However, though this matter sounded frightening, in truth it was not nearly as terrifying as it seemed.
Everything has two sides. While she was the "Lord of the Four-Phase Calamity," she was also merely a young woman named Yi'er, running a small wine tavern by Dragon Hollow Lake.
In plain words, the "Lord of the Four-Phase Calamity" possessed two souls within one body.
The two souls were entirely independent, aware of each other's existence, yet unable to interfere with the other's consciousness or actions.
Even their cultivation and karma were separate.
And every so often, the dominance between the two would shift, one waxing while the other waned.
That was why the Master of the Path of Extinction appeared so elusive and mysterious, few in the world had ever discerned her true identity or whereabouts.
After all, who would imagine that a simple, hardworking wine seller by Dragon Hollow Lake could be the universally feared and deranged leader of the demonic Path of Extinction?
Even the players hadn't realized it at first.
Only later, when someone managed, through tremendous effort, to slay the "Lord of the Four-Phase Calamity," the second most difficult boss in the entire game, and after raising their attributes high enough, did they uncover a faint, ambiguous clue while examining her corpse:
[There seemed to be a faint scent of wine and apricot blossoms on those slender, pale fingers.]
At the same time, players recalled that by Dragon Hollow Lake, there was a small, unimportant NPC named "Yi'er," who had no side quests, only a few rumors,
her home surrounded by apricot blossoms, and beneath the trees, a buried jar of unopened "daughter's red."
Thus, players began repeatedly observing her schedule and comparing it to the "Lord of the Four-Phase Calamity's" appearances.
They finally discovered something startling,
the two never appeared at the same time.
Whenever Yi'er vanished, the Lord of the Four-Phase Calamity would appear.
And when the Lord of the Four-Phase Calamity disappeared, Yi'er would return.
Only then did players finally confirm it, the brewer's daughter Yi'er was the same being who slaughtered them by the dozens and sought to destroy the Great Wei itself: the "Lord of the Four-Phase Calamity."
Gu Fangchen compared all the rumors, secrets, and intelligence he had gathered around Dragon Hollow Lake regarding the "Lord of the Four-Phase Calamity," piecing together a relatively complete truth,
That brewer was, in fact, once the sword servant of the previous Sword Saint, Ying Baishou.
He had accompanied Ying Baishou to Heaven's Gate Mountain and witnessed the moment the Sword Saint opened Heaven's Gate.
And he had also seen what lay beyond that gate.
After Ying Baishou sacrificed himself to seal Heaven's Gate, the brewer, for reasons unknown, chose to remain utterly silent. He changed his name and appearance, concealing his identity, and settled beside Dragon Hollow Lake to make wine.
Gradually, he became somewhat well-known.
Later, he married and had a daughter, Yi'er.
After that, he stopped brewing new wine, selling only what remained in his cellar. His mind began to blur, his sanity fraying.
He would often stand dazed by Dragon Hollow Lake, staring toward Sword Pavilion, or toward Heaven's Gate Mountain.
A few years later, his wife died of illness.
And three years ago, he too finally ran out of life's oil and passed away quietly in his home.
Only his daughter remained, keeping the family business alive, brewing and selling wine beneath the apricot trees in that same tavern.
Yet without "Drunken Spring Breeze," the tavern's fame declined, and many began coveting Yi'er herself.
Originally, it was nothing more than a small, melancholy story of sorrow and loss.
But if one connected it to the fact that Yi'er was actually the "Lord of the Four-Phase Calamity," the story became chilling.
What had the brewer seen back then?
What made him choose silence, hide his identity, and never again reveal his true face?
Why was it that even after witnessing the truth beyond Heaven's Gate, he did not go mad, but only after Yi'er was born did he begin to lose his mind?
Though Yi'er had such a background, she had originally been just an ordinary little girl.
So why had she suddenly become the destroyer of all things, the "Lord of the Four-Phase Calamity"?
From all indications, no one had driven the brewer insane. There were no enemies, no revenge.
The Lord of the Four-Phase Calamity hated heaven and earth for seemingly no reason at all.
That was a mystery even Gu Fangchen had yet to solve.
After all, he had not opened Heaven's Gate himself, and thus could not possibly know the truth behind it.
Still, Gu Fangchen at least knew one thing:
For now, the girl's consciousness was in control.
And since the two souls never manifested at the same time, as long as Yi'er held dominance, he could treat her as an ordinary girl.
There was no need to concern himself with the "Lord of the Four-Phase Calamity."
Moreover, Gu Fangchen was certain that taking that jar of wine would not be discovered in the short term.
Besides...
The "Lord of the Four-Phase Calamity" pursued the annihilation of all things as her Dao. Even if he offended her, he would still be one of her targets for extinction sooner or later.
So it made no difference.
But if he could establish contact with Yi'er, he might uncover the truth he had failed to find even in his previous life, the truth about Heaven's Gate.
That was the greatest temptation for Gu Fangchen.
...
Gu Fangchen, accompanied by Xuexiang and Qingjian, changed into a set of casual clothes left for him at Sword Pavilion.
Of course, it must have been Ning Caiyong who had prepared them.
Everyone in Sword Pavilion wished he would leave as soon as possible, disappear, and never again be associated with them.
Though it was called casual wear, this dissolute heir had never owned anything plain.
The outfit was primarily white, with fine silver embroidery pressed into the pattern of a kirin, extravagant and ostentatious, with no intention of hiding his identity.
That was the original Gu Fangchen's style: the heavens and the earth might be vast, but he was greater still; everyone else could step aside.
He took out his fan, shaking it lightly, the four bold words "Each Has His Duty" gleaming upon it, and sauntered lazily toward the distillery.
This district was home to common folk, though due to Sword Pavilion's proximity, cultivators often stopped here to rest. The locals were long accustomed to their presence.
The Sword Pavilion disciple Gu Fangchen had dragged along as a guide hid disdain in his eyes, though his face remained expressionless as he raised a hand and pointed.
"Your Highness, that is the Lü family tavern."
Gu Fangchen looked up.
A vast spread of pure white apricot blossoms swayed gently in the wind, scattering petals across the ground.
The disciple had barely taken a few steps with him when a commotion broke out ahead.
"Little lady, this tavern's been declining under your care year by year. Why not make it your dowry and give it to me? Within half a year, I'll have it thriving again, more prosperous than ever!"
A familiar line flashed across Gu Fangchen's mind,
Let go of that girl, let me handle this!
Eyes bright with interest, he snapped his fan shut with a sharp clap and gave a cold laugh.
"How dare you act like a scoundrel right under this heir's nose? Insolent!"