Feng Ya still wanted to say a few more words.
However, Gu Chengming didn't even spare her a glance.
His gaze drifted casually over the corpse that was already dissolving into black water.
"I'd thought this 'filth' that made even second-realm cultivators fear it like a tiger, not daring to approach, must be truly terrifying. But now it seems…"
Gu Chengming chuckled lightly: "It's nothing more than this."
Feng Ya's face went from red to white, then from white to green.
Someone had just killed, without a scratch on him, the very monster you didn't dare touch—and then said in front of you that the monster was "nothing much." What could you possibly say in reply?
Anything she said would only humiliate her further.
She stared fiercely at the calm profile of Gu Chengming's face, then finally pressed her lips tight, said not a single word, and her figure transformed into a streak of light, plunging into the night without so much as a backward glance—not entirely unlike a defeated wretch fleeing in disarray.
Watching Feng Ya's retreating back, Song Qing standing nearby was equally embarrassed. That mouth of his, normally so glib and skilled with words, simply wouldn't open right now.
"Brother Gu, I…"
Song Qing forced a bitter smile. He wanted to say something, but realized he himself had no standing to speak.
After all, he too had hesitated. He too had drawn back.
Looking at Gu Chengming's figure, he couldn't help but feel a swell of shame and inadequacy in his heart.
—We who cultivate the Dao always speak of "slaying demons and defending the Way," but when the moment of truth arrives, we always first think of preserving ourselves, of not damaging our Dao foundations.
Song Qing sighed inwardly, and a touch of self-reflection colored his expression.
—Brother Gu, on the other hand, though only first-realm, possesses a fearless sword-heart. Perhaps this is precisely why the Wenjian Sect can stand as the foremost among sword cultivators, while we can only practice techniques.
After this battle, the intent to befriend Gu Chengming in his heart shed some of its calculated self-interest, and gained considerably more sincere admiration.
"Brother Gu, please wait a moment. I'll signal the Bureau to send people to handle the aftermath."
Song Qing cupped his hands, said no more, and turned to crush a signaling talisman to the side, then began setting up an array to cleanse the lingering filth in the air.
Gu Chengming paid no mind to Song Qing's inner turmoil.
He turned around, his gaze settling on a corner of the alley.
There, more than a dozen common folk who had just walked back from the gates of death stood huddled in fear.
They were mostly old, weak, women, and children. Though they were out of danger now, the terrible black mist and the monster's shrieking still echoed in their minds. Each face was pale, hearts not yet settled from fright.
At the outermost edge stood a little girl, perhaps no more than five or six years old, her hair tied in two small horn-shaped buns, the floral pattern of her small padded jacket smeared with dust.
She was clutching her mother's hem tightly, her large eyes brimming with tears, looking timidly at Gu Chengming, her tiny body trembling without pause.
Gu Chengming reined in the killing aura around his body, did his best to soften his expression, and walked slowly toward her.
He half-crouched, bringing himself eye-level with the little girl: "It's all right now."
The little girl sniffled, wanted to nod, but couldn't help letting out a small sob. She was clearly terrified, the dread lodged in her throat—neither able to spit it out nor swallow it down.
Seeing this, Gu Chengming thought for a moment.
He looked left and right, and his gaze fixed on an old willow tree at the mouth of the alley.
Though the willow had been somewhat withered and yellowed by the recent invasion of yin energy, its branches still carried a few leaves that retained some life.
He stood, casually plucked a long, slender willow leaf, wiped it clean between his fingertips, then crouched back down before the little girl:
"Don't be afraid. Let me play you a tune. How about that?"
The little girl froze for a second, then, tears still in her eyes, nodded innocently.
Gu Chengming smiled, and gently pressed the willow leaf against his lips.
When he was little, before he started school, this was one of the few things he had genuinely enjoyed.
Though he had no real knowledge of music theory, and didn't understand pitch at all, just being able to produce a sound was fun enough.
He took a deep breath and puffed out his cheeks.
"Shhhwee—squeak—!"
How to describe that sound?
Neither lilting nor melodious, you could barely make out something resembling a tune, but it carried an unmistakable note of the ridiculous.
"Pfft!"
The little girl was startled by this sudden, strange noise—and the tears that had been welling in her eyes instantly held themselves back. The next moment, she failed to hold it in, and broke into laughter through her tears.
The other children who had been steeped in fear, hearing this ridiculous noise, couldn't help poking their heads out, each one covering their mouths and giggling.
Even the adults, whose nerves had been wound so tight, felt themselves relax in the wake of this off-key little melody, smiles of relief at having survived spreading across their faces.
Watching the smiles on the children's faces, Gu Chengming felt no embarrassment at all. On the contrary, he blew with even more enthusiasm, even deliberately switching keys to produce a few even more outrageous wavering notes.
Just then.
Within his sea of consciousness, a soft ripple suddenly stirred.
[Flowing Cloud Moon-Following saw the young man crouched on the ground, cheeks puffed out, and also saw those childlike smiles blooming in the dilapidated alleyway.]
[It listened as you played a tune with that clumsy melody—the sound was harsh and grating, yet inexplicably it stirred a small warmth in the heart.]
[Flowing Cloud Moon-Following favorability +10]
[Current favorability: 55 / Friendly]
Gu Chengming was momentarily stunned. So it turned out that winning over Flowing Cloud Moon-Following didn't require beautiful music at all.
Thinking of this, he smiled and patted the little girl on the head.
Before long, a rapid, orderly procession of footsteps shattered the deathly quiet of the alley.
Song Qing led a squad of Night-Patrol Guards clad in black-iron light armor hurrying back.
These men, long accustomed to working the darker sides of the Capital, moved with sure and practiced efficiency. Without needing instructions, they pulled out various talismans and magical implements, beginning to clear the filth covering the ground, comfort the frightened common folk, and repair the damaged walls.
Song Qing stood at the mouth of the alley, his gaze sweeping over the corpse-demon's remains being hoisted up by two Night-Patrol Guards working together, then turning to look at the figure beside him—a young man in a blue robe, head bent, wiping his sword edge clean. The complicated emotions in his eyes were hard to conceal.
"Brother Gu."
Song Qing let out a long sigh. His tone held both admiration and an ineffable sense of self-reproach:
"It's only your first day in the Capital. You haven't even warmed the waist token in your pocket, yet you've already slain a mid-stage second-realm fiend that left us at our wits' end. Such a feat—even among the senior brothers of the inner gate who specialize in slaughter and combat, you wouldn't see it often."
"Compared with you, Brother Gu, I truly feel ashamed."
He was genuinely convinced.
In the cultivation world, the strong earn precedence. Even though Gu Chengming was only at the ninth layer of the first realm, that composure in the face of crisis and the means by which he had sealed the throat with a single sword stroke were enough for Song Qing to set aside all his earlier dismissiveness and regard Gu Chengming as an equal—or even a superior.
Hearing this, Gu Chengming sighed inwardly. Actually, you'd have to add in one third-realm fiend as well.
"Senior Brother Song flatters me. I just happened to have the right counter, that's all."
He brushed it off casually, then, as if suddenly remembering something, asked in a seemingly offhanded manner:
"Oh, by the way, Senior Brother Song. I've only just joined the Night-Watch Bureau and am still unfamiliar with its rules."
"I wonder… what is the Night-Watch Bureau's policy regarding private duels between colleagues? If conflict breaks out during a mission, how does the Bureau handle it?"
"Private duels?"
Song Qing was caught off-guard, clearly not expecting Gu Chengming's thoughts to leap so swiftly.
Without thinking much of it, he just assumed it was a newcomer's curiosity about the rules, and answered casually:
"Well… the Night-Watch Bureau is, after all, a martial office. We value boldness and grit. Although on the surface internecine killing is forbidden, when it comes to clashes of temper between colleagues, or private sparring matches, so long as no one dies, the higher-ups mostly turn a blind eye."
"What's more, the Bureau has an unwritten rule—merit is reason."
"If a dispute arises from a mission, or a private grievance escalates and ends up before the Hall of Punishment and Law… more often than not, whoever has more merit and the bigger fist, the Bureau will side with him."
"After all, for the Great Qian, a blade that can kill demons and get things done is a good blade. As for whatever private grudges might be smeared on the hilt—so long as it doesn't affect the bigger picture, who would care?"
"I see…"
Gu Chengming nodded thoughtfully.
The Night-Watch Bureau's rules suited him quite well, and would save him a lot of trouble.
It seemed that the reasons to rack up more merit, besides earning favorability with the Zhouli Heavenly Harmony Righteous Heart Method, had now gained another item on the list?
So Gu Chengming thought.
Since, so long as one had enough merit, even gravely wounding a colleague could be "leniently dealt with"—then that Feng Ya from the Yunyue Sect…
Beside him, Song Qing finally caught on. Though he was usually careless and easygoing, he was no fool.
Connecting the dots—Feng Ya who had just stormed off, and the undisguised hostility between the two of them—he instantly put it together.
"You… you wouldn't be thinking of…"
"Senior Brother Song, I'm the type who repays every slight, no matter how small."
Gu Chengming turned his head, reached out, and gave Song Qing's now-stiff shoulder a light pat. His tone was gentle, helpless even:
"After all, it's only courteous to return what one has received, wouldn't you agree?"
"Right, right, exactly. Exactly."
Song Qing wiped a bead of cold sweat from his brow, his impression of this Brother Gu shifting yet again.
After tying up the loose ends, Gu Chengming politely declined Song Qing's offer to escort him back to the inn. He walked alone beneath the moonlight back to the Rain-Listening Pavilion.
It was already deep into the night. The lamps in the inn's main hall burned dim, and only the dozing clerk remained behind the counter.
Gu Chengming made his way up the stairs lightly and pushed open the door to his room.
Inside, the candlelight flickered.
A figure in purple was seated by the window, a jade slip pinched between her fingers, brow furrowed, a trace of weariness and worry on her features.
It was Yu Wenqiu.
Seeing Gu Chengming return, Yu Wenqiu set down the jade slip in her hand and lifted her head. Those peach-blossom eyes of hers showed less of their usual languor.
"You're back?"
"Mm."
Gu Chengming closed the door, walked over to the table and sat down. He poured himself a cup of cold tea and drained it in one go before speaking:
"Elder, how did your… visit with friends today go?"
Yu Wenqiu was silent for a moment, then sighed and rubbed at her brow with some irritation:
"Not great."
She gestured to the jade slip on the table, her voice heavy:
"Today I went to the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, looking up a few disciples who'd left the mountain in years past and now serve in the Great Qian."
"I'd thought that even without any real authority, since we are all of the Wenjian Sect, surely there'd be some lingering goodwill between us—enough that we might look out for one another."
"But who could've guessed…"
Yu Wenqiu let out a bitter laugh: "Their days now are harder than we'd imagined."
"The one at the Imperial Astronomical Bureau originally held a key post, observing the stars and divining the nation's fortunes. Now he's been squeezed onto the cold bench of revising the calendar—dealing with dusty old documents all day, never even glimpsing His Majesty's face."
"The one at the Ministry of Rites has it worse. A dignified third-realm sword cultivator, reduced to overseeing trivial sacrificial sweeping. Every post with even a hint of real authority has been taken by others under various pretexts."
"What's more, in their conversation they kept evading—as if they were wary of something, and dared not say much."
At this, Yu Wenqiu sighed:
"I probed indirectly. Though they didn't say outright, the meaning was already very clear."
"Someone is targeting the Wenjian Sect."
"Or rather, in the political arena of this Capital, someone is consciously isolating and suppressing the officials and disciples who came from the Wenjian Sect."
Hearing this, Gu Chengming's brow furrowed as well.
"In that case, did you manage to find out, Elder, which faction is behind it?"
This was important.
If it were merely other sects, fine—at worst, they'd be tripping one another up.
But if it was the attitude of the Great Qian Imperial House… then this trial-trip of theirs might prove genuinely troublesome.
Yu Wenqiu hesitated.
She rose, walked to the window, shut it tightly, then casually set down a sound-isolation barrier.
Only after she had finished did she turn around to face Gu Chengming, her voice low:
"As for the specific faction, I couldn't get it out of them either. Those disciples kept their lips sealed."
"But…"
She extended one finger, pointed upward, then pressed it slightly down, her tone becoming uncommonly careful:
"That disciple at the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, before he left, gave me a hint."
"He said—from now on, when we act, be especially cautious… of the Imperial City side."
Gu Chengming's heart skipped: "The Imperial City? You mean the Son of Heaven?"
"No."
Yu Wenqiu shook her head:
"The current Son of Heaven, while somewhat… ahem, fond of grandiose accomplishments, his attitude toward our Wenjian Sect is still polite. After all, he still needs us to suppress the nation's fortunes."
"What can be confirmed is that this undercurrent directed at us did not originate from him."
"But…" Yu Wenqiu took a deep breath, and said slowly: "At the very least, it's someone below the Son of Heaven yet above all others."
Gu Chengming thought to himself: that's good then.
If it were the Great Qian Son of Heaven himself—the one in whom the Great Qian's dragon-qi was gathered—dealing with it really would have been a headache.
But if it wasn't him, at least one could still think of solutions.
At that moment, the night-watchman outside struck his clapper; the night had grown deep.
Yu Wenqiu glanced at Gu Chengming, then suddenly reached out and snatched the teacup from his hand, setting it down on the table with a soft "clack."
She shifted into a more comfortable posture, resting her cheek in one hand. Those peach-blossom eyes once more carried the languor and mirth of her usual self, as if she meant to sweep all the stuffiness in the room away in one stroke:
"All right, stop overthinking. We're here for trial and experience, not to suffer. If worst comes to worst, we can just up and leave—simple as that."
"This Capital of the Great Qian, besides all those scheming, backstabbing nuisances, has plenty of fun places too."
"Little Gu, do you know that this Capital has three wonders?"
Gu Chengming snapped back to attention. Seeing Yu Wenqiu's spirited manner, he knew she was trying to lighten the mood, so he obligingly put on a look of curiosity:
"This disciple is woefully ill-informed. I would be glad to hear the details."
"The first wonder, naturally, is the storyteller beneath the Tianqiao Bridge."
Yu Wenqiu's eyes shone, as if she'd been transported back to the days when she used to sneak out of the Night-Watch Bureau to listen to stories:
"The storytellers there are nothing like those in our sect's markets. Especially that Li Jiangxian—the sword-legend he tells, every single move of our Wenjian Sect, he tells as though it were divine. If you have time, you should definitely go listen. You might even gain some insight for your own sword path."
"The second wonder is the breakfast in the East Market."
Yu Wenqiu licked her lips, as though savoring the memory:
"The golden-thread pastries there melt the moment they touch your tongue. The eight-treasure tofu pudding is just the right balance of salty and savory, paired with their special chili oil. Back in the day I… ahem, back in the day, just to get a hot bite of it, I'd have to crawl out of bed before dawn to queue up."
"You think about it—I'm the kind of person who absolutely will not rise until the sun is high in the sky, and even I would lower myself for that. Could the taste possibly be anything less than incredible?"
Though you make it sound great, I don't eat salty tofu pudding.
"As for the third wonder…"
At this, Yu Wenqiu suddenly paused. There was a mischievous glint in her eye.
She leaned in slightly, lowered her voice, and said with an air of secrecy: "It's the pleasure barges on the Qinhuai River."
"That's the gathering place for the dashing young scholars of the Great Qian. Every time night falls, both banks light up with lanterns, and the sound of silk and bamboo over the river never stops."
"Those pleasure barges are all crewed by inner-gate female cultivators of the Harmonious Joy Sect—proficient in the zither, in chess, in calligraphy and painting, every one of them as fresh and pretty as can be. Especially during the annual selection of the Flower Champion—the scene there, even quite a few fourth-realm cultivators will disguise themselves and come to join in the fun."
"Back in the day, I…"
She instinctively wanted to brag a bit, then suddenly remembered that she was a female cultivator, and didn't have the necessary equipment.
She had to cut herself off, cleared her throat twice, and forcibly saved face:
"Back in the day, in order to pursue a case involving a charm-spirit causing havoc, I had no choice but to infiltrate one of those pleasure barges and go undercover for several days."
"That mission, you could call it incredibly perilous…"
Looking at Yu Wenqiu's appearance—the more she explained, the worse it sounded, like a thief trying to hide stolen goods—Gu Chengming finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Elder, you've worked hard."
"For the sect, for the common folk of the Great Qian, our Elder didn't hesitate to risk her person and infiltrate such a den of fireworks and willows. Truly, a model for our generation."
"If the chance ever arises in the future, this disciple shall make a pilgrimage to the banks of the Qinhuai River and look upon the place where Elder once fought so valiantly."
"Get out of here! Quit poking fun at me!"
Yu Wenqiu's face flushed at his teasing, and she shot him a sour glare, lightly rapping Gu Chengming on the head.
Though it was a scolding, there was scarcely any anger in her tone—rather, it carried a note of intimacy.
After all this back-and-forth joking, the heavy, oppressive atmosphere that had filled the room finally dispersed entirely.
"All right then."
Yu Wenqiu stretched, yawned, and rose to her feet:
"The stories are finished, and I've boasted enough. It's late. I should go rest now."
"Tomorrow you have your first official day on duty at the Night-Watch Bureau. Don't be late on your first day, and don't give anyone an excuse to hold against you."
She reached the doorway, her steps faltering slightly. She didn't turn back—only stood with her back to Gu Chengming, her voice noticeably softer:
"Little Gu, in this Capital, though there are many rules and many bad people, you mustn't wind your bowstring too tight."
"Eat when you should eat, drink when you should drink, play when you should play. If the sky falls, there are tall ones to hold it up. And if the tall ones can't hold it—there's still me."
"…Following your heart's whim—that's not a bad thing."
With that, she gave a wave of her hand, pushed the door open and went out. The purple skirts vanished into the night.
Gu Chengming stared at the door that had closed once more, standing still for a long while.
"Following one's heart's whim…"
[Hundred Bones Resonance pondered for a moment, then suddenly had a great realization. Doesn't this sentence mean we're permitted to kill people and dump the bodies?]
Gu Chengming didn't answer, just smiled and murmured softly:
"My thanks, Elder."
The next day, in the faint glow of dawn, before the ancient bell within the Night-Watch Bureau—the one used to warn of demonic aura—had even rung, a report concerning the previous night's demon-slaying in the market district had already been quietly placed upon Vice-Commander Liu's desk.
Vice-Commander Liu, holding a freshly-brewed cup of strong tea, swept his eyes over the still-wet ink on the report. His mouth, which had been blowing on the foam, paused mid-action, and his whole body stiffened as though caught by a binding spell.
"He killed another one?"
He set down the teacup, rubbed his eyes in disbelief, and once more confirmed the name on the page—Gu Chengming.
Slain target: mid-stage second realm "Filth-Corpse Demon."
Combat evaluation: a single man, a single sword, not a scratch suffered, one strike for the kill.
Vice-Commander Liu felt his teeth ache.
If yesterday's third-realm "Nightmare Roving Corpse" could be chalked up to the boy carrying some top-tier secret treasure that specifically countered souls, or to some flaw in the fiend itself—an exceptional case—then last night's mid-stage second-realm corpse-demon was a hard, genuine bone to crack.
That thing was covered in filth from head to toe. Ordinary second-realm cultivators would have made wide detours around it, afraid of soiling their Dao foundations.
And yet this lad? On his very first day on the job, without even his Night-Patrol Guard uniform broken in, he stepped out for a stroll and casually slew this scourge?
Hidden Dragon Court, side hall.
The morning sunlight streamed through the carved window lattice, scattering across the smooth bluestone floor.
When Gu Chengming stepped into the hall, the brand-new Night-Patrol Guard's brocade robe on his frame lent him less of the rough air of a Night-Watch Bureau man, and more an easy approachability. Only the Wave-Listening Sword at his waist gave off, faintly, a chill that warned strangers to keep their distance.
Within the hall, Song Qing, An Shan, and the Small Banner Officer Li Dujiang were all seated.
"Brother Gu! You're finally here!"
Seeing Gu Chengming enter, Song Qing's eyes lit up. The flaming-red treasure pearl he'd been spinning in his hand stopped spinning, and he walked straight up to meet him, his face full of a "my brother is amazing" sort of vicarious pride:
"Just now I was telling Brother Li and Brother An about last night. That sword strike of yours, Brother Gu, was truly stunning, peerless… I thought about it all night when I got back, and aside from the word 'admiration,' I really couldn't come up with any other word for it."
Beside him, An Shan, though not skilled with words, also wore an expression of full admiration in his eyes.
From the seat of honor, the perpetually sickly-looking Li Dujiang allowed a faint smile to surface, his gaze falling on Gu Chengming:
"The sword cultivators of the Wenjian Sect—as expected, their sword-hearts are the most lucid. I, Li, am impressed."
This was no mere politeness, but recognition from the heart.
"Senior brothers, you flatter me." Gu Chengming cupped his hands in return: "It was nothing more than relying on the sharpness of my sword, and the happy fact that the technique I cultivate happens to counter that fiend. Were the circumstances different, I might not have been so fortunate."
The few of them exchanged a few more pleasantries; the atmosphere was quite harmonious.
This small team, called Tianshu, though its members had wildly different personalities, were all standouts from their respective sects. Once they acknowledged one another's strength, getting along proved much simpler than dealing with those slick old veterans of the political arena.
After three rounds of tea, Gu Chengming looked around the room, as though suddenly remembering something. His eyes flickered slightly, and he asked in a seemingly casual tone:
"By the way, why don't I see that… Daoist Feng Ya from the Yunyue Sect today?"
"Since we are teammates working together, isn't it inconvenient to be missing one person?"
With these words, the air in the hall seemed to freeze for a moment.
An Shan scratched his head, clearly not picking up on the subtext.
Only Song Qing, mid-sip of tea, suddenly jerked his hand and nearly spilled tea all over his robes.
He set the cup down, his face strange and complicated, looking at Gu Chengming. His throat bobbed laboriously.
It shouldn't be what he was thinking, right…?
Though he too felt that Feng Ya's temper was indeed quite annoying, she was after all a colleague, and this was the Night-Watch Bureau. If something fatal really happened…
"That, uh… Brother Gu."
Song Qing forced a chuckle, trying to ease the atmosphere and at the same time to gauge Gu Chengming's intentions:
"Junior Sister Feng… perhaps she's been held up by something? After all, women cultivators always have a lot of trivial matters to attend to. We're all of the same fellowship—small frictions are best let go. Heh heh… heh heh…"
Looking at Song Qing's nervous-as-a-cat manner, Gu Chengming inwardly found it amusing:
"What does Senior Brother Song mean by that? I only asked in passing. We're on the same team, after all; some concern is only proper."
Song Qing: "…"
Just as Song Qing was unsure of Gu Chengming's attitude, from the seat of honor, Li Dujiang spoke up:
"She has taken leave today."
"Leave?" Gu Chengming raised an eyebrow.
"Mm."
Li Dujiang lifted his cup of goji-berry tea and took a sip: "She said that, due to slaying demons last night, she expended a great deal of energy and needs to seclude herself for a few days to recover."
Song Qing couldn't help it—he nearly laughed aloud.
Last night Feng Ya had stood atop the wall for a while, hurled two useless talismans, and didn't so much as graze the edge of that black mist—where in the world did she "expend" anything?
This was clearly her being dealt a blow to her pride by Gu Chengming. With no face left to meet anyone, or perhaps afraid that she'd be mocked again if they met, she simply hid herself away.
Gu Chengming let out a wry chuckle of his own, shook his head, and said nothing further.
Since she was hiding, then let it rest for now. There were many days ahead, after all. The days in the Great Qian were long.
"Well, since we're not all here, today let's just cultivate on our own."
Li Dujiang set down his teacup. As if recalling something, his eyes swept across everyone, and he suddenly said:
"Oh, there's one more thing."
"Three days from now, the Night-Watch Bureau will hold a welcoming banquet to receive the new members who've recently joined the Bureau, and at the same time to serve as a small internal gathering of our Night-Watch Bureau."
"At that time, besides the several Vice-Commanders, our Director may also make an appearance."
"The Director?"
Gu Chengming had done his homework before coming, and knew that this person was exceptionally mysterious, wielded heavy authority, and was, aside from the Emperor, one of the few figures in the Great Qian capable of truly cowing every faction.
"This Director… is very formidable?" Gu Chengming probed.
"Formidable doesn't even begin to cover it!"
Song Qing lowered his voice, his tone carrying a hint of exaggerated awe:
"Brother Gu, do you know why our Night-Watch Bureau is able to stand independent of the Six Ministries, with even princes and dukes obliged to grant us some face?"
"It's all because of this Director alone!"
"It is said that decades ago, when the demon tide erupted in the northern frontier, three fifth-realm peak great demons joined forces in invasion, and the border army was routed. It was this Director—one person, one foot of steel—who stood beyond the gates of the nation and forcibly slew all three of those great demons before the country's threshold. From that point on, the demonic miasma was utterly swept clean, the north pacified—for a decade the barbarian horsemen did not dare peer toward Yin Mountain."
"And five years ago, dark fiends in the Capital region conspired in secret, colluding with ranking court ministers. It was also this Director who walked straight into the vermilion gates and grand mansions, and under the very glares of all those exalted lords, beheaded the treacherous officials right there on the steps."
"Then…"
A thought stirred in Gu Chengming's heart. He recalled Yu Wenqiu's earlier reminder—that he should, given the opportunity, display the Zhouli Heavenly Harmony Righteous Heart Method before the Director.
He had originally thought it was because the method had some special quality that would win the Director's favor.
But now, hearing Song Qing speak of it, this Director was clearly a decisive, ruthless figure who didn't shrink from killing.
Would such a person like the Zhouli—a method that emphasizes rules and propriety?
"I wonder… what is this Director like, ordinarily?"
Gu Chengming asked with some curiosity: "Stern and stiff? Or… as the rumors say?"
However.
The moment this question was raised, the side hall that had been buzzing with chatter instantly fell into an eerie stillness.
Song Qing closed his mouth, his eyes beginning to drift, staring at the ceiling in a daze. An Shan lowered his head and concentrated meticulously on counting the ants on the floor.
Even the usually composed Li Dujiang—the hand holding his teacup paused slightly, and then he silently drank his tea, as if he hadn't heard the question.
Just now, when they'd been talking about strength, everyone had been animated and full of spirit. Why, the moment personality was brought up, did they all go silent on the subject, as if there were some unspeakable secret?
Gu Chengming's curiosity grew.
"Senior brothers?" he pressed.
Li Dujiang set down his teacup, sighed, and finally raised his head, asking helplessly:
"Chengming, why are you so curious about the Director's personality?"
Gu Chengming hesitated, then decided to tell half the truth:
"In all honesty, before I left, an elder of my sect gave me a hint. They said that the method I practice seems to have some connection to this Director. If I could obtain her guidance, perhaps it would be of great help to my cultivation."
"So I'd like to learn more, lest I come across as abrupt to the lord when the time comes."
"Method?"
Li Dujiang was momentarily stunned. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes:
"What method does Chengming cultivate?"
Gu Chengming sat up straight, his manner serious:
"The Zhouli Heavenly Harmony Righteous Heart Method."
Upon hearing this name.
Li Dujiang's expression instantly became extraordinarily complicated.
"So that's how it is…"
Li Dujiang let out a long breath, looked at Gu Chengming, opening his mouth to speak then closing it, closing it then opening it again.
After a long while, he spoke slowly, his tone deep and quiet:
"That elder of your sect was not wrong."
"Because this Zhouli Heavenly Harmony Righteous Heart Method…"
"Was created with her own hands by Director Zhou, during her years studying at the Imperial Academy."
Hearing the title "Director Zhou," a question mark appeared above Gu Chengming's head.
He seemed to be catching on to something.
Time slipped by, and in the blink of an eye several days had passed.
After making do for a few nights in the somewhat dilapidated guest rooms of the Rain-Listening Pavilion, Gu Chengming ultimately couldn't bear to let his Elder continue suffering.
He rented out a small standalone courtyard residence in a quiet quarter on the western side of the Capital known as the Jishan Ward. Though the residence wasn't large, its elegance made up for it.
The courtyard had an old osmanthus tree of some years, and a well. The surrounding neighbors were mostly scholars or retired minor officials. The environment was quite peaceful, which suited Yu Wenqiu's desire to "live in seclusion within the bustle of the city" perfectly.
Gu Chengming hauled a reclining chair piled with thick, soft cushions beneath the tree's shade. Watching Yu Wenqiu lie down on it with deep satisfaction and let out a sigh of contentment, he felt both exasperated and amused.
With everything settled, life gradually fell into a regular rhythm.
Gu Chengming reported punctually to the Night-Watch Bureau every day. Though he was only a nominal Night-Patrol Guard, with the merit of having slain two high-rank fiends to his name, combined with Vice-Commander Liu's deliberate consideration, he managed to thrive within the Bureau.
In his spare time, he practiced his sword in the courtyard, or chatted idly with Yu Wenqiu about Capital gossip.
Though Elder Yu was lazy, she didn't actually sit still.
From who knew where, she'd procured a stack of the Capital's latest storybooks and gazettes. Every day she'd lie under the tree, cracking melon seeds, regaling Gu Chengming with all the political upheavals of the Capital, or whichever prince had taken a new concubine, or which young lord was fighting over girls at a brothel.
These days, full of warmth and ordinary life, gradually allowed Gu Chengming's heart—wound tight from his initial entry into the Great Qian—to slowly relax.
Until three days later.
The Night-Watch Bureau—welcoming banquet.
At dusk, the Night-Watch Bureau was decked out in lanterns and festive decorations.
The training grounds, which on ordinary days had a grim and severe air, had been transformed today into an open-air banquet venue.
Dozens of large rosewood round tables were lined up in order, the tables piled with mountain delicacies and sea treasures, spirit wines and fine spirits.
Although this was an internal gathering, it was still an official government office, so the customary pomp was all in place.
Gu Chengming had changed into a clean set of everyday robes, with the black-iron waist token symbolizing his identity hanging at his side. Under Vice-Commander Liu's guidance, he arrived at the table belonging to the Hidden Dragon Court.
The banquet had not officially begun yet, but the venue was already abuzz with voices.
The Night-Patrol Guards had, rarely, all reined in their ferocity for the day. They were toasting one another and addressing each other as brothers, and the atmosphere was quite lively.
"Brother Gu! Over here!"
From a distance, Song Qing's voice carried over.
Gu Chengming looked toward the sound, only to see Song Qing standing beside a table, waving a half-eaten roasted chicken in his hand, calling him over with no decorum whatsoever.
At that table, besides Song Qing, sat the burly yet somewhat self-conscious An Shan, and the still-pale, occasionally coughing Small Banner Officer Li Dujiang. Feng Ya was once again nowhere to be seen.
"Senior brothers, you've all come early."
He took the empty seat beside them and cupped his hands in greeting.
"But of course. This welcoming banquet is a rare grand occasion for our Bureau."
Song Qing gave a wicked little chuckle and poured Gu Chengming a cup of wine:
"Normally we're all out there risking our lives. It's only at times like this that we can gather together, boast a little, and relax. Plus, I hear today's meal is excellent—that 'Dragon and Phoenix Auspicious Union' dish is made using the flesh of a second-realm demonic bird. Truly tonic!"
Beside him, An Shan smiled honestly, his voice booming and earnest:
"I came for the meat. I've got a big appetite. Normally my entire stipend goes to buying meat, and I'm still never full."
Li Dujiang set down his teacup, looking at Gu Chengming with gentle eyes:
"Good that you've arrived. Though today is a banquet, the rules of the Bureau may not be set aside. Especially if our Director arrives later—remember to speak and act with care; do not breach etiquette."
At the mention of "etiquette," the previously laughing-and-joking Song Qing's face suddenly changed, as if recalling something terrifying. He hurriedly set down the chicken in his hand and sat up properly.
"Right, right, right. Brother Li's reminder is well taken."
Song Qing lowered his voice, and with a look of lingering dread told Gu Chengming: "Brother Gu, you're new—you don't know yet. Our Director Zhou, although she protects her own, values rules and propriety above all else."
"In private, no matter how rowdy you get, that's fine. But if at a formal occasion like this someone fails to know their place—the outcome can be very ugly."
Gu Chengming asked: "How ugly?"
Song Qing glanced around to confirm Vice-Commander Liu wasn't nearby, then leaned in to Gu Chengming's ear and said with great secrecy:
"You know Vice-Commander Liu, right? The one who brought you in for your appointment."
Gu Chengming nodded.
Old Brother Liu was a decent fellow. Although he had a bit of a bureaucratic air about him, he had been nothing but good to Gu Chengming.
"Back when Vice-Commander Liu was first promoted to Chiliarch, he too was full of high spirits. At one year-end celebration banquet, he had a few too many cups of Dragon-Tiger Brew. That stuff's potent—it went straight to his head and he lost his composure. Director Zhou caught him, and gave him a wild beating."
In Gu Chengming's mind, a scene unconsciously appeared—a lady tutor wildly beating Vice-Commander Liu.
"So, Brother Gu, if the Director shows up later, we just bury our heads, eat our food, speak little, and don't go acting drunk."
Song Qing concluded with a shudder still echoing through him.
Gu Chengming nodded, finding it eminently reasonable.
The banquet soon began.
Perhaps because Director Zhou had yet to arrive, the somewhat restrained atmosphere gradually warmed up.
Song Qing was the type to forget pain the moment the scar healed. After a few cups of wine, the warning from earlier was tossed clear out of his mind.
He dragged Gu Chengming and An Shan into spirited storytelling, spit flying as he recounted his romantic escapades all across the Great Qian—from the flower-champions of Jiangnan to the demonic women of the northern frontier. An Shan listened utterly transfixed, even forgetting to eat his meat.
Li Dujiang, though not participating, didn't try to stop him either. He simply sipped his tea quietly, occasionally inserting a one- or two-line pithy commentary.
The Night-Patrol Guards beside them went even further—there were even one or two who drank themselves into a brawl.
Three rounds of wine in, five courses of dishes consumed.
Just as everyone was drinking merrily, and Gu Chengming was preparing to ease his mood and try that legendary "Dragon and Phoenix Auspicious Union" dish—
A discordant figure suddenly appeared at the entrance to the training grounds.
That figure was not wearing the standard Night-Watch Bureau brocade, but a moon-white flowing-cloud long skirt, the hem embroidered with the unique insignia of the Yunyue Sect. Among this crowd of Night-Patrol Guards in black, the figure stood out conspicuously.
Feng Ya walked straight through the crowd, treating the gazes turned her way as if they didn't exist. She neither saluted Li Dujiang, who served as captain, nor acknowledged anyone else's greetings.
She walked to the table—and her steps suddenly halted.
"Slam!"
The sheathed long sword was struck down heavily on the table in front of Gu Chengming, making the wine in the cups splash out, scattering onto the back of Gu Chengming's hand.
Feng Ya extended a finger and lightly rapped the table in front of Gu Chengming:
"Move."
Seeing Gu Chengming hadn't moved, Feng Ya finally bared her dagger from the empty quiver:
"I said move. You dare to sit here when you're not even at the second realm?"
Song Qing's words caught in his throat; he looked awkwardly at Feng Ya, not knowing what to say.
"You—" Feng Ya was about to say something, but before the words could leave her mouth, her vision blurred.
"BOOM—!"
Gu Chengming's figure erupted forward!
So fast that even Li Dujiang, sitting right beside him, hadn't reacted. One hand had already viciously seized her throat!
"WHAM!"
A muffled thud.
Feng Ya's entire body was, by that surge of force, slammed straight down onto the table!
Bowls and dishes flew, wine splashed everywhere.
The face that had moments before still worn an air of arrogance was now pressed firmly against the cold tabletop. She wanted to struggle, wanted to mobilize her spiritual energy to fight back—but for some reason, her spiritual energy stalled for an instant.
Gu Chengming sighed inwardly. Of course he knew the woman was deliberately provoking him, looking to reclaim the face she had lost a few days ago. But did the Yunyue Sect really do no background checks at all before sending people to provoke?
Then again, this also worked out perfectly for him. It had been a while since he'd seen such a textbook example of cultivation-method favorability being delivered right to his doorstep.
His hand tightened, and he spoke:
"You arrive uninvited, and show no respect to your seniors."
"No comradely bond, no reverence in your heart."
"Did I give you permission to sit at this table?"
[Zhouli Heavenly Harmony Righteous Heart Method froze.]
[After a good long while, it came to its senses—then was overcome with delight.]
[Excellent! Truly excellent!! This is how it should be!! This is exactly what it wanted to see!!]
[Zhouli Heavenly Harmony Righteous Heart Method favorability +5]
PS: One of the side plotlines involves the Yunyue Sect. The Yunyue Sect has only sword cultivators—or rather, those who practice the Flowing Cloud, Moon-Following Sword Art have extremely extreme personalities.
The small handful of law cultivators, squeezed by the sword cultivators into a sliver of survival space, are the normal ones. I'd planned to reveal this later as foreshadowing, but figured I might as well mention it now.
PS2: Little Gu is actually a very extreme person. He carries no sense of guilt about killing—he only weighs profit and loss.
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