Chapter 59: Encounter with Taoist Xu on the Road—Strike First, Ask Later

After a few days apart, Li Youling sensed a fiercer air about Gu Changqing.

“I’ve been worried about you these past days, Young Master. Seeing you safe puts my heart at ease,” Li Youling’s voice wasn’t exactly clear, but it was gentle and bright, captivating to the ear.

“Is that so?” Gu Changqing sat down on the couch with a smile. It seemed Li Youling had been sleeping here while he was away.

There was a faint scent of cosmetics in the air, delicate as an orchid.

“Then why don't you dance for me?” Gu Changqing remembered her promise. This girl had plenty of clever ideas, but all she did was read books aloud for him every day.

Was she aiming for scholarly honors herself, or did she want him to pursue them?

Li Youling smiled softly, spreading her sleeves wide and flicking them upward, stretching out her whole figure, making her form even more graceful. Then she spun around, her beautiful eyes landing on Gu Changqing.

Especially after that spin, the brightness in her gaze was striking, like a fleeting glimpse of a rare bird—so vivid that Gu Changqing felt his heart skip a beat.

Though the sensation seemed to settle a bit lower than his heart, and lower still.

“I’ve never been skilled at song or dance since childhood. Though I practiced diligently these few days, the time was too short. If you wish to see more, Young Master, you’ll have to wait a while longer,” Li Youling said with a gentle laugh.

She truly wasn’t adept at singing or dancing, and a few days couldn’t teach her much. She never knew when Gu Changqing would return or depart, so she focused on perfecting that spin and the dazzling glance.

“So, you’re giving up on scholarly honors to serve others with your beauty?” Gu Changqing leaned back on the couch, grinning.

“I could never repay you for saving my life. If you wish to see me dance or sing, how could I refuse?” Li Youling replied, lowering her lashes so her gaze was soft as water.

“I am but an ordinary woman. If I cannot win your favor, how could I hope to remain at your side and earn your regard?”

“So, you wish to follow me?” Gu Changqing finally understood her intent.

“I only ask that you do not abandon me, Young Master.”

“Tell me, what's been happening in the city lately?” Gu Changqing said, neither agreeing nor refusing.

“On the surface, the city seems unchanged, but the Yu family has been rooted in Yuanhe for centuries. After suffering such a loss, they certainly won’t let it rest. I fear they've already prepared, spreading eyes and ears throughout the city, just waiting for you to show yourself.

“Daoist Xu is closely tied to the Yu family; these past days, several of his disciples have been stationed on the city walls to prevent you from escaping over them.

“The villagers in several settlements on Little Yang Mountain have been slain, their villages razed. There was chaos in the city at night a few days ago, with hundreds dead or wounded. The county magistrate will surely report this to the prefecture—he can’t avoid responsibility. I expect officials from the prefecture are already on their way. Soon, the city will be a net cast wide and tight.”

Li Youling explained steadily at his side.

“You found all this out yourself?” Gu Changqing glanced at her, surprised she had more information than he expected.

Considering Li Youling was an ordinary woman, it was impressive she’d learned so much.

“My family has old servants and several shops. News always finds its way to us,” Li Youling smiled, lips pressed together.

Gu Changqing stood and stretched. “Pack your things,” he ordered.

It was time to leave.

He hadn’t planned to bring anyone along, but now he was tempted.

Mostly because Li Youling was beautiful.

And not foolish.

He did need someone to help gather information for him.

Without another word, he leapt out the window.

After he left, Li Youling took several bundles from the cabinet and went downstairs to call Ayue.

She had thought things through these days and was well prepared.

“Ayue, in two days, give these to Old Huang and Aunt Tian, and let them go their separate ways.

“As for you, we’ve been like sisters all these years. I wanted to leave all the family shops to you, but that would only harm you. Since Father passed, countless people have been eyeing the Li family. Let them have their way.

“I’ve left letters behind. The shops will go to each manager; you give them over, and they’ll remember your kindness.

“I’m leaving the East Alley shop to you, enough to keep you clothed and fed,” Li Youling said calmly.

“Miss, where are you going? Let me come with you!” Ayue’s eyes reddened as she spoke in haste.

Li Youling sighed quietly—she and Ayue had grown up together, so she felt reluctant to part.

But she smiled and said, “I can barely protect myself now. How could I bring you along?”

“You needn’t worry about me. If I die far from home, it’s merely my fate… Mortal lives are finite… Whatever happens, it’s what I seek.

“If you care, burn an extra stick of incense for me when you pray.

“There’s nothing more to say. For these few days, act as if nothing has happened and pretend I’m still here. Wait two or three days before telling others.

“If anyone asks, say that after Father died, I struggled to keep going, but exhaustion made me leave for distant lands. Say nothing more, or you’ll only implicate yourself.”

…

Gu Changqing placed an earpiece behind his ear and, under cover of night, hurried toward Jade Spring Temple. As expected, he heard people keeping watch everywhere along the way.

He found a house a hundred meters from the temple, tossed a fog pouch down a well, and left.

By the time he returned to the Li residence, thick mist had already enveloped Jade Spring Temple.

The Yu family had been waiting for this. As soon as they saw it, they moved into action.

Even the Daoists on the city walls couldn’t stay put when they saw the mist rise; they immediately left their posts.

Gu Changqing slipped through the window of the small building and saw Li Youling had packed a small bundle.

“Let’s go!” Gu Changqing hoisted Li Youling up—she was surprisingly soft.

This girl was indeed soft…

With that thought, he slipped into the night, scaled the wall, and headed east into the mountains.

Not long after Gu Changqing left, the Daoists rushed back to the city walls.

Outside the mist at Jade Spring Temple, Daoist Xu, Yu Wentao, and a middle-aged cultivator stood in three separate places.

Below, many Yu family disciples ran about near the mist with torches.

After an hour, as the mist slowly dispersed, Yu Wentao’s expression darkened.

They had fallen for the trick!

Their quarry had surely fled the city by now!

A white-clad woman with a cold expression stood atop a high place, thought for a moment, then left the city heading north.

If that youth had left, he might be headed south to the Yu family’s territory in Yuanhe, or north to the prefecture.

She planned to wait at the prefecture, where news from every quarter arrived swiftly—even if a massacre occurred somewhere, she’d hear of it first.

But thinking of how slippery he was, and how she hadn’t caught him after all this time, she sent out a flying message.

…

Once in the forest, Gu Changqing set Li Youling down.

“Young Master…” Li Youling cried like a rain-soaked pear blossom, weeping and retching.

When Gu Changqing carried her over his shoulder and leaped from the city wall, he hadn’t noticed anything, but Li Youling’s stomach was pressed against his shoulder, turning her insides upside down.

After she finished vomiting, Gu Changqing tucked her under his arm, flitting through the woods like a shadow.

Gu Changqing was tall and strong, and carrying her was effortless.

With his third-level Qi training, the forest was as easy to traverse as flat ground.

At dawn, he finally stopped by a creek, took out two self-heating rice meals and canned beef to eat.

Li Youling watched Gu Changqing use the self-heating rice: just add water, and it was hot in a moment.

She found it novel, thinking it must be some cultivator’s device.

As for the taste… it was acceptable.

But it paled compared to the fare from the city taverns, so she wasn’t especially impressed.

Her eyes darted around.

“Young Master, there’s a deer over there!”

“Young Master, look! Butterflies!”

“Young Master…”

Li Youling had never left the city so far before, never entered a forest like this—in the past, she’d only gone for short outings outside the city.

After her father’s death, even her two uncles eyed her inheritance, so she never dared relax.

Now, leaving Pingyao behind and putting everything aside, she felt as if she’d broken free from a cage, with the vast sky ahead.

Soon she was bouncing with excitement.

Everything was new to her; her eyes sparkled with life.

She hopped over to Gu Changqing. “Young Master, where are we going?”

“I don’t know.” Gu Changqing mused—find food… no, find more cultivators.

To find such a place, he first needed to locate another cultivator.

“To the north is Shiqian; northeast is Tongren; further northeast is Huiong Prefecture. To leave Nanzhou, you must pass through Huiong.

“But the Yu family will surely think of this and send people to search for you everywhere.

“The other route is over Dayang Mountain to Sinan, then north to Huiong. Dayang Mountain stretches hundreds of miles, and they say there are monsters in the hills. Of ten herb gatherers who enter, half never return.”

Li Youling took a hand-drawn map from her bundle and showed it to Gu Changqing.

She was always eager to prove herself useful.

And it was convenient to have her around.

Gu Changqing was intrigued by the mountain monsters, but he had no intention of wandering deep in the wilds every day.

It was easier to find cultivators.

Cultivators could drop techniques, magical items, and other things—monsters couldn’t compete.

“To Shiqian!”

In this world, the counties weren’t far apart—Shiqian was only two hundred li away.

They set out soon after, following the official road but staying within the woods, never straying too far.

They paused on a mountain peak to rest; Li Youling picked a red flower and looked delighted.

Gu Changqing surveyed the surroundings, then heard the sound of hooves on the distant road. Through a gap in the woods, he saw a group of riders speeding from Pingyao to Shiqian.

Fast horses from Pingyao to Shiqian—the Yu family, surely.

Without hesitation, Gu Changqing grabbed Li Youling and dashed down the mountain. She let out a startled cry.

He couldn’t help it.

Even if he let them pass, they’d search for him ahead.

If he killed them, they’d search for him anyway.

So why let them pass?

Besides, he might learn something useful from them.

Moments later, Gu Changqing stood atop a large stone, watching six riders speed by below.

Four were Yu family disciples, two at the front and two at the rear.

Two others wore Daoist robes.

The horse in the middle was taller than the rest and strikingly spirited. A Daoist sat cross-legged atop it, rising and falling with its motion, dressed differently from the other Daoist.

“That’s Daoist Xu, isn’t it?” Gu Changqing asked directly.

“Young Master, judging by his clothes, it’s him!”

Gu Changqing grinned, his eyes flashing with ferocity. He leaped down, landing on another stone mid-way, which exploded under his weight.

His whole body pulsed with veins like snakes winding across his skin, exuding a murderous air as he charged straight for Daoist Xu.

Daoist Xu dared pursue him—he’d kill him first.

(End of chapter)