Unwilling

The Power Gu Tribe.

In the three-courtyard mansion of Chief Longtu, Xu Qi'an glanced at the interior decoration style, which was obviously imitating the Central Plains, but could not completely eliminate the roughness and simplicity of the Southern Frontier, so it looked incongruous.

"The power of the Gu God in the Abyss will not threaten you for the time being. If there is a similar crisis in the future, please notify me in advance."

Xu Qi'an sat on the large chair, picked up the teacup, and took a sip of the tea, a specialty of Southern Frontier.

The leaders seated below, including Longtu and Chunyan, wore smiles, displaying both enthusiasm and respect.

Chunyan smiled and said:

"Many thanks to Xu Yinluo for his help. The Gu Clan will be grateful for your kindness. May the friendship Great Feng and Southern Frontier last forever."

Luan Yu, with her Erlang, had bright, sparkling eyes and said coquettishly:

"Xu Yinluo came to the Southern Frontier without informing us, making us think that a supernatural Gu beast had been born. It scared us to death!"

As she spoke, she patted her chest with her small, fair hand.

Because of the accent, "renjia" sounds like "Lun family", but the voice is soft and magnetic, with a hint of sweetness, and you can tell that she is a fairy.

Xu Qi'an ignored her and said in a serious tone:

"I know that the Great Feng has a bad reputation, and you didn't trust the Great Feng before. The reason you formed an alliance is because of me."

"I, the Silver Gong, can assure you all that as long as I am alive, the Great Feng and the Gu Clan will always be allies."

The Great Feng's self-perception: the legitimate successor of the Nine Provinces, a land of propriety, powerful and majestic.

In the eyes of various factions, Great Feng: untrustworthy, despicable, and a traitor!

In this regard, Buddhist School and shamanism have the most to say.

The promise from a first-rank martial artist greatly excited Long Tu and the others, while Chun Yan secretly raised her opinion of Xu Yinluo because he ignored Luan Yu's flirtatious glances and seduction.

It should be noted that Xu Yinluo was notorious for his womanizing ways. Before he rose to prominence, Imperial Academy of Music and had close relationships with many courtesans, holding a high position in the entertainment industry.

"The supplies I promised you may take a year or two to arrive. The Central Plains are in dire need of rebuilding and simply cannot afford the money and provisions. However, I have already brought the compensation for the fallen Gu Clan soldiers."

Xu Qi'an looked at Chun Yan and said apologetically:

"I'm sorry, the entire 500 flying beast troops of the Heart Gu Clan have been wiped out."

A hint of sadness flashed in Chunyan's eyes, and she said softly:

"I believe they were already prepared to die on the battlefield. They are the bravest warriors of the Heart Gu tribe, and the tribe will take care of their wives and children."

Xu Qi'an nodded, his voice low:

"They are also heroes of the Great Feng. His Majesty and I have discussed it, and the customs office in Yongzhou will open a school where the descendants of these soldiers who sacrificed themselves for the Great Feng can attend for free. Their food, clothing, and lodging will be provided by the customs office."

"Other children of the Gu clan who want to study and learn to read can come too, but they must pay a tuition fee."

The leaders made no attempt to hide their delight, as Confucian School was the most comprehensive educational system in the Nine Provinces at the time, encompassing, but not limited to, history, medicine, law, rites, arithmetic, and geography.

Once the children of the Gu tribe have a high level of cultural literacy, they will be able to write history for the Gu tribe and formulate comprehensive laws and rituals, which will bring them countless benefits.

A more practical example is that if Lina had studied geography, she wouldn't have gotten lost or been swindled out of all her money when she went north.

For example, when the Gu tribe traded with merchants from the Central Plains, they were often ripped off by unscrupulous merchants because they couldn't do arithmetic.

Ba Ji, the leader of the Poison Gu tribe, stood up, his face sincere, and bowed in the manners of the Central Plains people:

"For the Gu Clan, this is a meritorious deed that will last for generations. Many thanks to Xu Yinluo. The Gu Clan will remember your kindness for generations to come."

Long Tu suddenly stood up and said in a deep, muffled voice:

"It's settled then! On behalf of everyone in the Power Gu Division, I thank Xu Yinluo."

His eyes lit up, as if he had gotten a great deal.

"Oh, I haven't finished yet. The children of the Li Gu tribe have to bring their own rice," Xu Qi'an said helplessly.

"There are limited spots available, and there's an assessment every three months. Children who fail the assessment will be sent back."

At the summit of the immortal mountain stands the Heavenly Venerable Hall.

Li Miaozhen and Li Lingsu landed on their swords in the square outside the palace. Li Lingsu glanced at the tall and majestic palace and felt somewhat intimidated.

Li Miaozhen remained silent.

"Remember what your teacher told you."

Master Xuancheng offered a word of advice.

Li Lingsu nodded obediently.

Li Miaozhen pursed her lips and whispered:

"Master, where exactly did I go wrong?"

Bingyi Yuanjun gazed at Li Miaozhen and said calmly:

"The mistake was being too righteous and intolerant of evil, too eager to help others, and intolerant of any wrongdoing."

"Do not disobey the Heavenly Venerable. Accept the punishment, and you will safely pass this calamity. Otherwise, even your master cannot save you."

After saying this, Daoist Xuancheng and Yuanjun Bingyi stepped into the Heavenly Venerable Hall.

With a determined look and a mindset that he was going to die sooner or later, Wolong followed his master into the Heavenly Venerable Hall.

The young phoenix silently followed behind her senior brother.

The Heavenly Venerable Hall was exceptionally magnificent; judging from its appearance alone, it looked more like a palace built for giants.

The massive pillars supported the dome, which was over ten feet high. Each pillar required ten people to encircle it. As Li Miaozhen and the others walked along the passageway in the middle of the hall, their footsteps even echoed inside the hall.

At the end of the passage was a high throne, where the white-haired and white-bearded Celestial Venerable sat cross-legged on a lotus platform, his head slightly lowered as if he were asleep, with a four-colored light wheel of "earth, wind, water, and fire" rotating behind his head.

On either side of the throne stood nine elders of the Heavenly Sect, men and women, young and old, all looking at Li Miaozhen and Li Lingsu with indifferent expressions.

It's like looking at someone insignificant, without any sense of "disappointment" or "questioning."

But Li Miaozhen and Li Lingsu knew only their own affairs. Throughout history, the holy sons and daughters of the Heavenly Sect, when traveling the martial world, were always given a piece of advice by their elders:

Avoid getting involved in cause and effect.

This means to try to observe from an outsider's perspective, to see the changes in the world, the shifts in the situation, and the struggles of people trying to survive in the mortal world.

Through this, one can gain an understanding of the supreme state of detachment from worldly desires.

The reason why Confucian School scholars like to travel and study is the same: when you have seen all the people, you will understand them.

However, the situation in Tianzong is a bit different. To be honest, Li Miaozhen and Li Lingsu's approach is correct: first develop feelings, then forget them.

It's definitely easier to understand than to just observe.

The problem is that such risks are too great. Li Lingsu and Li Miaozhen are not isolated cases. In the past, the holy sons and daughters of the Heavenly Sect also fell into the mortal world and could not extricate themselves.

Some betrayed their masters, married and had children, or became devoted wives and mothers.

That's considered good; a very few even fall into demonic ways and become wicked monsters who wreak havoc on the region.

It's easy to say, "First you fall in love, then you forget it," but how many people, once they fall in love, become so deeply entangled that they can never escape?

Is it easy for the Heavenly Sect to cultivate holy sons and daughters?

Therefore, elders would later warn the holy children not to get involved in karma.

The holy children who descended the mountain were also kept under very close watch.

"Greetings, Heavenly Venerable!"

Master Xuancheng and Lady Bingyi bowed with indifferent tones and cold expressions.

"Greetings, Heavenly Venerable!"

Li Lingsu and Li Miaozhen, mimicking their masters' manners, bowed indifferently.

It's like a pack of wolves with two huskies mixed in.

Something just doesn't feel right.

The Celestial Venerable sat cross-legged with his head bowed, not uttering a sound, yet his grand voice echoed throughout the hall:

"Li Lingsu, you have traveled for three years since you descended the mountain, making friends with 392 beautiful women across the Central Plains and the Southern Frontier, becoming hopelessly addicted to lust. I ask you, how do you intend to transcend all desire?"

"Are there really that many beasts?!" Li Miaozhen turned her head and quickly glanced at her senior brother, almost losing her indifferent demeanor.

Li Lingsu looked sorrowful and said:

"The Celestial Venerable has miscalculated; there are 397. Four of them died in the war, and this disciple is deeply grieved."

After he finished speaking, he felt the temperature in the hall drop sharply, and he quickly added:

"My heart aches greatly; I feel I am not far from achieving the state of detachment from worldly desires."

The Celestial Venerable did not respond.

Li Lingsu took a deep breath and began to explain her philosophy, saying:

"I believe that in order to forget emotions, one must first understand what emotions and love are."

"In order not to disappoint my master's high expectations, I decided to risk my life and devote myself to love. But I am foolish and initially only felt the beauty of love, and did not understand why I should forget love."

"But the sect's Secret Method can't be wrong, so the disciple has cultivated many romantic relationships, repeatedly seeking out soulmates in an attempt to unravel the mysteries of love."

The elderly Daoist priest, with gray hair and a blank expression, sat to the left of the throne and asked:

"Have you grasped the essence of the Supreme Being's detachment from emotions?"

Li Lingsu shook her head:

"Disciple is still... still a little short, but please believe me, Heavenly Venerable and all elders, that I am not infatuated with women; I am striving to comprehend the Supreme Transcendence of Emotions."

The white-haired old Daoist nodded slightly, then turned to the Heavenly Venerable and said:

"The Holy Son is obsessed with women; perhaps the Celestial Venerable should consider castrating him."

Li Lingsu's face turned pale, and she stammered:

"No, wasn't it agreed that we should 'sever ties with worldly desires and cut off all worldly attachments'?"

The Heavenly Venerable's majestic voice echoed throughout the hall:

What do you all think?

The elders pondered for a moment, then shook their heads in unison, responding:

"We believe that the Holy Son Li Lingsu is unable to forget his feelings and should have his memories severed so that he can begin cultivating his inner power anew."

The Celestial Venerable slowly said:

"Can!"

Li Lingsu's lips moved, as if he wanted to refute or protest, but in the end he chose to remain silent. He was powerless to change the decision of his sect.

Li Miaozhen glanced at him and suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

The Celestial Venerable's voice echoed once more:

"After descending the mountain, the Holy Maiden Li Miaozhen robbed the rich to help the poor and upheld justice. A year later, she went to Yunzhou to form a private army to suppress bandits. Later, she went to the capital to fulfill the Celestial Person."

The Celestial Venerable recounted in detail Li Miaozhen's exploits in the martial arts world.

"Li Miaozhen, you hate evil and cannot tolerate injustice. Although you do good deeds, you are bound by your emotions. It is your emotions that control you, not the other way around. What do you have to say?"

All the elders looked at Li Miaozhen.

Compared to Li Lingsu, the Holy Maiden's situation is the most serious. The Heavenly Sect emphasizes transcending emotions, and its core is to detach oneself from emotions and rise above them.

Li Miaozhen was the complete opposite; she was too passionate, and her emotions controlled her.

The best example of this is the willingness to die alongside fallen comrades on the battlefield of Yongzhou, rather than live alone.

"This disciple has nothing to say!"

Li Miaozhen whispered.

"Are you willing to accept the punishment of having your memories severed?" The Celestial Venerable's voice echoed in the hall, and also in Li Miaozhen's ears.

Li Miaozhen lowered her head and remained silent.

Bingyi Yuanjun glanced at her sideways and said calmly:

"The Celestial Venerable is asking you a question!"

The woman on the right said calmly:

"Even the Holy Son can sever ties with many beautiful women; what is there that you cannot sever ties with the rabble you encountered during your three years of travels after descending the mountain?"

Li Lingsu's face was full of bitterness.

The old Daoist priest, with his gray hair, spoke in a cold tone:

"You and the Holy Son possess extraordinary talents. Once you comprehend the Supreme Being's detachment from worldly desires, you can roam freely between heaven and earth, enjoy endless lifespans, and continue the Heavenly Sect's legacy. The short lifespan of mortals in the secular world, spanning only a hundred years, should not become a hindrance or obstacle for you."

"Their lives are meaningless. Seal their memories; you will still be the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Sect."

Meaningless?

At that moment, her mind flashed through all the things she had experienced and the people she had met since she came down from the mountain.

There were wealthy but heartless gentry; officials who held their positions without doing their jobs; common people who suffered greatly and were bullied; genuine smiles of gratitude after receiving help; students traveling to study; heroes who followed her to Yunzhou to quell the rebellion; young knights who had secretly loved her for a long time but dared not confess their feelings; comrades who died in Yongzhou; and members of the Heaven and Earth Society who stood by her side.

And him.

He was a man of his word in Yunzhou; he swore to never return from Buddhist School duel; he beheaded a duke at Caishikou and vowed never to serve in office again; he swallowed a Golden Core at Yuyang Pass and leaped off the city wall; he stormed the palace and shouted that a commoner's anger could cause the world to mourn.

She could not forget her comrades who died in Yongzhou; this was a betrayal of them.

She could not forget the people she had helped, because they were the most precious memories of her life and the meaning behind her three years of wandering the world.

She couldn't forget that person, the one she outwardly dismissed but inwardly admired and revered.

Everyone knows that the heroine Feiyan is public-spirited, righteous, and dedicated to punishing evil and promoting good.

Everyone knows that Xu Yinluo was a man of unwavering loyalty and dedication to his country and its people.

She is not lonely.

Li Miaozhen raised her head and said:

"This disciple refuses!"

The Celestial Venerable remained silent, but the temperature inside the hall plummeted, chilling everyone to the bone.

Li Miaozhen stood tall and fearless, looking directly at the figure of the Heavenly Venerable sitting cross-legged with his head bowed, and said, word by word:

"I have acted with integrity and uprightness. In the past three years, I have failed my sect, but I have not failed Heaven and Earth, nor the people of the Central Plains. To help the world and punish evil and promote good is my long-cherished wish."

"The Heavenly Venerable may kill me, cripple me, but he may not humiliate me, nor erase my memories."

"Please, Heavenly Venerable, grant my request."

The hall was completely silent, and all the disciples turned to look at the Celestial Venerable.

After a moment of silence, the Celestial Venerable's grand voice echoed:

As you wish!

Bingyi Yuanjun's pupils seemed to shrink slightly.

Master Xuancheng, along with the elders on either side, closed their eyes.

Li Lingsu's face was ashen.

P. S.: Typos will be corrected later.