, turning the marriage of the world’s most beautiful woman into a laughingstock.” Many shook their heads in regret.

Qianyi stood nearby, addressing the little gongzi, “Little gongzi, is this alright?”

Instead of dispersing the crowd at the inn this time, the little gongzi chose to sit in a corner, listening to people discuss Xuezhu-gongzi’s shortcomings. Contrary to anger, he sneered disdainfully, “Why wouldn’t it be? This is perfect, absolutely perfect. If Xie Xuefeng could brand Xiling as a demonic seductress, then he shouldn’t expect his own secrets to remain hidden!”

“Miss Xi’s portrait and bounty notice have been plastered everywhere; it’s only a matter of time before someone tempted by wealth decides to pursue her…” Qianyi had his own suspicions about Miss Xiling’s identity. After Xie Xuefeng announced her as a demoness across the jianghu, Qianyi swiftly accepted this revelation despite his initial shock.

Miss Xiling did not appear distinctly from the Central Plains, and she was constantly accompanied by a white-haired foreigner. It wasn’t surprising that people would suspect her of being affiliated with the demon cult. As long as Miss Xiling didn’t harm anyone, Qianyi cared little for her background. Moreover, given how utterly captivated the little gongzi was by her, there was no way he’d utter even the slightest criticism.

“Xie Xuefeng is going too far—this leaves no chance for Xiling to survive!” The little gongzi crushed the teacup in his hand, his voice filled with resentment. “Not content with abandoning Xiling, merely because their marriage fell through, he now seeks her death? What a heartless and ungrateful wretch!”

Qianyi’s eyelid twitched at these words. It wasn’t just a failed marriage; Xie Xuefeng’s entire male dignity had been trampled upon! With rumors of his impotence spreading far and wide, how could Xie Xuefeng not harbor bitter hatred towards Miss Xiling?

“Where did Xiling go?” The little gongzi’s face filled with concern. “She only has that odd creature with her; what if it can’t protect her?”

“I believe Miss Xi is safe,” Qianyi said. “Her early departure suggests she anticipated this situation…”

“Why would she leave without saying anything?” the little gongzi lamented dejectedly. “Am I so unworthy of her trust? Wan Jian Manor could have protected her—I wouldn’t let Xie Xuefeng lay a finger on her!”

As he recalled how Xie Xuefeng had driven Xiling away from him, the little gongzi’s resentment deepened. “Spread word immediately! Not only must we expose Xie Xuefeng’s incompetence, but also reveal how he deceitfully exterminated the demon cult using despicable means!”

The little gongzi had pieced together much about Xiling during this time. If she was indeed affiliated with the demon cult, it made sense that she would know Xie Xuefeng had poisoned and killed its members. As for why Xie Xuefeng could infiltrate the cult to poison them, it likely involved Xiling somehow.

Did Xie Xuefeng deceive Xiling’s affections merely to eliminate the demon cult? Was that why she harbored such resentment towards him…

The little gongzi once regarded Xie Xuefeng as a heroic figure. His past admiration now transformed into equal disdain for this hypocrite. Xiling was someone he held dear above all others; how dare Xie Xuefeng hurt her!

“If he won’t let me live peacefully, I won’t allow him any ease either!” The little gongzi rose and left, instructing, “Send more people to track down Xiling’s whereabouts. We must find her before Xie Xuefeng does!”

Qianyi bowed respectfully, responding, “Yes, sir!”

Xie Xuefeng’s life indeed lacked peace. Since that nightmare of a wedding, his circumstances steadily worsened, with obstacles seemingly arising at every turn.

Not only did Father and Mother Meng nearly beat him half to death on that day, but he also failed to expose “Miss Meng’s” true identity. His actions were taken as evidence of mental instability, leading even his own father to suspect something had gone awry with him.

After being carried away from the Meng residence, it took Xie Xuefeng an agonizingly long time to recover his breath. Returning to the Mengs was no longer an option; they guarded “Meng Qing” impeccably, leaving him without any means to get close.

Xie Xuefeng couldn’t help but wonder if this Meng Qing was truly the man who had been cavorting with Xiling. How could Father and Mother Meng, being so close to their daughter, fail to notice anything amiss?

He decided to draw a portrait of Xiling’s lover alongside hers and post them together outside. Even if he couldn’t capture the shape-shifting adulterer, at least it would vent some of his frustration.

Unexpectedly, before the portraits could be displayed, his father intercepted him.

“Isn’t this the Meng family’s second young master, born with afflictions?” Xie Changyue studied the drawing. “Xuefeng, why did you sketch him?”

Xie Xuefeng’s face froze. “The Meng family’s…second young master?!”

“Yes, this second young master rarely appears in public, and his temperament is unpredictable. How do you know him?” A hint of suspicion clouded Xie Changyue’s gaze as he looked at his son.

Feeling struck by lightning, everything suddenly clicked for Xie Xuefeng.

No wonder Xiling’s lover could effortlessly conceal himself, even impersonating Meng Qing during the marriage ceremony. No wonder Father and Mother Meng detected no abnormalities. No wonder…

His hope that Meng Qing would clear his name was utterly futile. The adulterer was a young master of the Meng family; how could they not protect him!

The taste of blood resurfaced in Xie Xuefeng’s mouth as he rasped hoarsely, “He must be that demoness’s accomplice!”

Xie Changyue’s expression darkened. “This portrait cannot be posted.”

How could Xie Xuefeng not understand? He might target the demoness privately, but under no circumstances could he openly confront someone from the Meng family.

If he were to claim that the second young master of the Meng clan had colluded with a demon cult seductress, it would pit the Meng and Xie families against each other, leading to…unthinkable consequences.

Moreover, he lacked any evidence to substantiate this accusation. The events during the wedding and within the bridal chamber remained unspeakable!

Once again, fury suffocated Xie Xuefeng, his face paling. Even though he now knew the adulterer’s identity, there was nothing he could do publicly…

Was he supposed to let the second young master of the Meng family go unpunished?

Absolutely not! With a menacing glare, Xie Xuefeng crumpled the portrait into a ball. Sooner or later, he would kill that damned fiend; he wouldn’t spare a single man involved with that demoness!

“Sir, Young Master!” A servant approached from outside the door to report, “A sword wielder has arrived at the Xie residence, demanding to challenge the young master…”

“A sword wielder?” Xie Changyue furrowed his brow. “Why would someone challenge Xuefeng at this time?”

In the jianghu, when a challenger arrived to confront someone within their home, it was customary for the host not to refuse them entry. This expectation was even more stringent for individuals of renown and influence; failure to meet such challenges risked inviting scorn from others.

The titles “First Sword” or “First Blade” of the jianghu were earned through a gauntlet of duels that established one’s authority. As long as one possessed the skill, there was no reason to fear another’s challenge.

However… Xie Changyoe glanced at his son, covered in injuries. With Xie Xuefeng yet to fully recover, how could he possibly accept a duel?

“The sword wielder seems to be associated with the demoness you’re after,” the attendant reported. “On the day of your wedding, the little gongzi from Wan Jian Manor brought both the demoness and this swordsman to observe the ceremony at Xie Manor.”

Mentioning the little gongzi reignited Xie Xuefeng’s frustration. He couldn’t fathom when Xiling had connected with him. Attempting to deal with her became significantly more challenging due to the interference of just this one individual alone. Not content with having the Meng Family’s second young master, just how many men did that woman have around her?!

Xie Changyue didn’t care about any connections between the sword wielder and that demoness; Xie Xuefeng’s condition made it impossible for him to accept a challenge. He instructed his attendant, “Send that sword wielder away. Tell them Xuefeng is injured and cannot come out.”

“Sir, the sword wielder said he’ll wait outside until the young master can face him,” the attendant replied with their head bowed. “He also mentioned he’d allow the young master to use one hand, so no one would accuse him…of winning unfairly.”

“Outrageous!” Xie Changyue exclaimed angrily. “This is coercion, forcing my son into battle!”

Given this aggressive stance, if Xie Xuefeng refused to confront the challenger, the jianghu might brand him as cowardly or spineless.

Reputation precedes all. Xie Xuefeng’s standing had already suffered significantly due to his marriage debacle. If he were further labeled as timid and incompetent, the esteemed name of Xuezhu-gongzi would be irreparably tarnished.

Xie Xuefeng sneered. “This must be part of that demoness’s scheme—trying to defeat me through such underhanded tactics.”

“I will dismiss them immediately,” Xie Changyue declared.

“No need.” How could Xie Xuefeng let his reputation remain tarnished further? He was determined to assess the abilities of this man by the enchantress’s side.

Xie Xuefeng composed himself and stepped out of the Xie Manor with a weary expression. If he stayed inside, people would belittle him; instead, he openly displayed his injured state. This way, should his opponent persistently challenge him, any blame would fall squarely on them.

The sword-wielding challenger outside appeared quite young, fully concealed from head to toe except for a peculiarly shaped face visible through his attire. With a disdainful snort, Xuefeng thought, Xiling truly has poor taste—first the frail second young master of the Meng family, now this oddly disfigured freak…

A crowd had already gathered around Xie Manor. As soon as they saw Xie Xuefeng emerge, cheers and exclamations erupted like spectators at a spectacle.

Xie Xuefeng bowed courteously to the crowd, exuding grace and poise, unaffected by the rumors circulating. Despite his numerous injuries, he maintained the expected demeanor of Xuezhu-gongzi.

This display silenced those who initially intended to mock Xie Xuefeng, causing them to instead harbor newfound admiration for Xuezhu-gongzi.

Who could remain as composed and unruffled as Xie Xuefeng amidst such rumors? The onlookers knew they couldn’t achieve it themselves, which only made Xie Xuefeng appear even more exceptional.

Just as Xie Xuefeng was about to address the crowd, hoping to salvage some of his reputation, the peculiar-looking sword wielder launched an attack with a curt “please advise.”

Xie Xuefeng bristled inwardly; he had never encountered someone so utterly lacking in etiquette! This swordsman skipped the customary introduction for challenges and went straight for lethal moves—did he have any shame left?!

Left with no choice, Xie Xuefeng hastily defended himself while shouting, “My martial abilities haven’t fully recovered yet; let’s keep this sparring match light.”

Instead of playing the victim by mentioning his injuries, he merely stated that his current strength wasn’t up to par. This subtle maneuver garnered further admiration from those around him.

Some members of the jianghu community couldn’t help but interject, addressing the young swordsman, “Young man, your approach is rather unfair. Xuezhu-gongzi is wounded; if you wish to challenge him, wait until he has fully healed.”

The corner of Xie Xuefeng’s mouth curved upward, ready to leverage public opinion to force the swordsman to halt. However, before he could, the sword wielder’s curved blade swiftly pierced his side with relentless ferocity.

Sanar firmly recalled the priestess’s words: Xie Xuefeng excelled at putting on airs; never heed anything he says—strike swiftly with your blade and leave immediately afterward!

So, Sanar leaped back, flicking blood from his curved blade before sheathing it. “I only used one hand,” he declared. “Since you’re not fully recovered, I’ll return tomorrow.”

Xie Xuefeng remained silent, clutching his waist as he watched the sword wielder depart, lips trembling.

The spectators hadn’t anticipated such a swift conclusion to the match. Although the sword wielder’s actions were questionable, he knew when to stop, causing no major harm.

Seeing Xie Xuefeng injured, Xie Changyue hurriedly rushed forward to support him. Once inside their residence, he anxiously asked, “How are you?”

All traces of etiquette vanished from Xie Xuefeng’s demeanor, his face pale as he muttered, “He didn’t hold back.”

As Xie Xuefeng released his grip, Xie Changyue examined the wound and hastily pressed acupoints to stem the bleeding, infuriated, “How could he stab you right near your kidney!”

Xie Xuefeng lay back on the bed, so overwhelmed by anger due to his injuries that his vision went dark, and he fainted.

The next day, the sword wielder returned to issue another challenge.

Xuefeng clenched his fists tightly; if not for his existing injuries and the large crowd gathered to watch, he would have already poisoned that swordsman!

For the sake of Xuezhu-gongzi’s reputation, Xuefeng once again stepped out from Xie Manor.

And yet again, he was stabbed.

After landing the blow, the sword wielder turned and left without delay, leaving no opportunity for Xuefeng to retaliate!

On the third day, despite the swordsman waiting outside, Xuefeng refused to emerge. He declared to Xie Changyue, “Father, I must kill him!”

Xie Changyue hesitated before sighing, “Forget it, ignore him. Focus on your recovery; healing is most important.”

Xuefeng fell silent. How had things come to this? Was he truly powerless against these individuals?! Whether it was the Meng Family’s second young master, this sword wielder, or even the little gongzi tarnishing his reputation everywhere…

“Buddhist monk, my only hope lies with the Buddhist monk…” Xuefeng muttered. “He can surely capture Xiling. Once my wounds heal, I won’t spare any of them!”

Buddhist Monk Chengming sat motionless in his room, feeling as if yesterday’s events had been nothing but a dream. He still couldn’t fully comprehend what had transpired.

Maha sneered from within him, “So Chengming, you’re not entirely foolish after all. You’ve done what needed to be done; why maintain this facade?”

“Be quiet!” Chengming exclaimed indignantly. “H-how dare you casually invade my…”

“Intimate matters?” Maha laughed heartily. “We share one body; it makes no difference whether I see or participate. What’s the distinction between your actions and mine?”

“You—!” Chengming’s composure shattered, anger seeping into his voice. “I will not allow you to insult Benefactress!”

“Insist on ‘insult’?” Maha scoffed coldly. “When both parties consent, how can it be considered insulting? Why don’t you let me take control for a bit, let me have a proper conversation with Xiling, and then tell me if that counts as an insult?”

Chengming’s chest heaved unevenly, infuriated by Maha. He rebuked sharply, “Don’t even think about it!”

He would never release Maha, lest—the Benefactress might come to harm.

“As if I wouldn’t know what you’re thinking,” Maha said irritably. “It’s not her safety you fear, but our closeness. You won’t even tolerate me touching her, Chengming ah, Chengming. It seems to me that the one possessed is not me, but you!”

Chengming closed his eyes, silently reciting verses of mindfulness. Having already committed a grave mistake, he must not compound it further.

However…

“Monk!” The Benefactress called from outside. “I’m hungry; hurry and make me some food.”

Chengming promptly rose to reply, “Benefactress, please wait just a moment. I’ll prepare your meal right away.”

Maha clicked his tongue. “What happened to ignoring her? Hypocrite!”

It’s the Lust Gu at work, not me…, Chengming thought.

Maha had once considered Chengming stubbornly inflexible, but now he realized this monk was quite adaptable. “If you don’t want to succumb to the gu, why not let me take control of your body? Let me bear its effects instead.”

Chengming fell silent, no longer acknowledging Maha as he stepped out to attend to the Benefactress.

By the time he finished preparing the vegetarian dishes, the disheveled Benefactress sat at the table, watching him with a smile. Chengming blushed deeply, wanting desperately to flee, yet found himself rooted to the spot.

“Sit down,” the Benefactress said, gesturing toward the seat beside her. “Next to me.”

Chengming hesitated for a moment before slowly walking over and taking the indicated place.

As soon as he sat, the Benefactress wrapped her slender arms around his waist and opened her mouth. “Monk, feed me.”

Chengming’s face flushed scarlet. “N-no…”

“Feed me, Mahā,” she demanded.

Chengming hesitated momentarily before serving the vegetarian dish and carefully placing it into the benefactress’s mouth.

“Mm-hmm,” Maha chuckled softly.

Pretending not to hear, Chengming finished feeding her and then gently wiped her lips with a cloth.

Smiling brightly, the benefactress kissed his cheek. “Monk, you’re truly wonderful.”

“B-Benefactress, this…isn’t right,” Chengming stammered awkwardly.

How could they engage in such behavior? It was improper.

“Forget ‘Benefactress’—call me Xiling,” Tong Ling insisted. She hadn’t yet tired of teasing the Buddhist monk, always summoning him to amuse herself; his reactions brought her great delight.

“And if you say ‘no’ again, I’ll really choose Maha over you,” Tong Ling declared solemnly.

Maha let out a light laugh. “See, she still thinks of me.”

Chengming fell silent for a moment, then mustering his courage, he bowed his head and murmured, “X-Xiling…”

“Say it a few more times, or you can call me Ling-er too.” As Tong Ling continued instructing the monk on how to address her, a clear male voice suddenly echoed from outside the door.

“Where is the gu person?” The man sounded excited. “After so many years, I finally get to meet a gu person!”