A Matter of Life and Death — I Figured You'd Save Her
A Matter of Life and Death — I Figured You’d Save Her
# 570: The Part He Couldn’t Figure Out — Time to Show Off His Acting Skills (Please Subscribe)
In the dim, damp dungeon.
Jiang Chen gritted his teeth, his fists clenched so hard they creaked, a towering fury rising in his heart as he glared fixedly at Gu Changge.
“Don’t push people too far. This is going too far.”
“And don’t think you can use Chuyue to threaten me. I won’t consider a single thing you’ve said.”
“If you want to kill me, then kill me. Do you think I’m afraid of death?”
Hearing Gu Changge’s undisguised mocking and humiliating words only made his rage surge to the heavens — he wished he could tear Gu Changge into ten thousand pieces.
In Gu Changge’s mouth, Ji Chuyue had become something like merchandise, rather than a living, breathing person.
And throughout all of this, Ji Yaoxing — Ji Chuyue’s own brother — not only failed to stop it, but stood to the side as if he saw nothing at all.
That cold indifference made Jiang Chen’s heart ache with even greater fury.
“Is that so? It seems you really don’t care about Ji Chuyue.”
Gu Changge smiled casually, then let his gaze drift quite naturally from Ji Chuyue’s face, slowly traveling downward.
In that moment, Ji Chuyue felt as though her entire body had been stripped bare, left with nothing at all. A chill swept over her, cold to the bone, and she couldn’t stop trembling.
“Whatever you have, take it out on me. What does bullying Chuyue prove?”
Seeing this, Jiang Chen continued to roar in a low voice, watching Ji Chuyue’s face turn pale with panic and unease, her whole body trembling.
It made his heart twist with pain. He couldn’t bear to see this kind-hearted woman toyed with by Gu Changge like this.
“That’s not up to you. If you truly care for Ji Chuyue, then you’d best think carefully about what I just said.”
Gu Changge smiled faintly, reaching out to pinch Ji Chuyue’s delicate, fair chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.
“Young Master Gu...” Ji Chuyue’s heart was filled with humiliation, faint tears welling in her eyes, yet she didn’t dare resist — she didn’t even dare let the thought of resistance arise.
Just as Gu Changge had said, she didn’t want to be a tool of the Ji Family’s political marriages — even if it meant becoming Gu Changge’s concubine.
But it was also just as Ji Yaoxing had told her days ago.
This was a fate she could not escape. From the moment she was born, she had no choice.
Gu Changge’s current terrifying might was enough to silence and chill the entire Ji Family — let alone a small, insignificant person like her.
“Relax, I won’t kill him for now. But I imagine you don’t actually want to be my concubine, and I don’t like forcing people. So these words — you’d better say them to this fellow yourself.”
Gu Changge’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. He then smiled lightly and released his hand.
Hearing these words, Ji Chuyue’s face remained pale as she hurriedly shook her head. “No — to become Young Master Gu’s concubine is Chuyue’s fortune. How could Chuyue be unwilling?”
Gu Changge’s eyes remained calm and unruffled as he smiled softly. “How insincere. Your expression has already betrayed you. A girl as lovely and spirited as you — your eyes can’t lie.”
“Chuyue wouldn’t dare deceive Young Master Gu. Every word comes from the bottom of my heart, every sentence is true. Countless heavenly daughters of the Beyond covet this position — how could Chuyue be unwilling? I couldn’t be happier or more delighted.”
Ji Chuyue hastily shook her head in explanation. At this point, she didn’t dare offend Gu Changge any further.
She understood the Ji Family well. Even if Jiang Chen could help the Ji Family rescue their ancestor Ji Shengchu, the family would never marry her to Jiang Chen.
At most, they’d find some direct-line daughter and have Jiang Chen marry into the family.
Compared to marrying some well-matched Young Prodigy, becoming Gu Changge’s concubine truly was a fortune she couldn’t cultivate in several lifetimes.
It was something countless people could only envy.
“Gu Changge, you despicable villain! Stop forcing Chuyue! Give me one night to think it over — I’ll give you an answer by morning!”
Hearing Ji Chuyue’s insincere words, Jiang Chen couldn’t help but roar in anger, cutting her off, his eyes red as he glared at Gu Changge.
He didn’t know why Gu Changge was going to such lengths to rescue the Ji Family’s ancestor, Ji Shengchu.
But as things stood, he had no other choice. If he refused, Gu Changge would likely kill him — or leave him to rot in this dungeon for the rest of his life.
Nor could he stand by and watch Ji Chuyue be thrown into a fiery pit.
“You seem to have misunderstood something. This isn’t helping me — it’s helping the Ji Family. You should know that once you rescue the Ji Family’s ancestor, you’ll have a chance to become the Ji Family’s prized son-in-law. That’s helping yourself, too.”
Gu Changge smiled faintly, then waved his hand, signaling everyone to withdraw, and stopped pressing Jiang Chen.
His goal had actually already been achieved. By morning, Jiang Chen was bound to agree.
And once they entered Kun Mountain, for Jiang Chen to think he’d come out alive — that was simply laughably naive.
“Artifact Spirit, what exactly is Gu Changge’s goal? Someone like him — how could he possibly devote himself so wholeheartedly to rescuing the Ji Family’s ancestor? That doesn’t match Gu Changge’s character at all.”
“He must have some hidden scheme.”
After Gu Changge, Ji Chuyue, Ji Yaoxing, and the others departed, the dungeon quickly returned to its deathly, icy silence.
Jiang Chen’s gaze was cold. Leaning his back against the wall, he exhaled in great breaths, forcing himself to calm down quickly as he conversed with the Celestial Boat of Creation’s Artifact Spirit in his mind.
This was the part he couldn’t figure out.
“I can’t figure it out either. How could Gu Changge be so kind-hearted? He definitely has ill intentions — he’s not sincerely rescuing the Ji Family’s ancestor.”
The Celestial Boat of Creation’s Artifact Spirit spoke, its voice equally heavy.
“Then what should we do?” Jiang Chen took a deep breath, beginning to circulate his cultivation technique to heal his injuries while asking.
“What you need to focus on now is how to survive inside Kun Mountain, and then find a way to escape with your life. Cooperating with Gu Changge is no different from bargaining with a tiger for its hide. Once we enter Kun Mountain, you must be careful at every step. When the time comes, I’ll see whether I can stir the grand forces and Array Patterns within, to create an opportunity for you to escape.”
The Celestial Boat of Creation’s Artifact Spirit said this with great worry that its existence would be discovered by Gu Changge.
From the first moment it had seen Gu Changge, it had sensed an unprecedentedly dangerous aura about him.
Everything that had happened since had confirmed its suspicions.
What it was more grateful for now was that Gu Changge had yet to discover its existence — he merely believed Jiang Chen possessed the inheritance of a Divine Source Master.
Outside the dungeon, the setting sun slanted westward, and the autumn wind blew cool and soughing.
As Gu Changge and the others walked out, a graceful figure — somewhat unexpected to him, yet entirely reasonable — stood ahead, seemingly waiting for him.
Ji Yaoxing and Ji Chuyue glanced over and recognized the newcomer as Xiao Ruoyin, that disciple of the Skyward Schloss, said to be very close to Gu Changge.
Then the two of them hurried away, not lingering, and not daring to ask questions.
“Young Master Gu.”
Xiao Ruoyin was dressed in white, her figure tall and graceful, dark hair dancing, delicate brows curved, a fine small nose, lustrous red lips, and skin of snowy smoothness, radiating an indescribable moving beauty. Standing there, she seemed as though she might ride the wind away at any moment.
Upon learning that she wished to see Gu Changge, the guards here had not stopped her — on the contrary, they had escorted her over.
For they knew of Xiao Ruoyin’s intimate relationship with Gu Changge.
“What is it, Ruoyin? You have business with me?” Gu Changge smiled indifferently, asking what he already knew.
Xiao Ruoyin’s eyes fell upon his face. She nodded, not concealing her purpose. “Ruoyin heard that Jiang Chen was captured by Young Master Gu.”
“Oh? So you came for Jiang Chen?”
Gu Changge raised an eyebrow, putting on an expression of keen interest.
He felt that Xiao Ruoyin’s demeanor today seemed somewhat different from usual.
Gu Changge naturally knew that Xiao Ruoyin had gone to see Jiang Chen.
He knew even better that Jiang Chen had told Xiao Ruoyin the whole story from beginning to end.
After learning the truth, Xiao Ruoyin’s various reactions and actions seemed, in Gu Changge’s view, perfectly normal.
Still, Gu Changge felt that today’s Xiao Ruoyin was a bit off. Though she hid it well, Gu Changge had nonetheless probed her current Fortuity points.
“It seems I guessed right.”
A strange glint flashed through Gu Changge’s eyes before quickly returning to normal.
Judging by this sudden increase in Fortuity points, Xiao Ruoyin had likely recovered a considerable portion of the High Priestess of Destiny’s memories.
“Ruoyin and Jiang Chen are old acquaintances, after all. Seeing him captured by Young Master Gu, I truly couldn’t stand by and do nothing.”
Xiao Ruoyin spoke softly, her eyes dimming just the right amount.
She had been quietly watching Gu Changge’s expression, worried he might notice something amiss, so she explained with great care.
And her reasoning was sensible — there was nothing improper about it.
“So you’re worried I’ll kill Jiang Chen?”
Gu Changge smiled, suddenly stepping closer to her, his hand coming to rest on her cheek with a hint of amusement.
Xiao Ruoyin gave a soft hum of assent. Her body stiffened slightly, goosebumps rising on her skin — quite unnatural — though she quickly recovered.
“Relax. For your sake, I certainly won’t kill him,” Gu Changge said with a faint smile.
“Thank you, Young Master Gu.”
Receiving Gu Changge’s assurance, Xiao Ruoyin felt somewhat relieved.
However, on her way here, she had heard quite a few rumors — that Gu Changge would bring Jiang Chen along into Kun Mountain.
Relying on the Celestial Boat of Creation’s Artifact Spirit, Jiang Chen was regarded by the world as the Successor of a Divine Source Master.
Kun Mountain was so perilous that with Jiang Chen’s help, much trouble would surely be avoided.
So when the time came, she would have to find a way to follow in secret, lest something happen to Jiang Chen within.
“Jiang Chen is currently locked up in the dungeon. Would you like to go see him?” Gu Changge then glanced at her and asked with some interest.
Xiao Ruoyin was silent for a moment, then shook her head. “Forget it. Jiang Chen probably doesn’t want to see me right now. There’s nothing left for us to say to each other anyway.”
She also didn’t want Gu Changge to misunderstand that there was something between her and Jiang Chen at a time like this.
Knowing that Jiang Chen wouldn’t die for the time being, she was at ease.
Gu Changge smiled and said nothing more. He then instructed the jailers behind him to take good care of Jiang Chen and not let him die in there.
“It’s getting late. Tomorrow you’ll be returning to the Skyward Schloss, won’t you?”
On the way back to the palace, Gu Changge wore a faint, indistinct smile as he asked casually.
“Mm. Tomorrow Ruoyin will return to the Skyward Schloss with the elders. Who knows when I’ll see Young Master Gu again...”
Xiao Ruoyin nodded, following silently behind him, then spoke with some reluctance — though inwardly she felt extremely awkward and unnatural.
She didn’t want Gu Changge to discover that she had recovered the High Priestess of Destiny’s memories.
So at this moment, she could only behave exactly like the Xiao Ruoyin of before.
“Then you’d best cultivate diligently. The next time I see you, I hope you’ll give me a pleasant surprise,” Gu Changge said with a faint smile, his words carrying a hidden meaning.
Xiao Ruoyin’s heart tightened, but outwardly she still agreed. “Ruoyin certainly won’t disappoint Young Master Gu.”
The Nihility Destiny Physique — even at minor completion, its blood was an exceedingly rare Celestial Herb, with countless wondrous uses.
She felt that the reason Gu Changge urged her to cultivate diligently lay precisely here.
Thinking of this, Xiao Ruoyin grew even more cautious, not daring to reveal the slightest abnormality that might let Gu Changge discover her physique had long since awakened.
“It’s late. Ruoyin will take her leave first.”
Then, arriving outside the hall, the preoccupied Xiao Ruoyin looked up at the sky and spoke, intending to leave first.
She felt that every extra moment spent at Gu Changge’s side was another measure of risk of exposure.
The best course was to stay far, far away from Gu Changge.
“Hm? Do you have something to do tonight?”
Hearing this, however, Gu Changge put on a somewhat surprised look, as if he hadn’t expected Xiao Ruoyin to say such a thing.
Seeing Gu Changge’s expression, Xiao Ruoyin was startled inside, but quickly reacted. Cold sweat broke out on her back as she shook her head and explained, “N-no, it’s nothing. Ruoyin naturally has nothing to do tonight. I thought Young Master Gu would be discussing the Kun Mountain matter tonight, so...”
The Xiao Ruoyin of before would never have said such a thing. No matter how important the matter, she would set it aside.
Given such an opportunity, she would certainly have found every way to stay the night.
If such a tiny detail went wrong, it could very well make Gu Changge suspicious.
“What’s there to discuss about the Kun Mountain matter? That’s the Ji Family’s affair. What does it have to do with me?”
Hearing this, Gu Changge shook his head, his smile appearing quite casual. He then reached out to stroke her lovely face and asked, “Why do I get the feeling you’re somewhat afraid of me now? Did Jiang Chen say something to you?”
“Jiang Chen did tell me many unpleasant things about Young Master Gu.”
“But I know Young Master Gu must have had his reasons for doing those things. I believe in Young Master Gu.”
Hearing this question, Xiao Ruoyin couldn’t help feeling nervous, yet she strove to maintain her composure, leaning her head gently against Gu Changge’s chest as she spoke softly.
“You trust me that much? Aren’t you afraid that one day I’ll suddenly turn against you?” Gu Changge’s eyes held a trace of something unusual as he smiled faintly.
Xiao Ruoyin shook her head. “I’m not afraid. Everything Ruoyin has now was given by Young Master Gu. If one day you were to harm me, I’d have no one to blame.”
“Haha, well said — ’no one to blame’... With words like those, how could I ever harm you?”
Hearing this, Gu Changge couldn’t help laughing heartily, looking quite delighted.
Since Xiao Ruoyin intended to match acting skills with him, he’d quite like to see just how far she could keep up the disguise.
Seeing that Gu Changge seemed unsuspicious, Xiao Ruoyin breathed a long sigh of relief. Only she herself knew that her back had nearly been soaked through with cold sweat just now.
But at the thought of what was about to happen, her heart filled with awkwardness and helplessness.
As the High Priestess of Destiny of the Immortal Palace, to have fallen to such a state — one could only say that fate toys with people.
In that moment, she even wished she had never awakened the memories of her past life.