He Spat Blood at the Critical Moment—That Reminded Me
He Spat Blood at the Critical Moment—That Reminded Me
He could only choose to lay his cards on the table. His intentions were truly despicable, simply infuriating. [Seeking subscriptions]
The matter of rescuing the Ji Family’s Prime Ancestor, Ji Shengchu—on a small scale, it was the Ji Family’s affair.
But on a larger scale, it was a major matter concerning the safety of the entire Beyond.
As a former Mortal One, Ji Shengchu possessed heaven-reaching means. Trapped in Kun Mountain for so many epochs, he had still not perished.
If he could break free, he would surely be able to resolve this Absolute Yin Heaven calamity.
Not to mention that Ji Shengchu had once lent his aid to the various orthodoxies and great sects.
Both emotionally and logically, under this premise, as long as Gu Changge proposed that the younger generation discuss the matter of rescuing Ji Shengchu, no one could refuse.
After all, this was standing upon the great righteousness of the Beyond’s safety.
He was leading by example, setting the standard himself.
“Yes, Young Master.”
Yin Mei understood Gu Changge’s meaning and quickly went down to make arrangements.
It just so happened that Kunwu City was now filled with prodigies from every race and orthodoxy, all invited by Gu Changge. She felt certain no one would dare not come.
Even the Young War Immortal and the others, who had just suffered an assassination attempt, were no exception.
After Yin Mei left, Su Qingge, who had been waiting outside the palace all this time, finally walked in.
“Qingxuan greets Young Master.” Unable to suppress the complicated feelings in her heart, she curtsied.
Gu Changge was not surprised by her arrival.
However, his face still showed a hint of feigned astonishment as he smiled faintly. “Qingxuan, is something the matter?”
Su Qingge was actually quite puzzled as to why Gu Changge had ordered someone to assassinate the Young War Immortal.
Logically speaking, that should have been her concern—as the Successor of Demonic Arts, worrying about her identity being exposed.
Given Gu Changge’s character, he would never do something meaningless. In other words, he had a purpose in sending someone to assassinate the Young War Immortal.
But after thinking it over and over, Su Qingge could not figure out the reason.
Could it be because of the abnormality the Young War Immortal had displayed at the Divine Rock Conference?
However, her current identity was Ji Qingxuan, and she did not know how to broach the subject.
“Young Master, I actually accidentally overheard some of what you and Gifted Lady Yin Mei discussed...” Su Qingge said, carefully choosing her words.
Of course, she had not overheard it by accident—she had analyzed and deduced it, knowing with certainty that Gu Changge had sent someone to assassinate the Young War Immortal.
“Oh? What did you hear?” Gu Changge asked with great interest, though he already knew the answer.
“I heard about Young Master sending someone to assassinate the Young War Immortal. But please rest assured, Young Master, I will absolutely never speak of it.”
Su Qingge answered, and seemingly worried that Gu Changge might harbor misgivings, she hurriedly gave her assurance.
“And what if you did hear it?”
Gu Changge smiled faintly. “You’re wondering why I want to kill him?”
Confusion surfaced on Su Qingge’s incomparably beautiful face as she nodded. “Yes.”
“I want to kill him, naturally, because he learned something he shouldn’t have.” Gu Changge’s smile vanished as he spoke indifferently.
“Something he shouldn’t have?”
Su Qingge’s heart trembled, and a chill suddenly swept up her back.
She raised those glistening eyes, gazing at Gu Changge’s composed face, and somehow felt there was more to his words.
The Young War Immortal learned something he shouldn’t have...
Wasn’t that to say he had learned the true identity of the Successor of Demonic Arts? What other possibility could there be?
Gu Changge, as the leader of the Beyond’s younger generation, upon learning the identity of the Successor of Demonic Arts, not only refrained from killing her but even helped cover up her traces and flaws.
Su Qingge was very clever by nature. Apart from this possibility, she could think of no other explanation.
If Gu Changge had long known her true identity, then it seemed he must have also long known about her identity swap with Ji Qingxuan.
He had simply been pretending not to know all along.
For a moment, thinking of all these possibilities, Su Qingge’s head began to buzz, and her heart fell into turmoil.
“Young Master... you knew all along?”
After a long silence, Su Qingge forced herself to calm down, her voice trembling slightly.
She had never imagined that coming to see Gu Changge today would reveal so much to her.
Then what meaning had all her disguises held during this time?
“What did I know?” Gu Changge smiled faintly, asking in return.
“I remember Young Master once said that if you ever learned the identity of the Successor of Demonic Arts, you would never allow them to remain in this world.”
Su Qingge’s eyes reddened slightly, her voice quivering.
She recalled the time at the True Immortal Academy when she had nearly been exposed, facing the Elders’ questioning—yet Gu Changge had chosen to believe her without the slightest hesitation.
From that moment on, she had resolved to hide her identity as the Successor of Demonic Arts forever, never letting Gu Changge find out.
Not even at the moment of her death.
Because she did not want to see disappointment on Gu Changge’s face.
She had never expected that, in the end, Gu Changge not only knew her true identity but had even been devising ways to cover her tracks, eliminating anything that might expose her.
This could no longer be described with the simple word “kindness.”
Hearing this, Gu Changge gently shook his head.
He knew this was Su Qingge intending to lay her cards on the table with him.
After all, she was so clever—from this assassination attempt on the Young War Immortal, she could piece together and connect all the reasons behind it.
Continuing to hide it would be meaningless.
“So you still remember those words.”
Gu Changge’s face was calm and casual, but his gaze suddenly grew somewhat deep.
Su Qingge lowered her eyes, her words carrying pain and guilt. “I’m sorry... I’ve disappointed Young Master.”
She could not tell whether Gu Changge was angry or sighing.
“So, do you want me to kill you now?” Gu Changge asked indifferently.
Hearing this, Su Qingge felt an inexplicable bitterness in her heart, yet also a sense of release, knowing her guess had been right.
From beginning to end, Gu Changge had merely been playing along with her act.
“If Young Master wanted to kill me, you certainly wouldn’t have kept me alive until now.”
Su Qingge took a deep breath, calming herself as she answered.
“Oh? You’re that confident? You should know there are plenty of people who want to kill you now. Do you think I’d be any different from them?” Gu Changge asked with great interest. “Before, I didn’t kill you because you were Ji Qingxuan. But now, you are the Successor of Demonic Arts, Su Qingge.”
Hearing this, Su Qingge shook her head, her eyes slightly red, and lowered her head. “Young Master, you are different from everyone else. Everyone else would kill me, but you wouldn’t.”
Her tone was resolute, without the slightest wavering of emotion.
If Gu Changge wanted to kill her, why would he have covered her tracks and sent someone to assassinate the Young War Immortal?
“You think I can’t bear to kill you?” Gu Changge smiled faintly, then suddenly reached out and gripped her snow-white, delicate neck.
Su Qingge showed not the slightest fear. She shook her head and said softly, “If Young Master truly wants to kill me, I would have no complaints. To die by Young Master’s hand... perhaps that would be the best ending for me.”
... [Seeking flowers] ...
She spoke the truth. These years of concealment and hiding had left her utterly exhausted.
To die quietly like this would not be a bad form of release.
“Forget it. I am not a cold and heartless man. You followed me here from the Overworld—for you to become what you are now, I bear inescapable responsibility.”
Gu Changge seemed to sigh softly as he released her. “Whether you are the Successor of Demonic Arts or an ordinary Cultivator, to me, it is all the same.”
“No matter what identity Qingge holds, I have always been Young Master’s maid. That has never changed.”
Su Qingge’s eyes were slightly red. She knew how great a sacrifice it was for Gu Changge to spare her life.
After all, once her identity was exposed, Gu Changge would inevitably be implicated, and it would greatly affect him.
...
While all of Kunwu City was in an uproar over the assassination attempt on the Young War Immortal, news that Gu Changge planned to host a banquet at the Star-Picking Tower the day after tomorrow, inviting the young prodigies to discuss the rescue of the Mortal One Ji Shengchu, spread as if it had grown wings, causing a tremendous sensation.
...
Countless Cultivators and living beings were astonished. They had not expected Gu Changge to truly intend to storm Kun Mountain alongside the Ji Clan to rescue Ji Shengchu.
While everyone admired him for it, they also deeply sensed that this matter was not so simple.
After all, Gu Changge’s move was tantamount to inviting the prodigies and successors of every race to go together. But how dangerous was Kun Mountain? That went without saying—even a Sacred Emperor Realm being would have to tread carefully.
If the other Young Prodigies set foot inside, wouldn’t that be marching to their deaths?
“Gu Changge personally extended the invitation, and he’s standing on the great righteousness of rescuing the Mortal One. Even if we don’t want to go, we can’t refuse!”
“If we don’t go, it would be hard to justify. He’s practically roasting everyone over a fire.”
Many renowned figures of the older generation could no longer sit still.
If they refused, for the younger generation currently in the limelight, it would not only damage their prestige.
More likely, it would frustrate their contending Dao Hearts.
Though the journey to Kun Mountain was perilous, Gu Changge, as the leader of the younger generation, had already led by example, casting life and death aside.
If the others chose to shrink back in fear, what would that make them?
The King of Six Crowns, the Phoenix Lady, the Sky Demon Sovereign, the Young Holy King, Jin Chan the Chosen Monk... all the Young Prodigies received invitations and fell into deep silence.
Standing on the grounds of the Beyond’s great righteousness, they had no reason to refuse.
“Damn it, is Gu Changge trying to force us to go to Kun Mountain?”
“His intentions are truly despicable!”
The Young War Immortal, An Xi, and the others also received the invitation at this moment, and their expressions turned extremely ugly.
They had thought that after surviving this calamity, there would be a period of peace.
But who would have thought Gu Changge had already laid his second trap?
To prevent the Young War Immortal from refusing on the grounds of his injuries, Gu Changge had even specially sent someone to deliver sacred healing medicine, expressing his concern over the assassination attempt on the Young War Immortal.
Such a gesture was no different from a vicious slap across their faces, leaving them utterly humiliated.
“The one who tried to assassinate me was definitely sent by Gu Changge, and now he hypocritically sends healing medicine!”
“Simply despicable!”
Even with the Young War Immortal’s temperament of never showing joy or anger, his face now flickered between pale and ashen. His fists clenched tight, aggravating his injuries, and a mouthful of pent-up blood trickled from the corner of his lips.