Three-Passage Gu

"Now that I've left the Northern Lands, Mu Suli should still be on his way north. As long as I don't run into him again, I'll have much more room to maneuver."

Li Fuchan's destined death remained unchanged, so naturally, he could not possibly stay obediently at Great Night Lake, cultivating in seclusion.

He had merely heard that the Ning Family had a decent reputation and taken temporary shelter with them to seek some benefits. Otherwise, with the Ning Family so poor that they paid him only half a Spirit Stone a month, he would have left long ago.

Fortunately, he had squeezed a hefty sum out of those filthy rich bastards of the Yang Family, so he had not lost out too badly.

He calculated inwardly: The Ning Family has a True Person at the peak of Outer Scenery overseeing things, and their Household Head is no easy man to deal with either. I doubt I can hide that sordid business between Li Hua and me for long. Fortunately, "Li Thunder" is an excellent certificate of good character. They probably think I joined the Ning Family to find upright people to link my turbidity with. In that case, they shouldn't try anything against me for a while. Besides, they only pay me half a Spirit Stone a month. Surely they'd be too embarrassed to attack me.

Li Hua had stayed aboard the Ning Family's ship without returning, wholly determined to make money.

Ning Xiufu, on the other hand, came often, frequently seeking his advice on difficulties in cultivation.

Li Fuchan was generous with his guidance. A few words from him would often leave Ning Xiufu looking as though enlightenment had been poured straight into his head.

Yet his cultivation never showed any improvement. The man truly knew how to act. After watching him for half a month, Li Fuchan still could not tell whether his enlightenment was genuine or merely a performance to please him.

More than a month passed this way. Apart from being sent to a market town in the north to eliminate a group of Aperture Opening Demonic Cultivators, Li Fuchan received no further assignments from the Ning Family, and he was happy to enjoy the peace.

One day, Ning Xiufu came with a message inviting Li Fuchan to instruct Ning Xiuqing in thunder arts.

A youth was already waiting in the courtyard, his hands at his sides. Seeing Li Fuchan enter, he stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "This junior, Ning Xiuqing, greets Guest Elder Li."

Li Fuchan raised his eyes to look at him. Ning Xiuqing wore a Cloud-White Narrow-Sleeved Robe, a leather belt around his waist, and black shoes on his feet. With slightly rounded cheeks, thick brows, and large eyes, he carried the vigorous spirit of youth between his brows. His appearance was thoroughly upright, utterly unlike Ning Xiangyi's inscrutable gravity.

Before Li Fuchan could speak, Ning Xiuqing straightened and said with an open gaze, "I have read the Purple Firmament Thunder-Script Treasure Register, but there are many key points I don't fully understand. I earnestly ask Guest Elder Li for guidance."

Since Li Fuchan was receiving the Ning Family's monthly stipend, he naturally had no reason to refuse.

Over the following days, he explained the key points of cultivating Li Thunder to Ning Xiuqing, one by one. Draw in thunder to temper true qi; refine the mind to condense upright intent.

As Ning Xiuqing listened, his brow gradually relaxed, and he nodded repeatedly. The understanding in his expression was genuine.

"Brother Fu said that when Guest Elder Li explains cultivation, he pours water from a lofty rooftop—his perspective is so high that it's hard to see clearly. He only ever dared to muddle through by pretending to understand. But I've benefited enormously from listening. It seems Brother Fu's Dao Attainment is simply too shallow. Tomorrow, I'll get Brother Rang to come along and give him a good laugh."

Though Ning Xiuqing and Li Fuchan did not formally call themselves master and disciple, theirs was effectively such a relationship. Despite his thick brows and large, honest-looking eyes, the boy proved unexpectedly blackhearted and ruthless. After hearing of Li Fuchan's exploits, he took advantage of his youth and frequently borrowed Ning Xiufu's connections to visit the Yang Family's ship. Exploiting Yang Bozhuo's concern for appearances, he extorted him repeatedly, eating and taking things for free, until Yang Bozhuo put up a sign aboard the ship: "No entry for Ning Xiuqing or dogs."

The Clan Rectification Office hauled him in and gave him a thorough lesson.

Afterward, he even brought Li Fuchan some of the things he had acquired.

Li Fuchan considered himself an upright gentleman. How could he accept things from a junior?

"I'm concerned that your cultivation is insufficient and you won't be able to control yourself. I'll keep these things safe for you for now."

"Well..."

Boom.

Seeing Li Fuchan pinch a bolt of Golden Thunder between his fingers, Ning Xiuqing prudently followed his heart and left.

Half a year passed in a flash, and a major incident shook the Ning Family: their ancestor at the peak of Outer Scenery suddenly vanished. Even a man like Ning Xiangyi failed to suppress news of something so momentous. Instead, everyone learned of it, leaving the Ning Family anxious as wind and rain loomed.

Li Fuchan immediately recognized that someone was targeting them. Whether that Ning Family True Person was alive or dead, whichever household was plotting against them from the shadows was not one he could afford to provoke.

Fortunately, he had finally obtained Qifu Essence Marrow from the Yang Family and sent it to Gu Liuru to forge an Enchanted Sword. He intended to leave as soon as he received the sword. After that, he remained in seclusion, terrified that the Ning Family might deploy him somewhere dangerous.

It had been nearly half a year. Half a Spirit Stone a month was bad enough, but they were even paying him with IOUs. And they expected him to risk his life for that?!

Just then, Ning Xiuqing reached the threshold of Thunder-Sigil Condensation and came to seek Li Fuchan's advice again. Li Fuchan hesitated for a long time before emerging from his secluded chamber. After examining his cultivation, he considered for a moment, then said, "If you can wait until Outer Scenery to condense your Thunder Talisman Register, securing the Yang-Moving Aspect later will be much more certain."

Ning Xiuqing fell silent for a moment, then raised his head, his gaze resolute. "I should not disregard your teachings, Guest Elder Li. But our family is caught between an exhausted old crop and an unripe new one, and now this upheaval has come. Father has struggled to hold everything together for so long. Even my eldest brother can no longer cultivate in peace and has left seclusion to oversee the market town. Since I have cultivated thunder arts, I ought to help shoulder the family's burdens. Securing the Yang-Moving Aspect can wait until I reach Outer Scenery. For now... please help me condense my Thunder Sigil, Senior."

Li Fuchan glanced at him but did not immediately agree. He merely said, "Go explain this to the Household Head first."

Ning Xiuqing hurried away and returned within the time it took to drink a cup of tea, unable to conceal his delight. As soon as he entered, he bowed again. "Guest Elder Li, Father has agreed."

Li Fuchan looked at the new red mark between his brows and said no more. He personally led him to a deserted stretch of wilderness.

The open country lay desolate around them, the sky high and the wind fierce.

He turned to face the youth, his expression solemn, and instructed him in a grave voice:

"Those who cultivate Thunder Arts must be upright and unyielding, open and aboveboard. You must harbor righteous qi in your heart, without wicked thoughts or malicious intent. Otherwise, the moment your Thunder Sigil condenses will be the moment your life is extinguished. Remember this: drawing the Thunderbolt into your life is to enter a covenant with the righteousness of heaven and earth. Should your thoughts contain even a trace of impurity, thunderfire will not spare you."

Ning Xiuqing's expression was solemn. "I will remember, Senior."

Soon afterward, thunder descended from the sky and struck a dead tree. Ning Xiuqing sat inside it without hesitation.

Before long, his skin burned and his flesh split, cries of agony escaping him one after another. Yet he held fast to a fierce resolve, not daring to let his attention waver even slightly. His lips moved as he silently recited something to withstand the pain.

When I cultivated the Purple Firmament Thunder-Script Treasure Register, I was already at Outer Scenery and had the protection of the Three Lights. That was how I passed this trial so easily. Ning Xiuqing is brave and resolute, and his foundations are sufficient, so there's no need to worry. The rumors on the lake haven't sounded right these past few days. The Ning Family can barely take a step. Once I get my Enchanted Sword, I must leave as soon as possible.

Li Fuchan watched quietly. He was not, after all, a heartless man, as his rescue of He Liuhun and the others had shown. Previously, he had simply had no choice. Running for his life had made everyone look like an NPC to him.

After nearly a year with the Ning Family, without having to exhaust himself, he had naturally grown closer to Ning Xiuqing through their time together. He did not want anything to happen to a youth he found so congenial. Otherwise, he would not have made this trip today.

Ning Xiuqing's Thunder-Sigil Condensation proceeded very smoothly.

The instant he saw vitality bloom anew in the youth's body, Li Fuchan breathed a sigh of relief.

He took a jade bottle from his Storage Bag. Inside was an Origin-Restoring Pill he had prepared long ago, of quite respectable quality.

"After taking so many good things from you, giving you this Origin-Restoring Pill makes it a fair trade."

Wincing a little at the expense, Li Fuchan was just about to step forward,

Thump.

A sudden drumbeat sounded in his ears, heavy as a bell and steeped in chilling malice.

Li Fuchan's narrow brows, so expertly disguised, abruptly sank. A vicious, venomous air shattered the gentleness between them. Without hesitation, he released his spiritual sense, golden thunder shielding his body as Golden Light climbed onto Brow Peak. He braced as though facing a formidable enemy. "Where did that drum come from? Something's wrong with that sound!"

Thump.

"It's Ning Xiuqing."

Li Fuchan came to a sudden realization and looked at Ning Xiuqing. Black cracks were appearing all over the body that had only just regained its vitality. Through those fissures, his interior was utterly black, devoid of flesh and blood.

The drumbeats were coming from his heart.

Ning Xiuqing had already collapsed onto the burning stump. Li Fuchan hesitated briefly, then rushed forward to examine him.

Dark blood streamed from his seven orifices, and his breath was faint. Li Fuchan released spell-light to tether his remaining vitality and shouted, "Ning Xiuqing, you must not close your eyes! Wake up!"

That shout seemed to bring Ning Xiuqing a little closer to consciousness. His charred eyelids trembled faintly, and his lips opened and closed.

Someone was clearly scheming against the Ning Family. Li Fuchan had already decided to abandon Ning Xiuqing and flee, but he feared being held accountable by the Ning Family. Seeing him speak, he assumed he had some information to convey. If he brought that information back, the Ning Family would have little grounds to complain. He immediately leaned close to listen.

Sensing the warmth, Ning Xiuqing slowly leaned forward against Li Fuchan's chest, apparently mistaking him for someone else.

The youth whose features had been so lively and whose spirit had soared just two hours earlier was now barely clothed and barely breathing. His murmured words made Li Fuchan's expression increasingly vicious.

"I... want to... cultivate thunder and uphold righteousness, protect our lands and bring peace to the people... achieve... deeds unrivaled through the ages... help Father shoulder his burdens..."

"Damn it, you fool! What use is any of that now? Tell me if you know who killed you! Don't drag me into this!"

Thump.

Li Fuchan cursed a few more times, and the person in his arms soon stopped breathing. A strange insect shaped like a black drum, fully three fingers in size, crawled out of Ning Xiuqing's chest.

Without another word, Li Fuchan released Golden Light and locked the insect firmly in place.

"Heh, Li Fuchan? I've heard your name before. You truly are extraordinary—you even cultivate Ancient Arts. This has nothing to do with you. Release my Three-Passage Gu, and you can leave."

A voice came from the shadows behind him.

Glancing at Ning Xiuqing's mutilated remains, Li Fuchan's narrow eyes and brows grew still colder and more ruthless.

Suddenly, thunderfire burst from his hand and burned away Ning Xiuqing's remains, leaving only the head, which he cradled in his arms. Only then did he turn toward the man behind him and say flatly, "I serve the Ning Family. Please spare this head so I have something to account for."

The man was unwilling to face a Thunder Cultivator either. Seeing that Li Fuchan had not lashed out, he nodded in satisfaction and smiled. "You were master and disciple in all but name. It's only right for you to collect his remains."

"Thank you."

Li Fuchan loosened the Golden Light, and the Gu Worms beat their wings and flew toward their master.

Seeing the Gu Worms return safely, Hu Shan finally breathed a secret sigh of relief.

Though he too was an Outer Scenery cultivator, eight or nine tenths of his abilities rested upon these Gu Worms.

Had he not been pressed so hard, how could he have agreed to undertake such perilous work, where a backlash might strike at any moment?

With the Gu Worms and without them, he was practically two entirely different people.

As Li Fuchan passed him with the head in his arms, a trace of mockery could not help surfacing in Hu Shan's eyes.

What a rare sight—a Thunder Cultivator this timid and afraid of trouble.

Contempt rose in his heart, and he could not resist sneering, "What a loyal dog. I heard long ago that the Ning Family recruited a Thunder Cultivator with IOUs. So loyal, yet I'm afraid you still don't know how Ning Xinping broke through to Outer Scenery Great Accomplishment back then. Otherwise, that thunder of yours ought to strike him instead..."

Boom.

A bolt of gold-and-crimson Thunderbolt struck without warning.

Hu Shan's expression changed violently. His feet tapped the ground in rapid succession as he retreated in panic.

Yet after a long while, all remained silent beneath heaven, and no second bolt appeared. When he looked up again, Li Fuchan had long since fled without a trace.

Only just recovering from his fright, Hu Shan felt an inexplicable fury rise within him and cursed in exasperation, "What a cowardly little rat... pfft!"

Before he finished speaking, his face abruptly blanched, and a mouthful of hot heart's blood gushed out.

Horrified, Hu Shan lowered his head and saw fine threads of Golden Light radiating from the Three-Passage Gu in his hand.

Within moments, it fell completely still.