After Saving the Immortal Sect, I Became a Heartthrob - Chapter 3

Ding! Congratulations to the Host for completing Main Mission One: Assist Zhong Ming.Salvation Level checking… Current Salvation Level: 9%] [Ding! Detected that the Host’s obtained Salvation Level is higher than the Main System’s predicted standard value! Congratulations! Host’s Current Points: 60

Gu Congxing watched the strings of characters popping up on the transparent slate and couldn’t help but let a smile touch his lips.

According to this System, this world was actually a story titled The Cry of the Phoenix. Many characters within it died one after another, causing resentment and attacks from readers, which in turn made the energy of this small world unstable. He had been chosen by the System to save those characters who were destined to die.

Since their goals aligned, he saw no harm in cooperating with this foreign entity for a while.

“System, what are points used for?”

[Accumulated points can help the System exchange for higher permissions. For example, 8D reading of the original novel, unlocking target character inscriptions, and opening hidden plots.] [It’s even possible to change, increase, or decrease target characters!]

Gu Congxing raised his eyebrows in surprise. “The uses are greater than I imagined.” But what is 8D reading? Probably something similar to immersive storytelling.

When the System introduced the story, it used terms like “Beautiful, Strong, and Miserable,” “Dog Blood melodrama,” and “Heartthrob,” but Gu Congxing didn’t know their true meanings. It occurred to him that his knowledge of stories was far too shallow; he should read more to aid his future missions.

Someone who loves reading stories…

A light, peach-pink figure flashed through Gu Congxing’s mind. Yes, I’ll ask her for help later.

“By the way, System, what permissions can my current points open?”

[The Host has 60 points, which is just enough to open the ‘Unlock Character Inscription’ permission!]

“Will the points disappear after I exchange for this?”

No. All permission activations are based on the historical highest value of the Host’s existing points. No points are consumed to open permissions.

Gu Congxing nodded in understanding. Points that weren’t consumed but were measured by “historical highest value”…

“Then, I will open the ‘Unlock Character Inscription’ permission.”

[Ding! Successfully opened! The Host only needs to have physical contact with the target character and silently recite ‘Character Inscription’ in their heart to obtain it.]

Gu Congxing was about to ask for the specific meaning of an “inscription” when he heard footsteps behind him. He turned around, not bothering to hide the transparent slate. If he guessed correctly…

“Senior Brother Gu, Junior Brother Zhong’s examination is complete. You may go in to see him.”

Bai Lingwu, a refinement disciple with a gentle aura, spoke softly. His gaze was calm, and he didn’t spare a single glance toward the empty air.

Gu Congxing thought: As expected, he can’t see it. The System was likely an existence that only he could perceive in this world.

“Thank you, Junior Brother Bai. I’ve troubled you.” Gu Congxing nodded slightly, his face returning to its usual indifferent expression. Without a moment’s pause, he walked toward the medicine house.

Upon arriving at Muzhe Peak with his junior brother, Gu Congxing had gone straight to Elder Bai—the strongest medical cultivator in the sect besides the wandering Muzhe Venerable. He only hoped his junior brother wouldn’t suffer any permanent hidden ailments from this incident. Since a full examination required undressing, he had naturally stepped out.

“Oh, Congxing, you’re here.” Elder Bai stood up. On the bamboo bed beside him lay the sleeping Zhong Ming. Both men spoke via soul transmission to avoid waking the boy.

“Elder Bai, how are my junior brother’s injuries?”

“To be honest, terrible!” Elder Bai sighed. “The attackers were very vicious. The wound on his forehead that you can see is the lightest. Most of the other injuries are hidden beneath his clothes on his abdomen, back, legs, and joints. At best, they are bruised; at worst, they are bloody messes. He even has a broken rib.”

Gu Congxing’s heart tightened, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes. Indeed, I should have at least taken a limb from those three bastards…

“However, fortunately, high-grade healing pills were used in time to stabilize the injuries. By the time he reached me, some wounds had already begun to heal themselves.” Elder Bai observed the cloud of gloom on Gu Congxing’s face and gave a hearty smile. “Don’t worry, I’ve handled the rest. In less than a week, he’ll be able to move freely. In a month, he’ll be a lively young lad again.”

“Thank you, Elder Bai.” Gu Congxing handed over a silk pouch containing rare herbs from the Northern Snowy Mountains.

The smile on Elder Bai’s elegant, scholarly face widened. “Aiya, you child, I’ve told you—healing sect disciples is our duty. No need to be so polite.” As he spoke, his hands accurately snatched the pouch and tucked it into his robes. “Don’t be so formal next time, alright?”

Beside him, Bai Lingwu pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation.

Gu Congxing was used to this. “If there is a need in the future, I will trouble you again, Elder.”

The Elder, now in a fantastic mood after receiving rare herbs, nodded and dragged his disciple out the door. The rest only required someone to watch over the patient, a task Gu Congxing could manage even without medical training.

Gu Congxing found a chair and sat by Zhong Ming’s bed.

“By the way.” Elder Bai stopped at the threshold, his voice casual. “I didn’t expect a new disciple to have such a rare treasure as a high-grade healing pill. The Zhuoguang lineage is indeed wealthy.”

“Yes, Master has always treated us well,” Gu Congxing replied without looking back.

Elder Bai let out a light chuckle and stepped out of the medicine house.

Only after they had walked several yards away did Bai Lingwu ask his teacher, “Do you really think that spirit pill wasn’t a gift from the Zhuoguang Sword Venerable?”

Elder Bai patted his disciple’s head, his voice gentle. “The Sword Venerable is good to his disciples, of course, but he has been in seclusion for a long time. He spent less than a month with this little disciple, Zhong Ming. Would he have prepared so thoroughly? Not to mention, he usually gives his disciples offensive treasures. He hardly has any medicinal stores himself; that’s why every time Lan Jue comes to Muzhe Peak, he has to haul back a mountain of herbs and pills.”

Bai Lingwu’s eyes widened. “So you mean… it was Gu Congxing?”

“Who else could it be?” Elder Bai sighed, his gaze tinged with pity. “He’s a kid with a fearsome reputation on the outside, but toward his own sect, his devotion is truly profound…”

Even in deep darkness, a faint fragrance could be detected. And a warm breath.

Zhong Ming wondered in his hazy consciousness: Is this the scent of plum blossoms? Or pear blossoms? He seemed to recall his Senior Brother mentioning it before—this was Yuelin Incense.

A scent unique to his Senior Brother. He wanted to get even closer…

A warm, soft touch brushed against the tip of his nose, and Zhong Ming snapped his eyes open.

Before him was a sleeping, handsome face. The eyelashes were slightly upturned, rising and falling with the owner’s breath. Too close!

Alarm bells rang in Zhong Ming’s head, but in reality, he was frozen as if by a binding spell. Just now, did my nose touch Senior Brother’s hand?

Looking at Gu Congxing’s hands folded in front of his face, Zhong Ming’s heart felt incredibly soft. Senior Brother sleeps just like a child.

Gu Congxing had originally been sitting in the chair, then shifted to propping up his head. After watching Zhong Ming sleep so peacefully, he had become drowsy and drifted off without knowing.

Morning light had already pierced through the window, illuminating the medicine house. A beam of light fell right across Gu Congxing’s eyes; in his sleep, his brow furrowed slightly and his eyelids flickered.

Zhong Ming shifted his body upward, using his own head to block that inconsiderate sunlight, casting a shadow over Gu Congxing. The man’s breathing became even and long again.

Zhong Ming’s gaze was almost tangible; his golden eyes didn’t blink as they swept inch by inch across Gu Congxing’s face. Usually, his Second Senior Brother was upright and elegant, his sleeves fluttering in the wind. When he wasn’t paying attention, his expression carried a touch of pride and aloofness, reminiscent of a spirit crane or a white egret. He was a high and mighty, unattainable existence.

But now, his Second Senior Brother had risked danger to rescue him and was sleeping by his side like this. It was like a dream. In this moment, the man was completely unguarded. Beneath his slightly messy dark hair, his skin looked as white as snow, looking as if a single touch would leave a red mark.

Zhong Ming watched dotingly and couldn’t help but reach out to tuck a lock of hair behind his brother’s ear. He wanted to touch that soft skin, but a voice in his heart repeatedly warned: How can you take advantage of him while he’s sleeping?

Ultimately, his hand hovered for a long time before only lightly brushing past Gu Congxing’s lashes. Zhong Ming’s gaze paused as it reached his brother’s ear. Wait, what’s this?

It turned out that at the very tip of his brother’s right ear, there was a tiny red mole. This discovery made Zhong Ming giddy, as if he had unearthed a massive treasure. And what made him even more excited was finding another mole on his brother’s left eyelid. He only noticed it after a closer look, as his hand had been blocking it before.

Zhong Ming’s heart was filled with pure joy, as if all the sunlight in the world had been crushed and sprinkled into his soul, shimmering and gold.

“Senior Brother…” “Congxing…”

Zhong Ming softly whispered this sweetest of incantations, banishing all nightmares.

On the other side, however, Gu Congxing was trapped in a nightmare.

Faces flashed before his eyes grieving, angry, shocked, disappointed, struggling… He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he was facing the face of Si Junjian.

“Junjian…”

Elegant and beautiful, yet with a piercing gaze. Si Junjian had always been proud and upright, never mincing words, but why did his gaze feel so sharp today?

Forget it, he has helped me a lot lately. He has become more sincere and frank, even showing a shy smile occasionally. Perhaps a fellow disciple visited, or some sect matter is bothering him. Since he’s in a bad mood, I shouldn’t invite boredom…

Wait, what is that in his hand!?

How could the Nine Heavens Soul-Return Array be in his hands!

“Gu Congxing! Why are you practicing ancient demonic arts and forbidden techniques?!”

The voice was heart-wrenching, leaving Gu Congxing frozen in place like a statue.

Tell him I’m doing it to resurrect our fallen Master? But the Qingxuan Sword Sect hadn’t announced the death. If he explained, he would have to involve Xiao Wangyou and the massacre of the Kong Clan. How could he explain such complex matters in a single moment?

Besides, if his investigations were correct, Si Junjian’s master whom he viewed as family was likely secretly involved with the Gu Clan. If it truly related to the Kong Clan case… would a person as pure and upright as Si Junjian have his Dao Heart clouded?

Dao Heart damaged… Dao Heart shattered?! Drawn into a conspiracy and dying from a shattered Dao Heart just like Master?!

No, absolutely not! He couldn’t tell him!

The long silence caused Si Junjian’s shocked expression to turn into grief and indignation, before finally settling into stillness. The light dancing in those phoenix eyes went out.

Si Junjian struck out fiercely, his spirit sword carrying flames. Gu Congxing instinctively met the attack, only to realize the sword lunging at him was but a phantom! Gu Congxing’s heart jolted, but his sword momentum could no longer be retracted!

“Ugh! Cough… heh…”

Blood. So much blood. Crimson meandered down from Si Junjian’s left shoulder, yet he let out a smile as if he didn’t feel it a desolate, self-mocking smile.

“I truly am a fool… so, you really…” His unfinished words trailed off.

Gu Congxing felt as though his heart were being twisted by a knife. He knew that some things had irreversibly and eternally led to the wrong shore, pushing him to the end of the abyss. There was no going back.

…But even if the path ahead was an endless hell, he still had one task he had to complete. Only a few people were left; the array he had set for his Master was nearing completion. He could not fail now.

When Gu Congxing approached and took out a pitch-black pill, Si Junjian did not dodge; he simply stared at the man before him without moving. But when Gu Congxing held his head and forced the pill into his mouth, the darkness in Si Junjian’s expression changed slightly. It wasn’t the soul-taking poison he expected.

When Si Junjian looked up, he felt a startling drop of moisture hit his face and slide down quietly.

“…You, why are you crying?”

Si Junjian stubbornly tried to get one more look at Gu Congxing’s face, but his vision gradually faded into darkness.

“Congxing…”

Gu Congxing wiped away his tears and tucked the forbidden book the one that defied all world laws back into his robes.

“I’m sorry.”

A pang of pain rose from the depths of his soul, and his vision spun. But Gu Congxing refused to close his eyes, staring at that red figure as if to sear it into his memory.

Vague, noisy sounds echoed in his ears. Who is it? Who is shouting in rage?

“…Demon!” “Die!”

Gu Congxing blinked and found himself in the desert of Luoxizhou. Surrounded by a dense crowd were cultivators who had come upon hearing that the forbidden technique had been exposed.

Dammit! How did they find out! Has Si Junjian woken up? Or was he taken away by his fellow disciples?

He had indeed chosen to tell the world. He was truly the Pearl of West Continent, the famous Evil-Slaying Sword. …Truly, he showed no mercy.

If only it were a little later once he had succeeded, what would it matter if a thousand people besieged him? Why did it have to be at this final, critical step?

Thinking this, Gu Congxing’s gaze swept over the crowd of cultivators. He had already sent a divine sense transmission to Xiao Wangyou, containing all information about the forbidden technique he had refined; one look would show for whom it was set and how to complete it.

That man, Xiao Wangyou, was still a mortal enemy, someone loathsome to look upon. But if he were to entrust the array to someone, Xiao was the best choice. Xiao’s desire to resurrect Master was no less than his own. Only one person was left. It wouldn’t be hard for Xiao to complete the array; surely, he could bring Master back to life. He had also given Xiao some extra information clues regarding the Kong Clan massacre as a form of payment.

With these thoughts, Gu Congxing continued to stimulate the spiritual energy in his dantian. His high-speed rotating Golden Core was already showing cracks.

“Oh no, he’s going to self-detonate!”

Gu Congxing gave a resolute smile and squeezed his dantian even harder!

“No” “Congxing!!”

Piercing, heart-wrenching calls seemed to echo in his ears. Gu Congxing looked into the distance, but all he saw were the figures of cultivators fleeing in chaos. It must be an illusion; otherwise, how could I hear Si Junjian’s voice? To have such an auditory hallucination before death… he really was… absurd enough.

BANG—

Feeling his spiritual sea explode, Gu Congxing actually felt an indescribable sense of relief when the immense pain hit. Death. Warm, familiar darkness. After all the catastrophes and hardships, he was finally returning to the embrace of Mother Death.

—Why am I not afraid of death?

As his consciousness blurred into a scattered haze, Gu Congxing finally remembered.

—Because I was born from death.

“…Brother!” “Second Senior Brother!” “Wake up! Second Senior Brother!”

Gu Congxing slowly opened his eyes. Is this… the present?

“Second Senior Brother! You’re finally awake!”

Zhong Ming threw himself into Gu Congxing’s arms, hugging him tightly, his voice trembling slightly. He looked up at Gu Congxing, his eyes shimmering with tears.

“Junior Brother?” Gu Congxing had fully returned to his senses, knowing he had escaped that desperate nightmare. Feeling the warmth against his chest, he once again felt as if a lifetime had passed.

That’s right, it’s over. Now, the tragedies haven’t begun yet. There’s time. There’s still time for everything.

“Senior Brother, I saw you were still sleeping when I woke up. I didn’t want to disturb you, but I noticed your breathing was rapid and your face was pale…” He had even shed tears.

Zhong Ming had watched that single tear slide down. Gu Congxing’s eyebrows were tightly knit, his neck arched back unnaturally, like a bird waiting for the slaughter. The endless sorrow radiating from him was like an invisible tide, making Zhong Ming feel grief-stricken as well.

Zhong Ming’s voice was panicked. “I knew you were trapped in a nightmare and tried to wake you, but you kept getting worse. I had to push you. Senior Brother, thank goodness you finally woke up.”

“I’m sorry for scaring you.” Gu Congxing raised his arm and gently patted Zhong Ming’s head.

“Senior Brother!” Zhong Ming’s grip tightened. He refused to let go even though the movement caused his wounds to pull. “I know I am young and weak, and it’s hard for me to be someone you can rely on. But I am willing to solve your troubles and go through fire and water for you!”

The golden-eyed youth’s gaze was pure, yet carried an unshakeable determination. “If there is something sad in your heart, don’t keep it bottled up. If you can’t tell me, then beating me to vent your anger is also fine! I have thick skin; I’m perfect as a punching bag!”

“…Pfft.” Gu Congxing let out a laugh.

What nonsense is he talking? He was lying in bed covered in injuries, yet he wanted to be beaten?

“You rascal, just focus on recovering. What are you blathering about?” Gu Congxing intended to feign anger to tease him, but as soon as his eyes met those filled with worry, his heart softened again.

Ultimately, Gu Congxing let out a helpless sigh and brushed away the tears hanging from Zhong Ming’s lashes. “It’s enough as long as you are alive and well.” Your being alive is already the greatest comfort.

Zhong Ming’s cheeks turned red, and he stammered, unable to speak. Gu Congxing laughed again and lightly patted the boy’s back. A moment later, his voice, steady and slow, reached Zhong Ming’s ears.

“Become stronger with me, Zhong Ming. Strong enough to protect yourself and the important people around you. Don’t worry about being young and weak… we have a long way ahead of us.”

Zhong Ming’s body jolted, and a bright light burst from his eyes. “Yes!”

Just then, the System’s voice followed.

[Host! The second mission is here!] [Ding! Side Mission: Please head to Luofu Town and obtain the ‘He-Xu Great Wilderness Record’ from the auction!] [Ding! Detected that this mission may be related to other salvation targets. Please prepare thoroughly, Host.]

Gu Congxing gazed at the slate in the air, his brow arching slightly.