Chapter 106: Gu Maiden (19)

Tong Ling found Luo Qinghe to be quite clumsy and inept. Never mind comparing him with Sanar, that household expert; he fell far short of even the Buddhist disciple, who only knew vegetarian dishes.

“What is this you’ve made?” Tong Ling pointed at the food on the plate, its original ingredients unrecognizable. “Is it fit for human consumption?”

Tong Ling began considering whether she should replace the Medicine Sage with someone more useful.

Luo Qinghe was speechless.

From Xiling’s eyes, Luo Qinghe could see her deep disdain for him. He attempted to explain himself: “How hard can cooking be? It’s just that my hands aren’t meant for such tasks—they’re hands for healing and saving lives!”

“No one here needs your healing, but if you don’t know how to cook, do you plan to starve me to death?” Tong Ling scanned Luo Qinghe from head to toe. The current Medicine Sage had lost all traces of his ethereal aura. His hair was disheveled, with some ends singed black, and his body covered in soot. His already loose robes bore dark stains from the firewood smoke—it looked less like he’d been preparing a meal and more like he’d returned from battle.

Luo Qinghe had never done these kinds of chores before. Cleaning up the house alone would have sufficed, but now he also needed to prepare meals for Xiling. With no culinary skills, even creating the dish on the table had required arduous effort and experimentation. He truly had given it his best…

“With how un-domestic you are, no one will want you later,” Tong Ling said with a sigh as she sat at the table, not even sparing a glance for the “trash” on it. “When is that monk coming back…?”

Luo Qinghe felt his insides sour. He picked up the platters and said, “I’ll make them again.”

“Forget it—go buy something ready-made from a restaurant.” Tong Ling realized this Medicine Sage severely lacked common sense, so she specifically asked, “Do you have any money on you?”

Feeling like he was being treated like an idiot, Luo Qinghe couldn’t even get angry. “I do!” he insisted.

He thought it necessary to emphasize his advantages. “Medicine King Valley is quite wealthy, and after practicing medicine for many years, I’ve amassed considerable riches. For those who wish for me to treat their ailments, forget about offering thousands of gold taels—they’d give ten thousand just to see if I’m willing to help.”

“Oh?” Now Tong Ling’s interest had been piqued slightly. “How does your wealth compare to Wan Jian Manor’s?”

Luo Qinghe frowned slightly. “Wan Jian Manor?”

Why would Xiling compare him to Wan Jian Manor?

“A life is more valuable than money,” Luo Qinghe said. “Previously, I didn’t pay much attention to wealth…”

“In other words, your wealth doesn’t measure up, huh?” Tong Ling pursed her lips. “Even less so than the little gongzi.”

“The little gongzi? What connection do you have with him?” Luo Qinghe hurriedly asked.

“The courtyard I purchased and all the silver at my disposal were provided by the little gongzi.” Tong Ling’s gaze toward Luo Qinghe filled further with disappointment. “Medicine Sage, what use is there in you anymore?”

Luo Qinghe fell silent.

He gritted his teeth. “Just wait—you’ll see! Whether it comes to cooking or earning money, I won’t be outdone by anyone!”

Tong Ling waved her hand, signaling for Luo Qinghe to leave. “Go buy groceries quickly; don’t waste any more time.”

As Luo Qinghe was about to exit, he hesitated upon seeing Xiling alone inside. Worried, he returned. From within his lapels, he produced several packets of medicinal powder. “These are for self-defense. This packet contains Gutsevering Powder—if sprinkled on evildoers, their intestines will rupture, and this other one is…”

Luo Qinghe introduced each poison in turn. Even though Xiling wasn’t the type of woman who could easily be bullied, he still couldn’t bring himself to depart without worry.

No wonder Buddhist Monk Chengming had entrusted Xiling to him before leaving—without someone to protect her, he too would feel uneasy…

“I don’t need these poisons,” Tong Ling said as she pushed the medicinal powders aside. She then asked Luo Qinghe, “Do you happen to have ‘Impermanence’?”

Luo Qinghe was surprised. “You know about ‘Impermanence’?”

It was a poison he had concocted idly during his youth. With inner strength to activate it, the poison would diffuse and transform into a colorless, odorless toxic gas. Due to its extreme stealthiness and ease of use for harm, Luo Qinghe later ceased production entirely.

“You knew I’m from the demon cult, where everyone died due to Impermanence’s poison,” Tong Ling said. Since this gas could wipe out an entire demon cult, she still recognized just how potent it was. Though she herself was immune to all poisons, with such a powerful cheat in Xie Xuefeng’s hands, there was also the risk of him harming others unintentionally.

“I need Impermanence—or you can give me its cure,” Tong Ling demanded.

“My Impermanence actually killed so many people?” Luo Qinghe vaguely recalled that when he’d first begun studying poisons, he’d only been thinking about creating a rare, unparalleled toxin. After crafting it, he brought it to the jianghu to show off, even distributing some of it around. It wasn’t until his master dragged him back to Medicine King Valley for a severe scolding that he stopped doing such things…

“If you need it, I can provide.” Naturally, Luo Qinghe wouldn’t refuse Xiling. “Once I finish shopping, I’ll synthesize the poison for you.”

Only then did Tong Ling reveal a satisfied smile. “Finally, you’re somewhat useful.”

Luo Qinghe remained silent.

Luo Qinghe stepped out of the courtyard gate and glanced at his disheveled appearance. Covering his face, he stood dazed for some time. But thinking about how Xiling was still hungry, he couldn’t worry over appearances; he rushed hastily toward the restaurant.

After finally serving Xiling her meal, Luo Qinghe’s work for the day wasn’t yet done. After giving her the poison water, he had to light a fire and heat water for Xiling’s bath. By the time he finished these tasks and returned to that cramped storage room, any thought of complaint vanished from his mind. As soon as his body touched the straw mat, he fell asleep.

In his dreams, it seemed like he could still smell Xiling’s fragrance—its subtle scent enveloped him, seeping through his skin and melting into his bones. Luo Qinghe couldn’t remember what exactly he dreamed about, only feeling an intense, feverish heat throughout his body. The next morning, when he woke up amidst the disarray of his bed and clothes, he sank once more into despair…

“Medicine Sage?” Across the yard, Luo Qinghe heard Xiling calling again. “Are you up? I want porridge.”

“I’ll be right there, just wait!” Luo Qinghe replied hoarsely.

Before preparing Xiling’s meal, he first needed to find a way to give himself a cold-water shower, then step outside to buy a set of clean clothes to change into.

Luo Qinghe had no impatience whatsoever when it came to caring for Xiling; what troubled him was…

“You should let me try,” Luo Qinghe urged her, speaking from his position as a healer. “I can find ways to improve your constitution.”

“The Lushen flower you use does repel poisonous insects,” he continued, “but so long as your Gu person constitution remains unchanged, they will always follow you.”

“Are you sure this is about curing me and not finding excuses to touch me?” Tong Ling asked with a grin, realizing that this was why the Medicine Sage had approached her.

Luo Qinghe lowered his gaze, his throat bobbing slightly. “That’s not true.”

Originally, such thoughts hadn’t crossed his mind at all, but now that Xiling mentioned them, those ideas began to wildly flourish like weeds.

“I’m doing this for your own good,” Luo Qinghe said firmly. “The Buddhist disciple entrusted you to my care. Your body may be fine now, but there’s no guarantee that will remain true in the future. You must cooperate with me…”

“Didn’t I tell you before?” Tong Ling leaned languidly against the table, her tone casual. “If you call me ‘Master,’ I might just cooperate out of happiness.”

Luo Qinghe fell silent.

Luo Qinghe turned to leave, but as he reached the door, his steps paused for a moment. He asked quietly, “Do you truly mean what you said?”

“I don’t lie,” Tong Ling smiled.

Luo Qinghe took several deep breaths. The word “master” was caught in his throat, choking him until his face flushed red.

“If you’re unwilling, then never mind,” Tong Ling added. “I dislike forcing others.”

”…Master,” Luo Qinghe finally managed to utter. As soon as he spoke, he fixed an intense gaze on Xiling, all traces of coolness vanishing from his expression, replaced by a fervent emotion surging within him. “Master.”

Luo Qinghe approached Xiling once more and called out again, “Master, are you happy now?”

If she wanted to witness this scene, let her watch. It was because he couldn’t dispel the Lust Gu; naturally, she had every right to feel smug.

Tong Ling lifted her hand and caressed Luo Qinghe’s cheek. “Yes, I am.”

Unable to resist any longer, Luo Qinghe embraced the woman before him tightly. Only when he held her close did some measure of his anxiety and dissatisfaction begin to ease.

Luo Qinghe’s eyes darkened slightly. “Never thought there would be a day like this…”

He was still conscious; Luo Qinghe knew what he was doing from start to finish. Yet he no longer wished to resist this emotion—or rather, he had absolutely no way of resisting it.

“You regret it?” Tong Ling gently stroked Luo Qinghe’s long hair, smiling softly when she reached the singed ends. “Surely you know that I have control over you now. The best course would be not thinking about me and not looking at me—you shouldn’t focus your attention on my person.”

Luo Qinghe wouldn’t regret his choice. “You know very well that I can’t help it—I cannot stop thinking about you.”

Xiling’s mere existence was enough to captivate him. Whether as a healer or as a woman, her allure towards him was indisputable.

Before ingesting Lust Gu, he saw her only as a rare Gu person. But after swallowing it, he learned to view her as another human being. It seemed like he himself had transformed—from a machine solely devoted to medical research into a person, one even he found difficult to understand.

Luo Qinghe lightly breathed in Xiling’s scent, feeling the unusual heat from last night rise once more. With a rapt expression, he murmured, “I want you…”

Luo Qinghe licked his lips, recalling her sweet taste and wanting to savor it again.

“Didn’t you want to improve my constitution?” Tong Ling nudged Luo Qinghe, placing her wrist before him. “Don’t dwell on such nonsense; don’t forget that you’re a physician.”

Of course, Luo Qinghe hadn’t forgotten his identity. He lifted Xiling’s delicate, snow-white wrist, gently kissing it all over before saying, “I will make sure you live longer than anyone…”

Tong Ling dismissed this small gesture. “I truly don’t mind how long I live.”

“I do!” Luo Qinghe raised his head, speaking with utmost sincerity. “As long as I’m here, you won’t be dying!”

“It’s too hard searching like this…” Maha muttered. “Just staying put doesn’t catch many leads.”

After removing the bounty notice, there was no quick replacement, and Maha discovered that some individuals had only removed the posters for Xiling’s portrait, not because they were genuinely capable of pursuing her. Many skilled hunters seemed to have vanished without a trace.

“There are numerous bulletin boards for bounties—one person can’t cover them all,” Maha said. “Who knows how many individuals intend harm toward Xiling…”

“Nowadays, everyone on the streets is discussing Xiling as a demonic enchantress—all thanks to Xie Tanyue’s intense desire for her blood,” Buddhist Monk Chengming said. He knocked another person unconscious and carefully examined their face, comparing it with that of the first individual he’d captured. Feeling they were somewhat different, he released them.

“What ‘Xie Tanyue’—does someone like Xie Xuefeng deserve such a title?” Maha had a sudden flash of inspiration, and an idea struck him. “Chengming, let’s just…”

How could Buddhist Monk Chengming not know what Maha was thinking? Silently reciting a Buddha chant, he replied, “That would be improper.”

“How so? Whoever comes after Xiling—we can take care of them once and for all, right?” A chill and ruthless tone colored Maha’s voice. “Don’t forget what Xie Xuefeng did to her. That kind of man deserves no pity!”

“No.” Chengming didn’t want Maha acting alone, so he used Xiling’s own words to caution him. “Xiling said she doesn’t wish for his death; we shouldn’t do anything she’d disapprove of.”

Maha clicked his tongue. “Honestly, I don’t understand why Xiling still cares about that guy. Xie Xuefeng has never shown her even the slightest affection.”

Maha then proposed another idea, “Why don’t we take Xie Xuefeng back with us too? Without him stirring up trouble in the jianghu, Xiling will undoubtedly be safer.”

Chengming pondered for a while before responding, “Abducting people this way might not be very efficient…”

Realizing Chengming’s plan, Maha exclaimed in astonishment, “Your…your method is truly ingenious!”

Chengming lowered his gaze and said softly, “As long as it helps Xiling, that’s all that matters.”

Maha was speechless; from that moment on, he would never underestimate this monk again!

When Xie Xuefeng received news of Buddhist Monk Chengming’s arrival, his gloomy mood instantly lifted. He hastily instructed his attendants to welcome the monk inside, while he himself climbed out of bed to meticulously tidy his appearance.

Over these past few days, Xie Xuefeng had focused solely on recuperating from his injuries. He remained indoors, ignoring the sword wielder’s provocations and turning a blind eye to the rumors swirling in the jianghu, lest hearing them make him spit blood in frustration.

Buddhist Monk Chengming represented his greatest hope, so how could he not feel elated at their meeting?

Sure enough, Chengming brought him extraordinary news! “I have located Xiling,” the monk announced.

Initially startled by the fact that the Buddhist disciple could speak, Xie Xuefeng quickly zeroed in on the significance of Chengming’s words.

“You found her?!” Xie Xuefeng nearly burst out laughing but abruptly winced, his face paling as the wound on his waist pulled painfully. “Disciple, did you not capture her?”

Without seeing Xiling brought back by the monk, Xie Xuefeng felt somewhat disappointed.

This was Chengming’s first time deceiving someone; inwardly, he sought forgiveness from the Buddha and calmly said, “As Xie Tanyue rightly mentioned, that woman possesses considerable cunning. I alone could not handle her.”

Xie Xuefeng’s eyes lit up. “Disciple, does this mean you’re willing to help me apprehend her?”

Chengming nodded. “I believe relying solely on Xie Tanyue would be insufficient. Might Xie Tanyue gather those who wish to pursue her together? With more people involved, it would be…safer.”

“Is Xiling truly so troublesome?” Xie Xuefeng didn’t suspect any ulterior motives behind the Buddhist disciple’s suggestion. He recalled the men—men, plural—who had colluded with Xiling. If even the Buddhist disciple deemed her beyond his solo capabilities, there must be others aiding her!

Already, Xie Xuefeng knew of several men entangled with Xiling, and who knew how many more she had seduced behind his back. His vigilance couldn’t be too excessive!

“All right, I’ll immediately assemble everyone. Disciple, please rest here for now. Once I’ve gathered our forces, I’ll rely on you to lead the way.”

After speaking his piece, Xie Xuefeng hastily departed to instruct his father, the Alliance Chief, to issue a proclamation. He called for elites from various sects to gather for a grand “Demon Subduing Assembly”!

Xie Xuefeng had long been suppressing his fury, and this operation promised to be a dramatic spectacle. Fortunately, his father’s authority as the Alliance Chief remained strong, coupled with the demon cult being a persistent concern for all within the jianghu. Even the Meng family and Wan Jian Manor couldn’t openly oppose him in his crusade against the cult.

What puzzled Xie Xuefeng was that after assembling the elite members from each sect, Buddhist Monk Chengming proceeded to further sift through them.

“This one, yes.” Chengming inspected the gathered heroes before him, even selecting several graceful heroines upon spotting their presence.

Maha sighed appreciatively, “Brilliant! This way, we can capture them all at once. Once each sect stops pursuing Xiling, the remaining scattered individuals will pose little threat.”

“These few should suffice.”

The individuals chosen by Chengming excelled in both martial prowess and appearance. Sensing there must be a reason behind the monk’s selections, Xie Xuefeng heeded his advice and refrained from bringing too many additional people.

With the Buddhist Monk leading the way, the formidable procession of the “Demon Subduing Assembly” swiftly moved from the eastern side of the city towards the west.

Upon reaching a secluded residence on the outskirts of the western part of the city, Chengming bowed respectfully to the group and said, “Please wait here momentarily. I shall bring forth the person we seek.”