Chapter 291: Fan Qinghui

Shan Wanjing helped Gu Qing into the cabin, and as she was about to ask how he was, she felt a hand sweep across her waist, suddenly finding herself seated in his lap—she realized she'd been tricked and punched his chest.

"When are you planning to break off the engagement?"

Gu Qing lifted Shan Wanjing's chin with his fingers and asked.

Shan Wanjing pouted and turned her face away, snarling: "Do you think I can still be with you now?"

"Why not?"

Gu Qing asked, puzzled.

Shan Wanjing was furious, glaring at Gu Qing: "You know perfectly well—we're all on the Perfumed Boat. Don't treat me like a fool. She's already acted; I can't."

The Perfumed Boat was a grand river vessel, extremely spacious; though Gu Qing was the number one martial artist in the world, the women aboard were all formidable martialists, and they could sense even subtle movements on board.

"The originator of evil shall have no descendants."

Gu Qing gazed at Shan Wanjing and teased: "Think more about Zhu Yuyan."

Shan Wanjing punched him again.

Gu Qing chuckled, pulled Shan Wanjing close, and reopened the Book of Eternal Life, guiding her to calm her breath and seek resonance within it—only when she focused on martial cultivation could she set aside her troubles.

The Perfumed Boat set sail once more, traveling down the Han River to Xiangyang without docking. Shi Feixuan suddenly changed expression and came to Gu Qing's side: "My master has arrived."

Gu Qing had already sensed her presence. He walked to the bow and saw a nun standing on shore, her head shaven, her face clearly defined. Unlike Shi Feixuan's fresh-rain-over-mountain aura, this nun radiated a vast, magnanimous presence—like a bodhisattva descending from heaven, embracing and pitying all.

Perfect for practicing Yoga Tantra with me…

The moment Gu Qing saw the nun, this thought arose in his mind—so strongly that he completely ignored the beautiful figure beside her.

"Absorb Power Technique!"

Gu Qing reached out remotely toward the nun, unleashing his true qi to draw her and the woman beside her in. Neither resisted; both swayed and landed gently on the Perfumed Boat.

"Fan Qinghui…"

Lu Miaozhi, upon seeing the nun, naturally named her.

In his youth, Lu Miaozhi had been a prominent figure in the Jianghu, once pursued Zhu Yuyan, was an ageless friend of Bi Xiuxin, and had been friends with Xiang Yutian—he naturally knew Fan Qinghui.

"Grand Master Gu."

Fan Qinghui clasped her hands together and said to Gu Qing: "I've long heard of your great name."

The abbess of the Pure Chamber had long entered the realm of Sword Mind Enlightenment. Now, with hands clasped, she inspired nothing but reverence—as if every word she spoke came from pure sincerity.

In the original story, Fan Qinghui spoke softly and shifted the fate of the world, directly recruiting Xu Ziling as her disciple and guardian of the Pure Chamber.

"I'm the one who has long admired you."

Gu Qing looked at Fan Qinghui and said frankly: "I thought you'd wait for me on Emperor's Stepping Peak."

After Gu Qing slew Fu Cailin, crushed Goguryeo into the world's foremost power, and utterly altered the balance of the realm, their meeting had become inevitable.

"When the fate of the world is at stake, how could Qinghui dare remain idle in the Pure Chamber?"

Fan Qinghui spoke calmly, then glanced at Lu Miaozhi and Shang Qingya, exchanged greetings with them, and finally turned back to Gu Qing: "The fate of the realm now rests entirely in your hands…" Her voice trailed off, heavy with regret.

"Ah…" Gu Qing looked at Shi Feixuan: "Even your master knows how to beat around the bush."

Shi Feixuan blushed—she couldn't just tell her master, "Just seduce him outright."

"Grand Master Gu."

Fan Qinghui pointed to the woman beside her: "This is Shen Luoyan of the Wagon Hill Bandits."

Hearing Shen Luoyan's name, Gu Qing finally turned his gaze. To be honest, his eyes had grown jaded; his standards were high. Though Shen Luoyan was beautiful, he felt no stirring at all.

"Wagon Hill rose up for the sake of the people."

Fan Qinghui said: "But after you crushed Goryeo, heroes across the realm were paralyzed. They dared not resist Yang Guang's brutal taxation. This young woman was hunted down by Zhang Xutuo's remnants—if I hadn't intervened, she'd surely have perished in the chaos."

Fan Qinghui spoke truthfully. Gu Qing's personal power was too immense—he had obliterated even Fu Cailin, one of the Three Great Masters. Rumors claimed he could absorb mountain ranges and command shattered rocks. The people of the realm were powerless against him. Yang Guang exploited Gu Qing's reputation to wage war north and south, crushing dissent.

Zhang Xutuo had been steadily defeating Wagon Hill.

Gu Qing looked at Shen Luoyan: "You were pursued by Sui troops?"

"Qin Shubao."

!

Shen Luoyan lowered her head: "He's too powerful, and his soldiers are too many. I couldn't fight back."

"…"

Gu Qing fell silent. In the original story, Shen Luoyan captured Qin Shubao and dragged him into Wagon Hill. Now the roles were reversed: Wagon Hill dared not act, and Qin Shubao hunted Shen Luoyan.

"Grand Master Gu, the rise and fall of the people rests in your hands."

Fan Qinghui spoke softly, cutting short Gu Qing's scrutiny of Shen Luoyan—but her voice carried the power of the Cihang Sword Scripture, leaving no room for resentment.

"You haven't spoken to Shi Feixuan in a long time, have you?"

Gu Qing listened as Fan Qinghui spoke at length, then waved his hand: "You two talk first. When you're done, come find me."

Fan Qinghui looked at Shi Feixuan and realized many things had slipped beyond her control.

Shi Feixuan stepped close and whispered: "Master, Grand Master Gu is preparing to overthrow the corrupt emperor."

Hearing this, Fan Qinghui fell silent. No wonder Gu Qing had said nothing while she spoke—he'd already decided.

"That's even better."

Fan Qinghui nodded and walked toward Gu Qing: "Grand Master Gu, our goals now align. I wish to offer you the He Shi Bi."

The He Shi Bi?!

Upon hearing the He Shi Bi, all present were stunned—it was legendary among the people of this era.

Lu Miaozhi also looked at Gu Qing. In the Jianghu, it was said that whoever possessed the He Shi Bi or the Yang Gong Treasure Vault could claim the realm. As the designer of the Yang Gong Treasure Vault, Lu Miaozhi knew its secrets best. Hearing Fan Qinghui offer the He Shi Bi to Gu Qing, he knew Gu Qing's destiny was sealed.

Gu Qing looked at Fan Qinghui and smiled: "What do you want in return?"

"Peace for the realm."

Fan Qinghui said earnestly.

(End of Chapter)