CG - Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Although both were awake, Wu Gu was too weak to leave the mountain on her own. For the next two days, Wei Jinzhi cared for her meticulously. By the time Monkey came to find them, a little color had finally returned to Wu Gu's face. The sight filled Monkey with a mix of heartache and resentment. He shot Wei Jinzhi a look of clear disapproval.
Monkey carried Wu Gu out of the mountain on his back. Wu Yong was waiting where they had last parted. The moment they met, Monkey paid the other two no mind, scrambling up a tree branch and leaping a great distance in the blink of an eye. Wei Jinzhi started to give chase but stopped herself. With her and Wu Yong's physical abilities, catching up to Monkey was impossible. Besides, it was better for Wu Gu to get home sooner.
Once home, Monkey tossed the sleeping Wu Gu onto her bed and went to find Granny She, his face flushed red with anger. "What's so great about that Wei Jinzhi, anyway?" he demanded. "She nearly got herself killed for her."
Granny She didn't even lift her eyelids. "Human love is always like that," she said slowly. "Full of life-and-death drama. Don't you go learning from her. You need to focus on your cultivation."
Monkey dismissed her concern. "Don't worry, Granny," he said.
There was still some light in the sky when Wei Jinzhi returned. She greeted Granny She and went to the room to check on Wu Gu. Wu Gu was still asleep, with Pang Diao standing guard at the head of the bed. Wei Jinzhi reached out and stroked Pang Diao's head. "Thank you for your hard work," she whispered. Pang Diao chirped twice in response. She then raised a finger to her lips. "Don't wake her."
Wu Gu slept groggily for a long time. Sometimes when she opened her eyes, she would see Wei Jinzhi beside her; other times, the space next to her pillow was empty. Once she had slept her fill, she sat up against the headboard and rubbed her head with both hands. Spotting her phone on the bedside table, she picked it up to check her messages. Most were from her class group chat, Liu Ningyu, and Cao Zhenzhen. She calculated the days—there was just over a week left until the semester began. It was time for her and Wei Jinzhi to prepare to return to North City.
Wei Jinzhi came in and saw she was awake. She sat down on the edge of the bed, asking her usual, unwavering first question. "How are you feeling?"
"Tired." Wu Gu collapsed into her arms. "What about you?"
Wei Jinzhi said, "I feel very relieved."
Wu Gu smiled, puffing out her chest. "I'm pretty amazing, aren't I?"
Wei Jinzhi gently rubbed her ear. "My Little Tianshi Wu is the most amazing Celestial Master in the world," she said softly.
Wu Gu was overjoyed by the praise. "Sister Wei," she said, "I have a feeling Ji Yu is coming."
Wei Jinzhi replied calmly, "Then let him come. If he's bound to show up eventually, it's better sooner than later."
Wu Gu nodded emphatically, grinding her teeth. "Even if he doesn't come, I'll activate the formation and destroy him once I've recovered."
Wu Gu's premonition was correct. Five days later, Ji Yu arrived as expected. It was around seven in the evening, just after a heavy blizzard, and the clouds were the color of lead. Ji Yu remained hidden within them, not revealing its form. Instead, it waited until Wei Jinzhi was in the courtyard and then shot a tentacle down from midair, aiming for a swift and decisive battle.
Sensing the danger from inside the house, Wu Gu leaped to her feet and rushed outside, shouting, "Don't come out! Stay inside!" The tentacle shot toward the space between Wei Jinzhi's eyebrows, as fast as lightning. Wu Gu hastily threw her Xuanqing Sword to sever it. A piercing metallic clang rang out. The tentacle was only slightly deflected and its speed didn't diminish, but the moment it touched Wei Jinzhi, it was repelled by a flash of golden light.
The lead-colored clouds churned like a surging tide, as if brewing a violent thunderstorm—a heavenly punishment. Ji Yu's black mass separated from the clouds and descended. Facial features began to manifest, its eyes bulging grotesquely. "Soul Cloth?" it said in disbelief. "You can actually use Soul Cloth? It's the Xuanqing Sect, foiling my plans again!" With that, countless tentacles shot out from the black mass, rushing toward Wu Gu.
Wu Gu raised her Xuanqing Sword to parry, but she couldn't block the dense swarm of tentacles. She let out a muffled grunt and fell to the ground. Wei Jinzhi rushed to help her up. "Go get Master's Soul-Summoning Bell," Wu Gu said. Wei Jinzhi froze for a second, then turned and dashed toward Wu Zhao's room.
Ji Yu's rage was at its peak. "Today, I will make the Xuanqing Sect disappear from this world for good!"
Wu Gu took the Soul-Summoning Bell from Wei Jinzhi. Holding the Xuanqing Sword in her right hand and the bell in her left, she declared, "In your dreams, Ji Yu! You defy the heavens, and the Xuanqing Sect will eradicate you." She turned, her tone returning to normal as she spoke to Wei Jinzhi. "Sister Wei, go find Granny She. I can handle this."
"Alright. Be careful."
Ji Yu's laughter echoed. It seemed in no hurry to kill Wu Gu. Its nature was cruel and perverse; rather than a quick death, it wanted to torture her until she died to sate its hatred. Its tentacles intertwined, transforming into four chains that lashed out toward Wu Gu's limbs.
Seeing the ferocious approach of the black chains, Wu Gu dodged to the side while shaking the bell in her left hand. "Master!" she cried. Wu Zhao appeared at her call, instantly startled by the perilous scene. He moved to help, but Wu Gu stopped him. "Master, activate the formation! I can hold him off for a little longer."
"Alright, then be careful." Wu Zhao flashed to the base of a tree and sat cross-legged, forming a hand seal. The ground seemed to tremble as the Spirit-Slaying Formation responded.
Ji Yu was unaware of the Xuanqing Sect's Spirit-Slaying Formation, but the sight of Wu Zhao piqued its interest. "Another Xuanqing disciple. Excellent, excellent." As it spoke, the four chains multiplied into eight. The four new chains shot toward Wu Zhao, but he was protected by the formation, and they couldn't get near him. Ji Yu's eyes bulged again. "It seems you've found a way to deal with me. In that case, I'll kill her first, and then I'll kill you."
How could Wu Gu possibly withstand Ji Yu's power? Eight chains swept toward her from all directions, sealing off every escape route. The Xuanqing Sword was momentarily overwhelmed. The black chains locked around her ankles, and she was hoisted upside down. The remaining chains then merged into the shape of a hand, which grabbed her by the feet and flung her into the air.
Wu Gu's body soared uncontrollably more than ten meters into the air. When the upward momentum was spent, she plummeted viciously back down, crashing into the ground. The black hand struck again. She rolled aside to dodge it, then used her Xuanqing Sword to push herself to her knees. A sudden warmth rose in her throat. She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, smeared it along the blade of her sword, and staggered back to her feet.
Fortunately, Wu Gu was tough, resilient, and agile, allowing her to dodge many of the attacks. But this only served to provoke Ji Yu's sadism. This time, Wu Gu wasn't fast enough. Ji Yu's hand closed around her neck, lifting her into the air. The suffocation made her head feel like a balloon being inflated to its bursting point. Her consciousness grew hazy, and she controlled the Xuanqing Sword on pure instinct to save herself. Thankfully, with her last gasp of air, she found an opening and broke free from the black hand's grip.
Wu Gu couldn't hold it back any longer and vomited a pool of blood, spraying it everywhere. She yelled at Wu Zhao under the tree, "Master, hurry up! I'm about to die!"
Inside the house, Wei Jinzhi stood by the window, her heart pounding in terror. The impacts Wu Gu had sustained would have ruptured an ordinary person's internal organs. Her tightly clasped hands were slick with sweat, and in her anxiety, she sometimes forgot to breathe. Monkey paced the room restlessly. Young and impetuous, he started to rush out to help, but Granny She restrained him with a single raise of her hand.
Granny She said, "Wu Zhao left a soul and a spirit behind; he must have a plan. Don't go out there and make a mess of things."
Unsure if she was speaking to Monkey or to herself, Wei Jinzhi nodded. "Master Wu must have a plan. Wu Gu will be alright."
Just as Ji Yu was about to seize Wu Gu again, she leaped and dodged, not forgetting to strike back with her Xuanqing Sword. In a flash, Wu Zhao suddenly rose from his spot beneath the tree. "Mushroom, come here!" he shouted. Wu Gu darted over at his call. The moment she drew near, Wu Zhao flashed forward and possessed her. The power of the Xuanqing Sword, locked in battle with Ji Yu, instantly surged.
For a moment, the three artifacts—the Xuanqing Sword, the Soul-Summoning Bell, and the Soul-Piercing Bell—surged with killing intent in the hands of the Wu Zhao-possessed Wu Gu. Under Wu Zhao's control, the Soul-Summoning Bell expanded to the size of Ji Yu itself, trapping it within. The Xuanqing Sword, meanwhile, multiplied into countless blades, deflecting and returning every one of Ji Yu's relentless attacks.
The formation was about to manifest. With the artifacts temporarily holding Ji Yu at bay, all that remained was for Wu Zhao to use Wu Gu's spiritual energy to activate it. Wu Gu lowered her gaze, her hands flying through a series of seals. When she looked up again, her eyes blazed with golden light. Her voice, mingled with Wu Zhao's, rang out. "Heaven and Earth Return to Origin, Purge Demons and Slay Evil Formation—activate!"
From an unknown point between heaven and earth, four ropes of fire shot out, instantly piercing the black mass that enveloped Ji Yu. The mass quickly dissipated in the scorching flames, and everyone finally saw Ji Yu's true form. It was about three feet long with short, stubby limbs, its entire body shriveled and pitch-black. Its facial features were crammed together on a head the size of a bowl. A creature that defied the heavens was truly as grotesque as it was disgusting.
Ji Yu struggled ceaselessly, its limbs bound by the ropes of fire, which trembled with its movements. Its voice was sharp and piercing when it spoke. "A mere formation thinks it can kill me? Delusional!"
Wu Zhao took a step forward, exiting Wu Gu's body and taking all of her spiritual energy with him. Wu Gu's legs gave way, and she collapsed to the ground. Tears instantly streamed down her face. "Master," she cried.
The moment Wu Zhao appeared, numerous illusory golden figures materialized between heaven and earth—the souls of past Xuanqing Sect generations, sacrificed to power the formation. Wu Zhao knelt and wiped away her tears. He was gratified. Wu Gu had not failed his expectations; she was even stronger than he had hoped. With such a profound and pure righteous aura, she would surely be able to trick the formation into accepting his own soul to activate it.
Wu Zhao said, "This time, Master is really leaving for good. Only if I enter the formation with your spiritual energy will they awaken and remember the mission of the Xuanqing Sect. From now on, you must cultivate diligently and not slack off anymore." He looked up at Wei Jinzhi, who had stepped out of the house, and entrusted Wu Gu to her. "Disciple's wife, Mushroom is impetuous and impatient. I'm afraid you'll have your work cut out for you taking care of her. I hope you will protect her for me."
Wei Jinzhi nodded and said solemnly, "Rest assured, Master Wu. I, Wei Jinzhi, will treat her with all my heart and protect her well."
Wu Zhao glanced at the sky. Ji Yu was struggling more forcefully, and the ropes of fire were beginning to fade. He turned back to Wu Gu. "Little Mushroom, our Xuanqing Sect's century of karma has been settled. From now on, the task of strengthening our sect falls to you." He raised a fist, his voice filled with passion. "You must revive our sect and carry the name of Xuanqing to glory!" He pointed to the hundreds of illusory figures with their eyes closed. "The ancestors are all listening. You must do your best. Don't let them down."
With that, Wu Zhao floated into the center of the formation, merging with the souls of the ancestors. He then transformed into a golden arrow of light that shot first toward Ji Yu. As his arrow flew, the illusory figures in the formation opened their eyes one by one and also transformed into arrows of light, all streaking toward Ji Yu. For a moment, a rain of arrows pierced Ji Yu, shattering it into pieces. The fragments were caught by the ropes of fire, incinerated into dust, and scattered on the wind. The night sky began to clear, and silvery moonlight spilled its cool radiance across the ground.
Wu Gu lay exhausted on the ground, staring unblinkingly at the sky. When Wu Zhao had first passed away, she hadn't cried; she had just shut herself in her room for three days without a word. But this was different. This time, Wu Zhao was gone forever. Not a single soul or spirit of the man named Wu Zhao remained between heaven and earth. She blinked, and a tear rolled down her cheek, followed by another, and then another.
Wei Jinzhi held Wu Gu from behind. Seeing her crying so wretchedly, she pulled her fully into her arms. Wu Gu burrowed into her embrace, her body trembling with sobs. Wei Jinzhi said nothing, simply letting her cry it all out. After a long while, Wu Gu's sobs subsided and her breathing evened out. Wei Jinzhi looked down to see that she had cried herself to sleep.
After a few attempts, she managed to struggle to her feet, lift Wu Gu from the ground, and carry her back to her room. Wu Gu slept for another two days. In the middle of her sleep, she was summoned by Ghost Messengers Liu and Wang. When Wu Gu opened her eyes, she found herself in a vast white fog and rolled her eyes in annoyance. She didn't give the two ghost messengers a pleasant look when they appeared, either.
Ghost Messenger Wang was incredibly excited. "I knew it!" he exclaimed. "How could someone so young be so powerful? It turns out you're the direct disciple of the Xuanqing Sect." He nodded with great satisfaction. "You can probably be considered the head of the Xuanqing Sect now."
Wu Gu thought about it. What was so great about being a general with no army? She pursed her lips. "What do you want from me this time?"
Ghost Messenger Liu said, "His Lordship, King Yama, sent us to congratulate you, Little Tianshi. Ji Yu has been eliminated. His Lordship has investigated and confirmed that not a single trace of Ji Yu remains between heaven and earth. This time, he has truly been destroyed."
The mention of this only made Wu Gu angrier. Her Xuanqing Sect had suffered a tragic fate for centuries, and not only had the Underworld taken no responsibility, but they hadn't even lifted a finger to help. "You go back and tell Lord Yama that I'm going to petition the gods and report him," she said huffily.
At these words, Ghost Messenger Wang's eyes lit up. He was the type who loved to watch a spectacle and never thought things could get too chaotic; he thrived on disorder. Hearing that Wu Gu wanted to report Lord Yama, he was even tempted to offer her some strategic advice.
Ghost Messenger Liu was rendered speechless. He could only say placatingly, "Little Tianshi, please don't be angry. His Lordship is constrained by the Heavenly Dao; there was nothing he could do. However, he did say that since you are now with Wei Jinzhi, if any of the Wei family members or your friends should want a favorable reincarnation in the future, he would be more than happy to help."
Wu Gu snorted. The mention of Wei Jinzhi always calmed her down. "Are you finished?" she asked. "If you're finished, I want to go back."
Ghost Messenger Liu said hurriedly, "Finished, we're finished! Please, take care, Little Tianshi." Only after Wu Gu had gone did he breathe a sigh of relief. On the way back with Ghost Messenger Wang, he said languidly, "His Lordship was afraid the Little Tianshi had a big temper, so he sent the two of us to sound her out and calm her down. The task didn't seem that difficult, but I was scared to death. I was terrified she'd attack us if we said one wrong word." His words drifted away, dissipating into the hazy white fog.
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