Chapter 5: Chen Mo's

Gu Manzhi sat frozen like a statue.

Every doubt she had now had an answer.

So Chen Mo had come today to declare his feelings to her?

He knew everything, yet still chose to break the engagement—just to be with her?

The two of them stood on irreconcilable sides; this was no different from a moth flinging itself into flame, not even caring about his life and fortune!

But she hadn't even given him a chance to confess…

"Why?"

Gu Manzhi's eyes were blank.

Deception and scheming, plots within plots.

She had grown up in such an environment from childhood, long since accustomed to it.

Trust no one, never give your heart—that was the rule of survival her Master had taught her, and she had always held it as gospel.

But recalling Chen Mo's cold gaze, and that final "debts settled between us," a sudden tightness gripped her chest.

The grey-robed man did not notice her distress and kept talking to himself, "Your identity has been exposed; leave Tiandu City as soon as possible. I'll take over from here."

"Having to clean up your mess for you too—I'm really having it rough…"

Gu Manzhi came back to herself, looked up at the grey-robed man, and asked, "Why have you really come?"

"I told you—to watch you make a fool of yourself…"

The grey-robed man's words faltered.

He saw Gu Manzhi holding a jade talisman in her hand, her eyes brimming with killing intent.

"Hey, hey, hey, don't get worked up."

"It won't hurt to tell you—Master sent me."

The grey-robed man took out a wooden box from his robe.

He opened the lid, and a cloying, sweet, sticky stench wafted out.

Inside, a thumb-sized crimson flesh-maggot lay趴ing—no eyes, no nose, its razor-sharp teeth opening and closing like flower petals, sending a chill down the spine.

"This is… a Heart-Devouring Gu?!"

Gu Manzhi's heart lurched; she recalled what Chen Mo had said.

The grey-robed man nodded. "Master got this from the Southern Wastes, specially prepared for your little sweetheart."

This thing was bred by the Gu God Cult, extremely sinister and venomous; it parasitizes the heart of a living creature, feeding on the blood of the heart vessels.

Once it grows to a certain stage, it devours the heart and takes its place.

When that happens, the host becomes a puppet controlled at will, life and death resting on a single thought of the caster!

After a long silence, Gu Manzhi said in a dry voice, "Didn't Master say all I had to do was lure him with beauty? Why use something like this?"

"Hearts can change—who can guarantee he'll stay devoted to you forever?"

"To deal with Yu Youhan, the Chen family is a crucial piece; there can be no slip-ups."

"Only by fully controlling Chen Mo can we move to the next step. Master was afraid you couldn't bring yourself to do it, so he arranged for me to plant the gu worm…"

Gu Manzhi could no longer hear the rest.

She seemed drained of all strength, slumped down in a daze, her eyes vacant and hollow.

"Debts settled between us?"

"Looking at it now, it seems I'm the one who owes him far too much…"

……

East of the city.

Mansion after mansion rose in pleasing disorder, tiered terraces and stacked pavilions, courtyards deep and secluded.

Most of the capital's high officials and noble houses were concentrated here; compared with the bustle and splendor of the outer city, this place felt tranquil and spacious.

A residence of three courtyards and three gates stood among them, a plaque bearing the character "Chen" hung before its door.

In a simply furnished, elegant and refined hall, several taishi chairs were arranged.

In the seat of honor sat a man in a purple robe, with a hatchet face and a goatee, his gaze sharp and deep, radiating an imposing authority without anger.

One of the three seats of the Censorate, a current Rank 3 grand official—Chen Zhuo.

Beside him sat a middle-aged beauty, plump and alluring, her bearing graceful and composed; from the charm in her brows and eyes, it was easy to see she had been a rare beauty in her youth.

Direct lineage of Yanyu Pavilion, Martial Dao Master—He Yuzhi.

"Has that unfilial son gone whoring around at the Jiaofang Office again?"

"He even dares to tear up the marriage contract—wait till he comes back, see if I don't break his damn legs!"

Chen Zhuo said in a heavy voice.

"Feelings can't be forced. Since Mo'er doesn't like her, it's just a scrap of paper—torn is torn."

He Yuzhi said calmly, her voice gentle and pleasant.

"This is a marriage pact set by our forebears—how can it be treated so lightly?"

"My Chen family and the Shen family have been on good terms for generations. Now that this unfilial son has pulled such a stunt, how am I to face Brother Shen in the future?"

The more Chen Zhuo spoke, the angrier he grew. He slammed the table. "You've spoiled him rotten! Don't you understand that pampering a child is killing him? Truly, a fond mother makes a ruined son…"

"Hm?"

He Yuzhi's brows rose slightly; she cast a sidelong glance.

Chen Zhuo gave a start and abruptly changed tack. "Ahem, of course, I too bear an inescapable responsibility."

He Yuzhi said slowly, "If we're speaking of that, didn't your father also oppose us being together back then? He insisted you marry the Vice Minister of Revenue's daughter, said I was coarse and vulgar, knew nothing but brandishing spears and staves… forced the two of us to kneel before his door for a day and a night before he relented."

"Could it be you want to follow your father's old path?"

At the mention of heartrending matters, her eyes slightly reddened, on the verge of tears.

"Oh my, how many years have passed? Why bring this up all of a sudden?"

Chen Zhuo flustered, his aura instantly crumbling.

"You know I adore you wielding spears and swords—I wish you'd do it every single day…"

"Pfft, you're talking nonsense again."

He Yuzhi shot him a glare, her coquettish pout making Chen Zhuo's heart race.

If it weren't daytime, he'd truly be tempted to act out his youthful folly…

Chen Zhuo steadied himself and returned to the subject: "Your He family is after all a distinguished clan of Qingzhou—but what of Gu Manzhi? No matter how famous she is, she's still a courtesan."

"By breaking off the engagement over a courtesan, how do you leave the Shen family's face intact?"

"Besides, that Shen young lady is a disciple of the Martial Sage Mountain—this affair, if it spreads, could cause trouble…"

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhi's expression turned serious.

As a cultivator, she knew full well what the Martial Sage Mountain meant.

One of the Three Sages, the lineage seat of the Martial Sage, a transcendent entity towering above mortal factions!

Its branches spread wide, its roots run deep, entangled in countless connections with many powers.

There's a common saying widely known: offend the Martial Sage Mountain, and you offend half the cultivation world!

Though exaggerated, it speaks volumes of its mighty reputation!

This is beneath the Son of Heaven's gaze—safety isn't a concern—but you can't stay in Ducheng forever, can you?

"The Martial Sage Mountain hasn't meddled in worldly affairs for years—such a trivial matter shouldn't…"

Before He Yuzhi finished speaking, the steward hurried in, bowing: "Master, Lady, the Shen young lady has come to call."

Chen Zhuo and He Yuzhi exchanged a glance.

Just as feared, the feared thing arrived.

"Quickly, show her in."

Chen Zhuo said: "By the way, where's that disobedient son? Go find him at once!"

The steward shook his head: "No need to look—he's already in the Shen young lady's hands."

Chen Zhuo frowned: "What do you mean?"

The steward's expression was odd: "I mean literally, Master—the young master is being carried in her grip; he appears to have fainted…"

Chen Zhuo: "…."

He Yuzhi: "…."