Chapter Thirty-Seven: Gala Idiot's Ugly Display

What the hell? These sword moves had been taken apart from some other sword art?

No wonder the attribute requirements were so high... Could a human even train in this?

"Ugh..."

Gu Chengming sighed helplessly and tossed the Jade Slip back onto the table.

He knew he couldn't rush this.

The more advanced the sword art, the higher the demands on one's physical constitution and control over one's mind. Though he'd boosted his physique with Hundred Bones Ming, he was still lacking in other areas.

"Looks like I can only put this thing on the shelf for now and wait until I have enough attribute points..."

Just as Gu Chengming was about to give up and turn to writing a little story to calm himself with Clear Heart Art,

Huiyuan Sword Art, which had lain dormant deep in his mind ever since its Favorability reached 90, suddenly flickered.

To be honest, ever since this basic sword art's Favorability had crossed the "fondness" threshold of 90, it had become extremely quiet.

It was like an unremarkable, long-suffering wife, sitting silently in a corner and watching Gu Chengming flirt with those newer Cultivation Methods, all of them more powerful and flashy.

Its Favorability had also been stuck at 90, without budging.

Gu Chengming had guessed that this might be because he hadn't triggered the so-called "special Bond Event," leaving its Favorability locked.

But the conditions for triggering this Bond Event were completely unclear, so he'd temporarily set aside his efforts to win over Huiyuan Sword Art.

He hadn't expected it to react now, just as he'd hit a wall.

Lines of text tinged with faint sorrow slowly appeared before Gu Chengming's eyes.

[Huiyuan Sword Art has been watching you.]

[It watches you rack your brains to become stronger, and watches you sigh in disappointment because you can't practice an advanced sword art.]

[It knows very well that it's only the most basic, most beginner-level sword art.]

[It doesn't have sword moves as dazzling as Flowing Light Sword Shadow, nor does it offer a boost like Hundred Bones Ming. It's ordinary, even a little crude.]

[It knows that as your cultivation grows and the enemies you face become stronger, one day you'll leave it forgotten in a corner, where dust will gather over it.]

[That is its fate. It accepted it long ago.]

[It doesn't dare hope to accompany you to the end of your immortal path, but... it still hopes to stay by your side for as long as possible. Even one more step would be good.]

[It doesn't want to become a burden to you now. It doesn't want to see you frown because you don't have a sword art that suits you.]

Gu Chengming stared at the text, a little stunned.

Just as Gu Chengming was wondering how to respond, a final paragraph appeared.

[Huiyuan Sword Art gathered its courage and made a request.]

[It asked if it could... give Flowing Light Sword Shadow a try.]

[Though its aptitude is dull and it can't let you learn the art directly, it's willing to try to analyze and imitate it, or even devour its Sword Intent.]

"?"

Countless strange thoughts flashed through Gu Chengming's mind.

Was this the part where a husband took a concubine on his wife's behalf?

PS: Today's two updates leave five reward chapters owed in total. I'll tally them all together after things wrap up in a couple of days.

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Gala Idiot's Ugly Display

[Huiyuan Sword Art is studying Flowing Light Sword Shadow... Current progress: 1%]

You can do that?

Gu Chengming rubbed his chin, deep in thought.

Was this a special trait of Huiyuan Sword Art as a "basic sword art," or would any Cultivation Method unlock this feature once its Favorability reached the "fondness" stage?

He wasn't sure, but that didn't stop him from making a decision.

At a thought from him, the Jade Slip containing Flowing Light Sword Shadow flashed. The Sword Intent and moves within it flowed out, pouring endlessly into the seemingly ordinary Huiyuan Sword Art, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea.

The sight left the onlooking Hundred Bones Ming dumbfounded.

[Hundred Bones Ming gaped in shock, thinking, Holy shit! No wonder Gu Chengming likes Huiyuan Sword Art. That's downright cheating!]

[It had assumed Huiyuan Sword Art didn't compete for attention because it knew it was just a trash, entry-level Cultivation Method, unworthy of vying with a Tyrant Body Art like itself, destined to Achieve Dao and Become Saint.]

[But now it seemed Huiyuan Sword Art had been laying the groundwork all along!]

[If it could learn all the strengths of other sword arts, it wouldn't have to fear some stronger Cultivation Method taking its place in the future.]

[Hundred Bones Ming thought it really was a terrifying Cultivation Method. It had truly underestimated it before.]

[Then the other Cultivation Method, Clear Heart Art, probably wasn't simple either.]

Clear Heart Art, on the other hand, didn't seem to feel anything. It didn't appear worried in the slightest about being replaced.

After all, a fun-loving onlooker only needed something entertaining to watch.

Now that Flowing Light Sword Shadow was taken care of, even if the progress bar moved slowly, that was still better than sitting around helplessly.

In the days that followed, Gu Chengming's life became both orderly and a little strange.

Once Huiyuan Sword Art entered seclusion to study the new art, Gu Chengming felt a hollow sense of "you don't know what you've got until it's gone."

The smooth, effortless feeling he'd had when practicing the sword vanished, replaced by a slight stiffness. He realized that Huiyuan Sword Art had been quietly correcting his exertion and adjusting his angles all along.

Without its help, Gu Chengming had no choice but to reassess the foundations of his swordsmanship. It was a blessing in disguise, too, as the bumps and stumbles made his fundamentals sturdier.

As for Hundred Bones Ming, after witnessing Huiyuan Sword Art's trick, it fell into deep contemplation.

It began wondering if it should develop some new abilities too. Maybe devour the blood essence of some demonic beasts, or observe other Body Cultivator techniques? Surely it couldn't really let a basic sword art leave it in the dust.

Amid this fulfilling cultivation routine, Gu Chengming didn't forget his "side gig."

After all, he'd been dragging his feet on the story's third part for quite a while, and that part was the turning point and climax of the entire tale.

In other words, the legendary "crowd-pleasing" part.

The aloof, chaste master had accidentally eaten a dose of the potent Joyful Union Powder, and its Medicinal Power threw her Dao Heart into turmoil.

To save her, or not?

And how?

That was the question.

Gu Chengming wrote as if possessed, vividly capturing the forbidden atmosphere, the master's struggle on the edge between reason and desire, and the protagonist's fierce inner conflict.

Of course, to get it past censorship... ahem, to preserve its artistic merit, he didn't make it too explicit. Instead, he relied on plenty of indirect description and psychological suggestion.

That hazy feeling of "half-concealed behind a lute" made readers blush even more than blunt physical contact would have.

Several days later, he finished the work.

Gu Chengming blew on the ink to dry it, then bound the thick stack of manuscripts into a booklet.

[Clear Heart Art finished reading your latest story and thought, You really do have some wicked tastes.]

[Clear Heart Art said it didn't like such clichéd plots. If you wrote another one, it would find it boring.]

[Clear Heart Art Favorability +3]

Huh? So we're doing the "says she doesn't like it, but secretly does" routine.

The next day, at the Sword Repository Pavilion.

The Sword Repository Pavilion was unusually quiet today, as if it had been specially cleared out.

The moment Gu Chengming stepped through the entrance, he felt a scorching gaze glued to him.

Behind the counter, Elder Yu Wenqiu was still seated in her elder's robes, holding a Jade Slip to her forehead as if browsing through ancient texts.

But a closer look revealed that she was holding the Jade Slip upside down.

Her gaze was unfocused, too, and every so often she glanced toward the entrance. She looked exactly like a high school student at a strict, semi-military boarding school, secretly waiting by the fence for takeout.

"Elder Yu."

Gu Chengming stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Ahem! You're here?!"

Yu Wenqiu's hand trembled, and she nearly dropped the Jade Slip.

She quickly set it down and forced herself to look composed, giving a slight nod.

"Mm. There's no need for formalities."

She cleared her throat, her gaze seemingly casual as it swept over the bulge in Gu Chengming's chest.

"That... the story I asked you to write to assist with Red Dust Heart Refining. Have you finished it?"

"I've done my best to fulfill your request."

Gu Chengming presented the story with both hands.

Yu Wenqiu's eyes lit up instantly. She took it and swiftly stuffed it into her wide sleeve.

"Mm, good."

Yu Wenqiu took a deep breath, struggling to suppress the corners of her mouth as they tried to curl upward. Keeping a straight face, she said,

"Since it's finished, I'll take it back and... read it carefully. If there's anything unsuitable in it, I'll offer you guidance later."

"Thank you, Elder." Gu Chengming played along quite willingly.

"By the way."

As if she'd just remembered something, Yu Wenqiu took a small bottle from her Storage Bag and tossed it to Gu Chengming.

"This is a Glazed Pure Consciousness Pill. If you feel restless while cultivating, take one. You've got dark circles under your eyes, so you must have spent a lot of effort writing... these insights. Take it and replenish your energy."

Gu Chengming accepted the pill with an odd expression.

It was a good thing, but... he didn't need it.

He put the thought aside, cupped his hands, and took his leave without thinking any more about it.

The moment Gu Chengming stepped outside the Sword Repository Pavilion, Yu Wenqiu handed her work over to a disciple and traded a bottle of pills for the disciple's help covering her shift that afternoon. Without a second thought, she skipped work.

Once she returned to her courtyard, she eagerly pulled the story from her sleeve.

"Finally... it's finally here!"

"Damn Chapter Breaker Dog, I've waited long enough!"

She opened to the first page, and the familiar handwriting met her eyes.

The plot picked up right where the last installment had ended.

Yu Wenqiu read with rapt attention, her brow furrowing and relaxing by turns as she sank completely into the strange and fantastical world Gu Chengming had built.

But as she turned the pages, her expression gradually grew odd.

At last, she reached the crucial chapter.

[Moonlight flowed like water. Fine beads of sweat glistened on the master's brow, and those usually cool, clear eyes had grown hazy...]

"Gulp."

Yu Wenqiu swallowed.

This... this description... It was just too...

Especially when she reached the part where the usually timid Rebellious Disciple, in order to save his master, had to make a decision that "defied his ancestors" and began to undo his master's sash...

Yu Wenqiu abruptly closed the booklet.

What on earth was Xiao Gu writing?!

But...