Chapter 272: Shi Feixuan Has Arrived

The Grand Master is the pinnacle of all martial artists in the world today; anyone in the Jianghu who hears the name of a Grand Master naturally feels a measure of respect.

But now, the once-respected Grand Master Fu Cailin has been beaten into a pile of rotten flesh and hung from Liaodong City.

The death of this spiritual leader of Goguryeo was like breaking its people's spine—Goguryeo, which had previously united in determination to resist the three Sui invasions, collapsed outright; wherever the Sui army advanced, Goguryeo's troops abandoned their armor and fled in panic; the speed and chaos of this reversal piled countless reports onto the Goguryeo king's desk.

A thousand words boil down to one: the tide has turned!

Goguryeo relied on mountain fortresses for defense, fighting a defensive war—but before Gu Qing, natural barriers meant nothing, and battle formations were useless; Gu Qing broke armies alone, shattered cities alone, leading the Sui forces in a relentless advance until they reached the gates of Pyongyang.

A monster from the Sui has gathered in Liaodong.

The unspeakable man-eating demon draws near to Gaimou.

The ruthless executioner has seized Anshi City.

Gu Qing entered Wugu City.

The Grand Master of Great Sui has reached the border.

The Four Han Commanderies have returned!

After two failed campaigns, the Sui Dynasty teetered on the brink; Yang Guang grew weary of Goguryeo's fickle surrenders; this time, with blades drawn and merciless force, he turned Goguryeo—a realm already crumbling—into a land of ghosts, then left generals behind to reestablish commanderies and ordered troops southward to unify it entirely.

The Sui Dynasty had once teetered on the brink, but Yang Guang returned victorious, with Gu Qing's single-handed killing of Fu Cailin and his sweeping conquest of Goguryeo; the once-burning rebellions across the land now lay dormant.

The Sui Dynasty had existed for barely thirty years, yet under Yang Guang's rule, it now showed signs of revival.

Gu Qing!

This Grand Master who had slain Fu Cailin face-to-face had become the key to shaping the fate of the world.

In the eastern quarter of Yangzhou City, Great Sui.

There stood an abandoned estate, its houses on the verge of collapse but still habitable; inside these crumbling dwellings lived two street urchins who depended on each other for survival—these two spent their days stealing food and pilfering in Yangzhou just to get by, yet their ambitions soared beyond their station; they called themselves the Twin Dragons, destined one day to soar through the nine heavens.

"Xiao Ling, the situation has changed."

Kou Zhong lay on the ground, speaking of recent developments: "I've always wanted to gather enough money to take you and join the righteous armies—we'd build glory together—but lately, all these factions have gone silent; I heard some righteous armies have even disbanded."

Xu Ziling, who had nearly fallen asleep, lifted his head and said: "I know—I heard today that it all hinges on a man named Gu Qing. They say he breathes and wind rises, kicks and sand flies, gathers earth into mountains, stabs the ground to form abysses; every martial artist wielding sword or blade calls him Grand Master."

The Sui court actively spread tales of Gu Qing's divine powers, attaching every legend to him; against the backdrop of his victories, Gu Qing became known to all within days—even lowly street rats like Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling had heard his story.

"I heard Gu Qing was appointed Grand Tutor."

Kou Zhong sighed enviously: "When Gu Qing returned to the capital, every powerful family scrambled to offer their daughters in marriage… sigh, when will we ever be so mighty?"

Xu Ziling smiled at this, saying: "Gu Qing is a celestial being—how could he be as base as you?"

"Actually, he's quite ordinary."

A voice came from the rooftop. Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling scrambled up, stepping outside to see a man seated atop the crumbling roof—beneath the bright moon, his skin seemed luminous, holding a scroll that he turned slowly in the night.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling exchanged glances; both were sharp-witted, seasoned in the streets, and had never seen such an extraordinary figure—they immediately tensed, and after a moment's thought, Kou Zhong spoke: "You say Gu Qing is ordinary—aren't you afraid he'll punish you?"

"Not afraid."

The man on the roof spoke calmly: "Because Gu Qing is troubled—he has no time to bother with me."

Gu Qing is troubled?

Xu Ziling asked: "He's achieved fame and fortune, owns endless gold and jewels—what could he possibly be troubled about?"

"He's troubled by women."

The man on the roof spoke with sorrow: "After achieving glory, Gu Qing assumed he'd have countless beautiful wives and concubines—but none understood him. They treat him as a transcendent sage, a peerless master, terrified that even proposing marriage might offend him—so Gu Qing is tormented, unable to sleep night after night."

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling exchanged glances; then Xu Ziling spoke: "Then why doesn't Gu Qing go propose himself?"

With the title of Grand Tutor of the current dynasty, having slain Fu Cailin and swept through Goguryeo, such a man could marry whomever he wished.

"Who says he didn't propose?"

The man on the roof said: "But her father objected."

"Why?"

Kou Zhong asked, puzzled.

"Her family is complicated—her mother died early, her father never comes home, and she survives solely by performing. When Gu Qing went to propose to her father, the moment he mentioned it, the father went mad."

The man on the roof shook his head, utterly exasperated.

"That girl must be pitiful."

Hearing her backstory, Xu Ziling felt her sorrow and said: "I believe marriage should be based only on mutual love. Let her father go mad—Gu Qing should just treat the performing girl well."

Gu Qing's illustrious status would surely bring the performing girl happiness.

The man on the roof straightened up, looked at Xu Ziling, and asked: "Do you truly believe that?"

Xu Ziling nodded seriously; though young, he was precocious and held firm views on many matters.

"Good, good."

The man on the roof flipped over and glided down from the roof, facing Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling: "You two have solved a major problem for me—I'm prepared to teach you something. Want to learn?"

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, seeing his lightness, knew they had encountered martial arts; hearing this, they rushed forward and bowed deeply to him.

"Excellent, excellent."

The man said: "You two are my first and second disciples in this world. Don't worry—I won't shortchange you."

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling bowed again, then asked his name.

The man was about to speak when suddenly he dodged into the room—Kou and Xu heard heavy breathing outside; turning, they saw a man with flushed face and frantic expression asking: "Have you seen any strangers here?"

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling recognized him—he was Yangzhou's top martial artist, Shi Long, the Pushing Mountain Hand. Amid the chaos of the times, many hired warriors for protection, and Shi Long's reputation in Yangzhou had grown ever louder. "Have you seen him!"

At this moment, Shi Long was frantic, utterly lacking any master's composure, bellowing at Kou and Xu.

Kou Zhong shook his head: "Only me and Xiao Ling are in this house."

Shi Long still didn't believe him—he pushed open the door and rushed inside, scanning every corner in moments, then left in disappointment; as he stepped out, he warned Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling: "If you see any strangers, tell me—I'll reward you handsomely."

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling bowed and watched Shi Long depart; as they wondered, the earlier man stepped out from inside the room and approached them.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were stunned—their house was bare, utterly empty; Shi Long, Yangzhou's top martial artist, had entered and should have caught the man—yet now both men emerged, and Shi Long had failed to find Gu Qing.

"Master, was he looking for you?"

Xu Ziling asked.

"Correct."

The man said: "I entered his room and took something—he's now frantic, searching everywhere."

!

Xu Ziling fell silent. He was a street rat, stealing and scavenging, his hands never clean—but everything he did was to change his fate. He never imagined even masters resorted to trickery and deceit.

"I'm saving him."

The man patted Xu Ziling: "He just doesn't understand."

Shi Long died because of the Book of Eternal Life—without it, Shi Long could live.

Only after Shi Long left did Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling bow again and ask about Gu Qing's identity.

"Gu Qing."

Gu Qing said calmly.

"You're Gu Qing?"

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were stunned; Xu Ziling asked: "Master Gu, why aren't you in the capital? Why come to Yangzhou?"

"Heh."

Gu Qing shook his head: "Because of a girl—pretty, but utterly foolish. Something she could've achieved by seducing me, she insists on circling around—so I stopped caring."

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, seeing this, dared not ask further; they quietly calmed their minds and practiced the Nine Mysteries Art. After they entered its basics, Gu Qing had them begin studying the Book of Eternal Life.

In the Huang-style wuxia world, there are Four Great Scriptures: the Divine War Diagrams, the Devilish Strategy, the Cihang Sword Canon, and the Book of Eternal Life. The Devilish Strategy specifically refers to the Dao Heart Seed Demon Art; the Dao Heart Seed Demon Art was created based on the Divine War Diagrams; the Cihang Sword Canon was created based on the Dao Heart Seed Demon Art; as for the Book of Eternal Life, it was brought to the mortal realm by Guangchengzi after his stay in the Flying Goose Palace.

The Book of Eternal Life contains illustrations and oracle bone script—normally impossible to cultivate. Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, by sheer chance, each managed to cultivate one illustration.

Gu Qing watched quietly as Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling cultivated the Book of Eternal Life, their bodies transforming; he felt satisfaction in his heart.

The Book of Eternal Life could not be deciphered; Gu Qing did not force himself to cultivate it—he first observed Kou and Xu's transformations, then studied their meridian pathways.

Frankly, to Gu Qing, whether the Book of Eternal Life could be cultivated or not mattered little; what he truly sought in this world was the Dao Heart Seed Demon Art.

In the Legends of the Borderlands, Xiang Yutian had already appeared and cultivated the Dao Heart Seed Demon Art; the text hinted that Xiang Yutian would inevitably shatter; the secret of his Dao Heart Seed Demon Art bore marginal annotations—following those annotations would lead to cultivation, the very path taken decades later by the new Demon Emperor, Dragon Hawk.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling silently circulated their qi; in an instant, the world grew clearer, their martial cultivation instantly entering the Primordial State—they perceived the surrounding vitality, feeling everything had changed.

"Excellent!"

Gu Qing pressed his hands on Kou and Xu's shoulders, using the Absorbing Power Art to draw off a portion of their qi, letting it flow freely.

Though Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling sensed something amiss, they soon felt normal again; they paid no mind to Gu Qing's touch—but after such prolonged cultivation, their stomachs growled, and they begged Gu Qing to take them for a good meal.

"Easy."

Gu Qing readily agreed, leading them into Yangzhou City, observing its scenery, then taking them to a tavern, letting Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling order freely, celebrating their rise from rags to riches.

"Master, I'd like some wine."

Kou Zhong leaned close to Gu Qing, grinning slyly.

"Drink if you want."

Gu Qing waved his hand, signaling the tavern to bring wine. When the fine food and drink arrived, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling—whose cultivation of the Book of Eternal Life had sharpened their senses—suddenly turned their heads toward one side of the tavern and saw a white-clad figure seated there, seemingly male, wearing a wide-brimmed hat.

"Grand Tutor Gu, why have you been avoiding me?"

The white-clad figure's face was hidden behind a veil, but her voice was cold as a mountain stream, making Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling shiver as if standing in misty mountains and rain.

"Oh…"

Kou Zhong suddenly understood, pointing at the white-clad figure: "You're the girl Master Gu said has no brains!"

The white-clad figure trembled, bewildered.

Xu Ziling chimed in: "Master Gu said you could've just seduced him—but you keep circling around!"

Xu Ziling spoke plainly.

The white-robed figure heard Kou and Xu speak, let out a bitter laugh, then reached up and lifted off her wide-brimmed hat, revealing a flawless face. She stepped forward calmly, sat down before Gu Qing, furrowed her brows as if deeply wronged, and reproached, "Master Gu, is this how you see Feixuan?"

The visitor was none other than Shi Feixuan.

Xu Ziling, standing nearby, gazed at the beauty before him and felt an inexplicable tremor in his heart; he immediately lowered his head, for he had never imagined a woman so utterly flawless could exist.

Gu Qing, too, saw Shi Feixuan's face for the first time. He studied her carefully, deeply satisfied, then shook his head and said, "I never change what I find—I only select. I never educate—I only choose. Between the Sui Dynasty and Goryeo, only the Sui merits my intervention. That is why I act. Is that reason enough?"

Hearing Gu Qing's words, Shi Feixuan's eyes shimmered with quiet joy, yet she added, "But Master Gu, your intervention has instantly reversed the fate of the world. All living beings now hang upon your every thought."

Gu Qing today is like Yuwenti in the Heavenly Mark, or Yang Lin the Pillar of the State in the Heroes of Sui and Tang—he is the white jade pillar holding up the Sui Dynasty, the purple-gold beam supporting its foundation. As long as Gu Qing stands, the Sui Dynasty cannot fall.

(End of Chapter)