Third Young Master, I Understand You

"Fuck!"

After listening to the Jade-White Beetle's beast speech, Gu Chenfeng immediately reached a conclusion.

This thing was definitely a gu insect, and no ordinary one at that.

It was a "Lifebound Gu."

Ever since Gu Yanshuang had told him that the two people who tried to assassinate him came from the Northern Frontier and knew Gu Arts,

he had found some spare time to look up a book on Gu Arts in the residence's library and learn about the Northern Frontier's practices.

He knew that ordinary gu insects differed little from normal insects, aside from having stronger attacks or being poisonous.

But the one Ouyang Cai had caught was clearly exceptionally intelligent. It could even call out to its master on its own.

Only a Lifebound Gu, nurtured with its practitioner's blood essence and bound to their life, could do that.

And any Gu Master capable of raising a Lifebound Gu was far from ordinary.

At that moment, the gu insect in the bottle stared venomously at Ouyang Cai, still hissing curses.

"Despicable human! You took advantage of my master's grave injuries to capture me! Once my master recovers, you'll be torn into ten thousand pieces!"

Between curses, it kept calling out.

"Master, when will you come get me? I don't want to stay here."

Just then, Gu Chenfeng faintly sensed a tiny fluctuation entering the bottle.

The gu insect inside gradually calmed down.

"Master, I understand. Come rescue me once your injuries have healed."

Something stirred in Gu Chenfeng's mind, and he immediately formed a guess.

That fluctuation had probably been a thought or a strand of spiritual power transmitted by the Lifebound Gu's master.

Since cultivating the Heaven-Opening Creation Art, Gu Chenfeng's spiritual perception had become extremely sensitive.

He was especially perceptive when it came to fluctuations in spiritual power.

That sensitivity had only increased now that he had entered the Meridian-Opening Realm.

Anyone else-even a Source Sea Realm martial artist-probably would not have noticed.

Gu Chenfeng's thoughts raced.

The Lifebound Gu's master can still send it messages, which means they can't be too far away. They're probably still in the Imperial Capital.

If I find this person, I might be able to expose whoever was behind those two assassins.

Besides, they're so badly injured that they don't even dare retrieve their Lifebound Gu.

This is a perfect opportunity!

Gu Chenfeng promptly made his decision and said to Ouyang Cai,

"Giving a girl an insect? Aren't you worried you'll scare her?

"Picking up girls is easy. I'll teach you a couple of tricks later. As for this insect, I'll take it."

"Uh..."

Ouyang Cai looked a little taken aback, but on reflection, giving a girl an insect did seem inappropriate.

Besides, if the Third Young Master was willing to share his experience, what did he need this stupid bug for?

"Sure, Third Young Master. Whatever you say."

"Come on, take a stroll around the Imperial Capital with me."

"Third Young Master, didn't you say you had important business to attend to?"

"What business could be more important than spending time with a brother?"

A short while later.

Gu Chenfeng and Ouyang Cai walked out through the gates of the Chancellor's Residence.

Looking at the dozens of Gu Lineage guards following behind them,

Ouyang Cai was somewhat surprised.

"Third Young Master, do we really need this many people just to stroll around the Imperial Capital?"

"Didn't you say there were villains roaming the Imperial Capital? Bringing more guards is safer."

"That's true."

Along the way, Gu Chenfeng really did seem to be out shopping.

He walked and stopped, looking here and glancing there.

Every so often, he shook the crystal bottle to tease the white beetle inside.

Ouyang Cai thought nothing of it, assuming the Third Young Master was simply in a leisurely mood today.

Little did he know that, despite Gu Chenfeng's casual appearance throughout their walk,

he was actually on high alert, concentrating on sensing the fluctuations of spiritual power coming from their surroundings.

He deliberately shook the crystal bottle, jostling the Lifebound Gu inside.

Startled, the gu insect instinctively called out to its master.

And the Gu Master hiding in the Imperial Capital would release a strand of spiritual power to soothe the gu insect.

Following the direction that spiritual power came from, Gu Chenfeng drew steadily closer.

Eventually, their group stopped in the eastern part of the Imperial Capital.

Beside the Jade Fragrance River stood a brightly lit building bustling with people.

Five stories tall and draped in red and colorful decorations, it sent wafts of cosmetic fragrance drifting on the riverside breeze before they even stepped inside.

At the entrance on the first floor stood young women of every figure, from voluptuous to slender, dressed in styles ranging from seductive to innocent...

They swayed their hips and fluttered their fans, casting inviting glances at the men passing by.

Every so often, a male patron entered with a beauty on his arm.

Everyone looked up and saw the prominent sign above the building: "Thousand Beauties Pavilion."

Then things became a little awkward.

Ouyang Cai gave Gu Chenfeng a strange look.

"Third Young Master, I invited you to the Thousand Beauties Pavilion earlier, and you refused. Why..."

Before Gu Chenfeng could answer, Ouyang Cai suddenly let out a knowing "Oh."

"Oh... I get it. I get it."

Ouyang Cai told the guards from both households behind them, "You all saw it. The Third Young Master and I just happened to pass by the Thousand Beauties Pavilion.

"Now I'm going to drag the Third Young Master inside against his will. You'll have to vouch for him!"

With that, Ouyang Cai winked at Gu Chenfeng, grabbed him, and headed straight inside.

Ouyang Cai was already a regular at the Thousand Beauties Pavilion. A madam promptly greeted him warmly and escorted the two of them to a private room on the fourth floor.

Inside the lavishly appointed, elegant private room,

Ouyang Cai had a scantily clad young woman tucked under each arm. One fed him wine, while the other picked food for him.

Ouyang Cai's hands roamed up and down like those of a seasoned chef heating the dishes in his pans, drawing one coquettish protest after another from the two women.

The scene was... yes, downright unseemly.

Across from him, Gu Chenfeng likewise had two attentive women beside him, both with impressive figures and looks.

But Gu Chenfeng sat perfectly upright, showing no inclination to get handsy.

Seeing this, Ouyang Cai seemed to have found his home-ground advantage and teased him with a laugh.

"Hahaha... Third Young Master, don't be so stiff. Awkward the first time, familiar the second.

"Chunhua and Qiuyue here are courtesan-queen caliber beauties in the Thousand Beauties Pavilion.

"Let them serve you tonight. I'll cover every expense!"

Ouyang Cai's brazen words brought blushes to the two courtesans' pretty faces, yet both stole burning glances at Gu Chenfeng.

Naturally, they knew who these two noble young gentlemen were.

Gu Chenfeng was a young master of the Chancellor's Residence. Neither woman dared dream of flying up onto a branch and becoming a phoenix by marrying him as a wife or concubine.

Simply pleasing this young master enough to receive generous rewards and a little patronage in the future would bring them tremendous prestige.

Besides, this Third Young Master was quite handsome.

Gu Chenfeng smiled and shook his head at Ouyang Cai's teasing, but inwardly he scoffed.

Still too young. He's never tasted the good stuff.

He, Gu Chenfeng, was a "soldier" trained by Leng Xingye.

How could women of ordinary beauty still catch his eye?

Besides, he had come here today for something far more important.

Gu Chenfeng pretended to drink while secretly scanning the Thousand Beauties Pavilion's main hall through the private room's window lattice, puzzling over something.

That fluctuation of spiritual power has vanished.

Gu Chenfeng was not worried that the other party would flee.

He knew a Lifebound Gu was bound to its practitioner's life. No gu practitioner would abandon one.

Besides, judging by how unusually quiet the gu insect was now,

it had clearly sensed its master nearby and was feeling calm.

Gu Chenfeng was in no hurry either. That Gu Master would not let this opportunity slip by.

They would certainly find a way to approach him and reclaim their Lifebound Gu.

The Thousand Beauties Pavilion is surrounded by guards from the Chancellor's Residence now, and that Gu Master is gravely injured.

I'm also at six stars in the Meridian-Opening Realm, with both internal and external cultivation. There's some risk, but it shouldn't be much of a problem.

As Gu Chenfeng weighed their respective strengths, his gaze involuntarily flicked toward a dark corner outside the fourth-floor window.

With his keen perception, he had naturally noticed

that the presence which had been secretly protecting him back at the Chancellor's Residence had followed him to the Thousand Beauties Pavilion.

It should be an expert Eldest Sister sent to protect me. With this lineup, dealing with a badly wounded Gu Master should be more than manageable.

Gu Chenfeng continued drinking calmly with Ouyang Cai.

He also let the two courtesans beside him use the excuse of attending to him to bump him with their twin balls in the penalty area.

About an incense stick's worth of time passed like this.

Suddenly, the ringing of a chime sounded from the Thousand Beauties Pavilion's main hall, disturbing the sultry atmosphere.

A middle-aged man who looked like a steward called out loudly.

"Everyone, to thank you all for your patronage, Lady Su will personally perform a piece on the zither today!"

At those words, the guests who had been grumbling about having their fun interrupted

perked up, young and old alike.

Even Ouyang Cai, who was clearly getting carried away as he gnawed wildly at his two plates of "cabbage," instantly sobered up.

"What? Lady Su is going to play the zither? This is a rare opportunity. I have to enjoy it properly."

At that moment, Gu Chenfeng's expression shifted slightly too.

During their drinks earlier, he had heard Ouyang Cai praise Lady Su quite a bit.

She had joined the Thousand Beauties Pavilion only a few months ago.

Yet her peerless beauty, transcendent zither playing, and reputation for talent had already made her famous throughout the Imperial Capital.

Some even ranked her alongside the Shangguan Lineage's gifted Shangguan Bingxin as the Imperial Capital's two great talented ladies.

She had soared to become the Thousand Beauties Pavilion's "foremost maestra," reaching the pinnacle of achievement for a performing courtesan.

Recently, however, rumor had it that Lady Su had caught a chill and was feeling unwell, so she had not appeared in public.

Her sudden offer to perform today left the pavilion's guests delighted beyond expectation.

Gu Chenfeng, however, caught a whiff of something unusual.

Heh... things seem to be getting interesting.