Chapter 13

After some casual conversation, Gu Changqing prepared to head to the Enforcement Hall.

Before leaving, he first performed a mysterious light technique, directing it toward a reflective surface to observe his own fortune.

The color was cyan, tinged with streaks of black energy.

Gu Changqing frowned slightly—could he also be facing a calamity?

Impossible.

Within the sect, calamities would not befall him.

But what about after leaving?

Recalling that both he and Ji Yan possessed great wealth, Gu Changqing let out a dry laugh. It seemed someone harbored ill intentions.

Being cautious as he was, the only place he might face danger would be on the road to North City.

So...

What exactly was going on? He would soon find out.

At the Enforcement Hall:

“Senior Brother, I’m looking for Zhang Yuan,” Gu Changqing greeted with a smile.

“Wait here!” Not long after, Zhang Yuan emerged, laughing heartily. “Haha, Junior Brother Gu, I knew you’d come.”

“Senior Brother sees clearly. It’s just that...” Gu Changqing sighed helplessly.

“I understand. With fame comes trouble. You’ve drawn some unwanted attention, but it’s nothing serious. We’re setting off for North City in three days; you should come along.”

Gu Changqing chuckled; the Enforcement Hall truly understood matters well. “Thanks, Senior Brother. This token of gratitude—take it and buy drinks for the brothers. Ji Yan isn’t well; he’ll need extra care on the journey.”

“No problem!” Zhang Yuan waved his hand casually, his smile growing warmer. “Junior Brother Gu is very sensible. Keep in touch in the future.”

Curious, he asked, “Junior Brother Gu, did you offend someone?”

Gu Changqing couldn’t help but smile bitterly. “I’m not exactly sure. I was in seclusion for two days and didn’t expect... sigh!”

Zhang Yuan sympathized, “Don’t worry about it. Only incapable people would obsess over such trivial matters. Few real experts care about you; the sect has countless affairs—who remembers you? But beware of those who covet what you have. You should think carefully about who you might have offended.”

The Enforcement Hall was quite the gossip hub.

Many nearby ears perked up, eavesdropping.

Gu Changqing sighed softly, “I suspect someone wants to take revenge on Sister Bing Ning.”

“Whoa!” Zhang Yuan inhaled sharply. “That woman?”

“What about her?”

Gu Changqing’s interest deepened. Had the Enforcement Hall also noticed Bing Ning’s uncanny nature?

Zhang Yuan shook his head. “Her admirer is practically insane. Recently, in the market, Bing Ning and another female cultivator both desired the same hairpin, leading to a brief dispute. Bing Ning magnanimously stepped back; it seemed trivial.”

“But a few days later, the other woman’s appearance was destroyed. The culprit was a wandering cultivator in the market. Although vengeance was sought, investigations found no clear motive. The only trace was that the attacker once benefited from Bing Ning’s kindness.”

Gu Changqing nodded—Bing Ning truly was uncanny. He asked, “Any significance to the hairpin?”

Zhang Yuan shook his head again. “The hairpin was given to Bing Ning by the wandering cultivator but was then returned to the other woman by Bing Ning. She even brokered a deal to hire a fourth-level alchemist to restore the woman’s appearance.”

Someone nearby interjected, “Fairy Bing Ning was truly an innocent victim.”

“Indeed. That woman remains ungrateful, spreading slander about Bing Ning, relying on her ties to the Chen family.”

“Chen Siyu is ungrateful.”

“It’s only because of Bing Ning’s generosity that she feels guilty, though it’s not her fault.”

“That’s debatable. Without Bing Ning’s involvement, Chen Siyu wouldn’t have been disfigured.”

“That was the doing of wandering cultivators. What does Bing Ning have to do with it? She can’t control their actions.”

“...”

Listening to their chatter, Gu Changqing quietly fell silent.

He always knew Bing Ning was innocent.

She was pure, beautiful, and flawless; the fault lay with others.

Bing Ning’s gracious and courteous demeanor only highlighted the unreasonable behavior of the Chen family’s female cultivator.

However...

It was laughable that a member of the Chen family needed someone else to arrange for an alchemist.

The Chen family was no small sect.

Gu Changqing vaguely recalled that the Chen family intended to take Ji Yan as a son-in-law; such a family certainly wouldn’t lack alchemists to attend them.

Chen Siyu’s unwillingness to appreciate that was understandable.

Gu Changqing found nothing wrong with that.

Yet, others might see Chen Siyu as narrow-minded, unjustly blaming an innocent party.

After all, Bing Ning’s attitude truly inspired goodwill. Chen Siyu wasn’t severely harmed, and a minor quarrel among juniors was hardly a concern for even the Chen family.

Besides, Bing Ning was the prodigy of the Lingxu Sect.

Not to mention, the entire matter was the fault of wandering cultivators; Bing Ning was only caught in the crossfire.

Ultimately, the only unlucky party was Chen Siyu.

To be disfigured without cause left psychological scars that were not so easily healed.

Gu Changqing’s eyes flickered; he seemed to foresee the destruction of yet another pawn.

Still, his greatest curiosity was about the hairpin.

Unfortunately, he never had the chance to see it.

Otherwise, he would have liked to identify what kind of hairpin could attract the favor of a fortune-touched woman and cause such a dispute.

After a bit more idle chat, they agreed to depart three days later in the morning, and Gu Changqing took his leave.

Back at his dwelling, Ji Yan sat beneath a peach tree, lazily basking in the sun while occasionally offering pointers to Chen Jian.

“Wrong. Your sword strike isn’t fast enough, and your hand isn’t steady. Try again.”

“Yes, sir!”

Chen Jian quickly repeated his sword technique.

“The horizontal thrust is misaligned. Shift it three inches downward. Pay attention to the sword’s momentum. You must learn to use momentum to strike the enemy, or else it’s just swordsmanship without mastery.”

Although Ji Yan’s cultivation was lacking, his keen eyesight sufficed to guide Chen Jian well.

Noticing Gu Changqing, Chen Jian immediately saluted.

Ji Yan lifted his eyelids slightly and snorted, acknowledging him in his own way.

“You two continue your practice.”

Gu Changqing left a few words and was about to leave when he casually observed Chen Jian’s fortune.

It was cyan, tinged with red.

Gu Changqing was surprised; after all, Chen Jian was merely an outer sect servant with only a third-level Qi Refinement cultivation—hardly someone with a fortune aura.

This indicated good fortune was near.

Perhaps an impending promotion? Or maybe a phoenix rising from the ashes?

For a mere servant disciple to possess cyan fortune was unusual.

Gu Changqing felt a pang of envy; his own fortune was just cyan.

Could Chen Jian also be a child of destiny?

“Senior Brother Gu,” Chen Jian called out nervously.

“It’s nothing,” Gu Changqing quickly shook his head, smiling. “Keep practicing your swordsmanship. Don’t worry about me.”

He noticed Chen Jian’s fortune was unstable, lacking the solidity that he and Ji Yan possessed, occasionally drifting and even touching Ji Yan’s aura.

Was this a form of mentorship gratitude?

Gu Changqing frowned. He felt that understanding this might unravel many mysteries.

“Void Mirror,” he called silently.

“Identify.”

In an instant, information appeared in his eyes:

[Chen Jian, third-level Qi Refinement, servant disciple of the Lingxu Sect. He feels uneasy; why is Senior Brother Gu staring at him? Could it be that Gu already knows he was ordered to spread rumors? But he cannot be blamed; following Ji Yan’s orders is mandatory. Besides, he only stirs trouble behind the scenes, creating new rumors to cover Ji Yan’s, without involving Senior Brother Gu. He hopes not to offend him.]

Gu Changqing twitched the corner of his mouth.

He stepped into the main hall, deciding not to pursue this further.

After all, he was in no hurry; someday, he would find the answers.

What Gu Changqing did not expect was that the Void Mirror would reveal such internal drama—Chen Jian’s mind was full of schemes.

Spreading rumors and stirring trouble.

Quite the cunning character, somewhat of a kindred spirit.

No wonder he had cyan fortune; helping Ji Yan brought him many benefits.

With some luck, perhaps he could become a fortune-touched servant disciple rising against the odds.

Gu Changqing ceased further thought and quietly marked Chen Jian as a focus of attention. His trajectory might reveal something.

Back in his room, Gu Changqing performed the mysterious light technique once more to observe his fortune.

The black streaks within the cyan pillar were gone.

It seemed his suspicion was correct.

Someone intended to make a move against him on the road to North City.

Greed moves men.

But as Zhang Yuan said, capable people wouldn’t bother with them. Those who act must be incompetent fools, recklessly gambling.

With the Enforcement Team now present, they surely dared not act rashly.

Otherwise, they would be stirring a hornet’s nest—the Enforcement Team’s authority was inviolable.

Gu Changqing relaxed, not dwelling on these people, though he quietly made a note of certain sycophants.

He could not retaliate now.

But he could wait.

He would see what became of them after licking boots for so long.

He would never miss a chance to exploit their moments of weakness.

...

Time flew swiftly.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

The previous afternoon, Gu Changqing packed all the things he intended to bring—spiritual plants, sundries—all into a storage bag.

Cultivators truly had the convenience of moving with a single storage bag.

“Let’s go!”

Ji Yan smiled gently, his eyes devoid of attachment, filled only with unwavering courage and anticipation of a new life.

Gu Changqing looked at him and asked, “Aren’t you going to bid farewell to Master Ji?”

Ji Yan smiled, “Aren’t you going to see Master Yu off?”

Gu Changqing shook his head, “Master said there’s no need to meet him.”

Ji Yan chuckled, “Grandfather is busy. Better not annoy him.”

Gu Changqing laughed softly, “Yes, he’s busy.”

Grandfather had only come to visit once after Ji Yan’s awakening.

Since then, he had been busy dealing with his son’s demands, resolutely forbidding Ji Heng from leaving the Reflection Cliff. According to him, as long as Ji Yan remained in the sect, Ji Heng must atone.

This was his final stance.

Master Ji was truly difficult; perhaps bearing the pressure for Ji Yan was his way of feeling worthy as a grandfather.

But to Gu Changqing, such sentiment was best left aside—it only brought pain and heartbreak.

Yet, glancing at Ji Yan, whose expression was warm and smiling, Gu Changqing could not tell if sadness lurked beneath that gentle facade.

“What are you looking at?” Ji Yan glanced at him.

“Nothing!” Gu Changqing quickly shook his head.

He certainly wouldn’t ask if Ji Yan had been hurt by family. That man was a little unhinged—touching that nerve might provoke an episode.

At that moment, Chen Jian came to bid farewell.

“Senior Brother Ji, Senior Brother Gu, take care. Though my strength is lacking, I will do my best to follow your orders.”

Ji Yan smiled, “No need for that. Take care of yourself and train well.”

Gu Changqing added, “Remember, keep your wealth hidden.”

He had already given some unimportant items to Chen Jian. The young man indeed enjoyed great fortune, and with Gu Xing’an away on a mission, this was his opportunity.

Chen Jian was reluctant to leave. He was grateful to his senior brothers, but more so to leave behind two generous patrons. Where else could he find such easy, rewarding tasks?

Unfortunately, after this departure, the senior brothers might soon forget a small figure like him.

Chen Jian felt a pang of loss. “Senior Brother, rest assured. I will train hard and visit you in North City.”

Ji Yan nodded, “Good.”

Gu Changqing raised his eyebrows lightly. Visiting was a good excuse. This boy was quite adept at making connections. It would be interesting to see how far he might go in the future.