Chapter 136: Help Me Remove the Gu

After some time, the Dharma Ship rose into the air once more. Only three empty carriages remained below.

Fang Cun entered the central main hall of the Dharma Ship. He observed calmly the woman who had just awoken.

Her green robe seemed plain. It lacked the spirit patterns specific to certain sects or clans. Yet, the fabric looked costly. The Bronze Mask on her face appeared fierce, likely some kind of magical Treasure. Her aura remained hidden, nothing striking at first glance. Yet, Fang Cun’s own Innate Qi—measuring three cun, three fen, and three li—sensed something deep, immensely powerful hidden within her…

She had a slender figure. Long legs met a narrow waist…

A faint smile spread across Fang Cun’s face.

Three people had taken his Life-Death Sigil and failed to come to Willow Lake City for the antidote before the deadline, offering a Little Red Flower. Those three, Fang Cun reckoned, probably hadn’t survived. By focusing his senses, he confirmed two Life-Death Sigils had broken free, turning into butterflies. But one remained quiet. Its bearer hadn’t appeared before him…

It had to be her.

He’d sensed this woman’s unusual strength during their first encounter. This confirmed it.

Three months and three days had passed since taking the Life-Death Sigil. That she still lived proved her cultivation was profound. She seemed capable of suppressing the Gu Insect longer than others. Admittedly, these past days looked rough. She had clearly suffered. Like a fleeing animal, she’d raced desperately against time. She’d arrived before him only moments before the Gu completely consumed her.

Her disheveled state showed how urgent her journey had been.

Thankfully, she made it to Willow Lake City in time, finding Fang Cun. A moment later, and she’d be dead.

The Life-Death Sigil sealed the Gu Insect’s effect for precisely three months. A variation of about seven days existed. Those with weaker cultivation or constitution might show signs by three months and twenty days. The stronger cultivators might last a few days longer.

But once fully activated? Death was certain.

Unless… desperate measures were taken: become a Ghost Cultivator or perform Soul Seizure.

Both carried heavy costs.

……

“Help me remove the Gu!”

While Fang Cun observed her, she stared back.

Standing before Fang Cun made the Gu Insect inside her quiet down instantly. Without suppressing herbs, its rage vanished. Calm returned now it was dormant. She gazed at Fang Cun directly. Her eyes behind the mask held intense seriousness. Her words felt less like a plea and more like an unyielding command demanding his compliance.

Fang Cun eyed her curiously. “Heh heh.”

Even beneath the mask, her panic flared. “Do you know who I am?!” she snapped.

Fang Cun chuckled. “Do you know who I am?”

The woman choked on her reply.

Fang Cun found her more intriguing. Lin Jiyi and others had guessed she belonged to the Southern Borderlands’ corpse-refining faction. But seeing this strength? The proud aura felt too large for just a disciple of the Corpse Refining Sect.

But whatever sect she hailed from… if rank mattered…

Fang Cun doubted hers matched his!

Her reaction proved it. Fury simmered, forcefully pressed down. She glared at him. Finally, her voice tight, she said, “Fine. Brother of Immortal Master Fang Chi. Your techniques impress. I concede defeat in this matter. Will you remove it?”

Fang Cun remained silent, watching her, a faint, cool smile on his face.

Frustration edged her voice. “Your… your Gu is monstrous! It can’t be the Heart-Piercing Insect Gu! You… you don’t even know whose help I sought over three months! How many antidotes I tried!” Her voice cracked slightly, recalling terror. “You don’t know the horror I felt realizing I might not make it back! So… I admit I lost. Please, help me!”

Fang Cun: “Heh heh.”

Everyone marked by a Life-Death Sigil exhausts every means to remove the Gu. Fang Cun expected that. Failure, despair… it’s how they learn obedience. Hearing she traveled far, risking death by racing back… that genuinely amused him.

How desperate do you have to be?

One more hour late? Just one? She’d be dead.

Offering a single, “I concede” as payment for removal? Pathetic.

“I… I can offer something!” Understanding dawned from Fang Cun’s smirk, she bit her lip and added, “Trade!”

“Oh?” Fang Cun raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious. “What trade?”

“Th…”

She visibly struggled. “Thirty!” she blurted out. “Thirty Dragon Stones!”

“Huh?” Fang Cun eyed her, slightly startled.

Independent Qi Refiners rarely encountered Dragon Stones. Offering thirty at once was far rarer.

She pressed hopefully, tense. “Well?”

Fang Cun shook his head lightly. “I lack many things. Dragon Stones? Not really one of them.”

“You…” The woman gritted her teeth. “Another trade! Remember the stone puppet I controlled? That was the Black Fiend Warrior from Southern Borderlands’ Corpse Refining Sect! It matched the power of a Foundation Building Realm Qi Refiner! I have three more such corpse treasures!” Desperation crept in. “Even the refining method! Release my Gu… and I’ll give you them all!”

“I’m a respectable gentleman.” Fang Cun chuckled dismissively. “No corpses.”

The woman shot upright angrily, then slumped back down. “An upper-tier Magic Treasure!” she offered firmly.

Fang Cun stayed silent.

“One Divine Elixir!” the woman countered sharply.

Fang Cun just shook his head.

“A precious-grade secret art!” she yelled. “Trade you that!”

Fang Cun couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

With a sharp “Shoosh!”, the woman snapped. A sudden streak of white light shot from her palm, aimed at Fang Cun’s chest.

He didn’t even glance her way. She instantly convulsed violently, collapsing onto the floor. Spasmic, uncontrollable laughter erupted—happy, but strained. Tears welled and overflowed behind the mask…

“I’m wrong! Truly wrong! Spare me this time…!” The laughter choked into sobs mingling with tears. Only after Fang Cun subdued the life-death sigil did she sit up, face hidden but radiating despair. She lifted the bronze mask, wiped her wet eyes, and reset it firmly. Her final gaze towards Fang Cun held only desolation. Her voice then became fragile and pitiful: “…Doesn’t the honorable little brother of Immortal Master Fang Chi think… this behavior… goes too far?”

“Oh?” Fang Cun tilted his head, showing mild surprise.

She bit her lower lip. Her pleading voice thickened, trembling slightly: “I… was merely traveling alone for experience. Yet… I crossed paths with you. I… don’t know what slighted you. No past grievance, no hatred… Yet you used such vile methods… No… you won’t even let me… pay my way back to freedom…” Her voice cracked convincingly, suggesting immense grievance, painting him as monstrous.

But Fang Cun’s smile widened instead. He peered at her directly. “Young lady, do you truly believe you stand innocent?”

Anger flashed. “Of course! When have I ever crossed you?” she retorted.

“Funny, I never crossed you either…” Fang Cun’s tone remained light, analytical. “Two travelers chancing upon rivers and lakes… shouldn’t the rules of rivers and lakes then apply?”

The woman crossed her arms stubbornly. “Rivers and lakes hold no claim on me!”

“Really?” Fang Cun countered smoothly. “So… elaborate schemes, hidden ambushes, pilfering others’ goods… are practices utterly strange to the gentleman’s daughter?”

Her voice rose indignantly. “Of course they are!”

“Nonsense!”

Fang Cun’s voice cooled abruptly. His gaze hardened. “If truly innocent… then what drew you to Willow Lake? Why lurk near Black Water Fort craving that Human Elixir? Why linger secretly long after the Human Elixir events faded?” His eyes locked onto hers. “Why, if truly detached… were you present on that ship vying for underworld tributes… enjoying a leisurely lakeside view perhaps?”

“I…” She faltered briefly, then gathered indignation again. “My interest in the Human Elixir? Merely study! Others risked life for it… I wanted to see why! As for that ship…” she blushed faintly behind the mask. “…I was low on funds!”

“Low on funds… so seize, or skim underworld profit?”

Fang Cun genuinely chuckled now. “Honest indeed! That Dharma Ship… another acquisition courtesy of less… ethical means?”

Her eyes widened. The vulnerability vanished instantly. Alarm flooded her voice. “How… did you know?”

“A guess,”

Fang Cun replied calmly. “This Ship carries significant value. Its rooms, its provisions… enough to sustain ten people for days. Meaning its former owners were likely a master and seven or eight servants.”

He tapped the worn controls nearby. “Scarce spirit stones… severe wear to wind-warding talismans… shows its journey stretched far beyond original plans.”

He gestured toward empty slots along the walls. “Its spirit crossbows emptied… sword scabbards… pill compartments drained bare… signs of a desperate, losing battle.”

A final, telling detail: “…And this lingering sandalwood scent… unmistakably masculine blend.” He paused significantly. “Not hers.”

The woman sat stunned for several breaths. Still defiant, she managed: “Could be… borrowed?”

“Borrowed?” Fang Cun’s scoff cut sharply. “Then why not hire its original helm crew? If skillful navigation had guided it… you wouldn’t have arrived yesterday, stumbling awkwardly through the airwaves like a newborn duckling, earning yourself another day of Gu torment…” He sighed almost theatrically. “Advice? Next time seize ship AND crew simultaneously! Force their helmsmen home via coercion post-robbery! Efficient!”

“That… actually makes sense…” The words escaped her before she realized. Then fresh anger flushed her expression toward him.

Fang Cun’s voice turned dryly deliberate. “Braving Black Water Fort for Human Elixir… disrupting Willow Lake boat merchants… seizing others’ Dharma Ships casually… commendably chivalrous spirit!”

He leaned slightly closer. “Yet… once caught… discarding that rivers-and-lakes swagger? Playing the frail, untouchable maiden? Claiming distance from underworld customs?” He paused deliberately. His eyes narrowed onto hers behind the mask.

“Simply… hypocritical?”

Her pupils flashed behind the bronze. Her gaze locked onto him, motionless.

Fang Cun regarded her squarely. Added softly: “Hiding behind this mask? Fearing recognition?”

The retort was instant, defensive: “None of your business!”

Fang Cun’s smile deepened. Held her locked gaze steadily: “Truly?”

He paused minimally. Challenge flickered in his voice.

“Want a wager?”

He spoke deliberately, each word clear:

“Want to wager me that inside the time it takes to drain one teacup… I won’t know exactly… who you are?”