Cang Yu and Kang Wenhong’s expressions shifted.
Those who followed Princess Yaomin included Kang Wenhong’s workers as well as the Royal Family descendants Cang Yu brought along. If all that were left behind were corpses, this was a huge loss to them.
Moreover, these corpses were left outside the sect, not inside it. Even though they knew it was probably the work of their counterpart, when they couldn’t find any evidence, they could only swallow down their own sufferings!
However, the dead couldn’t be recovered. The top priority was to first locate Princess Yaomin.
— In addition, at this time, they hoped that they didn’t guess wrong; that the one who captured Princess Yaomin was their enemy in the sect. Because if it wasn’t, then things would become even more complicated and getting Princess Yaomin back would be even harder.
Hence, several people didn’t intend on staying behind anymore.
Fortunately, Kang Wenhong had some decorum, and he promptly said: "Pardon me, Pharmacist Gu. Junior Sect Sister Yaomin is in trouble, and we must go to her rescue. If we miss our chance, I’m afraid that it’ll be far from good."
Cang Yu also urgently opened his mouth: "Qingrong, you stay behind and accompany Pharmacist Gu. If something happens, you can head to the Mingyue Pavilion’s outer sect pavilion to request help."
Duanmu Qingrong complied: "This one understands. After you, Ninth Prince."
Gu Zuo also thanked him, and said: "I hope it goes smoothly for everyone."
Very quickly, Kang Wenhong and the others came over energetically, and then departed energetically.
Duanmu Qingrong definitely wasn’t familiar with Gu Zuo, but in any case, there was recognition. He just sat off to the side quietly, with the intention of protecting him.
In reality, Gu Zuo didn’t need protection.
There wasn’t much else to be said. Just by the strength of the perfected Houtian Duanmu Qingrong, Gu Zuo could use a Spirit Piercing Needle to directly get rid of quite a few of them without batting an eye. But he still obediently accepted Cang Yu and the others’ kindness.
Now that he thought about it, of the former five great young masters, apart from the weaker-than-his-big-brother Huangfu Zhanghao, whose whereabouts were unknown, the other young masters had already fallen even farther behind.
Perhaps this was what his big brother once called "striving along the martial path". If he hadn’t come to the Qingyun Sect, if he hadn’t experienced so many things, he might not necessarily have had this kind of improvement. Moreover, after switching platforms, it wasn’t known if he could have even greater improvements in the future.
Duanmu Qingrong didn’t discuss anything with Gu Zuo, nor did he find any topics of conversation.
Nevertheless, he found Gu Zuo very interesting — He wondered what was different about this so-called pharmacist that Gongyi Tianheng would regard him so importantly.
It wasn’t that he looked down upon Gu Zuo. Rather, his understanding of that person, Gongyi Tianheng, was still too weak. Tianheng had been different from them since childhood. Even when he’d been plagued by an incurable disease, it seemed like he didn’t have the desire to a.s.sociate with them. He definitely didn’t feel that he was less than them for not being able to practice martial arts. Once Tianheng could practice martial arts, they had no hope of catching up. They were immediately left behind, and they could only watch the view of his back...
Of course, this wasn’t the whole story.
It was because Duanmu Qingrong had a kind of inexplicable fear of Tianheng. He once privately looked into the way Tianheng handled matters, and discovered that this person’s temperament was very cold and detached.
One shouldn’t look at him and see a person who always smiled. In actuality, in the depths of his eyes was a type of clear detachment. It would simultaneously make a person feel that he was both amiable and untouchable.
Even if it was a person from the Gongyi Clan, besides a few of Tianheng’s close relatives, the other clan members were no different than outsiders in his eyes.
Gongyi Tianheng wasn’t tenderhearted. His real mood would never be exposed during normal times. What was even scarier was that when he handled matters, he would never be influenced by his state of mind. His calm would make people feel frightened. When doing business, he never made a misjudgment.
If it was just this, then one would only say he was difficult to deal with. But what made people even more astonished was that though his calmness reached an excess of callousness, it still concealed a type of wild fervor — Right, when matters were already inadvisable, even if there was only the hope of a ten percent chance of success, even if it was highly probable of losing everything, he would still gamble on it. Against reason, he would always be the victorious one every time!
From his various actions, it could be seen that everything about an outsider could be exploited by him. He would even use words, actions, and some imperceptible methods to tame those who served him, causing their mental states to be grasped in the palm of his hand. There would be no deviations from the course he pointed out. To him, they were faithful and true — They were willing to die rather than betray him.
He was an expert in business transactions. The things that were traded weren’t only money and resources, there were also feelings and emotions. He was an expert in investing and renumeration, and he had an eye for people... And with ample control, he could maintain different distances with everyone simultaneously. Even trusted confidantes like Dragon One and Dragon Two couldn’t really be as close to him with a complete lack of estrangement.
This kind of person had brought along a teenager, who was practically inseparable as a shadow at all times... Previously, no matter how valuable the target, none had been treated like this by him.
What’s more, while at West Mountain, he had personally carried that person on his back, and didn’t borrow the hands of another.
Naturally, Duanmu Qingrong developed a lot of curiosity.
Only, he knew that it was for the best that this curiosity should be nipped in the bud and that he shouldn’t pry into things.
Gu Zuo didn’t care what Qingrong thought in his mind. Besides his big brother, he was generally a little uneasy dealing with these kinds of young masters.
Right now, what he paid the most attention to was still the situation of his big brother’s paG.o.da challenge as well as the safety of Princess Yaomin.
Although he wasn’t familiar with Princess Yaomin, they were both pharmacists. That princess’ moral standing and temperament weren’t bad. In fact, she shouldn’t have encountered such misfortune.
Most of all... Gu Zuo recalled some not so good matters.
For example, that trading company that trafficked human beings.
He only hoped that Princess Yaomin hadn’t fallen into the clutches of that kind of power.
Gu Zuo shook his head.
No matter how worried he got, there was nothing he could do. He could only wait on the side for the outcome. Other than that, he could ask his big brother what to do once he emerged.
While he thought this, the eleventh floor of that Lesser Martial PaG.o.da lit up.
Gu Zuo showed an expression of amazement, but he wasn’t too shocked in his heart.
Wasn’t the eleventh floor around Xiantian stage two? According to his big brother’s estimation, those of the Qi Forming Realm and below couldn’t take him on. What was a paltry Qi Breathing stage two?
On the contrary, Duanmu Qingrong was increasingly shocked.
To his surprise, a beginner Xiantian Realm suppressed the Xiantian stage two paG.o.da floor!
He held his breath, but he inwardly made up his mind.
After things smoothed out, he needed to work hard and cultivate. He needed to upgrade his strength!
Merely, a long time pa.s.sed after the eleventh paG.o.da floor started shining. In the end, the twelfth floor didn’t light up.
It definitely wasn’t because Gongyi Tianheng couldn’t do it, but rather, he wasn’t willing.
Gu Zuo clearly understood that the bird that got shot was the one that poked its head out. The strength his dear big brother displayed would certainly attract attention. If his strength was too excessive, he would need to lay low before entering the inner sect.
As for how he’d enter the inner sect, that would just have to be put off for a future discussion.
As Gu Zuo considered things, Gongyi Tianheng sauntered out from the paG.o.da. He saw Gu Zuo from far away and first showed a smiling expression.
Gu Zuo promptly headed over to greet him as he said with a grin: "Welcome back, young master!"
Tianheng heard this address of Gu Zuo’s and turned his head to see Duanmu Qingrong. His gaze moved slightly.
Why was a person of the Duanmu Clan together with his little pharmacist?
Qingrong’s att.i.tude to Tianheng was much more friendly than before. He cupped his fist, and unexpectedly said: "Senior Sect Brother Gongyi."
Tianheng felt amused, and replied: "Junior Sect Brother Duanmu."
After he finished speaking, he turned towards Gu Zuo, shooting a questioning glance.
Gu Zuo answered: "Young Master Duanmu is someone who has stayed behind to protect me. There has been some matters that took place just now..."
Following which, he obediently described the scene he witnessed. He didn’t leave out even the tiniest of details.
Off to the side, Duanmu Qingrong watched the way those two interacted. As he carefully listened to Gu Zuo’s words, his heart was amazed again. He was surprised that Gu Zuo actually spoke so comprehensively, completely lacking any overlooked parts. He was also surprised that Gongyi Tianheng listened to his account so patiently. It definitely wasn’t like how one demanded a common subordinate, selecting only the important points in a concise report.
After Tianheng finished listening, he mulled it over, and he said to Duanmu Qingrong: "This time, it was my negligence that I left Ah Zuo alone outside. I must give my thanks to Senior Sect Brother Kang and everyone else for their kindness. For the moment, it’ll be hard to guess the cause of Princess Yaomin’s matter. Everyone will make use of their own power, and although my strength is meager, I’m also willing to keep an ear out. If I get any news, I’ll share it with everyone."
Duanmu Qingrong heard what was said. Who knew how many times his thoughts turned in his mind. He didn’t know what Tianheng was counting on, and he also wasn’t able to tell if he was being evasive or heartfelt.
However, after receiving Gongyi Tianheng’s words, he had already delivered Gu Zuo into the other’s hands. He also didn’t speak any longer. After cupping his hands again, he took his leave.
When Duanmu Qingrong was far away, Gu Zuo inclined his head towards Tianheng: "Big brother, Princess Yaomin is very pitiful."
Tianheng sighed: "Ordinary pharmacists don’t have the strength to protect themselves. Once the martial artist protecting them dies, their lives would also be in grave danger. Entrusting one’s safety to another is a last resort."
Gu Zuo thought deeply.
If it wasn’t for the extraordinary cultivation method he fortunately studied and that he was capable of using psychic power to protect himself, perhaps he would’ve ended up even more miserable. However, he also couldn’t divulge his own cultivation method and secrets because another pharmacist was in such a wretched state. Otherwise, the one in trouble would be him.
With such sympathy in his heart, it would actually be very hypocritical to not offer the least bit of aid.
Gu Zuo sighed: "Then, now?"
Tianheng said: "We can contact Liu Wuyan."
Gu Zuo suddenly understood.
Of course. A person of the inner sect would naturally have a clearer understanding.
The two first returned to the courtyard.
Because they needed to supply goods to Fu Manduo and because they once saved Liu Wuyan and Xun Suying, Tianheng had something in his possession that could quickly contact them. Considering that it was inconvenient to divulge things through a supply channel and that Xun Suying was a woman, the primary contact target was set to Liu Wuyan.
It was a kind of bird that was trained extremely mysteriously. After clutching a slip of paper in its talons from Gongyi Tianheng, it immediately soared off towards the inner sect.
After about fifteen minutes pa.s.sed, a reply came.
It was an invitation to a restaurant’s private room on Free Market Street in half an hour.
Upon seeing this, Tianheng slightly nodded. He extended a hand and twisted it. That slip of paper was eroded into a pinch of ashes from the tremendous qi and blood he used.
Gu Zuo asked: "Big brother, what next?"
Tianheng smiled: "Let’s go."
Gu Zuo knew this was the invitation spot, and followed behind Tianheng. The two then arrived along Free Market Street.
Raising one’s head would reveal that trafficking company before their eyes. Gu Zuo’s heart felt a little weak. He turned his head and didn’t look at it; this time, the place his line of sight reached was a restaurant.
The restaurant here was even more lavish than the Huiren Restaurant that they went to before. From looking at its exterior, it was practically bursting with a kind of extravagant feeling. However, while this restaurant didn’t have much flare, its contents were very good and very rare. Thus, business was still booming.
A private room on the second floor.
Right. There weren’t any private seats here. There were only seats in the main hall and private rooms.
A waiter heard Gongyi Tianheng’s words and led them to a room known as the Yangwu Residence. The two parted the curtains and walked in, just to see that the people inside were also...all here.
Xun Suying had come. For now, it didn’t need mentioning that the inseparable Liu Wuyuan was with her. Yet unexpectedly, Fu Manduo and Zhao Yuheng had also come.
Tianheng and Gu Zuo faced them to exchange greetings as they took their seats.
On the side, Liu Wuyan asked: "If Junior Sect Brother Gongyi’s matter is urgent, you might as well just say it now."
Xun Suying’s face was resolute, giving a nod.
Fu Manduo chuckled and said: "If it isn’t that kind of matter that pierces the heavens, then this Old Fu can still handle a thing or two."
Zhao Yuheng had previously obtained a batch of medicinal pills and gained many benefits. At this time, his att.i.tude was considerably better: "My inner sect Disciplinary Hall can also lend a hand."
Gu Zuo blinked his eyes.
The relationship between his big brother and these people already seemed to be a harmonious one.
Maybe Princess Yaomin’s matter would turn out okay?
Gongyi Tianheng just smiled and said: "I can’t say that it’s a major event. Everyone knows that this one comes from the Cangyun Empire. During the same period, there was a Ninth Prince who also entered the sect and became an outer sect disciple. Our relationship is still very good. However, the other day during West Mountain Ghost Hunting, we unexpectedly saved an individual, which resulted in offending another party..."
Carefully choosing his words, Tianheng recounted the course of events. Naturally, he didn’t say more than necessary about many particulars, but the general idea was still very clear.
Fu Manduo and the others listened and furrowed their brows: "You’re saying that person possibly went to bully a pharmacist in order to protect the member who started it?"
Gongyi Tianheng sighed: "What we’re even more worried about is if it wasn’t them who took away Princess Yaomin at all."
Besides Gu Zuo, those present were all prodigies. After hearing his words, who still couldn’t understand?
Xun Suying grimly said: "The current Duanshui Hall has really grown arrogant!"
Gu Zuo stared blankly.
After that, he inwardly thought: Could it be that this Sister Xun hates the Duanshui Hall?
On the contrary, Fu Manduo’s smiling expression didn’t falter: "The Duanshui Hall’s Hall Master, Li Duanshui, is an expert who ranks twelfth on the Earth Leaderboard. Naturally, there are many people who show him respect. Once, he bitterly chased after the stunningly beautiful Hua Yuerong, who ranks ninth on the Earth Leaderboard. Hua Yuerong refused to acknowledge him, and he bore a grudge against her. Ever since then, the Duanshui Hall has made things difficult for Hua Yuerong’s Mingyue Pavilion.
He continued: "In the inner sect, there is a prevalent spectacle. Many have watched a majestic man’s unsuccessful pursuit where he’d grow to hate someone due to unrequited love. The breadth of such a person’s mind is truly narrow. It’s only a pity that a few ignorant and ordinary inner sect female disciples treat this as infatuation, and still cheer on Li Duanshui. One side offers their own beds and the other side wants to see him pursue and obtain Hua Yuerong."
The sarcasm in these words...
While Fu Manduo was lecturing, Gu Zuo understood that he loathed that Li Duanshui. To businessmen, harmony was to be prized. That he could express this showed that Li Duanshui’s relationships with other people were lacking.
But was the animosity between the Duanshui Hall and Mingyue Pavilion just because of this? It seemed like a trifling matter. If someone didn’t love you, you would oppose them? It seemed that with this kind of dating skill, another ten thousand years would pa.s.s before getting a sweetheart.
Thinking up to here, Gu Zuo had a helpless expression.
Fine. He was aware that these words of his were a little foolish. The current thoughts of a person like Li Duanshui shouldn’t be to woo the girl, but rather to suppress that person and directly... You know what.
As the saying went, if the upper beam wasn’t straight, then the bottom beam would be crooked. One could just look at the morality and conduct of You Jiong, and one would know that guy was someone who could do that sort of thing.
Zhao Yuheng thought about it, and supplemented a few words: "Half a month ago, Li Duanshui had a bit of a breakthrough and became a Xiantian stage nine disciple. Through a challenge, he directly charged into the top five of the Earth Leaderboard. The grandeur of the Duanshui Hall suddenly rose. It can already contend with the powers of the Qiufeng Group, the Shuiqing Pavilion, and the Kuangwu Brotherhood."
Liu Wuyan also said: "You Jiong’s older brother, You Yi, was nurtured by Li Duanshui and was granted a Violet Dragon Luck Pill. After taking it, he had a breakthrough and became a Qi Forming stage one expert. He also became one of Li Duanshui’s trusted fighters."
After this back and forth, many matters were a.s.sembled together.
How intelligent was Gongyi Tianheng for him not to understand the information br.i.m.m.i.n.g within?
To put it simply, You Jiong’s supporter was You Yi and You Yi’s supporter was Li Duanshui. Li Duanshui had a breakthrough, and his power broadened, strengthening in all respects. Certainly, this could rapidly suppress the Mingyue Pavilion.
Therefore, You Jiong dared to enter West Mountain and hunt down Kang Wenhong. And once the matter developed, though Kang Wenhong was justified, he still often suffered losses. The Duanshui Hall had become increasingly merciless and fearless. This all could be traced back to the source.
Gu Zuo secretly sighed: So this is what happened. But the Duanshui Hall is so rampant. Could it be that this is justice with no way of retaliation? One mistake and Kang Wenhong almost died. Now he can’t even release any resentment. If it isn’t for his good disposition and that he doesn’t like to take his anger out on others, a flare up certainly won’t be so easy to handle.
Tianheng slightly frowned: "In that case, if the Duanshui Hall really captured Princess Yaomin, where would be a suitable place to hide her?"
Xun Suying said: "This would be difficult to guess."
Fortunately, Gongyi Tianheng also didn’t hold hopes that were too high. Merely, Suying said at this moment: "Since it’s like this, I’m obligated to ask that everyone lend a hand and search around the inner sect. However...Li Duanshui’s strength is outstanding and his status has also risen. If everyone helps me, I’m not sure if this will negatively affect your safety."
Fu Manduo sneered: "It’s just an insignificant Duanshui Hall. It can’t contain us." He looked at Tianheng, and his tone was relaxed, "Junior Sect Brother Gongyi, you seem to have already broken through to Xiantian. Entering the inner sect is just around the corner. There are some things I can tell you about."
The words after that were music to Gu Zuo’s ears. He eagerly absorbed everything.
The inner sect had the Sky Leaderboard and the Earth Leaderboard — Two leaderboards that the disciples occupied. Among them, the Earth Leaderboard had jurisdiction over Xiantian disciples. The Sky Leaderboard’s experts were all Immortal Realms.
However, whether if it was the Earth Leaderboard or the Sky Leaderboard, although their strengths were divided like this, it wasn’t a representation of some people’s furtive mutterings. So what if the Earth Leaderboard had common inner sect disciples and the Sky Leaderboard had core disciples and apprentices? In actuality, after entering the inner sect, if an elder came to receive a disciple, regardless of the realm strength and even if the development was slow, they wouldn’t be easily driven away.
The so-called leaderboards all relied on one’s own strength to rank up — In the outer sect, one’s rank determined one’s status. There was a huge difference. Compared to being a disciple without a teacher, one with a teacher usually involved having stronger power, a more st.u.r.dy foundation, and even more abundant resources.
In general, because the disciples on the Sky Leaderboard had entered the Immortal Realm, although they had powers at their disposal, it couldn’t be used so ostentatiously any longer. Or, it could only be kept hidden, with manipulations in the dark. Earth Leaderboard disciples all had to establish powers to fight over the speaking rights from these Sky Leaderboard disciples. In addition, on the surface, it was also to a.s.semble the scattered sand-like inner sect disciples.
In fact, Xun Suying and Liu Wuyan were actually both members of the Shuiqing Pavilion. Its founder was similarly a powerhouse in the top five of the Earth Leaderboard with a steady position. Thus, they basically weren’t particularly concerned about the newly promoted Li Duanshui.
Zhao Yuheng didn’t need this kind of power as he was a member of the inner sect’s enforcement squad. And the Disciplinary Hall was one of the entire sect’s greatest authorities. After joining, he already had sufficient achievements and that he only needed to ensure successful missions. Compared to other inner sect disciples, his living conditions were much more comfortable and prestigious.
Fu Manduo was a "trader", but he had considerably good relationships with quite a few large powers. He was even vaguely close to the powers of those Immortal Realm martial artists, and couldn’t make those people dislike him... He also had sufficient achievements.
Gu Zuo finally realized why these people mentioned the currently "powerful" Li Duanshui the same way one disdained a housefly.
As it turned out, Li Duanshui was just a rich upstart in their eyes. Sooner or later, he would be gotten rid of!
Of course, Gongyi Tianheng appropriately expressed his own feelings of admiration and the ambition in the depths of his eyes.
Then, for the first time, Zhao Yuheng took the initiative to speak: "Don’t worry, Junior Sect Brother Gongyi. Since you’ve already mentioned this wicked matter between disciples to me, my enforcement squad can naturally take care of it. Only, before that, you must first become an inner sect disciple for me to handle this matter."
