I Got Together with the Goddess [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 35

Jiang Yiqing looked closer and saw that there were also Gu insects with text labels. “Giant Strength Gu × 1″…

Jiang Yiqing saw that they were all Gu insects with text.

“Giant Strength Gu × 1”

“Mercury Gu × 1”

“Bee Venom Gu × 1”

Shui Mingsheng said with a smile, “The Spirit Snake Gu is a high-level Gu, but for some reason, its energy is not what it used to be. These little fellows can just happen to enhance the strength of my Spirit Snake Gu. At the Gu Insect Convention in two days, those guys won’t be a match for me.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yiqing felt happy for her and said, “That’s wonderful.”

“This is all thanks to you, Yiqing. You really are my lucky star.”

Jiang Yiqing said bashfully, “It’s your own good luck. I am also benefiting from your favor, getting to see such an exciting Gu Market.”

If her understanding of the Miao territory had been shallow before, seeing such a vivid scene made Jiang Yiqing begin to understand the reverence the Miao people held for Gu insects.

The Night Before the Great Gu Battle.

Elder Feng treated Zhao Er to a fine meal, bringing out a ten-year-old vintage brew and specially preparing a pound of Zhao Er’s favorite cured pig face meat to accompany the wine.

After Zhao Er had eaten and drunk his fill, the Elder instructed him carefully: “Tomorrow, you must make Shui Mingsheng lose face in public and then seize victory in the Great Gu Battle in one fell swoop. That way, we can pull the Shui family down from their position as the heads of Qingfeng Stockade, and the grudge of Elder Qiu Shu will finally be avenged.”

Zhao Er recalled the scene from years ago. Elder Qiu Shu’s body had been bound by a chain made from a long snake. By the time he and the others arrived, the Elder was at his last gasp, only managing to utter the words “Be careful” before closing his eyes forever.

The true form of that chain was the Shui family’s ancestral Gu—the Spirit Snake Gu. This Gu was extremely powerful and could condense into a long, snake-like whip. Although Shui Mingsheng was only eighteen, she wielded the whip with such fluid grace that even though her father had been dead for ten years, she still could not be pulled down from her position as the Young Mistress.

Seeing that scene, everyone believed that Shui Mingsheng’s father, Shui Lu, had murdered Elder Qiu Shu. However, Shui Lu had been asleep in a room nearby and claimed to know nothing about the situation upon waking. After Elder Qiu Shu’s death, Shui Lu’s old illness relapsed, and he passed away within two years.

Elder Feng said, “This is the Ivory Gu left behind on Elder Qiu Shu’s body after he passed; I have kept it preserved all this time. Zhao Er, today I entrust this Gu insect to you. You won’t let me or Elder Qiu Shu down, will you? You must give that Shui girl a lesson she won’t forget.”

Zhao Er gripped the Gu insect Elder Feng gave him, his eyes filled with a mix of emotions. He gritted his teeth and said, “I will definitely pull Shui Mingsheng down from the position of Young Mistress and avenge Elder Qiu Shu!”

Hearing this, Elder Feng revealed a benevolent smile, thinking to himself that indeed nothing in the world drives the human heart more than the power of hatred. It was just a pity that Zhao Er did not know he was the true scapegoat, and his death would surely ensure that the people of Qingfeng Stockade could no longer tolerate Shui Mingsheng!

Although Shui Mingsheng’s ancestral Gu insect had been affected, after she added the Giant Strength, Mercury, and Bee Venom Gus to the Spirit Snake Gu, the Spirit Snake Gu was further enhanced. Not only was its strength greater, but it also possessed the hardness and toxicity of mercury, and the presence of the Bee Venom Gu allowed the Spirit Snake to produce fine, needle-like stingers.

Originally, in order to win the Great Gu Battle, Shui Mingsheng had intended to use the ancestral Gu Talisman to forcibly drive and awaken the Spirit Snake Gu, but after her lucky finds at the Gu Market, it was no longer necessary.

As Qingfeng Stockade was a large settlement, the Great Gu Battle also attracted many people from other Miao stockades to spectate.

Jiang Yiqing remembered how, in the past, when guests came to her home, her mother—the mistress of the house—would busily arrange for the servants to set up the scene. At this moment, she felt a slight sense of ownership and began to meticulously organize the arrangements.

Shui Mingsheng was tied down with many chores; seeing Jiang Yiqing assisting her behind the scenes in this way made her heart incredibly happy.

“Isn’t this Shui Mingsheng? I heard you are getting married, and after that, you will inherit Qingfeng Stockade and become the only female chieftain in the Miao territory. It is truly a matter worth celebrating.” The speaker was Li Shan, the chieftain of Yushan Stockade.

Yushan Stockade was the largest “Ripe Miao” (sinicized) settlement in the region. It housed the only middle school in the Miao territory, which simultaneously taught Gu arts and external academic subjects.

“What brings Chieftain Li here?” Shui Mingsheng asked.

Li Shan laughed hoarsely. He had business in South Jiang and hearing that Qingfeng Stockade was holding a Great Gu Battle where the only female Young Mistress might lose her status, he came to watch the excitement. He said, “I have nothing but admiration for those who know Gu arts, especially women. I have come specifically to cheer for Chieftain Shui.”

Shui Mingsheng said not without sarcasm, “You should learn some Gu arts yourself instead of always dealing in those crooked and wicked ways.”

Li Shan did not know Gu arts but was a chieftain, nonetheless. It was said that his network of connections behind the scenes was complex, and no one knew what his true motives were.

“I am doing this for the sake of the Miao territory,” Li Shan claimed.

Li Shan styled himself as the external spokesperson for the Miao territory, yet he performed Gu arts for wealthy socialites in the outside world to amass great wealth. No matter how he put it, he was not doing it for the Miao territory as he claimed, but rather for himself.

“Is that so?”

Shui Mingsheng couldn’t be bothered to deal with him, and her gaze turned back toward Jiang Yiqing.

That night, beside a bonfire, a grand performance of song and dance took place. The unique Green Bamboo Wine of the Miao territory left everyone tipsy. At the moment when the atmosphere was at its peak, the Great Gu Battle began.

The Law-Keeping Elder of Qingfeng Stockade, whose status was second only to the Chieftain, announced: “Since four hundred years ago, the descendants of the Shui family have been victorious in the Qingfeng Stockade Great Gu Battle held every ten years, becoming the rightful Chieftains. This Great Gu Battle is also being held as scheduled. If the Shui family wins, they will continue to manage all affairs of the stockade, and no one shall object.”

Zhao Er immediately stepped forward and said, “Young Mistress, I challenge you.”

Shui Mingsheng’s expression was serious, her demeanor unbridled and radiant. She said, “I accept your challenge.”

Zhao Er had made things difficult for her time and again, but Shui Mingsheng was not without a capacity for tolerance. This time, she was going to make him clearly realize his place.

Zhao Er openly and grandiosely produced the Ivory Gu in front of her, which caused Shui Mingsheng’s eyes to narrow slightly.

“Young Mistress, this should look familiar, right? This is Elder Qiu Shu’s Gu insect.”

Shui Mingsheng said with a cold face, “When Elder Qiu Shu passed away, the whereabouts of the Ivory Gu on his person were unknown. I didn’t expect it to be in your hands.”

“It’s better than being kept by a family of murderers like yours, which would be even more disgraceful, wouldn’t it?” Zhao Er said, revealing a sinister smile.

Jiang Yiqing felt there must be some misunderstanding, but for now, a fight was unavoidable.

She watched quietly as the chain on Shui Mingsheng’s left hand transformed into a greenish-white whip held in her palm the moment that Gu insect appeared. With the addition of the Mercury Gu, the whip was embedded with a silver-white brilliance, shining like silver in the dark night.

Jiang Yiqing could hardly hide the amazement in her eyes. Shui Mingsheng was already bright and generous in appearance; under the glow of the night and the firelight, her profile was exquisite. Holding the divine weapon, she looked like a fairy stepped out of a painting. Her solemn expression added a few layers of extraordinary charisma.

The people of Qingfeng Stockade had not seen the true form of this Spirit Snake Gu in a long time. Now that it was growing, it possessed a power that could not be ignored. Its strength was no less than it had been in the past. They began to whisper among themselves, and Elder Feng’s face turned very ugly.

He had originally thought the Shui family was finished, but as soon as this Spirit Snake Gu appeared, it was still just as persuasive. The Gu masters from other stockades, seeing this scene, couldn’t help but look at Shui Mingsheng with a newfound respect.