Chapter 486: Gu, Ye…
The next day, afternoon.
Qu Long Village’s streets were bustling with heavy traffic, filled with demonic cultivators of all kinds wearing strange attire.
By the window of a private room on the third floor of Hong Yan Pavilion, Ye Anping, wearing a silver mask and fiddling with Gu Mingxin’s left hand, passed the time, waiting for Kong Huayuan to bring Ghost Spirit Sect disciples to meet him.
Feng Yu Die, dressed as a maid, was gnawing on the roasted chicken Ye Anping had used to silence her, occasionally glancing at Ye Anping, who stood by the window with his hands behind his back, and secretly smiling sweetly.
“Hee hee…”
Before long, Xiao Tian, who had been acting as a lookout on the roof of the wine pavilion, frantically flew in directly through the ceiling, shouting:
“Anping, Kong Huayuan has brought a mid-stage Nascent Soul ghost cultivator into the pavilion! I just peeked into that person’s storage bag, and it’s an elder from the Ghost Spirit Sect, named Chen Rugu.”
“Chen Rugu…”
Ye Anping frowned slightly upon hearing the name.
His original plan was to set a trap outside Qu Long Village with Kong Huayuan and then lure Gu Mingxin into it.
While Gu Mingxin was distracting Kong Huayuan, he and Feng Yu Die would launch a surprise attack from behind, killing Kong Huayuan’s Nascent Soul. Then, they would bury all of Kong Huayuan’s Ghost Spirit Sect forces in the yellow sand.
This way, they could deceive everyone and use Kong Huayuan’s identity to infiltrate Donghuang and cause trouble.
Now that Kong Huayuan was bringing a Ghost Spirit Sect elder, it meant that Kong Xiangmo was probably still suspicious of his identity as a Tian Mo Sect elder. Chen Rugu was likely brought along as a bodyguard for Kong Huayuan.
It was a pity that Kong Xiangmo had vastly underestimated their combat strength.
Chen Rugu was indeed difficult to deal with, but facing Feng Yu Die, Gu Mingxin, and himself, she was merely a bodyguard, which was better than nothing…
“Understood.”
Ye Anping stood up and quickly used a small knife to create an opening in Gu Mingxin’s left hand. The pain made her immediately retaliate, as a protest, before he wrapped Gu Mingxin’s killing aura around himself.
Seeing Feng Yu Die still eating, he quickly walked over, wrapped up the half-eaten roasted chicken, and put it into his storage bag:
“Stop eating… they’re here.”
After speaking, Ye Anping took out a handkerchief to wipe the oil from her mouth and placed the mask on her face, commanding:
“Stand aside and don’t mess around later…”
Feng Yu Die glanced at Ye Anping’s thigh, blinked, and asked:
“Mmm… should I lie on your lap like last time? That way, you’ll look more evil, more like a demonic cultivator, hehe…”
“No…”
“It’s okay… I want to lie down.”
“I don’t want you to lie down…”
Xiao Tian, watching her beloved Yu Die take such initiative, felt gratified. However, she didn’t just watch. She quickly floated to the door, passed through it, and peeked outside. Seeing Kong Huayuan and Chen Rugu already at the door, she quickly turned and shouted:
“Anping, they’ve arrived at the door.”
Hearing this, Ye Anping didn’t push Feng Yu Die away. He let her kneel beside him, resting her head on his lap, and then raised his hand to stroke her head as he did last time.
Bang bang—
Two knocks echoed on the door. Ye Anping slightly pinched his throat and lowered his voice, saying:
“Please come in.”
Kong Huayuan pushed open the door, leading a woman wearing a red ghost mask into the room. Upon entering, he saw Ye Anping stroking his cauldron like a pet on his lap, just as he did last time. The cauldron showed no sign of resistance. A playful look crossed his face as he asked:
“Ho, I wanted to say this before, this immortal cultivator girl seems to have been well-trained by Brother Liang.”
Ye Anping felt speechless and snorted coldly:
“Heh… it’s the same reply as before. I’m not selling this girl.”
“That’s a pity…”
Kong Huayuan shrugged slightly, extended his hand towards the ghost-masked woman beside him, and introduced:
“Elder Chen, this is Elder Liang Liu of the Tian Mo Sect’s Prison Hall. That girl is the immortal cultivator cauldron he previously captured from the Xuannü Sect in the Southern Domain.”
The eyes within the ghost mask’s eyeholes slightly scrutinized Ye Anping. After sensing the killing aura emanating from Ye Anping and his current roguish demeanor, she nodded in greeting and sat down without a word, finding a seat.
Seeing her actions, Ye Anping felt a slight sense of relief. After all, Chen Rugu was not as easily fooled as Kong Huayuan. He had been expecting to be tested again, but it seemed he had worried unnecessarily.
After seating himself, Kong Huayuan directly took out some aged wine from his storage bag and poured it for the three people present, saying:
“Brother Liang, Elder Chen doesn’t like beating around the bush, so let’s get straight to business. After we’re done, I’ll accompany you for a few drinks.”
Ye Anping nodded and waved his hand, taking out the map of the surrounding area of Qu Long Village he had crafted the previous day, spreading it on the table:
“This is the valley south of Qu Long Village. I will set up the Thousand Punishments Killing Formation here. Once Gu Mingxin enters the formation, she will be bound within. Then, Elder Chen and Young Master Kong can join forces to eliminate her. Young Master Kong has met Gu Mingxin before, so you should know her capabilities. Do not underestimate her.”
Chen Rugu, looking at the map Ye Anping presented, narrowed her eyes slightly:
“Elder Liang, Gu Mingxin is a traitor to the Tian Mo Sect… Are you sure it’s appropriate for you to stand by and watch while Elder Chen and Young Master Kong face her head-on?”
Ye Anping met her gaze without looking away:
“Inappropriate?”
“I have also heard about Gu Mingxin’s capabilities…”
Ye Anping narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, “Then what are Elder Chen’s suggestions?”
“Let Young Master Kong set up a formation outside.”
Hearing this, Ye Anping immediately understood that Kong Huayuan’s father had likely said something like, “Don’t let my son take risks at that time.” He shrugged slightly:
“That’s acceptable. Then Young Master Kong can guard outside the valley with my cauldron…”
Kong Huayuan listened to this, feeling rather disappointed, and quickly defended himself:
“Elder Chen, I’m not useless. I want to test my skills against Gu Mingxin.”
“Gu Mingxin was once a direct disciple of Yan Jun… Elder Kong asked me to follow you. If anything happens to you, how will I explain it when I return?”
“Tsk…”
Kong Huayuan’s mouth twitched unhappily, but after glancing at Feng Yu Die, who was still lying on Ye Anping’s lap, he readily agreed:
“Fine. Then if we capture Gu Mingxin, will Brother Liang give this girl to me? Brother Liang, I’m genuinely interested.”
Hearing this, Ye Anping’s hand stroking Feng Yu Die’s head suddenly stopped. He gritted his teeth, suppressed a surge of inexplicable anger, and chuckled:
“Not selling.”
“Fine, fine… Then Brother Liang, shall we have a few drinks? How about a pot for Elder Chen as well?”
“Mmm…”
… …
——
A crescent moon rose from the eastern horizon, casting a layer of white frost over the vast Gobi Desert of Donghuang with its silvery moonlight.
A black-haired woman, dressed in black and with a veil covering her face, rode on a flying sword, breaking through the clouds. High in the sky, she left a bloody spiritual light trail originating from Donghuang.
“Hum hum~~ hum hum”
A cheerful melody came from the woman’s lips.
The vast, cold desert surroundings could not dampen her elated mood at this moment.
A month ago, she had received a message written on the palm of her left hand by her beloved:
—See you in Donghuang in a month.
Since then, Gu Mingxin had been like a little girl going on a picnic the next day, unable to sleep, unable to focus on her cultivation, eagerly anticipating the arrival of that day.
As the appointed time drew closer, Gu Mingxin was extremely excited. Just thinking that she would see her Ye Anping soon…
She couldn’t calm down at all.
“Ye Anping~ Hum hum~~ Anping~~…”
Xue E, who was sitting on Gu Mingxin’s head, with a wooden sword on her back and holding a small map, looked at her Mingxin’s radiant expression with helplessness and reminded her:
“Mingxin, the six major demonic sects are looking for you now. When you enter Qu Long Village later, don’t forget to conceal your aura. If you expose yourself, it will absolutely cause a lot of trouble…”
“Hum hum…”
Xue E sighed, unsure if she was listening. She stood up, forcefully stomped on Gu Mingxin’s head, frowned, and rebuked:
“Mingxin!!!”
Gu Mingxin showed a hint of displeasure, glanced at Xue E, and said:
“Aiya… I know.”
“What do you know! Ye Anping asked you to meet him, and you’ve stopped meditating, stopped practicing your sword, and all day you just think about him! What kind of behavior is this!”
Xue E frowned, crossed her arms, and stomped on Gu Mingxin’s forehead a few times in annoyance. She looked around and then said,
“I wonder what he wants you to come to Donghuang for? Donghuang is now Ghost Spirit Sect territory. Why choose this place to meet? The Ghost Spirit Sect disciples are all watching you.”
Gu Mingxin’s ears seemed to be blocked. She asked,
“Xue E, how far is it?”
“About three hundred li more. Fly slowly… we shouldn’t…”
Before she finished speaking, upon hearing that there were only a hundred li left, Gu Mingxin’s eyes filled with even more joy. She immediately channeled her spiritual energy into the flying sword beneath her feet and accelerated again.
“Hiss—Mingxin!! Don’t be in such a hurry! Fly slower!! What if Ghost Spirit Sect disciples see you… Ai!! Mingxin!!!”
Gu Mingxin ignored Xue E’s nagging. All she wanted now was to see Ye Anping quickly.
Last time at the Taibai Sect, due to the presence of that foolish Bai and the Taibai Sect disciples, she could only get a taste. But this time, she wouldn’t let go until she had her fill.
She was going to gnaw Ye Anping’s mouth until it was raw!!
The flying sword was like a crimson specter slicing through the night sky. Under her spiritual power, three hundred li was covered in less than a cup of tea’s time.
Demonic cultivators came and went from the red-light districts and taverns on the streets. After entering Qu Long Village, Gu Mingxin no longer acted recklessly. Instead, she carefully concealed her aura and blended into the crowd.
Her expectant eyes scanned the pedestrians on the street. She noticed a young man in black not far ahead, selecting pills at a stall.
Gu Mingxin mistook him for Ye Anping and stealthily approached. However, when the man turned around, she realized it wasn’t him. A sudden urge to kill him surged within her, and she quickly turned and walked on.
Seeing that no one was around, she asked:
“Xue E, where is he?”
Xue E was also troubled. There were too many people here. If she released her spiritual sense to search for Ye Anping, her head would throb. After thinking for a moment, she said:
“Mingxin, why don’t you use your hand to grab his butt?”
“Mmm…”
Gu Mingxin fell silent for a moment and immediately controlled her left hand to clench. A sharp sting, like being hit with a ruler, followed.
“Hiss—”
Gu Mingxin gasped, instinctively wanting to rub it, but she couldn’t reach.
However, Ye Anping seemed to know that she meant “I’ve arrived.” Gu Mingxin felt her left hand’s fingers being pried open by Ye Anping. Ye Anping’s index finger landed on her palm and began to lightly tickle it:
—The valley south of Qu Long Village.
Gu Mingxin paused, pouting dejectedly.
They had agreed to meet in Donghuang, but when she was nearing Donghuang, Ye Anping told her to come to Qu Long Village, and now he was sending her to the valley south of Qu Long Village…
So annoying.
However, she only complained for a moment. Glancing at the passersby around her, she turned into a streak of bloody light and leaped into the sky from the street.
“Ai? Mingxin… what’s wrong?”
“Ye Anping said to go to the valley south of Qu Long Village.”
“Ah?”
Xue E froze for a moment, then hastily took out the map to look again. But Gu Mingxin didn’t wait for her. She summoned her flying sword and sped towards the southern valley.
“Ai! Mingxin, don’t be in such a hurry!!”
Gu Mingxin flew ahead, Xue E chased behind. In less than a cup of tea’s time, they had moved and shifted again, arriving at the valley Ye Anping had mentioned.
Xue E, panting, perched on Gu Mingxin’s head, kicked her a few times with resentment, then pulled out the Tian Mo Book Scroll from under her skirt and flipped through it, saying:
“Mingxin, this is Xuanyuan Valley. Twelve thousand years ago, it was the location of a sect called ‘Xuanyuan Sect’. However, due to the war between demonic cultivators and immortals back then, the spiritual脉 was destroyed, turning this place into a Gobi Desert. That sect then moved to the Southern Domain…”
“Mmm…”
Gu Mingxin didn’t seem to be listening at all. She looked around, saw no one, and simply controlled her sword to fly down, landing on a cliff in the valley. Her gaze swept back and forth between the thousand-foot-high pillars and the sandstone rock walls.
Birds and beasts were absent from this place, and coupled with the crescent moon in the night sky, it appeared slightly desolate.
Still not seeing Ye Anping, Gu Mingxin grew impatient. She looked around and controlled her left hand to pinch Ye Anping’s butt again.
However, this time, she found that her left hand seemed to be suspended by Ye Anping again.
“Mmm?”
Gu Mingxin frowned, not understanding what was happening. It was at this moment that Xue E, who was scanning the surroundings with her spiritual sense above her head, suddenly widened her eyes as if she had seen something:
“Mingxin!! It’s a trap!! Let’s go quickly!!”
“What trap?”
Gu Mingxin asked in confusion, murmuring.
In the next moment, a bloody red light shot up from the valley, instantly forming a blood-colored spiritual barrier capable of enveloping the entire valley.
“Mingxin!! Behind you!!”
Hearing Xue E’s warning, Gu Mingxin, though still confused, reacted quickly. She instantly summoned her blood-colored spiritual sword, gripped it, and turned, holding the sword horizontally in front of her.
Ding—
Sparks flew.
A red-faced woman wearing a ghost mask, holding a curved snake-shaped sword, had appeared behind her at some point.
Gu Mingxin looked at the woman’s ghost mask, then paused for a breath. She immediately created distance and ascended into the air, then incredulously scanned her surroundings.
Ye Anping had asked her to meet him here.
Why was a Ghost Spirit Sect elder here?
And what was this formation?
Xue E was also bewildered. She quickly flew to Gu Mingxin’s side, helping her stay alert, and asked:
“Mingxin, wasn’t it he who asked you to come here? Why are there Ghost Spirit Sect cultivators here…”
Gu Mingxin looked pleadingly at the ghost-masked woman below, who had not chosen to pursue her. She frowned and looked at the spiritual barrier formation above that had trapped her. Finally, she reached a conclusion.
Ye Anping had sold her out again…
He had even taken her kiss! And her hand!!
And then he sold her to the Ghost Spirit Sect.
The spiritual sword in Gu Mingxin’s hand made cracking sounds as she gripped it. Gritting her teeth in hatred, she immediately wanted to shout Ye Anping’s name. But just as she was about to open her mouth.
Ye Anping’s cold voice came from behind her:
“Young Master Gu, I trust you are well.”
Gu Mingxin was slightly stunned. She turned to look and saw a young man in black robes, wearing a silver mask, his hands behind his back, hovering about a hundred feet away…
She was slightly puzzled. Looking at the Ghost Spirit Sect elder below, she asked:
“Ye…”
Ye Anping interrupted her again:
“Does Young Master Gu still remember Liang someone.”
… …
