The Great Terror Between Life and Death

"It is my honor to witness such swordsmanship here. So long as I have not disturbed your sword practice, that is enough." Prince Qing laughed heartily.

Gu Yuanqing noticed two loads of luggage beside Prince Qing and his eyes lit up. "Prince, what is this?"

"I heard you enjoyed reading, so before leaving, I had people bring some books over. I did not know what sort of books you liked, so I had them prepare a little of everything."

Gu Yuanqing beamed. "Thank you, thank you. Your Highness is most thoughtful. So long as they are books, this junior likes them all. The days in the mountains are quiet and lonely; having books for company in idle moments is a pleasure in itself."

Prince Qing laughed. "I am glad you like them. Changyan, help Young Master Gu carry them inside."

"How could I trouble His Highness the Heir? I should do it myself."

Prince Qing said, "Ah, it is good for young people to move around more."

Without a word, Li Changyan stretched out both hands, grasped a carrying pole in each, and effortlessly carried the books into Gu Yuanqing's room.

Seeing this, Gu Yuanqing could only offer his thanks. Then he recalled Prince Qing's earlier words. "Prince, are you preparing to leave?"

"The new Deputy Commander of Divine Eagle Guard, Yuan Yingsong, has arrived, and the Demon Realm Seal has been repaired. It is time to return. I came today to bid farewell."

Gu Yuanqing was not surprised. All gatherings must come to an end. Today, the people from the sects in the mountains had already begun descending one after another, and the whole of North Spring Mountain was gradually becoming empty.

"Then this junior wishes Your Highness a smooth journey. Should you have leisure another day, you may come to North Spring Mountain and reminisce."

Prince Qing smiled. "Is that an invitation? Good. When I have time, I will come stay in the mountains. Compared to the prince's residence, living here is rather more comfortable."

Gu Yuanqing smiled. "Your Highness may come whenever you wish."

"I asked you before—do you have any message you wish brought back to the Gu Family? So long as it does not violate the Imperial Decree, I can deliver it for you."

Gu Yuanqing fell silent for a moment. His parents had died when he was young, and he had possessed no talent for cultivation. Knowing full well the dangers within the prince's residence, he had neither fought nor contended there. As a mere concubine-born son, he had been like a transparent man, wishing only to be granted a fief upon adulthood and live as a wealthy idler. His ties to the prince's residence were not deep. He said lightly, "Forget it. I have already been gone for over a year. There is no need to add trouble to others for nothing."

"Since that is so, I shall not add to the confusion." Prince Qing paused, then said, "There is one more matter I believe I should remind you of."

"Please speak, Prince."

"The commotion caused by your sword-riding technique that night was too great, and quite a few people saw it. Though I issued a gag order, word will inevitably leak out. Outsiders do not know that you were the one who acted, but you should still be cautious in your daily life."

"Why is that?"

"This is North Spring Mountain. There is a legend that the North Spring Sword Sect possesses a Secret Sword that points directly beyond the Grandmaster realm."

Gu Yuanqing's expression grew somewhat grave. He had forgotten about that matter, but then he smiled. "Thank you for the reminder, Prince. However, my cultivation has nothing to do with that Secret Sword."

Seeing that Gu Yuanqing did not seem to care much, Prince Qing reminded him again. "Whether it is related is not important. What matters is how others see it. Beyond Grandmaster—such a thing can make cultivators throughout the land flock toward it like ducks."

"Ordinary cultivators are naturally no concern. But even Grandmasters would be tempted upon hearing of it, because Grandmasters live two hundred years!"

"Between life and death lies a great terror. Even Grandmasters are no exception. When facing life and death, some people will stop at nothing."

"Prince, forgive my presumption, but are there those beyond Grandmaster in Great Gan?"

Prince Qing was silent for a moment. "Those beyond Grandmaster should not act over North Spring Mountain's Secret Sword."

Gu Yuanqing nodded. "Then I understand."

By then, Li Changyan had already placed the things inside and emerged carrying the poles.

"Then, Young Master Gu, until we meet again." Prince Qing clasped his hands.

"Until we meet again." Gu Yuanqing returned the gesture.

Prince Qing turned and left, with Li Changyan following behind. Yet after taking several steps, Li Changyan turned back and said, "Gu Yuanqing, you may be a Grandmaster, but if you wrong my imperial sister, I, Li Changyan, will not spare you."

After saying that, he did not wait for Gu Yuanqing's reply and hurried after Prince Qing.

Prince Qing's steps paused slightly, but he did not turn around.

Gu Yuanqing was slightly taken aback. He found it rather strange, as though there were some matters he did not know about.

Li Miaoxuan's figure surfaced in his mind, and he silently wondered, Could it be that Li Miaoxuan used me as an excuse to leave the Imperial Family in pursuit of the path to longevity?

It was only a guess, but no matter what, he had let Li Miaoxuan down, while Li Miaoxuan had shown him kindness.

As the figures of Prince Qing and the other receded into the distance, Li Changyan felt somewhat uneasy after blurting out those words on impulse. That had been a Grandmaster, after all!

Yet Prince Qing had not rebuked him. Perhaps he felt the same way in his heart.

Gu Yuanqing withdrew his gaze and gave a mute laugh. "Who would have thought that Li Changyan, born of the Imperial Family, would have such a straightforward nature?"

Within two days, North Spring Mountain had completely quieted down. The soldiers guarding the entrance to Repentance Cliff in the back mountain had also withdrawn.

Only the three master and servants remained in all of North Spring Mountain.

Living at Repentance Cliff was ultimately not very comfortable, so Gu Yuanqing moved back to the courtyard on Front Mountain.

Everything in the courtyard was as it had been. Lying on the chair in the courtyard, he felt a long-lost sense of comfort.

Gu Yuanqing had already met the Deputy Commander of Divine Eagle Guard at the foot of the mountain, but like Chen Chuanshan before him, the man said not a word and merely nodded in greeting.

Compared to before, the only change in the days that followed was that their daily supplies grew more plentiful.

The young eunuch who delivered goods up the mountain every half month still did not speak, but there was now a faintly ingratiating look in his eyes.

From the Imperial Guards at the foot of the mountain, Gu Yuanqing learned that the Princess of Great Gan had finally married, but this no longer had any effect on him.

Just as Li Miaoxuan had said, the her in the Capital City was not her.

Gu Yuanqing's state of mind grew ever more tranquil, as though everything beyond the mountain had nothing to do with him.

Every morning, he rose to practice his sword, then observed the mountain and absorbed Heavenly Gang Qi.

In the morning, he read and deduced Cultivation Methods; in the afternoon, he entered the Spiritual Mountain Trial.

At dusk, he gathered Qi of Earth Sha; at night, he either practiced swordsmanship or trained in the art of Object Control.

Afterward, he cultivated his methods and tempered his body.

Whenever he grew tired, he observed the mountain and watched the myriad forms of life within it, or went for a stroll and played with birds and beasts. Everything followed his heart.

Without realizing it, his cultivation had already climbed to the Profound Martial Ninth Layer. The Profound Martial Wonderland—North Spring Mountain Phantom—manifested around his body grew ever clearer.

At the same time, the trees on North Spring Mountain grew increasingly lush, and more and more Living Beings appeared in the mountains. Their innate sharp senses told them that remaining on this mountain brought countless benefits.

Spirit herbs and medicinal plants that were difficult to find outside quietly sprouted and grew.

If measured with instruments, one would discover that this mountain had unknowingly risen several meters taller!

At noon that day, Gu Yuanqing emerged from the Spiritual Mountain Trial, a trace of joy shining in his eyes. Kong Shengbing, the North Spring Sword Sect Leader who had blocked his path like a great mountain for nearly a month, had finally been slain by him.

This also meant that even beyond the range of North Spring Mountain, he was nearly invincible below the Grandmaster realm.

Yet he did not develop any desire to descend the mountain. There were not many people below worth missing in the first place. The years in the mountains were peaceful—why step into the surging sea of worldly dust and endure the tempering of human ties?

At the same time, news of sword riding appearing on North Spring Mountain quietly spread and reached the ears of those with interest.

Deep within a cave in Star Sea Valley, Longbei Province of Great Qian,

An old man whose face was wrinkled like sharkskin, looking as though he stood with one foot in the grave, sat cross-legged upon a jade bed. With trembling hands, he lifted a bowl of Pure Yang Child Blood nourished with spirit medicine and swallowed it in great gulps.

A moment later, the wrinkles on his face seemed to lessen slightly, and his hands no longer trembled.

Below him, a middle-aged man knelt beside the jade bed.

"Ancestor, there is news of the North Spring Mountain Secret Sword you instructed your grandson to watch!"