Chapter 09: Quick Choice

Joining the Fray

Gu Chi and Pei Ningxue leaped into battle.

The four Moon Wheel Sect disciples froze briefly.

Sensing the duo’s spiritual energy, they sighed in relief.

Distinguishing demonic from righteous cultivators was simple.

Most demonic cultivators in battle exuded red blood qi, their bodies warped by gu insects, grotesque as demons.

Clearly, these two followed orthodox paths.

Moon Wheel Sect’s fame spread wide.

They often aided rogue cultivators, fostering goodwill.

Facing demonic cultivators—deserving universal condemnation—extra help was welcome.

Gu Chi entered without a sword.

He fought with fists and feet.

Each punch carried thousand-pound force.

Fist shadows sparked explosive air bursts.

Pei Ningxue wielded a slender sword.

Her swordplay danced like fine snow in wind—nimble and pure.

Each strike drew blood, targeting vitals, every move lethal.

The battlefield shifted instantly.

Demonic cultivators, already losing to Moon Wheel disciples, faced two new threats.

Unwilling to linger, they summoned artifacts.

A blood-red banner emerged from the lead demonic.

Activated, it unleashed countless vengeful spirits toward the six.

“Retreat!”

The demonic scattered like beasts.

Gu Chi and Pei Ningxue exchanged glances, gave chase.

After the Hunt

Half an hour later.

Gu Chi and Pei Ningxue returned to Tiger Soul Mountain, each carrying a head.

The four Moon Wheel disciples had laid out four heads on the ground.

Added to Gu Chi and Pei Ningxue’s, six total.

“Thanks for your aid, friends.”

The lead disciple spoke.

“These Tiger Soul Mountain seven fiends, long wanted by Moon Wheel Sect, are now all slain save Black Fiend.”

Gu Chi thought: Black Fiend died long ago.

He was the one Gu Chi interrogated for the other six’s whereabouts.

The speaker met Gu Chi’s warm gaze, introducing himself.

“I’m Ji San. You’ve likely heard of my brother, Ji Yi.”

“Of course, who doesn’t know the Moon Wheel holy son?”

Gu Chi replied softly.

“With the demonic gone, we have matters to attend. We’ll take our leave.”

“Safe travels.”

Gu Chi and Pei Ningxue descended slowly.

Only when four sword lights flashed skyward, signaling the disciples’ departure, did they emerge from tree shadows.

A tear opened at Gu Chi’s chest.

A blood-red, horned snake slithered out—Demon Dragon Gu’s juvenile form.

No need for control.

Pei Ningxue shook her ring, tossing out her headless demonic corpse.

The gu slithered into its neck.

The body turned to a dry husk.

Gu Chi released his own demonic corpse.

After feasting, the gu returned to his chest.

The tear sealed, skin smooth again.

Dividing the Spoils

Moon Wheel disciples reduced risks this time.

But they’d killed the gu in their four corpses, destroyed blood essence pearls, and burned the bodies clean.

Gu Chi’s Demon Dragon Gu missed a grand feast.

They divided the two demonic storage rings’ contents on-site.

Most useful to Gu Chi: demonic used mortal flesh to refine blood essence pearls for gu.

He found a dozen—enough to lull his gu for months.

The rings’ scattered two hundred spirit stones went to Pei Ningxue’s pocket.

Spoils split, they took a mountain path down.

They planned to rest at a city inn, then head to Skylark Palace tomorrow, where Eastern Domain’s Lingyun Pavilion stood.

Moonlit Secrets

The path was quiet.

Moonlight faintly lit the way.

Winter’s chill filled the mountain with bare branches.

Pei Ningxue couldn’t resist asking.

“How do you hide your demonic aura?”

“My Demon Dragon Gu is my father’s crafted treasure.”

“It caused his death.”

“With my parents’ eighth-realm cultivation, they wouldn’t have risked that demon-slaying war otherwise.”

“Hm?”

“This gu mimics righteous cultivation, doesn’t warp the mind, boosts power by devouring cultivators—righteous or demonic—with near-no bottlenecks.”

“A treasure like this in righteous hands—they’d call it a divine cultivation tool.”

“Because of this gu, everyone wanted to kill my father for it.”

“How’d word get out?”

“A Moon Wheel spy in their sect, a second elder, stole intel and tampered with the protective array.”

“You remember his face?”

“Of course!”

Gu Chi’s expression darkened.

Hatred surged; the gu sensed it, circling his heart.

Pain stabbed his chest; he stopped walking.

He’d know that face even as ashes.

Under moonlight, Pei Ningxue turned back.

Seeing him pale, brows furrowed, she approached.

Boldly, she pulled him into her arms.

“It’s okay, don’t be angry.”

Her body soft, long hair faintly glowing in moonlight.

Gu Chi caught her scent.

He recalled the last time his gu flared from hunger—she’d held him like this, coaxing him to sleep like a baby.

“Not really angry,” he said after a pause.

“I’ve seen much these years.”

“My parents were vile, hands stained with millions of souls—they deserved death.”

“But they were my parents, loved me, doted on me.”

“My father could’ve refined this gu to escape with my mother.”

“Instead, he left it to me, so I could live.”

Demonic bloodlines, corrupted by gu, rarely bore children.

Offspring often died young or became monstrous.

The Demon Dragon Gu was his parents’ cure for him.

Without it, he wouldn’t have survived.

No matter their evils, the world could hate them—Gu Chi couldn’t.

“Your parents might not want you to avenge them.”

Pei Ningxue whispered in his ear.

“I know.”

He paused.

“But besides revenge, I don’t know what to do.”

Her gaze met his—eyes lost in deep confusion.

Like hers years ago.

Fleeing her palace, her usurping brother scoured Southern Domain, never finding her.

She wandered to Eastern Domain, rootless.

“You could travel the world with me” hung on her lips.

But she couldn’t say it.

A Parting Unspoken

Her time was short.

She’d been pondering how to tell him.

She’d leave soon, joining her father’s old friend, out of seclusion, to return to Southern Domain.

She’d train, clear her father’s name with the old loyalists.

Three years together, she’d never thought of parting.

She didn’t want to leave.

But she must.

Staying in Eastern Domain, her brother’s reach would find her, take her.

Only that senior could shield her.

As former princess, her blood as pure as her brother’s, she was the last.

Her duty, inescapable.

If she reclaimed her royal heritage, she could bring Gu Chi to Southern Domain.

With ample spirit herbs, she’d suppress his gu, extend his life.

Instinct tightened her embrace.

Her full, warm chest pressed against his.

Gu Chi lowered his head, sensing the sorrowful air.

Not wanting to burden her with his mood, he spoke lightly.

“So close, your chest’s soft…”

“Hmph, what do you want?”

“Thirsty.”

“Thirsty? Drink water.”

She teased, scratching his back with delicate fingers.

“Think you can flirt with me?”

“Ever hear Southern Domain royal secrets?”

“What?”

“Their noble bloodline—juices sweet as dew.”

“Offering to prove your princess claim?”

“Told you I am—why lie?”

“Then why Eastern Domain?”

“I heard your brother usurped, but if you followed him, you’d live well.”

“Silly.”

Pei Ningxue laughed.

“You don’t know—Southern royals wed within to keep blood pure.”

“My parents were siblings.”

“My brother, to fully claim the dynasty, needs heirs.”

“Guess what I’d be if I stayed?”

“That’s grim.”

“Better stay here, have a bunch of babies with me.”

“Who agreed to your babies?”

She laughed, clutching him, unable to straighten.

“So narcissistic.”

Gu Chi, thoroughly embarrassed, smiled helplessly.

“Just saying.”

“I hate kids.”

Just talk—he didn’t know his own future.

How could he plan heirs?

Best case: survive to forty, gu’s hunger growing.

Driven mad, he’d hunt wildly, die under righteous siege.

If so, he’d strangle the gu himself—no one else would have it.

Into the City

They followed the moonlit path into the night-quieted city.

Finding an inn, they took a clean room.

Gu Chi filled a bath barrel for her, scattered petals.

He’d washed in a spring on the way.

Pei Ningxue bathed, emerging in white underclothes

Her slender, fair legs glistened with water.

Approaching the warmed bed, she didn’t slip in.

Instead, she sat opposite, lifting the blanket.

Her eyes, gentle yet shy, met his.

“Brother wants Ningning to wear socks to sleep, or not?”

Gu Chi stared, dumbfounded.

Her feigned gentleness vanished, eyes turning haughty and cold.

She lifted a leg, tender toes hooking his chin.

“Quick, choose.”

He sighed helplessly.

“One on, one off.”