Chapter 104: Gu Maiden (17)

Maha had long been fed up with Luo Qinghe. At this sight, he immediately seized control of their body, swift as drifting smoke, and in a flash, swept over to Luo Qinghe’s side. His palm descended toward the top of Luo Qinghe’s head.

The mere movement of Maha’s strike stirred a fierce and savage gust. He held nothing back, clearly intending to end Luo Qinghe there and then.

Luo Qinghe didn’t dare meet it head-on. Buddhist Monk Chengming possessed formidable martial prowess, having cultivated his Prajna Palm technique all the way to its tenth level. Buddhist palm techniques emphasized cultivating internal strength; even a single hit would be unbearable.

Facing off against Chengming wouldn’t have been much of an issue—after all, the monk harbored no intent to harm anyone—but with the demon monk Maha, every move was lethal, devoid of any compassion whatsoever.

As Maha attacked, Luo Qinghe gently pushed aside the Gu person cradled in his arms. Once freed from the Gu person’s presence, Luo Qinghe’s mind instantly cleared considerably, but simultaneously, a surge of defiance and anger welled within him. The defiance stemmed from his unwillingness to let go of the Gu person, while the anger targeted both himself and Maha.

Luo Qinghe hadn’t anticipated being unable to resist even such a minor Lust Gu—it truly must be one of the rarest and most potent poisons in existence! And what right did Maha have to attack him? This demonic entity fought ruthlessly; if Luo Qinghe hadn’t promptly released the Gu person, how disastrous would it have been if Maha had harmed them?!

As these thoughts flashed through Luo Qinghe’s mind, another wave of suffocating resentment and bitterness washed over him.

What a formidable Lust Gu—no wonder it could transform even an ascetic monk devoid of desire into an ordinary person with emotions!

Luo Qinghe swiftly retreated several meters, his fingertips twitching as he sent a golden needle hurtling toward Maha, who had struck out at him again.

Maha nimbly dodged the needle; having crossed blades with Luo Qinghe before, he naturally knew that one mustn’t touch anything belonging to this man. The antidotes for those venomous items existed only within Luo Qinghe’s possession, so falling victim would be disastrous.

Immediately after the golden needle came a burst of medicinal powder. Maha held his breath, dispersing the particles with a gust from his palm strike. Just as he was about to unleash a third blow, Xiling, who had been standing aside, spoke up:

“You two intend to destroy my house?”

In the brief span of their altercation, Tong Ling’s furniture lay shattered across the floor, and cracks had appeared along the walls—a testament to the overwhelming force behind Maha’s strikes.

Buddhist Monk Chengming was about to remind Maha to exercise restraint when Maha gracefully descended next to Xiling, enveloping her in his arms. “Did he do something to you?” he asked urgently. “Are you all right?”

Luo Qinghe felt as if this demonic Maha had suddenly gone deaf and blind—used some tricks on her? Who exactly was using tricks here?

“The Medicine Sage showed great interest in Lust Gu,” Tong Ling said without any intention of withholding information. “When he saw me with it, he wanted to challenge the world’s deadliest poison by personally ingesting the child gu.” As she spoke, she shot Luo Qinghe another glance. “Medicine Sage, wasn’t it you who wished to try out the Lust Gu?”

Luo Qinghe fell silent. What could he say? It was his own choice; he hadn’t realized how perilous this gu would be, so he couldn’t blame anyone else.

“Oh?” Maha sneered. “So after using Lust Gu, you started shamelessly taking advantage of others? Who allowed you to touch Xiling?”

Luo Qinghe’s gaze landed on the hand Maha held possessively around the Gu woman’s slender waist, and a hint of anger crept into his voice. “She is now my medicine vessel. Is there something wrong with me touching her? You fiend, let go of her at once!”

“Did you hear that, Chengming?” The smile on Maha’s face grew even more sinisterly eerie. “I’ve already told you—he’s no good. If I hadn’t urged you inside, who knows what worse things he might have done to Xiling!”

Chengming fell silent; he didn’t counter Maha’s words, which amounted to tacit agreement with his viewpoint.

This was the first time Buddhist Monk Chengming had seen eye-to-eye with the demon within him.

“I merely see her as a Gu person requiring study,” Luo Qinghe said coldly. “I have none of the sordid thoughts you imagine.”

The Lust Gu was indeed treacherous, but so long as he remained steadfast, Luo Qinghe believed he would swiftly find its cure without allowing it to deeply affect him.

Maha rolled his eyes slightly. “I don’t believe you.”

He doubted that Luo Qinghe possessed more willpower than Chengming, that foolish monk. Even Chengming, who initially insisted on “no, never,” now refused to leave Xiling’s side. Placing Xiling next to Luo Qinghe—wasn’t this like throwing a lamb to a tiger, letting him take full advantage?

Upon hearing Maha’s thoughts, Buddhist Monk Chengming was rendered speechless.

“Buddhist disciple, do you no longer wish to save her?” In the past, Luo Qinghe had shown great interest in studying Maha, but at present, he found him irritating enough to avoid even looking at him. He redirected the conversation toward Chengming instead. “Only I am capable of altering the constitution and fate of Gu people.”

“You think just because you say so, it can be done?” Maha retorted irritably. “Even you couldn’t…”

Chengming interrupted Maha. “Qinghe, I know your intentions with poisons and Gu, as well as with those afflicted by them, have always been to investigate and research,” he said. “I invited you here so that Xiling might live, but to me…”

Chengming glanced at the woman in his arms, then spoke as if relinquishing all resistance: “To me, she is very important. Can you treat her without personal feelings, purely as a physician?”

“How could I possibly feel anything personally toward her?” Luo Qinghe asked unhappily.

Luo Qinghe strenuously ignored the peculiar emotions stirring within him. “Once I dispel the Lust Gu, I’ll also lift it from you, Buddhist disciple. Then you can return to normal.”

“No need.” Chengming declined. “Just focus on healing Xiling.”

“Hey, Chengming, do you really trust him?” Maha expressed his disdain for Chengming openly. “Can’t you change that overly forgiving nature of yours? Would you entrust even your own woman to someone else?”

“It’s not about entrusting her to anyone else,” Chengming replied helplessly. “Qinghe’s medical skills are unparalleled; there’s no one else who can help Xiling…”

“In that case, we must watch him closely,” Maha snarled, glaring fiercely at Luo Qinghe. “To prevent any further inappropriate behavior.”

On this point, Chengming did not object.

Since when did Luo Qinghe need to be watched while treating someone? His expression instantly darkened as he turned his gaze toward the Gu woman. “Have you had your fill of spectating yet?”

Luo Qinghe had been observing this Gu woman from start to finish. Seeing her secretly giggling while nestled against Buddhist Monk Chengming only made him angrier.

To treat her with such attitude even after being bewitched—this Medicine Sage must have quite the endurance. Tong Ling promptly wrapped her arms around the monk’s waist and complained, “Monk, earlier the Medicine Sage bit my finger—it hurts so much.”

Chengming swiftly took Xiling’s hand, anxiously asking, “Where does it hurt?”

Tong Ling pointed at her fingertip. “I want you, Monk, to blow on it for me; then it won’t hurt anymore.”

With ears flushed red, Chengming lowered his head and carefully blew twice on that flawless, delicate hand. His lashes quivered slightly as he softly asked, “Is this better?”

“Chengming, you’ve changed,” Maha observed.

Had enlightenment dawned upon this monk?

Chengming sighed lightly. Since he couldn’t refuse, there was no point in trying. All occurrences in this life were the result of past karma, and their entangled fates were likely one of Buddha’s trials for him.

Maha rolled his eyes. ”…Why not just say you’re doing as you please? That would sound better.”

Luo Qinghe was speechless.

His brows drew tightly together as that peculiar discomfort intensified. If Luo Qinghe hadn’t ruthlessly suppressed himself, he likely would have poisoned the Buddhist disciple on the spot—just to avoid witnessing this scene and its accompanying fury.

Tong Ling giggled. “I feel much better now.”

“Monk, let’s take another stroll around the courtyard outside.” Tong Ling looped her arm through the Buddhist disciple’s and glanced back at Luo Qinghe. “The Medicine Sage still needs to find a cure for the Gu; I won’t stay here and distract him.”

Chengming felt a sudden sense of relief, his face breaking out into a smile bright like clear moonlight. “All right.”

As this pair of lovers, all tender affection and honeyed sweetness, prepared to depart, Luo Qinghe gritted his teeth. “Wait,” he said sharply.

Tong Ling stopped, puzzled. “Does the Medicine Sage need something?”

“You promised you’d be my medicine vessel,” Luo Qinghe said grimly. “Have you forgotten your words?”

Upon hearing the term “medicine vessel,” Buddhist Monk Chengming unconsciously furrowed his brow.

“Qinghe, I’ve already said Xiling is not a medicine vessel,” Chengming emphasized.

But Luo Qinghe kept his gaze fixed on the Gu girl.

“I haven’t forgotten,” Tong Ling replied without changing expression, maintaining her look of confusion. “Will this affect me going out with the monk?”

“I…” Luo Qinghe paced around the room several times. As if having found his excuse, he swiftly said, “Right now, I need you to cooperate with me. Tell me the characteristics of the herbs you were soaked in originally; perhaps I can find a way to improve your constitution.”

Luo Qinghe’s suggestion was reasonable enough that even Buddhist Monk Chengming abandoned any thoughts of spending time alone with Xiling, focusing instead on curing her ailment.

“You clean my room first. Wait until I’m done strolling with the monk before coming back.” Tong Ling pulled the monk along and left without a care for what Luo Qinghe might say behind them, ignoring him completely.

Luo Qinghe fell silent.

Clean the room? How dare this Gu person make him tidy up?!

He nearly swept out immediately, but suppressing himself again and again, he ended up sweeping away the broken pieces of furniture, tossing them outside. Then, standing at the doorway, he observed the pair in the courtyard.

Buddhist Monk Chengming truly had lost his senses—did he really intend to renounce Buddhism just to be with that Gu woman? Knowing full well he’d been afflicted by Lust Gu yet failing to seek its cure—what utter foolishness!

And as for that Gu woman too…she was shameless. Why would she target a monk?! The two of them weren’t suited at all!

Luo Qinghe’s mind raced with wild thoughts, his stomach full of anger. Not only had he failed to identify any weaknesses within the Lust Gu inside him, but as he stared at the Gu woman for some time, he found her increasingly different from ordinary humans…

She was female, exceedingly beautiful.

Luo Qinghe had never cared about others’ appearances; he hadn’t even paid attention to their genders. It seemed that since birth, all his interests had been focused on medicine and healing. His master said he possessed extraordinary talent, claiming there wasn’t a disease or ailment that could stump him. And indeed, just as his master predicted, Luo Qinghe swiftly mastered Medicine King Valley’s medical texts. After completing his study of medicine, he moved onto poisons. Gradually, the concept of “people” became more and more abstract in his eyes; aside from various peculiar ailments, little else remained in his memory.

How long had it been since Luo Qinghe truly looked at someone?

Even when facing Buddhist Monk Chengming, he saw the monk merely as a more challenging case—a condition yet unsolved.

The Gu woman was unlike anyone else.

Her body was soft and fragrant, her blood sweet and aromatic. Her figure was lovely, her face exquisite. From their first meeting, she seemed to have instantly grasped his nature. If not for her revealing the existence of the Lust Gu, Luo Qinghe wouldn’t have voluntarily swallowed the child gu.

If Luo Qinghe had to make that choice again… He couldn’t help but sigh, realizing he wouldn’t have chosen differently. Even knowing how dangerous Lust Gu was, he still would’ve wanted to try.

“Luo Qinghe is still staring,” Maha observed, puzzled. “Why did Xiling take out the Lust Gu?”

Maha initially thought Xiling used it on Chengming because she fancied him. Rare as Lust Gu was, whom else would one use it on if not their beloved? Who could have guessed that Xiling possessed a second pair…

Naturally, Chengming also realized that Xiling didn’t truly like him. Rather than affection, Xiling seemed more interested in teasing him. But Chengming preferred not to question anything; he only wished to stay with her. As long as they could live this quiet and peaceful life here, he desired nothing else.

However, Xiling wasn’t content to let things slide. Her words chilled half of Chengming’s heart.

“Monk, I know you’re here at Xie Xuefeng’s behest to capture me.” Tong Ling wasn’t actually planning to settle down and live in obscurity. Until the System removed its plot monitoring device, she needed to continue advancing the story using her own methods. “I gave you the Lust Gu as a means of self-protection.”

Chengming’s face went pale, and he lowered his head, fingertips trembling. “Then those things you—you did with me were also for…self-protection?”

“How could they be?” Tong Ling denied it outright. “Once I placed the Lust Gu on you, there was no way you could harm me. Why would I bother doing anything extra?”

Tong Ling gently squeezed the Buddhist disciple’s palm. “If I didn’t fancy you, why would I willingly do such pleasurable things with you?”

Only then did Chengming feel alive again. If Xiling had submitted to him merely to save her own life, he might as well strike himself dead so she could live without fear.

Maha watched silently. In just one thought—in only one thought—both he and Chengming nearly lost their lives.

A chill ran through Maha; only now did he realize how immense this woman’s influence over Chengming truly was. With a single word, she could decide his life or death. What a terrifying, what a dangerous person…

“I don’t know what Xuefeng told you about me. These days, everyone in the jianghu must see me as a devilish enchantress capable of any evil. Monk, if you associate with me, people will view you as similarly wicked,” Tong Ling said directly to Chengming, her expression full of melancholy. “Do you understand what I mean, Chengming? You cannot stay with me.”

Having just escaped life-threatening peril, and now hearing these heartfelt words, all of Chengming’s hesitation vanished. He tightly embraced the woman in his arms and firmly stated, “I don’t care what others think of me. I will renounce my monastic vows, and I will protect you.”

“But I wouldn’t want you to be scorned and despised by others,” Tong Ling said somberly. “You’re such a good person; I don’t wish for anyone to speak ill of you…”

Buddhist Monk Chengming’s heart overflowed with tenderness. Lowering his head, he gently kissed Tong Ling’s forehead, “Don’t idealize me too much. Remember, there is also a demonic entity within my body. It is I who am truly the heretic fiend…”

“Monk, I have a story to share with you, would you like to hear it?” Tong Ling asked.

“With pleasure, I’m willing to listen to anything you tell me,” Chengming replied warmly.

Tong Ling then recounted the tale between the female supporting character and Xuefeng to the Buddhist disciple. At the end, she sighed, “I admit that I deliberately sought revenge on Xuefeng—by cursing him with slave gu and ruining his wedding. His anger towards me was justified.”

Before Chengming could respond, Maha angrily interrupted, emerging from his hiding spot, “That despicable villain! I must kill him!”

“No!” Tong Ling forced out two teardrops, “Even though he treated me heartlessly, I never wished him harm… After my revenge, I realized that all I truly desire is for him to be well. I absolutely don’t want any misfortune to befall him.”

Tong Ling held Chengming’s hand and asked, “Buddhist disciple, do you understand this feeling? When you love someone, you wish for them to live long and prosper, hoping they attain everything they desire…”

Chengming nodded, gazing intently at Xiling, “I understand.”

Maha remained silent, wondering where these two saints had suddenly emerged from.

“So… if he wants to kill me, I will let him fulfill his desire,” Tong Ling said. “After all, I won’t live much longer anyway.”

Buddhist Monk Chengming was always compassionate and forgiving. Before meeting Xiling, he rarely experienced strong emotions, let alone hatred. He had never harbored resentment towards anyone, but in this moment, Chengming unequivocally felt profound… loathing towards Xie Xuefeng.

“What foolish words are you speaking?” Chengming tightened his grip on her arm, asserting, “The Medicine Sage is here; you won’t die.”

“I gave you the Lust Gu because I had to release some of the Gu insects within me. Having cultivated too many Gu, their demands exceeded my capabilities, and the inevitable backlash from poisonous Gu was imminent…”

Tong Ling’s body trembled slightly as she said, “This is simply the fate of Gu people. Unless I unleash these Gu insects to harm others, there’s no saving myself.”

Chengming knew Xiling spoke the truth. Without resolving this issue, keeping the Gu insects near her would only continue to cause her harm.

“Release all your Gu onto me,” Chengming suggested. “It doesn’t matter what type they are; I can bear the burden of those poisonous Gu for you.”

“You can extract ordinary poison Gu, monk, but what about the Lust Gu?” Tong Ling, after building up to it, finally revealed the crux of the problem. “I still have several Lust Gu that must be released into different individuals, otherwise…”

Maha was stunned. “More? How many Lust Gu do you have?”

Even Chengming was taken aback by this revelation.

“What should I do now?” Tong Ling asked the Buddhist disciple, “Monk, who do you think would be suitable recipients for my remaining Lust Gu?”