Chapter 88: Gu Maiden (1)

The surroundings were pitch-black, emitting a peculiar faint fragrance, while insect sounds rustled softly nearby.

When Tong Ling first opened her eyes, she nearly thought she had gone blind. After a moment, as her eyes adjusted to the dimness, she gradually began to discern her environment.

She appeared to be inside a cave, with rough stone walls visible all around. Beneath her was a stone bed equipped with a simple straw mat. Tong Ling searched herself and the area near the bed for her phone but found nothing.

“What’s going on?” Tong Ling asked the system, “Is the female supporting character living like a wild person in this mountain cave?”

m577 hastily responded: [No, no, no way! How could she be a wild person? This is a stone chamber, but the female character’s actual room isn’t here.]

[Additionally, this small world lacks smartphones and modern technology; it’s set in ancient times.] m577 added: [If you want to light something up, there’s a candle on the table, along with a flint striker beside it. Light it and see for yourself.]

“Ancient times?” Upon hearing this setting, Tong Ling’s expression turned grim. “Are you trying to make me relive wilderness survival again?”

Tong Ling hailed from the high-tech U-A78 star system, accustomed to the conveniences brought by advanced technology. She had little interest in experiencing life in ancient eras.

m577 clarified, [“Bell Sister, this isn’t just any ordinary ancient setting. The conditions and environment here are far superior compared to that deserted island…”]

Having already survived a deserted island, the ancient era wouldn’t be much different.

Tong Ling’s interest piqued at the mention of it not being “ordinary ancient times.” Next to the stone bed was a rock table, and she picked up the flint striker lying on it for closer inspection.

Her knowledge of ancient times came solely from historical resources and various novels or films set in small worlds. Experiencing it firsthand felt quite novel.

The invention of the flint striker showcased the wisdom of ancient people. The one beside Tong Ling appeared to be of high quality; instead of crude paper rolls inside the bamboo tube, it contained materials made from sweet potato vines, reed tassels, soaked, pounded, and dried. As Tong Ling leaned in for a sniff, she detected the scents of saltpeter, sulfur, and rosin.

Blowing gently on the flint striker, a flame quickly ignited. She lit the candle, then covered the flint striker with its bamboo cap, raising an eyebrow at the scene before her. “By withholding the female supporting character’s memories initially, you wanted me to witness this?”

The walls and floor of the stone chamber were densely infested with various insects, creating a strikingly impressive sight upon first glance.

Seeing that its host wasn’t the least bit frightened, m577’s mood suddenly sank: [Bell Sister, aren’t you scared?! Look at all those bugs!]

m577 admitted to harboring some anticipation for a dramatic reaction. Having partnered with its host for so long, it had never witnessed her showing signs of panic or fear. It desperately wanted to see her genuinely startled!

Even if a burly man were placed in this stone room filled with insects, he would likely scream in terror…

Why couldn’t its host display a typical girl’s response?!

Tong Ling could easily discern the system’s subtle intentions and smiled knowingly. “What’s there to be afraid of? Have you forgotten about the ‘insect race’ in my world, those alien-like beings? Whether it’s a cave full of bugs or even an entire planet swarming with them, I’ve never been intimidated.”

m577 let out a surprised exclamation: [Eh?]

“Idiot,” Tong Ling scolded. “As a system I’ve mentored, how can you be this clueless?”

m577 appeared stunned: [But… most people might never encounter the insect race in their lifetime.]

In her consciousness sea, Tong Ling gave the system a wry glance.

Realizing its mistake, m577 quickly responded: [Oh… Bell Sister, you’re far from ordinary.]

Curiosity about her experiences resurfaced within m577: [Did you actually fight against the insect race before? Shouldn’t you be a delicate and pampered noblewoman…]

Considering how much Tong Ling seemed to enjoy luxury and her impeccable adherence to etiquette, m577 couldn’t imagine her stepping onto a battlefield.

“I attended a military academy,” Tong Ling replied briefly, unwilling to delve deeper into her past. She urged, “Alright, quickly send over the female supporting character’s memories and the task details.”

M577 didn’t dare delay and promptly bundled the memories for transfer: [Sent.]

As the system had stated, this was indeed no ordinary ancient setting; it was a martial arts world.

Having watched numerous martial arts films and shows, Tong Ling was no stranger to the concept of such worlds.

In Tong Ling’s own summary: “Internal martial arts are akin to gene-altering serums; mastering them strengthens one’s entire physique. Martial techniques serve as personal weapons—those with powerful moves are like wielding cannons, while those with weaker techniques are similar to children holding slingshots, lacking significant lethality.”

The corner of the system’s metaphorical mouth twitched: [With your description, all the aesthetic charm of martial arts is nearly lost.]

“Nevertheless, it does sound intriguing,” Tong Ling praised the system. “This time, you’ve made a good choice. I’m quite satisfied with the female supporting character’s abilities.”

In this small world, the female supporting character is named Xiling, and she serves as a priestess of the Holy Cult. The Holy Cult was established by a remote minority group, with its leader, the Left Envoy, and Right Envoy all possessing exceptional martial skills, earning them considerable renown within the jianghu.

However, due to their deceitful actions and ruthless methods, the Holy Cult was often referred to as the Demon Cult by those in the Central Plains’ jianghu, resulting in a reputation that was far from favorable.

Xiling, being an orphan, was taken in by the Holy Cult and groomed as a prospective priestess from a young age.

Starting at the age of 12, prospective priestesses were required to undergo weekly immersions in a peculiar medicinal bath. This bath caused their entire body to feel achy, itchy, as if countless insects were crawling over them—an experience difficult to describe accurately.

Many prospective priestesses could not endure this pain after just the first or second immersion and were carried out, nearly incapacitated.

This indicated that their bodies were incompatible with the medicinal bath, disqualifying them from becoming a priestess.

Xiling, however, proved to be compatible.

She endured forty-nine weeks of these medicinal immersions, surpassing this trial, and officially became the Holy Cult’s Priestess.

The role of the Holy Cult’s Priestess essentially equated to that of a Gu woman. As such, the priestess had to learn the art of refining and nurturing Gu creatures. After completing the medicinal baths, the priestess would emit a unique fragrance attracting various venomous insects to her side. Using these gathered insects, the priestess could then create toxic Gu.

Tong Ling suddenly realized that the faint fragrance she had been smelling wasn’t from incense in the stone room; it originated from the female supporting character herself. The swarm of insects within this chamber served as raw materials for her Gu refinement.

The process involved placing various venomous insects into a copper furnace, where they would fiercely battle and tear at each other. The surviving insect, at the end, became the Gu.

Priestesses nurtured their Gu with their own blood. The medicinal baths altered the priestess’s constitution, imbuing her blood with a unique scent—the favorite nourishment of Gu insects.

The Holy Cult raised priestesses specifically to obtain these valuable poison Gu, which also served as crucial tools for intimidation against others.

Xiling grew up surrounded by poisonous creatures, groomed solely as an instrument for the Holy Cult. Consequently, she lacked clear notions of right or wrong. Since the cult raised her, she obediently followed their directives. Due to her special physiology, priestesses could not cultivate internal energy and possessed no martial skills. Fortunately, the position of a priestess held high status publicly, and members of the Holy Cult generally treated her with relative respect.

If she hadn’t encountered that man, Xiling likely would have lived a dull and uneventful life.

She found Xie Xuefeng near the rear mountains, a place she frequented.

At that time, Xie Xuefeng was covered in wounds and collapsed amidst the forest. With his strikingly handsome appearance and exceptional bearing, he exuded an aura reminiscent of “the rustling wind beneath pines, lofty yet gentle,” embodying the epitome of gentlemanly grace.

Xiling felt an instant affinity for this man. After secretly tending to his injuries, she hid him on the Holy Cult’s rear mountain.

Each day, Xiling brought food and applied medicine to Xie Xuefeng. He expressed immense gratitude towards her and often shared amusing anecdotes. Being emotionally inexperienced, it didn’t take long for Xiling to deeply fall for Xie Xuefeng.

In return, Xie Xuefeng also conveyed his affection, and under their mutual sentiments, they pledged their lives to each other.

Completely trusting Xie Xuefeng, when he expressed a desire to stay closer by her side, Xiling brought him disguised into the Holy Cult. Little did she know, this decision would lead to its utter destruction.

Within the cult, Xie Xuefeng released an odorless and colorless poison called “Impermanence.” This toxin instantly sealed one’s internal energy, causing them to collapse helplessly without any awareness or ability to resist.

Next, Xie Xuefeng drew a small sword from his sleeve—an exquisitely crafted weapon with a dazzling, snow-bright blade. Its gleam was captivating, and his strikes were incredibly swift. Before those only mildly affected could react, the sword sliced across their necks, swiftly claiming their lives.

Xiling held no deep affection for the Holy Cult members; her sole concern was whether Xie Xuefeng truly loved her or not.

Did he approach her solely to eliminate the Holy Cult? If he had been honest about his intentions, she might have even helped him.

Unfortunately, Xie Xuefeng’s actions towards her were nothing but deceit from start to finish. With Xiling’s blood coursing through her veins, she remained immune to all poisons and could have used her venomous gu against Xie Xuefeng at that moment. However, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

After slaughtering the Demon Cult followers, Xie Xuefeng departed as if he had forgotten her entirely. He neither harmed nor spared a glance at Xiling, treating her merely as a guide with whom he shared no connection.

With the Demon Cult destroyed, Xiling found herself without a place to go. Heartbroken by her lover’s betrayal, she retreated back to her stone chamber where she cultivated gu insects. The female supporting character’s consciousness gradually faded away amidst this despair.

Upon witnessing the female character’s experience, Tong Ling clicked her tongue and remarked, “Isn’t she just another naive woman who blindly trusted a scumbag, only to be deceived?”

In response to the host’s assessment, m577 muttered, 【A ‘naive woman’ wouldn’t cultivate gu insects. These poisonous gu caused harm, indirectly claiming numerous lives due to the female supporting character’s involvement.】

Tong Ling scoffed, “It wasn’t her choice; she was merely the blade wielded by the assassin. If blame is to be placed, it should not fall on the weapon but rather on the assassin himself. Besides, seeking revenge from the female supporting character as a victim’s relative somewhat makes sense. However, Xie Xuefeng had no personal grudge against her. That scumbag deceived a woman’s feelings just to target the Holy Cult—how low can you get?”

M577 remained silent, unable to respond.

Tong Ling continued reading the original plotline.

The narrative unfolded primarily from the male lead’s perspective, who was none other than Xie Xuefeng.

Xie Xuefeng was the son of Xie Changyue, the leader of the Alliance of Heroes. Unlike his father, whose demeanor exuded righteousness and strict adherence to principles, Xie Xuefeng believed that any means were justified if they resolved problems.

While his father contemplated rallying the jianghu forces to attack the Demon Cult, Xie Xuefeng had already identified its weak point and set his plan in motion.

With exceptional looks, he earned the nickname Youxue Gongzi, admired by numerous heroines throughout the jianghu. Fully aware of his allure towards women, Xie Xuefeng faced little challenge in using his charm to captivate the demoness from the cult.

What Xie Xuefeng hadn’t anticipated was how easily deceived the Demon Cult’s enchantress, Xiling, would be. Contrary to rumors circulating outside, Xiling did not involve herself in the affairs of the Demon Cult, nor did she maintain close relationships with its members. She seemed more like a machine for cultivating gu poisons; without the Cult utilizing her, Xiling posed little threat on her own.

It was this sliver of compassion that led Xie Xuefeng, during the final assault on the Demon Cult, to momentarily soften and spare the woman.

Xie Xuefeng believed he owed her nothing. Even if Xiling lacked malicious intent, she had long aided evil deeds through her actions. By not killing her, he considered himself already displaying utmost benevolence.

However, it wasn’t long before Xie Xuefeng deeply regretted sparing Xiling.

The woman relentlessly pursued him all the way to the Xie Clan, ultimately disrupting his engagement to Meng Qing, the eldest daughter of the prestigious Meng family within the jianghu.

Xiling transformed completely from her past self, employing ruthless tactics and unleashing havoc across the jianghu with her venomous gu. This compelled Xie Xuefeng to vow unequivocally to eliminate this remnant of the Demon Cult. Letting her live once was a stain on his life, and he swore never to bear such a blemish again!

Xiling transformed into a notorious female villain, drawing relentless pursuit from various factions across the jianghu. When Xiling was wounded and attempting to flee, Xie Xuefeng finally seized his chance, thrusting his sword straight through her heart, thereby ending the life of this demonic woman under his blade.

This act earned Xie Xuefeng widespread acclaim throughout the jianghu. During the subsequent election for the next leader of the Alliance of Heroes, he effortlessly succeeded his father’s position, becoming the new head. Xie Xuefeng then fulfilled his marriage contract with Miss Meng Qing, and together they became a deeply devoted couple, renowned as a loving pair in the jianghu.

Seeing that the host had finished reading the plot, m577 looked up expectantly for praise: [How is it, Bell Sister? Isn’t this storyline perfect for you?]

“A demonic villainess? With the entire jianghu chasing after me?” Tong Ling’s lips curved upwards. “Not bad, I like it.”

M577 knew well that she favored the more ruthless scenarios!

Having read the story, Tong Ling rose from the stone bed. Only now did she notice the attire of the female supporting character. She wore a flowing purple silk dress intricately embroidered with silver thread, adorned on her wrists with several silver bracelets. Her bare feet were encircled by matching silver anklets, which chimed melodiously with each step she took, producing a pleasing sound.

As Tong Ling walked, venomous insects instinctively parted to make way for her. Not a single insect ventured near her, as if intentionally avoiding her presence. This observation piqued Tong Ling’s interest in her Gu woman identity even more.

Despite attracting these poisonous creatures, they caused her no harm. Are there any beings more endearing and self-sacrificing than these insects?

“Right, give me a projection,” Tong Ling instructed the system, “I want to see what the female supporting character looks like.”

The stone chamber was too rudimentary; she couldn’t find a mirror anywhere. Thus, Tong Ling decided it was best to rely on the system for assistance.

In response, m577 projected Xiling’s image within her consciousness sea: [Her persona is exactly as you described, seductive!]

Xiling possessed striking beauty, with features akin to a lotus blossom, skin fairer than snow, and long, flowing hair cascading down like a waterfall. Her lips resembled painted sand, and her complexion was smooth as congealed cream. Even when her expression remained neutral, a hint of smile graced her face. When she smiled fully, her peach-blossom eyes curved gently, exuding natural allure. And let alone her enchantingly graceful figure, accentuated by those tantalizingly long legs revealed with each step.

Tong Ling studied the female supporting character and sighed, “With such breathtaking beauty, how could everyone in the jianghu still call for her demise? Are their eyes blind?”

“It’s enough to incite public outrage with sheer viciousness,” m577 said. “Besides, Xiling isn’t considered the most beautiful woman in the world. However, her ability to convince the male lead, Xie Xuefeng, to spare her life during the eradication of the Demon Cult is quite remarkable.”

“What ‘Demon Cult’? It’s the Holy Cult.” Tong Ling shot a glance at the system. “As a priestess-oriented system, how can you not even discern which side you should support?”

”…Yes, indeed, it’s the Holy Cult,” m577 responded.

Its host sure immersed herself quickly into the role!

“As the last surviving member of the Holy Cult, I must restore its former glory!” As Tong Ling spoke, she retrieved the copper furnace used by the female supporting character for refining gu, then searched her memories for the specific gu formula she wanted. “Ah, found it!”

To enable the priestesses to create various venomous gu, the Holy Cult had amassed nearly all known secret gu formulas from their time. These formulas were also ingrained in Xiling’s mind, making her a genuinely accomplished Gu woman.

In the past, Xiling served the Holy Cult by crafting gu primarily meant for controlling and harming others. However, Tong Ling did not need those types.

Following the chosen gu formula, Tong Ling selected appropriate poisonous insects from the surrounding area. After placing the ingredients in one copper furnace, she took out another and began selecting materials for a different batch.

After this repetitive process, once Tong Ling finished her work, a whole row of copper furnaces stood before her, giving off a distinct alchemy vibe.

M577 marveled, “I thought you’d immediately proceed with the storyline. Surprisingly, you’re here refining Gu instead! Didn’t the original female supporting character still have Gu on her? There should be ample opportunities for you to exploit them.”

Tong Ling walked back to the stone bed and leisurely lay down. “When is the male lead’s engagement ceremony scheduled?”

“In two weeks,” m577 responded.

“No rush, that gives me enough time to refine these Gu,” Tong Ling said cheerfully. “How can I venture into the jianghu unprepared? As a weak, martially inexperienced woman, I mustn’t let others take advantage of me.”

M577 muttered, ”…You’re going there to bully others, who could possibly bully you?”

During the following days, while waiting for the deadly insect battles to conclude, Tong Ling delved into her memories to learn more about being a Gu woman.

Practicing Gu cultivation was considered morally detrimental, leading every successive Gu woman to have a short lifespan. However, Tong Ling wasn’t concerned about longevity; she had come solely to progress through the plot. She would utilize whatever time the original female supporting character had, regardless of its duration. Whether or not she extended her life depended entirely on her mood.

Raising Gu carried inherent risks. If one failed to timely release the Gu to harm others, the Gu remaining close by would grow increasingly stronger, demanding more sustenance. Eventually, the Gu cultivator would be unable to meet these demands and become nourishment for the Gu insects themselves.

Tong Ling noted these points and decided to release gu without hesitation. Whenever it was necessary, she would promptly let them go, striving to avoid keeping excess gu insects around.

Seeing that the guzhong still had a long time before completion, Tong Ling stepped out of the stone room to inspect the Holy Cult’s premises.

The current state of the Holy Cult was desolate. Ever since Xie Xuefeng eradicated it, any valuable items within were stripped clean, much to Tong Ling’s fury. She cursed, “Xie Xuefeng, you skinflint! The Xie Clan cleared out the Holy Cult not for the safety of the jianghu but for profit, didn’t they!”

m577 tried to pacify her, [Forget about it, Bell Sister. There’s still some money left in the stone room; make do with what’s available.]

“The worst part is, all the maidservants from the Holy Cult have vanished!” Tong Ling fumed. “Without anyone to heat water or help with cleaning, how am I supposed to enjoy my life?”

Growing increasingly angry, Tong Ling darkly muttered, “I absolutely won’t spare Xie Xuefeng!”

m577 shuddered; this was the first time its host displayed such intense anger towards someone. It couldn’t shake the feeling that the host might become utterly deranged moving forward…

Tong Ling struggled to survive for several days within the Holy Cult, visiting her venomous creatures in the stone room each day. Once the guzhong refinement was complete, she lifted the copper furnace’s lid to examine the contents inside.

Inside the copper furnace, only two small insects remained, resembling red spheres—one larger and one smaller. The larger was the mother gu, while the smaller was its offspring.

Tong Ling picked up the smaller insect and marveled, “When I put them in, it was just a chaotic mix of various bugs. And now we’re left with these little cuties—guzhong truly are fascinating!”

[…Your taste is truly unique.] m577 responded incredulously.

What could possibly be cute about insects?!

The tiny red bug rolled over in Tong Ling’s hand, curling itself into a ball. Composing herself, Tong Ling swiftly drew out a dagger she had prepared earlier.

Then, after finding the right angle, she unhesitatingly plunged the blade into her own heart.

m577 gasped in shock: [Bell, Bell Sister, what are you doing?!]

“You still don’t understand what type of gu I’m refining?” Enduring intense pain, Tong Ling extracted blood from the tip of her heart and dripped it sequentially into the copper furnace.

There was no way m577 could miss the implications now, muttering incessantly: [Madness! Do you realize what you’re doing?! So many…so many Love Gus, taking this much blood will kill you!]

“Don’t worry, I have you around,” Tong Ling said with a pale smile. “Time for some cheats, hurry up! The female supporting character can’t die yet, especially not under these circumstances. Can your tech repair my body?”

Even before Tong Ling spoke, m577 had already retrieved advanced medical supplies from a high-tech plane to treat her wounds.

“How could you just go ahead and harm yourself so severely?!”] m577 was incredulous that Tong Ling would do such a thing. Previously, she had always cherished her body, avoiding any damage at all costs. How did it come to this…?

Tong Ling watched as the Love Gu absorbed her heart’s blood, feeling the connection between them. With narrowed eyes, she said contentedly, “So this is how it feels… For the Love Gu to have its best effect, using one’s own heart’s blood is essential.”

Tong Ling has never feared getting hurt; it simply depended on whether something was worth it. Suffering for others might be foolish, but if it satisfies herself, why should it matter?

“Others typically refine only one pair of mother-daughter Love Gu at most,” m577 exclaimed angrily, “Never has anyone created as many as you have! In the future, can’t you at least inform me beforehand? The female supporting character nearly met her end!”

Smiling, Tong Ling replied, “Before, you mentioned calling an ambulance if I got hit by a car. Now, you can heal me directly, little M. I trust you completely.”

Caught off guard, m577 momentarily glitched, unsure how to respond.