Chapter 39: It

The valley was quiet and serene, the little cottage clean and peaceful.

Xiaolongnu sat quietly by the stream, gazing at her reflection in the water, when suddenly she heard Cheng Ying playing the xiao; its melody was clear, elegant, and tranquil, causing Xiaolongnu to turn her gaze toward Cheng Ying. Xiaolongnu, well-versed in music, often played the qin for her own pleasure, and she could sense the complex emotions woven into the xiao’s tune—emotions much like her own at this moment.

After finishing her piece, Cheng Ying noticed Xiaolongnu’s bright, attentive gaze and walked over. Before she could speak, Xiaolongnu brought up music themselves, and the two exchanged a few quiet words, realizing they shared a desire to withdraw from the world—immediately drawing them closer.

“If I had taken you as my disciple back in the Ancient Tomb, perhaps I wouldn’t have left it.”

Xiaolongnu’s voice carried a tranquil calm.

Cheng Ying listened as Xiaolongnu spoke of the Ancient Tomb, then said: “I thought my nature was already dull, but I never imagined someone like you existed. If I ever have free time, I will surely visit the Ancient Tomb.”

The two whispered to each other, unaware they had found a kindred spirit; before Xiaolongnu’s eyes, Cheng Ying no longer wished to wear her mask, reaching up to remove her human-skin disguise—only to look up and see Gu Qing seated on the eaves, having heard every word. Cheng Ying felt a flush of shame and anger, snatched up a pebble, and hurled it at Gu Qing.

Gu Qing was impervious to reason, his ambitions as wolfish as ever—Cheng Ying knew this well.

Xiaolongnu also looked up, seeing Gu Qing perched on the eaves, her brow slightly furrowed. She had found Cheng Ying, a rare soul who understood her, and had uncharacteristically revealed her heart—only for Gu Qing to overhear it, stirring something uneasy within her.

Gu Qing caught the pebble lightly, smiled at the two, and said: “I wasn’t eavesdropping—I was observing Li Mochou’s movements.”

As he spoke, Gu Qing flung the pebble toward a tree canopy, and with a rustling crash, a woman leapt out from within.

She wore a saffron Daoist robe, plump and beautiful.

This was the famed Crimson Serpent Immortal, who had long lain in wait here, having heard every secret of Xiaolongnu’s heart.

“Little sister.”

Li Mochou, having heard so much of Xiaolongnu’s inner turmoil, said with pity: “The Jianghu is no place for peace, but the Ancient Tomb is too lonely to dwell in long. You should seek comfort elsewhere—not in that cold, dark tomb.”

Xiaolongnu nodded gently. Since childhood, this elder sister had taught her much; no matter how Li Mochou had tormented her—even bringing her to the brink of death—Xiaolongnu still felt some affection for her.

“Today is a matter of our Ancient Tomb Sect alone. Gu Qing, step aside!”

Li Mochou added.

She had just deployed her emotional card, now seeking to exclude Gu Qing entirely from the affair.

Li Mochou, a seasoned Jianghu figure with the sharpest intelligence, had heard how Gu Qing had bested the Mongolian Imperial Master at Lu’s Manor; she also knew the full power of the Twin Swords’ union, so letting Gu Qing stand by was the wisest course.

Xiaolongnu looked at Gu Qing.

“I should count as an insider.”

Gu Qing had no interest in Jianghu rules—if he were barred, wouldn’t Yang Guo step in?

Did he want to watch Xiaolongnu and Yang Guo perform the Twin Swords’ union?

The Hero would not allow such a thing.

Xiaolongnu was stunned by these words; Li Mochou was speechless.

“This is between my little sister and me.”

Li Mochou narrowed the scope again, confining it solely to Xiaolongnu and herself, completely excluding Gu Qing: “Lu Wushuang is my disciple; my little sister is the head of the Ancient Tomb Sect. What becomes of Lu Wushuang is our decision alone.”

Not long ago, Li Mochou had been defeated by the Twin Swords’ union of Gu Qing and Xiaolongnu. Watching them wield their swords in such tender, intimate harmony had wounded her deeply. While secluded to heal her heartbreak, she had pondered endlessly and concluded all blame lay with Lu Zhanyuan.

This reignited her desire to capture Lu Wushuang. Whenever she was displeased, she would torment Lu Wushuang—and her thoughts would then clear.

Gu Qing glanced at Xiaolongnu. Yang Guo was also barred—he need not fight.

But in terms of strength, their side could not match Li Mochou.

Yet Xiaolongnu nodded, accepting Li Mochou’s challenge.

“This is unfair.”

Gu Qing quickly said: “You are older than Xiaolongnu and your cultivation is far deeper. But since you’ve laid down the challenge tonight, why not give us a few days to prepare? When we’re ready, we’ll fight.”

Li Mochou’s age and cultivation far surpassed Xiaolongnu’s; without the Twin Hearts technique, Xiaolongnu stood no chance against her.

Unfortunately, Gu Qing had never had the chance to discuss the Twin Hearts technique with Guo Jing that night.

“A few days?”

Li Mochou sneered: “Shall I also arrange a carriage and horses so Lu Wushuang can wander the ends of the earth before coming to die?”

“You wish to delay? I’ll let you delay. Tomorrow at noon, I’ll come to instruct my little sister in the finer points of her art.”

After excluding Gu Qing, Li Mochou looked at Xiaolongnu and saw only a harmless little rabbit—teaching her would be effortless. She set the time and turned to leave.

Watching Li Mochou depart far into the distance, Yang Guo and Lu Wushuang finally emerged from the building, deeply worried about Xiaolongnu’s challenge.

“Miss Long, let’s find a quiet room and thoroughly exchange martial insights.”

Gu Qing took Xiaolongnu’s hand and led her toward a side chamber.

Xiaolongnu allowed herself to be led. At Lu’s Manor, she had once used the Jade Maiden Heart Scripture to help Gu Qing verify his martial understanding, allowing him to grasp the subtleties of Quanzhen martial arts. Now, facing Li Mochou, she had some confidence—but still needed to verify her understanding.

Yang Guo watched the chamber door close, his heart heavy. Unconsciously, he had become an outsider.

Yang Guo could now be replaced; Gu Qing could not.

“But what can be accomplished in one night?”

Cheng Ying sighed, troubled: “The gap in cultivation between Li Mochou and Miss Long isn’t something one night can close.”

Since Mei Chaofeng’s death, the only prominent female figures in the Jianghu have been Huang Rong and Li Mochou. Most in the martial world equate the two, and this stereotype only adds to Li Mochou’s intimidating pressure.

One night to close a cultivation gap…

Hearing Cheng Ying’s words, Yang Guo turned his face blankly toward the quiet chamber, then slapped himself hard across the cheek.

“Big Brother Yang, what’s wrong?”

Lu Wushuang, unaware of his thoughts, gently touched his face, concerned.

“It’s over!”

Yang Guo paced frantically. He had been wondering what martial art Gu Qing might teach—but suddenly, he recalled the day he attempted to assassinate Hao Datong and overheard Sun Bu’er’s instructions to Gu Qing.

Short time, swift results, the ability to catch up to Li Mochou’s cultivation in one night…

Yang Guo dared not think further.

(End of Chapter)