Gu He's Departure

"You little brat, what a sharp tongue you have."

Dressed in pale white robes, Gu He smiled with a trace of anger. He rose to his feet, swept his gaze over the crowd, and cupped his hands. "Everyone, I, Gu He, have always known only alchemy and enjoyed only alchemy. I have never considered other matters. As for what this little brat said—the customs of alchemists have always been this way, so I never gave them much thought."

"If you all find it improper, I can change in the future."

"This time, I ask that you help me for the sake of our past friendship. I will surely remember it in my heart!"

Hidden behind Nalan Tie and Nalan Dong, I watched Gu He with a sneer.

Heh, he had started talking about friendship. It seemed Gu He really had no other tricks left.

That made sense. He was merely an alchemist. Other than invoking favors and inviting powerful people to fight for him, what other means did he have?

He possessed immense Dou Qi, but when it came to combat, he was a complete novice. If they truly fought, a Dou Spirit... or perhaps even a Da Dou Shi? Either could probably kill him!

Still, over the years, he had indeed helped quite a few experts and factions. To say nothing of anything else, when Old Man had first been afflicted with Branding Iron Poison, my father and I had gone to ask Gu He to examine him.

Although Gu He ultimately failed to cure him, he had truly put in the effort and worked himself to exhaustion for a time.

Unfortunately, that little bit of friendship was utterly insignificant compared to an Exotic Flame, and nowhere near enough to make the Nalan Family give one up.

Wind Walker probably thought the same way. Compared to a small past favor, allowing the Gamma Empire to produce a second Sixth-Rank Alchemist undoubtedly better suited his interests.

Seated on a stone stool, he pondered for a moment before looking at Nalan Jie. "Pill King, I was originally against this matter."

"Nalan Jie and I are old friends who have known each other for many years. We once fought the Snake-People Tribe together. How could I seize something from the Nalan Family? I came only to mediate, so that you would not come to blows."

"As for the Exotic Flame—such flames are born of heaven and earth, and it is no longer in the Nalan Family's possession. If Pill King truly wants it, I can accompany you to search the Tagor Desert."

"If Pill King is fated to encounter the Exotic Flame, you will naturally find it."

Gu He's expression changed. Wind Walker made it sound lofty, but wasn't he simply unwilling? Gu He turned to Yan Shi and asked in a low voice, "What does Lion King think?"

Yan Shi hesitated. Gu He had helped him before, so in principle, now that Gu He was asking for his help, he ought to return the favor. But...

He struck his fist against his palm, sighed, and said somewhat dejectedly, "I've known that old fellow Nalan Jie for many years as well. Taking someone else's things... just isn't right."

"I think we should search for it ourselves. Whoever finds it first gets it."

Gu He's face darkened completely. So did Ba Gu Li's. Black Dou Qi surged around him as he shouted harshly, "Wind Walker, Lion King! We have all received Pill King's aid before. Now that Pill King seeks an Exotic Flame, we should naturally help him obtain it!"

"What is the meaning of this behavior? Are you, dignified members of the Ten Great Experts, really going to go back on your word like this?"

I glanced at Ba Gu Li. I was somewhat afraid of this Dou Spirit, whose face was filled with madness.

I shifted my feet and hid behind Yun Yun. Although Yun Yun was not even as tall as I was, that slender figure in moon-white robes gave me an extraordinary sense of security.

I hunched my back, but my gaze could still peer over Yun Yun's shoulder, making me look rather ridiculous.

But I could not care less about that. A few strands of black hair brushed gently across my face as I stared at Ba Gu Li's cold and crazed expression and shouted, "Ba Gu Li, do you think that being strong means you can, like you, disregard all shame and launch a sneak attack on a child?"

"And you came to rob my Nalan Family of our things, yet you think you're in the right?!"

Ba Gu Li's face twisted viciously. He glared at me and shouted, "Since when did the Exotic Flame belong to your Nalan Family?"

I rolled my eyes. "If it isn't my family's, then go find it yourself. What are you doing at the Nalan Family?"

Ba Gu Li froze. Gu He's expression was equally dark and ugly as he said, "The two of you... truly refuse to help me?"

"Pill King can't possibly expect me to rob someone, can he?"

Wind Walker shook his head, his expression calm and detached, like some reclusive master. "I am naturally willing to help Pill King search for an Exotic Flame. But robbing someone—please forgive me, I cannot accompany you."

Gu He laughed several times, the sound extremely unpleasant. He looked at Wind Walker and Yan Shi, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

"Pill King?!"

Ba Gu Li shouted, unwillingness in his eyes. He could not accept this. Pill King—the mighty Pill King—how could he leave in such desolation?

He turned to look at me. The coldness in his eyes was like ancient ice, making me shudder from head to toe. My teeth clacked together, and instinctively, I reached out and grabbed Yun Yun's skirt.

Yun Yun's body immediately stiffened when I tugged on her. Only after a moment did she recover. Azure Dou Qi rippled outward and knocked my hand away, making me bare my teeth in pain.

"Ba Gu Li, let's go."

Gu He paused, but did not turn around. He continued walking as he spoke.

Ba Gu Li stood stunned, a trace of sorrow and despair surfacing deep within his eyes.

"Yan Shi, Wind Walker, and all of you—I, Ba Gu Li, am ashamed to stand among you!"

He stood with dagger in hand, glaring at Yan Shi and Wind Walker as he shouted furiously.

At Wind Walker's age, he no longer cared about such things. He simply closed his eyes and pretended not to hear. Yan Shi's face twitched, but it was not easy for him to say anything.

I cursed inwardly. This Ba Gu Li was really making unnecessary trouble. What a nuisance!

I could not let Wind Walker and Yan Shi be left without a way out. Most of the people in the courtyard were elders, so it was inconvenient for them to speak. As a junior with no shame, however, I had no such concerns.

I stepped out from behind Yun Yun and replied, "Ba Gu Li, you want to seize the Nalan Family's belongings. That is plainly the conduct of a thief!"

"Thief... Who would want to keep company with a mere thief?"

Ba Gu Li shot me a cold glance without saying anything more. With a disdainful snort, he turned and caught up to Gu He, following behind him.

The two figures went farther and farther away, gradually disappearing behind the corridors and courtyards, leaving the people in the courtyard in an awkward atmosphere.

Seeing Gu He leave and the dispute come to an end, Yun Yun had no interest in concerning herself with such matters. Her figure shifted lightly as she too left the courtyard and returned to her guest room.

Hai Bodong had seen plenty of such nonsense and did not take it to heart. Thinking of how he would still need my family's Exotic Flame to break the seal, he gave a dry cough and said, "Feng Li, how have you been lately? It's been over twenty years since we last met, hasn't it?"

With Hai Bodong taking the initiative to reminisce, the atmosphere in the courtyard finally eased somewhat. Feng Li and Hai Bodong were old acquaintances, and Feng Li was quite happy to see him. The two immediately began catching up.

After that, Nalan Jie and the other two elders also began reminiscing with Yan Shi and the six Dou Spirits. The Gamma Empire was only so big; everyone knew one another.

At the same time, word was sent to the Guardian Elder. The two thousand elite guards outside, who had been tense and ready for battle, breathed a sigh of relief and slowly withdrew to their respective garrisons throughout the city.

The disturbance Gu He had brought with him finally subsided.

PS: Warm congratulations to Battle Through the Heavens: I Am Nalan Ye for surpassing fifty chapters. From Zhihu all the way to now, through wind and rain alike, I wrote a book and made friends.

Thank you to all my readers for your support along the way. Thank you for every recommendation vote and every reward. My deepest gratitude!