Chapter 212: The Gentleman is Constantly Striving

Du Gu Qingli's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected that just coming to say goodbye to a "friend" would lead her to discover signs of witchcraft, especially at an altar built by the Emperor himself.

It seemed she had accidentally stumbled into a serious political affair.

Yet, a demonic cultivator and a direct disciple of a Sacred Land both disregarded this kind of political affair, which would normally make people avoid it. Instead, they were eagerly curious to uncover the truth.

If it was a "blood vessel," then blood must be flowing through it.

Following the direction of the blood flow, their search quickly led them to the central chamber.

It was as if blood vessels from all directions converged there, making the chamber the heart.

However, Lu Xingzhou had already examined this "heart," which was completely filled in. When he first saw it, he assumed it was a design flaw, but now it was clear there was another reason.

Lu Xingzhou immediately set up a sound-isolating array, then, without a word, punched into it. Water and fire exploded, blowing a massive hole.

Then, talismans ignited, activating the Five Ghosts Transportation spell. In no time, with grunts and groans, all the bricks and stones inside were cleared out.

Du Gu Qingli: "..."

More than once, she felt that Dao cultivators were more practical than martial cultivators. And come to think of it, her master seemed to know everything, so why had she only taught her swordsmanship?

With the chamber cleared, a pattern carved into the ground, remarkably similar to a heart, was clearly visible. However, it was in a dormant state, and the blood flowing from the surrounding "blood vessels" was meaningless here, emptying into nothing.

Lu Xingzhou knelt to examine it. "Judging by this," he said, "it was originally a form of witchcraft, and its design could correspond to the Emperor's illness. But the spell seems to have failed, which is why this place was abandoned. However, I don't understand witchcraft..."

Du Gu Qingli, equally puzzled, asked, "How does this work?"

Lu Xingzhou glanced at her, his gaze somewhat unreadable.

Du Gu Qingli looked at herself strangely, "What's with that look?" she asked.

"Are you sure you don't know witchcraft?"

"Of course not," she replied. "Besides swordsmanship, I only know a few ice-based spells, and those are due to my innate talent."

Lu Xingzhou fell silent. "Your technique of pulling hair from a distance," he said, "isn't that witchcraft?"

Du Gu Qingli gasped and stepped back: "H-how did you know...?"

"It really was you!" Lu Xingzhou exclaimed, seething. "What did I ever do to offend you that you'd torment me like this!"

He had been racking his brains for days, trying to figure out which scoundrel had done it. Yet, apart from the day Pei Chuyun cut some hair and gave it to Du Gu Qingli to wrap around her finger, there could be no other suspect.

He simply couldn't bring himself to believe that such a ridiculous thing was done by "Little White Hair"—he wouldn't even dare to guess that! It would have been more understandable if Pei Chuyun had kept a strand to cast a spell.

But it was true!

Du Gu Qingli, feeling guilty, stepped back again. "It's just pulling your hair, why are you so angry?" she muttered. "You cut a lock of my hair too..."

"I swear..." Lu Xingzhou, at a loss for words, finally said, "Just don't pull it anymore. If you do it again, I'll..."

Du Gu Qingli stared at him steadily, her eyes perfectly clear, as if to say, "You can pull my hair too; I'm not afraid."

Lu Xingzhou, angered, took a few steps closer: "If you pull it again, I'll kiss you!"

Du Gu Qingli reacted instantly: "You can't!"

"Then you can't pull mine either!"

A'nuo squatted to the side, feeling that these two were somehow more childish than she was. What kind of conversation was this...?

"Fine, I won't pull it, it's not like I enjoy it..." Du Gu Qingli said seriously. "I also considered later that if your hair were accidentally pulled during combat, it could be dangerous. So yes, it really shouldn't be pulled carelessly."

Lu Xingzhou let out a long sigh of relief. "That's good," he said. "By the way, if that's not witchcraft, then what is it?"

"It's truly not. It should be considered a type of immortal art."

The atmosphere grew cold.

None of them understood witchcraft. So even if they saw signs of it here, they wouldn't know its specific function or why it had stopped. Wouldn't this investigation be a dead end?

Lu Xingzhou thought for a moment, then suddenly cut his finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the heart-shaped carving.

The heart's color brightened, as if it had begun to beat.

While they didn't understand witchcraft, as long as there was an energy reaction, they could naturally make a rough judgment based on the energy flow.

Lu Xingzhou and Du Gu Qingli's expressions simultaneously turned grim. They said in unison, "A'nuo, stand back; go outside immediately."

A'nuo instantly vanished.

Lu Xingzhou whispered, "There's a demonic corpse underground. This witchcraft extracts the power of the bloodline from the demonic corpse and feeds it to the Emperor. This is a case of drinking poison to quench thirst."

"Not all witchcraft is evil; some forms are even righteous, but this is a typical evil spell," Du Gu Qingli said. "Since this method can draw demonic power, it can naturally draw human power too... What if one day the Emperor decides to use humans..."

Lu Xingzhou pursed his lips. He had never been afraid to assume the worst of feudal emperors; it was all too normal for an emperor to do such things for his own health. And since the Huo family always handled these dirty deeds for the Emperor, how could ordinary scandals ever bring them down?

In fact, it was unknown how many of the Huo family's scandals were originally carried out on the Emperor's behalf, so what could they even be used for against them?

"There's a problem with the ley lines here," Lu Xingzhou finally concluded after a long examination. "I don't know if there was an issue with the quality of the core materials, or if someone interfered, but the effect of this witchcraft is very poor. The Emperor likely didn't receive much of the demonic bloodline power he sought; instead, he absorbed a lot of chaotic demonic energy. The ritual wasn't as effective as expected, and that's the main reason for its ultimate abandonment."

Du Gu Qingli whispered, "To spend so much effort and resources to build such an altar, only to abandon it after one unsatisfactory use..."

The Emperor's Imperial Scripture was indeed not a good cultivation method.

Lu Xingzhou, however, was considering something else entirely, his expression unreadable.

This witchcraft itself should have been more effective. The Emperor must have investigated it, but the investigators, whether intentionally concealing something or for another reason, didn't tell the truth, making the Emperor think the effect was poor and thus abandoning it.

Since Lady Ye knew about this, Lu Xingzhou felt it was eighty percent likely that she was involved and had caused the interference and disruption. It was also very likely that Huo Heng was involved, for example, by using slightly inferior materials, which would have made Lady Ye's interference and disruption easier and traceless.

If, in order to accuse Huo Heng, this matter were told to the Emperor—even if Lady Ye's involvement was concealed and only Huo Heng's use of inferior materials was highlighted—what consequences would that trigger?

While Huo Heng would certainly be noted by the Emperor, the altar would be reactivated.

Sacrificing demons now would inevitably lead to sacrificing humans later.

This matter could not be revealed.

After a long while, Lu Xingzhou finally whispered, "It cannot be revealed."

Du Gu Qingli turned to look at him.

She knew very well Lu Xingzhou's obsession with retaliating against the Huo family, yet with the opportunity right in front of him, he chose to give it up.

"No revenge?"

"There are many ways to get revenge, not just this one path, so why bother?" Lu Xingzhou smiled casually and stood up straight. "Besides, this isn't a major case; it's not worth that much."

A flicker of admiration passed through Du Gu Qingli's eyes, but she said nothing more. Instead, she changed the subject. "Demons have never been escorted to the capital for imprisonment; they are always executed on sight. So there shouldn't be any demons in the capital. Where did this demon come from? Do you want to investigate?"

"No, I won't investigate. It's just a few possible sources," Lu Xingzhou chuckled. "Back then, all the prefects were demons; did you really think the Emperor didn't know? I'm too lazy to guess what he's specifically thinking. Your master is here, and if she's not saying anything, why should we bother? If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up."

A hint of dissatisfaction with the Imperial Advisor was evident in his words, and Du Gu Qingli, sensing it, felt a little embarrassed. "Master... it's not easy for her either," she murmured.

"I know, I'm not blaming her."

"Then..." Du Gu Qingli lowered her gaze. "I'll go now?"

Lu Xingzhou cut a lock of his hair and handed it over. "This one is shinier," he said. "Swap it out; you can throw the old one away."

"What's the meaning of it being shiny or not?" she asked. "Why would I collect your hair?"

"Then why didn't you throw the old one away?"

Du Gu Qingli swiftly discarded the previous hairs.

Lu Xingzhou, as if seeing a fuse to a fire, quickly went up and stomped on them several times, crushing them into ashes.

Du Gu Qingli: "..."

"Take it," Lu Xingzhou said, pushing the new lock of hair into her hand without explanation.

"I don't want it."

"Look, I have yours, so it's only fair you have mine, isn't it?"

She fell into thought.

"As you said, we're going thousands of miles apart, with no fixed date for reunion. Friends parting ways should always leave something as a memento, just like having a friend who accompanies you through life and death, right?"

Du Gu Qingli wanted to refuse, but suddenly recalled her master's words: "Let nature take its course; this is the Way."

What did "nature" mean?

She wanted to say goodbye to him, so she came.

Did she want to keep a memento? Yes.

Then that was it.

So, in the end, she said nothing and silently took the lock of hair.

But did she want a deeper entanglement with him?

Actually, no.

Although he thought "Little White Hair" was beautiful, and I also thought he was beautiful... but there are many things in the world more important than beauty, aren't there?

Du Gu Qingli put away the hair and finally said, "Since you don't want any further action on this matter, then I should proceed with my mission. We'll meet again."

After speaking, she turned and left.

Behind her, Lu Xingzhou remained silent, and Du Gu Qingli suddenly felt relaxed, finding this state very comfortable.

Her master had been right; just let nature take its course. Perhaps next time they met, they wouldn't need to be so tense...

Lu Xingzhou watched her figure disappear, saying nothing more.

A multitude of matters—whether family vengeance or official business, or the endless emotional entanglements around him, and now her dangerous mission—none of them were suitable to be stirred up at this moment.

There were many things in the world more important than white hair and blue eyes.

Lu Xingzhou looked down at the pulsating heart-like shape on the ground and suddenly made a gesture with his hand.

The black flames of the Soul Banner silently burned, utterly destroying the heart pattern.

Then he returned to the outside of the altar and casually led A'nuo back to the capital.

"So you gave up?" Ye Tinglan was still sitting in his office, drinking tea, as if he had been waiting specifically for him.

Lu Xingzhou said calmly, "Sir, isn't this the result you wished to see?"

"I only wanted to see your own choice."

"Actually, no test was needed; I would only make this choice anyway," Lu Xingzhou said calmly. "It's just that I have some regrets."

"Regrets that you couldn't use this to deal with Huo Heng?"

"No, my regret is that I thought I had received help and guidance, but it turned out to be just a boring test." Lu Xingzhou smiled. "Sheng Yuanyao said that the Imperial Advisor once cast a divination for me, saying that 'the deer has no park keeper'... Now it seems it has come true. Even the master I've acknowledged isn't willing to be that park keeper, so it seems I'm destined not to find one."

Ye Tinglan was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Divinations are merely temporary reflections, not immutable. 'A gentleman strives constantly, and will eventually leap from the depths.'"

"Sir, you also understand divination?"

"A little."

"Then when will this 'no park keeper' omen of mine change?"

Ye Tinglan smiled faintly. "Perhaps... right now?"