Reborn As The Short-Lived White Moonlight of the Tragic, Powerful Male Lead - Chapter 36

Chapter 36

I Lightly Profaned You While I Was Asleep!?

The disciples of Shudao had come to Nanlin with a mission.

When news of Xie Lanting reached the Sword Kinesis Sect, neither Shudao nor Liu Qifeng could remain calm.

“He found a way to restore his Spirit Severing stage!?” “He’s hooked up with the Demon King!?”

Thinking back on what they had done, if Xie Lanting returned to the Spirit Severing stage, would there be any good fruit left for them to eat?

Shudao bit his nails and summoned his disciple: “Go to Nanlin. Seek verification from the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets regarding the truth of these rumors. While you’re at it, deliver the invitation for the Sword Discussion Assembly to Xie Lanting’s hands.”

Even if the news was verified, they had to see it with their own eyes to be at peace. The assembly was imminent, and they would soon be setting out themselves. It would be best if Xie Lanting attended; if he didn’t, they would personally make a trip to the Gu family after the assembly ended.

That was why Shudao’s disciple was currently standing in the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets.

However, the person across from him was demanding double the fee. The disciple protested, “I only asked one sentence!”

“Look at what you’re saying,” Xie Lanting replied unhurriedly. “Your one sentence clearly contains two pieces of news; naturally, it counts as two fees. Otherwise, if a guest speaks without taking a breath and rattles off dozens of questions at once, are we supposed to count that as a single consultation?”

…That actually seemed to make sense. But my question wasn’t even long.

The masks of the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets featured a voice-changing function. Under the mask, Xie Lanting’s voice sounded exceptionally steady: “If you don’t have enough money, you are welcome to come back when you do.”

Shudao’s disciple calculated the funds his master had given him and gritted his teeth. “Fine. I want the answers.”

“Good,” Xie Lanting said decisively. “The answer is: False.”

The disciple blinked. “Both are false?”

Xie Lanting nodded.

Since one word had answered two questions, the disciple tried to learn more: “Can you elaborate?”

“Certainly,” Xie Lanting replied, his smile audible and friendly despite the mask. “As long as you pay extra.”

Disciple: “…” Profiteer!

Gu Yunqi tapped the tray next to him, signaling the disciple to pay up. “Thank you for your patronage. Please come again.”

Shudao’s disciple had spent a fortune at the Pavilion. He left dejectedly, thinking the rumors about the Pavilion’s expensive information were true. If his master hadn’t insisted on confirmation, why would he have made this trip… he felt like he had been swindled.

The disciple made his way to the Gu family, asked for directions, and found the small mountain hollow where Gu Yunqi lived. The courtyard gates were wide open, and a “clanging” sound echoed from within. He peered inside and saw carpenters at work.

Some were repairing the main house, others were building a small side room. There was no aura of a cultivator present.

Xie Lanting had previously mentioned building a small hut to bring his attendant back; today was the final deadline set by Gu Yunqi. Everyone was working feverishly. The disciple hurried forward to ask: “Where is the master of this house?”

A carpenter replied casually, “Gone out. How should I know where?”

“When will he be back?”

“I know even less about that!”

The disciple clutched the invitation. His master had strictly ordered him to deliver it into Xie Lanting’s hands personally. What to do? He had no choice but to wait.

…

At the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets, after the disciple left, the inquiries from those waiting in line were largely the same. Compared to Xie Lanting’s relationship with the demons, most were concerned with his cultivation level.

Amidst the sound of clinking coins, Xie Lanting happily shared the news that his cultivation had made a tiny bit of progress but that he had not found a way to return to the Spirit Severing stage. In any case, his current Late Golden Core cultivation couldn’t be hidden for long; once he appeared in public, people would see it immediately. Selling this news now was simply easy money.

After a while, Xie Lanting and Gu Yunqi swapped shifts with others and left the front hall.

Xie Lanting removed his mask. Despite covering the entire face, the ventilation and visibility were unexpectedly good; wearing it was no effort at all.

“I think I know why so many people care about my cultivation.”

Xie Lanting set the mask down, his fingertip tracing the red lotus emblem on it. “Aside from those with ulterior motives, the rest aren’t concerned with me personally—they are concerned with the fact that I was able to break through again.”

Gu Yunqi nodded. “In the cultivation world, cases where severe injuries damage one’s cultivation are not unique. Some can resume cultivation, while others are halted forever, unable to move forward.”

“Countless medical cultivators diagnosed me personally, saying it would be difficult to advance again in this life. And that was the polite version they said to my face; when talking to others, they likely omitted the word ‘difficult’ and said ‘impossible’.”

Otherwise, Liu Qifeng and Shudao wouldn’t have been so bold as to launch an open plot immediately after Xie Lanting was crippled.

Gu Yunqi added: “Actually, whenever someone with a bit of fame recovers their cultivation after it was damaged, many people come to buy the news.”

Xie Lanting sighed. “The desire to recover… I understand it well.”

“Unfortunately, everyone’s situation is different,” Gu Yunqi said, walking to his side. “The Immortal Lord was once at the Spirit Severing stage; your talent was already beyond the reach of most. Perhaps your injury simply had the potential to improve naturally.”

Xie Lanting’s mood didn’t fully relax, but he managed a smile. “I’ll take that as a blessing.”

The higher his cultivation, the easier things would be. Facing potentially life-threatening dangers, he would have more means to respond.

As dusk fell, the two returned via the secret passage and strolled unhurriedly back to the Gu residence. Gu Jingping was already awake; walking through the Gu family estate, one could hear people gossiping everywhere.

“The Young Master is throwing a tantrum in his room. He’s already injured several people. I don’t want to be transferred to serve him right now; it’s a nightmare.”

“Tell me about it. I also heard the Clan Head personally went to the Fragrant Garden to ask the Madam if she had any miraculous prescriptions to heal the Young Master’s arm. He was chased out.”

“That… so the Young Master really isn’t the Madam’s son?”

“Shh! Don’t look too deeply into that. Let’s go, stop talking about it.”

Xie Lanting and Gu Yunqi took a detour past the main mansion just to catch these tidbits. Xie Lanting asked, “Have you ever had contact with Gu Bu’s wife?”

Gu Yunqi shook his head. “Gu Bu’s Daoist companion is Qiu Bairui, from a branch of the Qiu family. Gu Bu married her before he was the Clan Head because there was profit to be gained. Knowing Gu Bu, he likely would have killed her to find a new companion after becoming Clan Head, but Qiu Bairui survived.”

Though she was alive, Gu Bu had imprisoned her in the Fragrant Garden, forbidding her from stepping outside. The garden was guarded like an iron fortress; neither Gu Yunqi nor the secret guards had managed to slip in over the years.

Gu Yunqi said, “This matter is unusual.”

Of course it was unusual. Having read the original work, Xie Lanting knew that Qiu Bairui was also a ruthless character.

She wasn’t “good” by any means; her marriage to Gu Bu was mutual exploitation. This woman trusted no one. Before the wedding, she exerted great effort to refine a miraculous “Calamity Gu,” binding Gu Bu to herself on their wedding night. If she died, Gu Bu’s cultivation would be completely destroyed.

Not just dropping a few stages like Xie Lanting, but becoming a complete mortal—unable to cultivate, hemiplegic, and paralyzed for the rest of his life. To Gu Bu, that was a fate worse than death.

Therefore, until the Gu was removed, Gu Bu couldn’t kill Qiu Bairui, nor could he let anyone else kill her. He could only keep her in seclusion. Gu Jingping was not her child; Gu Bu didn’t even dare to have children with her.

If she could plant a Gu on him during the wedding night, who knew what kind of chaos she would cause if she gave birth? Gu Jingping was a child he had fathered elsewhere and brought back to maintain his bloodline.

Gu Yunqi would eventually make a deal with Qiu Bairui, but not now.

Xie Lanting first advised Gu Yunqi to keep an eye on her: “Anyone who can survive that is not simple. When your cultivation is stronger, you should go explore.”

Gu Yunqi nodded.

Before they reached their home, he brought up the Sword Discussion Assembly.

“My master said that going to Cangxing Mountain won’t be easy, which relates to my purpose for attending the assembly.” Gu Yunqi’s gaze turned distant. “Gu Bu’s cultivation was inferior to my father’s; he had helpers when he harmed him. I can confirm the Venerable of Cangxing was there, but I can’t yet identify the others.”

“Furthermore, the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets recently found information that Cangxing Mountain is secretly raising Vicious Beasts.”

Xie Lanting’s eyes sharpened. “In the cultivation world, raising Vicious Beasts is a major taboo.”

This was because Vicious Beasts could only be fed with fresh human flesh and blood. Nothing else would do.

Gu Yunqi’s expression was grave. “The goal for the Pavilion on this trip is to verify the truth. If it’s real, it would be best to expose them directly.”

The assembly would be crowded with representatives from all clans—even the distant demonic cultivators would be present. If they could expose the truth on the spot, it would be quite a show.

In the original novel, Cangxing Mountain’s reputation had already plummeted and they were enemies with the Pavilion. It seemed that was tied to Gu Yunqi’s actions this time? It indirectly proved Gu Yunqi would succeed.

Xie Lanting: “I’ll cover for you then. If it’s true, we must let the whole world know of their evil deeds.”

Gu Yunqi’s expression softened, and he smiled. “Good.”

Even if Xie Lanting’s cultivation wasn’t as strong as before, it was magical how a single word or action from him could put Gu Yunqi at ease, making even the dangers ahead seem manageable.

No one had ever made him feel this way.

They chatted as they walked, in no hurry at all. By the time they finally reached their home, it was pitch black. With their superior vision, they spotted Shudao’s disciple from a distance.

Xie Lanting received a look of deep resentment from him.

Xie Lanting: ?

He pretended this was their first meeting of the day, showing a look of surprise: “Isn’t this my Martial Nephew? What are you doing outside the courtyard?”

Shudao’s disciple: A whole day! He had waited here for an entire day! Do you know how he spent this day!?

He took a deep breath, shoved the Sword Kinesis Sect’s invitation into Xie Lanting’s hand, and rattled off words like a machine gun:

“ThisistheinvitationfromtheSwordKinesisSectMasteraskedmetotellyouthatyoumustattendtoreminisceaboutyourfellowshipandseeifthejuniorsarecompetentIffinishednowgoodbye!”

He finished in one breath without pause or stutter and ran away at top speed, as if something were chasing him.

Xie Lanting watched his retreating figure with great emotion. “I told him earlier today that some people speak dozens of questions in one breath—I didn’t expect him to master the technique so quickly. He’s quite the talent.”

No, he just didn’t want to waste a single second more.

The invitation was sent purely because they wanted to see his condition with their own eyes. Xie Lanting didn’t care; looking wouldn’t make him lose a piece of meat.

The new small hut was finished. Xie Lanting added furniture to it. The hollow was too small; the remaining space only allowed for a single-person hut. So, the attendant would have one room, but Xie Lanting still had to share a room with Gu Yunqi.

…

Late at night, the secret guards Chu Yi, Chu Er, and Chu Qi—who had consumed the blood earlier—finally finished their cultivation and returned to report to Gu Yunqi.

The conclusion, of course, was that Gu Yunqi’s blood had absolutely no effect on them.

With a point of comparison, Gu Yunqi was finally ready to discuss this with Xie Lanting.

“Immortal Lord, regarding why your cultivation increased, I might have a clue.”

The secret guards didn’t leave when they reported, so Xie Lanting heard everything. He looked intrigued and said solemnly, “Tell me.”

Gu Yunqi thought for a moment and decided to start from the very beginning: “Does the Immortal Lord remember the night of our wedding, when you said your old injury flared up?”

“Ah… yes.” Actually, it wasn’t an injury; I was scared of the thunderstorm, Xie Lanting thought, too embarrassed to say it aloud.

“Later, you fell asleep and showed symptoms of sleepwalking.”

This was the first time Xie Lanting heard he had such an affliction. “Really!?”

Gu Yunqi confirmed: “Truly. The secret guards can testify.” The secret guards nodded frantically.

“Your eyes were vacant, and you didn’t seem awake, yet you moved,” Gu Yunqi narrated. “You… bit my neck.”

“I…” Xie Lanting’s eyes widened as he repeated, “bit your neck?”

He felt this was a bit bizarre. He turned into a cannibal when he sleepwalked? Had he mistaken Gu Yunqi for a sweet pastry?

Xie Lanting asked with difficulty: “What else did I do to you?”

Chu Er chimed in at this moment: “You also licked his finger! You licked it so thoroughly, like you were sucking on a sugar man, reluctant to let go, seemingly wanting more!”

Boom. A sound like an explosion went off in Xie Lanting’s brain.

Gu Yunqi felt Chu Er’s words were a bit… deliberate. He looked at him, but Chu Er just winked. For the first time, Gu Yunqi failed to understand the message his guard was trying to send: What do you mean?

Then he heard Xie Lanting mutter in a daze: “I sleepwalked… and I lightly profaned you!?”

Gu Yunqi: “…” Fine, he understood Chu Er’s intention now.

Xie Lanting was so shocked he felt unsteady. He couldn’t believe he had done such a thing to the protagonist… the key was that he didn’t even know!

Gu Yunqi quickly spoke up to steer the conversation back before Xie Lanting’s thoughts strayed too far: “Immortal Lord, it’s not like that. Whether biting the neck or licking the finger, I believe you did it for my blood.”

“…Blood?”

“Yes, like this.”

As Gu Yunqi spoke, he made a small cut on his fingertip, and a bright red bead of blood immediately appeared.

The story suddenly shifted from a late-night romance to a late-night horror film. Xie Lanting’s fried brain couldn’t immediately process it. His gaze swept over Gu Yunqi’s finger, and his throat reflexively swallowed.

…It looked delicious.

The moment that thought flashed through his head, Xie Lanting shuddered and snapped awake.

He fell silent for a moment, then spoke in a raspy voice: “I… I really do seem not quite right. Stop the bleeding.”

He was very clear-headed now, and he could clearly feel the attraction of Gu Yunqi’s blood. But as long as he willed it, he could completely control the urge.

Gu Yunqi was now in the Nascent Soul stage; a small cut like that could be healed instantly with a touch of spiritual energy. He wiped the blood away and explained the sequence to Xie Lanting.

“The day after the wedding, how did your body feel? And in the secret realm, you tasted my blood when we shared air, and you looked a bit off when we returned. Based on my guess, I added blood to your tea, and after you practiced your sword for a night, your cultivation increased.”

If there was blood in the tea, there should have been a metallic scent, yet Xie Lanting hadn’t noticed at all. So, the “sweetness” he tasted in the secret realm wasn’t a hallucination, but a genuine sensation.

This was a major discovery.

Gu Yunqi: “My blood has no effect on anyone else.”

Xie Lanting: “I have no reaction to anyone else’s blood, either.”

The secret guard added: “Even in the intelligence archives of the Pavilion, we’ve never heard of such a situation.”

They couldn’t just let any medical cultivator check them. Xie Lanting and Gu Yunqi both thought of one person.

They shared a look, Gu Yunqi nodded, and Xie Lanting pulled out his communication jade to message Xiao Qingfeng.

The jade lit up instantly. Before Xie Lanting could speak, Xiao Qingfeng’s voice came through: “Long time no see. You’re inviting me to the assembly, right? Just send the invitation to Dongyang Bookstore. I want the Sword Kinesis Sect’s version, not the Demon Realm one.”

Xie Lanting took a deep breath. “Since you can calculate even that, why not just tell us the answer to what we want to ask next?”

“That won’t do.” Xiao Qingfeng maintained his mystical persona. “Some things can only be said when the time is right. We have our rules for divination. I know what you want to ask. See you at the assembly; I will answer it for you then.”

What else could they do? Xie Lanting sighed. “Fine. See you at the assembly.”

Their schedule for the Sword Discussion Assembly was truly packed.

Now that business was concluded and things had quieted down, Gu Yunqi felt the atmosphere was strangely awkward. Logic told him he should interrupt, so he prepared to say goodnight. But to his surprise, Xie Lanting spoke first.

His voice was hesitant, the words difficult to say, but clear nonetheless.

“Wait… so, the neck biting and finger licking… they were all… real…”

…No wonder he felt the atmosphere was off. This was the reason.