Gu Baiqing’s thoughts were in chaos, impossible to put into words.
He hadn’t expected that taking off his disciple’s clothes would make him so uncomfortable. Clearly, in the past, he had seen everything, and had even, under various unnatural and involuntary circumstances, done some things he shouldn’t have done. Yet just now, it was only… a simple removal of clothes, and he felt as if his throat were blocked.
Sure enough, after that kind of farce, Gu Baiqing had also become somewhat overly self-conscious.
This was also Mo Xuanli’s fault. No one could possibly remain calm in front of a man who had confessed to them, even if it had been a mistaken confession. That was… completely different. There was no way to easily treat Mo Xuanli as just a simple disciple again.
What’s more, that ring… He had taken it off, yet still carried it with him.
Perhaps it was out of respect for his master. After all, what Gu Baiqing had given him did count as a gift, so he kept it.
But it was hard not to think about it.
Gu Baiqing, who had no experience with emotions at all, felt like his mind was a pot of paste. And the thread that could untangle all of this lay in Mo Xuanli’s hands, because he was the one who had muddled things first.
If he couldn’t sort it out, then Gu Baiqing would have no choice but to temporarily shut down his thinking.
He found a place with good sunlight and sat under the corridor, spacing out to pass the observation time after taking the pill.
Before long, Mo Xuanli came out. Gu Baiqing glanced at him. He didn’t look uncomfortable at all; it must truly have benefited his body. His face, freshly cleansed by spells, was neat and refreshed, carrying a faint smile. Mo Xuanli walked over openly and thanked him again.
As Mo Xuanli approached, the invasive aura from inside the room earlier was gone. In its place was a fresh, sunny, breeze-like feeling that made one feel at ease, just like the bearing Mo Xuanli ought to have as a person. This allowed Gu Baiqing to relax a little.
“Won’t Young Master Bai go in and give it a try? Miss Lou said ordinary people can do it too. There are benefits.” Mo Xuanli said with a smile.
“No. You cultivators all got so hot like that; if I go in, I’ll definitely faint,” Gu Baiqing said.
Mo Xuanli instead said half-jokingly, “Don’t worry. If you faint, I’ll carry you out.”
Gu Baiqing was taken aback and looked at Mo Xuanli with some surprise. Can he joke like this with people of the same generation? Gu Baiqing couldn’t quite grasp the boundaries and could only chuckle twice, saying, “Let’s forget it.”
Mo Xuanli’s gaze flickered, as if he had thought of something. “It’s fine. Miss Lou was just mentioning it; it’s not mandatory.”
If Master were to get heated… his whole body blooming with plum-blossom-like red marks, such a beautiful sight, how could he let others see it?
Thinking of the unexpected gain just now, Mo Xuanli’s gaze deepened again. Did Master, after seeing the ring, realize that the atmosphere between them was different?
If he approached like this slowly, would he reject it?
Mo Xuanli was not in a hurry to get close. He knew that once he crossed the line, this person would definitely run. After saying a few words, he went to call the others for the second round. Ji Chuling and Li Xiuran came over together, and with Mo Xuanli’s example beforehand, everyone naturally prepared in advance.
After the medicinal effects wore off, Gu Baiqing originally wanted to go back, but Mo Xuanli kept sitting beside him, occasionally striking up conversation. Gradually they chatted simply, and he couldn’t get away at all.
When Li Xiuran and Ji Chuling also came out, it was time for Yuxin.
Taking advantage of Yuxin not having come over yet, Mo Xuanli directly said, “If Young Master Bai has time later, come out with us. That way you won’t have to deal with her again if you run into her.”
Gu Baiqing originally wanted to say that going back to his room would be the same, but it was obvious that Mo Xuanli intended to guard strictly against Yuxin. In the end, Gu Baiqing could only go out with them.
Mo Xuanli and Li Xiuran’s purpose was certainly to look for fragments of the God-Slaying Sword, and Ji Chuling was now considered part of the team as well. So Li Xiuran was somewhat hesitant about bringing Gu Baiqing along, was it appropriate to take an ordinary person?
But very quickly Li Xiuran no longer had that concern, because as soon as they went out, Mo Xuanli hinted for Li Xiuran to take Ji Chuling and walk separately.
Was this planning to split up? That worked too.
So in the end, somehow, Gu Baiqing ended up walking alone on the road with Mo Xuanli. Coming back to his senses, Gu Baiqing couldn’t help saying, “You should have important matters, right? It’s inconvenient for me to follow along. How about I—”
“It’s precisely because we have important matters that we need your help,” Mo Xuanli said seriously, looking at Gu Baiqing with a trusting expression. “Young Master Bai, it looks strange for me to wander around alone. Let’s just treat it as the two of us touring the island together.”
Gu Baiqing thought that Mo Xuanli really seemed to get along well with this fake identity of his, trusting him so much that he directly stated he had another purpose.
Indeed, if Mo Xuanli, a cultivator, were to wander around someone else’s territory alone, it would definitely arouse suspicion. But bringing him along was very good cover.
With no other choice, Gu Baiqing could only go along with it.
Thus, like tourists, they slowly strolled through every corner of the island, chatting casually as they went.
Mo Xuanli would casually talk about what he had seen and heard on this trip down the mountain, and the points Mo Xuanli mentioned were things Gu Baiqing, who had followed all the way, had actually noticed as well. As if their minds were in sync, whatever he said, Gu Baiqing could relate to.
Gradually, Gu Baiqing and Mo Xuanli chatted and laughed, seemingly forgetting that he was his Master. The two were merely kindred spirits who hit it off at first meeting, chatting freely on a bright afternoon while the scenery was just right.
It wasn’t until they neared the divine tree that Mo Xuanli stopped.
Gu Baiqing immediately noticed that something was off with his expression.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. Every time I get close to this place, I feel somewhat uncomfortable,” Mo Xuanli said, looking at the divine tree from afar. It was very beautiful, very sacred, yet it made him uncomfortable.
Gu Baiqing thought for a moment. Could it be that the divine tree had an effect on mixed bloodlines? “You can ask Lou Zixiao later.”
Mo Xuanli looked at Gu Baiqing, his gaze flickering. Had Master noticed Lou Zixiao’s mixed-blood identity? After all, what Lou Zixiao used was not a seal but another kind of concealment. Master’s cultivation was the highest—could he already know? If he did, and could still be this calm, did that mean Master might not care about mixed-blood identities at all?
Mo Xuanli’s heart jumped.
Gu Baiqing also realized he had misspoken and directly said, “She’s a medical cultivator and understands her family’s tree. Let her take a look for you and see if you need treatment.”
Mo Xuanli paused, as if letting out a breath, and explained, “It’s not physical. It’s… a kind of discomfort in feeling.”
Actually, Mo Xuanli had also thought that perhaps it was because the other half of his bloodline was not acknowledged by the divine tree, which caused this feeling.
“Then let’s go back,” Gu Baiqing said directly.
Mo Xuanli was taken aback and asked, “You haven’t gone to take a look? We could walk closer and see; the divine tree is still very beautiful.”
“We weren’t here to look at scenery in the first place,” Gu Baiqing said, looking at Mo Xuanli strangely.
Only then did Mo Xuanli react. Right, they were originally here to look for fragments. But… it had turned into a promise he once made to Master in his heart.
That wherever they went, they could see all the beautiful scenery together.
“Mm, let’s go back.”
Although the search yielded nothing, Mo Xuanli was very happy. Master was right by his side, able to talk and chat, within arm’s reach. That was enough.
After the two returned, they should have gone to greet Lou Zixiao, but just as they passed through the corridor surrounded by green bamboo, a sudden sharp female scream came from a nearby room.
The room belonged to Yuxin, but the scream was Lou Zixiao’s.
The two exchanged a look of tacit understanding, their expressions changing as they rushed over.
Just as they were about to rush in, they heard Lou Zixiao shout loudly, “No, Sister Yuxin, you’ve misunderstood! I didn’t come to you for that reason. I don’t like women, and I’m not trying to dual-cultivate with you!”
The door to Yuxin’s room wasn’t fully closed. The sounds inside came through clearly, and through the crack one could even see the scene by the bed inside.
They only saw Yuxin in red pressing Lou Zixiao, dressed in a jade-green skirt, down on the bed.
The two people outside the door froze in place and averted their eyes. It didn’t look like there was any danger, and in that case it wouldn’t be convenient for them to barge in.
Inside, Yuxin seemed somewhat surprised and puzzled as she spoke. “Little girl, what are you talking about? Then why did you work so hard to compete? Even though the situation was chaotic that night, didn’t I say it already? As long as you let me enter the Immortal Medicine Valley, you can have as many nights of dual cultivation as you want.”
Lou Zixiao’s face immediately flushed red. She pushed Yuxin away and hurriedly escaped off the bed. “I… I really have something to ask you about.”
“You said it yourself, you wanted to ask me about dual cultivation techniques. Aren’t I teaching you right now?”
“N… not this kind of asking,” Lou Zixiao said awkwardly and helplessly.
Yuxin sat on the bed feeling a bit frustrated. Actually, Lou Zixiao wasn’t her top choice here. Her first choice had been Gu Baiqing, and her second Mo Xuanli, but those people were no longer convenient to make a move on.
But now even a little girl didn’t fancy her, Yuxin was thoroughly depressed. Were all these people sick in the head? With such a great beauty or great handsome man taking the initiative to come to their door and even throwing in secret dual cultivation techniques, couldn’t they see it? What were they all doing?
However, Yuxin quickly adjusted her mood, once again reclining on the bed with alluring charm, and lazily asked, “You went through all this trouble just to learn dual cultivation techniques so you can use them on someone else?”
Lou Zixiao looked flustered, but in the end she still nodded. “I once encountered a patient who had dual cultivated with you. Your dual cultivation technique really is powerful; it has certain effects. I think it might work if used on one person, so…”
“Someone you like? Who? A good little girl like you, surely it’s your future husband. Who could it be?” Yuxin said with great interest.
Lou Zixiao’s face instantly turned beet red.
Hearing this, the two outside the door knew it wasn’t appropriate to keep listening. They exchanged a glance and prepared to leave.
“Could it be… your Master?”
Suddenly, Yuxin’s words caused both people at the doorway to freeze mid-step.
Mo Xuanli looked at Gu Baiqing, while Gu Baiqing stared straight ahead, as if he’d been struck by something.
Inside, Lou Zixiao seemed to take a deep breath. “Yes, that’s right, it’s my Master. I can’t go into details, but I want to learn the techniques from you. If… if it’s possible, I… I know you’re very good at making men like you. Is there… is there… any trick? I… I want to learn from you. I want… want… my Master to like me.”
After saying that, Lou Zixiao seemed to have exhausted all her courage and was panting heavily.
Gu Baiqing was shocked just listening. Lou Zixiao liked her Master, Lou Xuan? And she even wanted to learn from Yuxin how to pursue her own Master… this was… really far too bold.
Gu Baiqing suddenly snapped back to her senses, instinctively wanting to leave. Seeing that Mo Xuanli was still standing there, he grabbed him along with him and pulled him back to their room.
After closing the door, Gu Baiqing finally felt he could breathe easier. But thinking of Mo Xuanli’s earlier suspicions about Yuxin, he became a bit worried about Lou Zixiao’s current situation.
“Young Master Mo… we left just now because it wasn’t appropriate to listen to a young lady’s private matters. But you said before that there was something off about Yuxin. Is it really okay to just leave the two of them alone like this?”
Mo Xuanli slowly raised his eyes, looking preoccupied. “It’s fine. Yuxin shouldn’t be stupid enough to suddenly make a move against someone from the Immortal Medicine Valley.”
“That’s good.” Gu Baiqing sat down and poured himself a cup of cold tea to calm his nerves.
Mo Xuanli also sat down and suddenly asked, “What do you think about what we just heard?”
Gu Baiqing’s heart skipped a beat. “It’s a young lady’s gossip, we’d better not discuss it.”
But Mo Xuanli’s tone suddenly became a little agitated. “Not discussing her gossip, do you think a disciple falling in love with her Master is wrong? Is it… destined to have no outcome?”
Gu Baiqing was taken aback. Looking at the earnest gaze before him, he thought for a moment and said, “The premise is whether she can clearly distinguish whether it’s respect and reliance toward her Master, or genuine romantic love. If there are very few people who treat her well, she’ll naturally pour all her feelings into one person. If she doesn’t distinguish it clearly, then when she later meets someone who truly makes her heart stir, she’ll suddenly realize that everything before was wrong. When that time comes, what should she do?”
Especially someone like Mo Xuanli, misled from the very beginning, self-brainwashing and self-strategizing into a so-called ‘liking’, was even more questionable. After all, this was a BG world to begin with; it wasn’t bent in the first place, and with the added layer of gender, it was even more problematic. Wrong from the very start, in a complete mess.
“I heard Lou Zixiao was raised by Lou Xuan,” Gu Baiqing said, seeing Mo Xuanli staring off in a daze. “The kind raised since childhood. Do you think she really likes Lou Xuan?”
For a moment, Mo Xuanli found himself unable to answer that question. Thinking of Lou Zixiao’s situation in the Immortal Medicine Valley, he actually already understood what Gu Baiqing meant.
As an outsider, even he felt that Lou Zixiao’s liking might not be genuine, perhaps it was just like how Gu Baiqing looked at himself.
But although he didn’t know what Lou Zixiao’s situation truly was, he knew very clearly what his own was. He could tell the difference, he really could but the person in front of him probably wouldn’t believe it so easily.
If he didn’t believe it… how could he even consider starting?
Mo Xuanli slowly lowered his eyes, his mood sinking. “You’re right. How to tell the difference and even if you can, how do you make the other person believe it?”
Gu Baiqing thought for a moment and said, “See whether he meets someone else who makes his heart stir. The more impulsive these things are, the easier it is to go wrong. Time will prove everything.”
In fact, many people fall in love impulsively. If it’s wrong, they separate. But that doesn’t apply to people who already have close relationships to begin with; the cost of trial and error is different for everyone. In this regard, Gu Baiqing was overly cautious as he educated Mo Xuanli, and also brainwashed himself. Perhaps because he had never been in love, he treated everything with great seriousness, valuing it to a somewhat stubborn degree.
After that, the two fell silent. It wasn’t until Ji Chuling and Li Xiuran returned to look for Mo Xuanli that Mo Xuanli finally left.
He had thought that once Mo Xuanli left, he would be able to have some peace and quiet, but unexpectedly he became restless instead. Feeling irritated, Gu Baiqing went out and happened to see Lou Zixiao heading toward the gate of the left courtyard. Her expression seemed somewhat dejected, perhaps she had hit a wall on Yuxin’s side and failed to obtain any useful tips.
However, once past the left-side courtyard gate was the courtyard where Lou Xuan lived. Between the two courtyards was the alchemy room shared by the master and disciple.
As Lou Zixiao turned the corner and saw Gu Baiqing, Gu Baiqing naturally noticed that she was carrying things on her back and holding several baskets as well. Even though he knew she was a cultivator, he still couldn’t help stepping forward and saying, “Let me help you?”
Lou Zixiao’s mood quickly shifted. “Thank you.”
Gu Baiqing took about half the items from her hands and carried them. Seeing that they were all spiritual herbs, he asked, “These are…?”
“I grew them myself. I plan to send them to my Master’s side and use the amplification array to boost their medicinal effects,” Lou Zixiao said.
Gu Baiqing then walked with Lou Zixiao toward the left courtyard. When they passed the alchemy room, Lou Zixiao emphasized, “You arrived late before, so I didn’t tell you, there aren’t really any taboos on my side, but the alchemy room isn’t something outsiders are allowed to enter casually. However… under normal circumstances you can’t get in anyway. There are many barrier arrays set up inside. Other than my Master and me, even if anyone else gets in, they won’t be able to get out.”
As Gu Baiqing passed by, he glanced at it. It was likely a very important place and must be hiding many secrets. For example, the method used to conceal Lou Zixiao’s mixed-blood identity.
Gu Baiqing felt a stir of intent and had a bit of an urge to investigate, but thinking of Mo Xuanli staying with him, he figured it probably wouldn’t be possible.
Lou Xuan wasn’t in the courtyard. Many places here were set up with arrays specifically for medical cultivators. At Lou Xuan’s level, he shouldn’t need such arrays at all, most likely they were for Lou Zixiao’s convenience whenever she needed to use them.
Gu Baiqing put down the bamboo baskets and watched as Lou Zixiao carefully spread out the spiritual herbs, activated the array, and then patiently waited. Lou Zixiao was naturally optimistic and couldn’t help chatting and laughing with Gu Baiqing.
Whenever Gu Baiqing thought of how Lou Zixiao also kept saying she liked her Master, he felt somewhat confused. Did these children really know what they were thinking in their hearts?
Just as Lou Zixiao was chatting and laughing, Gu Baiqing’s expression suddenly changed. He pretended to lose his footing and directly bumped into Lou Zixiao.
The two staggered back several steps. With a loud bang, Lou Zixiao had just steadied herself when she saw that a mindless, unconscious medicine person had smashed down right where they had been standing.
Immediately, medicine people began attacking from all directions.
Because of the previous medicine people attack incident, Lou Xuan had directly ordered all medicine peoples near Lou Zixiao’s residence to be withdrawn, forbidding any further placement of medicine peoples for guard duty, and strictly ordering everyone to keep watch over the medicine peoples under their jurisdiction. Yet unexpectedly, medicine people still appeared.
Lou Zixiao immediately shielded Gu Baiqing. She barely managed to withstand two rounds of attacks before she couldn’t hold on anymore. If Gu Baiqing hadn’t grabbed the back of her collar and yanked her back, she would have been injured right then.
“Young Master Bai, run first! I’ll cover the rear!” Lou Zixiao shouted.
Gu Baiqing said helplessly, “You can’t hold them back either.”
Naturally, he couldn’t block them either, so there was only one option left, another shout for help that utterly disregarded an immortal venerable’s dignity.
“Help!”
Lou Zixiao froze for a moment, then reacted and immediately shouted as well. At the very least, people in the neighboring courtyards could arrive quickly…
As Lou Zixiao was thinking this, a figure suddenly appeared out of thin air, so shocking that Lou Zixiao was left stunned.
Mo Xuanli glanced back, his gaze sweeping over Gu Baiqing, before continuing the fight.
Eighteen nails were launched in an instant, wiping out most of the medicine people at once.
This time there were even more of them, but others also arrived quickly.
Li Xiuran, Ji Chuling, and most importantly, Lou Xuan also happened to arrive.
“Leave one alive,” Lou Xuan shouted, and only then did the three refrain from completely wiping them out.
This time, aside from giving Lou Zixiao a single look, Lou Xuan didn’t waste any time. He directly seized the sole remaining medicine people and cast a spell, then chased off with a grim expression.
Lou Zixiao wanted to follow, but Lou Xuan sternly ordered her to stay behind.
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