Chapter 0-68: Bodhisattva’s Heart
A moment later, Qin Gou emerged from the main hall feeling refreshed. He said to the waiting palace maids, “Let’s go back to the main hall.”
The head palace maid opened her mouth and said disbelievingly, “So soon? Won’t the Son-in-law accompany the Princess more?”
Qin Gou nodded slightly and said, “Of course, speed is of the essence! We shouldn’t keep the guests waiting.”
Upon hearing this, the palace maids wore stiff smiles. As they led Qin Gou, they exchanged quick glances in private… The speed was too fast, perhaps there was an unspeakable reason. This must be noted down and reported to His Majesty the Human Emperor as soon as possible.
After returning to the main hall, Qin Gou immediately joined the merrymaking, drinking and chatting with the guests. During this time, he subtly inquired with some of the royal relatives about who Mu Man’er had come into contact with in the palace recently and what had caused her to get angry.
Everyone drank fine wine and enjoyed lively conversation. The hall was filled with the music of the konghou and the graceful dancing of beautiful women. It was a joyous occasion.
For cultivators, the discomfort of drunkenness could be instantly dispelled with a single thought. However, on such an important day, such behavior was clearly not allowed.
“Excuse me, everyone!” Qin Gou’s face was flushed, and his eyes were hazy and unfocused, as if he had been completely defeated by the constant toasting from the guests.
“Excuse yourself? How can that be? Son-in-law, you are the protagonist of tonight!”
The crowd immediately began to heckle.
“Indeed, you must drink at least three hundred more cups before we’ll let you go to the bridal chamber.”
“That’s natural, what bridal chamber… I’ll be right back. Manager Ji Wu, I have something to tell you.” Qin Gou stumbled towards Ji Wu, slurring his words.
Ji Wu, one of the few present who had not touched a drop of alcohol, immediately stepped forward to support Qin Gou.
“Thank you, Manager Ji Wu. I’m not thanking you for helping me up, but for helping me sort out the marriage by martial contest earlier…”
Hearing this, Ji Wu felt a flush of embarrassment. He quickly helped Qin Gou out, knowing that the Son-in-law must have been truly drunk, otherwise, why would he be foolish enough to almost reveal such a disgraceful matter in public.
Ji Wu finally managed to bring the staggering Qin Gou to a secluded spot and said with a wry smile, “Son-in-law, you should quickly use your spiritual power to dispel the alcohol. Be careful not to speak nonsense after drinking and cause trouble.”
“I’m not drunk!” Qin Gou slurred, his speech thick. “I just want to thank Manager Ji Wu. If it weren’t for Manager Ji Wu’s help, how could I have so smoothly dealt with the Sword-bearing Princess? How could my plan have gone so smoothly? Without Elder Ji Wu, there would be no Qin Gou today!”
Ji Wu, both proud and amused, said, “Son-in-law Xu, you’re truly drunk and confused. Have you forgotten your own name? You are Xu Jin, and Qin Gou is the honored title of the Celestial Master of Arc-Moon Mountain. You mustn’t speak nonsense!”
“This is how I thank Manager Ji Wu. I want to tell you a great secret… I am Qin Gou of Arc-Moon Mountain, Mu Man’er’s master. In truth, I replaced Xu Jin of the Marshal’s Mansion with a substitute long ago. This grand wedding is merely a scheme to gather all of you scum in one place and capture you all at once. How about that? Isn’t this secret astonishing?” Qin Gou’s eyes suddenly regained their clarity, without a trace of drunken haze.
Ji Wu looked at him as if he were an idiot, his mouth twitching, “Is Son-in-law Xu perhaps crazy? Oh no, could the wine be poisoned? That shouldn’t be…”
“Little Chair!” Qin Gou suddenly snapped his fingers.
“Coming!”
Manager Ji Wu’s vision blurred. Then, he saw a beautiful young girl in a pleated flower skirt elegantly twirling the hem of her skirt as she respectfully bowed to the Son-in-law.
“Why is the Lone Shadow Saintess here?” Ji Wu was greatly surprised. What was he seeing? One of the nine great saintesses of the Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace, a being of astonishing strength and noble status, was acting so humbly before the new Son-in-law?
“Little Chair, cripple Manager Ji Wu’s cultivation, but do it gently,” Qin Gou said nonchalantly.
“Understood!”
Yi Chengying rubbed her hands together with a mischievous grin. A young maiden was approaching a pale, beardless, effeminate old eunuch. The scene was undeniably bizarre.
“Son-in-law Xu, what is the meaning of this? And why is the Lone Shadow Saintess obeying Son-in-law Xu’s orders?” Ji Wu retreated in terror, his face ashen. The seemingly pure and innocent smile of Yi Chengying made the old eunuch’s hair stand on end as if he were being stared at by an ancient fierce beast. This Lone Shadow Saintess was a genuine Dharma Aspect Realm cultivator.
“Little Chair obeys the Celestial Master, isn’t that only natural?” Yi Chengying blinked her star-like bright eyes and said earnestly.
“Celestial Master?!”
Ji Wu’s eyes were filled with dread and shock as he looked intently at Qin Gou.
Qin Gou shrugged helplessly. “I’m really not drunk, nor am I crazy.” These were the last words Ji Wu heard before he completely fainted.
Although Yi Chengying only had a pair of fluffy, pointed cat ears growing on her head, the speed she unleashed was so fast that in the eyes of Qin Gou and Ji Wu, she seemed to have turned transparent. By the time her lithe figure could be seen again with the naked eye, she had already gracefully stepped off Ji Wu’s slumped body.
The Lone Shadow Saintess, whose form was elusive, truly lived up to her name.
“Heh heh, bullying the weak is just too easy.”
Ji Wu, who had previously acted arrogantly before Mu Man’er and captured her alive, was utterly powerless in Yi Chengying’s hands.
“Little Chair thought Manager Ji Wu must have some hidden extraordinary skills, but I never expected him to be so vulnerable. Master, you could probably blow him apart with just a puff of air,” Yi Chengying said, patting her head. The pair of cat ears automatically disappeared.
Qin Gou nodded slightly and said profoundly, “This Seat cannot easily make a move. The aura of a Dharma Aspect True Person is too astonishing. If this Seat were to unseal it, even a mere wisp of breath could be perceived by that Dharma Aspect Realm Supreme Emperor!”
Little Chair smiled sweetly, her hands clasped in front of her chest, speaking with borrowed authority, “So what? What is an early stage Dharma Aspect Realm cultivator to you?”
“Destroying him would be as easy as flipping my hand. However, the impact of two Dharma Aspect Realm cultivators fighting each other would be considerable. It would inevitably harm innocent bystanders and cause the deaths of countless innocent citizens in this imperial city! How could a Celestial Master of this generation commit such an unrighteous act!” Qin Gou’s eyes flashed with righteousness, his words filled with integrity.
Yi Chengying’s breathing hitched. It was only at this moment that she finally felt a hint of what the Palace Lord had described as ‘noble gentleman, profound virtue and flowing radiance’ from the Celestial Master.
Yes, this was what the Celestial Master should be like! The one who was groping Little Chair earlier and wouldn’t let her pee must have been an impostor!
Countless emotions surged in Yi Chengying’s heart. She nodded vigorously, like a chick pecking at rice, “Celestial Master truly possesses noble virtue, is upright, and has a Bodhisattva’s heart!”
