Chapter 275: The Soul-Disrupting Hand and Shi Feixuan

Gu Qing bid farewell to the Du family, boarded a boat from the Giant Whale Clan, and sailed upstream along the river, with Shi Feixuan and Du Feng beside him.

The three stood or sat on the deck, gazing at the riverside scenery, discussing the true essence of martial arts or exchanging gossip about the jianghu; Shi Feixuan kept a respectful distance from Gu Qing, while Du Feng hung back, constantly watching Shi Feixuan.

"Miss Du."

Shi Feixuan suddenly turned, her gaze clear and bright, asking strangely: "Is there something unusual about me?"

"No, no."

Du Feng, usually frank and open, now felt uneasy and said: "The Immortal of the Quiet Chamber is quite likable."

But how one learns to be likable, Du Feng had no idea.

Shi Feixuan pondered briefly, then turned away, and as the boat sailed upstream, she spotted the five-masted warships on the river—twelve zhang tall, each capable of carrying eight hundred men, their combined might formidable as they advanced in line.

On the prow of one ship stood a man, indifferent to all around, radiating an air of supreme arrogance; yet upon seeing Gu Qing's vessel ahead, he immediately slowed, leapt across, and landed on Gu Qing's deck, bowing deeply.

"Grand Master Gu."

The man was Yuwen Huaji, the most outstanding warrior among the Yuwen Clan of the Four Great Clans—but before Gu Qing, his spine bent.

"Where are you headed?"

Gu Qing asked casually.

Yuwen Huaji dared not conceal anything: "His Majesty has long been obsessed with the art of immortality. After conquering Goryeo, his desire intensified—he wishes to become an eternal emperor. More than a decade ago, he began secretly investigating the whereabouts of the Daoist scripture, the Longevity Secret. Recently, he heard of disturbances in Jiangdu and concluded the Longevity Secret has surfaced, ordering me to retrieve it."

Jiangdu is Yangzhou.

Though Yang Guang was no man, after digging the Grand Canal, Yangzhou became one of the key waterway hubs, laying the foundation for its future prosperity; Yang Guang visited Yangzhou three times, and ultimately died there.

"Having a thousand fields, one desires ten thousand; becoming emperor, one seeks immortality."

Gu Qing smiled.

Yuwen Huaji lifted his head slightly—he was in his thirties, stern and cold—and after a fleeting glance at Gu Qing, he lowered his gaze again: "I heard His Majesty, having witnessed your invincible might, grew even more fervent in his pursuit of immortality. I also heard you went to Jiangdu, and that the secret of the Pushing Mountain Hand, Shi Long, has vanished..."

Yuwen Huaji's words trailed off.

Shi Feixuan's thoughts stirred; she realized Gu Qing and Yang Guang might have developed tension over the Longevity Secret.

"And?"

Gu Qing smiled faintly, unmoved.

"There has never been an immortal in this world."

Yuwen Huaji quickly declared: "His Majesty harbors delusions—we can only do our duty and leave the rest to fate."

Very astute.

Gu Qing nodded.

Yuwen Huaji paused, then added: "Recently, a Goryeo female assassin has appeared in the capital, wielding the Yi Sword Art. She has tried repeatedly to approach the palace but was driven off by guards. Rumor says she possesses information about the Yang Gong Treasure Vault."

In this world, possessing either the Heshi Bi or the Yang Gong Treasure Vault grants dominion over the realm. The fame of the Heshi Bi needs no elaboration; the Yang Gong Treasure Vault contains a secret tunnel leading directly into the imperial palace. In the world of the Twin Dragons of Tang, Li Shimin's succession at Xuanwu Gate was achieved through the Yang Gong Treasure Vault.

"Incompetent at suppressing bandits."

Upon hearing of the Goryeo female swordsman, Gu Qing thought of Fu Junque—whom he had killed in Liaodong. The one now stirring trouble in Central Plains must be Fu Junyu; her martial skill was inferior to Fu Junque's and she would likely die quickly in Central Plains.

"By the way."

Gu Qing instructed Yuwen Huaji: "I've taken two apprentices in Jiangdu—Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling. When you arrive, train them well."

Yuwen Huaji bowed and departed, returning to the five-masted warship; once aboard, he exhaled in relief, drenched in cold sweat.

Before Gu Qing, Yuwen Huaji felt his spirit and will entirely suppressed—all his scheming thoughts vanished, replaced only by the chilling certainty that Gu Qing held absolute power over his life and death.

Under this mental domination, Yuwen Huaji revealed everything he should have.

After all, before absolute power, conspiracies are paper tigers.

"Heh."

Gu Qing withdrew his gaze. Along his journey, he had endured tens of thousands of battles and cultivated the Gown-Transferring Divine Art—a technique that pierced the meridians and scorched the organs—forging his spirit and will into unbreakable steel. In this Tang world, stimulated by the Nine Mysteries Art and the Longevity Secret, he naturally developed an uncanny ability to suppress others.

"So Master Gu went to Jiangdu and obtained the Longevity Secret from the Four Great Mystical Texts."

After the five-masted warship had vanished from sight, Shi Feixuan spoke to Gu Qing, her eyes brimming with curiosity.

"Still circling."

Gu Qing glanced at Shi Feixuan, exasperated.

If you want to know, just ask. Or seduce me directly.

Shi Feixuan looked reproachful: "Master Gu, while in the Giant Whale Clan, you inquired after You Niaojuan and others—surely you're seeking the most elusive and perilous secret scroll of the Demon Sect: the Dao Heart Seed Demon Art."

Upon hearing Yuwen Huaji mention the Longevity Secret, Shi Feixuan immediately thought of the Dao Heart Seed Demon Art.

The Demon Sect consists of two factions and six schools.

The two factions are the Yin Gui Sect and the Hua Jian Sect; the six schools are the Bu Tian Pavilion, the Xie Ji Dao, the Tian Lian Sect, the Zhen Chuan Dao, the Mie Qing Dao, and the Mo Xiang Dao. Among the Demon Sect's masters, the Evil King and the Yin Empress reign supreme—but decades ago, there was another peerless master: the Evil Emperor Xiang Yutian.

!

"But the Dao Heart Seed Demon Art is the most mysterious and dangerous. Back then, Xiang Yutian and the Hermit Ning Daoqi were famed as equals; after studying the Dao Heart Seed Demon Art, he likely perished in demonic deviation."

Shi Feixuan spoke of this secret with deep concern—but when she looked at Gu Qing, she saw his smile.

"Xiang Yutian and Ning Daoqi were considered equals?"

Gu Qing's tone held both surprise and mockery.

Shi Feixuan, unable to discern whether he mocked Xiang Yutian or Ning Daoqi, simply turned slightly and said: "These are the universally accepted views of the martial world."

Gu Qing said calmly: "Xiang Yutian's martial skill was already above mine two hundred years ago."

During the Bian River era, Xiang Yutian once fought Yan Fei; they became allies. At that time, Xiang Yutian had already cultivated the Dao Heart Seed Demon Art. After Yan Fei learned the secret of Shattering, he revealed everything to Xiang Yutian. But Xiang Yutian did not rush to shatter the void—he wished to wander the mortal world, and thus, relying on the Evil Emperor's Relic, lived for two or three centuries, only breaking through to the void as his lifespan neared its end.

Xiang Yutian was a true Shattering-level master.

Shi Feixuan was stunned—whether awed by Xiang Yutian's martial prowess or his extraordinary longevity, she could not say.

Shi Feixuan shifted her gaze; having learned of Xiang Yutian's deeds, she reflected on the great trends of the past two or three centuries, then fixed her eyes on Gu Qing, realizing he, like Xiang Yutian, cared little for the world's affairs—except perhaps for a few core principles.

Yet Gu Qing's invincible aura made him impossible to gamble against.

"Master Gu."

Shi Feixuan lowered her eyes demurely and asked cautiously: "I am truly curious about the Longevity Secret." She glanced at Gu Qing—his expression unchanged.

Seeing this, Shi Feixuan resolved herself and boldly reached out to take Gu Qing's hand.

Gu Qing, seeing this, seized her hand—and activated the Soul-Disrupting Hand!

As Gu Qing's internal energy grew refined and precise, the Soul-Disrupting Hand grew stronger; the instant he grasped Shi Feixuan, her mind went blank, utterly still, her body no longer her own. When Gu Qing released her, Shi Feixuan clutched the deck railing, her legs involuntarily pressed shut.

"Gu Qing!"

Shi Feixuan, both ashamed and furious, called him by his name outright.

"The Immortal has descended."

Gu Qing strolled up with a smile, handed her the Longevity Secret, pinched her cheek lightly, and said: "When I obtain the Dao Heart Seed Demon Art, I'll show it to you again."

"You..."

Shi Feixuan's face flushed crimson; she snatched the Longevity Secret and hurried back to the cabin, her steps unsteady.

Gu Qing chuckled—then saw Du Feng approaching.

"Master Gu."

Du Feng lowered her eyes, mimicking Shi Feixuan's tone, and asked cautiously: "Du Feng is truly curious about the Longevity Secret."

Gu Qing was slightly startled, but had no intention of holding back.

Shi Feixuan, who had just entered the cabin, turned back out—her immortal poise shattered, voice sharp with exasperation: "Du Feng, that's enough!"

(End of Chapter)