Xu Lingxiu paused. He wanted to say something, but hesitated.
Gu Zuo looked at him in confusion: “Senior Sect Brother Xu?”
Xu Lingxiu’s cheeks reddened as he mumbled: “...I...study...”
Gu Zuo stared blankly: “What?”
Xu Lingxiu bit his lower lip and tried to bravely increase the volume of his voice: “I said, can you give me some so I can study this new poison!”
Gu Zuo understood in a flash.
His research habits flared up. This was a trivial matter.
But, the appearance of this little prince was truly very adorable.
In actuality, the great majority of pharmacists had small discoveries that were all kept under wraps. In general, apart from the apprenticed disciples they took in, they wouldn’t have told anyone else. Xu Lingxiu asking Gu Zuo about his new discovery was considered behavior that overstepped one’s boundaries. Although some pharmacists relied on their high positions to seize control, as far as the ever-prideful Xu Lingxiu was concerned, he wasn’t someone who would take things for granted.
Gu Zuo had an idea, and hurriedly fumbled around inside his sleeves. He took out an ear of Scarlet Blood Rice, and handed it over: “This is nothing much. For you.”
Xu Lingxiu took it distractedly. It seemed that he didn’t think it would’ve been so easy.
Gu Zuo smiled with embarrassment: “Before, I’ve been receiving Senior Sect Brother Xu’s pointers and I was worried that there wasn’t any way to repay you. Just this little thing really is nothing. Only, when Senior Sect Brother Xu is researching, you need to be extra careful. The multi-colored ones are toxic, the gray and black ones are the antidotes... The black one cures the martial artist’s poison and the gray one cures the pharmacist’s poison.”
Xu Lingxiu’s arrogant appearance calmed down: “The previous pointers were because I still owed you a favor. Now, this can be considered me owing you another one.”
Gu Zuo repeatedly waved his hand, wanting to decline.
Xu Lingxiu’s hand waved even faster and more boisterously than Gu Zuo’s: “Alright, I have the final say! Don’t talk so much!”
Gu Zuo choked up again.
...He probably wouldn’t get used to the little prince’s way of speaking even if ten-thousand years passed.
The dialogue of the two made the others watching all break out into laughter.
Xi Yangyun smiled and said: “It’s hard for Lingxiu to make friends. Today, he finally has one.”
Xi Shuangyun also gently smiled: “This...very good...”
Meanwhile, Lu Jiusi teased: “Too bad we don’t have the similar luck to receive an ear.”
The Xi Clan brother and sister duo were really just making fun, and Gu Zuo faintly blushed. However, Lu Jiusi’s words contained another meaning. Gu Zuo pretended like he didn’t hear it, and let it pass.
As for friends and so on... Gu Zuo quietly looked to Xu Lingxiu.
Just then, Xu Lingxiu also looked over and both of their eyes met.
Unexpectedly, Xu Lingxiu only turned away and didn’t say anything.
Gu Zuo remained silent.
Perhaps, this really was about making friends?
The following matters were the same as every day previously up until night fell. When Gu Zuo was about to leave, Xu Lingxiu lifted his head while in the middle of refining medicine. He flung out his hand and threw over a tablet.
Gu Zuo rushed to catch it and lowered his head to look. “Xu Lingxiu” was written upon it in big letters. He was somewhat puzzled: “Senior Sect Brother Xu, what is this?”
Xu Lingxiu said with a muffled voice: “In the future, you can come any time you want... Even if you have questions!”
Gu Zuo immediately understood.
He also restrained himself from smiling: “Many thanks, Senior Sect Brother Xu.”
After that, Gu Zuo took the tablet and strode away.
And in his mind, he was calculating. Since Xu Lingxiu had given him this “voucher of friendship”, what sort of thing should he give back in return? It couldn’t be too inferior in quality...
Xu Lingxiu, who had just finished another cauldron and was wiping his sweat, flew into a rage out of humiliation and said: “Who’s caught my attention? Nonsense!”
Xi Yangyun laughed heartily: “If he hasn’t caught your attention, how could Lingxiu give him that tablet to pass through the Violet Tower? Young people shouldn’t be reluctant to admit their mistakes.”
Xu Lingxiu said in a bad mood: “You’re reluctant to admit your mistakes.”
At once, Xi Yangyun used a hand to cover his mouth: “Okay, I’m at fault. Lingxiu has also never viewed that Junior Sect Brother Gu as a good friend.”
Xu Lingxiu shot him a furious look before closing his eyes to quell his anger.
At this moment, Lu Jiusi said: “Are you guys aware that Junior Sect Brother Gu’s rice ear was taken out from an inter-spatial tool?”
Xi Yangyun smiled: “It’s probably something that the fellow disciple Junior Sect Brother Gu follows had given as a present. It’s no wonder why Junior Sect Brother Gu respects him so much... Junior Sect Brother Gu should also be regarded as extremely important to that person.”
Lu Jiusi nodded his head: “It’s only a pity that that person’s position is somewhat low, and that Junior Sect Brother Gu’s pay is inadequate. Yangyun, if you recruited Junior Sect Brother Gu, wouldn’t it be even better? You also wouldn’t neglect Junior Sect Brother Gu’s natural talents.”
Xu Lingxiu heard these words and looked over in a flash.
Xi Yangyun listened, but faintly furrowed his brows. Then, he thought that this was the good intentions of his Junior Sect Brother. He shook his head and said: “I’ve checked the foundations of that Gongyi Tianheng and his potential is pretty good. If he doesn’t fall along the way, he’ll be a peer among us in the future. Junior Sect Brother Gu has received many favors from Junior Sect Brother Gongyi, and the two get along exceptionally well. If I go to invite him first, it will inevitably damage the friendship between them. This will also make things difficult for Junior Sect Brother Gu.”
Xu Lingxiu pursed his lips, and turned his head away again.
Lu Jiusi sighed somewhat regretfully: “What Yangyun says is true. It really isn’t good to force someone.”
Since Xi Yangyun wouldn’t fight over a person with him, Xu Lingxiu also tacitly approved of this matter. In that case, he could use some more methods himself... Only, when he put those methods to use, he needed to be extra careful.
Thus, after Gu Zuo returned, he mentioned the matter that happened today to Gongyi Tianheng. Not only the matter that Xu Lingxiu recognized him as a friend, but also that Lu Jiusi had sounded him out again — Although he brought up Lu Jiusi’s solicitation before, it seemed that Lu Jiusi still hadn’t given up.
After Tianheng listened, he slightly muttered: “If Lu Jiusi is focused on recruiting you, he’ll have to start with me. His position far exceeds my own. In the future, I’ll have to conduct myself more carefully, and when there are hurdles to overcome, I’ll need to involve many more contacts to assist. In the future, we also need to be prudent when encountering opportunities related to the Sect. We can’t let our joys get the best of us...”
Gu Zuo’s brows tightly furrowed: “I’ve caused trouble for big brother.”
Gongyi Tianheng smiled, and warmly said: “No matter. With Lu Jiusi alone, it still isn’t a big problem. He wouldn’t dare act out in the open with you making friends with Xi Yangyun and Xu Lingxiu. As for any secret scheming, I’ve never been afraid of anyone.”
Gu Zuo heard this and his heart calmed somewhat.
Tianheng continued: “As for Xu Lingxiu, since he sees you as a friend and his moral qualities aren’t bad, you can treat him well. We have no conflict of interests with Xu Lingxiu, so you don’t need to be concerned about this.”
Gu Zuo nodded, but his face showed a troubled expression: “It’s because his intentions are very sincere that I feel that hiding things from him isn’t too good... There’s that hand seal he practices. It’s obvious that it’s not complete, but I don’t know if I should tell him. If I tell him, it’d be detrimental to us, but if I know and don’t tell him, I’ll feel crumby.”
Tianheng looked at him like this and his gaze softened. He reached out a hand to ruffle his hair: “What’s the problem with this matter? In the past few days, I’ve made lots of contribution points. I’ll go to the Martial Scripture Pavilion and thumb through rare books. After I’ve read them for a period of time, I’ll have some reputation there. Just say that I’ve found an ancient text related to pharmacists.”
Gu Zuo stared: “There’s no problem with this? There should be a record of the ancient texts in the Martial Scripture Pavilion...”
Tianheng smiled and said: “The second floor and above naturally have several, but it has nothing to do with the first floor. The nonconventional cultivation methods and martial skills aren’t regarded as important. Normally, Inner Sect disciples come and flip through the books only to gain more knowledge for the comprehensive mastery of a subject. I’ll say that I’ve found an ancient text, but didn’t want to take it out directly. I’ll only say that there was a secret compartment in an ancient text, and in it was a sheet of golden silk. I looked at those hand seals, which seemed to be related to pharmacists and gave it to you. After you looked at it, you discovered that it was very familiar. Thus, you went to look for Xu Lingxiu.”
Gu Zuo responded, but was still very worried: “Wouldn’t this be too coincidental? Too obvious?”
Tianheng faintly shook his head: “If it was taken out right away, then it’d naturally be too fortuitous. But it wouldn’t be the same if it was after a period of time and that golden silk was worn.”
Gu Zuo was puzzled: “Worn?”
Gongyi Tianheng smiled meaningfully: “Maybe, you can ask your system if it can be accomplished.”
Gu Zuo: “...”
Oh, right.
Following that, Gu Zuo really spoke to the air right in front of Tianheng: “System, can you help make it look old?”
[Ten strands of medicinal qi.]
Gu Zuo: “Deal.”
Afterwards, the medicinal qi was deducted and in Gu Zuo’s hand appeared a sheet of golden silk, as light as a feather. On the golden silk was written <<Minor Seal: Silken Sky Medicine Refinement>>.
However, for safety purposes and to give a good impression, only the pill refining hand seals were written here. The hand seals for medicinal cuisines and decoctions weren’t included.
Gu Zuo directly handed the golden silk over to Tianheng: “Big brother, how does it look?”
Gongyi Tianheng took it and used his hand to twirl it through his fingers. He sighed ruefully and said: “That system of yours is really remarkable. This object seems like it has an appearance where an untold number of years had passed by. It definitely can’t be seen through by others.”
Gu Zuo nodded his head happily, and felt relieved.
After that, he just had to drag on for a while, and find a better opportunity to take this medicine refining hand seal and go to “consult” Xu Lingxiu. This also wouldn’t waste Xu Lingxiu’s sincerity today. As for whether this friendship could withstand the test of time, that was another matter.
The following days seemed to return to normalcy.
But the reason why it “seemed” peaceful was because of the information from Fu Manduo that had been handed over to quite a few people as an expression of good will. Their intent was that they wanted some large-scale groups of unruly and fearless wild beasts to act as their power’s mounts. They wanted to form battle squadrons and increase their strength.
At this time, Fu Manduo wanted to rope in Gongyi Tianheng. Of course, he wouldn’t deliberately entrap Tianheng. Thus, the source of the information expressing good will was mostly related to Fu Manduo and didn’t implicate the power struggle between Duanshui Hall and Mingyue Pavilion.
Generally speaking, his moral qualities weren’t bad. It was the sort that was rather genuine.
Thus, Gongyi Tianheng naturally gave some face. Moreover, while he could maintain possession of the Bewildering Beast Mist under these circumstances, he couldn’t keep it to himself for too long. This was to prevent others from getting any ideas about him. Maybe it’d be better to sell it all at once, clearly showing that it would be used to accumulate funds and property.
Hence, Gu Zuo refined medicine every day at home, and Gongyi Tianheng still led his subordinates to that nearby mountain range filled with wild beasts. It was only in that type of mountain range that they would be able to encounter large-scale groups of wild beasts.
Time passed quickly. Within a month, Tianheng had come and gone a handful of times, bringing back several groups of wild beasts. They included wild leopards, wild tigers, wild oxen, and even a group of wild lizards. The numbers varied from several dozen to over a hundred. They were all eventually sold to the forces introduced by Fu Manduo.
However, Tianheng didn’t brashly hawk his wares along Market Street like last time. Instead, they were privately given to people who’d “placed an order”. It was to the extent that not many people in the Inner Sect knew about it on the surface. On the contrary, many people privately discovered that Fu Manduo had a working relationship with Gongyi Tianheng.
Gu Zuo was somewhat worried: “Big brother, won’t those people suspect that the previous high grade pills that Fu Manduo received had all come from big brother?”
Tianheng faintly smiled: “The previous matters are well hidden. If I continued to hide it, after attracting everyone’s attention by selling the wild beasts, I would inevitably be investigated by others. Perhaps there’ll be some traces. However, Fu Manduo has taken the initiative to indicate that he just formed a connection between us. Such just and honorable methods will instead prevent some people from coming to conclusions. Besides...”
Gu Zuo’s heart was tense: “Besides what?”
Tianheng smiled and said: “Besides, even if the matter that I supplied goods to Fu Manduo was exposed now, it’s not important. Zhang Mingyue and the others are already capable of refining several of those types of medicinal pills that Fu Manduo orders. Though the amounts are insufficient, it’s enough to conceal the truth.”
Gu Zuo thought about it and realized that matters were as such. He once again settled his heart, which had almost leaped out of his chest.
Let’s talk about those wild beasts again.
Because those powers had obtained the goods they wanted, they had extended olive branches to Gongyi Tianheng and intended on making friends with him. Meanwhile, some people had set up a banquet and asked Fu Manduo to invite Tianheng over. Tianheng didn’t shy away, and went over to share a few drinks with them.
Little by little, his network expanded.
Of course, perhaps it was intentional or unintentional, but everyone there was a martial artist. It was common to compare notes with each other during the banquet. Although Tianheng’s realm was only Xiantian stage one, this realm of his consecutively bested two Xiantian stage three talents until he “withdrew due to exhaustion”. Based on his martial strength, he achieved his own place to stand upon with great difficulty.
The value of such characters was naturally higher, so the attitudes of those contacts were even more warmhearted.
During this time, Tianheng hadn’t brought Gu Zuo along.
Before, Tianheng would bring him because his network was insufficient. He needed to show the degree of importance he held Gu Zuo in his heart. This was to stop Fu Manduo and the others from looking down on Gu Zuo. Now that Gu Zuo had obtained Xu Lingxiu’s respect, some well-informed figures would become aware of this. A portion of Gu Zuo’s innate talents were also revealed and he had also received the favor of Elder Huo. Gu Zuo was no longer the type of trash that one could casually crush to death with a finger. This banquet was a martial artist’s dinner party, so it was better to let Gu Zuo quietly wait in the valley.
At the same time, Gongyi Tianheng and Gu Zuo’s cultivations hadn’t fallen idle.
Gu Zuo’s psychic power was growing stronger and stronger. He could discharge more Silver Awls and Silver Needles, and when the projectiles were substantiated, they were even sharper and their powers were even stronger. It didn’t take long for Gu Zuo to smoothly break through to Xiantian stage two. At this moment, he was still concealing his recent breakthrough, but he had already come forward to reveal his realm of Xiantian stage one. During one of his occasional visits to the Violet Tower, he left Xu Lingxiu and the others somewhat shocked.
And after the month had passed, Gongyi Tianheng had also broken through. He became a Xiantian stage two martial artist!
— Despite being plague by trifles, he was still able to achieve such a result. Gu Zuo couldn’t bear it and sighed at the astonishing aspects of the Tiandu Body.
Following which, Tianheng made a decision.
Gu Zuo couldn’t help but stare: “Big brother’s saying...we’ll be going back?”
Gongyi Tianheng had a smile on his face and nodded: “In the Inner Sect, I’ve already established some stable footing. I also have some nominal disciple spots on hand, so I should go back to the clan and bring some appropriately aged clan members over here. This’ll give them more resources and cultivation chances.” His gaze slightly moved, “Moreover, I intend on capturing a group of wild beasts as additional foundation for my Gongyi Clan!”
Gu Zuo watched Tianheng in such high spirits and couldn’t help nodding his head, too: “What big brother says is right. The second young master and third young miss should also have better future prospects.”
Tianheng looked at Gu Zuo, his gaze gentle: “Ah Zuo, I care about you so much, so how can you still call my siblings young master and young miss? You hold seniority over them, so just call them little brother and little sister.”
Gu Zuo’s heart warmed up, but he shook his head: “Still...I’m not too familiar with them.”
Tianheng broke into laughter and lightly patted his head: “Alright, suit yourself.”
In this way, the decision was made.
However, as members of Qingyun Sect, it wasn’t a problem if they left the Qingyun Sect to go on an adventure. But if they left the Qingyun Continent, then it’d be a huge issue.
Generally speaking, disciples would return to visit their families, but no matter what they wanted to do, they all had to apply for it through the Sect. Otherwise, if they left in secret, they would be criminally charged for betraying the Sect.
This matter was also inevitable for Gongyi Tianheng because the order to “clear customs” was an application directed to the Enforcement Hall.
Fortunately, Tianheng had a person in the Enforcement Hall!
Because of last time’s matter of giving Zhao Yuheng top grade Revitalization Pills, Zhao Yuheng’s favorable impression of Tianheng was very high. Only, this time he still needed to ask someone to handle affairs, and asking someone to do it for free was no good.
In order to facilitate things, Tianheng thought of a way to capture a powerhouse among the grade seven wild beasts, on top of a bottle of nine top grade Revitalization Pills. Then, he went to go look for Zhao Yuheng.
It went without saying that Zhao Yuheng still remembered last time’s favor and intended on making friends with Tianheng. He would certainly be straightforward about it. After meeting and obtaining benefits, he felt that Tianheng was very righteous and would agree to the coming matters. That was even more refreshing. Therefore, it only took about three days’ time for the order to clear customs was delivered into Tianheng’s hands.
With this kind of thing in his possession, there wouldn’t be any problems as long as Tianheng could return to the Sect within a year.
Seeing this, Gu Zuo could only exclaim in admiration: “Money will make the Devil turn millstones! Big brother did great!”
Gongyi Tianheng’s eyes carried a smile. Then, he led Gu Zuo and they departed the Sect.
Yes, on a moonless and windy night, the two left the Qingyun Sect. They didn’t bring along Dragon One and Dragon Two. They also didn’t bring along several slaves. They travelled lightly and speedily.
Only, because this trip was a secret, the fewer people the better. As for Tianheng and Gu Zuo’s strengths, they were already the strongest ones among their current group.
The current Gu Zuo could already handle Xiantian stage four martial artists. As for Gongyi Tianheng, because it was harder to challenge the higher ranks among the Xiantian Realm, he still could only defeat Xiantian stage six martial artists. When it came to battling Xiantian stage seven martial artists, he could already fight them to a standstill, not merely contend with them.
Sure enough, there existed a type of hidden, obstructing power between continents. Even though Gongyi Tianheng was already a Xiantian martial artist, he still felt it was difficult passing through this kind of power.
Gu Zuo stood upon a small, flying boat. He grimaced with a bit of duress. Right now, he didn’t dare open his mouth. It was only because once he opened his mouth, he reckoned that it would be filled with windswept sand.
When traveling through the continents, if one didn’t want to waste time on the journey, then renting the Sect’s flying boats was the best method. However, the flying boat was very expensive. In addition, ordinary Inner Sect disciples didn’t have the qualifications to rent one. If it wasn’t for Zhao Yuheng’s reputation, even if it was Tianheng, he wouldn’t have been able to borrow it from an enforcer.
— So sometimes, as long as one’s social relationships reached certain standings, the benefits would be many.
Unfortunately, the flying boat was distantly inferior to that giant ship those three Immortal Realm martial artists used to carry the new disciples. Not to mention the volume, the capabilities were also far inferior. If there was one thing that was close, it was that the flying boat’s speed wasn’t slower than the large ship’s. Using it to hasten the trip couldn’t have been more suitable.
After getting caught off guard from “eating the wind”, Gu Zuo discharged his psychic power to cover the surface of his body to block the wind. Yet, good things didn’t last forever. In the end, using so much psychic power was still a little extravagant. Even if Gu Zuo controlled it more meticulously, his power would eventually run out. What’s more, during the process of passing through the space between continents, his psychic power couldn’t keep up with that type of repressive power. It basically couldn’t be used...
At this time, only Tianheng could set out.
Looking at Gu Zuo’s miserable appearance, Gongyi Tianheng, whose body was especially sturdy except for his meridians, sat behind Gu Zuo. After that, two hands looped around him.
On Gu Zuo’s tragedy-stricken face, a trace of gratefulness suddenly appeared. But the next moment, the winds blowing from all sides caused his eyes to shut tight.
Gu Zuo: “...”
Following which, he silently turned around and buried his head into Gongyi Tianheng’s embrace.
T/N: Thanks for the corrections, Charysa.
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