Chapter 296: This Is How You Don

Dan Wanjing's eyes blazed like fire, her insteps taut and straight, dark tresses veiling her cheeks, yet her vivid red lips, flushed cheeks, and fair skin combined into a breathtaking beauty.

"Grand Master Gu, that's enough."

Dan Wanjing slightly bent her insteps, arms looping around Gu Qing's neck, cooing: "This time, he's really gone for good."

After their performance, Shang Ming stormed off in furious rage, spitting blood; the two then amused themselves further at a nearby inn. Dan Wanjing's lingering resentment toward Zhu Yuyan had largely dissipated.

"I hope Shang Ming finds some spine this time."

Gu Qing said.

Dan Wanjing was nearly worn out, yet Shang Ming, as a key figure in the Dongxiang Sect, ought to swiftly find another bride and marry… though beauties like Dan Wanjing were hard to come by.

Gu Qing and Dan Wanjing tidied their robes and returned to the Ziwei Palace, where they ate the meat porridge prepared by Lu Miaozǐ. Gu Qing then received Du Gu Feng within the Ziwei Palace.

Luoyang City was now under Sui control, and the Du Gu Clan was one of Luoyang's major powers.

"Du Gu Feng pays homage to the Grand Master."

Du Gu Feng, the current head of the Du Gu Clan, arrived and, seeing Gu Qing seated with imperial ease, bowed deeply.

Gu Qing raised his hand, and the He Shi Bi slid from his sleeve onto the desk.

Without the He Shi Bi, I let you call me Grand Master—but now that I hold it, what do you call me?

Du Gu Feng's eyes gleamed; he understood Gu Qing's resolve and immediately knelt, crying "Ten thousand years!"

"Rise."

Gu Qing told Du Gu Feng to stand. "We're all one family. No need for such formalities."

Hearing "one family," Du Gu Feng thought of Du Gu Feng and felt a wave of relief.

An emperor marrying a minister's daughter has always been a means of alliance.

"The world today still bows to martial strength."

Gu Qing said: "So our system must begin with the Six Gate Bureau."

Though the Tale of the Twin Dragons of Tang ranks low among Huang's wuxia, its Grand Masters still carry real weight—take Fu Cailin, who could sustain a nation, a feat of no small magnitude.

Gu Qing told Du Gu Feng this to prompt him to mobilize men and begin forming a department. To become emperor, one man alone is not enough; a tight power structure below is essential, so the emperor can oversee the whole without micromanaging.

Fortunately, historical systems had been recorded since ancient times; later dynasties corrected the mistakes of earlier ones. In this world of the Twin Dragons of Tang, though called the Tang, productivity was exceptionally high: paper circulated widely, smoking pipes had become weapons, city walls stretched dozens of zhang tall—all documented, even more prosperous than Ming and Qing. Gu Qing modeled his system after Ming and Qing.

What followed was mostly Gu Qing speaking, while Lu Miaozǐ and Du Gu Feng took notes; when he finished, both men looked at him with admiration.

"Your Majesty's foresight is profound, your insights incisive—we cannot match you."

Du Gu Feng fervently flattered: "I shall return and immediately contact the Li Clan, the Song Clan, and the Yuwen Clan to join us here…"

Gu Qing watched Du Gu Feng's fanaticism and felt a strange unease.

Gu Qing talks, talks, talks.

Below, they write, write, write.

When he finishes, they erupt in ecstatic cheers.

Will this make the Sui-Tang people feel the sun's radiance…?

"In short, gather these people as quickly as possible."

Gu Qing said gravely: "I will not hoard this glory alone!"

By absorbing the leaders of major factions into his own system, they would become a shared interest group, pushing Gu Qing to overthrow Yang Guang—then Gu Qing would be the people's undisputed choice.

How much good merit would that yield?

In the following days, Gu Qing remained in Luoyang, fully consolidating power—including the Giant Peng Gang led by Yun Yuzhen.

The Cihang Pure Garden had chosen Gu Qing out of desperation, but Fan Qinghui, seeing how orderly his arrangements were and how rational his system, found her resistance to him diminishing—until Gu Qing began earning good merit from her.

"You've reached the Peak of Demonhood so quickly?"

Shi Feixuan's jade features showed surprise, a smile on her lips as she asked in astonishment.

Gu Qing's ability to be with Fan Qinghui meant he had fully mastered the Dao Heart Seed Demon Art—its peak, where the demon seed and dao heart fused.

"It's nothing remarkable."

Gu Qing said indifferently.

Gu Qing's own cultivation was already strong, enough to activate the Dao Heart Seed Demon Art; moreover, with his "good merit" as a cheat, ascending to the Peak of Demonhood was effortless for him.

But now that he'd reached the Peak of Demonhood…

Gu Qing embraced Shi Feixuan; the demon seed and immortal embryo secretly communicated, deepening her flush. Fan Qinghui had already been consumed—Shi Feixuan was next.

"Master Gu, you can't do this."

Wan Wan stepped forward, eyes reproachful: "Wan'er's Heaven's Devil Art hasn't reached the Eighteenth Level yet. If you consort with the Saintess, what hope will I have left?"

Gu Qing glanced at Wan Wan, kissed her, and felt her supple, lush form. "Don't worry—I'll take you along."

After this playful exchange, Wan Wan asked: "Master Gu, why choose Shen Luoyan for your Six Gate Bureau?"

Shen Luoyan had been hunted by Qin Shubao, rescued by Fan Qinghui—she naturally carried the scent of the Cihang Pure Garden.

"Because she has the talent."

As he spoke, Gu Qing kept studying Wan Wan.

In the Sun-Moon Sky, Wan Wan, consumed by longing for Xu Ziling, had long since passed—but her two disciples were each more extraordinary than the last.

"To establish the Six Gate Bureau, we need to train a cadre."

Gu Qing asked Wan Wan: "Would you like to train them?"

Wan Wan's eyes lit up; she clung tighter to his arm. "Of course I will!" For her, this was the perfect chance to embed herself in the Six Gate Bureau.

Shi Feixuan watched Gu Qing, realizing he had no ambition for power—hence she allowed Wan Wan to train his subordinates, utterly unafraid the Six Gate Bureau would become the Yin Gui Sect's foundation.

To Gu Qing, whether Daoist or demonic, if it worked, he'd use it.

This reminded Shi Feixuan of when Gu Qing invited Lu Miaozǐ, saying, "I never sought the throne, yet I know the people's suffering"—Gu Qing truly had no desire for the throne.

In Luoyang, news of Gu Qing holding the He Shi Bi spread across the land; hearing he sat within the Ziwei Palace, all major powers rushed to pledge allegiance. Within half a month, men came from every corner of heaven and earth.

Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin of the Li Clan.

Song Zhi, Song Shidao, Song Yuhua, and Song Yuzhi of the Song Clan.

Li Mi of the Wagon Hill Bandits, Du Fuwei of Huaijiang, and others.

In the Ziwei Palace, Gu Qing studied Li Mi closely.

During dynastic transitions, prophecies often arose—like in the late Xin Dynasty of Wang Mang, when rumors said Liu Xiu would become emperor, and a man sharing his name was executed. In the Sui-Tang era, the prophecy "Peach and Plum Son" instantly triggered panic—yet it referred to Li Yuan's family.

"Master."

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling arrived together and bowed to Gu Qing.

Gu Qing hadn't seen his two young disciples in days; seeing their adolescent changes and more vibrant internal qi, he felt pleased, told them to rise, and asked how they'd come.

"We came together from the Celestial Master Sect."

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling exchanged glances.

At this stage, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were inseparable.

"Master, here is a scroll written by the Song Clan Lord from the Celestial Master Sect, to be delivered to you."

As he spoke, Kou Zhong stepped forward and handed the scroll to Gu Qing.

Gu Qing flipped through the scripture, reading the Daoist texts; the more he read, the more astonished he became. He swiftly scanned the entire scroll, used his good merit to memorize it completely, then began pondering its profound mysteries.

For this scripture was none other than the Celestial Master Sect's secret: the Yellow Heaven Art.

In the Borderlands Era, Yan Fei was the finest swordsman—but even he was suppressed by the Yellow Heaven Art when facing Sun En, for once perfected, its qi merged with heaven and earth, granting endless internal power.

"Did the Song Clan Lord have any message?"

Gu Qing asked.

Kou Zhong replied immediately: "Master Song is deep in deciphering the secret and gave no instructions for our coming—only that he urges you to proceed without restraint."

Proceed without restraint?

Gu Qing nodded.

"Grand Master Gu."

Yuwen Chengdu rushed in, carrying a stunning beauty; when he saw Gu Qing, the woman's face turned ashen, but Yuwen Chengdu knelt to claim credit: "I've captured this Goguryeo assassin!"

Gu Qing looked at the woman Yuwen Chengdu set down—her gaze cold with hatred, her expression rigid.

"Fu Junyu?"

Gu Qing named her at once.

"Yes!"

Fu Junyu lifted her chin defiantly, spitting hatred: "Gu Qing, you Han dog! I wish I could kill you right now!"

After Gu Qing crushed Goguryeo, Fu Junyu came to the Sui to seek revenge, killing many along the way and causing chaos in Daxing. But being young and unrefined in martial arts, lacking encounters with true masters, she had roamed the Jianghu freely.

"How did you catch her?"

Gu Qing turned to Yuwen Chengdu.

"I gathered intelligence, tracked her movements, and seized her in one strike."

Yuwen Chengdu smiled. "Grand Master Gu, you once told me on the Piaoxiang not to waste food. This girl has some beauty—I offer her to you!"

Yuwen Chengdu often heard at home that no woman could please Gu Qing; after capturing Fu Junyu, he decided to send her to him.

This also eased the Yuwen Clan's urgent need.

"You've done well."

Gu Qing gave Yuwen Chengdu a thumbs-up.

Long ago on the Piaoxiang, Gu Qing had taught Yuwen Chengdu the Damo Internal Art and the Great Golden Strength Finger—both clearly mastered; his bearing now differed greatly from before.

"But this woman…"

Gu Qing looked at Fu Junyu, watching her defiant, unyielding posture, and said: "Kill her outright."

Gu Qing already had many beauties around him; Fu Junyu's beauty was no longer remarkable, and between Gu Qing and Fu Junyu, there was national enmity and familial hatred—with no room for forgiveness. Killing her would only remove a threat.

Fu Junyu suddenly lowered her head, staring at Gu Qing seated in the center. She hadn't expected his cold words to mean her death.

Fu Junyu was not afraid of death—but dying without value was something she could not bear.

"Kill her?"

Yuwen Chengdu looked at Fu Junyu, wanting to plead for her, but then remembered his own tangled, precarious position—his survival uncertain from day to day—and sighed.

Gu Qing was wasting food.

I should never have sent her to Gu Qing in the first place…

"Gu Qing, you'll face retribution!"

Fu Junyu cursed at Gu Qing: "Wait! Within a year, your retribution will come!"

A year? My retribution?

The eleventh year of Daye?

Gu Qing racked his brain but could not think of any force in the Jianghu that could kill him within a year.

Unless Guangchengzi inside the Divine Warrior Temple revived.

"Grand Tutor Gu."

Li Shimin stepped forward and said to Gu Qing: "The remnants of Goguryeo appear to have allied with Turkic forces."

The greatest external force in the north today was the Turks. Because Emperor Yang Guang had ruined the Sui, internal chaos had erupted, and every faction sought rebellion—while the Turks became the unifying force for them all. Now, in the tenth year of Daye, many things lay buried underground, waiting until Yang Guang's death, when all the "Khans" would rise.

And because of the Sui's internal chaos, in the future, Turkic people would enter the Sui realm and become honored guests, superior to all.

Now that Li Shimin had mentioned Turkic forces, many in the hall grew uneasy, glancing at the Li clan members and silently cursing: even the Li clan was not clean.

"Turkic forces?"

Gu Qing used the Divine Mind-Seeking Technique to whisper to Yuwen Chengdu: "Has Fu Junyu been killed?"

Yuwen Chengdu, astonished by Gu Qing's supernatural power, immediately replied.

"If she's dead, bring back her corpse."

Gu Qing sat in the Ziwei Palace, watching Yuwen Chengdu and his guards carry Fu Junyu's body back. Yuwen Chengdu had acted too swiftly—Fu Junyu's head was severed from her body.

"Pour oil."

Gu Qing ordered.

Yuwen Chengdu immediately doused her with lamp oil. As Gu Qing blew with his palm wind, flames erupted across Fu Junyu's body, crackling loudly as the flesh burned.

In the hall, besides the Four Clans, many other factions were present. Watching Fu Junyu's corpse burn in the grand hall, feeling it up close, they all felt uneasy. When they looked at Gu Qing, their eyes held fear… This burning of Fu Junyu's body clearly responded to Li Shimin's accusation of collusion with Turkic forces.

Now, burning the corpse was a warning to others.

Yuwen Chengdu, watching the flames below, suddenly understood: this was what "not wasting food" meant.

Fu Junyu's body gradually burned down to bone.

The Ziwei Palace in Luoyang grew icy cold; many felt a chill crawl up their spines.

"Dismissed!"

Gu Qing rose and left.

(End of Chapter)