Chapter 116: The Humble Gu Yi Sells Toys Online

"So, Gu Yi has been left behind at the side of the Lord of the Eighteenth Floor."

After days of waiting, Jiesheng Pass finally received a piece of good news: Shu Le, a cultivator at the Returning to Truth realm, had returned. The unfortunate part was that Gu Yi had not.

Saying that he had been "left at the side of the Lord of the Eighteenth Floor" was merely the Seventh Princess and the others trying to find a positive spin on the situation. In reality, from another perspective, if even the Lord of the Eighteenth Floor could not escape, then Gu Yi had even less of a chance. They had effectively lost him forever; he was merely alive, nothing more.

"Regardless, the return of Lady Shu Le is an inspiring piece of good news. Furthermore, because of this return to the city, Wu Gang has also come back," General He Jiang summarized.

The Seventh Princess took Shu Le's hands, visibly moved. "You really scared me to death."

For the first time, there was laughter in the council chamber of the Jiesheng Pass garrison.

Ji Lan had been staying in the corner throughout. Of course, she was happy that Shu Le had survived, but she was also disappointed that Gu Yi had been left at the Rain Palace. Good men were already scarce, and now there was one fewer. Beyond these thoughts, her gaze remained fixed on Chen Gou.

People often spoke of the "Night Sinking Hook" and the "Day Sinking Sword." This wasn't to say that the Sinking Hook was more formidable at night, but rather a colorful way to describe the stark contrast in personalities between the two brothers. Both were "God-Guardians." Just as Chen Mingguang and Wu Gang held decision-making roles within the Xu army, Sinking Hook held similar status in the Li army. Because of his gloomy nature—better at scheming than at fighting—Sinking Hook’s level of involvement was perhaps even deeper.

"Old He, how about you leave this man to me?"

Hearing her voice, those who had been immersed in the joy of the reunion shifted their attention toward her.

He Jiang’s reply was blunt: "Fine! But when you question him, do it properly. Don't go scaring him into an idiot like you did last time."

Even in his dazed, unconscious state, Sinking Hook seemed terrified by these words.

But Ji Lan, with her long legs, seemed to enjoy it. She nudged Sinking Hook's head with her boot. "This guy is ugly. If he were a bit more handsome, I might have made you a promise, but as it stands, I can't make any guarantees."

Fiery and wicked—that was why she had made a name for herself in the Chenzhou Basin.

Bang!

With a kick, Ji Lan sent the man flying out of the hall. "Catch him!"

Several of her soldiers scrambled to intercept him, their movements so practiced it made one almost pity Sinking Hook. Ji Lan turned back and gave Shu Le a wide, bright smile. "Well caught. Whether it was the strength required to capture him or the strategic perspective needed to bring him back alive, it was excellent work."

Shu Le of Luyang Academy had not brought shame to the things she cherished.

"Thank you for the praise, Senior Sister Ji."

At first, people hadn't known, but later everyone understood: the reason Ji Lan could be so wild in her capacity as a vice-general was twofold—first, her own strength, and second, the fact that she, too, was a graduate of Luyang Academy.

"Right, leave the rest to me. Even if I have to peel a layer of skin off him, I'll get the information."

Chen Mingguang and Wu Gang felt a chill run down their spines. Forget it, forget it—this woman might be powerful and have a great figure, but it was best to keep one's distance.

He Jiang felt a sense of relief due to Shu Le's return. "Rest quickly, Lady Shu. Jiesheng Pass still relies on you!"

The Returning to Truth realm represented a different tier of combat. Just as it had taken all three of them immense effort to fight someone at the Harmony realm, when two armies clashed, it was always a matter of one Returning to Truth practitioner watching another. Shu Le was not in her best state, and this factor had an impact on the war that could even outweigh the quality of tactical planning.

The Seventh Princess had many, many things to ask, so she urged Shu Le to leave quickly. In the inner courtyard, everything had already been prepared for her: a bath, fresh clothes, food... everything.

Since a girl needed to bathe and refresh herself, others naturally could not listen in. Chen Mingguang and Wu Gang went off to deepen their "comradeship," leaving only the Seventh Princess and Shu Le in the room.

Shu Le sat in the wooden tub, pinning up her long hair with a wooden hairpin, leaving only her arms, as white and tender as lotus roots, above the water. As she undressed, the Seventh Princess could see the scars on her back.

"I should have stayed to accompany Gu Yi. If it weren't for him, I certainly wouldn't have survived. But along the way, I heard Shu Yu say that a battle between Jiesheng Pass and Fenggu Pass was inevitable, so I was anxious to return. Thankfully..."

The Seventh Princess understood what she meant by "thankfully." If she hadn't returned at the right time, Wu Gang’s survival would have been uncertain. Furthermore, the many civilians in Guqing River would not have survived; it was a sudden appearance of a Returning to Truth cultivator that had saved their lives. While He Jiang and Ji Lan were also of that realm, with the two armies on the brink of war, the enemy was watching them closely. If the two of them had acted rashly, Jiesheng Pass would have been in grave danger.

"It is truly a pity that Gu Yi could not escape the Rain Palace, but you have done your best," the Seventh Princess comforted her gently. "From what you say, the Lord of the Eighteenth Floor has also been trapped for years. The Rain Palace has truly gone too far. When I return this time, I will report this truthfully to my Imperial Father. We must find a way to rescue them all."

Shu Le felt the same. Gu Yi, though often infuriating, possessed a sense of justice that she could feel. She had to find a way to save him, even if it took her entire lifetime of cultivation.

"By the way, Seventh Princess, what happened to Wu Gang's arm?"

The topic was a bit somber. The Seventh Princess sighed and said, "That day, by the River Rain Tomb, after you and Gu Yi disappeared with Shu Yu, we engaged in a fierce battle with the Rain Palace. We could have had the advantage due to our numbers, but the enemy received reinforcements. Wu Gang lost his left arm to Gu Yue while trying to save me."

It took only a few sentences to recount, but it must have been a terrifying ordeal.

"This cannot be blamed on Gu Yi, either. His Majesty wanted the River Rain Tomb. If Gu Yi hadn't done what he did, we would have returned empty-handed."

The Seventh Princess pressed, "Is there any news regarding the River Rain Tomb?"

"Only that it has to do with the Great and Small Deng Islands. River Rain must have been there."

"So that's how it is."

The Great and Small Deng Islands were said to hide the world's most powerful experts. For years, they had drifted away from the continent, and the legends surrounding them had become increasingly mysterious, fueling the longing of those on the mainland. This matter was indeed of great importance.

As Shu Le wiped her body, she hesitated about another matter. The Seventh Princess was the Master of the Great Xu Palace, and she felt she should be informed.

"This time, I saw the Mistress of the Rain Palace. She wore a mask and sat behind a curtain. I could not see her appearance, but she said one thing regarding the 'Transcendent Immortal Talent'."

Shu Le turned her back to the Seventh Princess. "Princess, I believe Gu Yi is not a bad person. But these words truly came from the Mistress of the Rain Palace. She said that Xiaoyuan Mountain has no successor."

The Seventh Princess realized the gravity of this immediately and was somewhat incredulous. "Xiaoyuan Mountain has no successor? Then Gu Yi..."

Then who was Gu Yi?

She immediately thought of her encounter in the Dream Paper. She had previously assumed that the title of Transcendent Immortal Talent was something ordained by her father, the Emperor, and thus there was no problem. But what did it mean if he wasn't the Transcendent Immortal Talent? This guy—why was he so mysterious?

"Could the Mistress of the Rain Palace have said that on purpose to sow distrust between the two of you?"

In most cases, Shu Le would have thought so too—her brain wasn't just for decoration—but this time, she felt it wasn't the case.

"The Mistress of the Rain Palace is a very strange person... I don't think she has the inclination to use such schemes. She seems uninterested in most things, aside from her appearance brought by the Mo clan and her cultivation. I truly feel she is detached from worldly affairs, just like when she captured me and then let me go so easily."

Thus, Shu Le believed the words of the Mistress of the Rain Palace to be true.

The Seventh Princess paced slowly around the wooden tub, her hands clasped. After careful thought, she said, "Shu Le, you and I both trust him, right?"

"Yes."

"Then this matter must not be known to others. If it reaches my father's ears and he learns that Gu Yi might have deceived him, I don't know what he would do to Gu Yi."

"Should we not even tell His Majesty?"

"Correct. We must not tell him."

This went somewhat against Shu Le's principles, as she was loyal to Luyang Academy and the Emperor. Most of the time, this principle remained unchanged, but now that it concerned Gu Yi, and with the Seventh Princess's warning, she decided to comply.

"Very well, I will not mention it to anyone else."

Come to think of it, she really missed that guy. Being with him every day, she had grown unaccustomed to not having anyone around to irritate her. As she pondered, she couldn't help but imagine how he was faring in the Rain Palace, and whether he was getting along with the Lord of the Eighteenth Floor. If he couldn't resist the temptation of Shu Yu, he would lose his life.

Shu Le frowned involuntarily.

The Seventh Princess, who had been by her side, noticed the change. "What is it?"

"Nothing. I was just thinking that the Mistress of the Rain Palace cares little about most things, but she is very particular about men being lecherous. As long as Gu Yi doesn't cross that line, he should be safe for now, thanks to the Lord of the Eighteenth Floor. But Gu Yi has seen Shu Yu's face..."

This made her worried and a bit angry. That guy just couldn't be well-behaved.

"Would Gu Yi like Shu Yu?" The Seventh Princess found the idea absurd. "You are completely overthinking it. Gu Yi would not like Shu Yu."

She said it with such confidence that it made Shu Le feel strange. "Why?"

"Because..." The Seventh Princess paused. The awkwardness of her first meeting with Gu Yi was still fresh in her mind, but how could she speak of such things?

"In any case, I am certain of it."

She was so firm, not even considering the factor of male infidelity, that she trusted Gu Yi quite easily.

Shu Le was the other extreme. "Really? I have seen Shu Yu without her mask, and she is truly, truly beautiful."

The Seventh Princess smiled and shook her head, saying gently, "Really. He won't like Shu Yu, and he won't be infatuated because of it. Liking someone is an emotion; it's not about who is the most beautiful."

Shu Le felt a stir in her heart; she was never very proficient in such matters. "Is that so? By comparison, is it possible for a man to like the uglier one?"

"Of course. My second sister told me this. She has read many stories, and many of them are true. She says that liking someone is the connection of two people's emotions, the drawing together of hearts. It has nothing to do with beauty or ugliness."

"If it were me, I would like someone for their courage and integrity. Would you fall for a man simply because of his appearance?"

Upon hearing this, Shu Le found it made some sense. "How could external beauty or ugliness compare to the integrity of one's heart? Of course I wouldn't."

"So, Gu Yi wouldn't be moved by Shu Yu's beauty alone. For a girl, what is important is kindness and consideration."

The Seventh Princess, acting like an emotional mentor, used particularly fluid language and seamless logic to successfully lead her astray. Of course, she wasn't doing it on purpose, because she believed it herself.

Elsewhere, Gu Yi was having a miserable time.

The current situation was as follows: he had only managed to get one chicken. He felt that splitting it between himself and the Lord of the Eighteenth Floor was perfectly sufficient, especially since the Lord had just eaten and shouldn't be that hungry. He hadn't expected two more people to show up.

Now, four people were dividing one chicken, and it was worth noting that this chicken was not plump. Everyone wanted a bite, and since the Mistress of the Rain Palace didn't care about such things, there was a total lack of rules here.

The Lord of the Eighteenth Floor was a Saint of Arts, the other two were at the Harmony realm, and Gu Yi was at the Returning to Truth realm...

It was a deep, heartfelt despair. He felt his end would not be being killed by Gu Baici, but rather starving to death. Fortunately, his mind was quick. Despite feeling sorry for the chicken, he tearfully managed to sneak a few large bites during the chaos. By the time he reached for more, he discovered the chicken was already in the hands of the two "guests." They were powerful, and they simply snatched it away.

For the first time, Gu Yi felt that the Lord of the Eighteenth Floor’s good temper was truly troublesome—you could have a good temper toward me, but please, not toward these two!

"Delicious, delicious." The person who had played a game with Gu Yi earlier—the Lord of the Eighteenth Floor called him Yan Lang. But Gu Yi noticed a "two" written on his face, and the man acted a bit like a fool, so he always felt he should be called Yan Gou (Dog).

"This little fellow is not bad."

The other one speaking was likely the "Long-Legged Cat." His appearance was also quite unique; he wore a yellow, slicked-back hairstyle. He was a man, but his small, round face and features were quite regular, unlike that Yan Lang, whose eyes didn't look like eyes and nose didn't look like a nose.

"His name is Gu Yi, a student from my Luyang Academy. He accidentally entered the Rain Palace a few days ago." The Lord of the Eighteenth Floor emphasized the words "Luyang Academy," clearly stressing Gu Yi’s "ownership."

Yan Lang was the first to express dissatisfaction. "Oh, Eighteenth, don't be so stingy. It's been so many years. What Luyang Academy or not? Since he's here, he can't go anywhere else anyway. Just let him play with us. Cook something delicious, hehe."

The Long-Legged Cat jumped to Gu Yi's side with a swoosh. His body seemed exceptionally flexible, and he stretched his neck to look him over carefully. "Is this little fellow good at fighting? Why don't you fight with me?"

Yan Lang pushed him away. "I discovered him first today! He plays with me first!"

"What do you mean you discovered him first? I saw him when I came to eat fish earlier!"

Without needing to think, the two began to bicker incessantly until the Lord of the Eighteenth Floor spoke up: "Stop arguing, both of you! Do you want a beating?!"

The two Harmony realm cultivators instantly transformed into two obedient pets, squatting down.

"Gu Yi is from my Luyang Academy, so of course he is playing with me."

Gu Yi felt as if a heavy mountain had pressed down on his back. "Damn it, I haven't even eaten my fill yet..."

"I won't let you play in vain. I promised to teach you something powerful, and I certainly will."

Gu Yi didn't feel that any of that was important. He only cared that this man had said he wanted to "play with him"—was this the legendary "good person" who wasn't as evil as he was?