Are You Shiniang? Her Mind Went Blank with a Buzz
Are You Shiniang? Her Mind Went Blank with a Buzz
“Many clan members saw it at the time—Young Master Changge returned from beyond the mountain gates with a little girl of five or six years old.”
“That little girl seemed quite well-behaved and quiet...”
Hearing these words from the reporting maid, Gu Xianer fell somewhat silent, feeling increasingly uncomfortable in her heart.
Quite well-behaved and cute?
Could it be that Gu Changge liked little sisters with that kind of personality?
Her own personality, admittedly, had nothing whatsoever to do with being quiet and well-behaved—sometimes she even insisted on going against Gu Changge on purpose.
So... was that why Gu Changge had gone and found himself a new little sister?
“How could that be possible...”
Gu Xianer suddenly felt an inexplicable pressure.
At first, she hadn’t really believed this news.
But now, it was something many clan members had witnessed with their own eyes.
Going by Gu Changge’s usual way of doing things, how could he possibly bring a little girl along at his side?
To Gu Changge, that would be nothing but a burden.
Unless the sun had risen from the west, there had to be something fishy about this.
Or perhaps there was something special about that little girl?
But no matter how she looked at it, at this moment, Gu Xianer felt a sourness in her heart.
After all, before this, Gu Changge’s only little sister had been her.
Now there was an additional little girl—what if Gu Changge stopped doting on her in the future?
It wasn’t that she would fight for favor with a little girl or anything.
Pah.
It was purely that Gu Changge had finally shown her some tenderness.
She really didn’t want to see Gu Changge treat other little girls that well too.
Besides, she had put in so much effort to obtain this—why could that little girl obtain it so easily?
Gu Xianer was no saint; naturally she had her own selfish feelings. Thinking this way, her heart grew even sourer.
At first, the one who hated Gu Changge the most was her; now, the one who felt the most heartache and guilt toward Gu Changge was also her.
But Gu Changge’s attitude toward her left her genuinely upset.
For a moment, Gu Xianer became anxious about gains and losses.
Was it because she hadn’t gone to visit Gu Changge during this recent period, making him feel he might as well bring back a new little sister?
But he was clearly the one who had been cold, completely ignoring her.
She began letting her imagination run wild, losing her usual clever and cunning appearance.
Afterward, Gu Xianer let out a breath, her expression already returning to cool calm.
She spoke, “Take me to see the little girl Gu Changge brought back. As her older sister, I should naturally go take a good look at her.”
That last sentence seemed spoken to herself, finding an excuse for herself.
“Understood, Xiaojie.”
The reporting maid smiled bitterly inside. She hadn’t dared not report this matter, but after reporting it, Gu Xianer probably wouldn’t let things rest.
She was somewhat worried that Gu Changge would blame them for it later.
Soon, under the maid’s guidance, Gu Xianer headed toward the Godly Island where Gu Changge resided.
Along the way, many clan members who saw her were somewhat astonished, finding it hard to believe.
There was deep hatred between Gu Xianer and Gu Changge.
Before this, although they knew Gu Changge had already returned the bone to his sister, how could such hatred be so easily dissolved?
They didn’t know about the many entanglements between Gu Xianer and Gu Changge during this period.
As far as they knew, these two branches still seemed to be on terms of having nothing to do with each other until death.
“If I remember correctly, this should be Xianer Xiaojie’s first time coming to the Young Master’s Godly Island, right?”
“Yes, before this, I heard she had never set foot here even half a step. I wonder what it’s for...”
“Could it be that seeing the Young Master has emerged from seclusion, she plans to pay a visit?”
“Last time at the Nirvana Pool, I heard the Young Master suffered qi deviation for unknown reasons, and Xianer Xiaojie and the others were quite affected.”
“Still, Xianer Xiaojie’s cultivation broke through again during this period. She’s truly too strong. What a pity though—if she hadn’t been lost outside all these years, she could probably rival the Young Master by now.”
Many clan members watched this scene, discussing in low voices, quite curious and amazed.
Gu Xianer’s talent went without saying—many clan elders believed she could rival Gu Changge.
Soon, Gu Xianer arrived at the palace where Yao Yao currently resided.
She paid no mind to the discussions of the nearby clan members. What she wanted most was to see just what manner of being this little girl was.
Inside the palace, the maid who had brought Yao Yao here was quietly telling her about matters of the Longevity Gu Family.
The two of them were completely unaware that Gu Xianer had already arrived outside the hall.
Yao Yao’s little face was full of seriousness as she listened to some of the Longevity Gu Family’s rules. The family her Shifu belonged to was far more terrifying than any power she had ever known.
Just the strictness of its rules alone was enough to leave one utterly shocked.
“You’re the little girl Gu Changge brought back?”
At that moment, Gu Xianer at the palace entrance suddenly spoke, her voice cool and calm, carrying an appraising tone. The two inside the hall were quite startled, only then noticing her arrival.
“Xianer Xiaojie!”
The maid inside the hall heard this voice and looked over with a face full of shock, then hurriedly spoke respectfully.
However, in her heart she was curious as to why Xianer Xiaojie had come to this place.
Yao Yao also looked over in surprise.
At the palace entrance, at some point, an excessively beautiful older sister had appeared.
A slender figure, dressed in a flowing fairy dress with wide sleeves, with the bearing of an immortal and divine bone structure, looking like a celestial maiden from the Nine Heavens, her eyes otherworldly and cool, untouched by a speck of dust.
“You... are you Shiniang?”
She was still somewhat dazed, not understanding who this beautiful older sister was.
So she blurted it out instinctively, assuming this was her Shifu’s Dao Partner.
Though looking at her age, she didn’t seem very old?
“Eh... what?”
Hearing this, Gu Xianer’s eyes suddenly widened, completely unable to maintain that cool expression from before.
Her head buzzed, as if struck by some great bell, and instantly went completely blank.
On her flawless, mutton-fat-jade-like face, rosy clouds instantly rose, and she hurriedly waved her hands in denial, her heart pounding fast, flustered beyond measure.
“I’m not, it’s not me, don’t say such nonsense.”
This little girl, what kind of way was that to talk—asking right away if she was Shiniang?
She was just Gu Changge’s little sister.
Shiniang... how could that be possible...
Though this little girl did seem quite well-behaved, and her words sounded nice too.
Gu Xianer’s eyes and brows couldn’t help but curve.
She had come with some hostility, but somehow, it felt like it had vanished into thin air.
Toward this little girl full of immortal charm, like a porcelain doll, she was filled with fondness.
After all... judging by the form of address, she should be Gu Changge’s little disciple.
So she posed no threat whatsoever to her position as little sister.
Moreover, on Yao Yao, Gu Xianer sensed a very strange, familiar aura—utterly natural and peaceful, like the feeling back in Peach Village when listening to Sister Tao Yao expound the Dao.
How could she possibly still feel any hostility?
She was an elder now.
“What’s your name? Gu Changge is my older brother—I’m no Shiniang, you know.”
Thinking of this, Gu Xianer couldn’t help but bloom into a smile, crouching down and patting Yao Yao’s head.
“Hello, Little Shigu. My name is Yao Yao.”
Yao Yao also sensed Gu Xianer’s goodwill. Having been somewhat timid at first, she couldn’t help but relax considerably.
“Little Shigu?”
“Yao Yao is such a lovely name—the peach tree is young and elegant, its blossoms brilliant. Since you call me that, I should give you a meeting gift, or Gu Changge will probably criticize me later.”
Gu Xianer was slightly taken aback, but she was quite satisfied with this form of address.
Thinking this, her smile deepened. With a wave of her jade hand, a series of artifacts appeared in the void before her.
Jade cauldrons, golden seals, great bells, white silk ribbons...
Golden light surged, their might vast and boundless.
Every single one was extremely precious—outside, they would drive Cultivators to fight tooth and nail over them.
Given her miserly, money-grubbing personality, being able to take out these precious artifacts as gifts
was enough to show she had truly splurged.
After all, back then... she had even wanted to swindle a few more of Gu Changge’s artifacts.
“Thank you, Little Shigu.”
Yao Yao revealed an obedient smile.
She understood quite a lot about the ways of the world, knowing that if she refused, Gu Xianer would inevitably think her tactless.
So she honestly accepted them, though in truth she couldn’t cultivate, and artifacts generally weren’t of much use to her.
“So good.” Gu Xianer nodded, also revealing an elder-like smile.
Yao Yao blinked her big eyes, inexplicably feeling a fondness for this excessively beautiful Little Shigu, as if the two had known each other long ago.
Afterward, Gu Xianer stayed there, asking Yao Yao many questions, sounding out in roundabout ways Gu Changge’s whereabouts and news during this period.
When returning to the Longevity Gu Family, Gu Changge had already briefed Yao Yao on many things, so now, questioned by Gu Xianer, she answered without the slightest hindrance.
“Gu Changge actually went down to the Overworld to repay a favor?”
Hearing Gu Changge’s purpose in going to the Overworld, Gu Xianer was somewhat surprised.
Then, from Yao Yao’s mouth, she also heard of Gu Changge’s heroic deeds—playing the savior, suppressing a terrifying True Demon of the Overworld, and saving all living beings under heaven.
This left her speechless for a long time.
Sure enough, that was just how Gu Changge was—no matter how cold he appeared on the outside, his heart was actually very gentle. Otherwise, why would he do something like saving all living beings under heaven?
Thinking this, Gu Xianer felt she needed to find a good time to lay her cards on the table with Gu Changge—she couldn’t let him bear all this alone anymore.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Gu Changge naturally learned of Gu Xianer running off to find Yao Yao, though he didn’t care.
Since he had brought Yao Yao back to the family, he had naturally already thought of all countermeasures, completely unafraid of anyone asking questions.
“Gu Xianer should notice the peculiarities about Yao Yao. I just wonder whether she can connect it to that Peach Tree behind her?”
Gu Changge’s expression carried a trace of strangeness.
After the Nirvana Pool incident last time, he had left Gu Xianer hanging for this long. Given her personality, it was impossible for her to keep holding back.
To dissolve this bone-digging hatred, Gu Changge had spared no effort. Now he was just waiting for Gu Xianer to take the initiative to bring him back to Peach Village, to meet those few Shifu of hers.
That way, this hatred could more or less be brought to a close.
Gu Xianer’s personality was fairly simple and kind, but those old monsters behind her wouldn’t be so easy to fool.
So he still needed to make one more preparation.
“Counting the time, it’s about time to have Yan Ji return.”
Gu Changge remembered another very important matter. Passing off the fake as genuine could fool people for a while, but not for a lifetime.
By now, Jiang Chuchu had also somewhat figured things out.
Gu Changge decided to give her a chance.
Otherwise, once the other Successor of Mortal Palace, Wang Zijin, noticed something amiss, it would affect his plans. As a Transmigrator, Wang Zijin was no easy mark either.
So he sent out a message, having Yan Ji return.
As for the excuse, it was nothing more than hearing that Gu Changge had emerged from seclusion and coming to pay a visit, to discuss together how to crusade against the Successor of Demonic Arts.
In the following days, news of Gu Changge’s emergence from seclusion spread from the Gu Family, shocking many of the younger generation.
After all, the Gu Family couldn’t say Gu Changge had returned from the outside world, so they simply said his cultivation had deepened once more and he had emerged from seclusion.
For a time, the already unquiet heavens of the Beyond once again stirred up waves.
The successors of the various Cults of Immortality and Supreme Dao Lineages all felt tremendous pressure.
Even the ancient freaks who had emerged recently frowned, sensing something off about the atmosphere. The younger generation’s awe of Gu Changge had reached its peak.
Gu Changge had long held the title of number one of the younger generation. Now that he had emerged from seclusion with his cultivation deepened once more, didn’t that mean the gap between the younger generation and him had been infinitely widened again?
There were many of the younger generation who held such thoughts.
During this period, the Successor of Demonic Arts had once again fallen silent. The various powers heard no more news of the Successor of Demonic Arts, nor did anyone perish under the Demonic Arts.
This matter sparked quite a bit of discussion.
Ying Shuang, the son of Sky Emperor Ying of Sky Emperor Mountain, also obediently stayed at Sky Emperor Mountain, with no news of him leaving.
This matter caused many Cultivators to show strange expressions.
During the time the Successor of Demonic Arts had vanished without a trace, Ying Shuang had also stopped appearing.
Wasn’t that too much of a coincidence?
...
Meanwhile, at Sky Emperor Mountain.
As the person involved, Ying Shuang could only swallow his broken teeth along with his grievances over these rumors, feeling utterly stifled.
If he left Sky Emperor Mountain, he would inevitably be attacked and killed by Cultivators and beings waving the banner of crusading against the Successor of Demonic Arts, like a rat crossing the street that everyone shouts to strike.
But if he didn’t leave Sky Emperor Mountain, the Successor of Demonic Arts wouldn’t show up either, leaving him unable to clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River. He could only stiflingly carry this black pot, being eaten alive.
Stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Unless the real Successor of Demonic Arts appeared and attacked other young talents to clear his suspicion, he would have to keep carrying this black pot firmly for the time being.
“No matter what, this matter of the Successor of Demonic Arts has nothing to do with you, brother. No matter how much the outside world wrongs you, it can’t become true.”
Inside the hall, Ying Yu, with her long silver hair and tall figure, spoke, her delicate brows furrowing slightly as she comforted the rather unpleasant-looking Ying Shuang.
“I know that, but being wronged like this all the time—anyone would feel this way.”
Hearing this, Ying Shuang revealed a bitter smile and sighed, “I don’t even know who I’ve offended, to be framed and slandered like this for no reason.”
“I have no grievances or enmity with Gu Changge or the Successor of Mortal Palace. Why would they splash this dirty water on me?”
Ying Shuang spoke thus, positioning himself as the victim, his tone full of helplessness.
But in his heart, he hated Gu Changge and the others with gnashing teeth.
During this period, he had found quite a few methods, and compared to the former Ying Shuang, the differences no longer seemed so great.
Aside from his cultivation and strength being inferior to the former Ying Shuang’s, in all other aspects, even Ying Yu couldn’t find anything abnormal.
This, in turn, let Ying Shuang breathe a sigh of relief—counting as the only relatively good thing among so many rotten matters.
He played the role of Prince Ying with increasing ease and satisfaction, as if this were his true self.
“There must be something wrong with this matter. If it were only Gu Changge saying so, then it might still be a coincidence, but both of those Successors of Mortal Palace believe the Successor of Demonic Arts is you, brother...”
“Isn’t that too much of a coincidence? I rather feel there must be something strange about it.”
Ying Yu spoke softly, her eyes fixed intently on Ying Shuang’s expression, wanting to discern some abnormality from his face.
She wasn’t sure whether Ying Shuang was still hiding something from her.
Hearing this, Ying Shuang’s heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained composed as he said, “What you say, sister, is also what puzzles me. Logically speaking, I’ve never even met those three.”
His greatest secret was still the matter of inexplicably committing Body Possession on Ying Shuang. Being stared at by Ying Yu like this made him somewhat uncomfortable.
“Forget it. Anyway, once the True Immortal Academy is established soon, the Sky Emperor Mountain lineage will also send its strongest there. I hear that one is a figure from the same era as Father.”
“With his protection then, within the True Immortal Academy, presumably no blind fool will dare provoke us.”
Ying Yu then continued. When mentioning the True Immortal Academy, a trace of yearning couldn’t help but arise in her eyes.
After all, that was an academy gathering the resources of the many Dao lineages and great cults of the Beyond, aiming to cultivate a True Immortal in this era.
Though her talent was powerful, and she was Sky Emperor Ying’s offspring with astonishing bloodline, she still had no confidence she could surpass the many young prodigies in this era.
And the True Immortal Academy happened to be able to temper her—an excellent place for cultivation, where prodigies gathered like clouds and stars converged.
All of the younger generation yearned for and looked forward to it, hoping to leap over the dragon gate there and step into another world from then on.
Hearing these words, Ying Shuang’s smile stiffened somewhat. Honestly, he didn’t want to go to the True Immortal Academy. He knew his own capabilities—facing so many of the younger generation then, how many could he possibly beat?
But as Prince Ying, this wasn’t up to him.
“You’re right, sister. Having stayed in the Sky Emperor Palace for so long, when the time comes to go to the True Immortal Academy, it’s time to spread the might of our Sky Emperor Mountain.”
However, on the surface, Ying Shuang wore a confident, disdainful expression as he spoke thus, causing Ying Yu to admire him—this was the brother she knew.