Chapter 370: Gu Qing Is Very Devoted

Gu Qing moved instantly forward, one arm around Bai Suzhen, the other around Xiao Qing. He first checked Xiao Qing's condition: she was dazed but her vital signs were stable, and even in unconsciousness, she showed no sign of revealing her true form.

It was as if she were asleep.

Then Gu Qing turned to Bai Suzhen.

"I don't know what happened—I suddenly felt overwhelming fatigue."

Bai Suzhen mustered what strength she could, lifting her eyes to speak to Gu Qing.

"Let's go back first."

With one arm around Bai Suzhen and the other around Xiao Qing, Gu Qing had already addressed the immediate crisis. He instructed Xiao Qing to summon Bai Fu from the Five Ghosts to hire a carriage. Then, still holding both women, he carried them to the road, boarded the carriage, and rushed toward Tianyun Temple.

Since Zhao Gou arrived in Hangzhou, the city has been filled with temples, and incense offerings have been fervent. Tianyun Temple belongs to the Shenshao Sect; its Daoists are said to trace their lineage to Lin Lingsu and cultivate the Five Thunder Method. Gu Qing observed carefully and found no divine signs—yet the temple's veneration of the Four Northern Saints proved remarkably efficacious.

The Four Northern Saints are the Marshal Tianpeng, the Marshal Tianyou, the Marshal Yisheng, and the Marshal Yousheng. Notably, the Marshal Yousheng is also known as the True Martial Marshal, the True Martial Great Emperor. All four are ministers of the Purple Micro Emperor. After the Ming Dynasty, devotion to the True Martial Great Emperor grew ever higher, elevating his position until he stood equal to the Purple Micro Emperor.

Gu Qing left Xiao Qing under the watch of the Five Ghosts and brought Bai Suzhen into Tianyun Temple. He lit incense before the Four Northern Saints and chanted a spell.

"Disciple Bai Suzhen, devoted to saving lives, has carelessly had her spirit clouded. I beg the Marshals to guide me through this confusion and dispel this calamity."

Bai Suzhen prayed with sincere heart.

After deciding to repay her debt, she had once gone to the True Martial Marshal to plead her case. There, before him, she swore that if she clung to worldly desires, she would perish in thunder and be buried beneath mountains. The True Martial Marshal had then purified her demonic aura.

Now, in her suffering, she naturally came here to pray.

"The way to resolve it lies in your hand."

The statue of Marshal Tianpeng trembled, and a voice echoed naturally—while the pill in Gu Qing's chest pulsed.

"Marshal Tianpeng."

Gu Qing spoke quickly: "This pill was given by Lu Dongbin. It can save only one. Now both Bai Suzhen and Cen Biqing are in peril. I beg the Marshal to show me the way to save them both."

This time, the Four Northern Saints remained silent.

Gu Qing and Bai Suzhen pleaded before them—but the Four Northern Saints offered no further divine response.

In the end, Gu Qing lit incense, burned paper money, donated silver, and helped Bai Suzhen leave the temple.

In the Tongren Hall.

Gu Qing laid Xiao Qing on the bed, helped Bai Suzhen sit beside her, then looked into Bai Suzhen's eyes. He took the pill from his chest and placed it in her hand. "Take this pill. Do not swallow it unless absolutely desperate. I must leave to seek a cure for you both."

Lu Dongbin had suddenly given one pill—then both Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing fell into unconsciousness. Combined with the silence of the Four Northern Saints, Gu Qing understood: this was a choice between two.

The pill was meant for the White Snake—or the Green Snake.

Gu Qing disliked this kind of choice. It made him seem fickle. But in truth, he had always been devoted—devoted only to beautiful people.

So he would take a risk. He would try to claim both the White Snake and the Green Snake.

"No!"

Bai Suzhen gripped Gu Qing's hand firmly. "Fa Hai is still outside."

Fa Hai no longer targets Bai Suzhen—but he will target Gu Qing. If Gu Qing leaves and meets misfortune…

"You've forgotten—the Buddhist summer retreat has begun."

Gu Qing reassured Bai Suzhen.

Fa Hai must now sit quietly, chanting sutras and offering prayers.

Hearing this, Bai Suzhen relaxed slightly, glancing toward the unconscious Xiao Qing on the bed.

Gu Qing held an incense stick and approached the statues of Shennong, Bianque, Sun Simiao, and Wei Shanjun. He inserted the incense and prayed sincerely.

He had long venerated these four Medicine Gods—they were, in a sense, part of his network.

The incense burned, its smoke rising straight and steady.

"Is this… a path to Heaven?"

Gu Qing watched the smoke, pondering.

In the tale of the White Snake, Xu Xian once forced Bai Suzhen to reveal her true form by giving her realgar wine on the Dragon Boat Festival, terrifying her to death. She then journeyed to Heaven and the Underworld to save Xu Xian's life. Now, seeing this steady smoke, Gu Qing's mind suddenly connected to Heaven.

But if he went to Heaven, whom should he seek?

As he considered, Gu Qing bade farewell to the Four Demon Gods, set up an altar in the courtyard, and prayed to Marshal Ma.

"Master, why are you setting up an altar in the courtyard? What are you planning?"

Xu Xian entered the courtyard at that moment, seeing Gu Qing carefully preparing the altar, and asked curiously.

"To pray to the gods."

Gu Qing replied succinctly. He glanced at Xu Xian and remembered something. "The fruit-eggplants have just come in, but prices are high and supplies scarce—most are bought by the palace. Go to the market and somehow gather ten crates of fruit-eggplants. Deliver them to Lingyin Temple."

Master Yuan Kong of Lingyin Temple's words still echoed—but Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing's plight was far more urgent. So Gu Qing decided to send Xu Xian in his stead.

A disciple serves his master's needs.

"Ten crates of fruit-eggplants…"

Xu Xian nodded at once, then frowned in difficulty.

The fruit-eggplants were newly harvested—hard to acquire in quantity.

"Go to Old Zhang."

Gu Qing pointed him a clear path. "He sells night soil in Hangzhou. He knows which households buy the most fertilizer—and which grow the best fruit-eggplants."

Old Zhang's daughter, Mingzhu, was the forgotten unfortunate in the original tale. Gu Qing healed her mind and had done her family a great favor.

Hearing this, Xu Xian nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes."

"Good. Go to the front hall now."

After giving the order, Gu Qing remembered another matter. "Hanwen, south of the docks, there's a large village cluster. If you have time, go there and offer free medical aid. Give them the herbs—no charge."

Lu Dongbin wanted Gu Qing to rebel. Gu Qing planned to first build a solid foundation.

As for what comes after—that can wait.

Xu Xian nodded, praising Gu Qing's kindness, then went to the front hall. Meanwhile, Gu Qing knelt in the courtyard and prayed sincerely to Marshal Ma: "Great Emperor Huaguang, Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing are in peril. I cannot stand idle. I bow before you now—grant me the path to Heaven…"

Gu Qing had once visited Heaven before—entirely through the guidance of the Fairy of Flowers. With his current cultivation, he could not fly into the Heavenly Palace himself.

Only those who have reached the Tribulation-Crossing Realm possess such ability—like Fa Hai, who speaks with the Buddha, or Bai Suzhen, who reaches Heaven and Earth.

After his sincere prayer, Gu Qing sat on his meditation cushion, silently reciting the Daoist scriptures, waiting quietly for a response from Great Emperor Huaguang.

Until midnight, two flames suddenly appeared, forming two fiery wheels that hovered before Gu Qing.

The Wind-Fire Wheels!

One of Great Emperor Huaguang's treasures!

(End of Chapter)