Chapter 204: Burnt Ruins and Angelica

Gu Mo didn't quite understand the game of thrones, nor had he ever interacted with royalty. However, he could grasp the saying, "The imperial family has no kin." Both in his previous life and this one, history clearly recorded countless brutal struggles for succession.

So, Gu Mo naturally understood just how much trouble a prince qualified to be crown prince could be!

"With so much trouble involved, Senior Qi, you still dare to get involved?" Gu Mo asked, surprised.

Qi Miaoxuan waved his hand and said, "I'm just repaying a favor. I have no intention of serving this Second Prince. I'm telling you all this because I want to warn you. With your martial arts prowess, the Second Prince will undoubtedly try every means to recruit you. He'll promise you high official positions, generous stipends, glory, wealth, and even a place among the highest officials.

But I advise you not to be tempted by any of it. Gu Mo, you are naturally suited for the jianghu. The imperial court is not for you. In the jianghu, you might become the greatest master under heaven, but in a place like the court, where people kill without shedding blood, you'd surely be reduced to dust. Those who thrive in the court and officialdom are utterly ruthless; you, Gu Mo, are too noble and lack proper reverence for power. You won't become that kind of person."

Gu Mo smiled and said, "Senior Qi, rest assured, I have no interest in the imperial court or officialdom. I just want to be a 'Blade Bearer,' roam the jianghu, and rest whenever I'm tired. The intrigues of officialdom hold no appeal for me."

"It's good that you think that way."

Qi Miaoxuan unstoppered the wine gourd at his waist and took a swig. "I was truly afraid you'd get a wild idea and join officialdom. If that happened, your martial heart would lose its purity, and your martial path would end.

I was hoping that one day you'd beat that scoundrel Su Qianqiu to a pulp and stomp all over him! Damn it, I've disliked him for ages. If he's the greatest under heaven, then he's the greatest, but he just has to pretend, calling himself 'Second Under Heaven.' To hell with him! Gu Mo, when you get the chance, beat him, beat him to death!"

The name Su Qianqiu, 'Second Under Heaven,' might be unknown to ordinary people, but those in the jianghu certainly knew it. This was because the man, despite calling himself 'Second Under Heaven,' was actually the greatest, single-handedly defending an entire nation. His country, Southern Jin, a small state, managed to survive the current conflict and confrontation among various nations precisely because it produced a Sword God, Su Qianqiu.

Su Qianqiu, known as the Sword God, called himself 'Second Under Heaven' because he had once fought Jiang Ruoxu, the previous 'Greatest Sword Saint Under Heaven,' and suffered a devastating defeat.

Later, Jiang Ruoxu became consumed by his sword arts, went mad, and disappeared after being hunted down by the martial arts world. He hadn't been seen in thirty years, and the jianghu generally believed him dead. However, Su Qianqiu paid no mind, for he consistently maintained that even the Jiang Ruoxu of thirty years ago was still beyond his defeat, and therefore, he was only fit to be called 'Second Under Heaven.'

As the youngest Grandmaster under heaven, and specifically a Grandmaster of internal martial arts, many in the jianghu believed Gu Mo might surpass Su Qianqiu, or at least equal him when Su Qianqiu aged.

However, Gu Mo never paid much attention to such talk. After all, he had no grievances with Su Qianqiu, nor did he harbor any obsession with becoming the 'Greatest Under Heaven.'

Still, hearing Qi Miaoxuan's resentful words so suddenly, Gu Mo was momentarily taken aback and asked, confused, "Senior Qi, do you have a grudge against Su Qianqiu?"

"No," Qi Miaoxuan replied, "I've only met him once."

"Then why do you want me to beat him up?" Gu Mo asked.

"I just can't stand him," Qi Miaoxuan said. "Originally, Su Qianqiu calling himself 'Second Under Heaven' made me feel he was putting on airs, but I thought it was tolerable. However, ten years ago, I happened to meet him, and honestly, I've never met anyone so pretentious in my life. He kept saying things like, 'A master is lonely like falling snow,' and 'The greatest martial artist is very solitary'... I simply couldn't defeat him, otherwise, I would have slapped him silly!"

Gu Mo was speechless.

If Qi Miaoxuan hadn't exaggerated, then Su Qianqiu was indeed quite pretentious.

As the few of them chatted, a mixed chorus of footsteps sounded from outside the room.

It was the Second Prince, Princess Chengyang, Du Sha, and a group of Six Doors experts who had arrived.

The Second Prince was quite courteous, standing outside the door and bowing with cupped hands. "Senior Qi, Hero Gu, Heroine Gu, I apologize for the abrupt intrusion. Please forgive me. Might you all be available now?"

"Alright," Qi Miaoxuan waved his hand, "Come in. Since you've come yourselves, it saves me the trouble of finding you."

Immediately, the Second Prince, Princess Chengyang, and Du Sha entered the room. The already small space suddenly felt a bit crowded.

The Second Prince bowed respectfully to Qi Miaoxuan, saying, "Thank you, Senior Qi, for traveling so far on my behalf." Then, he bowed to Gu Mo and Gu Chudong with cupped hands. "Thank you, Hero Gu and Heroine Gu, for saving my life last night. I should have come in person to express my gratitude then, but I considered it was late and feared disturbing your rest. For your life-saving kindness, Zhongqing will never forget it."

Gu Mo waved his hand. "Your Highness is too kind. It was merely a coincidence and a small gesture; please don't take it to heart."

The Second Prince continued, "A life-saving favor is something I dare not forget..."

"Save the pleasantries for later," Qi Miaoxuan interrupted the Second Prince. "First, come let me examine how far the poison has progressed. Oh, and by the way, let me make something clear beforehand. You know the prerequisites for me to treat illness or poison, right?"

Princess Chengyang said, "One heavenly treasure and ten thousand taels of silver are all prepared."

As she spoke, Princess Chengyang placed a sandalwood box she had been holding in her embrace onto the table. She slowly opened it to reveal a fist-sized crimson pearl. Afterward, she placed a stack of silver notes on the table.

Qi Miaoxuan unceremoniously took the items and said, "Also, in my presence, there are only doctors and patients. I don't care about princes or princesses. If you find anything offensive during my treatment, just endure it. If you truly can't stand it, then I won't treat you, but the consultation fee will not be refunded."

The Second Prince quickly said, "Senior, please proceed with the treatment. Just treat me as an ordinary patient."

Du Sha and Princess Chengyang remained silent. Du Sha stepped aside to observe, and Princess Chengyang also moved away, but she retreated to Gu Chudong's side, intently gazing at her.

Gu Chudong didn't have a good impression of Princess Chengyang. From their first meeting yesterday, she felt the princess was very arrogant, always acting superior and looking down on people.

Seeing Princess Chengyang approach, Gu Chudong immediately took a step aside to create distance, but unexpectedly, Princess Chengyang also stepped forward.

The room was only so big, and Gu Chudong had nowhere left to retreat. Moreover, retreating further would seem too deliberate. So, Gu Chudong pretended not to notice and intently watched Qi Miaoxuan take the Second Prince's pulse.

"My name is Li Li, the 'Li' from 'carp.' You can also call me Chengyang." Princess Chengyang tilted her head, looking at Gu Chudong with a face full of smiles.

Gu Chudong was a polite person. Although she found Princess Chengyang arrogant, no conflict had occurred, and since the princess initiated conversation, it wouldn't be good to ignore her. At the same time, she was puzzled, wondering why this haughty princess would actively seek to speak with her, so she replied, "My name is Gu Chudong."

"I know your name is Gu Chudong," Princess Chengyang said. "Your brother is Gu Mo, the Great Hero of Yunzhou, one of the Ten Grandmasters of the Qian Kingdom, and the 'Blade Bearer Number One Under Heaven.' You two grew up relying on each other."

Hearing Princess Chengyang rattle off Gu Mo's titles as if reciting her treasured possessions, Gu Chudong immediately had a suspicion: Princess Chengyang was likely approaching her because of her brother, seemingly quite admiring of him.

All at once, she suddenly found Princess Chengyang much more agreeable and less cold.

Princess Chengyang then asked, "How old are you this year?" Immediately after, she added, "How old is your brother? I heard he's the youngest Grandmaster of internal martial arts under heaven."

Gu Chudong immediately replied with pride, "Exactly! My brother is only just over twenty-one..."

Princess Chengyang and Gu Chudong began chatting in the corner.

Meanwhile, Qi Miaoxuan had finished examining the Second Prince, Li Zhongqing, and said, "The main poison is indeed Verdant Spirit Saliva, but there's more than one auxiliary poison—there are thirteen in total. The methods used varied, so it seems many people wanted you dead. However, you're quite lucky; those who poisoned you didn't coordinate their efforts. The fourteen types of poison happened to intertwine in a mutually beneficial and mutually restrictive way. If there was one less or one more, upsetting the balance, you would have died. I truly don't know whether to say you have good fortune or bad."

The Second Prince, Li Zhongqing, gave a helpless smile. "Can it be cured?"

"Remove the 'can it' part," Qi Miaoxuan said. "I, Qi Miaoxuan, have never failed after accepting a consultation fee. However, your case is a bit troublesome; it can't be cleared quickly. Be prepared to stay here for at least seven days."

Li Zhongqing breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Please, Senior, save me!"

Qi Miaoxuan nodded, then looked at Gu Mo and said, "Hero Gu, you'll have to help me. For three days, I'll clear the thirteen auxiliary poisons. I'll use silver needles to contain the Verdant Spirit Saliva poison, but I'll need you to use your extreme cold True Qi, channeled through my silver needles, to completely seal it. Three days, that's no problem, right?"

Gu Mo nodded slightly. "Senior, feel free to give your instructions."

Qi Miaoxuan smiled faintly.

Immediately, he opened his medicine chest, took out a pile of bottles and jars, prepared a handful of pills for the Second Prince to take, and then began to apply the needles. With each needle inserted, Gu Mo infused it with his Bright Jade True Qi mixed with Frost True Qi.

Du Sha, meanwhile, quickly relayed orders.

In an instant, the hundreds of Six Doors constables in the entire village entered a state of heightened alert.

Evening came, and the sun began to set.

In a sealed room, the Second Prince, Li Zhongqing, was naked, soaking in a large wooden tub. Steam rose from the water, where medicinal herbs were bubbling.

Qi Miaoxuan was grinding herbs nearby, while Gu Mo continuously checked the Frost True Qi infused in the silver needles.

Suddenly, a colossal roar echoed from afar, like an ancient beast breaking free from its seal. It vibrated ear drums painfully and sent shivers through one's soul.

The colossal roar still reverberated between heaven and earth, followed by wave after wave of thunderous rumbling. Each sound was like the sky collapsing and the earth rending, thousands of bolts of lightning striking simultaneously, or perhaps a stampede of a thousand armies, bringing with it a destructive force. The ground beneath them trembled violently under the immense sound, as if about to sink into oblivion.

"What's going on?"

Qi Miaoxuan was greatly alarmed. His body swayed, scattering all the dregs from the medicine pot in his hand. The Second Prince in the wooden tub also abruptly opened his eyes.

Gu Mo immediately pushed the door open and went out.

At that moment, the colossal roar continued, and the earth incessantly shook and vibrated, kicking up dust into the air.

As soon as he stepped out, he ran into Du Sha, who was rushing in. "The Vermillion Ruins... the Vermillion Ruins have appeared!"

In the village, everyone was alarmed, and the numerous Six Doors constables all entered a state of heightened alert.

Gu Mo, Gu Chudong, Qi Miaoxuan, Du Sha, and a few others not bound by Six Doors orders quickly rushed out, each employing their qinggong to soar onto the mountain ridge above the village.

In that moment, everyone except Gu Mo witnessed a shocking sight. They stared fixedly at the distant desert, which resembled an apocalyptic landscape.

Gale-force winds, like a pack of savage beasts unleashed from their cages, rampaged across the vast desert, roaring wildly. Sand and dust, swept up by the gales, surged and churned like a mighty black tide, seemingly intent on burying the entire world in endless chaos.

Tornadoes ripped from the ground, like massive black hands reaching from the abyss of hell, clawing and writhing with destructive power, attempting to suck the entire desert into their endless dark vortex.

The world was shrouded in gloom; sunlight was completely blocked, leaving only a thick, inky darkness. The ground underfoot could not bear the strain, shaking and trembling violently, each tremor feeling as though it would wrench one's soul from their body.

Amidst this terrifying expanse of yellow sand, the outline of an ancient city emerged faintly. The mottled marks on its city walls appeared even more eerie and unpredictable under the raging, horrifying dust tornadoes.

In reality, Deep Well Village was very far from that dust storm, at least twenty li away. Yet, the scene there was so immense that even from such a distance, its grandeur could still be seen and felt.

"Someone's heading there."

Princess Chengyang, Li Li, suddenly pointed to a distant mountain peak and asked, "Are those people insane?"

Everyone looked and indeed saw a group of people on horseback rushing swiftly towards the dust storm.

"People die for wealth, just as birds die for food!" Qi Miaoxuan patted the sand from his face and slowly said, "The Vermillion Ruins are rumored to contain treasures that could rival a nation's wealth. No, rather, they contain the entire treasury of a former kingdom, along with countless divine weapons and secret martial arts manuals. Forget dust storms, even if it were a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, people would still brave it."

Li Li asked, surprised, "But that's a dust storm! If you get caught in it, how can you survive?"

Qi Miaoxuan unhooked the wine gourd from his waist and chuckled. "You young ones, you haven't heard of the Vermillion Ruins. Even if you know a little, it's probably just the name.

Old Qi here doesn't have great skills, but I've lived long. Forty years ago, I saw the Vermillion Ruins appear once. Just you wait and see; in a little while, that dust storm will vanish, and the legendary ancient city of Vermillion Ruins will fully emerge. Those who are rushing there now must know the rules of its appearance and are trying to be the first to enter!"

Gu Chudong quickly asked, "Senior Qi, but we heard that the Vermillion Ruins are very dangerous, and almost no one has ever come out alive?"

Qi Miaoxuan chuckled. "You'd still need the ability to get in first." As he spoke, Qi Miaoxuan looked at Du Sha and said, "Chief Constable Du, Yunzhou borders this desert. Surely your Six Doors in Yunzhou must have some records regarding this, right?"

Du Sha nodded slightly. "The Vermillion Ruins have appeared nine times to date, so the Six Doors naturally have documented records. However, the records are sparse, only stating that the ancient city that appears is actually a mirage. Therefore, many people go each time, but very few actually find an entrance and get in.

Furthermore, the Vermillion Ruins are suspected to be a grand formation. Its entrances open and close at any time, and their locations are different each time. No one has yet identified what kind of formation it is. Moreover, the ancient city's mirage frequently shifts its position, making it very difficult to pinpoint."

Qi Miaoxuan nodded. "What I know is the same. The mirage appears at different times and locations, but the entrances are always within the mirage itself. That's why people rush there the moment they see the ancient city, regardless of the dust, because a slight oversight means they'll miss it, and they won't know where the city will appear next."

Gu Chudong asked, "Doesn't this ancient city only appear for one day?"

Qi Miaoxuan shook his head. "Of course not. It appears every forty years on the sixteenth day of the eleventh lunar month. After that, it will periodically appear and disappear in the desert, and so far, no one has found a pattern. Sometimes it stays for a long time, possibly a day or half a day, other times only for an hour or half an hour, and it usually lasts for about half a month."

"Then why does it seem like not many people in the Northern Desert pay attention to this matter?" Gu Chudong wondered.

Qi Miaoxuan chuckled. "Girl, it doesn't appear every four months, nor every four years; it's every forty years. How many people would believe a legend about something suspected to be a mirage, a legend that's been passed down for forty years? Moreover, mirages are common in the desert.

Let alone forty years; even if it appeared every ten years, not many would believe it. And most importantly, it has always remained just a legend. No one has ever truly entered and then exited, nor have there been any reports of anyone bringing back treasures or secret martial arts manuals from within. That makes it even less credible."

Gu Chudong asked, perplexed, "If it's so incredible, then why, after hundreds of years, do people still go every time it appears?"

Qi Miaoxuan smiled and said, "People die for wealth, just as birds die for food. The jianghu never lacks desperadoes; such people won't miss any opportunity. And, well... *hehe*, it's hard to say there isn't someone behind the scenes manipulating this matter, ensuring the rumors of the Vermillion Ruins persist."

"What's the purpose?"

"How would I know?" Qi Miaoxuan said helplessly. "I'm just guessing!"

With that, Qi Miaoxuan leaned closer to Gu Mo and said with a grin, "Hey, Gu Mo, Hero Gu, why not give it a try? With your martial arts, there's a great guarantee of success. Who knows, there might really be treasures that could rival a nation's wealth and invincible martial arts manuals inside!"

"Why don't you go?"

"My martial arts are inferior," Qi Miaoxuan said, chuckling. "How about this: if you go, I'll go too? You protect me, and I'll guarantee to heal your injuries. As long as you don't die instantly, I can definitely save your life. We'll be partners!"

Gu Mo waved his hand. "Forget it. I have enough martial arts to practice on my own. As for money and treasures, I'm not ambitious; I just like spending the bounty I earn as a 'Blade Bearer'."

Actually, the credibility of the Vermillion Ruins was quite high. While it was unclear if it contained treasures rivaling a nation's wealth, there was a high probability of finding divine martial arts manuals inside. This was because when he killed Bai Qiliao earlier, Gu Mo learned that He Changqing had very likely brought out the initial version of the Corpse Cultivation Method from the Vermillion Ruins back then.

Although the Corpse Cultivation Method wasn't as strong as imagined, its training method, which bypassed the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, was indeed very unique and remarkable. Furthermore, the fact that He Changqing only brought out one Corpse Cultivation Method didn't mean it was the only one inside.

However, it held no appeal for Gu Mo.

He had so many martial arts, all cultivated through his own efforts. Even if he were given several divine martial arts manuals to train with, he wouldn't be very interested. Moreover, he possessed the system, the greatest martial arts treasury, making the Vermillion Ruins, in comparison, at best a small box with no allure for him.

As for wealth, he always believed that having enough was sufficient.

Immediately, Gu Mo turned and left.

Seeing Gu Mo turn to leave, Qi Miaoxuan hastily followed. "Hey, Gu Mo, are you really not interested?"

"I say, you're already seventy or eighty, why is your curiosity still so strong?"

"The greatest under heaven, wealth rivaling a nation?"

Soon after, Du Sha, Li Li, and their party also began to return.

Li Li walked beside Gu Chudong and asked, "Chudong, what do you think of those Vermillion Ruins?"

"Me?" Gu Chudong shook her head. "I don't really have an opinion. If my brother goes, I'll go; if he doesn't, I won't. What about you?"

Li Li thought for a moment and said, "I'm a princess, so I don't lack money. The Royal Martial Repository also has many divine martial arts manuals; if I want to learn, I can do so anytime. I'm definitely not interested in those ruins. Besides, according to legend, the Vermillion Ruins are just the capital of a small kingdom, surely incomparable to our Great Qian. I'm not even interested in the martial arts of our Great Qian imperial city."

Gu Chudong nodded. "It sounds like what you said; you already have better versions of anything found in the Vermillion Ruins."

"If you like, I can give them to you," Li Li said.

"What sort of things?" Gu Chudong asked.

"Martial arts manuals, gold, silver, and jewels," Li Li replied, clasping her hands behind her back and skipping ahead of Gu Chudong. She looked up at Gu Chudong and said, "Chudong, come with me to the capital! Whatever martial arts you want to learn, I'll get them for you from the Royal Martial Repository. And oh, I'll tell you a secret: I have a small private treasury with tons of money. I can take you around the capital, and you can buy anything you want!"

"Maybe later!"

Gu Chudong said, "I'll be going home with my brother to celebrate the New Year in a few days. Later, if I get a chance to visit the capital, I'll come find you, and you can take me sightseeing then."

"Okay, it's a deal then!"

Li Li said very seriously, "Once I return this time, I'll notify the gatekeepers and guards at my residence. When you go to the capital, just come directly to the Princess's Manor to find me. I no longer live in the palace; I've had my own manor for several years now, so you can stay at my home then."

Gu Chudong nodded. "Okay."

Just as Qi Miaoxuan had predicted.

Not long after the Vermillion Ruins appeared, the dust storm vanished, leaving only an ancient city in the desert. However, the city's appearance didn't last long; it disappeared early the next morning.

As for where it would appear next, no one knew.

Gu Mo paid no mind and didn't give it much attention. He simply stayed in the village, helping the Second Prince, Li Zhongqing, to expel the poison, while also consulting Qi Miaoxuan on medical matters.

Although his mastery of medical and poison scriptures made him a medical expert in the jianghu, the gap between his medical skills and Qi Miaoxuan's was akin to the difference in martial arts prowess between Zhuo Qingfeng and Qi Tianshu.

By the end of the third day, the thirteen auxiliary poisons in Li Zhongqing's body were completely cleared. Qi Miaoxuan then began to specifically target the Verdant Spirit Saliva poison, no longer requiring Gu Mo's extreme cold True Qi.

Early the next morning, Gu Mo and Gu Chudong departed with Chen Xiuyuan. More precisely, Chen Xiuyuan led the way for them towards Yunzhou.

Gu Mo and Gu Chudong decided not to return to Changling County. Instead, they set off from Deep Well Village and took a different route back to Yunzhou, with Chen Xiuyuan guiding them along a relatively shorter path.

As for the wanted criminals they had killed, they naturally didn't need to worry; the Six Doors would not withhold their bounty.

In the early morning, the rising sun painted the sand dunes red. Hoofbeats echoed from the village, startling a few sand sparrows that swept past the crumbling walls, their wings slicing through the silken morning light.

Du Sha, Qi Miaoxuan, and Li Zhongqing escorted Gu Mo and the others out of the village. At their farewell, Li Zhongqing spoke at length with Gu Mo, but his words were all of gratitude, lacking the recruitment offers Gu Mo had anticipated.

On the other side, Li Li held Gu Chudong's hand and chattered on for a long time before finally letting go.

Gu Chudong mounted her camel, waved to Li Li, and quickly rode to catch up with Gu Mo.

"What did Li Li talk to you about for so long?" Gu Mo asked.

Gu Chudong said, "She asked me to remember to write to her and send it to the capital. She also said that once she returns to the capital, she'll write to me too."

Gu Mo chuckled. "Is she trying to become good friends with you?"

Gu Chudong sighed. "Making friends and having companions is nice, but I'm just afraid she has ulterior motives, intentionally approaching me to recruit you for the Second Prince, Li Zhongqing."

"So, what do you feel about it?" Gu Mo asked.

"I can't say for sure," Gu Chudong replied. "I feel like she doesn't have many ulterior motives, but then again, she was able to personally lead people all the way from the capital to the border to meet Li Zhongqing, so she should be quite cunning. Oh well, I can't figure it out, so I won't think about it anymore. Let's hurry home for the New Year!"

Gu Mo laughed. "This time we go back, we'll have ample time to properly prepare for the New Year festivities."

"It's been a long time since I've seen Uncle Qu, Auntie Qu, and Xiaoxiao. Oh, and Tang Buyi," Gu Chudong said. "Before we left, the Tang family was arranging a blind date for Tang Buyi. I wonder how his date went?"

"That's still going on?" Gu Mo chuckled. "Well, it's normal. Tang Buyi isn't young anymore, and for a prominent family like the Tangs, lineage is the biggest taboo. If he keeps delaying marriage, his father will have to thrash him."

Gu Chudong smiled. "He's been thrashed by his father plenty of times; he probably isn't afraid of him."

Gu Mo then added, "Oh, and Shen Bai will probably be getting married soon. We'll have to go for a celebratory drink then."

Gu Chudong said, "Brother Shen and his junior apprentice sister were childhood sweethearts; they should have gotten married ages ago."

They chatted leisurely as they walked.

Gu Chudong suddenly said, "I wonder if Sister Yan has written to me?"

"She definitely has. I imagine Miss Yan must be visiting Tianzhu Mountain around this time, right?"

The sound of hooves faded, sand waves surged, leaving only a lone wisp of smoke curling lazily across the vast desert.

The morning sun rose over the great desert. The few people rode their horses, gradually moving farther away, kicking up a trail of dust as the morning light bathed them in red.

Their shadows stretched long, and the path they had come from grew shorter and shorter behind them.