All That Talk of Magnanimity and Forgiveness Is Bullshit—Don't Preach Generosity When You Haven't Suffered Another's Pain
All That Talk of Magnanimity and Forgiveness Is Bullshit—Don’t Preach Generosity When You Haven’t Suffered Another’s Pain
Gu Changge’s decision to release the Sky Deer Goddess was, naturally, part of another plan.
Just as she herself had said, keeping her locked up here forever was no solution.
When he questioned her about various things and matters, she answered fluently, without a single flaw.
There were still six months before the Beyond launched its full-scale invasion of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains.
So he might as well let her prove herself through action.
And the action Gu Changge required was actually quite simple.
The Sky Deer Goddess had, after all, lived in the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains for countless ages—the friends she knew were surely not few in number.
The cultivation of those friends should be roughly on par with hers, all at the True Daoist level.
So he could have her lure those friends out, giving Gu Changge the opportunity to catch them all in one net.
His cultivation had already reached the First Heaven of the Quasi-Nirvana Realm; the Source of ordinary Cultivators was no longer of much use to him.
Now he could only rely on True Daoists, or at least slightly weaker Quasi-Nirvana Realm existences, to seek an opportunity for breakthrough.
“How do you want me to prove it?”
The Sky Deer Goddess’s state of mind had long since returned to tranquility. A glistening light shone in her eyes as they fell upon Gu Changge’s face, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips.
Her features were delicate and lustrous, her five senses peerlessly beautiful, her dark hair cascading like a waterfall, smooth and gleaming with a moving luster.
When she spoke, her body carried two utterly different temperaments—transcendence and Demonic Energy—yet now both manifested together in the same person. Rather than clashing awkwardly, they blended in perfect, natural harmony.
She knew Gu Changge had already thought it through.
After all, keeping her imprisoned forever was no solution. Unlocking the black iron chains on her hands and feet now was giving her a chance to prove she was worthy of trust.
“Serving my bed, or killing people. Choose one for yourself.”
Gu Changge noticed her calm, confident expression. Hearing her words, he raised an eyebrow slightly, then spoke with perfect composure.
Hearing this, the faint smile at the corners of the Sky Deer Goddess’s lips suddenly froze. She lost her earlier poise, and her brows furrowed at once.
“I had thought Young Master Gu’s heart was solid as bedrock, unmoved by external things, his Dao Heart a mirror of profound clarity. I never imagined he would be such a vulgar man after all.”
She shook her head with a sigh, her lustrous jade-white face wearing an expression of having misjudged Gu Changge.
“Why so much nonsense?”
“Serving my bed, or killing people?”
Gu Changge narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint leaking from them as he looked her up and down.
The Sky Deer Goddess’s expression straightened slightly, and then she said, “Killing people.”
As for exactly whom she would be killing, she wasn’t clear on that yet, but at this moment she couldn’t possibly choose something like serving his bed.
If she did, what difference would there be between her and a so-called Concubine? Besides, Gu Changge was clearly not the type... who would show her mercy just because she was his Concubine.
Of course, there was an even more important reason.
If she chose to serve his bed, given Gu Changge’s level of caution, he would absolutely grow suspicious.
“Good, then.”
Gu Changge nodded, having known she would choose this way.
As the Sky Deer Goddess, whether now or before, she was an incomparably proud and self-confident person.
It was impossible for her to use her own body as capital to obtain some benefit.
But the current her... that was harder to say.
Thinking of this, Gu Changge carefully sized up the Sky Deer Goddess once more.
Since she possessed a special physique, she should be well aware of the consequences of him finding out.
Yet she showed not the slightest panic or unease, remaining perfectly calm and composed, as if she had long anticipated this—or rather, as if she had something to fall back on.
This made Gu Changge pay a few degrees more attention to the Sky Deer Goddess in his heart.
This woman left him somewhat unable to read her. Had her temperament truly become like this, or was it merely a disguise to lower his guard?
“Could it be that Young Master Gu truly intends for me to serve your bed?”
“If you really want it, well, that’s not entirely out of the question.”
The Sky Deer Goddess noticed Gu Changge’s scrutinizing gaze. Her eyes shimmered with light, without the slightest bashfulness.
On the contrary, she was perfectly at ease, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
She fully displayed her devastating beauty and proud figure, exuding an utterly bewitching allure.
“I’ve never seen such a strange request before.”
“Don’t tell me you’re trying to latch onto me?”
Gu Changge, for his part, also began examining her in earnest, staring fixedly at that exquisitely flawless face. Then he reached out a hand and suddenly wrapped his arm around her slender, willowy waist.
A wave of delicate fragrance drifted over, thoroughly tantalizing.
The Sky Deer Goddess had kept a faint smile at the corners of her lips the whole time, seemingly having predicted Gu Changge’s reaction.
But she hadn’t expected him to suddenly pull her over. Her expression froze slightly, and her supple, slender waist went stiff.
In all her countless years of cultivation, this was the first time a member of the opposite sex had touched her.
She only felt a wave of warmth spread through her, accompanied by a vast divine radiance that enveloped her entire being.
However, the Sky Deer Goddess did not break free. Instead, light burst forth from her beautiful eyes, brilliant and resplendent, dazzling like fireworks.
She quietly looked at Gu Changge, her whole body practically collapsing into his embrace.
A strange feeling arose in her heart, and a faint rosy mist crept across her snow-white, delicate skin.
“Your physique really is problematic.”
“I almost fell for your trick.”
But in the next moment, Gu Changge’s somewhat regretful voice sounded.
He shook his head slightly and released her, his figure reappearing three feet away from the Sky Deer Goddess.
In that instant of contact just now, he had already probed her, sensing within the Sky Deer Goddess’s body a cold, silent aura as vast as an abyssal sea.
Motionless as the Milky Way, yet majestic as the firmament itself, ready to erupt in torrential force at any moment.
“Is Young Master Gu afraid?”
The Sky Deer Goddess’s face bore none of the shy, flustered manner of other women.
Her eyes shimmered with light, and a faint smile once again surfaced at the corners of her lips.
This bearing was perfectly composed and serene, but if one looked closely, one would find it was confidence—more like faint mockery.
“What fine methods you have. Had it gone that way, wouldn’t everything have gone exactly as you wished?”
Gu Changge shook his head, his tone carrying regret as he said, “What a true pity. Such a peerless beauty, yet I can only look and not eat.”
“I had thought Young Master Gu’s courage surpassed all others, unmatched by anyone. I never imagined he would be such a coward.”
“I’ve already been this forward, yet you don’t dare to eat. You truly disappoint me.”
The Sky Deer Goddess shook her head as well, her tone equally regretful.
She knew Gu Changge had already figured out what kind of physique she possessed.
So as she spoke, there was naturally no need to conceal things as she had before.
This had originally been another plan of hers, one she believed could save the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains.
But from the looks of it now, since Gu Changge had already seen through it, it likely wouldn’t succeed.
“To latch onto me, Sky Deer Goddess, you’ve really gone to painstaking lengths.”
Gu Changge shook his head, his expression unmoved.
The Nine Mysteries Yearning Physique—this legendary physique took its name from the Red Phoenix of Yearning, a symbol of unwavering devotion.
He hadn’t expected to encounter it on the Sky Deer Goddess. Just now, he had only been somewhat suspicious.
But seeing the Sky Deer Goddess’s demeanor, he was practically certain.
This physique’s greatest peculiarity was shared life and shared death—virtually unsolvable.
In other words, once he took the Sky Deer Goddess’s body, it would be equivalent to binding the two of their lives and deaths together.
If the Sky Deer Goddess killed herself, he would inevitably suffer enormous repercussions, even facing mortal danger.
Although Gu Changge had numerous methods and trump cards, including two Symbols of Reincarnation—equivalent to having several lives—
he did not like the feeling of his life being influenced by another.
Given the Sky Deer Goddess’s temperament, when the time came she would absolutely sacrifice herself to destroy him, achieving her goal of saving Sky Deer City and the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains.
It seemed that in the Sky Deer Goddess’s eyes, he was the greatest threat deciding the survival of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have taken such an enormous risk, leaving Sky Deer City to strangle this threat of his in the cradle first.
“If Young Master Gu could guarantee to spare Sky Deer City, to spare the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains a path to survival, why would I go to such lengths?”
The Sky Deer Goddess sighed, then let her gaze fall upon Gu Changge’s face.
Seeing his indifferent expression, she smiled again and said, “Now that Young Master Gu already knows my greatest secret, shouldn’t you trust me?”
It had to be said, as one of the most exalted figures in status and position in the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains,
even tainted by Demonic Energy, the Sky Deer Goddess possessed a sacred, inviolable air.
“The trouble of the Nine Mysteries Yearning Physique—for me, there may not be no way to resolve it.”
Gu Changge did not answer, but instead smiled somewhat teasingly. “You seem to be celebrating a bit too early.”
Hearing this, a faint smile lingered at the corners of the Sky Deer Goddess’s lips as she said nonchalantly, “Then I’ll wait for the day Young Master Gu resolves this trouble.”
She was full of confidence and assurance, not taking Gu Changge’s words to heart at all, which was why she spoke thus.
After all, over these countless years, she had researched her own physique many times.
For men, the Nine Mysteries Yearning Physique was an unparalleled temptation.
But the trouble of shared life and death was indeed utterly unsolvable.
Even at the True Daoist level, she couldn’t think of the slightest solution.
Although the Sky Deer Goddess had never emerged into the world, once she did and walked among mortals, she would inevitably receive the reverence of countless Cultivators and forces.
Yet Gu Changge alone was this cautious, even carrying a hint of disdain, feeling that she was trying to latch onto him.
This truly left her speechless. Afterward, Gu Changge explained another matter to her.
The Sky Deer Goddess was, after all, a veteran True Daoist, neither her cultivation nor her strength lacking.
The cultivation realms of the friends she knew presumably wouldn’t be much worse either.
“Friends?”
After hearing him out, the Sky Deer Goddess gave Gu Changge a deep look and fell into silence.
She knew Gu Changge’s plan.
That Gu Changge could have his current cultivation had a great deal to do with that... identity he was hiding.
The risk of this matter being exposed went without saying—the entire Beyond would likely be unable to tolerate Gu Changge, and he would face a situation where the whole world was his enemy.
Though his current cultivation was strong, facing the combined might of the entire Beyond, he would likely find it hard to contend.
But even knowing all this, the Sky Deer Goddess did not believe it would become leverage against Gu Changge, nor did he care whether she knew of the matter.
Now that Gu Changge raised such a demand, it was clearly to devour the Source of those existences for his cultivation.
“The friends I know are actually not many.”
“Many have already passed away in meditation, and many more have vanished without a trace. Ones who would satisfy Young Master Gu—I’m afraid they won’t be easy to find.”
Then, the Sky Deer Goddess pondered seriously, not looking like she was brushing him off.
“Are you saying you can’t find even one?”
Gu Changge didn’t believe her words, smiling faintly. “How about this—with your status, summon Sky Deer City’s strongest experts out of the city? I think they’d do just fine.”
“However, if I search carefully, I should still be able to find some.”
Hearing this, the Sky Deer Goddess shook her head, then continued, “Regarding the Nine Great Mountains, I wonder how much Young Master Gu knows?”
“Aren’t the Nine Great Mountains the immortal mountains in the hearts of all Cultivators of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains? Said to bear traces of immortals. What—don’t tell me the suitable people you speak of are in the Nine Great Mountains?”
Gu Changge narrowed his eyes, his expression somewhat thoughtful.
The Sky Deer Goddess nodded and said, “I think apart from the Nine Great Mountains, I’m afraid no more suitable people can be found.”
The Nine Great Mountains were nine incomparably mysterious immortal mountains of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, their whereabouts unknown, their locations ethereal—ordinary people simply could not find them.
Unless one was a person of destiny, other Cultivators could search their entire lives and never hope to glimpse where the Nine Great Mountains lay.
The Sky Deer Goddess suddenly bringing up the Nine Great Mountains piqued Gu Changge’s interest.
He wasn’t worried that the Sky Deer Goddess would collude with the Nine Great Mountains to trap and kill him.
At this juncture, doing so would not be... a wise move. If she truly wanted to gain his trust, then she would find a way to demonstrate her value.
The Beyond’s conquest of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains would breach Sky Deer City sooner or later. At that point, whether the Nine Great Mountains appeared in the world or not actually didn’t matter much—it couldn’t play a decisive role.
The Sky Deer Goddess should be very clear on this point.
She was a smart woman; she knew what to say at a time like this.
And according to ancient records, the Nine Great Mountains were incomparably mysterious and transcendent.
Whenever the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains suffered invasion from the Beyond, successors or disciples would descend the mountains, bearing immortal decrees to halt the war.
But in truth, for the Beyond, this matter had little impact.
On the contrary, judging from the Nine Great Mountains’ attitude toward the Beyond, their wariness clearly outweighed their resistance.