Cen Xi was now filled with regret. When she noticed something was wrong, she hadn't stepped forward to warn them. If she had said a few more words, things wouldn't have turned out this way.
What a great opportunity it was today, but she missed it all, and was even tricked by the cunning old fox.
“It will be useful. Ah Xi, we’ve been going to the Miao Palace these past few days. If necessary, you can bleed a little. Even if you can’t completely kill him, you should at least create some openings for him. If he has truly cultivated an indestructible body, dealing with him will be harder than climbing to heaven. After everything that happened today, I have a lot of reason to suspect that someone in Miao territory is colluding with him.”
Jun Jianchou's eyes were deep, and also carried a hint of worry.
“I have the same suspicion. The high priest and the holy maiden of Miao territory seem to be acting strangely, as do the elders in the palace.”
Seeing Jun Jianchou say this, Shen Jinchen also voiced his own suspicions.
"Alright! It's nothing. I'll head back to the inn now. There's someone here that I really don't want to see."
Seeing Shen Jinchen interrupt, Cen Xi suppressed her disgust and rushed out the door. She couldn't stay any longer; if she stayed any longer, she was afraid she would lose control and want to draw her sword and kill someone.
The Love-Returning Gu is truly amazing. Now, all Cen Xi can think about is how Shen Jinchen forced her when she first came to this world. She feels like she's seen a rapist, so she really can't show her face in front of Shen Jinchen anymore.
Seeing Cen Xi's figure disappear without a trace like an arrow released from a bow, Shen Jinchen felt empty and bitter inside, as if a ball of cotton was stuck in his throat, making him extremely uncomfortable.
Are you heartbroken?
Jun Jianchou saw his expression, took a sip of wine, and asked.
"The Love-Returning Gu truly lives up to its name!"
Seeing Jun Jianchou drinking to his heart's content, Shen Jinchen walked to the table and poured himself a cup, intending to drown his sorrows in alcohol. However, Jun Jianchou snatched the cup from his hand.
"You mustn't drink alcohol. I remember you're allergic to alcohol; Ah-Xi once told me that."
"Then tell me, what methods should I use to vent my anger? Shen Qinghua has really made me remember her. Jun Jianchou, you... you still don't have any feelings for her?"
As Shen Jinchen watched Cen Xi change day by day, he couldn't shake off the depression in his heart, and ended up having a heart-to-heart talk with his love rival.
“I’m certain that Ah Xi won’t fall for me. I don’t want to compete with you for her in this lifetime, and I won’t. Instead of wasting your time being sentimental, you should think about how to deal with the current situation in Miao territory. In ten days, the Gu in your body will take effect, and that’s when the real battle begins. You and Ah Xi will truly be locked in a life-or-death struggle.”
Jun Jianchou downed the wine in one gulp, accepting the fact that Cen Xi didn't like him. The only reason he was here was because he couldn't let go; he had no other thoughts whatsoever.
"It was my overconfidence that led to my being outmaneuvered by a woman. Don't worry, I have my own plans for Miao territory. I will find the Gu King and Gu Queen even if I have to go to the ends of the earth. Jun Jianchou, it's been a long time since we fought. I'm in a bad mood today, so how about we have a fight? If you win, I'll give you the pear blossom wine that I've been hiding in the capital for twenty years."
Shen Jinchen glanced at the pot of wine on the table, made a self-deprecating remark, and suddenly felt like fighting Jun Jianchou to vent his frustration.
"Fine, I'll go. It's been a long time since I've made a move. If I lose, don't blame me, your rival. And don't try to sabotage me after Ah Xi is done."
Jun Jianchou raised an eyebrow, picked up his sword, and went out of the house first.
"Am I such a petty person, Jun Jianchou? If you're a gentleman, don't question my character."
Seeing the other man raise an eyebrow, Shen Jinchen also raised an eyebrow and left the room. Jun Jianchou's demeanor and bearing were undeniable; he certainly had the qualities to be his rival in love.
After leaving the post station, the two stopped in an open space, drew their swords, and without saying a word, began to fight.
They fought until the sun set behind the western mountains and it was completely dark, without a clear winner.
After more than half a year of reflection, Jun Jianchou's restless emotions had been significantly tempered. Although he still struggled to cope, his composure had improved considerably. In contrast, Shen Jinchen had long since lost his former calmness and arrogant air of looking down on everyone.
So Shen Jinchen lost the final competition not because he was less skilled, but because he lost due to his mindset.
...
Rewind two hours, after Cen Xi left the post station with a heart full of restlessness, she was wandering the streets when she overheard some gossip.
The speakers were three elderly people, two men and one woman, discussing the matter of the Second Elder of Miao territory returning from the palace and being blocked at the doorstep by the Fifth Elder's own daughter, who then broke off their engagement.
The implication of their conversation was that the Second Elder thought his future daughter-in-law was concerned about whether he, as her father-in-law, had suffered any hardship.
The girl named Tian Ying knelt down in front of the Second Elder and said that she and Lu Duling from the Third Elder's family had already consummated their marriage and that she could not marry into the Zhu family. She begged the elder to make an exception and cancel the engagement.
"You didn't see the Second Elder's face, which looked like it had a palette of colors on it. I bet the Fifth Elder, Tian Dequan, is going to be in big trouble this time."
"That's right. How could the Tian family raise such a daring girl? It's a good thing she was rejected when they were choosing a saintess. Otherwise, if the high priest had taken her in, it would have been a laughing stock for the entire Miao region."
"That's right. The eldest son of the Second Elder's family, Zhu, is so handsome. How could he have met such a girl? And what's so good about the Lu family? They've been martial artists for generations, without even the slightest talent for raising Gu. How could they produce an elder? How can we Gu raisers bear this? Are we even worse than trash? The world is truly unfair."
The one who spoke the most sharply was the old man who started gossiping the first time.
He had a blue silk cloth wrapped around his head, wore a blue robe, and had several gourds hanging from his waist. His gaze always carried a hint of probing. He was clearly a master of raising Gu poison, but he probably wasn't qualified to compete with the elders, which was why he was resentful towards the Third Elder.
"That's right! That's right! And that Fifth Elder, he raised his daughter to be like that, he's really disgraced the Tian family. If I had a daughter like that, I would have tied her up and taken her to the Catholic temple to have the witch doctors check her head."
The old man was being echoed by his friend sitting next to him; they were both experts in raising Gu poison, but unfortunately, the elders' council had been occupied by a few families for years, and their resentment was truly difficult to vent. So they could only gossip behind each other's backs.
Cen Xi became more and more interested as she listened, and after she finished, she couldn't help but want to go and see what this Second Elder's house was like.
Judging from their conversation, that girl named Tian Ying is still stubbornly kneeling outside the other person's house, begging for the engagement to be called off.
She's made such a big fuss, she must have been determined to break off all ties. I wonder if she'll achieve her desired outcome in the end. She sounds like a pretty spirited girl, but I wonder what will become of her in the end.
She was in a bad mood and desperately needed to see some excitement to calm her agitation; perhaps she would also gain something else from it.
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