Appreciating New Tea with an Inkstone - Chapter 48

Gu Xiyan couldn’t stop the elders’ decision. All disciples of the Five Peaks of Dongzhou, except for those in seclusion, were ordered to become demon slayers and leave Dongzhou to eradicate demons.

Although Yuxi mediated on her behalf, Gu Xiyan was not appointed as the leader of this mission. However, she had no reason not to participate.

The day before departure, Gu Xiyan instructed Mujin to take Qingwu and leave Dongzhou first. Feeling somewhat heavy-hearted, she said, “Qingwu, if you have any close friends, tell them to stay away from human settlements, focus on their cultivation, and not be tempted by worldly luxuries—most importantly, never think of bringing harm to the Mortal Realm.”

Mujin was no longer her usual lively self. “My lady… are you abandoning me?”

Gu Xiyan shook her head. “These are special times. I can’t take risks. If we’re discovered, I fear I won’t be able to protect you. Just listen to me.”

Mujin had no choice but to comply. She wasn’t afraid of being discovered, nor did she fear danger. However, after following Gu Xiyan for two years, she had witnessed the complexity of human nature. If she were discovered alone, it wouldn’t be a big deal, but if people found out that Gu Xiyan was harboring a demon, the consequences for her would be unimaginable.

As the departure approached, news arrived in Dongzhou—a village near Ying City, home to over fifty households, had been completely slaughtered. The perpetrators were none other than demons, and there were eight of them involved. The disciples of the Five Peaks were immediately enraged.

Yuheng read the message, his expression dark. “Convey the sect master’s orders—Dongzhou disciples are to set out immediately. Any demon encountered is to be executed without mercy!”

“Understood!”

Standing in formation, Gu Xiyan’s expression was grim. The demons’ sudden audacity was suspicious. A village massacre—this hadn’t happened in years, and now a group of demons had acted together?

Demons were combative by nature, respecting only strength. They rarely gathered unless… unless they were all serving the same master. A bad premonition crept into Gu Xiyan’s heart. Elder Yuheng wanted to slaughter the demons before the seal was lifted to prevent them from amassing power, but from the looks of it, some demons were already prepared to wage war in advance.

She had also noticed that the cultivators of Dongzhou harbored an intense hatred for demons. Many of them had embarked on the path of cultivation solely to exterminate demons. Demon slayers didn’t need to be trained—almost everyone, from the sect master to the elders, believed that demons had no place in the human world. Under such circumstances, Gu Xiyan had no way to argue against them. All she could do was warn them to be cautious.

“The massacre in Ying City is too abrupt. In recent years, demons attacking humans have mostly acted alone. This is the first time they’ve moved as a group, and for it to happen now of all times… it seems too coincidental, almost deliberate.”

At her words, Han Wenshan, the top disciple of the First Peak, glanced at her. “That only proves that our sect master has great foresight. The demons have already begun conspiring to unite. If we don’t eradicate them quickly, once they gain momentum, it will be a disaster for us.”

“Wenshan is right,” Yuheng said solemnly, fixing Gu Xiyan with a deep gaze. “Xiyan, hesitation will only lead to greater chaos. You’ve traveled outside the sect for two years—you shouldn’t be so indecisive. Eliminating demons is an absolute necessity.”

Gu Xiyan knew that because she had tried to avoid this demon-hunting mission, Elder Yuheng already viewed her unfavorably. He certainly wouldn’t listen to her now. More importantly, the course of events was already set in motion—someone was intentionally provoking a war between humans and demons. Even if Dongzhou avoided conflict, it wouldn’t change the outcome. At this point, all they could do was remain vigilant.

The sect’s disciples set out first, while two senior elders, currently in seclusion, would join them as soon as they emerged.

Wherever Dongzhou disciples passed, no demon with intelligence was spared. Gu Xiyan was blind and could not see the carnage, but the terrified cries of the weaker demons echoed clearly in her ears. She remained unusually silent throughout the journey.

“Eldest Shijie, you’ve barely spoken these past few days. Is something on your mind?” Liang Jin looked at her with concern. She was standing alone, distanced from the other disciples who were excitedly discussing their recent demon slayings. She handed her a water pouch.

Gu Xiyan accepted it, thanked him, and shook her head. “No, just feeling a little unsettled.”

Liang Jin didn’t press further. Instead, she looked at their fellow disciples, who were still reveling in their demon-hunting victories, and frowned. Lowering her voice, she said, “Shijie, the demons we killed along the way hadn’t harmed humans. Some of them were… no different from children. Is this really something to be happy about?”

Gu Xiyan didn’t respond directly. She only said softly, “Get some rest. We have a long journey ahead tomorrow.”

***

After nightfall, everyone rested in a forest, taking turns standing guard. Sleeping on the outermost edge of the group, Gu Xiyan slowly sat up in the latter half of the night. She listened closely to the sounds around her—aside from the three disciples on watch, whose breathing remained steady, the rest of the group had already entered meditation or sleep.

The suppressed sorrow in her heart grew even stronger at this moment. Gu Xiyan was no saint—she had never hesitated to punish the wicked or slay demons when necessary. She understood that showing mercy to evil was cruelty to the innocent. But she also knew that senseless slaughter of the innocent was a betrayal of the very principles of righteousness.

For centuries, demons had always existed in the human world, yet human civilization had flourished alongside them. And in all the past centuries of turmoil, aside from this recent breach of the barrier, when had demons ever been the cause?

She reached into her robes and pulled out a talisman, folding it into the shape of a paper crane. Infusing it with spiritual energy from her right hand, the paper crane flapped its wings, then silently glided past the disciples on watch and disappeared into the dense forest.

Letting out a slow breath, Gu Xiyan closed her eyes and began meditating, not intending to sleep any further.

The journey continued smoothly after that—strangely smooth. The group encountered no more demons. Suspicious, Han Wenshan furrowed his brows. “Why haven’t we run into a single demon since? Doesn’t anyone else find this odd?”

“Maybe it’s because we cleared out so many before. The smaller ones must have been scared off.”

Han Wenshan pondered for a moment, finding this explanation reasonable. However, looking at Gu Xiyan, who had remained detached from the group the entire way, he couldn’t help but speak. “Gu-shijie, you’ve spent two years outside the sect honing your skills in demon-slaying. What do you think?”

Gu Xiyan’s expression remained calm. “Tanlin-shidi’s reasoning makes sense.”

Han Wenshan’s face darkened. With a flick of his sleeve, he turned and left. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Gu Xiyan was mocking him.

He had entered the sect six years before Gu Xiyan. Before she arrived, he was the top disciple of Dongzhou and the most valued student of Elder Yuheng. But now, he was forced to call a blind woman “shijie” while she stood above him.

Gu Xiyan treated everyone with the same gentle politeness, but to him, her well-measured smiles felt insufferably condescending. Even worse was her silence—her white silk blindfold hid her eyes, making her expression unreadable. Her composed face gave an impression of cold indifference.

Along the way, he had led his fellow disciples in slaying several demons and had even saved two people. Everyone praised him, yet Gu Xiyan stood apart, never showing approval. Her face even carried an inexplicable hint of sorrow. How absurd! A cultivator feeling sympathy for demons? It was ridiculous.

“Eldest Shijie, why is Second Shixiong acting like this?” Liang Jin asked, frowning. She had always been close to Gu Xiyan, unlike Han Wenshan, whom she found unbearably arrogant—like a strutting peacock.

Gu Xiyan shook her head, signaling Liang Jin not to say more. Let him be angry—it was indeed her fault.

***

As they left the continuous mountain ranges of Mount Gan, they neared the Central Plains, where they would need to split into smaller teams. Among the disciples, only four had outstanding cultivation, so it was necessary to divide into two groups.

Although Gu Xiyan wasn’t leading the expedition, she was the strongest among them, so she was naturally assigned to protect one of the groups.

When the assignments were finalized, Gu Xiyan was left with six disciples—apart from Han Dan from the Third Peak, whose cultivation was decent, the others were relatively weak and could barely defend themselves against stronger demons.

The disciples exchanged glances, clearly uneasy. Liang Jin couldn’t hold back anymore and said sharply, “Second Shixiong, isn’t this arrangement a bit unfair?”

Han Wenshan let out a mocking laugh. “Unfair? What’s unfair about it? Liang Jin-shimei, are you saying these six are a burden to Gu-shijie? Or are you worried that she won’t be able to protect them? Are you looking down on them?”

“You—” Liang Jin clenched her teeth but struggled to find the right words. Saying what she truly thought would only offend everyone further.

“Liang Jin, show respect to your Second Shixiong,” Gu Xiyan said calmly. “We are splitting up to eliminate demons more efficiently, but our first priority is ensuring our own safety. As team leaders, if we act recklessly without regard for our fellow disciples’ well-being, we are unworthy of protecting the people, let alone of being part of Dongzhou Sect. Your Second Shixiong understands this well and has made his decision accordingly.” Then, in a softer tone, she added, “Isn’t that right, Han-shidi?”

Han Wenshan felt the weight of everyone’s stares on him. He gritted his teeth and forced a reply. “Of course.”

***

In the end, adjustments were made—Gu Xiyan and Han Dan led Liang Jin and the other six disciples toward Ying City in the east, while Han Wenshan’s group headed north to Huaihua.

Along the way, Gu Xiyan gradually realized that the demons they encountered were becoming increasingly vicious. Many of them were no longer those who had cultivated within the human world but had instead invaded from the Demon Realm. These demons had a clear goal—to establish themselves in the human world. As a result, they harbored intense hostility toward cultivators and sought to kill them at every opportunity.

The disciples of Dongzhou were surprised to see Gu Xiyan, who had remained passive until now, finally take action. It was then that they truly witnessed the extent of her cultivation. In the past, they had only heard rumors of Gu Xiyan’s strength, but those who had never seen her fight found it hard to believe that a blind woman could be so formidable. Now, their eyes were opened.

With a swift and decisive motion, she sheathed her sword. Her white robes remained spotless, and she stood as radiant as the moon, exuding an air of grace and nobility.

Surrounded by the excited chatter of her fellow disciples, Gu Xiyan sighed slightly, a hint of helplessness in her expression. “Enough—stay alert. We’re approaching Ying City, and the demonic energy there is thick and lingering. Something must have happened.”

At her words, the group of eight immediately fell silent and began to carefully probe their surroundings. However, they found nothing unusual. It wasn’t until they reached a spot thirty miles outside Ying City that they finally sensed what Gu Xiyan had described—the entire city was shrouded in an impenetrable veil of demonic energy.

Gu Xiyan’s fingers clenched slightly. If Ying had fallen to such a state, what of her parents? Were they still safe?

“Han Dan, ride the wind into the city at once. Also, send word to Dongzhou—Ying City is overrun with demons. The elders must be summoned immediately.”

“Understood.”

“Keep your presence hidden, and if anything seems wrong, retreat at once.”

By the time Gu Xiyan and the others arrived at Ying City, the once-lively town was now filled with a chilling, oppressive aura. Black mist coiled ominously around the city, making the entire scene eerily grim.

“How did it end up like this?” Liang Jin stared ahead, horrified by what she saw.

Gu Xiyan stretched out her right hand, and instantly, a wisp of black mist drifted toward her, wrapping around her fingertips. After a moment of silent observation, she suddenly dispersed it with a sharp motion and said in a low voice, “Do not act rashly. We need to leave.”

“Eldest Shijie, this is Ying City—there are still people inside. If we leave without helping them, wouldn’t that be abandoning our duty?”

“She’s right, Shijie. Why aren’t we going in?” Several disciples voiced their confusion, openly questioning her decision.

Gu Xiyan turned to Han Dan. “Han Dan-shidi, can you sense the strength of the demons here?”

Han Dan had been observing the situation closely ever since Gu Xiyan first took action. He had also conducted a careful probe of the area. At her question, he replied solemnly, “They are stronger than me, and there are many of them.”

The moment his words fell, the expressions of the questioning disciples turned pale. However, one of them still mumbled hesitantly, “But… Eldest Shijie’s cultivation is already exceptional. Should we really be afraid?”

“Wang Zifu, what are you saying? If you think you’re so capable, why don’t you go in yourself?” Liang Jin, already frustrated, snapped at him. The disciple’s face turned red with embarrassment, and he fell silent.

“But are we just going to sit here and do nothing?” another disciple asked, unwilling to back down. “The demons are wreaking havoc inside. As demon hunters, shouldn’t we at least try to eliminate some of them?”

Gu Xiyan stood quietly to the side, listening to their hushed discussions. Perhaps it was the faint chill in her presence, but their voices gradually lowered until silence fell over the group.

“Slaying demons is meant to save people—not to fulfill some ambition of eradicating evil, nor as a means to gain fame and prestige. There are still ordinary people inside. If we can’t win, we can retreat—but what about them?” With that, Gu Xiyan turned around and walked away, her voice calm as she said, “Let’s go.”

As soon as she left, none of the others had the courage to enter alone, so they had no choice but to follow her. Gu Xiyan led them to a small village on the outskirts of Ying City. What was once a lively place, where fields stretched endlessly and the sounds of chickens and dogs could be heard from afar, had now fallen into utter desolation.

The village entrance sign lay broken in two on the ground. Not a single soul remained. The doors of every house were left wide open. Gu Xiyan stepped into one of the courtyards and felt something underfoot—a tipped-over winnowing basket, its contents scattered across the ground.

She crouched down and picked up one of the fallen items. Medicinal herbs left out to dry? Placing the dust-covered herbs back down, she stood up and said, “There’s no one left here, is there?”

Han Dan’s voice was heavy. “No. It’s already an abandoned village.”

The eight of them stood in the courtyard without speaking, taking in the desolate, chaotic surroundings. A nameless sorrow and rage welled up in their hearts.

They split up to search the area, and when they regrouped, Wang Zifu’s face was deathly pale. “There’s a mass grave in the eastern woods… Many people were hastily buried with just a thin layer of soil. It looks like they didn’t even have time to give them proper burials.”

The group rushed over and found the scene just as he had described. Villagers who had died long ago lay exposed, some only half-buried in the earth. Their bodies had been carelessly piled together. The stench of decay filled the air, and several people couldn’t hold back their nausea, retching to the side.

Wang Zifu didn’t dare look any longer. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Gu Xiyan, her eyes bound with white silk, and he couldn’t help but feel a tinge of envy—at least she didn’t have to see this horrifying sight.

But none of them knew that Gu Xiyan’s other senses far surpassed theirs. The putrid stench of death, the lingering resentment of spirits unwilling to depart, the echoes of agonized screams from those who had perished—all of it, Gu Xiyan “saw” with perfect clarity.

Author’s Note:

To be honest, calling the Divine Lord a “white lotus” is meant as a tease, but she truly embodies the qualities of a pure and noble existence. Whether as a person or as a deity, she is just like a lotus—emerging unstained from the mud. The phrases rising from the mud without being tainted and touched by ripples without becoming demonic suit her perfectly.

Although the Divine Lord is the guardian deity of the divine race, she genuinely has compassion for all beings. This story will focus quite a bit on that aspect of her. I don’t know if you’ll find this part “filler” or uninteresting, but I really want to write it this way. In many of my past works, emotions were the central focus, but in this one, I want to explore something different. It’s still idealized, but having a bit more variety feels nice.

Some readers have commented that aside from the main characters, there’s no real goodness or beauty in the story. But among the supporting characters, many have both good and bad sides. I want to give them depth and portray different kinds of emotions—Qingwu’s feelings for Qu Lin’er, which may not necessarily be love; Mujin and Fengshuo’s connections to the Divine Lord; the care of Father and Mother Gu for Xiyan—I hope all of these can move you.

I’ve rambled on too much—excuse me!