Reborn As The Short-Lived White Moonlight of the Tragic, Powerful Male Lead - Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Extremely Gentle, Yet Extremely Cruel

Xie Lanting stood in the center of the room and looked around, very satisfied with the renovation. The items he had cleared out were stored in his spatial ring, to be returned to Gu Yunqi when he came back.

He stepped outside and saw the sword marks left maliciously on the door pillars. After thinking for a moment, he summoned a sword. Controlling it with spiritual energy, he began to carve flowers along the gashes.

The sword moved like a soaring dragon or a dancing snake. He was, after all, the former number one sword cultivator; his control over the blade had reached perfection. In the blink of an eye, the jarring sword marks were transformed into floating clouds swirling around the pillars. Upon closer inspection, the grooves left by the sword tip shimmered with a faint light—they were actually microscopic runes.

In the days since he transmigrated, after fully mastering this body, Xie Lanting had tested the limits of his cultivation. A normal Golden Core stage could continue to advance; hitting a bottleneck usually just meant being unable to cross it. He, however, was being actively suppressed. His damaged foundation pulled at him, telling him plainly that he could go no further.

The original Xie Lanting had tried many methods after his injury, none of which worked.

The speed of the carving sword gradually slowed. Fine beads of sweat appeared on Xie Lanting’s forehead. As the final stroke landed, his dantian flared with pain. Xie Lanting knew he had reached his limit and had to stop.

Withdrawing the sword, he carefully examined the runes and was slightly surprised… compared to his last experiment, he had successfully written one more stroke.

Xie Lanting froze, then immediately turned and went back inside. Without even bothering to close the door, he closed his eyes and began to meditate.

The foundation includes the dantian and the meridians. Xie Lanting drew spiritual energy from his dantian and forced it upward. Soon, his meridians and dantian reached their breaking point, erupting in a tearing pain. Xie Lanting endured it, crashing against his previous cultivation bottleneck. With this impact, he truly discovered something different.

The bottleneck was slightly looser than last time. Although it was only a fraction, Xie Lanting, who had struck it thousands of times, would not miss the slightest change.

Strange. He hadn’t had any special experiences lately… What, could the medicine used to neutralize the poison have helped repair his foundation as well?

…

On Gu Yunqi’s side, he had finished his business early and quietly slipped out of Baixiang House.

Baixiang House was a business that welcomed guests at night, so it was naturally quiet in the morning. Gu Yunqi used a disguise, circled several times, and finally shed the disguise in a small alley before stepping out.

The scent inside Baixiang House was too strong. Gu Yunqi used two deodorizing leaves to sweep away the lingering smell of rouge and powder.

Although Xie Lanting had proposed a divorce—meaning he wouldn’t interfere in Gu Yunqi’s private affairs—Gu Yunqi felt an inexplicable urge to ensure the other man didn’t find out he had been to a brothel.

Gu Yunqi thought for a moment and walked into the largest restaurant in Nanlin City.

The manager was calculating today’s expenses. Gu Yunqi stood before him. “Manager, I want one Eight-Treasure Royal Duck, one serving of Silver Mountain Cod, one Pigeon Pot, two bowls of Fragrant Steamed Greens, a serving of Sautéed Sliced Chicken in Vinegar Sauce, and Crispy Beef Tendon. Pack them in a food box for me to take away.”

Gu Yunqi had learned many things in a short time, including how to order food; he was already very practiced.

The manager finally looked up. This customer had ordered the most famous and expensive dishes in the house. He looked up with a smile, only to find the person before him was Gu Yunqi.

Before the wedding, the cultivation world was unfamiliar with Gu Yunqi, but the people of Nanlin City knew him. This was because the disciples of the Gu family all wore arrogance or nobility on their faces, while Gu Yunqi was always plain and dusty in a crowd, making him easy to notice for those looking for a spectacle.

Everyone knew that besides the Young Master Gu Jingping, there was also this “waste” young master in the Gu family.

Word was that when he rented a house in Nanlin City before, he had compared many places only to choose a tiny spot. A month’s rent for that place couldn’t buy even one of the dishes he just ordered.

The manager’s smile faded slightly, but business was business, so he couldn’t be too obvious. He said, “Young Master Gu, the Eight-Treasure Royal Duck and Silver Mountain Cod need to be ordered a month in advance so we can—”

Gu Yunqi threw a pouch onto the table. “I’m not familiar with the rules. Can we make an exception?”

The pouch made a crisp clinking sound, though it wasn’t very heavy. The manager suspiciously opened it and was immediately blinded by a bag of gold leaves. He swallowed hard in disbelief. “This…”

Gu Yunqi threw out another bag. “Can it be done now?”

The manager scrambled to snatch the two bags of gold leaves before Gu Yunqi could regret it, shouting, “Yes, yes! Waiter, come and serve this esteemed guest! What are you doing? Are you blind!?”

The waiter had seen the waste young master of the Gu family enter and had no intention of greeting him. He also saw the gold leaves and now hurried over, face full of fawning smiles. “Ah! Please forgive me, guest, look at my useless eyes!”

Gu Yunqi’s expression remained calm. He had seen plenty of people who looked down on others; those more extreme than these two were countless. This didn’t bother him.

Gu Yunqi handed over a slip of paper. “From now on, prepare three meals a day according to these times. The portions should be the same as what I just ordered. Someone will come to pick it up. Just make your best, most delicious food; money will not be an issue.”

The manager hurriedly took note. “Yes, yes, yes.”

There were few guests early in the morning. The waiter brewed the best tea. The manager held back as long as he could before leaning in to pry. “I heard the Gu family held a grand celebration. We mortals have no immortal fate, so we couldn’t go up to see, but it seems it had something to do with you?”

In his eyes, Gu Yunqi had transformed from a poor boy into a wealthy young master; how could he not be curious? How could Gu Yunqi not know what he was thinking? But he didn’t mind talking; in fact, he was very happy for the manager to spread the word.

“It was my wedding,” he said, pulling back his sleeve slightly to reveal the red string on his wrist. “The money was given to me by my Dao companion.”

The manager understood. The waste little master had climbed high and was becoming a phoenix!

In less than half a day, all of Nanlin City would know that Gu Yunqi had a wealthy Dao companion and that his status had changed!

Gu Yunqi hadn’t touched a single thing Xie Lanting had given him yet. The money just now was from his own secret hoard. He couldn’t use it openly before, but now he had a good excuse: if anyone asked, it was from the Immortal Lord. He’s rich, so I’m benefiting.

As for how these people would look at him—envy or disdain—it didn’t matter. If not for everyone believing he was a waste, how would he have survived until today?

…

When Gu Yunqi returned to the residence carrying the food box, Xie Lanting was meditating. He was also momentarily stunned by the room’s brand-new appearance, but he then calmly thought that it was indeed better to be comfortable; the Immortal Lord shouldn’t be mistreated. When he saw that his own low couch had been replaced with warm jade, Gu Yunqi’s eyes softened.

This connection with Xie Lanting, even if it only lasted a year, was a rare stroke of luck in his many dark years.

Gu Yunqi didn’t disturb him. He took the dishes out of the food box and set them on the table. Just as he finished, Xie Lanting withdrew his spiritual energy and opened his eyes. “Whoa, smells amazing.”

He moved to the table. Gu Yunqi set out the bowls and chopsticks. “I haven’t saved much over the years, I’m ashamed. I used the money you gave me to buy this.”

Xie Lanting bit into a piece of fish, pretending to believe him. Since his cultivation had progressed, he was in a great mood. “The meat is fresh and tender, it melts in your mouth. Not bad, not bad.”

“I’ll have someone prepare meals every day from now on. If you think the house needs anything else, I’ll go buy it. You gave me too much; I fear I won’t be able to spend it all in a lifetime.”

“I don’t need anything else added. It’s just that this house needs some repair. Let’s hire some craftsmen. Change the thatched shed outside into a kitchen… and I see we can build another small room in the yard. Let’s fix it all at once so I can bring Tong’er back.”

Gu Yunqi: “Alright.”

Gu Yunqi was wearing a gray, high-collared plain shirt today. In the Gu family, he always dressed simply. Though a handsome person looks good in anything, there was no longer a need to mistreat himself in these matters. Xie Lanting said, “Get some clothes for yourself too. It’s a sunny day today, why are you wearing such a high collar? Aren’t you hot?”

—Because the mark where you bit my neck hasn’t faded yet. Gu Yunqi served him a bowl of pigeon soup. “I just picked it randomly, didn’t notice. Mhm, I see the Immortal Lord prefers moon-white for clothing?”

“That’s just for myself,” Xie Lanting said. “But I think you would definitely suit bright colors. High-spirited and handsome.”

—He likes me wearing bright colors. Gu Yunqi was very good at catching the key point and noted it down.

As usual, most of the food on the table went into Xie Lanting’s stomach. Unfortunately, the good mood didn’t last all day because after the meal, Gu Jingping came to the door.

He swaggered in, crossing the courtyard with a look of disgust, as if even a blade of grass touching his clothes was bad luck. The door was open, so he barged in without knocking. Once inside, he was stunned by the completely different environment, almost thinking he had entered the wrong house.

But after seeing Gu Yunqi’s face, he was sure he was in the right place.

Gu Jingping opened his mouth with a condescending, questioning tone: “Gu Yunqi, where did you get all these good things!?”

In his memory, Gu Yunqi hadn’t been associated with the word “wealth” since he was six. There weren’t many items in the room, but in terms of value, they were already on par with what he used daily. Looking at Gu Yunqi sitting amidst the fine silks and jade, he felt an inexplicable irritation and his anger flared.

Xie Lanting’s cold voice splashed like water over his fire. “I gave them to him. What of it?”

Gu Jingping was used to bossing Gu Yunqi around and had almost forgotten: regardless of the reason for the marriage, Gu Yunqi now had a Dao companion.

He calmed down slightly and shifted his gaze to Xie Lanting. Xie Lanting was indeed beautiful; based on looks alone, he had the capital to make anyone’s heart skip a beat.

Gu Jingping raised his chin slightly. “It’s a pity for a beauty to fall into a mud pit and follow the wrong person. In the Gu family, you might want to ask who has the final say. If you make me happy, I might consider letting you live a bit more comfortably in the Gu family—at least not in this tiny broken house. What do you say?”

“I say no,” Xie Lanting said. “After all that talk, who are you? Do you not know how to knock before entering someone’s home?”

Gu Yunqi let out a well-timed chuckle.

Gu Jingping’s eyes widened in disbelief. “I! Am Gu Jingping!”

Xie Lanting’s expression was indifferent. “Oh.” He turned to Gu Yunqi and asked, knowingly, “Who is he to you?”

A smile played on Gu Yunqi’s lips, though an imperceptible gloom flickered in his eyes. “My… cousin.”

Gu Jingping was furious. He suspected Xie Lanting was doing this on purpose. Yesterday he had been by Gu Bu’s side the whole time; could anyone not know him? What a joke! Gu Yunqi spoke before he could continue his nonsense: “Does Cousin have some important business?”

This reminded Gu Jingping. Right, he had plenty of ways to torment the person before him.

“Gu family rules: on the second day of the marriage, the couple must go to the ancestral hall to worship the ancestors, kneeling from the hour of the Rabbit (5–7 AM) to the hour of the Pig (9–11 PM). You haven’t been seen all day, so I had to come and invite you personally.”

The worship was real; kneeling all day was pure nonsense. Gu Yunqi stood up, and Xie Lanting followed. Seeing this, Gu Yunqi whispered to Xie Lanting, “He’s doing this to make things difficult for me. You don’t have to come.”

Xie Lanting: “Didn’t he say the ‘couple’? Then naturally it’s the pair of us. I’m going with you.”

Although Xie Lanting had added a protection array to the house, it was easy to break. Before leaving, Xie Lanting said, “The guests haven’t all left yet. If you dare to touch the things in this house again, don’t blame me for tearing off the Gu family’s face and trampling it in front of everyone.”

Gu Jingping’s eyes darted around. He had indeed planned to have people tear the place apart again, but with the evidence so fresh, he decided against becoming a laughingstock on the spot. There would be plenty of time later.

…

Xie Lanting and Gu Yunqi arrived at the ancestral hall. As soon as they stepped inside, the main doors slammed shut with a bang, followed by the audible sound of a lock clicking. Immediately, a spiritual pressure bore down from above—anyone below the Nascent Soul stage wouldn’t be able to withstand it. This was intended to include Xie Lanting in the punishment.

Using pressure in an ancestral hall array was a way to punish people. Xie Lanting’s expression went cold, but he saw Gu Yunqi pull out a lamp. He placed it on the ground, and the pressure was instantly pushed back. The air around them became light again.

“I’ve long heard that the Gilded Hundred-Lotus Lamp is an excellent protective tool,” Gu Yunqi smiled. “Thank you, Immortal Lord, for giving me the chance to test it.”

Xie Lanting blinked and smiled. “It can not only withstand the pressure of the Great Transformation stage but also block a strike from a Spirit Severing master. Liu Qifeng only had two; I destroyed one.”

The other had been placed in the dowry by Liu Qifeng and subsequently given to Gu Yunqi by Xie Lanting.

Gu Yunqi offered incense to his parents and knelt on a prayer mat to bow. Xie Lanting stood as a guest, offered incense, placed it in the burner, and asked, “Is there really a rule about kneeling until the hour of the Pig on the second day of the marriage?”

Gu Yunqi: “No.”

“Since there isn’t, get up once you’re done bowing.”

Xie Lanting walked to the door and checked. The lock was easy to break, but it would lead to a confrontation with the people outside. Gu Yunqi didn’t actually stay kneeling; he pointed to a closed window on the south side.

“When I was little, they didn’t use pressure for fear of killing me. I used to sneak out through that window; it’s not easy to notice. They’ll definitely check when they unlock the doors at the hour of the Pig, so we just need to be back by then.”

It was practiced enough to make one’s heart ache.

Since he didn’t want to break out directly, Xie Lanting simply walked back, pulled over a prayer mat, and sat down. “A hassle. Then I’ll just meditate here. I gained some insights today; I’ll make use of this place.”

Gu Yunqi also sat cross-legged. “Alright. Later tonight, I’ll go out and bring food back for you.”

Xie Lanting soon focused his mind and entered a state of meditation. When one’s divine sense sinks into the sea of consciousness for enlightenment, time in the outside world passes very quickly. Sometimes, a blink can mean several days have passed.

Gu Yunqi, however, did not go into deep meditation. He watched the time. Once it was completely dark, he indeed stood up and quietly slipped out through the window.

The moment he left, Xie Lanting gently opened his eyes.

There were many ways to avoid staying in the ancestral hall today, yet Gu Yunqi stayed and specifically told him he might need to leave for a bit. This “leaving”—was it really just to get food, or was it for something else?

I need to find an opportunity to strip away his disguise as soon as possible. Otherwise, he’ll always have to find ways to go behind my back, and we both have to pretend. It’s so exhausting.

…

Gu Yunqi was indeed doing more than just getting food. He slipped out the window silently, his figure moving like a ghost, too fast to be caught by the naked eye. At the same time, his aura surged to the late Golden Core stage. On the way, he took the time to disguise himself, putting on a mask and pulling out a black outer robe.

Gu Yunqi looked at the black robe, thought for a moment, stuffed it back, and changed into a lake-blue one. It was considered bright.

He didn’t encounter a single soul on the way. Rather, he knew the Gu family guards so well that he didn’t let anyone see him. He easily arrived at the Purple Bamboo Sea, found the meeting point, and stood still.

When the appointed time came, the young disciple of Cangxing Mountain arrived in a hurry.

He still carried the scent of rouge from the brothel. Seeing Gu Yunqi, he grumbled, “Why did you have someone from Baixiang House deliver the message? Even if the letter self-combusts upon reading, it’s too careless.”

Gu Yunqi: “Was the item I gave you last time useful?”

The disciple laughed gleefully. “Useful! My Senior Brother had a look of total disbelief when I injured him, haha! It was just a spar, yet he wanted to cripple me. He was the one in the wrong; he deserved it!”

He looked urgently at the masked Gu Yunqi. “You said there’s a chance to let him die here in the Gu family. Tell me, what’s the plan!”

They had clearly collaborated many times; otherwise, there wouldn’t be such trust. Gu Yunqi said calmly, “No rush. You’re satisfied, but where is the item I asked for?”

The disciple pulled out a book—it was the secret sword manual of Cangxing Mountain, which no one outside the inner sect was allowed to cultivate. He was going all in. There was a visible hesitation, but he eventually handed it to Gu Yunqi.

Gu Yunqi reached out and gripped the other end of the book, not rushing to pull it back. “Make an oath. Guarantee that the manual is real.”

An oath was not something said lightly; one had to use their Dao heart, cultivation, or inner demons as collateral. A Heavenly Oath could not be violated. The disciple raised his hand. “I swear on my Dao heart that this book is the genuine Cangxing Sword Manual.”

Once he finished, he lowered his hand impatiently. “Quick, tell me your plan. If he really dies this time, I’ll do my best to get you whatever reward you want.”

Gu Yunqi withdrew his hand with the book and smiled under his mask. “It’s real… then I’m relieved.”

Because they were exchanging the item, they were standing very close. The disciple of Cangxing Mountain saw only a flash of cold light, followed by blood spraying before his eyes. It was only a moment later that he felt a chill at his neck—it was his own blood.

Gu Yunqi held the sword in one hand, the moonlight reflecting off the splattered blood. He looked at the blade and praised, “A good sword…”

“You can also go on your way with peace of mind. As for your Senior Brother, if there’s a chance, I will definitely send him down to join you as soon as possible.”

The moonlight spilled down. Half of his body was bathed in the pale light, while the other half was hidden in shadow.

Extremely gentle, yet extremely cruel.