Their intimacy aside, the tender atmosphere eventually dispersed.
About an hour later, Gu Chengming left the room of the Love Huiyuan Sword Formula, feeling utterly refreshed, without the slightest trace of fatigue.
He cast his gaze toward the lower part of his field of vision, where a brand-new entry hovered, radiating a lustrous glow.
[CG / Love Huiyuan Sword Formula (Completed).]
[The Huiyuan Sword Formula is no longer bound by rank restrictions, breaking through the theoretical ceiling of basic swordplay. Its power will grow infinitely alongside the host's comprehension of the sword Dao and the rise in affection.]
[The affection cap of the Huiyuan Sword Formula is unlocked, breaking past the conventional "maximum value" limit. Every point of affection that overflows will be proportionally converted into the sharpness and resilience of the swordplay itself.]
[Note: As long as you still love it, it will be the strongest swordplay in this world.]
Gu Chengming looked at that line of annotation and nodded with satisfaction.
The myriad cultivation techniques of the world all differed in rank; even the most top-tier methods had a ceiling and bottleneck to their cultivation.
Yet now this most basic "Huiyuan Sword Formula"—one that could not even stand out among common, run-of-the-mill techniques—had utterly cast off its shackles because of this bond of "love."
Mm, that made it the second technique, aside from Old Hundred, with no ceiling on its affection.
At this thought, Gu Chengming turned his attention once more to the [Love Laboratory].
With the unlocking of the [Love Huiyuan Sword Formula] CG, the room of the Love Huiyuan Sword Formula had opened completely.
At the same time, deep within the originally empty corridor, two tightly shut new doors had appeared out of thin air.
Both doors were shrouded in a thick gray mist. He could make out no patterns upon them, nor sense the faintest aura—only an antique bronze lock hanging in the very center of each door.
"These are probably the rooms of the "Qingxin Formula" and the "Hundred Bones Resonance"." Gu Chengming mused.
The opening mechanism of this Love Laboratory was clearly not random, but closely tied to the unlocking progress of "special bonds."
Only when his affection with a certain technique reached its maximum, or when a bond had been unlocked, would a room here manifest.
As for why the mist-shrouded doors remained sealed, that was still unclear—perhaps some further condition was needed to unlock them?
Still, after this experience, Gu Chengming had thoroughly grasped the true nature of this [Love Laboratory].
Though the name sounded misleading, wasn't this in essence just a CG Appreciation Room?
It was only that the CGs here had to be unlocked by himself, that was all.
Moreover, the CG appreciation here was isolated: once he entered a particular appreciation room, such as the Love Huiyuan Sword Formula's, it would automatically shut out the perception of the outside world and all other techniques.
Gu Chengming cast a lingering, wistful glance at the room he had just left, then with a subtle stir of his divine sense chose to exit.
As his field of vision blurred, the familiar clamor came flooding back into his mind, and the connections to the various techniques that had been cut off reconnected one after another.
The first to react was, naturally, the protagonist of just now.
[The "Huiyuan Sword Formula" is currently in an extremely delicate state.]
It seemed it still hadn't fully recovered from the hour-long "fusion of spirit and soul" from before.
[It gazes at you dizzily, its eyes hiding a hint of attachment, like one who has tasted marrow and craves more.]
[Though, in that room just now, it had been turned this way and that by you, drilling "sword techniques" for over two hours—from the opening stance to the closing form, every inch of its sword intent gently caressed by you—that happiness so overwhelming it nearly made it faint, even now, recalling it, cannot help but leave it greedy for more.]
[But it does not feel tired; on the contrary, it truly feels utterly satisfied.]
[Still... it also understands the principle that too much of anything is as bad as too little. Just as the sword Dao values a proper balance of tension and ease—if it were to exhaust you, it would ache with worry.]
Gu Chengming sensed the emotions it conveyed, a blend of dependence and tenderness, and warmth bloomed in his heart.
That was more like it.
Compared to that little pushover from before, forever fretting over gains and losses and thinking itself not perfect enough, the current Huiyuan Sword Formula, though still carrying a touch of naivety, was clearly far more confident.
And though the Huiyuan Sword Formula said nothing aloud, when faced with the probing gazes of the other techniques, it couldn't help but puff out a chest that didn't even exist. Its aura, though soft and tender, carried the smugness of a rightful principal wife.
It was the superiority of "Chengming and I have a little secret that none of you know about."
Meanwhile, everything that had happened inside the Love Laboratory was, to the techniques outside, a complete blank.
In their perception, Gu Chengming and the Huiyuan Sword Formula had simply gone "offline" together for an hour—as for where they went or what they did, none of them had a clue.
[The Hundred Bones Resonance asks curiously: So, did you win?]
Seeing this reaction, Gu Chengming thought to himself: as expected of the Hundred Bones Resonance, its eyes hold only curiosity about victory and defeat in battle.
He said with a smile that he had naturally agreed.
[Upon hearing this, the Hundred Bones Resonance immediately cheered: Good! As expected of Heavenly Emperor Gu! Even facing so mighty a foe, you could still subjugate it!]
[Hundred Bones Resonance affection +2]
Looking at the Hundred Bones Resonance whose affection had inexplicably risen again, Gu Chengming was momentarily speechless.
However, not all the techniques were as easy to fool as the Hundred Bones Resonance.
[The "Qingxin Formula" did not fuss and clamor like the Hundred Bones Resonance. It merely floated there quietly, its anthropomorphized purple eyes narrowing slightly, its gaze sweeping back and forth between Gu Chengming and that ball of Huiyuan Sword Formula still bubbling with pink froth.]
As a technique dedicated to cultivating the state of mind, its ability to capture emotions far surpassed that of ordinary people.
[Though it had no solid proof, it still sensed that someone had been sneaking a taste. It then gave you a deep look, its eyes filled with a resentful, complicated expression.]
After fully exiting the Love Laboratory.
Gu Chengming opened his eyes; beyond the window, the wind and snow raged on as ever.
By now the sky had drawn near dusk, the dying sun like blood, staining the accumulated snow in the courtyard with a layer of crimson.
He rose from the couch and pushed open the door, walking beneath that old plum tree. He turned his palm, and the [Evil-Repeller] sword was already in his grip.
Gu Chengming did not mobilize much true essence; he casually delivered a single sword strike.
Wherever the sword's edge pointed, the snowflakes dancing across the sky automatically parted to either side, forming a vacuum passage several zhang long.
The true essence expended by this strike was less than a tenth of what he usually used, yet it was several times more powerful than before.
[The "Huiyuan Sword Formula" let out a smug little hum within his sea of consciousness.]
[Even now, within his sea of consciousness, it couldn't help wanting to snuggle up against you, reminiscing about that feeling of facing enemies together with you.]
Gu Chengming found it amusing.
Now even Little Huiyuan had become a stats monster.
Time flowed like sand between one's fingers.
Ever since unlocking the [Love Huiyuan Sword Formula] CG that day, Gu Chengming's life had settled into complete tranquility.
And as time passed, the Myriad Wonders Assembly spread thoroughly across the Northern Territory.
Even the garrison troops within Snowfall Pass, while on patrol, had grown accustomed to first sweeping their divine sense over the real-time updates on the Myriad Wonders Assembly.
[The wind and snow are heavy toward Hawk's Sorrow Ravine today. Some fellow Daoist said he spotted several lost snow wolves. Brothers, be careful when you head out there.]
[Old Zhang of the East Market took in a batch of fine warming jade today, at fair prices.]
This kind of information used to take days or even months to spread, but now it required only a flicker of thought.
And in the side hall of the Northern Garrison Manor, the "Myriad Mysteries Convergence Method" basked in satisfaction.
[What difference is there now between it and Gu Chengming and the underground emperor of this Northern Territory?]
[You proclaim yourself emperor, and so do I!]
Gu Chengming was happy to see it thrive.
Of course, his own cultivation had not fallen behind either.
The great victory at Snowfall Pass and the subsequent series of cleansing operations had earned Gu Chengming a truly terrifying store of merit.
After confirming that there would be no more warfare for some time, he exchanged all this merit for cultivation resources.
Supreme-grade Qi-Gathering Pills, cold marrow fluid for body forging, soul-nourishing incense to nurture the divine sense...
With the "Zhouli Heavenly Harmony Righteous Heart Method" to regulate his meridians, the "Hundred Bones Resonance" providing an overwhelmingly powerful physical foundation, and now the transformed "Love Huiyuan Sword Formula" offering the ultimate optimization of spiritual power circulation, Gu Chengming's cultivation speed could be described as a thousand li in a single day.
Until deep one night, a clear and melodious sword cry rang out from the side courtyard.
The spiritual energy of heaven and earth all around seemed to answer some summons, converging madly toward that little hut.
A moment later, a deep and condensed aura surged into the sky, then swiftly drew back and settled into calm.
Inside the hut, Gu Chengming slowly opened his eyes.
—Second Realm, Eighth Layer.
Gu Chengming felt the true essence surging within his body and clenched his fist.
Yet the flutes and pipes of parting always sound when a person is most at peace.
Three days later, a vermilion-lacquered transfer order stamped with the great seal of the Night-Watch Bureau's head office arrived at Snowfall Pass aboard a flying vessel from the Capital.
The demon calamity of the Northern Territory had been quelled, and the lingering poison of the Myriad Gold Pavilion cleansed. As the greatest contributor to this campaign, Gu Chengming was to set out at once and return in triumph to the Capital.
On the day of his departure, Snowfall Pass rarely saw a warm sun rise.
There was no sky full of wind and snow, only a vast, sweeping wind that set the banners atop the city walls snapping and cracking.
Luo Jinyao did not wear her usual plain white sword robe today; instead she had changed into a pale blue long dress, shedding a measure of the sword immortal's sharpness and gaining a measure of a woman's gentle grace.
Holding that familiar food box in hand, she stood within the pavilion, like an ordinary neighboring elder sister seeing off a younger brother about to travel far.
"Once you leave, there's no telling when we'll meet again."
Luo Jinyao handed the food box to Yu Wenqiu, but her gaze fell upon Gu Chengming: "In just a few short months, you've grown from a newcomer to the Northern Territory into the Snowfall Pass Killing Fiend who can now hold his own. Honestly, such progress makes even me a little envious."
Gu Chengming rubbed his nose, a little embarrassed: "Senior flatters me. That title, it really is..."
"A title is merely an external thing; what matters is what you've done."
Luo Jinyao cut him off, her expression turning serious: "You have a straightforward temperament. Though you have your methods, in the end you're not quite tactful enough. When you run into things, think them through—but don't wrong yourself either."
Hearing this, Gu Chengming thought to himself: just what kind of image do I have in Senior Luo's eyes, that even a remark like 'straightforward temperament' comes up?
Yu Wenqiu, standing to the side and hearing this, thought to herself: is even Senior Sister actually qualified to call others straightforward?
Clearly unaware of what the two of them were thinking, Luo Jinyao paused, then said gently:
"If you ever run into a hurdle you truly can't get past, or suffer any grievance, just come find me."
Gu Chengming was moved, and solemnly gave a bow: "Senior's guidance, this junior shall engrave upon his heart."
Beside them, Yu Wenqiu's eyes had long since brimmed with tears.
Clutching that food box filled with Northern Territory specialty snacks, she gripped Luo Jinyao's sleeve tightly: "Senior Sister, I can't bear to part with you. I want to eat the food you make every single day..."
Luo Jinyao sighed helplessly: "You're a grown woman, and it's not as though this is some final parting in life or death. Once my term of guarding here is over, I'll naturally return to the sect to see you."
The few of them looked at one another and smiled, and the sorrow of parting was much dispelled.
Having bid farewell to Luo Jinyao, Gu Chengming turned and walked toward the flying vessel not far off.
And there, by the gangway, a figure had already been waiting for a long while.
Nuo Tao was not chattering away as she usually did today. She stood with her hands behind her back, head lowered, unconsciously kicking at the snow on the ground with the tip of her foot, scuffing that flat patch of snow into a pockmarked mess.
Only when she heard the footsteps did she suddenly lift her head. A flicker of panic flashed through those bright, lively eyes, before she forcibly composed herself again.
"Little Brother Gu, you're leaving?"
"Mm, the transfer order has come down. I have no choice but to go."
Gu Chengming stopped and looked at this girl who could be counted as having "weathered hardships together" with him in the Northern Territory, and smiled: "What are Miss Nuo's plans next? Will you keep training here in the Northern Territory, or return to the Myriad-Theft Gate?"
"Who knows. I'll just go wherever the road takes me."
Nuo Tao shrugged, her gaze wandering, not daring to meet Gu Chengming's eyes: "Anyway, the Northern Territory is so vast—there are still plenty of secret realms left undug."
As she said this, she seemed to remember something, and pulled a strangely shaped jade slip from her bosom, shoving it into Gu Chengming's hand.
"Take it."
"What's this?"
"This is a Dragon-Seeking Token exclusively refined by yours truly!"
Nuo Tao lifted her chin and explained a little awkwardly: "Even though you're a sword cultivator who doesn't understand any of the arts of seeking out hidden and secret places, you do have pretty good luck sometimes."
"On the off chance—I mean, just on the off chance—that in the future I discover some especially dangerous, especially tricky secret realm that I can't handle on my own..."
She bit her lip, and her voice suddenly grew much smaller: "Then I'll contact you through this token, and you'd better come help me."
She said all of this in one breath, her cheeks flushing crimson from holding her breath and from shyness.
Watching her look so much like a guilty thief protesting too much, Gu Chengming understood perfectly in his heart.
With the methods of the Myriad-Theft Gate, what kind of helper could she not find?
What was more, that legendary master of hers, the "Nameless Daoist," was still looking out for her.
The so-called "needing a helper" was nothing but the clumsy pretext of a young girl who wanted to meet again in the future.
After all, the road of the jianghu is long, and without a bond, this parting might well mean never meeting again.
Gu Chengming gripped that jade slip still carrying the girl's body warmth. He did not expose Nuo Tao's little scheme, only smiled gently and gave a solemn nod:
"Alright, when the time comes I'll naturally come and be Miss Nuo's manual laborer."
Hearing these words, the little face that had been somewhat tense instantly relaxed, and the light in her eyes was even more dazzling than the sunlight on the snow.
"Hmph, at least you know what's good for you!"
She snorted proudly, then turned her back and waved hard, her voice carrying a hint of a lighthearted tremor:
"Go on, go on! Next time we meet, yours truly will surely be a great Third Realm expert, and then I'll look out for you!"
Gu Chengming smiled and lingered no longer, turning to board the flying vessel.
As the roar of the formation rose, the massive flying vessel slowly ascended, breaking through the clouds and sailing toward the southern horizon.
Nuo Tao kept her back to the flying vessel until that roar had completely vanished into the wind, and only then did she slowly turn around.
Gazing at that empty sky, the girl sniffled her nose, reddened by the cold, and muttered under her breath:
"Idiot... who wanted you to be a laborer anyway."
Upon the flying vessel, the sea of clouds churned.
As it climbed higher, Snowfall Pass below gradually became a black dot, while the Demon Domain further north was a vast expanse of white.
With the Demon Domain lowering its banners and silencing its drums, this bitter cold land finally welcomed a peace it had not known in nearly a hundred years.
And many years later, when those aging rogue cultivators sat around the fire, boasting of their experiences of yesteryear to the younger generation, they could never avoid that one name.
That young man who always carried a sword on his back and wore a gentle smile, yet could blast a demonic cultivator to death with a single fist and cut down a demon king with a single sword stroke.
Upon the deck, the wind howled.
Gu Chengming leaned against the railing, gazing at the rivers and mountains retreating beneath his feet like an unrolling scroll, his heart stirred with countless emotions.
Though this journey to the Northern Territory had lasted only a few short months, it had already left a considerable number of bonds behind for him.
The so-called Red Dust Art requires one to enter the red dust—Gu Chengming now understood this saying more deeply.
The Red Dust Qi he had accumulated over these few months in the Northern Territory was perhaps more than what he would have gained in several years of bitter solitary cultivation.
"What are you thinking about? So absorbed."
Yu Wenqiu, wrapped in that thick white fox fur, sauntered over slowly like a big cat.
She sat down on the lounge chair beside Gu Chengming and casually handed him a piece of dried meat:
"Have a taste? This was made by Senior Sister Luo's own hands."
Gu Chengming took the dried meat and chewed it, that familiar salty-savory flavor spreading across the tip of his tongue.
"I was thinking about some things at Snowfall Pass." Gu Chengming said indistinctly. "And also about the people and things I encountered along the way here."
"What's there to think about?" Yu Wenqiu pursed her lips and stuffed a piece of pastry into her mouth. "People always have to keep moving forward. It's not as though this is the only scenery under heaven."
Saying this, she tilted her head and looked at Gu Chengming, those lovely peach-blossom eyes carrying a mischievous smile:
"Besides, you're now the great celebrity ranked third on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. Who knows how many fairies from renowned sects and great factions will want to catch a glimpse of your bearing when you return this time. Well? Aren't you looking forward to it?"
In saying this, Yu Wenqiu naturally laced her words with a touch of probing.
Gu Chengming shook his head helplessly: "With that 'Killing Fiend' title stuck on my head, which fairy would dare come looking for me?"
"Tch, that's called not knowing quality when they see it!" Yu Wenqiu snorted.
The flying vessel pierced through cloud and mist, trailing a long golden thread beneath the lingering glow of the setting sun.
And behind them, that vast, boundless Northern Territory had, in the end, become but a single page in the story.
The wind and snow were far away now, and the road home was long.
(Volume Three, This Journey Down the Road of Wind and Snow — End)
…
PS: Volume Four is the Harmonious Joy Sect volume.
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