Love for One's Possessions, the Mortal-Body-Possesses-an-Expert Trope
Love for One’s Possessions, the Mortal-Body-Possesses-an-Expert Trope
Yue Mingkong actually knew Gu Changge’s intention—he wanted to see whether she knew of any ancient freaks with the potential to become his next scapegoat.
She just hadn’t expected Gu Changge to ask her so directly, seeking her opinion on such matters.
According to the trajectory she was familiar with, the Successor of Mortal Palace would soon emerge into the world, traveling the lands while searching for the whereabouts of the Reincarnation of the Mortal One.
At the same time, they would seek a way to slay the true Successor of Demonic Arts.
In her previous life, it seemed the Successor of Mortal Palace had gone to find Gu Changge, but as for how that turned out, she actually didn’t know.
Many things had changed in this life, but the one thing that remained unchanged was Gu Changge’s identity and his many deeds.
Right now, the entire Beyond was being toyed with in the palm of his hand.
If things truly spiraled out of control, it would likely end just as Gu Changge had said... Gu Changge would die, and she would become a widow.
When that time came, Yue Mingkong would, without question, choose to take her own life and follow Gu Changge in death.
But she didn’t want to truly witness such an outcome.
“It seems you don’t know Wang Zijin’s origins.”
Hearing this, Gu Changge’s smile held a meaningful undertone as he casually said to her, “If I were to make a move against her, the risk would likely be considerable. But if I had your help, that would be a different story.”
“Wang Zijin’s origins?”
Yue Mingkong was taken aback. Gu Changge actually thought she could help him? Had he seen through something?
But she didn’t dwell on it, her attention caught by Gu Changge’s other remark.
Could Wang Zijin’s origins really be that significant? Wasn’t she just an ancient freak of the Wang Family?
Judging from Gu Changge’s earlier actions, he had clearly treated Wang Zijin as a pawn to be used.
Seeing Yue Mingkong’s expression, Gu Changge understood.
Sure enough, in the timeline of Yue Mingkong’s previous life—the one where he had killed her—Transmigrators did not exist.
In this life, so many Variables had appeared, and it looked... as if the heavens were deliberately targeting him.
But Gu Changge didn’t particularly care.
Wang Zijin, being a Transmigrator, posed little threat to him in herself. But as luck would have it, her identity happened to be that of the Successor of Mortal Palace.
Setting aside how many Fortuity points she carried, her identity alone could bring Gu Changge enormous benefits—more than enough to make it worth his while to move against her.
“Wang Zijin is actually the Successor of Mortal Palace.”
Then, Gu Changge deliberately put on a thoughtful look and said.
“The Successor of Mortal Palace?”
Yue Mingkong froze, somewhat incredulous.
Then, coming to her senses, her brows furrowed tightly, her expression shifted slightly, and a sense of foreboding rose in her heart.
The Successor of Mortal Palace in her previous life was not Wang Zijin, but a mysterious figure of indistinguishable gender, shrouded in mist.
Which meant that this Wang Zijin, who was currently approaching Gu Changge, was very likely someone who had never appeared in her previous life.
Events had once again deviated enormously.
Didn’t this also prove that the things she had experienced in her previous life might very well not occur in this one?
Yue Mingkong suddenly felt a surge of anticipation and hope.
“It seems you didn’t know about this, Mingkong.” Gu Changge’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Then, he looked toward Wang Zijin, who was conversing with the members of the Wang Family in the distance, his expression growing intrigued.
It seemed matters had taken a small, unexpected turn.
Wang Zijin being the Successor of Mortal Palace was beyond doubt, but judging from Yue Mingkong’s reaction, the Successor of Mortal Palace she knew of was clearly someone else.
“The Mortal Palace may have another Successor at present.” Gu Changge quickly arrived at this possibility.
The other Successor was clearly the figure who was supposed to exist along the original trajectory, while Wang Zijin seemed to have been forcibly inserted into the picture.
Yue Mingkong didn’t even know such a person existed.
“Gu Changge, you must be careful of the Mortal Palace.” Yue Mingkong’s expression was uncharacteristically grave.
When it came to Wang Zijin, her identity as a regressor was equally useless.
“Mingkong, you needn’t worry. Your husband has his own plans...”
Gu Changge smiled faintly, his mind long since made up.
Judging by Yue Mingkong’s words, the other Successor of Mortal Palace would very likely come looking for trouble with him—otherwise, she wouldn’t have warned him so.
Gu Changge wasn’t worried in the slightest.
However... this did give him another plan. Before settling on the most suitable candidate, he could first stage a magnificent show.
As he said this, as if involuntarily, he gripped Yue Mingkong’s hand tightly, and a black rune swiftly vanished from sight.
“What is it?”
Yue Mingkong was somewhat puzzled, noticing the abnormal change in Gu Changge’s hand.
When would someone involuntarily tighten their grip?
Clearly, when worried and apprehensive.
In her eyes, Gu Changge had always been the picture of one who strategized flawlessly, holding everything under his control.
It was rare to see him care deeply or worry about anything.
Such a gesture meant he had no firm certainty in his heart.
It seemed the matter of the Mortal One’s impending return had indeed placed considerable pressure on Gu Changge.
Thinking of this, Yue Mingkong felt she should put her trip to the Heavenly Star Realm on the agenda.
The Mortal One could not be allowed to return so soon!
For Gu Changge’s sake, she had to find a way to delay all of this!!
“It’s nothing.” Seeing this, Gu Changge shook his head slightly.
Yue Mingkong gazed deeply at him, as if trying to see straight through him.
“Why do you look at your husband with such disbelief?” Gu Changge asked with a light smile, as if he had no idea what she was thinking.
Of course, he had done it deliberately just now—precisely to make Yue Mingkong mistakenly believe he was worried about the Mortal One’s imminent return.
Thereby prompting Yue Mingkong to rush to the location of the Reincarnation of the Mortal One.
That black rune was naturally meant to determine Yue Mingkong’s whereabouts when the time came, so he could go intercept her prize.
Having schemed against her a little, Gu Changge felt not the slightest bit of guilt.
He couldn’t expose Yue Mingkong’s identity as a regressor, yet he had to pry information from her lips—this was no simple task.
Still, Gu Changge was willing to do it, to play along with her in this drama of love and enmity.
Otherwise... life would be far too dull.
In Gu Changge’s view, when dealing with a regressor-type Fortuitous Lady like Yue Mingkong...
Getting her to show true submission clearly required her to personally confess the secret of her regression.
If he wanted all those Fortuity points and Fatums, he naturally still had to extract them from her.
And of course, there was another significant reason—his affection for Yue Mingkong was genuine.
This affection referred to the love one has for one’s possession, which was not the same as liking someone.
“If Wang Zijin won’t work, Changge, you could consider making a move against those ancient freaks—the peerless prodigy once of the Undead Lake Clan, the Fire Daozi sealed away by the Vermilion Bird Clan, the one from the Golden Qilin Clan...”
At this moment, Yue Mingkong was also earnestly thinking on Gu Changge’s behalf, offering counsel and plans.
She certainly couldn’t directly tell Gu Changge about the various orthodoxies and great sects soon joining forces to establish the True Immortal Academy, but she could inform him of some of the more famous ancient freaks and sealed young kings who would appear after the True Immortal Academy was founded.
After all, if Gu Changge truly asked about this information, she could come up with excuses to muddle through.
Seeing her so earnest, Gu Changge couldn’t help but smile slightly.
Wasn’t this, in a way, becoming his accomplice?
“Mingkong, I truly find myself loving you more and more.” Gu Changge said with a smile.
Yue Mingkong’s eyes seemed to shine brightly.
Although she loved hearing Gu Changge say such things, she also understood that at this moment, protecting Gu Changge’s identity was what mattered most.
The people around them had no idea what the two were currently discussing—otherwise, they would be utterly horrified, scared half out of their wits.
Yue Mingkong worried that Gu Changge’s identity as the Successor of Demonic Arts would soon be exposed, and she was already devising ways for him to dump this black pot onto someone else’s head.
She felt no guilt whatsoever about doing such a thing.
After all, for Gu Changge’s sake, even if it meant standing against the entire Beyond, she would not hesitate.
“The other Successor of the Mortal Palace... though I wonder what attitude Wang Zijin holds toward them. If it really comes to it...”
Gu Changge swept a glance at Wang Zijin in the distance, a flash of deep meaning passing through his eyes.
Considering her identity as a Transmigrator, it was very likely that Wang Zijin held a dismissive attitude toward the Mortal Palace as well.
Under this premise, he could instead arrange and scheme even more effectively.
Why couldn’t Wang Zijin also be used by him?
“Speaking of which, regarding this matter, it’s time the puppets left behind by the Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being were put to use.”
Gu Changge thought of those Sacred Lord Realm puppets within his Internal World.
Due to the special nature of their materials and forging, as long as they weren’t destroyed, they could actually be restored within the Supreme Cave.
Most importantly, the strength of these puppets was pure cultivation power, each with a dedicated Array Pattern core.
In other words, Gu Changge could use these puppets to fabricate a so-called Successor of Demonic Arts.
And all he needed to do was engineer a situation where he “accidentally” encountered the Successor of Demonic Arts.
Then, he would use the aura of the Immortal-Devouring Demonic Art to mask the puppets’ original Array Pattern cores.
On top of that foundation, he would make further arrangements.
Deceiving the heavens and crossing the sea—it would be effortless.
After all, before this, as far as the outside world was concerned, only he had ever fought the true Successor of Demonic Arts, and the sole witness was Yin Mei.
The persuasiveness was there, but clearly not strong enough.
Now, Gu Changge intended to have many Cultivators witness it all with their own eyes.
As for how to scheme it, Gu Changge already had a plan.
Wasn’t the other Successor of the Mortal Palace currently on their way to find him? What a perfect opportunity!
When the time came, truth mixed with falsehood, falsehood mixed with truth—who could truly tell them apart?
Thinking of this, a meaningful smile appeared on Gu Changge’s face.
Actually, earlier he had considered creating an avatar to impersonate the Successor of Demonic Arts, but he had rejected the idea later.
Unless there was something wrong with his brain.
Why pass up a perfectly good scapegoat and go impersonate another identity himself? Wouldn’t that be completely redundant?
Pinning the black pot on his opponent, letting him shoulder all his calamities and take the blame in his stead.
Wasn’t that the normal way to operate?
<*Ding!* Fortuitous One detected: the Mortal-Body-Possesses-an-Expert trope.>
Just then, Gu Changge, who was mulling over his next plan, suddenly heard the System’s notification.
He was slightly taken aback, his expression somewhat strange.
Going by past precedent, this sort of thing clearly meant a new Fortuitous One had appeared.
And the System had even given a hint—the Mortal-Body-Possesses-an-Expert trope?
This notification had come rather unexpectedly.
“There was no System notification before. Could there be something special about this one?” Gu Changge pondered for a moment, then quickly set the question aside.
After all, a freebie was a freebie—no reason to refuse it.
He recalled that when Wang Zijin appeared last time, the System had also given a notification.
His fellow countryman—in other words, a Transmigrator.
So what was the deal with this Mortal-Body-Possesses-an-Expert trope?
Like the many hackneyed tropes he knew from his past life—an utterly ordinary mortal suddenly taking over the body and identity of some great figure, acting all impressive in their place.
Inwardly panicking like crazy, yet forced to put on a calm front?
Interesting.
Gu Changge had seen this kind of trope plenty of times. No matter how convincing the act, flaws and weaknesses would always show.
Then, Gu Changge’s gaze slowly swept across every inch of the great hall.
He looked at everyone—not even sparing Yue Mingkong.
Starting from his own position, his gaze passed over the many Young Prodigies chatting and drinking.
Then it fell upon the areas where the great figures of the supreme sects and immortal orthodoxies sat.
Going by this trope, the most standard scenario would be suddenly possessing a great figure of overwhelming power and cultivation.
Like possessing a Great Emperor, or possessing a Supreme Being...
But soon, Gu Changge couldn’t help frowning. Things were clearly not as he had imagined—no one in the hall had suddenly been possessed.
This Mortal-Body-Possesses-an-Expert trope was the most unreasonable of all. A mere mortal, without a System—how could they possibly possess an expert?
“The problem isn’t here.”
Gu Changge still planned to use his old method—identifying this newly appeared Fortuitous One through Fortuity points.
The System’s sudden notification meant the new Fortuitous One wasn’t far from him.
So he only needed to watch the fluctuations in Fortuity values to easily pick them out.
“Going by the usual pattern, whether it’s a Fortuitous One or a Fortuitous Lady...”
“They always end up connected to me in some way, winding up on the opposing side. So what conflict does this new Fortuitous One have with me?”
Gu Changge was suddenly rather intrigued.
If this Mortal-Body-Possesses-an-Expert Fortuitous One’s identity satisfied him enough, he could take the opportunity to scheme accordingly.
A new scapegoat—wasn’t this one delivered right to his door?
At that moment, outside the great hall, a clan member suddenly hurried over, came to Gu Changge’s side, and reported in a low voice, “Young Master, the Gifted Lady of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan, Yin Mei, has arrived.”
Since she was arriving midway through the banquet, Yin Mei felt too embarrassed to have her arrival loudly announced, so she had to trouble them to simply inform Gu Changge.
“Yin Mei?”
Gu Changge hadn’t said anything yet.
But Yue Mingkong beside him heard it immediately. She looked up toward the hall’s entrance, her phoenix eyes narrowing slightly, a chilling coldness emerging.
A dangerous aura surfaced around her.
That vixen—she had warned her once, and she still dared to come sniffing around?
Many young prodigies also looked over at this moment, intensely curious.
“Let my junior sister in.”
Hearing this, Gu Changge seemed slightly stunned, appearing somewhat surprised.
Then, as if coming to his senses, a warm and natural smile returned to his face as he spoke.
In truth, he had already been wondering who it might be, so he wasn’t surprised at all.
With this, he was even more certain—the newly appeared Fortuitous One was, nine times out of ten, inseparably connected to Yin Mei.
In that way, they were indirectly connected to him as well.
But who exactly around Yin Mei could this Fortuitous One be?
Gu Changge’s expression held a touch of intrigue.
Soon, led by that Gu Family clansman.
A woman in a red dress walked in from outside the great hall, her features bearing a bewitching, seductive allure.
She was extremely beautiful—a beauty unlike that of the other heaven-blessed maidens.
It seemed capable of enchanting all living beings.
Her oval face was lustrous white like mutton-fat jade, carrying a faint smile, while behind her, nine snow-white, fluffy fox tails were being held in the arms of several maids.
At the very back followed a group of Nine-Tailed Fox Clan experts and elders, bearing congratulatory gifts as they entered the great hall.
The clean-looking young servant boy named Chu Fan kept his head lowered, following at the very rear.
Weng!!
The many great figures deep in conversation within glanced at Yin Mei, paid her no mind, and quickly withdrew their gazes.
“It’s her! The Gifted Lady of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan—the one Young Master Changge saved from the hands of the Successor of Demonic Arts back then...”
“The Young Master of the White Tiger Clan, who was secretly harmed by the Successor of Demonic Arts, was apparently her fiancé, though that engagement has already been annulled.”
Many Young Prodigies recognized Yin Mei and weren’t surprised.
Gu Changge was both her senior brother and her savior.
It was perfectly normal for Yin Mei to come to the Longevity Gu Family for the banquet.
Soon, the many experts of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan presented their gifts and began taking their seats.
Though they had arrived rather late, they had ultimately not missed the birthday banquet.
“Yin Mei greets Senior Brother Changge.”
Yin Mei walked up to Gu Changge, gave a slight curtsey, and smiled.
As for Yue Mingkong beside Gu Changge, whose face was cold and profound, Yin Mei acted as if she didn’t see her at all, ignoring her terrifying aura.
In front of everyone, Yin Mei naturally addressed Gu Changge this way.
However, what surprised Yin Mei somewhat was...
Gu Changge’s gaze carried a trace of something strange and inscrutable.
It seemed that from the moment she entered the hall, his eyes had not been on her at all—but on the little servant boy behind her?