Chapter Fourteen: Gu Linglong Is in Trouble

Ever since the arrival of the Celestial Emperor’s envoy, the City Lord’s mansion had become livelier than ever. With Gu Linglong too busy to attend to preparations herself, Shadow handled the arrangements in her stead. Within just a few days of posting the recruitment notice, the number of volunteers had already exceeded one hundred, a result so smooth and successful that Shadow finally let out a long-held sigh of relief.

From among these, Shadow carefully selected those cultivators with profound abilities. In the end, there were six masters at the Great Ascension stage, three at the Tribulation Crossing stage, and the majority—seventy-three—at the Integration stage, while the remaining candidates were all at the Nascent Soul division. The three at the Tribulation Crossing stage had insisted on joining Gu Linglong’s campaign, and no amount of persuasion from Shadow could dissuade them. It was well known that cultivators at this stage were most vulnerable; even a slight loss of cultivation could doom them during their tribulation. These three understood this all too well, yet were still determined to follow Gu Linglong into battle against those western birdmen.

Li Chengzhu was utterly perplexed when he heard this. Wasn’t it said that cultivators disliked warfare? Why were they so enthusiastic now?

Shadow glanced at Li Chengzhu and explained, “Though my sister has only been City Lord for two years, she’s helped many people. Those three at the Tribulation Crossing stage, in particular, owe her their lives.” Turning to Gu Linglong, Shadow continued, “Sister, why don’t you tell them not to go? The Tribulation Crossing stage is a crucial period—any loss in cultivation could be disastrous.”

Gu Linglong replied calmly, “Let them be. They don’t want to owe me a debt, fearing that it may become a heart demon during their own tribulations.”

Shadow gave a soft “oh” and said no more.

Li Chengzhu, astonished, blurted out, “You know how to save people too?”

Gu Linglong’s expression turned cold. “Enough nonsense. You heard the envoy—I've only two months before I must set out for the Red Rock Plateau. I’ll be accelerating the extraction of your celestial energy. Undress. Now.”

Shadow stuck out her tongue playfully at her boss and hurried off to the forge.

Li Chengzhu felt as if Gu Linglong had transformed overnight from a seductive fox spirit into a vampiric queen, ravenously drawing out the celestial energy from his body. The searing agony only grew stronger.

In just a month, his cultivation had regressed to the mid-Nascent Soul stage, and was in danger of falling even further. After so long being drained, his nascent soul seemed listless and weak within his dantian.

She’ll suck me dry sooner or later! Li Chengzhu cursed inwardly.

Escape? The entire mansion was sealed by a barrier; there was no way out.

Feign illness? Gu Linglong would immediately see through his ruse.

Reason with her? This vampire cared nothing for his arguments, only insisting she was reclaiming what was once hers.

Life for Li Chengzhu grew increasingly difficult.

Fortunately, the little creature would sneak in spirit pills and other valuables from outside each day to comfort him.

One day, as Gu Linglong was extracting his celestial energy, Li Chengzhu suddenly found the soul-piercing pain vanish. Instead, a tremendous surge of celestial energy flowed through his spiritual veins, pouring into his dantian, leaving him feeling blissfully comfortable.

Within moments, his previously depleted nascent soul was brimming with vigor.

Startled, Li Chengzhu carefully withdrew his focus from his nascent soul to check his body’s condition.

What he discovered brought him immense joy—Gu Linglong, that madwoman, was actually channeling her own celestial energy back into his body!

Had she suddenly grown a conscience? He guessed at this and quickly dismissed it. After all the effort she’d spent reclaiming what was originally hers, why would she return it now?

Before he could think further, his spiritual veins were filled to bursting, with the source continuing to pour in.

Alarmed, Li Chengzhu managed to gasp, “If you keep this up, I’m going to explode! Damn you, are you really trying to kill me?”

Gu Linglong remained silent, her jade hand pressed against his back. As Li Chengzhu twisted around to glare at her, ready to let loose a string of curses, he saw her forehead beaded with sweat, her face flickering between red and green—a clear sign of imminent qi deviation.

“Damn it!” Shocked, Li Chengzhu forgot all caution. He mustered his energy, formed a hand seal, and forcefully broke free from the pull of her celestial energy.

“Pfft!” Both spat out mouthfuls of fresh blood at the same time, but at least Li Chengzhu had broken free from the source.

Even so, the shock left him with internal injuries. If not for his protective arts, his nascent soul might have been destroyed. Turning to Gu Linglong, he saw her collapsed on the ground, the color shifting ever more rapidly on her face, beads of sweat rolling down her delicate features.

“Good is rewarded with good, evil with evil!” Li Chengzhu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth—at last, this wretched woman had a taste of her own medicine.

Looking around, he saw Shadow was still at the forge, the mansion empty. This was his chance!

Without hesitation, Li Chengzhu grabbed the little creature and dashed out.

Perhaps because Gu Linglong was injured, or for some other reason, the barrier that usually restrained him was gone. Li Chengzhu couldn’t help but exult inwardly: I’m free!

He tossed out the flying sword he’d bought from the weapon shop but never used. With the little creature in tow, he leapt onto it and sped away, not looking back.

After ten miles, a sense of unease began to creep in.

“Am I really doing the right thing?” he muttered to himself, standing atop the sword.

“Squeak squeak!”

“Hm? You think I’m wrong too?”

“Squeak!”

“You little rascal! Who’s been feeding you and taking care of you? Why do I feel so uneasy about this?”

“What does her life or death have to do with me? She brought all this on herself—why should I worry?”

Another ten miles, and Li Chengzhu could endure it no longer. He turned around and headed back toward the mansion, cursing under his breath, “If she ever does this to me again, I’ll make her pay tenfold!”

“Squeak squeak!”

Li Chengzhu rolled his eyes. “You want a share too? Fine, I’ll find you a harem of female mice, all right?”

The little creature bounced excitedly on his shoulder.

They rushed back to the City Lord’s mansion and made straight for Shadow’s forge. Without caring for Shadow’s protests, he kicked open the door and blurted out before she could explode, “Gu Linglong’s in trouble!”

Shadow didn’t say a word; she dropped her materials and vanished in a blink.

“Damn it!” Li Chengzhu swore, then rushed toward his own room.