Appreciating New Tea with an Inkstone - Chapter 45 Part 2

After making sure Qu Lin’er was asleep, Qingwu held back her emotions and walked outside. She immediately bowed deeply to Gu Xiyan. “Please, save Lin’er. I am willing to serve you in any way, no matter what you ask of me.”

Gu Xiyan raised a hand, gesturing for her to rise. Her tone remained calm. “I want you to take me to meet this person.”

Qingwu hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “I can do that. But his cultivation is far beyond mine. You must be careful.”

Even as she agreed, Qingwu couldn’t shake her concern. Along the way, she kept telling Gu Xiyan everything she knew about the person in question. Gu Xiyan did seem very powerful, but being blind would undoubtedly put her at a disadvantage in battle.

Gu Xiyan seemed to sense her thoughts and spoke softly, “I will be careful. My blindness does not hinder me from doing what I must.”

Mujin immediately nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly! My lady is incredible! Even though she can’t see, she’s sharper than those with perfect sight.” Her voice brimmed with pride, resembling the way Ah Qi used to speak when she followed Gu Xiyan in the past.

Gu Xiyan’s lips curved slightly, but in the next moment, she sank into deep thought.

After listening, Qingwu thought for a moment. She looked at Gu Xiyan, who was gliding through the air as if walking on solid ground. She didn’t need Mujin to guide her and moved no differently from an ordinary person. Recalling how keenly Gu Xiyan had sensed her emotions earlier, Qingwu gradually let go of her worries.

Gu Xiyan was a quiet person. Since Qingwu had something on her mind, she didn’t speak further. Mujin remained silent for a moment as well, then stared at Qingwu before furrowing her brows. Finally, she voiced a question that had long puzzled her. “My lady, you are a cultivator, so why do you pay so much attention to demons? And why are you so lenient toward them?”

In recent years, demons had become rampant and committed countless atrocities. For cultivators, exterminating demons was the primary goal of their training.

Gu Xiyan had been traveling for two years now. Many demons had perished at her hands, but even more had been spared—some she had even saved. Mujin was one of them.

Gu Xiyan seemed lost in thought for a moment before lowering her head and softly saying, “I’ve always believed that humans have both good and evil, and so do demons. If I can save people, then I can save demons too.”

When Gu Xiyan first arrived in Dongzhou, she was taken in as a disciple by Elder Yuxi. The other elders of the Five Peaks were baffled by Yuxi’s decision. Elder Yuxi was exceptionally talented, and countless aspiring disciples wished to study under him. Among them were many with extraordinary potential, yet he rejected them all and chose a blind girl instead.

Elder Yuheng had tried to persuade him multiple times. “Shidi, if you pity her and admire her potential, it’s fine to take her as a disciple. But you need someone to inherit your legacy. You should take in another student.”

(T/N: shidi = junior brother)

However, Yuxi paid him no heed. Meanwhile, those who had been rejected began to gossip, resenting the inexplicable favoritism shown to the blind girl, Gu Xiyan. They didn’t dare to openly bully her, but they constantly whispered behind her back, sneered, and ostracized her.

Yet, what happened next left everyone stunned. Gu Xiyan’s blindness did not hinder her cultivation. One year after joining the Fifth Peak, she dominated her peers in the Dongzhou Grand Tournament, securing the top spot among the new disciples.

Afterward, she remained low-key and rarely appeared in public except for the Five Peaks Tournament, with Yuxi shielding her from unnecessary trouble. Despite this, her reputation spread far and wide due to her remarkable performance in Dongzhou.

Six years later, Gu Xiyan had become a legend. Starting her cultivation at eighteen was considered extremely late, yet she overcame what should have been a fatal disadvantage and advanced at an astonishing pace. The disciples of the Five Peaks were ranked according to their strength, and within six years, Gu Xiyan had risen to become the senior disciple of her generation. Even Yuxi himself was left speechless with amazement. From then on, all disciples of the Five Peaks regarded her with deep respect, their words filled with admiration.

Later, Gu Xiyan bid farewell to Yuxi and left Dongzhou to travel the world. It was then that she met Mujin. At that time, Mujin was filled with hostility and aggression. She and Gu Xiyan fought twice before Gu Xiyan subdued her and took her in.

Now, Mujin bore a striking resemblance to Ah Qi, and Gu Xiyan placed great trust in her.

Mujin, however, was neither human nor an ordinary demon—she was a devil. During the ancient war between gods and devils, the demon race remained neutral, while the devils were almost completely annihilated. Though a few survived, their numbers were so scarce that they never regained their former strength. Moreover, the Immortal Realm had zero tolerance for devils—anyone discovered was executed on the spot, leading the devil race to the brink of extinction.

Mujin’s presence in the Mortal Realm was exceptionally rare. The devilish aura within her surged uncontrollably, and when Gu Xiyan first encountered her, she was fiercely combative, her body stained with blood from battles against cultivators.

Then, she was defeated by Gu Xiyan. At the time, Mujin was both confused and wary, striking out at any perceived threat. Yet, after capturing her, Gu Xiyan did not harm her. Instead, she took her in.

Mujin quickly grew fond of the blind cultivator. Once she regained her senses, she inexplicably felt a sense of kinship with Gu Xiyan. In the end, she chose to stay by her side wholeheartedly, addressing her as “my lady.” And so, she remained with Gu Xiyan for more than two years, never straying from her side.

Listening to Gu Xiyan’s words, Mujin blinked and asked skeptically, “My lady, when you first met me, I was ruthless and had killed people. Why were you so kind to me?”

Gu Xiyan chuckled at that. “You were indeed fierce—just like her. The moment we met, you wanted to take my life.”

Mujin looked at the woman in front of her, who was smiling faintly. She keenly sensed that this smile was different from Gu Xiyan’s usual ones. She couldn’t quite pinpoint what made it different, only that it carried a kind of happiness that didn’t seem to belong in a conversation about someone who had once tried to kill her.

She frowned slightly, puzzled, before catching onto a key detail. “Like her? My lady, who is she?”

She saw the smile at Gu Xiyan’s lips gradually fade, replaced by a quiet wistfulness tinged with sorrow. After a brief silence, Gu Xiyan finally said softly, “An old friend—like you, not an ordinary human.”

“Was she a demon?” Mujin asked curiously.

“Yes, a very powerful one. She was quite vicious at first, even wanting to make me her food. But later…”

“What happened later?”

“Later, she saved me multiple times, treated me very well. She was the one who taught me how to cultivate and sent me to Dongzhou.” As Gu Xiyan spoke of the past, even though many years had passed, her voice was still filled with warmth and nostalgia.

“Where is she now? I’ve followed you for so many years, but I’ve never seen her.” Mujin noticed how even Gu Xiyan’s expression changed when she spoke of this demon. She must have been very important to her. But as soon as Mujin asked, she regretted it—because she realized that her question had made her lady sad, even if only for a fleeting moment.

Gu Xiyan pressed her lips together. Under the white silk covering her eyes, her already dim gaze grew even darker. After a moment, she exhaled softly and said, “She had something important to do, so she left many years ago.”

After saying this, she fell into silence. Mujin, understanding, said no more and simply stayed by her side in quiet companionship.

Beside them, Qingwu said in a low voice, “We’re approaching the meeting place. Be careful, both of you.”

Gu Xiyan nodded and, with a wave of her hand, cast two shimmering lights over herself and Mujin. Though they were standing right beside Qingwu, in the next moment, she could no longer sense even the slightest trace of their presence.

Feeling reassured, Qingwu then made her way alone to the designated meeting spot. When she arrived in the grove, Gu Xiyan and Mujin remained hidden in the distance, waiting.

The moment Qingwu lifted the bone flute in her hand and played a note, the still forest was suddenly swept by a gust of wind. A mass of black mist spiraled through the trees before coalescing into the form of a man in a black robe before her.

The man’s hair was gray-white, and his complexion looked deathly pale. Though his body was that of a young man, his face bore the marks of age, deeply wrinkled and weathered. When he spoke, his voice was that of a youth. “Where is the child?”

Qingwu’s expression turned grim. “I was discovered. I couldn’t bring the child.”

The man’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “You didn’t bring them? Then I take it you don’t care about saving your friend anymore. At this rate, she won’t last another two or three days.”

Qingwu clenched her fingers tightly. Ever since she had learned that it was because of her that Qu Lin’er had been targeted by this man and subjected to endless torment, she had been consumed with rage. If not for Gu Xiyan’s instructions, she would have already thrown herself at him in a desperate fight.

“There were two cultivators in Ying City, both far stronger than me. I had the child in my grasp, but they took them back. What I don’t understand is—your cultivation is above mine. Why don’t you just take them yourself?”

“Hah, you don’t need to know. Since you didn’t bring the child, I assume you have no interest in the Nine-Turn Pill either.” With that, the man turned away, seemingly unwilling to continue the conversation.

“Then do you no longer need me to retrieve the item from the Demon-Slaying Array?” Qingwu said in a low voice, watching as the man paused in his steps. She continued, “My cultivation is not high, yet you specifically chose me. I doubt it was on a whim. I’ll retrieve the item from the Demon-Slaying Array for you, and in exchange, you help me save her.”

The man let out a cold laugh. “Do you think you’re my only option?”

Qingwu frowned. “I may not be powerful, but I’m not ignorant. Why are you so determined to capture that child? Why do you need something from the Demon-Slaying Array? And why did you specifically seek me out?” As soon as she finished speaking, Qingwu launched an attack.

It was immediately clear that Qingwu was no match for the man. He dodged her strikes effortlessly, moving as if he were toying with a small bird. A moment later, he sidestepped, gathering a surge of spiritual energy in his palm before striking toward Qingwu’s waist. It wasn’t a fatal blow, but it was enough to incapacitate her instantly.

Just then, Mujin flashed forward, hurling a ball of spiritual energy with both hands. The force of it even sent Qingwu flying backward, but it prevented the man’s attack from landing on her.

“Who’s there?” The man swiftly evaded, flicking his robe with a wary expression.

Mujin scoffed. “So you’re the one who sent this little demon to steal a child? Let me teach you a lesson!”

“You… you’re a devil?” The man was visibly startled when he saw Mujin. His voice turned cold and mocking. “A devil interfering in human affairs? How laughable.”

Mujin ignored him completely and closed the distance, engaging him in combat. The man’s power was formidable, and she quickly found herself at a disadvantage.

Gu Xiyan focused intently on the fight. Mujin specialized in close-quarters combat, but the man’s demonic energy was overwhelming. Even in close range, she struggled to land a decisive blow and was gradually being pushed back.

Gu Xiyan heard Mujin retreat three times, her breathing growing unsteady. The man, seemingly angered, conjured a swirling mass of black mist between his hands, which surged toward Mujin like a dragon. The trees nearby cracked and splintered under its force.

Gu Xiyan caught a familiar scent in the energy—so it really was him.

Without hesitation, she leaped from her concealed position like a graceful white crane. As she spun midair, she unsheathed her longsword, slashing forward. A streak of white sword energy cut through the darkness like lightning, slicing the black mist dragon cleanly in two.

The man hadn’t expected his attack to be countered so easily. His eyes narrowed sharply, and his brow furrowed. But Gu Xiyan gave him no time to recover. She ran her fingers along the blade, tracing a glowing inscription. With a twist of her wrist, she sent a flurry of sword shadows around her, their radiance intensifying as she chanted a spell. Then, like a meteor shower, they rained down upon him.

The man immediately retreated, finally drawing his weapon. He swung his blade repeatedly, barely managing to deflect her attacks—but by the time he steadied himself, he had been forced back six or seven steps.

Both sides paused momentarily. The man fixed his sharp, shadowed gaze on Gu Xiyan, yet amidst the hostility, there was also an eerie flicker of excitement. His expression twisted strangely, his face contorted with a mixture of emotions, his muscles visibly twitching.

Then, without warning, he let out a shudder, followed by a sudden, chilling laugh. His voice had grown even deeper and raspier, unsettling to hear.

“Eight years… I never expected to meet you again. It seems we’re truly destined. But… have you remembered?” His expression wavered between shock and madness before he suddenly shook his head frantically. “No, no, that’s impossible. If you remembered, you wouldn’t still be in the Mortal Realm. Hah! But your technique—it’s damnably similar to before. What a pity… You’re stronger than the useless wreck you were back then, but you’re still far from what you once were!”

Gu Xiyan remained silent, listening to his incoherent rambling. His words were disjointed, but from them, she gleaned something crucial. Similar techniques? Was it the jade slip Ye Qinming had given her?

“I want to know—what exactly are you planning? And what grudge do you have against me?” Eight years ago, he had orchestrated an elaborate scheme just to torment her. What was the deep-seated hatred behind it? If he had wanted to kill her, he could have—so why let her live, giving her the chance to escape?

As soon as she asked, Mujin and Qingwu froze in surprise. Did Gu Xiyan know this man?