Chapter 67

Seeing her lost in thought, Lu Xingzhou added, "The world has many facets… I don't know if your Tianyao Sacred Ground requires cultivating through romantic emotions, but during your time beside Shen Tang, you've seen plenty of other things…"

"For example?"

"Royal succession struggles, siblings killing each other, a father breaking his daughter's legs, a mother's death shrouded in mystery yet uninvestigated—aren't these changes in kinship part of the world? A city lord raising demons to torment his people, all for a mere demonic technique—aren't these also part of the world… You witnessed it all firsthand. Didn't it stir even a single thought in you?"

"No."

"That's because it's always been someone else's affair, unrelated to you. When you finally feel it concerns you—when you lie awake over these things—that may be the path to your upper third grade."

Gu Du Qingli found this somewhat reasonable, but perhaps her master's meaning wasn't entirely this—perhaps true cultivation came when one could still face such experiences with a heart as cold as a frozen river.

She didn't argue, only asked: "You've only just obtained the transcendent technique. You haven't even fully studied it—how can you understand others' paths?"

Lu Xingzhou sighed: "Because I have the backing of an entire world."

He'd read too many novels; all this talk of refining the heart through worldly affairs boiled down to just a few factors. Just now he'd been analyzing how the nine-grade system was a completely flawed classification—was this really what someone raised under the Daqian system would think…

Gu Du Qingli didn't understand. "I've experienced nothing firsthand. I'm an orphan, raised since childhood by my master. I have no kinship. If you speak of kinship… my master is it."

Lu Xingzhou didn't know why he couldn't speak many words to Shen Tang, yet always felt an urge to tease the clearly colder Bai Mao.

Right now, he very much wanted to tease Little Machine, coax her into trying romantic feelings—starting with us… But the words reached his lips and he remembered Shen Tang's gentle gaze, so he said nothing, instead changing it to: "Start with friendship, then."

Gu Du Qingli fell silent for a moment, then murmured softly: "You really think of her in everything—even this, you're tying me to her."

Lu Xingzhou opened his mouth but stopped, feeling slightly embarrassed.

This remark referred to himself, not Shen Tang… This misunderstanding somehow elevated it.

But wasn't Bai Mao's soft tone like a compliment after elevation?

His mind flashed—he replied directly: "I'm your friend too."

Gu Du Qingli couldn't tell what that tiny dissatisfaction had stemmed from, but after hearing this, she instantly felt much better.

Was this one form of worldly affairs?

She felt something… This was indeed a change in feeling she'd never experienced in over a decade of frozen stillness, though the ripple was faint.

The furnace lid popped open, five Rong Xue Gui Yuan Pills leapt out. Lu Xingzhou waved his hand—the pills floated automatically before Gu Du Qingli: "These past days, as we sold Rong Xue Gui Yuan Pills, what was the market's reaction? What about the Incense Pavilion's response?"

Gu Du Qingli said: "I just came out of seclusion—I haven't inquired about these things. If you want to know, I'll have Shen Tang come find you later. Wait…"

"Hmm?"

"Hasn't she been coming daily to report the situation to you?"

"... No."

Gu Du Qingli scrutinized him suspiciously. Only recently, when Lu Xingzhou lived with An Nuo in the back mountain, Shen Tang ran to him every day—climbing up and down the mountain until the poor Bai Mao was exhausted. Now, with no distractions nearby—even An Nuo avoided staying long due to the excessive heat—why wouldn't Shen Tang come daily, even hourly? Why had she stopped coming…

Lu Xingzhou cleared his throat twice: "Do you still want to leave?"

Gu Du Qingli replied seriously: "If it benefits my cultivation, I'll stay a while longer. If I'm certain it's useless, I'll leave."

"Don't leave… Have Shen Tang come. Besides asking about the situation, I need her help with something."

"What kind of help? Since you're also my friend, why not ask me?"

Lu Xingzhou: "..."

The truth was, after these days of recuperation, he felt ready to attempt rehabilitative training—he'd even stood and taken a few steps alone. But that was nothing compared to walking with someone supporting him. An Nuo was too short to help, and no one else could enter this place short-term. The only person Lu Xingzhou could think of was Shen Tang.

They'd hugged and touched so many times already—Shen Tang probably wouldn't mind. Didn't she even offer to support him that day…? More contact might ease the awkwardness of that kiss on the cheek.

But now Bai Mao asked seriously…

Lu Xingzhou thought a moment, then decided to be direct: "I need someone to support me while walking—just like you supported Shen Tang before."

Gu Du Qingli stood there, silent for a long while.

Just moments ago she claimed to be a friend and asked why he didn't ask her—now that the friend actually spoke, she refused?

How to respond? Circuitry burned out. System crashed.

Lu Xingzhou found her expression hilarious and deliberately teased: "I've supported you before when you were injured."

"You didn't support me…" Gu Du Qingli began, then suddenly fell silent, recalling how she'd sat on his lap while injured.

Was that support? Did you use your sword hilt to support me?

Better not mention it—now that he did, how could she dare touch him again? She still didn't understand why she'd gone blank, limp, and… leaked that day. If danger were measured, that was the most perilous moment of her entire cultivation—any ninth-grade assassin could've killed her then.

Thinking of it, she nearly fled: "I can't help with this—I'll go call Shen Tang."

Lu Xingzhou watched her flee, unable to suppress a chuckle. He'd feared she'd grow colder after her breakthrough—turns out she was still this adorable.

But this was still only fourth grade… Third grade was the dividing line…

"You're grinning like some old auntie on the street. Do you really like Qingli so much?" Shen Tang's voice came, her expression stern.

"..." Judging by her sudden appearance, Shen Tang had been here all along—hiding somewhere watching him and Bai Mao talk? What kind of mindset was this…

Lu Xingzhou only smiled: "Qingli's thinking is simple. She's adorable."

Shen Tang's face remained stiff: "So my thinking is complicated?"

"But I still asked her to fetch you to support me." Lu Xingzhou met her eyes, answering seriously: "And the proof is—you're the only one who will help me."

Meeting his gaze, Shen Tang surrendered within a breath.

No wonder people say you fall in love with dogs—this look was lethal. Pure cheating.

She pouted, then walked over, stiffly saying: "Get up. I'll support you for a while."

Lu Xingzhou stood. Shen Tang willingly draped his arm over her shoulder, then warned sternly: "If you dare sneak-attack me like last time, I'll whip you!"

Lu Xingzhou just smiled.

Shen Tang said nothing more, carefully supporting him as they walked, speaking like an old married couple: "The pill and flying sword industries have followed your predictions exactly these past days."

That kiss, as if it had simply passed—no trace remained.

Lu Xingzhou responded just as naturally: "Tell me specifics?"

"We entrusted the most renowned auction house in Xiazhou, Wanbao Pavilion, to auction several 'Duan Yue' swords. The response was extremely enthusiastic. Now, Xiazhou's elite all assume our sect's swords are the best. On the surface, we've only auctioned small amounts of high-grade swords, avoiding direct conflict with Cangshan Sword Sect's low-grade ones—but given this trend, once we launch low-grade flying swords, the market will be entirely ours." Shen Tang admitted, with a touch of admiration: "The trend matches your prediction exactly. You're so young…"

"Stop… Are you trying to trick me into calling you sister again?"

"Hmph." Shen Tang snorted, muttering, "There were also elders who raised the view, saying they didn't know whether it would intensify the conflict with the Cangshan Sword Sect."

"That's a matter for later. Before this, we hadn't completely fallen out with the Cangshan Sword Sect, so they'll continue to sit and watch. If we can successfully suppress the Incense Pavilion, the Cangshan Sword Sect will only bow out of the Xiazhou market gracefully—after all, the gain or loss of a mere county town isn't that serious a matter."

Shen Tang turned her head to look at him with a meaningful gaze: "Now that the secret realm has opened, Xiazhou's ley lines will recover day by day. From now on, Xiazhou might even be upgraded back again…"

Lu Xingzhou smiled faintly: "Then we can only blame them for missing this first opportunity."

This was the ultimate move behind all the planning. What others saw as "establishing a foothold in the county town" was in truth a prefectural seat, a dragon-tiger spirit mountain, overlooking a thousand li. Only, the Heaven's Edge Sword Sect had to grow strong before this and be able to weather the storm—otherwise, it would only end up making a wedding dress for someone else.

Lu Xingzhou added: "Do you know why the Incense Pavilion was chosen as the primary enemy?"

Shen Tang was taken aback: "Isn't it because they want to vie for Danxia Mountain, creating a natural conflict?"

"That's only the surface cause of the conflict." Lu Xingzhou said, "This kind of alchemist sect is a bit different from other sects. They specialize in pill arts; combat isn't their strength. So most of the martial force within their sect isn't cultivated by themselves, but rather recruited from renowned strong experts who come to join them. These strong experts covet stable pill resources and are willing to serve as protectors—basically the same nature as bodyguards and guards hired by noble families…"

Shen Tang, hearing the strings and knowing the intended meaning: "What you're implying is that, under this kind of ecological setup, the loyalty and reliability of the Incense Pavilion's top experts are both questionable."

"Exactly—not even as reliable as the guards noble families train from childhood. In essence, they're outsiders through and through." Lu Xingzhou said slowly, "I've been thinking—were those two guards who tried to assassinate you that day really sent by Bai Jingtian? Even if Bai Jingtian really did send them, would they really be that obedient? Most likely, they were nothing more than guns in someone else's hands."

Shen Tang, lost in thought: "What does this have to do with you dealing with the Incense Pavilion first?"

"It does." Lu Xingzhou said, "After the Heaven's Edge Sword Sect merged with the Danxia Gang, it doesn't lack disciples now, but it badly lacks strong experts who can fight immediately. So we had to keep Miss Qingli by force—actually, it's not very fair to Miss Qingli either. If we wait for you to methodically cultivate a batch of upper third grade disciples, what year would that be until… Once the Incense Pavilion is crushed, those strong experts with nowhere to go—couldn't you make use of them?"

(End of chapter)