Chapter 24: All the old friends are dead
Chapter 24: All the old friends are dead
There are always some things in this world that cannot be avoided, such as life and death.
The thirteen letters of challenge delivered to Gu Zhuo today were naturally not matters of life and death that could not be avoided. He had many reasons to refuse, such as the other party was bullying the weak, or he had no interest in fighting... This might make many people think that he only dared to use his realm to suppress others, which would cause a huge public opinion and make him be criticized even when walking on the street.
But it can be rejected after all.
Gu Zhuo agreed.
The reason is very simple. As the thirteen Dongzhen could send out their challenge letters overnight, there must be a mastermind behind the scenes. The terrifying power wielded by this mastermind is even greater than that of the Changzhou Academy, which has united its people.
Even if he insisted on refusing and not fighting with the thirteen Dong Zhens, the other party would have new means given the power they hold.
What's more, he could roughly confirm that the mastermind behind the scenes was not the one who planned to assassinate Lin Wanyi. He was more likely to test and observe him, without any intention of killing him.
"Think about it from another angle..."
Chen Chi looked at him and encouraged him earnestly, "You can take this opportunity to try folding snow. I think it's really good."
Gu Zhuo smiled gently and said, "Thank you."
After hesitating for a moment, Chen Chi patted him on the shoulder and said, "Although these ten or so fights are really difficult, I still believe that you can take on one or two of them. If you need any help, just ask."
Gu Zhuo thought about it and asked curiously, "If I really do as you said and win one or two of these battles with my mouth, what will others call me then? The Iron-Tooth and Bronze-Tooth Sword Immortal?"
Chen Chi was completely stunned.
After an unknown amount of time, he looked at Gu Zhuo with complicated eyes, hesitating and saying, "Why don't we just forget about losing? After all, this isn't a life-and-death battle. If we really have such a reputation, how can we find a wife in the future..."
At this point, he suddenly came to his senses and realized that this sentence was clearly just a casual remark.
Gu Zhuo said: "I have to go back and prepare."
Chen Chi subconsciously asked: "Ready to fight?"
"Do not."
Gu Zhuo picked up the narrow wooden box containing the snowflakes, put it on his back, turned around and walked out the door, saying, "Pack your luggage and move."
To him, neither the thirteen challenge letters nor the mastermind behind them seemed as important as moving.
……
……
The old imperial palace, the office of the Astronomical Survey Office.
Chen Chi walked side by side with his two colleagues and came to the waterside pavilion again.
Pei Jinge is still here today, still wearing the same dark red and black dress, her black hair casually tied up into a bun, lazily hanging down to one side of her left ear, with a few strands occasionally falling on her cheek, making her look even more casual.
What was different from before was that she no longer stood by the railing, but sat leisurely on a bamboo chair, basking in the bright spring sunshine of Wangjing in the afternoon.
"Something?" Her voice was still lazy.
Chen Chi was silent for a while, then asked, "Is this the letter of challenge that you, Master Pei, asked those people to send out?"
"Ah."
Pei Jinge admitted it very straightforwardly.
Yu Yinchun and Guan Xingu looked at each other subconsciously, and naturally noticed the surprise and shock in each other's eyes.
Among the three directors of the Sky Patrol Department, one chief and two deputy directors, everyone agrees that Director Pei is the most proud and lazy.
If her pride was reflected in her disdain for killing ordinary practitioners and the fact that she was not qualified to use her sword unless she reached the Return to One Realm, then the word "laziness" would undoubtedly provide too many explanations.
During these ten years or so, she has personally handled less than ten matters, and each of them was a major event concerning the stability of the cultivation world.
For example, nine years ago, when Luoxing Sect and Taozhi Mountain were at loggerheads, she personally led the Sky Patrol to resolve the conflict and prevented a regional sect war. As a disciple of Luoxing Sect, the reason why Guan Xinggu entered the Sky Patrol was directly related to this incident.
A big shot like Pei Jinge asked about Gu Zhuo's affairs yesterday, which already surprised Chen Chi and the other two, but this could ultimately be explained as a whim... However, since he personally intervened today, it obviously cannot be explained with these four words.
"How is this?"
Pei Jinge stood up, facing the lake in the sun, and asked, "Is there anything wrong with what I did?"
The three of them were speechless after hearing this, wondering who dared to say that what you did was wrong? Was it the chief minister, or His Majesty the Emperor?
Chen Chi shook his head and said, "I am just surprised. I didn't expect that you came to Wangjing for something other than Lin Wanyi."
"I just came here for a visit, not for anyone."
Pei Jinge didn't turn around, but the three of them could feel that she was smiling: "And as long as I'm here, no one will be bored enough to do something to Lin Wanyi, so why should I go to see that little girl?"
Without waiting for Chen Chi to speak, she continued, "Let's go. Don't let selfishness interfere with the important things. Remember to investigate what needs to be investigated."
As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Chijian's heart suddenly felt cold.
In just a blink of an eye, the clothes on his back were completely soaked with sweat, with no part intact.
He looked at Pei Jinge's back and finally understood where the laziness and pride that made him disdain to draw his sword against practitioners below the Guiyi realm came from - if the other party had the intention to kill him, he would have been dead by now.
What a boring fight this is?
Listening to the receding footsteps, Pei Jinge did not return to sit on the bamboo chair.
At some point, a cloud floated over the imperial city.
The sky light dimmed and shadows covered the palace, bringing a cool feeling.
Pei Jinge looked at the hundreds of lifeless koi in the lake, recalled the war many years ago, and said to himself in a self-deprecating tone: "There are no old friends in this world. They are all dead."
But isn’t that the truth?
Because all the old people are dead.
That touch of old friend's spirit was worth her careful observation.
……
……
"These people are too shameless."
"It's really shameless."
"So...if you need my help in any way, remember to ask."
"Ah."
Gu Zhuo packed the last piece of luggage, turned around and looked at the girl standing beside him, and nodded without hesitation.
After learning that Gu Zhuo had collected enough money to move to the inn and was packing his luggage, Lin Wanyi, who was concentrating on practicing in order to break through to the real world, rushed to say goodbye as quickly as possible.
This was the courtesy that a host should have, and it also meant that she really had something to say to Gu Zhuo.
"The hidden purpose behind these thirteen challenge letters is most likely to find out your background, target your cultivation techniques in advance, and kill you at the critical moment."
Lin Wanyi looked at Gu Zhuo and said, "I can help you solve this hidden danger."
After saying this, she reached to her neck without hesitation, exerted a little force, and took off a jade pendant.
Gu Zhuo looked at the jade pendant that still carried the girl's warm breath, and at the delicate whiteness that was revealed after her clothes were slightly messy at her neck, and said nothing.
"This jade pendant can protect you from a full-strength attack from a person in the state of nourishing the spirit. It will definitely come in handy at a critical moment."
Lin Wanyi frowned slightly, stared into his eyes, and emphasized again: "This is not only my responsibility as your ally, but also what I should do as your friend."
Gu Zhuo thought for a moment and asked, "So we are friends now?"
Lin Wanyi was stunned and thought, isn't it?
"The word 'friend' sounds a lot more pleasant than 'ally', which is pretty good."
Gu Zhuo picked up his luggage and walked out the door, saying casually, "Since they want to see my background so clearly, let them see it."
Lin Wanyi turned around and looked at his back, thinking about these two sentences, feeling very complicated.
After a moment, she suddenly remembered something and shouted loudly.
"Then at least take my jade pendant with you!"
(End of this chapter)