The battle to seize power in Eluo Ghost Tent lasted exactly a whole day and night, as did the process of Su Yang and Gu Feidi subduing each other’s rare matters.
It wasn’t until the snowstorm gradually ceased and the dark sky turned bright again did the sounds of fighting subside at last.
Inside the White Witch Tower, Su Yang’s and Gu Feidi’s breathing slowly quieted down.
They both embraced each other closely. As they opened their eyes, they looked at each other and displayed weak, exhausted smiles at the same time.
The White Firework Gu had been fighting against the Cold Pond Ice Spirit for a long time. In the end, it gave in as if accepting its fate and lay dormant within Gu Feidi’s body. The Cold Pond Ice Spirit seemed to have also run out of steam. It gradually sank into Su Yang’s meridians and became inactive.
But owing to the existence of Half Withered Red, Su Yang’s body temperature was on the low side. His breaths did not carry even the slightest hint of heat in the frigid air of the Icefield.
Seeing that they were both out of danger, Luo Yu heaved a sigh of relief and said, “Both of you rest here. I’ll go have a look at Luo Yin’s side to see if——”
Before he could finish talking, Su Huaizhu who was outside the door of the White Witch Tower suddenly coughed convulsively a few times. He bent over gasping for breath as he returned into the tower and leaned strenuously against the doorpost.
Seeing blood dripping out from the corner of Su Huaizhu’s mouth, Luo Yu gave a ‘tsk’ and stepped forward to support him: “How are you? The Love Gu is indeed incapable of being suppressed?”
Su Huaizhu slowed down for a while and said softly, “It’s alright. You……shouldn’t get too close to me. My condition…… it’s easy for me to lose control……when it gets serious, it’s possible that I may not even recognise anyone……”
Upon hearing this, Luo Yu snorted. He raised his hand and pierced a silver needle at the acupuncture point between Su Huaizhu’s eyebrows: “Hai Bo’er* isn’t here. I’ll help you restrain it first.”
(*TN : Hai = sea, Bo = wave; nickname for Gu Ruohai)
Hearing this form of address, Su Huaizhu frowned and said, “Who permitted you to call him like that?”
Luo Yu disdained, “How old are you? Your son is about to be crowned and you’re still is so possessive of a nickname……Since you mind so much, back then why did——”
Hearing Su Yang’s and Gu Feidi’s approaching footsteps, Luo Yu ended the subject and quietly performed acupuncture on Su Huaizhu.
Gu Feidi contemplated for a moment and asked, “Is there Gu poison inside Elder’s body?”
Su Huaizhu cast him a glance but didn’t respond. Luo Yu was startled: “How did you know?”
Gu Feidi said, “After taming the White Firework Gu, I seem to be able to perceive Gu poison somewhat……but I still can’t figure out which type of Gu is in Elder’s body.”
Once he’d heard Gu Feidi’s words, Luo Yu eyed Su Huaizhu, frowning slightly. After mulling for a moment, he said: “There may be a lot of historical documents on refining Gu techniques within the White Witch Tower. Now that we’ve obtained the White Firework Gu of Eluo Ghost Tent’s Great Witch and Su Yang carries the bloodline of the royal females……Perhaps, this Gu poison of yours is curable!”
As he spoke, his eyes brightened all of a sudden and he turned to the two juniors: “Both of you go and search right now and see if there are any related documents here!”
Hearing the impatience in his words, Gu Feidi and Su Yang nodded at once, turned and ran to the flight of spiral steps by the wall of the White Witch Tower.
“You start from the bottom,” Gu Feidi said, “I will head to the top of the tower and search from top to bottom.”
“Alright.” Su Yang immediately agreed.
They both rummaged room by room all along the spiral staircase. Pretty soon, Gu Feidi found a hidden room inside the room closest to the top. It contained countless old records and documents inscribed on scrolls of bamboo slips.
However, these documents were not written in Central Plains script, but a type of snake-like twisted, knotted font. Gu Feidi couldn’t make out what was written.
“This is the ancient writing style of Eluo Ghost Tent.” Luo Yu took a scroll of bamboo slips from Gu Feidi, “Nowadays, only the princes and royal females will study it.”
After speaking, he flipped the scroll and hurriedly scanned through it, “It’s not this scroll. Bring them all here. I’ll search through them myself.”
Su Yang and Gu Feidi nodded and straightaway went to fetch the remaining records and documents.
“I’m relieved to see that you’re all unharmed.”
A cheerful voice called from outside the White Witch Tower. Those inside the tower all turned to look.
Qin Jianyue was dressed in military uniform as he strode through the door and smiled at Luo Yu: “That nephew of yours, he doesn’t say much, but he handles matters extremely methodically. There are actually many people in this Ghost Tent royal court who approve of him.”
Luo Yu was in the midst of browsing through the bamboo slips when he heard it and smiled: “At any rate, he was a prince that zhang xiong* set store by and had gained experience in the Black Feather Army. The generals and soldiers approve of him and many people in the royal court naturally stand by him. “
(*TN : eldest brother; he’s referring to Luo Yin’s father, the previous king)
At last, he asked again: “Why did you come here alone? Has the battlefield situation stabilised?”
Qin Jianyue said: “Danyang brought huang xiong’s* personal letter and is discussing with Luo Yin about forming an alliance between the Central Plains and Eluo. En route, I received Tengyun Pavilion’s message that Alliance Leader Gu is also on his way here. I wonder where he is at this moment.”
(*TN : huang = Emperor, xiong = elder brother)
Once he’d finished speaking, he turned his head to look at Su Huaizhu sitting cross-legged by the wall and smiled: “The few of us—it’s been ages since we’ve come together.”
Su Huaizhu didn’t respond.
Luo Yu threw him a glance and said, “It’s good that Hai ge is coming. This silver needle is only an expedient measure after all. Your body’s……*cough* problem……would still need him to come and resolve it.”
When he heard what was said, Su Huaizhu finally could bear it and spoke: “How can he resolve it? He would be giving up his life to no avail…… After dealing with all this, I’ll return to go back to Yin Tan Divine Sect and reestablish Ju Hall. It’s better than being entangled with him for half a lifetime.”
Luo Yu was silent for a moment. He looked down at the bamboo slips in his hand: “……We’ll definitely find a solution. Since he already knows your condition, he won’t let you behave like you used to.”
As he listened to the conversation between the two, Gu Feidi couldn’t help tensing his arms which were carrying the bamboo slips.
In an instant , he calmed down and approached to place a few bamboo slip scrolls beside Luo Yu. He couldn’t help stealing a glimpse at Su Huaizhu who had closed his eyes and was suppressing the Gu poison. Then Gu Feidi got up and turned back to the stairs, ready to continue transporting the documents down.
Seeing that Gu Feidi’s expression was amiss, Su Yang hurriedly put down the bamboo slips he was holding, caught up with him and asked: “What’s the matter with you?”
“It’s nothing.” Gu Feidi walked upstairs speechlessly.
Su Yang ran after him all the way to the room where the documents were stored and reached out to stop him. He frowned and said, “Didn’t we agree not to hide anything from each other? There’s clearly something you’re not telling me. Shall I get mad now?”
Gu Feidi released a sigh, hesitated for a moment and said: “It’s about the elders. Actually, it’s not that big a deal and it’s probably not like how I’m guessing it is.”
Su Yang put on an extremely displeased expression and stared at him without saying anything.
Gu Feidi said helplessly: “It’s merely my conjecture, that’s all……”
Su Yang was adamant: “Then I still want to know.”
After a long silence, Gu Feidi compromised: “I seem to think that my father.…..with your father……with the Devil Sect Leader, their relationship isn’t ordinary.”
Hearing this reply, Su Yang said: “They used to be Lesser Jade House classmates. Back then, the feelings between them ought to have been pretty good. You don’t need to make that kind of face.”
“What I mean is,” Gu Feidi paused, “That……their relationship is probably more or less like ours……”
Su Yang’s eyes widened.
“It’s not…..!” He said in shock, “But……that……”
Countless images that had been seen but he hadn’t pondered about suddenly emerged in his mind. Su Yang was immediately terrified by the sudden divergence of his thoughts——Chi Tong in men’s clothing and Luo Yin who were inseparable, Luo Yu and Qin Jianyue secretly touching each other’s fingers and some words that Su Huaizhu and Gu Ruohai had once said……
This world was a novel. The storyline and the relationship between all the characters within the book were single-handedly created by the author.
And since some ‘marginal themes’ could exist in films, why couldn’t they exist in novels?
As for his Devil Sect’s Young Saint’s lines in the script, there had indeed been continuous flirtations with young boys……
Su Yang was exceedingly confused. He clutched his forehead and knocked against the doorpost beside him, his insides becoming frantic:
——What the heck was going on in the original author’s mind? Had she actually written same-sex literature? So he’d transmigrated into same-sex literature?!
Gu Feidi was startled by Su Yang’s actions and immediately pulled him into his arms to check if his forehead was bruised.
Meanwhile, he consoled him: “You don’t have to be this distressed, it’s merely my conjecture. Besides, even if it was true, they can’t get married. So, you don’t have to worry that you and I will become stepbrothers……Ak, I meant……”
Su Yang embraced Gu Feidi, buried his face in his neck gloomily: “I’m so mentally exhausted……”
Gu Feidi stroked Su Yang’s hair. In an instant, he smiled: “Whatever happens, our relationship won’t change. I’m sure.”
Su Yang gave an exaggerated “hmph” and said, “Dare you change? Try and see!”
Gu Feidi laughed, “How would I be willing?”
Both of them hid in the small room at the top of the tower and shared a moment of affection before bringing the last few bamboo scrolls downstairs. It was then that they discovered Su Huaizhu had left at some point.
Su Yang subconsciously asked: “Where’s Sect Leader?”
Luo Yu glanced up from the scrolls and rolled his eyes: “Alliance Leader Gu arrived just now. He had something to discuss with him and brought him away.”
Su Yang: ……
Gu Feidi :……
The two of them cast each other a look, their expressions somewhat strained.
Luo Yu could discern what both of them were thinking, but he didn’t want to burst their bubble, so he released a soft sigh and continued to read the bamboo slips.
Not long after, Luo Yin brought over Chi Tong along with several guards to the White Witch Tower. They discussed the current state of affairs of Eluo Ghost Tent. Then both Luo Yin and Luo Yu searched for documents regarding the White Firework Gu.
After some time, Luo Yin got up and smiled: “Found it.”
Luo Yu immediately moved over and translated the Eluo ancient text on the bamboo slip, “The White Firework Gu is the leader of the ten thousand Gus and it can indeed resolve a hundred types of Gus. However, Eluo’s royal bloodline is needed to assist and the one who carries this blood must be twenty years old……twenty, crown……”
As he spoke, he abruptly looked up at Su Yang and mumbled: “So that’s why Jin’er cast such a poisonous curse to begin with! She gave Su Huaizhu hope, but it’s also……a hope that’s impossible to hold onto.”
Luo Yin was baffled and asked, “What poisonous curse?”
Luo Yu shook his head and didn’t reply.
Su Yang was absolutely dumbfounded right now——if Luo Yu hadn’t brought it up, he’d already forgotten that he still had the ‘life is never crowned’ curse phrase on his body.
Gu Feidi stretched out to entwine his and Su Yang’s ten fingers, but he didn’t know what to say.
Luo Yin’s gaze swept round the few people there, but he couldn’t get the answer. He didn’t persist and bowed his head to continue reading the words on the bamboo slip.
“If there is a Fire Gu bearer who hasn’t yet reached twenty, he can also join hands with the other person of royal bloodline to execute the Gu expelling technique.” He said, “But these two persons must use universal harmonious forces technique to dual cultivate in order to obtain Yin-yang internal strength, then only can it be successfully accomplished.”
“Dual cultivation techniques aren’t uncommon in the martial arts circles, but……” Luo Yu frowned, “It’s rare for both parties who are men to practice the universal harmonious forces technique. I don’t know where to find it. Perhaps, we’ll still need to return to Lesser Jade House and ask Shizun.”
Upon hearing this, the initially taciturn Chi Tong laughed and said: “This type of techniques are indeed rare. There’s no such record in Lesser Jade House at the moment, but……it’s not completely unattainable. When you participated in Lesser Jade House’s selection, the two fat and thin bandits who were beaten back by Di Ling in front of the mountain gate? Their harmoniously fused Yin-yang internal strength cultivation should be this type of technique.”
The battle to seize power in Eluo Ghost Tent lasted exactly a whole day and night, as did the process of Su Yang and Gu Feidi subduing each other’s rare matters.
It wasn’t until the snowstorm gradually ceased and the dark sky turned bright again did the sounds of fighting subside at last.
Inside the White Witch Tower, Su Yang’s and Gu Feidi’s breathing slowly quieted down.
They both embraced each other closely. As they opened their eyes, they looked at each other and displayed weak, exhausted smiles at the same time.
The White Firework Gu had been fighting against the Cold Pond Ice Spirit for a long time. In the end, it gave in as if accepting its fate and lay dormant within Gu Feidi’s body. The Cold Pond Ice Spirit seemed to have also run out of steam. It gradually sank into Su Yang’s meridians and became inactive.
But owing to the existence of Half Withered Red, Su Yang’s body temperature was on the low side. His breaths did not carry even the slightest hint of heat in the frigid air of the Icefield.
Seeing that they were both out of danger, Luo Yu heaved a sigh of relief and said, “Both of you rest here. I’ll go have a look at Luo Yin’s side to see if——”
Before he could finish talking, Su Huaizhu who was outside the door of the White Witch Tower suddenly coughed convulsively a few times. He bent over gasping for breath as he returned into the tower and leaned strenuously against the doorpost.
Seeing blood dripping out from the corner of Su Huaizhu’s mouth, Luo Yu gave a ‘tsk’ and stepped forward to support him: “How are you? The Love Gu is indeed incapable of being suppressed?”
Su Huaizhu slowed down for a while and said softly, “It’s alright. You……shouldn’t get too close to me. My condition…… it’s easy for me to lose control……when it gets serious, it’s possible that I may not even recognise anyone……”
Upon hearing this, Luo Yu snorted. He raised his hand and pierced a silver needle at the acupuncture point between Su Huaizhu’s eyebrows: “Hai Bo’er* isn’t here. I’ll help you restrain it first.”
(*TN : Hai = sea, Bo = wave; nickname for Gu Ruohai)
Hearing this form of address, Su Huaizhu frowned and said, “Who permitted you to call him like that?”
Luo Yu disdained, “How old are you? Your son is about to be crowned and you’re still is so possessive of a nickname……Since you mind so much, back then why did——”
Hearing Su Yang’s and Gu Feidi’s approaching footsteps, Luo Yu ended the subject and quietly performed acupuncture on Su Huaizhu.
Gu Feidi contemplated for a moment and asked, “Is there Gu poison inside Elder’s body?”
Su Huaizhu cast him a glance but didn’t respond. Luo Yu was startled: “How did you know?”
Gu Feidi said, “After taming the White Firework Gu, I seem to be able to perceive Gu poison somewhat……but I still can’t figure out which type of Gu is in Elder’s body.”
Once he’d heard Gu Feidi’s words, Luo Yu eyed Su Huaizhu, frowning slightly. After mulling for a moment, he said: “There may be a lot of historical documents on refining Gu techniques within the White Witch Tower. Now that we’ve obtained the White Firework Gu of Eluo Ghost Tent’s Great Witch and Su Yang carries the bloodline of the royal females……Perhaps, this Gu poison of yours is curable!”
As he spoke, his eyes brightened all of a sudden and he turned to the two juniors: “Both of you go and search right now and see if there are any related documents here!”
Hearing the impatience in his words, Gu Feidi and Su Yang nodded at once, turned and ran to the flight of spiral steps by the wall of the White Witch Tower.
“You start from the bottom,” Gu Feidi said, “I will head to the top of the tower and search from top to bottom.”
“Alright.” Su Yang immediately agreed.
They both rummaged room by room all along the spiral staircase. Pretty soon, Gu Feidi found a hidden room inside the room closest to the top. It contained countless old records and documents inscribed on scrolls of bamboo slips.
However, these documents were not written in Central Plains script, but a type of snake-like twisted, knotted font. Gu Feidi couldn’t make out what was written.
“This is the ancient writing style of Eluo Ghost Tent.” Luo Yu took a scroll of bamboo slips from Gu Feidi, “Nowadays, only the princes and royal females will study it.”
After speaking, he flipped the scroll and hurriedly scanned through it, “It’s not this scroll. Bring them all here. I’ll search through them myself.”
Su Yang and Gu Feidi nodded and straightaway went to fetch the remaining records and documents.
“I’m relieved to see that you’re all unharmed.”
A cheerful voice called from outside the White Witch Tower. Those inside the tower all turned to look.
Qin Jianyue was dressed in military uniform as he strode through the door and smiled at Luo Yu: “That nephew of yours, he doesn’t say much, but he handles matters extremely methodically. There are actually many people in this Ghost Tent royal court who approve of him.”
Luo Yu was in the midst of browsing through the bamboo slips when he heard it and smiled: “At any rate, he was a prince that zhang xiong* set store by and had gained experience in the Black Feather Army. The generals and soldiers approve of him and many people in the royal court naturally stand by him. “
(*TN : eldest brother; he’s referring to Luo Yin’s father, the previous king)
At last, he asked again: “Why did you come here alone? Has the battlefield situation stabilised?”
Qin Jianyue said: “Danyang brought huang xiong’s* personal letter and is discussing with Luo Yin about forming an alliance between the Central Plains and Eluo. En route, I received Tengyun Pavilion’s message that Alliance Leader Gu is also on his way here. I wonder where he is at this moment.”
(*TN : huang = Emperor, xiong = elder brother)
Once he’d finished speaking, he turned his head to look at Su Huaizhu sitting cross-legged by the wall and smiled: “The few of us—it’s been ages since we’ve come together.”
Su Huaizhu didn’t respond.
Luo Yu threw him a glance and said, “It’s good that Hai ge is coming. This silver needle is only an expedient measure after all. Your body’s……*cough* problem……would still need him to come and resolve it.”
When he heard what was said, Su Huaizhu finally could bear it and spoke: “How can he resolve it? He would be giving up his life to no avail…… After dealing with all this, I’ll return to go back to Yin Tan Divine Sect and reestablish Ju Hall. It’s better than being entangled with him for half a lifetime.”
Luo Yu was silent for a moment. He looked down at the bamboo slips in his hand: “……We’ll definitely find a solution. Since he already knows your condition, he won’t let you behave like you used to.”
As he listened to the conversation between the two, Gu Feidi couldn’t help tensing his arms which were carrying the bamboo slips.
In an instant , he calmed down and approached to place a few bamboo slip scrolls beside Luo Yu. He couldn’t help stealing a glimpse at Su Huaizhu who had closed his eyes and was suppressing the Gu poison. Then Gu Feidi got up and turned back to the stairs, ready to continue transporting the documents down.
Seeing that Gu Feidi’s expression was amiss, Su Yang hurriedly put down the bamboo slips he was holding, caught up with him and asked: “What’s the matter with you?”
“It’s nothing.” Gu Feidi walked upstairs speechlessly.
Su Yang ran after him all the way to the room where the documents were stored and reached out to stop him. He frowned and said, “Didn’t we agree not to hide anything from each other? There’s clearly something you’re not telling me. Shall I get mad now?”
Gu Feidi released a sigh, hesitated for a moment and said: “It’s about the elders. Actually, it’s not that big a deal and it’s probably not like how I’m guessing it is.”
Su Yang put on an extremely displeased expression and stared at him without saying anything.
Gu Feidi said helplessly: “It’s merely my conjecture, that’s all……”
Su Yang was adamant: “Then I still want to know.”
After a long silence, Gu Feidi compromised: “I seem to think that my father.…..with your father……with the Devil Sect Leader, their relationship isn’t ordinary.”
Hearing this reply, Su Yang said: “They used to be Lesser Jade House classmates. Back then, the feelings between them ought to have been pretty good. You don’t need to make that kind of face.”
“What I mean is,” Gu Feidi paused, “That……their relationship is probably more or less like ours……”
Su Yang’s eyes widened.
“It’s not…..!” He said in shock, “But……that……”
Countless images that had been seen but he hadn’t pondered about suddenly emerged in his mind. Su Yang was immediately terrified by the sudden divergence of his thoughts——Chi Tong in men’s clothing and Luo Yin who were inseparable, Luo Yu and Qin Jianyue secretly touching each other’s fingers and some words that Su Huaizhu and Gu Ruohai had once said……
This world was a novel. The storyline and the relationship between all the characters within the book were single-handedly created by the author.
And since some ‘marginal themes’ could exist in films, why couldn’t they exist in novels?
As for his Devil Sect’s Young Saint’s lines in the script, there had indeed been continuous flirtations with young boys……
Su Yang was exceedingly confused. He clutched his forehead and knocked against the doorpost beside him, his insides becoming frantic:
——What the heck was going on in the original author’s mind? Had she actually written same-sex literature? So he’d transmigrated into same-sex literature?!
Gu Feidi was startled by Su Yang’s actions and immediately pulled him into his arms to check if his forehead was bruised.
Meanwhile, he consoled him: “You don’t have to be this distressed, it’s merely my conjecture. Besides, even if it was true, they can’t get married. So, you don’t have to worry that you and I will become stepbrothers……Ak, I meant……”
Su Yang embraced Gu Feidi, buried his face in his neck gloomily: “I’m so mentally exhausted……”
Gu Feidi stroked Su Yang’s hair. In an instant, he smiled: “Whatever happens, our relationship won’t change. I’m sure.”
Su Yang gave an exaggerated “hmph” and said, “Dare you change? Try and see!”
Gu Feidi laughed, “How would I be willing?”
Both of them hid in the small room at the top of the tower and shared a moment of affection before bringing the last few bamboo scrolls downstairs. It was then that they discovered Su Huaizhu had left at some point.
Su Yang subconsciously asked: “Where’s Sect Leader?”
Luo Yu glanced up from the scrolls and rolled his eyes: “Alliance Leader Gu arrived just now. He had something to discuss with him and brought him away.”
Su Yang: ……
Gu Feidi :……
The two of them cast each other a look, their expressions somewhat strained.
Luo Yu could discern what both of them were thinking, but he didn’t want to burst their bubble, so he released a soft sigh and continued to read the bamboo slips.
Not long after, Luo Yin brought over Chi Tong along with several guards to the White Witch Tower. They discussed the current state of affairs of Eluo Ghost Tent. Then both Luo Yin and Luo Yu searched for documents regarding the White Firework Gu.
After some time, Luo Yin got up and smiled: “Found it.”
Luo Yu immediately moved over and translated the Eluo ancient text on the bamboo slip, “The White Firework Gu is the leader of the ten thousand Gus and it can indeed resolve a hundred types of Gus. However, Eluo’s royal bloodline is needed to assist and the one who carries this blood must be twenty years old……twenty, crown……”
As he spoke, he abruptly looked up at Su Yang and mumbled: “So that’s why Jin’er cast such a poisonous curse to begin with! She gave Su Huaizhu hope, but it’s also……a hope that’s impossible to hold onto.”
Luo Yin was baffled and asked, “What poisonous curse?”
Luo Yu shook his head and didn’t reply.
Su Yang was absolutely dumbfounded right now——if Luo Yu hadn’t brought it up, he’d already forgotten that he still had the ‘life is never crowned’ curse phrase on his body.
Gu Feidi stretched out to entwine his and Su Yang’s ten fingers, but he didn’t know what to say.
Luo Yin’s gaze swept round the few people there, but he couldn’t get the answer. He didn’t persist and bowed his head to continue reading the words on the bamboo slip.
“If there is a Fire Gu bearer who hasn’t yet reached twenty, he can also join hands with the other person of royal bloodline to execute the Gu expelling technique.” He said, “But these two persons must use universal harmonious forces technique to dual cultivate in order to obtain Yin-yang internal strength, then only can it be successfully accomplished.”
“Dual cultivation techniques aren’t uncommon in the martial arts circles, but……” Luo Yu frowned, “It’s rare for both parties who are men to practice the universal harmonious forces technique. I don’t know where to find it. Perhaps, we’ll still need to return to Lesser Jade House and ask Shizun.”
Upon hearing this, the initially taciturn Chi Tong laughed and said: “This type of techniques are indeed rare. There’s no such record in Lesser Jade House at the moment, but……it’s not completely unattainable. When you participated in Lesser Jade House’s selection, the two fat and thin bandits who were beaten back by Di Ling in front of the mountain gate? Their harmoniously fused Yin-yang internal strength cultivation should be this type of technique.”
