Chapter 24

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Chapter 24

During a pause in his deep contemplation, Hua Tingxiao looked at Gong Wu and, still skeptical, asked again,

“By the way, are you sure you didn’t eat some holy monk’s flesh, which caused a sudden change in your constitution?”

Tu Xuixin slapped him lightly, “Have you been listening to too many folktales?”

Gong Wu stifled a laugh and shook her head, while beside her, Yan Fangji suddenly had an idea.

“Speaking of which, why are we so afraid of this news?”

“Because she won’t die,” Hua Tingxiao answered without hesitation. “In this world, even the sea can dry up, and rocks can crumble; everything has its destined course.”

“The way Gong Wu is right now feels as though she has stepped outside the cycle of reincarnation, which gives me a strange and unsettling feeling.”

He spoke candidly; even if his words were somewhat blunt, they were not meant to hurt.

Yan Fangji focused on this statement and said thoughtfully, “However, this is just one way of looking at the matter.”

“Just as poisonous plants can save lives and ginseng can kill, if we guide others to see her in a different light, the outcome could be entirely different.”

Tu Xuixin paused, realizing that such matters couldn’t be resolved by his own solitary pondering.

His senior brother might seem like an old-fashioned stickler, but his mind was sharp when it mattered most.

“The outer Buddha speaks of nirvana, and ancient scriptures mention the Immortal Herb; these are all auspicious signs.”

Yan Fangji stood solemnly by the window, ensuring there were no eavesdroppers nearby.

“Wu’er is an orphan you brought into the valley, and her origins are difficult to trace.”

“If we try to conceal this matter, even if we manage to placate everyone’s curiosity this time, there will likely be many similar incidents in the future.”

“It would be better to present her as the lucky star of Moonfire Valley and define the situation before others can.”

As he spoke, he shook his head again, “But these are just my thoughts; ultimately, we must respect Wu’er’s opinion on what to do.”

Gong Wu sighed, “Being called a lucky star isn’t necessary; a tall tree attracts the wind.”

However, such things would inevitably stir up rumors, and no one could control that.

Master Yan acted with caution and personally escorted their group back to Moonfire Valley that night, using a spacious and light-obscuring palanquin.

He was not reassured and added another layer of protection to the palanquin, ensuring that no disciples could discern how many people were inside through the dim lights.

Once the palanquin entered the valley, it did not stop and swiftly made its way to the Master Ancestor. Even when alighting from the palanquin, he personally dismissed everyone, not allowing any maidservants or disciples to remain.

After a brief discussion, the Master Ancestor, clad in his sleeping robe, nodded deeply.

“Let’s proceed this way.”

Though the Master Ancestor had achieved Ascension to Immortality, he had never encountered such a peculiar event.

After the three from Tianhua Palace returned, he stayed up late conversing with Yan Fangji, meticulously confirming all the details.

By the next morning, the news had spread far and wide.

“Have you heard?! A disciple from our valley has emerged who is incredibly formidable! She actually—she cannot die!!”

“Let me tell you! And, once again, it’s Tianhua Palace!!”

“Ah… How can Tianhua Palace be so fortunate? I wish I could join Tianhua Palace too.”

“Truly cannot die?! That’s impossible, right? I don’t believe it.”

“Several Masters witnessed it with their own eyes; my senior brother saw it clearly. She was pierced by three arrows from He Zhao Li while saving Master Yan, and yet she was sweeping the floors at Tianhua Palace early this morning!”

“Nonsense! Where in this world is there someone who cannot die? If she cannot die, then what’s the point of cultivating immortality?”

The situation escalated far too quickly, far exceeding the expectations of those involved.

Once the word got out, the disciples in the valley quickly divided into two factions.

One faction was overjoyed.

Some expressed their delight, believing that the valley now had a new protector and would no longer be bullied or robbed by the Demon Realm.

Some were eager to try, thinking that if Gong Wu, such an unremarkable little girl, could suddenly gain such power, they could too.

And some simply felt a surge of pride, believing their Immortal Sect had gained immense prestige and would have more to boast about when encountering disciples from other sects.

On the other hand, there were those who absolutely refused to believe it.

—She must have performed some kind of trick!

Even if she were to swallow a sword and die in front of them only to come back to life, they wouldn’t believe it; they wouldn’t trust any form of death!

It must be Master Tu playing a prank; anyone who believes it is a fool!

When Gong Wu heard the related gossip, she spat out her tea.

“Why would I go in front of them and kill myself?!”

With the situation having reached this point, it was much easier to handle than anticipated.

That noon, Yan Fangji invited everyone from the palaces to a banquet to celebrate the safe return of their brothers and disciples, to postpone the calamity and secure a hefty compensation, and to publicly recognize Gong Wu as his goddaughter.

The old man acted decisively and called his son out in front of everyone.

“Yan Zha, bow to your sister!”

“If it weren’t for her, your father would have already passed away, unable to rest in peace!”

Yan Zha loudly acknowledged, and his head bowed with a resounding thud.

Gong Wu couldn’t find her voice and couldn’t bear this kneeling, rushing over to help him up.

Yan Zha, the only son of the Yan family, was nineteen years old and had once been rumored to be the illegitimate child of Tu Xuixin.

His personality was so lively that he seemed almost unrelated to his strict father.

Since entering the valley, Yan Fangji had been rigidly disciplined, adhering strictly to the rules. As the senior brother, he imposed discipline not only on himself but also on others, often being the first to punish himself with a ruler without any mercy when he made mistakes.

In contrast, Yan Zha was naturally cheerful and playful, always causing mischief with Tu Xuixin from a young age. He would either go fishing in the river or climb trees to catch birds, returning late to the palace every day, which resulted in his father scolding him so loudly that it echoed through the Six Palaces.

Later, his father found a way to discipline him: whenever Yan Zha made a mistake, he had to spend the entire day following his father closely.

He attended classes with Yan Zha, and while he was meditating, Yan Zha had to sit beside him, which made the boy constantly complain.

The old man had his reasons.

“Your mother passed away just a few years ago. If I raise you poorly, how can I face her in the afterlife?”

After hearing this, the boy settled down for a few years and would only dare to wink shyly at Uncle Ji Ning whenever he saw him.

The atmosphere in the valley was always warm and welcoming, so the palaces often interacted, and the children grew up knowing each other well.

Ji Yang had a bad temper and was rather stubborn when he was young, so he didn’t play much with others.

Tu Xuixin had already raised two introverted children and feared that Gong Wu might also have this personality, so he took her to meet her older brothers and sisters as soon as she could talk.

“This is your senior brother, Yan Zha. Remember his name?”

Yan Zha was busy playing with a grasshopper, pulling at its wings, and loudly greeted, “Hello, Junior Sister!”

Gong Wu stared for a while, and when he walked away, she tugged at her master’s sleeve, her voice sweet and innocent.

“Master, why is someone named ‘Zha’?”

“Um, how do I explain this?” Tu Xuixin scratched his head, “This character doesn’t mean explosion; it’s… uh, I don’t know either. Just remember to call him that.”

As a result, until she was fourteen, Gong Wu continuously called her senior brother “Zha Zha” and thought Master Yan was incredibly cool.

—What kind of personality would name their child ‘Zha’?

It wasn’t until Gong Wu saw the way his name was written during the formal initiation ceremony that she understood his father didn’t expect him to blow things up.

But some associations were already too late to change.

Gong Wu said, “Hello, Zha Shixiong.”

Yan Zha replied with a smile, “You shouldn’t call me senior brother anymore.”

Yan Fangji scoffed, “You haven’t given her a red envelope to address her properly, so why should Liu Feng call you brother?”

Gong Wu exclaimed, “That’s not what I meant!”

Yan Zha pulled out a heavy red envelope he had prepared long ago and handed it to her with both hands: “A spiritual jade pendant, just a small token!”

Only then did Yan Fangji nod and wave his hand, saying, “Bring my gift over.”

Instantly, a line of disciples came huffing and puffing, carrying nine redwood boxes, each filled with exquisite silk fabrics, spiritual treasure ornaments, classic texts, and all kinds of precious items essential for cultivating immortality.

The scene seemed more like preparing for a wedding than receiving a daughter.

Tu Xuixin took a sip of hot wine and sighed, “By the way, are you lacking any sworn brothers?”

“Go away,” Yan Fangji replied, filling his cup, “You’ve eaten plenty of meals cooked by my wife since you were young; what’s the difference?”

The family banquet made everyone joyful, except for Ji Yang, who remained indifferent.

However, he was a publicly acknowledged disciple of the Path of Emotionless, which made everything seem normal.

Gong Wu noticed that he had hardly touched his chopsticks throughout the meal, so she kept this in mind and decided to visit Tianhua Palace to find him after the meeting.

As soon as she appeared, dozens of eyes were fixed on the actions of this legendary person who had come back to life.

They seemed curious, as if trying to figure him out.

But at this moment, none of that mattered.

…It seemed like her senior brother was angry.

Gong Wu searched everywhere in Tianhua Palace for Ji Yang and eventually detected a faint sound coming from the storeroom.

“Senior Brother?”

She followed the sound and discovered that the disciples delivering gifts had just left, leaving nine boxes along with the young man in the dim storeroom.

Ji Yang calmly said, “I prepared some things for you to help you settle in comfortably.”

“There’s no need for that!”

Gong Wu rushed over to put the bedding back on the shelf, but she was too short and had to tiptoe to reach.

“I’m not going to Liu Jia Palace! Master already said to take him there when he’s hungry, but I haven’t agreed to anything else!”

Ji Yang smiled faintly, “Oh, is that so?”

He didn’t reach out to help her, watching the little girl struggle to put the cotton mattress back on the shelf, standing by with his hands tucked away and remaining silent.

—It was clear that she needed some coaxing.

Gong Wu had eaten to her fill and felt a bit dizzy from the meal.

She tugged at his sleeve and said softly, “Subei, I was wrong, wasn’t I?”

“I’ll try to die less in the future, even if it’s for cultivation, I’ll aim to die as painlessly and quickly as possible.”

Ji Yang turned his head away.

“We’re not close, so there’s no need to talk about these things.”

Gong Wu shamelessly tried to tease him.

“Senior Brother actually cares about me, don’t you?”

Ji Yang sighed.

“Go bother someone else.”

Usually, after she whined and acted spoiled a few times, Ji Yang would simply let things go.

But today, those little tricks didn’t work as well.

In a moment of urgency, Gong Wu hugged him from behind, her face pressed against his back, feeling embarrassed and heated.

"I’m only sixteen; hugging my senior brother shouldn’t be taboo!”

“Senior—Brother—”

Ji Subei froze for a moment, wanting to pull her hands away but hesitating not to touch her, his voice finally revealing some embarrassment.

“Let go.”

"Then are you still mad at me?"

"……"

Gong Wu tightened her embrace, thinking that if Master saw this, he would surely smile and say that shamelessness makes one invincible.

"Then I won’t let go!"

Ji Yang said coldly, "In the future, if Yan Zha gets angry with you, will you hug him like this?"

"You’ve never called me Brother Yang, but you call others by name as soon as you meet them." The young man gently pointed out, “In that case, it’s better to send them away.”

"Who asked him to be named ‘Boom’!" Gong Wu tried hard to stifle her laughter, "Don’t you think it’s hilarious?"

"…… Hilarious?"

As she hugged him, she explained everything that had happened, and only then did Ji Yang say, "Let go of me."

The little girl obeyed and then received a solid tap on her head.

"Ah!"

The news quickly reached Ba Jing Tower and Zhi Bai Guan.

The two sides had just benefited from Moonfire Valley, gaining numerous advantages from the ceasefire agreement in Jin Yan Tuo, and were suddenly struck by this news as if hit by a thunderbolt.

They managed to keep the news quiet for several days, not showing any unusual behavior even at the welcome banquet, before choosing a time to meet with the Master Ancestor of Moonfire Valley.

Hao Chengzi was just about to thank them personally and send them out of the valley when he was unexpectedly put in a difficult position.

“Old Immortal, we respect your noble character and advise you to keep a close watch on this strange occurrence. Do not let her leave the valley again.”

The people from Zhi Bai Guan looked stern, their brows furrowed: "She hasn’t ascended to immortality but is unkillable. Just look how strange she is."

"To speak frankly, if such a bizarre disciple appeared in my sect, I would definitely lock her away to avoid unnecessary troubles."

The Master Ancestor did not expect that they came not to bid farewell, but for Gong Wu, and his smile faded significantly.

The old man returned to his seat and replied lightly, “This child has a pure and gentle nature. If you treat her like a monster, tying her up, aren’t you afraid you’ll lead her astray and force her to become a demon?”

A higher-ranking disciple from Ba Jing Tower could no longer hold back and retorted, “I’m afraid she is a spawn from the Demon Realm, a born evil!”

Daoist Cui Wei immediately interrupted, “Do not be disrespectful!”

Hao Chengzi had saved his life, so he wouldn’t make things too difficult over this matter.

However, with so many voices from Ba Jing Tower, even if Daoist Cui Wei intended to suppress the rumors, he couldn’t silence the whispers of the various disciples.

"Do you mean that I must lock her up?"

“At the very least, she shouldn’t be allowed to step out of the valley, remaining within your sphere of influence."

The Daoists from Zhi Bai Guan spoke coldly: “I know this sounds unfeeling, but her rebirth—could it be like that strange ocular disease, actually borrowing someone else’s life to come back? If not, what else could the cost be?”

“If such a good thing exists in this world, how come there are no records of it throughout history? Only she is so bizarre?”

“Until the truth is revealed, for the safety of all living beings, she cannot die again!”

Hao Chengzi took a deep sip of tea.

“Shen Shui, summon the two Palace Lords here.”

When Tu Xuixin and Yan Fangji arrived, the two groups were still arguing their points passionately.

Zhi Bai Guan holds the belief that anomalies often signify the presence of something sinister. Given Gong Wu’s obscure origins and her ability to undergo multiple deaths and rebirths, she might indeed be a venomous entity dispatched from the Demon Realm to inflict harm and siphon life from others.

Within Ba Jing Tower, opinions were divided. Despite Daoist Cui Wei’s earnest efforts to pacify the crowd, his attempts were in vain.

The mention of "venomous entity" caused Yan Fangji’s voice to chill.

"Hold on."

"Even I, as her adoptive father, am unaware of her multiple deaths and rebirths."

"How do you come to know of this?"

The Daoists from Zhi Bai Guan were momentarily taken aback, exchanging whispers before asserting, "That’s the common talk!"

"Let’s set aside your conjectures for now," Tu Xuixin remarked, crossing his legs and sipping his tea. "I appreciate your concern, but the affairs of a lower-ranking disciple from our valley should not be your burden."

"She sweeps by day and reads by night. Whom does she inconvenience?"

"That’s all a facade!" retorted the Daoist from Zhi Bai Guan angrily. "We’re here to warn you, not to cause trouble!"

"If you don’t keep a vigilant eye on her now, and she dies again, it could lead to the loss of innocent lives—"

"Perhaps," Tu Xuixin echoed the word. "You’ve spun a possibility and are compelling us to accept it. Is that fair?"

Yan Fangji nodded in agreement, "At least I have personally seen that Miss Gong Liu Feng is kind-hearted and has brought numerous benefits to our valley."

"When she was suddenly struck down, no disciples perished instantly, nor has anyone exhibited any anomalies since."

"Your foresight is commendable, but please provide some credible evidence to warrant our cooperation."

The Daoist from Zhi Bai Guan grew impatient. "What more evidence do you need! Is there truly someone in this world who cannot be killed?!"

"Does the unusual always spell doom?" Yan Fangji locked eyes with him.

"Qilins seldom descend to the mortal realm. If one appeared before you, would you deem it a bad omen and slay it?"

"You—you’re just being obstinate!"

Observing the agitation among the Zhi Bai Guan members, Daoist Cui Wei attempted to defuse the situation with some placating words.

However, he was unprepared for the higher-ranking disciple beside him to persist, "A wildfire must be contained; we cannot let it rage unchecked."

"If you persist in shielding her, and further incidents occur in Moonfire Valley, no one will dare to assist again!"

“Gao Dengyun! Silence!”

Tu Xuixin smiled at Daoist Cui Wei, “Is it customary in Ba Jing Tower for disciples to override their masters?”

“My Master is the revered Xian Zun Qianhua,” declared Gao Dengyun, bowing his hands in the air with conviction. "I am here under his directive to oversee matters. In such circumstances, I must intervene!"

Hao Chengzi, who had been silent for some time, shook his head slightly.

“I will not meddle in my disciples’ decisions.”

“If this child desires to explore the world, it is her prerogative.”

Gao Dengyun glared at them and then at Zhi Bai Guan, his anger palpable.

Petty sects, ignorant of decorum!

With such disrespectful elders leading, it’s no wonder so many monstrous calamities have arisen!

“If you continue to protect her, and further issues emerge in Moonfire Valley, I fear no one will dare to offer assistance again!”

Once these words were spoken, it was a clear threat.

The people from Zhi Bai Guan shook their heads repeatedly, as if their good intentions had been betrayed, and sighed deeply.

"Next year at the Yuan Xian Immortal Assembly, Moonfire Valley may not even have the chance to enter the inner circle," he said coldly. "Indulging monstrous beings without restraint is no different from those foolish people in Jin Yan Tuo who are muddle-headed!"

Daoist Cui Wei’s face changed dramatically, and he slapped him hard, creating a loud sound.

"How dare you act so audaciously in front of my savior?!"

Tu Xuixin watched coldly, while Yan Fangji’s expression became serious and restrained.

Master Ancestor realized that an agreement couldn’t be reached and waved his sleeve as he stood up. "Show them out."

The three parties left unhappily and parted ways.

As they left, both Ba Jing Tower and Zhi Bai Guan clearly stated that since Moonfire Valley refused to cooperate, they would not keep this matter a secret and would let the world judge and discuss it.

As for Gao Dengyun, who had just been slapped, even the Tunneling Whale from Ba Jing Tower refused to enter again. He stormed off, filled with anger, presumably to report the incident first.

Master Ancestor watched the two groups depart from the entrance of the valley and stood there for a long time.

"… A storm is coming."

Tu Xuixin softly admitted, "I was too direct in my rebuttal."

"If I had been more disingenuous and flattered these people…"

"That is not an option," Yan Fangji rejected firmly. "Taking a step back to avoid a single crisis will only lead to being cornered and threatened further. It may even play into their hands."

Master Ancestor turned to Tu Xuixin and asked, "Can we still find information about Gong Wu’s background at Rebirth Temple?"

Yan Fangji recalled some old tales and looked displeased. "It’s already good that Rebirth Temple hasn’t come to eliminate us."

Master Ancestor paused in surprise, "You can even offend a nun?"

Tu Xuixin covered his face in embarrassment, having been hit several times.

"You! You!"

"Master Ancestor, at your age, you really shouldn’t be hitting people!!"

Meanwhile, Gong Wu was trimming the weeds in her flower garden.

A disciple from Liu Jia Palace cautiously approached, first peeking through the door and shushing to get her attention.

“Little Wu! Is your leopard around?”

“It’s sleeping. What’s up?”

“Is Master Ji Qing here?”

“He went to find Master Ancestor,” Gong Wu replied, puzzled. “Who are you actually looking for?”

“We’re looking for you,” the young disciple scratched the back of his head. “Our Master wants you to come over.”

“Alright, I’ll be right there.”

Gong Wu called out to her senior who was in seclusion practicing, then went with the disciple to Liu Jia Palace.

Compared to the cold and quiet atmosphere of her own palace, here, with dozens of disciples around, she could see several people at a glance, which made Gong Wu feel somewhat out of place.

When everyone saw her, they were taken aback. Some greeted her quietly, while others displayed a mix of admiration and regret in their strange gazes.

Gong Wu hurried into the main hall, too preoccupied to discern the meanings behind the various expressions around her.

Cheng Ji, seated in the main position, quickly gestured for her to sit without formalities and ordered a disciple to serve tea.

At Liu Jia Palace, many skilled in medicine practiced, and those who delved into poisons thrived in Yun Cang. Disciples, after their initial enlightenment, chose their paths according to their preferences, each forging their own deep expertise.

The place was filled with many who cultivated medicine, and even without incense burning during the day, the air was permeated with a bitter medicinal scent, unique with each visit.

"Master Donglu summoned me this time. Is there something specific?"

Cheng Ji took a moment to gather his thoughts before recounting the events that had transpired since her departure.

"Your little Leopard… has developed quite an appetite."

Upon returning from Jin Yan Tuo, Gong Wu had found the little Leopard sleeping soundly under a short pine tree, as if it had never left. She merely stroked its fur and left it be.

At Cheng Ji’s reminder, she was suddenly alarmed.

"It went to the kitchen to steal meat?!"

Cheng Ji’s smile was strained. "It… slipped out of the mountain, killed over a dozen sheep, fatally wounded two plowing oxen, and nearly harmed a person."

"Additionally, it almost devoured a peacock in the valley, but fortunately, it escaped swiftly."

Gong Wu immediately rose, embarrassed, and began to apologize profusely.

"I’m so sorry! I wasn’t aware of the troubles it caused in the past few days! It’s my fault for not keeping a closer watch on it!"

"No need to rush. Please, don’t bow," Cheng Ji stood up, slightly anxious, and stopped her. "I’ve already handled everything."

Long ago, Gong Wu had taken a blade for him, bleeding out before his eyes.

Cheng Ji had never forgotten that.

She was introverted and shy, not adept at expressing her true feelings. Even a few words of gratitude would make her blush, unlike Yan Fangji, who boldly accepted people as goddaughters.

But at least she could manage these minor issues.

"I’ve already compensated the affected farmers, helping them purchase new oxen and sheep."

"As for your Leopard, I brought it back to Tianhua Palace and administered some sedative herbs to ensure it slept until your return."

Cheng Ji waved his hand slightly, looking somewhat flustered.

"I’m not boasting about my actions; I just want to reassure you."

Gong Wu, filled with guilt, detailed the Leopard’s origins, conflicted, "I can’t bring myself to kill it, yet I can’t stand by as it harms the innocent."

Cheng Ji listened attentively and sighed lightly.

"Since it possesses spiritual roots, keeping it isn’t detrimental."

"If you guide it towards virtue and impart wisdom, even birds and beasts can achieve enlightenment."

Her voice was gentle and steady, soothing Gong Wu’s troubled heart.

Gong Wu was startled. "Is that your belief?"

Cheng Ji replied softly, "Every god and buddha has their own mount. If it obeys you in the future, carrying you as you perform good deeds, you too will accumulate merit."

"Given its sentience and ability to understand you, you should cherish this connection even more."

When the little girl returned to Tianhua Palace, she was somewhat dazed and lost in thought.

"Gong Hua Juju! Come here!"

Just as Ji Yang pushed the door open and stepped out, he saw her leading the Leopard outside. He asked, "Where are you going?"

"I’m taking it out to apologize."

"……?"

With the spiritual bond, the Leopard didn’t need a leash to obey her commands.

But to reassure the villagers along the mountain, Gong Wu still fastened a chain around its neck, planning to first visit Liu Jia Palace to express her gratitude once more and clarify the specific locations where it had killed the cattle and sheep.

As the little girl bowed deeply, the Leopard initially turned its head away, indifferent, but the spiritual bond forced it to lower its neck and bow alongside its master.

It growled softly in irritation, though its body remained under control.

Gong Wu pressed down on it with her spiritual energy until Juju the Leopard was completely calm, then she released her hold.

Cheng Ji glanced at the sun and advised, "Come back early; don’t make your master and me worry."

"Okay!"

And so, a peculiar sight appeared on the mountain.

A teenage little girl strolled leisurely with a Leopard, which swayed its tail in a sulky manner but remained oddly obedient to her.

Along the way, farmers busy planting rice and watering their crops noticed the two and stared in astonishment for quite some time.

Apologizing was no simple task.

Seven households had suffered losses, but four of them refused to open their doors, shouting from behind their gates for them to leave immediately.

Some farmers cursed loudly, splashing buckets of filthy water over them.

"I raised that sheep for so long, and the newborn lamb died before it could even open its eyes. Do you have any idea?!"

Gong Wu and the Leopard were drenched in the foul water, but she still bowed and apologized.

"I’m sorry! I’ll make sure to train it properly."

"Have you lost your mind, little girl? What are you doing raising a Leopard?! Do you think you’re an empress or something?!"

Juju stared at her reaction, looking up at her as it was led away.

After apologizing to all seven households, Gong Wu led the Leopard back to the valley and removed the chain with a wave of her hand.

"Juju, you’re a Leopard; it’s only natural for you to eat meat."

The Leopard walked silently, no longer growling in defiance.

"You can eat the meat of wolves, tigers, and leopards, and if you come across mountain bandits robbing people, you can devour them all."

"But don’t ever do something like this again, understand?"

"Oh, right," she wiped the water droplets from her hair and thought of another idea, "Night Poison Mountain isn’t far from here. If you run fast enough, you can go there and hunt freely."

"But it’s dangerous; you might get hurt if you go there."

Speaking of Night Poison Mountain, she remembered the monk after returning and had asked about his whereabouts.

Senior Sister Du Ren said he had left early but left behind three pure white ginkgo leaves, explaining that if anything happened in the valley in the future, they could use the leaves to seek his help at Great Wuxiang Temple.

Lost in thought, she was startled when the Leopard suddenly brought back a wild rabbit, nudging it against her hand as if asking for permission.

"Eat up," Gong Wu paused briefly before adding, "But take it easy; don’t hunt all the rabbits on the mountain."

The leopard devoured the rabbit as if it were a small pastry, licking its lips with a lingering appetite.

The next morning, a scream echoed in front of Tianhua Palace.

"My—Oh heavens—"

"Is anyone there? Come out quickly!!"

"A bear!! It’s a bear!!!"

Gong Wu didn’t have time to change out of her sleeping robe. As she rushed outside, she was just a step behind her early-rising senior brother. She immediately saw the massive creature blocking the doorway, steam rising from its body.

The leopard lay beside the bear, wagging its tail as if to greet them.

Ji Yang took a deep breath and said, "Well… it’s not entirely out of line."

The bear was already dead, though no one knew how it had been dragged here.

Gong Wu asked hesitantly, "Do you want to eat this?"

The leopard nodded.

"Wait!!" a disciple from the palace called out. "Wu Wu! Can I use some of the bear’s claws for medicine?"

"Hey, hey, I was here first!"

"Wu Wu!! Can I have a piece of the bear skin?"

"Third senior brother, hurry back to Liu Jia Palace and call for help! There’s a freshly dead bear here! I’ve never seen a bear in my life before!"

Before long, nearly everyone from Moonfire Valley had poured out, completely blocking the path in front of Tianhua Palace early in the morning.

"Is that really a whole bear?!"

"How did you get it? Are its eyes still intact?!"

"Gong Wu, Gong Wu! Can you help us bring back a wolf too?!"

Tu Xuixin, who had been sleeping in, was so disturbed by the noise that he couldn’t go back to sleep. He threw on a jacket and stepped outside, only to find people from various palaces gathered at the door, knives in hand.

Gong Wu had been taken back by Ji Yang to change clothes and hadn’t returned yet.

Disciples argued back and forth. Some accidentally bumped into the leopard near the bear, with a few remembering to apologize.

The leopard flicked its tail, signaling forgiveness.

"We were here first! We already agreed to use this part for medicine!!"

"Who did you agree with? I helped Little Wu clean the herb-drying courtyard last month!"

Gong Wu hurriedly changed clothes. Seeing more and more people outside made her head spin. She patted the leopard’s head and said, "Can we carry it inside first?"

The leopard obediently stood up.

Soon, the scene became even more surreal.

Two rows of people, armed with medicinal daggers, worked methodically to dissect the bear, carefully separating its skin, flesh, nerves, and fat, even scrubbing the claws clean.

Thick bear meat was also sliced off and neatly arranged in food bowls, placed in front of the leopard.

Juju accepted everything without hesitation, eating dish after dish, closing his eyes contentedly as the young women scratched his chin.

Gong Wu, fearing an accident, stayed close by, casting a warning glare at the leopard when she heard its purring.

"It’s nothing, nothing," the senior sister from Liu Jia Palace chuckled. "My house cat purrs like that too; it means they’re happy and comfortable!"

Hua Tingxiao, who also enjoyed a good nap, arrived late and exclaimed, "Oh no, I missed out!" as he rolled up his sleeves and joined the bustling crowd.

"Is this how you peel the fat glands?!"

"Were you even paying attention in class? This knife is for making a stew, not for anything else?!"

Some whispered in awe.

"Do you know about the spirit deer Master Ji Qing used to raise? A few were injured by a bear one night and died that same evening!"

"They used to keep a whole herd of deer here?!"

"That’s right! Later, he gave most of them away and kept just one. Feeling restless, he decided to take on apprentices instead."

Bear meat was tough and of little medicinal value.

The disciples worked together to clean every bone, leaving no meat behind, all of which was fed to Juju.

The leopard generously offered the bear skin and tail to them, and everyone got along quite harmoniously.

After the crowd dispersed, Gong Wu finally let out a sigh of relief and splashed clean water on the blood-stained tiles.

The leopard, tail curled around itself, watched her curiously as she worked.

"Gong Hua Ji."

Hearing its full name, the leopard jolted, fearing she might make it bow again.

Gong Wu hesitated, then simply patted its head.

Just don’t throw a poisonous salamander at me one morning.

Please, thank you.

Once the commotion died down, Tu Xuixin went back to catch some more sleep and called his two apprentices together in the afternoon.

"There’s something we need to discuss."

Ji Yang, who had already heard rumors about the formidable white whale, kept his brows furrowed and head lowered, waiting for Tu Xuixin to announce the matter.

Gong Wu was still sipping the tea brewed by her senior brother, making a sound to indicate she was listening.

Tu Xuixin pointed at Gong Wu, saying, "Look, she’s about to enter the Opening Sun Realm!"

Ji Yang & Gong Wu: "…?"

It was indeed true.

Though Gong Wu had only been in the Glorious Light for less than half a month, she had rapidly ascended from the ninth rank to the first rank.

Just like Ji Yang before her, after dying once more in Jin Yan Tuo, a moon-like glow enveloped her, though she remained completely unaware of it.

Tu Xuixin watched with a mix of regret and joy, shaking his head as he said, "I need to eat a few more bowls of longevity noodles and hope to one day ascend to the heavens to see you all."

Gong Wu took a moment to process this, then examined her hands with spiritual vision, gasping in astonishment.

"Master, I’m so close to entering the Opening Sun Realm!"

Tu Xuixin wiped away his tears, saying, "You don’t need to say any more!"

"I don’t even know…" the little girl murmured in confusion. "After coming back to life, everything has been chaotic, and I haven’t had the chance to focus on anything."

"You haven’t ascended yet," Ji Yang stated calmly. "You need to break through to a new realm."

"Master called you here today to teach you this," Tu Xuixin said, finally reminded of the important matter. He nodded and added seriously, "Yes, I called your senior brother here to accompany you in breaking through."

At that moment, Gong Wu’s Spiritual Sea was brimming, and she stood on the verge of a breakthrough.

But she still needed a final push to overcome the bottleneck.

"In this world, there are three main methods to break through," Tu Xuixin explained, raising a finger and speaking with care.

"The first method is like your senior brother’s—achieving enlightenment through intense combat and connecting with the Spiritual Orifice."

"Not necessarily," Ji Yang shook his head. "On that day, I personally killed her, and a trace of the Path of Emotionless was illuminated."

"—Is that so?"

The Master cleared his throat twice and raised another finger.

"The second method is to enter seclusion and gain enlightenment to eliminate inner demons."

"For someone like your senior brother, a Daoist of the Path of Emotionless, there are many inner demons. Simply sitting in meditation can bring them to the surface."

At this point, Tu Xuixin tapped Gong Wu’s head regretfully.

"Your mind is empty; I find it difficult to believe you’ll succeed."

Gong Wu covered her head and whispered, "I haven’t tried yet."

"The third method relies on the aid of a secret realm," Tu Xuixin said, pulling out a compass and placing it on the table. "Various secret realms can be beneficial—except for the ordinary ones."

As the world’s most unfortunate soul, he rarely had the chance to access other secret realms each year.

Even when he finally got the opportunity, it turned out to be a realm of extreme danger, and he could never risk his life to enter it.

"So… Little Wu, how do you choose?"

Gong Wu sat upright, her decision already made: "Seclusion."

I want to see with my own eyes what my inner demons look like.