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RM 60: Next Level (IV)
🕑 Added 2025-05-21 03:33:01 +0000 UTCAfter exiting Tiger Peak, Wang Yang and Gu Yingyue walked towards the outer sect. They planned to meet Wu Kexin and then gather back at Plum Peak with Sun Lingling and Hua Mei for a simple feast.
“You’ve improved a lot from before, Junior Wang,” Yingyue said. “You're slashing a breath faster, and you’ve started to develop a sense of range.”
“It was beaten into me.” Wang Yang flashed an awkward smile.
“Beaten into you?” Yingyue tilted her head.
“Yeah… literally.” He scratched his head.
“You say the funniest things.”
“Well, I didn’t mean to.” Wang Yang could only laugh, recalling the thunderous punches he received from Hua Mei.
Talking with Senior Gu calms me down. The awkwardness he expected while talking about his unusual training wasn’t there. The company made the difference.
Even if the following topics seemed mundane, he had fun talking with Yingyue. The two continued onwards in that pleasant mood, impervious to the onlookers. Until a roadblock appeared.
“I hate to interrupt your little date. I really do.” A woman with luscious, flowy hair spoke with an almost mocking smirk.
“Now, would you be so kind as to give me some of your time, little ones?” Gu Fe asked, her sharp eyes locking onto Wang Yang and Gu Yingyue. “I need some answers.”
Before they could respond, the older, more charismatic woman had guided them to a gazebo in Chrysanthemum Peak. The nature at the peak stayed untamed. Vines draped over the roof and flower petals invaded the cushiony seats.
“You’ve been here twice in a month,” Gu Fe looked at Yingyue, “yet you didn’t come by to see your senior? Did I offend you, perhaps?”
“…Vice Peak Master Gu… It’s nothing like that.” Put on the spot, Yingyue stumbled.
Gu Fe was a direct descendant of the Purple Cloud Sect’s Gu family, her elder, in fact.
“Don’t worry, I understand your plight.” Gu Fe smiled, gesturing at the seats with her eyes. “Don’t mind me and make yourselves comfortable.”
“There’s tea too?” Wang Yang muttered, his eyes lingering on the ceremonious teapot. The rustic pot had fine, black calligraphy wrapping around it like a snake.
“It may not be a high-quality tea, but my skills won’t let you down.” Gu Fe poured the steaming tea into black teacups with trained precision; not one drop more in any of the three cups.
Unlike Yingyue’s fidgeting hands, Wang Yang took a sip of the tea without a shred of worry. The rich, smooth liquid danced on his tongue with fervor. He recognized the tea leaves, a staple among the common people of the continent, Pu’er Tea.
The tea he remembered, brewed by the temple priests, had an average taste because of the average tea leaves. However, the tea in front of him was elevated many leagues above it. Given that the taste of the tea didn’t fluctuate with the tea leaf quality, it all came down to the brewer’s skills.
“I don’t even need to ask if you like it or not. It’s written on your face.” Gu Fe took a seat opposite the two, her hands on the table between them. “I like people like that.”
“O-Oh… Thanks?” Faced with the enigmatic smile of the woman, Wang Yang could only rub the back of his neck. He didn’t dare look Gu Fe in the eye for more than a moment. Those almost darkened pupils made him shift in his chair.
Noticing that, Gu Yingyue broke the silence.
“…Vice Peak Master Gu. Is there something you want from me?”
“It’s not so much as I want something from you. It’s just that, there’s this string of incidents that have troubled me recently…” Gu Fe leaned her chin on her hands and smiled, “…and I think you can give me an answer.”
“…If it’s something I can answer, I will,” Yingyue said.
“How very prudent of you.” Gu Fe smiled. “You see, I think the Purple Cloud Sect is about to launch a secret offensive on the demonic sects.”
“Are they?” Yingyue asked, her hand clenching beneath the table.
“Their movements have been rather erratic since the attack on our sect’s caravan.” Gu Fe continued. “Even if they came out unscathed from the demonic sect’s schemes, thanks to our lovely Peak Master Li, their flow of goods has shifted drastically.”
“I do not know such matters,” Yingyue stated.
“Well, since it is my job, I know a bit too much. Purple Cloud Sect’s usual trades are for high-quality goods, items of opulence in food, and comfort to make up for their lack of crop farmers and artisans.” Gu Fe, however, pressed on. “However, after three incidents in the past three months, their flow of cash has become more veiled. The usual channels are working normally, but the hidden ones have shown their proper colors.”
“…What incidents?” Yingyue barely held herself together.
“Well, I am uncertain what caused the first incident; beyond that, the head of household affairs, Steward Han, died around that time.” Gu Fe placed her teacup upside down on the marble table. “The second incident, attempted assassination on Gu Jun, general of the Gu family’s army, followed shortly after.”
How does she know that? Yingyue gulped. Her master had placed a gag order on these incidents, not to mention the use of secret routes for supplies.
How could Gu Fe, all the way here in Azure Sky Sect, figure this all out? Especially after how cautious the Gu family was with these incidents.
Noticing the hint of panic in Yingyue’s eyes, Gu Fe’s red lips tilted upwards in a menacing smirk.
“My oh my. You can’t break down so easily, dear.” Her long, red nails drumming against the white birch table. “I haven’t even mentioned the attack on the Commanding Officer of Gu Family’s assassins, Zhi Rou, your maternal aunt.”
“H…How do you…?” Yingyue’s eyes widened.
“Come on, darling, you are asking a magician to reveal their tricks.” Gu Fe pushed the polished wooden chair with her heels and walked around the table. Her gaze was steady like a predator stalking her prey. “But I won’t mind divulging, granted you do the same.”
Yingyue wanted to move. But long, slender fingers snaked up her hands. A sweet, enticing scent wafted over her shoulder. Gu Fe stood behind her, her smile visible from the teacup in Yingyue’s hand.
“The targets, the methods, and the executions. These incidents are something I wanted to get involved in because a certain individual left enough inciting clues for me.” With each word, Gu Fe closed in on Yingyue. “But you see, each clue leads to a dead end, and this particular individual likes to play with my feelings. Though I don’t hate it that much.”
Gu Fe had poked around this chain of events from the attack on Azure Sky Sect’s caravan. Li Muchen’s sudden involvement piqued her interest, followed by Bian Que’s unannounced visit. She planned to find more about the incident via Azure Sky Sect’s entourage, en route to receive compensation from Purple Cloud Sect for their help in resolving the misunderstanding with Frozen Flower Holyland.
I am the prime pick for such events, but the Grand Elder chose someone as timid as Long Lingxin. Gu Fe knew only two people in the sect who could change Li Xianquan’s decision. One of them wasn’t around, and the other had just resurfaced in the sect.
After confirming the return of Zhi Rou and Gu Yingyue with Li Muchen, shortly followed by Qian Yun’s presence, Gu Fe felt something big stirring beneath the surface. So, she dug deep and followed her instincts. However, she needed someone involved to get to the root of it all because of constant sabotage.
Gu Fe noticed the tremble in Yingyue’s shoulder; the young woman looked at the boy that had come with her. His head lay flat against the table, with eyes wide and lifeless.
“He is just taking a nap to give us some privacy.” Gu Fe said.
“Now, sweetie.” She leaned in, whispered in Yingyue’s right ear with her low, alluring voice similar to a mermaid that dragged sailors into the abyss. “Won’t you tell your lovely senior the truth?”
Yingyue’s eyes shut down. She found herself unable to move, speak, or even think. Like a python had wrapped around her body, choking the life out of her.
Ding~!
However, Gu Fe’s token rang. A melodious note from the zither she had allocated to one special person. Her hands retreated from Yingyue’s shoulders.
“It looks like the big man is ready to talk,” Gu Fe smirked, reading the name of the person who sent her the message.
With the intimidating force gone, Yingyue gasped for air. Gu Fe’s attention had shifted. Her heels clacked against the stone path, moving away from them. However, she stopped about twenty steps away.
“Sweetie, put the sword training on hold and refine your poker face.” Gu Fe advised, her voice as gentle as a mother, like the pressure from before was an illusion. “The people out there aren’t as kind as me; take it from an experienced senior.”
With the gust of cold air, Gu Fe vanished like fresh snow on a sunny day. However, Yingyue couldn’t move. Even after five minutes when Wang Yang stirred awake, she stayed rooted in the chair.
“What happened? Senior Gu?”
Wang Yang’s concerned words didn’t reach Yingyue. Cold sweat ran down her face and body, soaking her silk robes. Her eyes remained wide open, too terrified to even blink.
“S-She’s…” However, her quivering lips could only form one sentence. “…She’s just like h-him.”
“What?”
Wang Yang had no way of knowing, and Yingyue was in no shape to explain.
The icy hands that touched her shoulders reminded her of the shadow, a shadow that has chased her since childhood. The shadow that killed her parents and wrapped his cold, unfeeling fingers around her neck that faithful night.
Unlike what she expected, that shadow still haunted her.
The shadow of Gu Changge still fed on her fear.
***
On the eastern veranda of Plum Peak, an area with a high diversity of spirit flowers and trees, Li Muchen arranged some tea and snacks on the small tea table. Butterflies danced with the steam of hot water, and birds chirped on the window to accompany the rare sunny day in the freezing winter.
He had finished brewing the five finest tea leaves he had, a special blend of tea for his guest. And right on cue, a knock came from the main entrance. The gates opened, registering the familiar qi. The heels clacked in the distance, approaching at a measured pace.
“Is that Dang Hao blend?” Gu Fe said, taking in the fragrance from the teapot as she arrived. She turned to Muchen and sported her usual smile. “You prepared my favorite tea, Peak Master Li. Aren’t you a romantic?”
“I heard from the grapevine that you enjoyed it, so I tried,” Li Muchen said, maintaining a smile of his own. “Don’t be too harsh on me if it’s not good.”
“You already get full points for trying.” Gu Fe chuckled, helping herself to a cup. “This is delightful.” She chimed after a sip.
“You’re too kind,” Muchen said.
“And you aren’t, Peak Master Li.” She closed in on him. “You’ve left me hot and heavy for months. I almost did something terrible, you know?”
“It couldn’t be helped.” Li Muchen cleared his throat.
“Everyone has their secrets, I understand.” Gu Fe nodded. Arms crossed below the ample bosom. “And, as the fish that was hooked first, I have nothing to complain about.”
“So, am I finally allowed to know the big plan you’ve created with the Gu family and Bian Que?” she asked with upturned eyes.
“Looks like I won’t have to explain a lot.”
“Of course, I pay special attention to Peak Master Li’s activities.”
“That makes me somewhat worried.” He said.
“Don’t. It comes from a place of love and respect.” Gu Fe winked before her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “So, who is your target?”
Gu Fe had gone over the targets in her head. To her, the Demonic Sect cultivators that have laid low for the years kicked up this incident. And these set of Demonic cultivators had an obsession with the Gu family, showing an increased aggression and deviousness in their methods.
So, it wasn’t a wonder to her that the target required Li Muchen, Qian Yun, Bian Que, and the Gu family together to crush them. Her heart thumped in excitement, a sense of exhilaration she hadn’t felt in a century.
Finally, Li Muchen parted his lips to give her the answer she so desperately sought.
“The target is your father, Gu Changge.”
Comments
андрей ткач
Thanks for the chapter!
