Chapter 274 A Glimmer of Hope (Part 7)
Changning Temple.
Wen Hanjiu looked at Chang Ping'an with a worried expression, while Chang Ping'an himself was still reading a book.
“It was one thing that we didn’t discover those few Purple Mansions at first, but Wei Feng is going too far now. He’s almost devoured half of those dozens of Purple Mansions,” Wen Hanjiu said. “How can you still stand by and watch?”
"Can I beat him?" Chang Ping'an asked.
“...Of course not.” Wen Hanjiu said dejectedly, “He has already refined all the Chaos Cores in his body.”
"If you can't win, don't go looking for death." Chang Ping'an closed the book. "This Purple Mansion will be swallowed up sooner or later, and if it's not Wei Feng, it will be someone else."
Wen Hanjiu discerned something else in his words, and he looked up at Chang Ping'an with a somewhat ambiguous expression.
Chang Ping'an calmly met his gaze.
"...So you don't believe Wei Feng and Jiang Gu have broken up?" Wen Hanjiu's mind raced. "Or do you believe he definitely broke up with Jiang Gu?"
Chang Ping'an chuckled: "Is there a difference?"
“Of course,” Wen Hanjiu said. “If you let Wei Feng devour the Purple Mansion, and you don’t believe they’ve broken up, then you’re on Jiang Gu’s side. If you believe they’ve broken up, but still let Wei Feng devour the Purple Mansion, then you and Jiang Gu aren’t on the same side.”
"Will this affect your subsequent decisions?" Chang Pingan asked him.
“Of course,” Wen Hanjiu answered without the slightest hesitation, “It’s very important to me.”
Chang Ping'an sighed and said, "Based on your understanding of Jiang Gu, if he really wanted to do something to these people, would he have given them the opportunity to come to the Changning Temple?"
“Probably not.” Wen Hanjiu realized, surprised but relieved. “So you’re on Jiang Gu’s side.”
Chang Pingan did not deny it.
"When? You even fought with him at the Changning Temple before..." Wen Hanjiu's question turned to shock halfway through her sentence, "Was this all an act for the people of the Yaoyan Temple?"
“If I didn’t trust him, why would I have taken them to see those Purple Mansions?” Chang Ping’an said. “Besides, he had already promised before he even started that he would give us immortal bones and help us build this road to heaven.”
"What he wanted to go to from the beginning was the Temple of Yaoyan."
*A few months ago, at the Changning Temple.
Jiang Gu, Wei Feng, and the others brought Chang Ping'an and Wen Hanjiu to the Changning Temple. They left Jiang Xiangyun and Chanlin in the side hall to guard the Tongtian Road, while Chang Ping'an, Jiang Gu, Wei Feng, and Feng Wuyou went to the main hall.
On the way, Chang Ping'an was forcibly dragged into the Void Seal by Jiang Gu.
"What do you mean by this?" Chang Ping'an asked warily.
“If you want to lure us into a trap, you don’t need to,” Jiang Gu said.
Chang Ping'an's plan was guessed correctly. There were several trapping formations in the main hall, which could hold Jiang Gu and the others back for a while, allowing him to turn back and rescue Wen Hanjiu before reuniting with Ci Jun and the others.
“Instead of both of us suffering losses, let’s make a deal,” Jiang Gu said, looking at him.
"Why should I believe you?" Chang Ping'an asked.
“Without my immortal bone, you could never build the Path to Heaven and fulfill your divine decree,” Jiang Gu said. “I can give you the immortal bone, but you must do something for me in return.”
"You gave me the immortal bones, how will you ascend to immortality?" Chang Ping'an didn't believe it.
“I have my own way,” Jiang Gu said. “If I were the reincarnation of Yao Yan, whether I have this immortal bone or not wouldn’t hinder my ascension, would it?”
Chang Ping'an didn't know, but he feigned composure and asked, "Why did you do this?"
"I just want to prove something." Jiang Gu paused slightly, seemingly speaking to Wei Feng while he was outside the void seal.
Chang Ping'an followed his gaze and saw Wei Feng anxiously grasping his hand, talking about love poison and turbid qi. He looked very worried, but Jiang Gu just gave him a perfunctory reply: "Very powerful... Once you clear out the turbid qi, I will naturally be able to use my spiritual power to detoxify you. There is no need to worry."
Then she turned her attention back to him and asked, "Fellow Daoist Chang, what do you think?"
This was even a mutually beneficial exchange, but Chang Ping'an couldn't understand why Jiang Gu was doing this, yet he couldn't refuse: "Okay, but you'll die without immortal bones."
“Wei Feng will bring a portion of the immortal bones with him, and I will seal these immortal bones within the divine artifact,” Jiang Gu said. “You’ll see when you look at it.”
Then came the play they performed in the main hall. Although it was an act, everything Chang Ping'an said was true. If Jiang Gu was truly the reincarnation of Yao Yan, he might be the only hope for building the Path to Heaven.
Chang Ping'an never expected that the immortal bones that should have been sealed in the divine artifact would actually be melted into Wei Feng's body. However, since Wei Feng did bring a portion of the immortal bones with him, Jiang Gu did not break his promise.
Next, only the remaining Chaos Cores and Xiao Dan remained. However, he had not received any news from Jiang Gu ordering him to take action, so he could only continue to wait. As for Wei Feng devouring those Purple Mansions, it was probably at Jiang Gu's behest, so he did not stop him.
After hearing his explanation, Wen Hanjiu felt much relieved, but she still didn't understand: "What exactly does Jiang Gu want to do?"
Chang Ping'an had a vague guess, but could not get confirmation: "He may be going to do something even bigger than ascension. If that's the case... Jiang Gu is too terrifying."
Wen Hanjiu fell silent.
Chang Pingan couldn't help but glance at him again, only to find his expression unusually serious. "Ajiu, do you know something?"
Wen Hanjiu looked up, but didn't say anything.
——
Wei Feng finally refined the Chaos Core within his body and couldn't wait to break into Jiang Gu's Void Seal.
The Void Seal can contain the primordial spirit and the true body, but anything other than one's own true body is easily killed inside, so very few people dare to do it.
But this wasn't the first time Wei Feng had done this.
Jiang Gu was stunned for a moment when he was pulled into his void seal, but then he was hugged and the familiar scent made him relax subconsciously.
"Why didn't you say so beforehand?" he said. "If the Void Seal hadn't recognized you in time, you would be a pile of mud by now."
"It was just a muddy mess anyway." Wei Feng buried his head in the crook of his neck and said aggrievedly, "Master, hug me."
Jiang Gu raised his hand and hugged the person. This was the first time in months that he had touched a real person, and the warm and real touch was much better than the illusory figure.
In the past, after such a long separation, Wei Feng would have thrown a tantrum, acting spoiled and trying to take advantage of him. But now, instead of clinging to him, he used all the divine artifacts he carried and the spiritual power he stored to repair and reinforce the Void Seal for him.
Before they could even get close, they were already busy taking care of him. Jiang Gu felt a strange sense of relief, but it was mixed with some dissatisfaction.
"Come here," he called to Wei Feng.
After repairing the most recent defect, Wei Feng walked to his side: "Master, is there anything you need to tell me?"
Jiang Gu does have something to tell him, but it's unclear whether he can accept it.
"How has your cultivation been lately?" Jiang Gu never imagined that one day he would hesitate and waver, but he would not back down.
“Excellent.” Wei Feng took his hand and placed it on his dantian, guiding spiritual energy to show him. “I have now completely refined the Chaos Core, and my cultivation has advanced another step. I can even attack the Yaoyan Temple without any problem.”
He has become much more composed, but occasionally he still reveals a reckless confidence and impulsiveness.
Jiang Gu smiled, and Wei Feng was immediately captivated. He leaned in and tentatively touched the corner of Jiang Gu's mouth. Seeing that Jiang Gu did not refuse, Wei Feng was overjoyed. He kicked away the layer of composure and kissed Jiang Gu passionately and carefully.
The transparent ghost patterns readily wrapped around Jiang Gu's body. Wei Feng carefully examined Jiang Gu's meridians and, after confirming that his meridians and core essence had been repaired and his primordial spirit had been restored, he breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
He was overly cautious, even his kisses were brief and fleeting.
"It's alright," Jiang Gu said calmly.
Wei Feng saw that his eyes were red. He didn't want to cry, and he didn't want to cry in front of Jiang Gu. So he lowered his head and bit Jiang Gu's shoulder in a muffled voice, but he couldn't bear to bite hard.
On the day they consummated their marriage, Jiang Gu had already lost half his life trying to save him, yet he still didn't care... He's worse than an animal.
“When emotions run deep, it’s hard to control oneself.” He patted Wei Feng on the shoulder. “Besides, this is a matter of mutual consent, so there’s no need to worry about it.”
Wei Feng twitched his ears, looked up at him, and asked, "Was it consensual?"
"Otherwise?" Jiang Gu asked, puzzled.
“You were seriously injured and unable to resist that day, and you were also poisoned by love, yet I did not know the consequences and forced you…” Wei Feng said guiltily, “If you hadn’t been injured, you would have kicked me away long ago.”
That's not impossible. Jiang Gu thought to himself, but remained calm on the surface. "If I really don't want to, even if you cry your eyes out, it won't do you any good."
Wei Feng's gaze towards him gradually changed: "Really?"
"Hmm." Jiang Gu was still thinking about how to tell him the matter in a subtle and gentle way, unaware of his increasingly deep gaze, and said seriously, "Besides, I also got some fun from it, so let's not mention it again."
"Okay." Wei Feng lowered his head and bit open his shirt.
Jiang Gu was holding the person contentedly, letting him fool around, and carefully asked, "Once Xiao Dan is abducted by Chang Ping'an, the Yaoyan Temple will definitely take action. At that time—what will you be doing?"
Wei Feng looked up innocently and said, "Master, since you've found enjoyment in this, as your disciple, I should serve you well and help you."
Jiang Gu then realized that he was unable to move because he was bound by those ghostly patterns. He said in surprise, "I thought you were really calm and patient."
"How can we tolerate this?" Wei Feng exclaimed in shock.
Jiang Gu was taken aback by his words and frowned, saying, "Let's get down to business first."
“Dual cultivation is the real deal,” Wei Feng said shamelessly. “After dual cultivation, at least half of your current hidden injuries will be healed.”
He said it, but his hands wouldn't stay still. Jiang Gu gritted his teeth, teased by him: "Then I'll do it."
Wei Feng was stunned, and asked suspiciously, "Master, do you know how?"
Jiang Gu's forehead veins throbbed: "Wei Linming."
Wei Feng gave him a sly smile, pinned him firmly beneath him, and said nonchalantly, "Master, let me teach you one more time. I could never draw talismans well before, and you patiently taught me again and again. Now it's my turn to repay you."
Jiang Gu couldn't help but recall the situation back then, following his words. At that time, he simply regarded Wei Feng as a cheap apprentice and patiently taught him to draw talismans stroke by stroke. He would never have imagined that Wei Feng would bring this up at such a time.
"Master, I'm really good at drawing talismans now." Wei Feng casually picked up a feather, pressed it against Jiang Gu's chest, and slowly began to draw the Hunyuan Talisman. He deliberately dragged out the strokes, lingering all the way to Jiang Gu's lower abdomen, and then pretended to ask Jiang Gu, "Is it pretty, Master?"
All the wing root blood he had used these days had taken effect. Jiang Gu tried his best to steady his breathing and sneered, "I think you've been using your brain on these things."
It really caught him off guard—Wei Feng's composure led him to make the wrong judgment; he actually thought that this guy would process the excess effects of the wing root blood before giving it to him.
“If the aphrodisiac effect of those wing root blood is gone, it won’t be as effective.” Wei Feng looked at his disheveled front of his shirt with disappointment. “If Master doesn’t want to, I’ll leave now.”
He pretended to get up, but Jiang Gu grabbed his collar and pulled him back.
Within the Void Seal, thick mist rose, obscuring the intertwined figures and suppressed, passionate breaths within.
"Master, can I draw that talisman for you again?"
“...Wei Linming.”
"Master, I'll wrap a ghost mark around your neck..."
"Do you want to die?" Jiang Gu grabbed his neck, looked up at him coldly, and the damp blush at the corner of his eyes made Wei Feng's heart skip a beat.
"I was wrong." Wei Feng obediently rubbed against the back of his hand. "But Master, it hurts so much when you scratch my back."
Jiang Gu wanted to kick him away, but then his back suddenly arched, and he gripped Wei Feng's shoulders tightly. He heard Wei Feng say, "Master, please dispel that pain-dispersing formation... It's useless for me to keep it now, Master..."
Jiang Gu had no time to answer.
...
Wei Feng wanted to ask him, both openly and secretly, how to return the immortal bones and primordial spirit, but Jiang Gu did not completely lose his mind even during dual cultivation. His cold eyes were filled with desire, yet he was still incredibly oppressive. When Wei Feng moved too hard, Jiang Gu frowned, but refused to reveal a single word.
Therefore, Wei Feng could only work even harder.
However, he was mindful that Jiang Gu had just recovered from serious injuries and dared not cause too much trouble.
Jiang Gu made a water-drawing spell, and Wei Feng clung to him, eagerly helping him put on his clothes: "Master, what did you want to tell me earlier?"
Jiang Gu looked up at him. At the corners of his eyes were golden Vermilion Bird runes. His neck and collarbone were covered with mottled kiss marks left by Wei Feng. The crooked Hunyuan Songjing talisman was stained with Wei Feng's fiery red spiritual power, extending from his heart all the way to his lower abdomen. Countless ghost patterns spread and wriggled on his body, giving him a bewitching and enchanting beauty.
But his voice was extremely cold.
"Do you trust me?"
Wei Feng was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Of course, you are my master and my Daoist partner. If I don't trust you, who else can I trust?"
"What if I want to ascend to heaven?" Jiang Gu asked.
Wei Feng paused for a moment, then said, "Then let us ascend."
Jiang Gu was slightly surprised: "Is it really true?"
Wei Feng didn't know what Jiang Gu was planning, but when the flower formed from spiritual energy fell before his eyes, he understood Jiang Gu's unspoken words. Under the laws of Heaven, there were even people secretly spying and monitoring in the temple. If Jiang Gu wanted to plan the whole situation, he couldn't reveal everything.
"Really?" Wei Feng's expression was tense, his beautiful eyes fixed on Jiang Gu.
"I'll be with you, whether it's to heaven or the depths of the earth."
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