Spirit Plains, Spirit Rhino Sect.
'Hateful!'
A figure shuddered and struggled against his restraints. The boy was young but looked mature for his age, the calloused palms of his hands reciting a story of a tough and enduring childhood. His surroundings were dark and damp, with an unbearable stench of feces and other bodily expulsions.
'HATEFUL!'
He clenched his jaw, resisting the urge to howl at heaven.
The face might be familiar to Bai Shou, but the expression on such features was entirely strange.
Yin-Yin…
Yin-Yin did not die. Jiu Loong Jin, in the end, was righteous and only punished Yin-Yin for his association with Elder Jiu's murderer by imprisoning the boy in the sect's prison. His mind might have been devoid of thoughts after Jiu Loong Jin was done, but his body's fate didn't end.
Yin-Yin's body welcomed a new individual—a new consciousness—upon the already tainted soul. Like hundreds of other children, Yin-Yin was a victim at the time of his birth; his body affected by a demonic gu master's schemes.
Memories flooded the brain. The soul twisted and squirmed, almost dispersing under the heavy pressure. Pain and humiliation struck Yin-Yin.
Recollection of HIS battle with Elusive Wind Sect's Sect Leader Ning and his sudden death…
The consequence of all Rank 5 Sect Leaders attacking him…
His past encounter with the so-called Wisdom Carriage Master…
All of it mingled with the remnants of Yin-Yin's memory, from the latter's birth to his encounter with the mysterious naked woman in the village forest and his eventual captivity. There were other peculiar humiliations left on Yin-Yin's once comatose body by other prisoners, but the now conscious Sect Leader Ron swallowed that humiliation and controlled his hatred.
Indeed, he was Sect Leader Ron, the former demonic mastermind behind the creation of the Blood Pot Sect—a large demonic sect!
He had used the Rank 5 Distant Heart Gu on several targets!
'But I hid that gu worm's greatest weakness. I can only possess one body. Once the effect materializes, the remnant of the gu worm on the remaining target disappears unless I refine it to target them again. Second, I cannot affect anyone with an aperture. It only allows me to target young children. This restriction leaves my possession target's aptitude up to luck.'
Sect Leader Ron quietly inspected his aperture, momentarily pleased.
'A B-grade aptitude. Not bad. Not bad at all.'
*Thnk*
His expression suddenly stiffened when he heard the nearby cell opening. The hushed whispers of the guard and the prisoner were noticeable as the demonic head's heart and another organ quaked.
'I will be investigated if I suddenly appear to have a healthy mind. I must act comatose!'
He gulped.
'But…'
Countless events flashed in his gaze.
'No! What humiliation? What anger? I must do what is required for my survival. Only being alive will allow me to exact vengeance on my enemies.'
Sect Leader Ron quietly curled and allowed his gaze to turn distant as he heard his prison cell's door open.
He had played with countless mortal beauties, eroding their minds and turning them into his faithful dolls.
Yet…
Tonight…
"Hey, little one."
A gruff whisper panted near Ron's ear, a thick palm caressing his body and inching towards his rear.
'To live is to be fortunate.' Ron kept chanting the same verse throughout the night, not getting a wink of sleep.
<<<>>>
Spirit Affinity House, Quanwei Peak.
Having refined the Empty Cube Gu, Bai Shou could appreciate the differences between various house-type gu. The Rank 4 Underwater Cavern House Gu had drastically more utilities than its space path counterpart. Where Empty Cube Gu boasted a decent space, it was vacant and had no other function.
Meanwhile, the rank 4 house-type gu used by Shu Zhe came equipped with clean drinking water, illuminating crystals lining the ceiling, and the ability to expel dirty water to the nearest pool.
'But the best gu worm of this category for Shu Zhe is the rank 4 Scholar's Hut. It's a rank 4 wisdom path house-type gu, boosting a gu master's memorization and deduction abilities.'
Unfortunately, Bai Shou did not have a recipe and only knew about these ancient gu worms due to several inheritances.
"You're here."
Bai Shou stopped admiring her surroundings and allowed her gaze, still not shifted from its note of appreciation, to rest on the modest-looking woman. Shu Zhe stood out in the world of gu masters, beings capable of enhancing their appearance, especially when Bai Shou already knew of two wisdom path gu masters, Chen Jiu and Hu Mei Er, who used Divine Beauty and Alluring Minx sets to enhance their charisma.
Comparably, the olive-skinned Shu Zhe boasted no great beauty. Her glossy black hair had threads of grey, signifying the effects of the river of time on her body. She wasn't extraordinarily tall or curvaceous.
The most conspicuous part of Shu Zhe was her clear blue eyes.
Intelligent, calm, composed, and similarly observant.
Similarly… troubled.
"Sect Leader."
Bai Shou bowed, greeting the woman with appropriate respect.
"Formalities are not welcome in my residence," Shu Zhe hummed as Bai Shou looked up. The smile on the former's face was as rigid as ever.
"What a fortunate turn of events," Bai Shou chuckled. "I forgot to bring any gifts, Senior Sister Shu. Now, I won't feel guilty."
"I sincerely doubt you requested a meeting empty-handed." Shu Zhe countered, turning around. The sway of her hips momentarily caught Bai Shou's attention before she sighed in her heart.
'Indeed, a gu worm.'
It was a perfunctory test. Shu Zhe might want to attract Bai Shou.
But why?
Constantly staying in shadow, her true capabilities probably not even known to their supreme superiors, Bai Shou was internally alert and observing the tiniest details.
Why would Shu Zhe want to try something so fickle?
A quirky marriage?
Bai Shou could imagine Shu Zhe entering a relationship with Le Tao for benefits. There might be no affection between the couple. However, why would Shu Zhe seek something of amorous intent with Bai Shou?
'Could Shu Zhe be closeted?'
Bai Shou rejected the notion.
The sect had several lesbian couples. In fact, she had already heard of a few elite disciples, men and otherwise, who had a bad impression of her because of Qin Juan's intimacy. Shu Zhe had no reason to hide such things.
'She might know about my true gender. It's not weird. Most of my physical condition must be quickly exposed to the Gu Immortals, and they might have relayed some information to Shu Zhe.'
Shu Zhe led Bai Shou into a small room, its door closing automatically behind Bai Shou.
The duo basked in momentary silence after taking their seats.
Despite their schemes, Bai Shou had already noticed the lack of opposition within Shu Zhe regarding the former's arrival. Elder Ya was greedy. Le Tao had his ego as one of the strongest elders. Jirou Na was vicious and violent. Elder Di Qing also had schemes and ambitions to rise through the ranks. Di Qing's and Bai Shou's relationship would have been drastically more bitter had the latter not decided to temporarily enter the former's faction.
But Shu Zhe?
She had been quiet and distant for a wisdom path gu master.
Nu Wu's information about Shu Zhe's injuries shed some light on the matter, allowing Bai Shou to understand that the Sect Leader might have made some moves in the shadows, but nothing truly adverse.
Shu Zhe wanted something from Bai Shou; the same was true for the latter.
"I've had some more success in my research," Bai Shou began smilingly. "I never understood the rarity of my hobbies until I was fortunate enough to be allowed into such a blessed sect."
She paused and took a sip from her white gourd.
"What is it that you drink?" Shu Zhe questioned with curiosity in her blue eyes as she regarded the mark of a blooming white lotus within the golden sun.
"Bitterness," Bai Shou answered.
"A bitter wine?" Shu Zhe hummed. However, she sensed there was something more to Bai Shou's answer.
"The taste changes, Senior Sister. When I feel pleased, the wine tastes bitter. And it's the sweetest nectar when I recall my failures."
Appearing thoughtful, Bai Shou extended her hand. "Would you like some?"
"I don't indulge in wine," Shu Zhe shook her head. "Or other drinks such as tea. Else, I would have offered some by now."
Bai Shou shrugged.
"I suppose wine scares you. It should. Being a drunk indirectly caused Verdant Great Sun's death."
"Wouldn't you consider his ignorance the more accused cause of his death?" Shu Zhe countered. "He didn't heed Fixed Immortal Travel Gu Worm's words and plummeted to his doom."
"A man is nothing but the consequences of his choices," Bai Shou glanced at the gourd. Several faces flashed within the golden sun and the white lotus. That mark did not signify Nina and Bai Ning Bing, but everything from the point of Nina's sacrifice to Bai Ning Bing's valorous end.
"And did the consequences of your choices satisfy you?" Shu Zhe inquired. "Or does it hurt to look in the mirror?"
"Satisfaction?" Bai Shou chuckled. "I'm satisfied. I have all that I can ever ask for."
"A drunk is hardly a credible source."
Bai Shou glanced up and met Shu Zhe's inquisitive eyes.
"A drunk is the most honest individual, Senior Sister Shu."
"Honest, yes." The opposition narrowed her eyes. "Credible? No."
"A drunk is more credible than a prisoner."
"What do you mean?" Shu Zhe sat straighter.
"Legacy Disciple Nu Wu had some…"
Bai Shou didn't finish her sentence as Shu Zhe's gaze sharpened by a fraction.
"What did he say?"
"Why discuss unpleasant people amidst pleasant company?" Bai Shou snickered and exhaled. "Let us discuss more pressing matters now that I've exposed myself as a hopeless drunk."
Bai Shou retrieved a rank 1 Bookworm Gu and handed it to Shu Zhe.
Despite being known for her wooden reactions, Shu Zhe's eyes widened slightly, which may as well be like an ordinary man shocked enough to have his eyes bulge out of his head.
"This is…"
"Incomplete recipe," Bai Shou answered, tapping her forehead. "The rest remains inside me."
Still, Shu Zhe was made aware of one crucial difference.
"It is an expendable gu worm."
Bai Shou nodded.
"Modifying the recipe to this extent was worthwhile, Senior Sister Shu. The required materials and refinement process are greatly decreased and simplified, respectively. Now, you can find Elder Ya and others to refine this gu worm. Needless to say, however, they would not have my success rate right off the bat due to my familiarity with the recipe."
Shu Zhe's expression betrayed nothing.
She quietly revised the partial recipe before tossing Bai Shou an appraising glance.
"What did Disciple Nu Wu tell you?"
"Nothing of major consequences. All he had to ask of me was to complete this recipe. We spent the remaining 50 minutes talking about his piss in that blood pool. That disgusting fellow called the poisonous mixture a wine."
"And the remaining recipe?"
Bai Shou furrowed her brows.
"I would like you to help my master, Senior Sister Shu. The complete recipe will be yours if I can hold my mentor's hands again."
Shu Zhe recalled that Heavenly Specter and everything about Bai Shou before feeling slightly… entertained.
When was the last time Shu Zhe had such an opponent?
The Sect Leader was clear that Bai Shou wasn't hurried in assisting the so-called mentor. The latter had too many chances to do so. However, they both used the curtain of righteousness to gauge the other party.
Right now…
'She wants me to ease her down and offer something else. It would have been strange for Bai Shou to start with anything else aside from that Heavenly Specter since that reason was her first request, and by common sense, her topmost priority. But that common sense doesn't necessarily apply to the situation.'
'If I do use a Soul Orchid Bloom Gu, among other gu worms, to heal her master, then it might force Bai Shou to ignore my matter altogether.'
After all, what other righteous reason would Bai Shou, and Shu Zhe for that matter, have remaining if the former's topmost priority was fulfilled?
"Consider your options carefully, Junior Sister," a rare warmth not even offered to Le Tao tainted Shu Zhe's voice. She wasn't emotionless and controlled the concept freely. "You offered your earlier research for that task. Giving more might not necessarily expedite the process."
"I see. You are right, Senior Sister Shu. Let me think of something else."
Shu Zhe blinked, almost caught off guard by Bai Shou's demeanor.
She searched Bai Shou's gaze before realizing something.
'She is… no, HE is toying with me.' The recognition did not summon a wave of bubbling anger as it might have with Le Tao or Jirou Na. Instead, Shu Zhe began deducing the motive behind such levity.
However, there was no time to analyze the maze sitting before her as Bai Shou chuckled and shook her head.
"My request then remains the same for every customer. Unfortunately, you cannot become my customer. What wine do you have to offer as your favorite?"
"Don't impose your policies as rules, Junior Sister," Shu Zhe returned the Bookworm Gu.
"My policies… my choices are me," Bai Shou shrugged. "No transaction can occur between us unless you offer a cup of your favorite wine. Or you can restore my mentor."
Shu Zhe worked her jaw.
'How much did Nu Wu tell Bai Shou? One thing is clear, Nu Wu must have exposed that I needed this recipe or Bai Shou would not be here to conduct a trade with me, bypassing that prisoner entirely.' She narrowed her eyes. This change was outside Shu Zhe's prediction. Legacy Disciple Nu Wu as an asset built with limits, who knew better than to cross her, unless…
Shu Zhe's heart sank as she realized another possibility, another vindictive hand at play.
'This demon is lucky.' Shu Zhe observed the smirking Bai Shou.
"The wine I drank before did not suit my taste," Shu Zhe pointed at Bai Shou's gourd. "Let me taste the one hanging from your waist."
"As you please, Senior Sister."
Bai Shou casually unbelted the gourd from her waist before tossing it over as Shu Zhe caught it, feeling the contents within slosh and move at the intense movements.
"You wouldn't poison your Senior Sister, would you?" Shu Zhe questioned in a monotone as she uncorked the gourd.
"Respectfully, poisoning women of your stature does not appeal to me as much as getting you drunk."
"And did you get drunk in a single sip?" Shu Zhe almost chuckled, given how the corner of her lips twitched upwards.
She expected another witty comeback. Instead, Shu Zhe recognized Bai Shou's sudden silence as an eventful seriousness. She paused, refraining from drinking until noticing Bai Shou recovering from her daze. It must have caught Bai Shou by surprise because Shu Zhe noticed a crack in that perfect mask for the first time. She recognized that troubled emotion all too well.
She owned a mirror, after all.
"I did," Bai Shou chuckled. "However, I hadn't realized I was a drunkard at the time."
Shu Zhe took a sip from the gourd, her gaze momentarily resting on the opponent's lips before she looked up and met Bai Shou's gaze.
Initially, Shu Zhe decided to just gulp it down without tasting a thing.
However, the clarity of the liquid and its refreshing nature made her pause.
It was spring water.
And yet, the recollection of Bai Shou's expression claimed such a spring water to be memorable, more so than the sect's top-quality Thousand-Year Spirit Valley Wine.
Shu Zhe eventually stopped drinking and pulled the gourd's mouth away. The trace of the clear wine dripped from the corner of her lips.
"So?" Bai Shou smiled, something that didn't reach her eyes. "How was it?"
Calm and composed as ever, Shu Zhe allowed Bai Shou's searching gaze to observe everything it wanted. Someone with a wound so deep and all too clear might be blind to their flaws but possess a keen intuition about others.
Lies would not work.
Hiding the truth would fail.
Years of experience informed Shu Zhe that this was the pivotal moment to establish a meaningful relationship with Bai Shou, perhaps the only chance she might attain.
Shu Zhe sighed softly, extending her hand to return to gourd. However, her hand caught Bai Shou's the second they had contact.
"I tasted nothing but bitterness."
Bai Shou took her hand back, her expression quiet and calm. The previous smirk faded away.
"I've tasted bitterness often," Shu Zhe hummed. "However, I refuse to get drunk."
'Your loss.' Those words remained in Bai Shou's throat.
Was it?
Was it really Shu Zhe's loss?
"Refusal to get drunk, huh?" Bai Shou muttered. "Pray tell, Senior Sister Shu. Even wisdom feared it and avoided it. How will you know when you're drunk?"
"My heart remains clear."
"So was my wine."
Shu Zhe grew silent, having no response.
"Well," Bai Shou cleared her throat. "Would you consider this your favorite wine, too?"
Shu Zhe nodded as Bai Shou took a sip directly from the gourd.
"Ah!" she exhaled. "Now. It's time to consider my remuneration, Senior Sister Shu."
"Of course. Since the recipe is a rank 3 recipe—"
"A jar of thousand-year spirit valley wine."
Shu Zhe froze before her brows twitched.
"Impossible."
"I just wanted to let you know that Legacy Disciple Nu Wu already said you two had a deal for this recipe. However, I refuse to conduct trade with a sect traitor even if he will be released in the next hundred years. You might wait for Nu Wu to complete the recipe."
"The recipe created by Disciple Nu Wu is for a gu worm without the issue of it being consumable. You must not be greedy, Junior Sister. The top-quality wine is not something to be dispensed for minor achievements."
Bai Shou narrowed her eyes. It was a discreet method of fishing for information by Shu Zhe.
Acting in an overly aggressive or confident manner might reveal the implied knowledge that Nu Wu revealed to Bai Shou.
"This is a gu worm that targets one's primeval essence! I hardly consider such an invention a minor achievement, Senior Sister."
"It is a minor achievement for you, who got the majority of the recipe from someone else."
"Someone else?" Bai Shou smirked. "Who? I don't recall getting this recipe from anyone."
Shu Zhe appeared thoughtful.
"Offering a jar of top-quality wine for a meager rank 3 recipe is impossible. I do not know what Nu Wu offered you, but even he isn't muddleheaded enough to eat such a loss." Her objective was not the gu recipe but to recruit Bai Shou.
"However, there are a few tasks you can perform for a jar of thousand-year spirit valley wine."
Bai Shou appeared oblivious to Shu Zhe's scrutinizing eyes.
"I want you to advance this gu worm to rank 5."
"Possible," Bai Shou nodded. "But it would take too long. I can't wait for years to get drunk again."
"It doesn't have to be one task," Shu Zhe suggested. "I can offer certain rewards in advance if we set proper conditions."
It was Bai Shou's turn to appear thoughtful.
'As expected, Shu Zhe already considers her secret leaked. Why else would she want to employ me? That's fine. It was going to come out eventually if she wanted my assistance. A woman of her poise wouldn't be rattled by such circumstances.'
Previous tensions resurfaced in the room until Bai Shou sighed.
"I understand. However, nothing else interests me, Senior Sister Shu."
"Let's see if I can offer something to ease your drunk heart, Junior Sister." Shu Zhe spoke meaningfully, her offer managing to successfully move Bai Shou's bitter heart.
'This brilliant bitch.'
<<<>>>
'This brilliant bitch.'
Yang Pao cursed without any heat in his heart as he left Bai Shou's residence after conducting trade.
He understood Bai Shou's ploy at once!
The former mayor soon bowed to Shu Zhe. The previous requirements of no formalities were nowhere to be found as Yang Pao informed about everything.
"I see. Since you shared a severely incomplete recipe, Bai Shou could get away with giving you the same recipe. Well, it's improbable for her to have different versions of that gu worm either way."
"But she cheated us out of rewards, Sect Leader," Yang Pao spoke sincerely.
"Leave that issue to me," Shu Zhe replied. "You did well. I will send over your reward."
Elation bloomed in Yang Pao's heart as he nodded and left.
Meanwhile, Shu Zhe stayed seated on her cushion.
'Bitter, huh?'
'I managed to recruit Bai Shou, and the latter understood things all too well. So, she wanted the same thing. However, Nu Wu's sudden betrayal…'
'Why would you go out of your way to make things difficult for me again, Supreme Elder Shu Ye?'
'What did I fail to understand about Bai Shou?'
'Why do the Supreme Elders feel such urgency, especially after such a huge victory related to Feng Jin Huang?'
***
Alternate Title: Righteous Path Punishment; Sect Leader Ron Rolling Nat 1 In Luck; Ron: I Survived, But at What Cost (Inches); Prison's Bunny; Yin-Yin Getting Prisoner's Yang Rod Gu; Dual Cultivation? Nah! This Is Mono-Cultivation; Seeking Sect Leader; A Bitter Wine; Personal Preference; Another Senior Sister; Different Houses; Invited; Crack; An Ethereal Hand; The Hidden Forces; Seeking Alliance; Nu Wu's Betrayal; From Golden Sun To White Lotus; The Oscar Gu Seekers; Qin Juan: Senior Sister Bai Belongs To Me *Senior Brother Lo: The Streets Calleth*; What 20 Primeval Stones Does To a Sect Leader; Ron: 20 Primeval Stones Are 20 Primeval Stones; Ron And Fang Yuan: Doing Everything It Takes To Survive; What Could Bai Shou Want From Shu Zhe; Shu Zhe Got The MILF Priorities; To Seek Wisdom In Shu Zhe's Cave; Shu Ye a Hater; Petty Immortal Granny; Granny Mei Hua: Teaches Hu Mei Er The Intricacies of Anal Sex *Granny Shu Ye: Can't Stop Cockblocking Her Granddaughter*; Miraculous Distant Heart Gu
***
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