Reborn As The Short-Lived White Moonlight of the Tragic, Powerful Male Lead - Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Spread the Word, the Immortal Lord is Remarrying!

While Xie Lanting and Gu Yunqi enjoyed a peaceful time in their secluded courtyard, the main Gu residence had been in an absolute uproar since last night.

The Gu family’s best medical cultivators and experts invited from outside emerged one by one from Gu Jingping’s room. Facing Gu Bo, they all expressed the same sentiment: they were powerless.

Gu Bo’s expression was incredibly grim.

Gu Jingping practiced right-handed sword techniques, and the meridians in his right hand were completely dead. Even if they threw every heavenly treasure at it, the hand could at most recover enough for daily activities; practicing the sword again was impossible. With dead meridians, spiritual energy couldn’t flow to his right hand. How was he supposed to fight?

The two personal guards had each lost an arm as well and were dragged away. The remaining disciples dared not breathe. Gu Bo demanded, “Recount everything that happened in the secret realm again.”

The disciples repeated the story, their hearts in their throats.

In truth, if they had described every detail, Gu Bo would surely have noticed that Xie Lanting was “instrumental” in the outcome. But the problem was that these disciples didn’t feel anything was amiss; they skipped the key points and focused on describing how chaotic the fighting was, trying to make Gu Bo understand that they truly didn’t see who successfully crippled Gu Jingping.

As Gu Bo listened to the useless talk once more, the table under his hand couldn’t take the pressure and turned into powder. Everyone froze.

Gu Bo said coldly, “Gu An, do you have anything to add?”

Gu An was the leader of this expedition. Many disciples were anxious; they had a silent agreement not to mention the internal fighting. Fortunately, Gu An did not disappoint; he didn’t mention the infighting, and although he added some details, he perfectly bypassed Gu Yunqi and Xie Lanting.

Finally, he said, “Patriarch, I believe the priority is finding someone to heal Jingping’s hand. The Sword Discussion Assembly is approaching; perhaps Jingping can still make it.”

Gu Bo waved his hand silently. The disciples left as quickly as the wind, feeling a massive weight lift off their shoulders.

Gu Bo called for his subordinates and wrote several invitations to medical cultivators. He also ordered a trip to Dongyang: “It was said there is a reclusive medical cultivator in Dongyang with extraordinary skills. Go find any traces of them.”

Far away in Dongyang, Xiao Qingfeng felt his ears burn: It feels like someone is talking about me.

The subordinate obeyed. “Yes, sir.”

“You said that day a tribulation cloud loomed over the realm and someone underwent the Nascent Soul tribulation, but you didn’t see anyone come out early?”

The subordinate replied, “Correct. They likely weren’t ejected from the main entrance; they must have left long ago.”

Gu Bo tapped his fingers on the armrest. Having just smashed a table, he couldn’t afford to break this chair. He asked a strange question: “Did Gu Yunqi exit the realm with the others?”

“Yes,” the subordinate confirmed.

Gu Bo pondered; that meant there was no issue. He had also heard about Xie Lanting’s encounter with the Demon King’s son outside the realm. He sneered half-mockingly, “The Sword Sect people swore up and down that Xie Lanting is a useless waste now. Why do I suddenly feel like I’ve made a bad move?”

He stood up, pacing the room. He remembered something: “Has the Young Master’s injury been told to the Madam?”

“We informed her as you instructed.” The subordinate lowered his head, answering with difficulty. “The Madam said… that losing a single arm is such a minor matter she needn’t be told. Next time, we can just invite her directly to the funeral feast.”

Gu Bo: “…You may leave.”

He knew it. Nothing good ever came out of that woman’s mouth.

…

During Xie Lanting’s meditation, Gu Yunqi, out of a sense of rigor, felt that Chu Qi’s trial might not be enough. He mixed his blood with two more cups of water and had Chu Yi and Chu Er try them.

As for the taste, both reported that their taste buds were normal; they didn’t find it sweet at all. They then went off to cultivate. Since Xie Lanting had practiced his sword all night, they felt they should cultivate for the same amount of time to make a fair comparison.

Xie Lanting didn’t meditate for long before opening his eyes, his brow furrowed. Clearly, he hadn’t figured it out. Seeing the secret guards working hard, Gu Yunqi decided to take Xie Lanting out for a walk to clear his head.

“Immortal Lord, would you like to go somewhere with me? Think of it as a walk to change your perspective. Perhaps a clear mind will help solve the puzzle.”

Thinking is exhausting, especially when it concerns oneself. It’s easy to get stuck in a dead end. Xie Lanting pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled. “Very well. I’ve thought of everything I can; I won’t figure it out in a short time. I’ll take it slow.”

He dropped his hand and asked, “Where to?”

Gu Yunqi: “Do you remember the Xuanji Pavilion I mentioned?”

Gu Yunqi had confessed many things. Even if he hadn’t, Xie Lanting knew. “Mhm. You said the Pavilion Master is your master.”

Xuanji Pavilion dealt mainly in intelligence and occasionally assassination, though they only took contracts against villains. When an order came in, they would dig up the target’s info before deciding to accept. It was lucky they didn’t rely on assassination to eat, or they would have gone bankrupt long ago. Their headquarters was in Nanlin, not far from the Gu residence.

To avoid the Gu family’s attention, Gu Yunqi couldn’t take him through the main entrance. Xie Lanting was prepared, but when he was led to a certain building, he was still shocked.

The plaque read: Baixiang House. It was the most famous brothel in Nanlin City.

Xie Lanting recalled the trial in the Merman’s Tear, where his first illusion involved watching Gu Yunqi surrounded by beauties in a brothel, with a madam saying he had paid for Gu Yunqi’s pleasure. Reality differed from illusion—now they were here together. He had finally set foot in the legendary place.

However, during the day, the pleasure houses weren’t as lively. He wasn’t greeted by the overwhelming scent of rouge. Gu Yunqi led him through a small side door, knocking three times: two long, one short.

The wooden door creaked open. The person who opened it let them in without a word. The backyard was quiet and off-limits to guests. Gu Yunqi went straight into a room and activated a mechanism. A bookshelf moved, revealing a secret passage.

He turned back to see Xie Lanting staring at him with a half-smile. “Quite practiced, aren’t you? Come here often?”

Alarm bells rang in Gu Yunqi’s head. He hurriedly explained, “I only come here for official business. I leave as soon as I’m done and never linger.”

Seeing his reaction, Xie Lanting laughed. “I didn’t say anything. Fine, no more teasing. Let’s go. Does this lead to the Xuanji Pavilion?”

Gu Yunqi felt relieved that Xie Lanting didn’t mind and led the way. He really didn’t want any misunderstandings in that department.

The tunnel was long, with hidden rooms for resting or hiding. Along the way, they encountered two people putting on masks and cloaks. Seeing them, the masked figures simply nodded to Gu Yunqi, looking mysterious and aloof. If Xie Lanting hadn’t just seen the baby-face under the mask a moment ago, he might have believed the act.

After walking a bit, Xie Lanting asked, “Is everyone in the Xuanji Pavilion like that?”

Gu Yunqi: “Not all. Take the Pavilion Master for example—”

Before he could finish, they reached the end of the passage. A crisp laughter drifted over: “Hahaha! Trust in your old lady! Winning hand!”

The words died in Gu Yunqi’s throat. “…You can see for yourself.”

Xie Lanting emerged to see four people at a table with Pai Gow tiles spread out. The woman acting as the dealer was happily counting money. When she looked up and saw them, her hand froze.

She stood up abruptly, giving a look to the other three. They immediately packed up the table and chairs and vanished. The woman’s robes fluttered as she reclined gracefully on a chaise longue. She was dressed magnificently, wearing jade hairpins, with crimson lips and a cold, elegant gaze.

Xie Lanting: “…Mhm. I’ve seen it.”

The style is quite consistent, isn’t it? The original novel said the Pavilion Master, Yuanqin, was a gambling addict; that summary was spot on.

Gu Yunqi pretended he saw nothing and stepped forward to bow. “Master.”

Yuanqin replied coldly, “Mhm.” She looked toward Xie Lanting. “You actually brought him here.”

Xie Lanting stepped forward. “First time meeting you, Pavilion Master. I am Xie Lanting.”

Yuanqin’s lips curled slightly. “Immortal Lord Lanyue, your name is like thunder. I am Yuanqin, a mere merchant.”

“If the business of Xuanji Pavilion can be summarized as ‘mere,’ then I’m afraid there are no big businesses left in the world.”

Yuanqin laughed. “Immortal Lord Lanyue is quite the smooth talker. It seems we need to update our intelligence on you again.”

Xie Lanting was curious. “People are buying information on me?”

“Yes. For example, since yesterday, people have been coming to us for verification,” Yuanqin said. “News like ‘Xie Lanting intends to remarry into the Demon Race after his divorce’—is it true or false?”

Xie Lanting: “…The rumors have already become this ridiculous?”

The public’s imagination was truly wild.

“It is naturally false,” Gu Yunqi interjected calmly, changing the subject. “Master, I’ve come for the entry pass to the Sword Discussion Assembly.”

Yuanqin looked back at him. “I was going to have Chu Shi-wu bring it back for you, but since you’re here, take it.” She clapped her hands, and a masked person brought a tray. Beside the entry pass was a pitch-black pill. “Take this month’s antidote as well.”

Gu Yunqi picked up the pill calmly, but Xie Lanting was not calm. “Wait, what do you mean ‘this month’s antidote’?”

Yuanqin’s red lips curled, her purple-painted nails brushing her cheek as she laughed beautifully and dangerously. “I was afraid he wouldn’t do his job properly, so I gave him a little medicine to keep him obedient.”

Yuanqin was an old friend of Gu Yunqi’s mother and a great help to him. In the original novel, this master and disciple got along well, and she was genuinely good to him. But what was this? Controlling him with poison? Was this how they interacted before the main story began?

Seeing Xie Lanting’s eyes turn cold, Yuanqin laughed even more delightedly. “What, does your heart ache for him?”

“Immortal Lord!” Gu Yunqi quickly grabbed Xie Lanting’s wrist. “It’s not like that.” He turned helplessly to Yuanqin. “Master, stop testing him. Since I dared to bring the Immortal Lord here, I naturally trust him. Do you need people to keep reminding you about that time you were confused and took the wrong medicine?”

Yuanqin’s expression stiffened. She huffed, “Rebellious disciple.”

Hearing this, Xie Lanting’s hostility vanished. “What happened? Are you poisoned or not?”

Gu Yunqi swallowed the pill and whispered, “We’ll talk later.”

“Fine, fine. You got your stuff, now leave.”

Gu Yunqi didn’t mind her attitude. “I’ll show the Immortal Lord around.”

Yuanqin waved her hand dismissively, clearly shooing them away. But as Gu Yunqi reached the door, a gentle voice suddenly came from behind: “The trip to the Sword Discussion Assembly won’t be easy. Be careful.”

The tone was so different from before that it was like a different person. Gu Yunqi was used to it; he said “Yes” and led Xie Lanting out.

Before Xie Lanting could ask, Gu Yunqi explained, “Years ago, Master failed her self-created Soul-Splitting Technique. For a long time, her mind was unclear, and she showed symptoms of two souls in one body.”

Xie Lanting understood: Dissociative Identity Disorder.

“Another cold and paranoid personality emerged back then. Fearing I wouldn’t avenge my parents, she gave me the poison used to control death warriors. Fortunately, she cleared up immediately and took it back, so I’m not poisoned.”

Xie Lanting: “Then what was that antidote?”

“Her symptoms have improved, and she rarely has the split soul now. However, some things from back then are blurry; she always thinks I took the medicine. If anyone tells her I don’t need the antidote, it might trigger her split soul again.”

So Gu Yunqi simply took the “medicine.” He only had two more doses before he was “cured.”

Hearing this, Xie Lanting sighed. He asked, “Is the antidote bitter?”

Gu Yunqi felt a string in his heart plucked gently. In the pavilion, those who knew about this only praised his filial piety. No one had ever asked if the medicine was bitter after hearing the story. Even if some knew he disliked bitterness, they probably thought it was a small matter and ignored it. But whether someone truly cares can be seen in these tiny details.

Gu Yunqi’s throat moved. He looked down and said, “It’s not bitter.”

Even if it had been bitter when he swallowed it, his tongue felt sweet now.

Xie Lanting didn’t doubt him. “That’s good. Speaking of which, your master studied the Soul-Splitting Technique. I thought I was the only one researching soul-related things. Does she have manuscripts? Would it be convenient for me to see?”

Gu Yunqi was surprised. “Immortal Lord, you too?”

“After my cultivation dropped, I considered changing my way of cultivation, but I failed. Not many people study this; I’m curious about her insights.”

“Master leaves those manuscripts in the study; they aren’t secrets. Anyone who wants to see them can. This way.”

The interior of the Xuanji Pavilion was huge. Gu Yunqi led him to the study and pulled out the manuscripts. Xie Lanting read them page by page. In this world, there were no ghosts; death was like an extinguished lamp. In common understanding, the soul was equivalent to spiritual sense; it couldn’t be cultivated. Some had tried, but all failed.

Xie Lanting was one of them. The original owner, Immortal Lord Lanyue, thought that if his cultivation could never progress due to physical injuries, why not try soul cultivation? Xie Lanting didn’t succeed, but he wasn’t harmed either—unlike Yuanqin, who had split her personality. The manuscripts were few, and Xie Lanting finished them quickly without finding any special inspiration.

Gu Yunqi then took him elsewhere. The inner pavilion was busy, with people carrying scrolls in an organized manner.

Xie Lanting looked at Gu Yunqi’s entry pass. “Are you going to participate as a member of the Xuanji Pavilion?”

“That was the plan,” Gu Yunqi said. “I didn’t expect to get an invitation from the Demon Race.”

“Since you’re going anyway,” Xie Lanting thought it was perfect, “with the Demon Race invitation, you can watch the battles openly in your own identity, and I can accompany you directly.”

He could watch as Gu Yunqi, then put on a mask to participate in the matches; no one would know. Perfect.

Gu Yunqi: “Immortal Lord doesn’t ask why I must participate in the Sword Discussion Assembly?”

The assembly’s origins dated back a thousand years. Originally for sword cultivators, it eventually grew so large that participants used all sorts of weapons. People suggested a name change, but “Sword Discussion” had stuck. It was held every ten years; the next location was decided at the end of the previous one. This year, it was Mt. Cangxing. The fact that the Elder’s disciple had just died at the Gu residence didn’t stop the mountain from preparing for the grand event.

“If you want to tell me, I’ll listen.” Xie Lanting returned the pass. “The one-year agreement—if you’re going, I’ll definitely accompany you.”

The cover of the pass still held the warmth of Xie Lanting’s fingertips. Gu Yunqi traced it. He also remembered the one-year agreement. If they divorced in a year, would he still be able to see Xie Lanting so often and walk beside him?

As they stood on the balcony, a voice suddenly rose from the main hall below: “Go hang a sign in the front hall! Group everyone asking about Xie Lanting together. The questions are getting more and more ridiculous! It’s gone from ‘Is Xie Lanting secretly engaged to the Demon Prince?’ to ‘Is Xie Lanting going to be the Little Prince’s stepmother?’!”

Xie Lanting / Gu Yunqi: “…”

Xie Lanting turned to him seriously. “Are you hiring temporary workers? No reason, I just want to see what kind of people ask these questions.”

Gu Yunqi: “Someone, find a set of pavilion robes in his size. Make sure they’re new and unworn.”

As the “legitimate” Dao partner, he also wanted to see how they had already divorced them ahead of time.

Xuanji Pavilion worked with high efficiency. The people who collected intelligence had sharp eyes; they measured Xie Lanting with a single glance and brought suitable clothes. Xie Lanting changed into the robes, put on his Red Lotus Mask, and walked toward the front hall with the disguised Gu Yunqi.

He wanted to see who was spending silver at the Xuanji Pavilion to verify such ridiculous rumors. Was money that easy to come by?

To his surprise, a long line had already formed outside the “Xie Lanting Inquiry Desk.”

Even more surprising was the first person to sit down: a disciple in the uniform of the Sword Sect. An acquaintance. It was a disciple of his “green tea” junior brother, Shudao.

The disciple spoke: “I want to verify if it’s true that Xie Lanting found a way to recover his Soul Transformation stage and is planning to remarry the Demon King’s son.”

Under the table, Xie Lanting unclenched his fist. He slowly raised his hand and held up two fingers.

The disciple: “?”

“That is two pieces of information,” Xie Lanting’s voice was altered by the mask as he spoke slowly. “Two payments.”

Might as well fleece them.