Chapter 125: Jade Rakshasa of the West

Lu Xiaofeng is truly clever enough.

Gu Qing had originally planned to revive himself only after Lu Xiaofeng, Gu Song, and Ku Zhu had all crippled each other in mutual destruction—but Lu Xiaofeng saw through it.

After all, for someone like Lu Xiaofeng, a dead man slowly crawling from the center of the battlefield to the corner was far too conspicuous.

"How did you come back to life?"

Fang Yufei, on the verge of death, stared in shock at the "Bluebeard" standing in the hall—he was the one least able to accept the "Bluebeard's" resurrection.

"Is resurrection that difficult?"

The "Bluebeard" said casually.

Resurrection is certainly difficult!

Fang Yufei knew that in the far west, there was a powerful religious sect founded by a man who claimed to resurrect the dead… though that resurrection, of course, was merely legend.

Fang Yufei was a villain—he did not believe in miracles—so his gaze turned to Fang Yuxiang; the only possible explanation now was that Fang Yuxiang had betrayed him.

The medicine the Bluebeard took was fake!

As for whether the Bluebeard was Gu Qing or someone else, Fang Yufei didn't dwell on it… after all, even if it were Gu Qing, no one could swallow poison and act as if nothing had happened.

Fang Yuxiang, having prepared to die with Fang Yufei as he lay dying, was drenched in cold water by his suspicion—her tender affection turned to rage; she hurled the poisoned silk scarf to the ground and shouted: "Look for yourself!"

The scarf was indeed poisoned.

Fang Yufei turned again to the "Bluebeard," watching as the man tore off his disguise—it was not someone he knew, but Gu Qing… Gu Qing had fought Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng atop the Forbidden City, one of the rarest events in the Jianghu, and the imperial gates had been wide open; Fang Yufei had stood before the Taihe Palace and witnessed that duel.

Not only Fang Yufei had watched—Gu Song and Ku Zhu, the two elders of the Demon Cult, had watched too.

Everyone present knew Gu Qing truly possessed formidable strength.

"Gu Qing, how did you end up here?"

Gu Song asked, drawing in his breath.

Gu Qing sat down calmly, glanced at Gu Song and Ku Zhu, and said: "I speak bluntly. If I offend you, I hope you'll both bear it."

Gu Song and Ku Zhu exchanged glances—they both knew Gu Qing had come with ill intent.

"To be frank, I want to make you two my dogs."

Gu Qing spoke plainly.

Gu Song and Ku Zhu's swords were equally blunt—in an instant, silver light flashed like rain, piercing every vital point around Gu Qing.

Two sword styles—one swift, one slow—shifted endlessly; before reaching Gu Qing, they twisted and transformed in countless ways—such swords moved so fast the eyes could not follow.

One finger snap contains sixty instants.

In one instant, all became utterly still.

Gu Song's sword pierced his own lower abdomen; Ku Zhu's sword drove backward into his own chest—while Gu Qing sat where he was, seemingly unmoved.

Lu Xiaofeng watched the entire scene from start to finish—he knew Gu Qing had used a sword technique, one he had already employed when charging the Baiyun Shrine; but since the Forbidden City duel, Gu Qing had seemingly entered the "No Sword" realm, wielding empty hands to execute sword moves and defeating Gu Song and Ku Zhu in an instant.

The "No Sword" realm is an extremely profound state in sword cultivation—Gu Song and Ku Zhu should never have drawn their swords against Gu Qing.

"What do you intend to do with them?"

Lu Xiaofeng asked, noticing Gu Qing had not killed them outright.

"Of course, to take control of the Demon Cult."

Gu Qing said as if it were obvious.

Both Gu Song and Ku Zhu desired control of the Demon Cult, and both were its elders; once subdued, Gu Qing could use them to seize command of the cult.

The old man had ordered him to subdue one or two factions to demonstrate the Lord's insight; Gu Qing intended to use this swift success to wrap up the matter and continue exchanging for secret manuals from the old man.

What Gu Qing most desired was still to grow stronger.

"You want to take control of the Western Demon Cult?"

Lu Xiaofeng was astonished—Gu Qing didn't seem the type to crave power.

Even when he controlled the Green Robe Pavilion, he never wielded authority—he preferred to fight.

"Do you have any objections?"

Gu Qing asked Gu Song and Ku Zhu.

Generally speaking, with their support, it would be smooth sailing to ascend as the Demon Cult's leader on the seventh day of the first lunar month in the Great Illumination Realm.

Gu Song and Ku Zhu's faces turned deathly pale, but Gu Qing's technique had crushed any will to resist—they now held their lives in his hands—so they bowed their heads and said: "Through the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, all gods and demons, we pledge our loyalty to you, eternal bliss."

Gu Qing nodded—this cult's corporate culture was well done.

"What do you plan to do with the Demon Cult?"

Lu Xiaofeng asked, puzzled—he feared Gu Qing might turn into a demon lord and stray onto a dark path.

With Gu Qing's strength, if incited by the cult's followers to unify the Jianghu, it would become a great calamity.

Gu Qing said nothing, merely studying Lu Xiaofeng; he patted his own face and said: "Now, we've met, haven't we?"

Once they met, the wager must be settled.

If Lu Xiaofeng won, Gu Qing would teach him a supreme skill; if Lu Xiaofeng lost, he must fulfill the terms of the bet.

"Fang Yufei isn't dead yet."

Gu Qing smiled.

If Lu Xiaofeng had to fulfill his obligation, Fang Yufei could still serve as the target.

"I'm not dead yet."

Fang Yufei knew his injuries were fatal, yet in his final moments, he was strangely calm—he and Lu Xiaofeng had always been good friends; back at the Silver Hook Gambling Den, even as he lay dying, Fang Yufei had joked with Lu Xiaofeng.

Now, Fang Yufei still joked with his life: "Lu Xiaofeng, my internal energy is so refined, I always empty myself completely—when you take me, you won't pull up the radish and drag up the mud."

This attitude actually earned Gu Qing's slight admiration.

Lu Xiaofeng's figure vanished like a cloud through the hall, returning moments later with a salt jar; he said: "Consider this my word." As he spoke, he scooped several mouthfuls of salt into his mouth, drank two gulps of water, and swallowed it all—his face turned ghastly.

Those who break their word must suffer the penalty of salt!

Fang Yufei burst into loud laughter, rolled over, smiling, and died.

Lu Xiaofeng turned and prepared to leave.

"Will our wager continue?"

Gu Qing called out loudly.

"Yes!"

Lu Xiaofeng growled: "Next time, I won't break my word!"

With that, Lu Xiaofeng vanished.

Gu Qing leaned back in his chair, gently stroking his chin… would Ximen Chuixue go berserk if Lu Xiaofeng slept with him?

After the Silver Hook Gambling Den comes the Phantom Manor.

Lu Xiaofeng and the others discussed how to deal with the Phantom Manor at the Eagle's Nest, then Ximen Chuixue came to hunt Lu Xiaofeng, accusing him of bedding Sun Xiuqing.

"Hss…"

The more Gu Qing thought about it, the more amusing it became—even if Ximen Chuixue went berserk, it wouldn't be Gu Qing who died.

Suddenly, a shadowy figure appeared in the Silver Hook Gambling Den, indistinct and blurred, chanting: "Jade of the West, eternal in heaven and earth, flawless treasure, none can replace!"

Gu Song and Ku Zhu's faces turned grim—just hearing that voice made them feel their lives slipping away… because that one wanted them dead!

The Lord of the Western Demon Cult, Jade Rakshasa, has arrived!

(End of Chapter)