Chapter 55: I Will Solo the Golden Wheel Lama

The moon was bright, the stars sparse, the azure sky clear and still.

Gu Qing and Xiaolongnu each lay on a separate rope, their bodies close, gazing up at the night sky at the clear moon.

“A spring night’s moment is worth a thousand gold; flowers scent the air, the moon casts shadows; music and song drift faintly from pavilions, the courtyard swings sink into deep night.”

Gu Qing held Xiaolongnu’s hand, moved by the beauty of the night.

Originally, three of the Five Greats had arrived today, and Xiangyang City was as solid as an iron barrel; Gu Qing should have achieved his wish—but tomorrow, a major assault against the Mongols loomed, and Xiaolongnu feared Gu Qing’s strength would be diminished, refusing him at every turn, so his dream of consummation had to be postponed for a few more days.

After the Xiangyang battle ended, the two would consummate their union.

Xiaolongnu turned her face slightly, her eyes smiling.

“Your Twin Swords in Unison already place you among the top few masters in the world; once I transfer all my inner power to you, your martial achievements may surpass even Lin Chaoying, our ancestral master.”

Gu Qing said: “The higher your inner power, the fewer things you have to fear.”

Xiaolongnu, using the Ancient Tomb Sect’s lightness skill, could outpace Qiu Qianren; with Twin Swords in Unison, she could fight off a group, compensating for her inner power deficiency and becoming a figure on par with the Five Greats.

“Why do we need such high martial skill?”

Xiaolongnu had little desire for martial pursuit; she had no intention of entering the Jianghu—the Ancient Tomb was her true haven.

“Is there supreme joy in the world? Is there anything that can preserve life?”

Gu Qing turned to gaze at Xiaolongnu and said: “I have already found supreme joy; therefore, to preserve life is to prolong this joy.”

Is there supreme joy in the world?

This line comes from Zhuangzi. As one raised in the Ancient Tomb, Xiaolongnu had long studied scriptures in its quiet solitude, cultivating innate wisdom; thus, she had once debated Buddhist doctrine with the Southern Emperor. Now, hearing Gu Qing speak of finding supreme joy and seeking to preserve life, she understood he was speaking to her.

Supreme joy was being with her.

This caused Xiaolongnu’s cheeks to flush faintly.

Gu Qing leaned forward and lightly kissed her lips; Xiaolongnu let him, allowing him to savor it.

After a long while, they parted. Xiaolongnu looked at Gu Qing and softly asked: “Can inner power truly let us live longer?”

“Of course!”

Gu Qing affirmed.

Take no other example: in the Jin system’s “Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils,” Tian Shan Tonglao and Li Qiushui reached terrifying levels of inner power; at over ninety, they still moved like youths, their bodies not hindering their martial prowess at all. Regarding Wu Yashu’s death, Tian Shan Tonglao remarked: “Can a man die so easily?”

Jin-system martial arts may seem low-level, but they run deep. Even during the Tianlong era, it was called the twilight of martial arts, yet some of the Xiaoyao Sect’s techniques were shockingly advanced—far beyond their time. Further research should yield great progress.

“I never thought that far.”

Xiaolongnu said.

In the past, Xiaolongnu felt life and death made no difference; when death came, she accepted it calmly.

But now, she felt living longer wasn’t so bad.

Gu Qing held Xiaolongnu’s hand and said: “Then don’t think far ahead. We cultivate inner power to remain eternally healthy.”

The two leaned together, chatting softly, and fell asleep without noticing.

As dawn broke, Yang Guo came to greet them, saw Gu Qing and Xiaolongnu asleep, entwined in the courtyard, and was struck to the core—his face darkened. After greeting them, he turned and left.

“Guo’s expression looks bad.”

Xiaolongnu whispered.

“He loves his country too much.”

Gu Qing helped elevate Yang Guo’s sentiment: “The Song Dynasty’s circumstances truly are dire now...”

Gu Qing washed up briefly and entered the Guo residence’s reception hall, where many were already seated: Guo Jing in the center, to his left and right sat the Eastern Heretic, the Northern Beggar, and the Western Poison; Huang Rong, having just given birth, had also emerged; below them stood Zhu Ziliu, Feng Mofeng, and a host of Jianghu figures.

Overnight, Ouyang Feng had prepared his poison, and the group now discussed the night raid, aiming to drive back the Mongols in one decisive strike.

Notably, the Jianghu’s clashes with the Mongols were not confined to Xiangyang; behind the front lines, the Quanzhen Sect and the Beggar’s Sect had repeatedly assassinated Mongol officials, while Jianghu figures cut off Mongol supply lines. Though Gu Qing’s side seemed tranquil, the conflict had never paused a single moment.

“Tonight, Master Ouyang will infiltrate first to poison them; we will then launch our elite troops to storm the camp and kill their key officers. Once the Mongol camp is in chaos, our main force will follow...”

Guo Jing, possessing the Wu Mu’s Military Manuscript, understood military strategy most deeply.

He had already drawn a map of the enemy camp’s terrain, explaining positions, attack routes, and encirclement points to all. Even with Ouyang Feng’s poison, Guo Jing planned as if the enemy were fully capable—determined to secure victory.

Guo Jing assigned leadership roles: Huang Yaoshi and Hong Qigong led the main forces, while he himself commanded the Xiangyang Song troops. After this plan was laid out, everyone praised it; no further additions were needed.

“One thing.”

Gu Qing said: “Tonight, during the raid, I will strike directly at the Golden Wheel Lama.”

The Golden Wheel Lama had attacked repeatedly; now that a raid was planned, Gu Qing would target him.

Gu Qing had long wished to duel the Golden Wheel Lama properly—and deliver him a crushing defeat.

“Fu’er, give your Soft Hedgehog Armor to Grandmaster Gu.”

Guo Jing knew the Golden Wheel Lama was the enemy’s most dangerous foe; hearing Gu Qing planned to fight him, he ordered Guo Fu to hand over the armor.

“This...”

Guo Fu blushed, fidgeting: “I already gave it to Yang Guo.”

Yang Guo was going with Ouyang Feng to poison the enemy camp; Guo Fu, worried, secretly found him and had him wear the Soft Hedgehog Armor.

All eyes in the hall turned to Yang Guo, making him deeply embarrassed; he turned his head away.

In a forgotten corner, the Da and Xiao Wu stood, like outsiders.

Yang Guo was warm; they were cold.

“Let’s agree on signals. Don’t rush to win—just hold him off until our main force arrives, then we’ll take him together.”

Guo Jing had fought the Golden Wheel Lama multiple times and knew his danger: if the monk chose to flee, even Guo Jing couldn’t stop him.

Gu Qing smiled and looked at Feng Mofeng: “Forge me a few swords.”

In past clashes with the Golden Wheel Lama, his wheels always troubled Gu Qing. He had never gone to the Passionless Valley to retrieve the Lady’s Sword and Gentleman’s Sword, so he asked Feng Mofeng to forge several sharp, sturdy, durable blades for immediate use.

“Funny—I just happen to have some materials.”

Feng Mofeng replied: “When the Golden Wheel Lama last attacked, he dropped his silver wheel, bronze wheel, iron wheel, etc. I examined them closely—all plated with silver or bronze, but their cores are fine iron. With these, I can forge three swords.”

You collected the Golden Wheel Lama’s wheels?

Gu Qing couldn’t help smiling. Earlier, he had given Feng Mofeng the Golden Wheel and Iron Wheel, which Feng had already forged into Jade Bee Needles. Now, hearing Gu Qing planned to fight the Golden Wheel Lama alone, Feng immediately lit his furnace.

By afternoon, the three swords were hastily forged: one copper-colored, one silver, one black.

Gu Qing gave the copper and silver swords to Xiaolongnu to carry, and took the black sword himself, preparing for the night’s duel with the Golden Wheel Lama.

“I’ll guard you tonight!”

Xiaolongnu held her twin swords, her voice firm.

To duel the Golden Wheel Lama fairly, a proper environment was needed—Xiaolongnu, with her twin swords, could create it.

As they prepared to depart, Huang Yaoshi noticed Xiaolongnu beside Gu Qing—her aura serene and radiant, her spirit luminous, a perfect match for Gu Qing. Yet he remembered how this boy had secretly courted Cheng Ying behind Xiaolongnu’s back, and how his own disciple Cheng Ying had long desired to join him—forcing him, by a wager, to intervene...

Damn it!

(End of Chapter)