Are You Questioning Me?

Joy stirred in Void Form's heart, and he asked, "Then may this lowly one leave?"

Gu Yuanqing raised his eyes to look at Void Form and said nothing for a long while.

Void Form's heart lurched. Was Gu Yuanqing going to go back on his word?

Only after a long time did Gu Yuanqing say calmly, "Don't forget your promise. Bring me another twenty books every year, whether martial arts manuals, biographies of ancient figures, or accounts of strange curiosities. There is only one condition: these books must have value. Do you understand what I mean by value?"

Void Form suppressed his delight and cupped his fists. "Of course. They must be books seldom found in circulation."

"You may be thinking that once you descend the mountain, the world is so vast that you'll be like a fish entering the rivers and seas, impossible to trace. But I have a bad habit: once someone promises me something, they must carry it out. Otherwise, it weighs on my mind. I've left a little mark on you. If you're confident you can evade my pursuit, you're welcome to disregard this."

Void Form hastily declared, "Rest assured, Young Master Gu. Though I am a master thief, my word carries the weight of nine cauldrons. I would never break a promise. Besides, you're a Grandmaster. No matter what, this lowly one wouldn't dare deceive you!"

"Before you leave, hand over the original Remnant Scripture you've hidden on your person as well."

Void Form's expression stiffened slightly. From a seam in his close-fitting clothes, he drew out a roll of paper made from some unidentifiable material and handed it over.

"Then go! I don't want any news concerning me to pass your lips."

As Gu Yuanqing finished speaking, Void Form felt his whole body lighten, and the True Qi throughout his body returned to normal.

"Thank you, young master! This lowly one will keep his lips sealed as tightly as a bottle." Unable to suppress his joy any longer, Void Form hurriedly cupped his fists and bowed, then turned and left the room, using his movement technique to speed away.

Upon reaching the edge of North Spring Mountain, he could not help looking back.

But at that very instant, pressure suddenly appeared around him without warning, and the True Qi throughout his body froze again.

Horror filled Void Form's heart. He thought Gu Yuanqing intended to kill him, but the next moment, the pressure vanished like smoke and clouds, and he immediately understood that it was a warning.

He cupped his hands and bowed toward Gu Yuanqing's courtyard, then used his movement technique again, avoiding the open sentries and hidden posts as he finally left North Spring Mountain.

Only after reaching the mountain opposite did he truly relax and let out a long breath.

This time, Void Form had taken a nasty tumble. He had failed to steal the chicken and lost a handful of rice besides. He had lowered himself and swallowed his pride, all but calling Gu Yuanqing "Grandfather," just to win a slim chance of survival.

Twenty cultivation methods had practically emptied out everything he had learned in his lifetime! And there was that Remnant Scripture. He had always felt it concealed a secret, which was why he had kept it close for years. Now, everything was gone. He must have lost his mind to have gone up that mountain.

Still, surviving was a tremendous stroke of luck!

Just then, he spotted someone hurrying toward him. Looking closely, he recognized a familiar face.

That old bastard from the Thieves' Sect. His eyes are sharp. He probably spotted me coming down the mountain and wants to ask what happened.

With that thought, he turned and left. Right now, he wanted nothing more to do with the vicinity of North Spring Mountain.

The figure arrived where Void Form had just been standing. He was short and thin, dressed in Hemp Robe, with a Wine Gourd hanging at his waist.

"Why did that youngster Void Form run when he saw me? Could he have stolen something good from North Spring Mountain?"

The Hemp Robe old man's eyes lit up, and he used his movement technique to give swift chase.

After fleeing more than ten li, Void Form abruptly stopped.

Ahead of him, a figure stood in the shade of a treetop, his body swaying gently with the tree in the breeze.

Void Form's face darkened. "You old bastard, why are you chasing me?"

The Hemp Robe old man grinned, revealing large yellow teeth. "If you hadn't run, why would I chase you?"

"It means I don't want to see you. I'm warning you, stop following me, or don't blame me for showing no mercy."

Void Form skirted the tree and departed like a wisp of smoke.

After traveling roughly another li, he suddenly raised his hand, sending several blue needles slicing through the air.

With a startled cry, a figure sprang out of the shade beneath a tree and shouted in fury, "Ice Soul Qi Breaking Needle! Void Form, you brat, are you really trying to kill me?"

"I told you not to follow me."

"Then tell me clearly: what exactly did you see on North Spring Mountain, and what did you steal? The rules of the Thieves' Sect say that whoever sees it gets a share!"

Void Form's face turned livid. He said nothing, and all the emotions bottled up on North Spring Mountain suddenly erupted.

Without another word, an eerie glow appeared around his body—a profound martial phenomenon. He drew a short sword from his waist, unleashed the strength beneath his feet, and charged straight at the Hemp Robe old man.

The clang of clashing weapons rang out incessantly.

The Hemp Robe old man cried in alarm, "Void Form, have you gone mad?"

A short while later, Void Form forced the Hemp Robe old man back, broke free, and fled again.

"Follow me again, and I will kill you!"

Watching Void Form's retreating figure, the Hemp Robe old man muttered, "Something's not right with him."

Gu Yuanqing carefully examined the original Remnant Scripture. It was indeed no different from what Void Form had written down.

After studying it for a while, he took out his own notes.

Although I've only understood part of this Fragmentary Text, that part achieves the same marvelous results through different means as the Grandmaster cultivation Miaoxuan described. It truly is extraordinary. For me, it holds its own even against Grandmaster cultivation methods. What a pity it's only a fragment.

No longer sleepy, Gu Yuanqing studied and took notes, occasionally drawing on annotations in other secret manuals to analyze the meaning of the Fragmentary Text.

Before he knew it, dawn was approaching. Only then did he finally put down the Fragmentary Text and lie on his bed to sleep for an hour.

As his cultivation increased, Gu Yuanqing needed less and less sleep. An hour was enough to restore his weary mind.

He practiced his sword after rising, then absorbed Gang Qi. He had just finished breakfast when Yuan Yingsong, Deputy Commander of Divine Eagle Guard, arrived from below the mountain at his courtyard gate.

"General Yuan, what brings you here at your leisure today? Would you like to come in and sit?"

"No need, Young Master Gu. I've come to take someone away." Yuan Yingsong cupped his fists in greeting, his tone even.

Gu Yuanqing looked slightly taken aback, then smiled. "Take someone away? There are only me and two servants on North Spring Mountain. Who is it you wish to take, General?"

"Ghost Hand Void Form!"

Gu Yuanqing's gaze sharpened slightly, and he smiled. "May I ask who told you that Ghost Hand Void Form was on North Spring Mountain?"

"My apologies, but I cannot disclose that. Void Form is a criminal wanted by the Imperial Court. Please hand him over to me, Young Master Gu."

"I'm sorry as well, but you arrived a few steps too late, General. Void Form has already gone down the mountain."

Yuan Yingsong was startled. Sensing the auras, he found that there was indeed only one person inside Gu Yuanqing's courtyard. He said urgently, "Void Form left? He's a criminal wanted by the Imperial Court! How could you release him on your own authority?"

Gu Yuanqing's smile faded. "Are you questioning me, General?" he asked flatly. "I, Gu Yuanqing, am merely a commoner imprisoned here. What does apprehending wanted criminals have to do with me? You, on the other hand, are charged with guarding this forbidden ground, yet you let someone come up here. Isn't that a dereliction of your duty?"

Seeing the look in Gu Yuanqing's eyes, Yuan Yingsong froze. In his momentary agitation, he had forgotten that the man before him might be a Grandmaster. He hurriedly cupped his fists. "I spoke out of turn. Since Void Form is no longer here, I won't disturb you any further, young master."

"I won't see you out."

Gu Yuanqing closed the courtyard gate.

With a dark expression, Yuan Yingsong led his subordinates down the mountain.

An officer of the Imperial Guards behind him quickened his steps to catch up. "Brother-in-law... General, Gu Yuanqing is only a prisoner. Why must you be so polite to him? Even if he might have a Grandmaster backing him, isn't he showing far too little regard for us in the Imperial Guard?"

Yuan Yingsong glanced at him and snapped, "Silence. Who are you to interfere with how I conduct my affairs?"

The officer slowed his steps sulkily.

Returning to the foot of the mountain, Yuan Yingsong entered a military tent.

Inside the tent, an old man dressed as a scholar held a Dossier, studying it as he sipped tea.

Yuan Yingsong cupped his fists in greeting. "Senior."

The old man glanced outside the tent and frowned slightly. "Where is Void Form?"