Chapter 16

But in truth, the Confucian Immortal Gu Chen had not died.

Instead, he had hidden himself within Gan Dong City.

In a small courtyard not far from the Marquis's manor, he had survived to this day, even taking Baili Dongjun as his disciple.

Teaching him the Western Chu Sword Song.

However, the Confucian Immortal Gu Chen had also fought against the Po Feng Army in his early years.

Leaving his meridians shattered.

He had long since lost the peak strength of his prime, and even if he forcibly restored it, it would drain all his life force.

Sending him to the grave!

If things followed the original course, Baili Dongjun would expose the Western Chu Sword Song, drawing the attention of the imperial court and Beyond Heaven.

The court would send only Young Master Fenghua Xiao Ruofeng of the Eight Princes of Northern Li.

But from Beyond Heaven would come two of the Four Great Envoys.

Lawless and Unrestrained!

Both at the Great Carefree level!

And in that battle, the Confucian Immortal Gu Chen would forcibly restore his peak strength, defeat both envoys with a single sword strike, leaving them unable to recover their inner energy for years.

But he himself would fall.

This was not a sight Jiang Mu Ming wished to see.

The life-saving grace of the past—now was the time to repay it!

Nearby, Yu Sheng Mo pondered for a moment and realized she had nowhere else to go.

Rather than find some random place to study the Sunflower Manual, it would be better to travel with Jiang Mu Ming. In their spare time, they could discuss the Dao and spar with swords—perhaps it would yield better results than solitary cultivation.

Having made up her mind, she agreed.

And set off with Jiang Mu Ming for Gan Dong City.

Several days later.

Gan Dong City.

A small courtyard not far from Marquis Zhenxi's Manor.

It looked ordinary from the outside.

But within, it held hidden secrets.

This was where the Confucian Immortal Gu Chen lived in seclusion. The courtyard was warded with illusions, keeping ordinary people from entering.

But for Jiang Mu Ming and Yu Sheng Mo, Gu Chen's illusions, though masterful, were not unbreakable.

At the very least, entering the illusion array

was no difficult task.

After all, compared to Gu Chen, who was barely clinging to life, Yu Sheng Mo was a solid Half-step Profound Spirit.

Even if Gu Chen restored his peak strength, the outcome between them would be a fifty-fifty split.

As for Jiang Mu Ming, there was no need to elaborate—he had already stepped into the Profound Spirit Realm. There were few places left in the world he could not enter.

With a wave of his hand, the impenetrable mist instantly dispersed, and he strode into the courtyard.

Yu Sheng Mo was secretly astonished.

She too had a way into the courtyard, but she could never do it with the same effortless ease as Jiang Mu Ming. Was this the power of the Profound Spirit Realm?

It seemed that no matter the matter, it was all simple to them!

Inside the courtyard, Gu Chen, who had been playing the zither beneath the Phoenix Tree, suddenly stopped.

He gazed ahead.

Within his own illusion array, he could clearly sense an unknowable presence approaching him.

"So... I've been found at last?"

Gu Chen's heart held little turmoil.

He simply wondered who the visitor might be.

Could it be Zhuo Qing, the head of the Five Great Supervisors?

Or perhaps Academy Mister Li, that unfathomable figure?

But what Gu Chen never expected was...

That the one appearing before him would be a youth—a book in hand, looking every bit the frail scholar!

And behind him...

A valiant woman stood, holding an umbrella.

Cold-faced, cold-hearted.

Confucian Immortal Gu Chen could sense it—no matter how much the umbrella-bearing woman restrained herself, that soaring sword intent was impossible to hide.

It even made his own sword tremble faintly.

As if yearning for a fierce, unrestrained battle!

"This aura... is it the Demon Immortal Sword?" Gu Chen's heart jolted. He already knew—the woman before him was Southern Jue's First Sword Immortal, Yu Sheng Mo!

A Half-step Profound Spirit existence!

Her sword dao prowess was no less than his own!

But seeing her linger at the periphery, with no intention of entering...

Only the book-holding youth.

Still advancing.

Yet despite being a youth of less than twenty, he gave Confucian Immortal Gu Chen an inscrutable feeling.

He couldn't even see through the other's cultivation!

"A distinguished guest arrives, and I fail to welcome you from afar."

Confucian Immortal Gu Chen waved his sleeve, and in an instant, falling petals filled the sky.

Breathtakingly beautiful.

Jiang Mu Ming clasped his hands in a bow.

He said, "I am Jiang Mu Ming. Greetings to the Confucian Immortal."

"In years past, the Ruxian and Jianxian fought a battle outside Luosang City, breaking through nine thousand soldiers of the Po Feng Army—truly a renowned feat."

"Your Art of Medicine People alone kept Northern Li besieging the city for two years, unable to take Luosang."

"A pity that now, of the Ruxian and Jianxian, only the Confucian Immortal still lives."

"It truly stirs one to sigh."

At the mention of old faces and old tales, a flicker of reminiscence passed through Confucian Immortal Gu Chen's eyes.

Back then.

The Ruxian and Jianxian, to preserve their homeland of Western Chu...

Did not hesitate to defy the heavens.

But in the end, they still couldn't save Western Chu. Jianxian Gu Mo even sacrificed himself to rescue Confucian Immortal Gu Chen.

Every time he recalled the past...

A deep, unshakable sorrow crept into Gu Chen's eyes.

But now was not the time for such memories.

Gu Chen looked at Jiang Mu Ming and asked, "Who are you? What purpose do you have in speaking of these things?"

"Could it be that you're from Southern Jue?"

Behind the youth stood Southern Jue's First Sword Immortal, Yu Sheng Mo.

Perhaps this young man before him had a close connection to Southern Jue!

Could it be that Southern Jue wanted to restore their kingdom?

Countless guesses raced through Gu Chen's mind.

But Jiang Mu Ming only shook his head, pacing as he said, "No, no."

"I am not from Southern Jue."

"As for my origins, I must begin with that great battle between the Ruxian and Jianxian against the Po Feng Army."

Jiang Mu Ming's eyes carried a trace of recollection as he spoke slowly: "No one knows that during the battle outside Luosang City, inside the imperial palace, a baby was being born."

"He was originally a prince of Western Chu, but the moment he was born, his kingdom was already lost and his home destroyed."

"It was Confucian Immortal Gu Chen who carried him out of Luosang City and entrusted him to trustworthy soldiers for protection."

"Only then did he escape the borders of Western Chu."

With that.

Jiang Mu Ming bowed deeply, took a breath, and said, "I thank the Confucian Immortal for saving my life back then!"

Confucian Immortal Gu Chen was stunned.

He never imagined that the youth standing before him, whose cultivation he could not discern, was none other than the Western Chu Royal Orphan he had risked his life to protect back then.

The last surviving Western Chu Royal Bloodline in this world!

And upon realizing Jiang Mu Ming's identity, Confucian Immortal Gu Chen became more agitated than ever before.

His hands trembled uncontrollably.

As if asking, and as if confirming.

He quavered, "Are you that infant?"

Jiang Mu Ming nodded.

The next moment.

Confucian Immortal Gu Chen flickered and appeared beside Jiang Mu Ming.

He gripped Jiang Mu Ming's hand excitedly.

He said, "I never thought... I never thought... that under heaven, there would still be a surviving Western Chu Royal Bloodline!"

"Child, you came to find me."

Gu Chen suddenly stared straight into Jiang Mu Ming's eyes and asked, "Do you wish to restore the kingdom?"

PS: Thank you to the handsome guys and beauties for the five-star reviews and support. I'm very excited and will update more to repay you. Here are three chapters. Could I trouble you for a few more five-star reviews? (/w＼)