Chapter Eighteen: Young Master Gu (Two-in-One)

Ning Caiyong was no stranger to her husband’s temperament, nor to the terrifying tales of "inner demons." Having no cultivation of her own, she was, beyond her beauty and lineage, the most ordinary of ladies. Her greatest pursuits were simply to serve her husband, educate their children, and manage the household. For many years, her entire world had revolved around her children; she did not even have any close female friends to speak of.

To Ning Caiyong, the fame her husband wielded abroad was merely a distant concept. At times, she felt a sense of honor, proud that her courageous husband fought for the Great Wei. Yet, most of the time, she could only smile knowingly before turning her gaze, filled with a touch of melancholy, back to the children within the Prince’s manor. Never, however, had she imagined that a day would come when she herself would have to experience such fear and unease.

Her marriage to Gu Yuye, the Prince of Zhenbei, had been a union of convenience. At the time, the Sword Pavilion had just emerged from internal strife. Ning Songjun had decapitated Feng Liu, the wielder of the "Zhengrong Sword" who had sought to fracture the Pavilion, and with a single stroke, had carved the land as if it were a boat. That strike had severed the thousand-mile radius of land surrounding the Sword Pavilion, causing it to float into the water amidst a thunderous roar, transforming it into an island within Donglong Lake. It was that feat that earned him the title of "Sword Saint."

Following the great battle, the Sword Pavilion was left exhausted and vulnerable. As the premier sect of the Liuhua Path, it naturally had no shortage of enemies. In such a time of internal and external crisis, a Sword Saint who was oblivious to worldly affairs could not sustain such a massive immortal sect. It was then that the Prince of Zhenbei, Gu Yuye, personally arrived to seek Ning Caiyong’s hand in marriage, claiming he had fallen in love at first sight during a chance meeting in Gushu. The Pavilion Master, having always doted on his eldest daughter, pondered long and hard before consulting Ning Caiyong’s wishes and finally consenting to the union. From that day on, the Sword Pavilion and the Prince of Zhenbei were bound to the same ship. With such a son-in-law, the Sword Pavilion was able to recover from its internal strife and firmly re-establish itself as the leading sect of Liuhua.

In truth, Ning Caiyong did not remember ever meeting Gu Yuye in Gushu. The first time she saw him was when he came to propose; she had hidden behind a curtain, stealing a glance. Though Gu Yuye’s expression was cold, his appearance was exemplary. As a young general, he had been spirited and dashing; as he aged, he had grown into a man of steady composure and the refined air of a scholar-warrior. When he spoke of her, his eyes would soften. It was not difficult for Ning Caiyong to imagine what such a man would be like as a husband. He was her ideal of a "suitable husband"—reliable and stable.

In the years that followed within the manor, the two had always treated each other with the utmost respect. To outsiders and herself alike, the marriage was an unmitigated success… save for their wayward son. Yet, in Ning Caiyong’s eyes, Gu Fangchen’s eccentricity and lack of progress were not inherent flaws. She had witnessed the sincerity and effort he put forth as a child, and she had seen the despair and frustration of that small boy, which was why she understood why he had gone astray. This was also why she had always defended him. Ultimately, it was because they had failed to protect the boy that he had suffered so many wounds.

…Ning Caiyong had initially believed that Gu Yuye felt the same. She thought that her husband, no matter how ruthless his methods or cold his temperament, reserved such cruelty only for his enemies. Just like that first glance, she had seen a flicker of softness and tenderness in his eyes when he mentioned her name. Even if they had raised another person's child by mistake, could Gu Yuye truly have such a heart of stone after all these years, ready to sever all ties overnight?

Ning Caiyong had still been harboring hopes of persuading Gu Yuye to keep Gu Fangchen in the manor as an adopted son. She had never expected that Gu Yuye would not only insist on killing him but would also utter such heart-piercing words. Her life’s greatest pursuit had been her family; for this, she had barely stepped outside the manor in the decades since her marriage. She had rarely even seen her own brother. And now, Gu Yuye was suspicious of her!

Ning Caiyong stumbled back, her face pale. Yet, her peerless beauty, rarely seen in this world, remained undimmed; instead, she possessed an otherworldly, fragile grace, like a beauty of old clutching her heart in distress. She was like a delicate moon reflected in water, so beautiful that one longed to cup it in their hands, yet it would slip through one's fingers with ease. Anyone who saw her would be moved to pity.

"My Lord," she said, her voice trembling, "what exactly are you suspecting?"

A flicker of hesitation crossed Gu Yuye’s eyes, but he took a deep breath and said coldly, "Whatever you think I am suspecting, that is exactly what I am suspecting."

For all these years, Ning Caiyong had never made a mistake; he could find no point to exploit, save for her constant defense of Gu Fangchen—that was the only crack in her armor. Speaking these words hurt her, but leaving Gu Fangchen was a crack in his own. Gu Yuye would not allow any flaws to exist in his own life or in the path of his biological son. Therefore, Gu Fangchen had to die.

Gu Yuye looked at Ning Caiyong, sighed, and took her hand. "Caiyong, you must be clear—he is not your son, but a needle left behind by the Demon Sect."

"Even if we step back, what right does he have to be our son? Think about it—has he not caused enough stupidity and trouble over the years? You have suffered and grieved for him, but has he ever spared you a single thought?"

"He is a naturally base and wicked seed, which is why he is so difficult to teach. Fortunately, Heaven has eyes, allowing me to be reunited with our true biological son."

"Our real son, a direct disciple of the Sage with fifth-rank divine path cultivation—that is the good son we should be proud of."

"He was almost driven to ruin by that little animal today. You should go see him. He has never known a mother’s affection all these years, yet you turn a blind eye?"

Gu Yuye gripped his wife’s hand tightly, his cold, hard eyes softening as if filled with affection. "Do not let me down again, will you?"

Ning Caiyong was silent for a moment. Just as Gu Yuye thought she had finally seen reason, she pulled her hand away, looked up, and said, word by word, "My Lord, is it truly that Chen'er is difficult to teach, or is it that you never intended to teach him well from the start?"

Gu Yuye’s pupils contracted sharply.

Ning Caiyong looked at him, her eyes suddenly appearing entirely foreign, and she said softly and mournfully, "My Lord, the moment you returned, you invited the monk Shenxiu to heal Yuandao and personally stood guard. How could his injuries be of any great concern?"

"But have you forgotten? Years ago, when Chen'er’s Dantian was destroyed, you merely returned for a fleeting glance before rushing back to the border."

"He pored over the sword manuals you left behind countless times, but because his Dantian was ruined, he could not even begin to practice. You never knew his suffering."

She paused, then added, "My Lord, Chen'er was raised by my own hands. He may not be the Prince of Zhenbei’s son, but he is Ning Caiyong’s son for the rest of his life."

"If you wish to suspect, then suspect. I, Ning Caiyong, have a clear conscience."

"If, after investigation, it is proven that Chen'er has no connection to the Demon Sect and you still refuse to acknowledge him, I will take him back to the Sword Pavilion."

With that, she turned and pushed the door open to leave. Gu Lianxian, who had been eavesdropping outside, gave a start and cried out, quickly hiding to the side. Gu Yuye walked out expressionless, his hand gripping the doorframe. Watching his wife’s retreating figure, his face turned grim. He tightened his grip subconsciously, and with a "crack," the doorframe shattered.

Gu Lianxian emerged, murmuring, "Why is Mother so stubborn?"

In her heart, she felt a trace of jealousy; of the three children in the house, Gu Fangchen had always received the most favoritism. As the saying goes, the crying child gets the milk. Although Gu Fangchen was good for nothing, he was the one Ning Caiyong had poured the most effort into, so their bond was naturally deep. Gu Yuye understood this well, but he had not expected that the once gentle-as-water Ning Caiyong would bite back when pushed to the edge. Moreover… her words seemed to carry a hint of suspicion toward his own past attitude.

The Prince of Zhenbei let out a breath and gazed at the dawning sky, his eyes narrowing. Very well, as long as it was proven that Gu Fangchen was colluding with the Demon Sect, Ning Caiyong would see the truth, and no matter how deep the bond, it would shatter. And for this purpose, he had laid the trap three years ago.

A Martial Sage? Even a Martial Sage could not resist imperial power.

…

When Gu Fangchen returned to the manor, he saw from afar that Ning Caiyong was standing at the gate with a lantern, waiting. The pale blue light of dawn shone upon her, making her red dress stand out, and as the lantern swayed, the beautiful woman looked around anxiously. Seeing Gu Fangchen land, her brow relaxed, and a gentle smile appeared on her face.

She beckoned, "Chen'er, come here."

Gu Fangchen hurried over and instinctively hugged her, calling out, "Mother!"

Only after he had spoken did he realize that the word had come much more naturally than before, and he felt a sudden pang of shame. It seemed that some things became habit with repetition…

Ning Caiyong first curled her lips, smoothing Gu Fangchen’s hair, but then Gu Yuye’s words flashed through her mind… Her fingers, touching the young man’s forehead, stiffened for a moment. She whispered to herself: *I have a clear conscience, what is there to fear?*

Gu Yuye was deliberately trying to provoke her with this—was she to do as he wished and distance herself from Chen'er? If she did, who else could Chen'er rely on? That old Martial Sage might have accepted Chen'er as a direct disciple, but since Chen'er could not cultivate, how much sincerity could there really be? Besides, with that unreliable personality, he clearly wouldn't teach Chen'er martial arts properly. There was only herself.

As Ning Caiyong thought this, Gu Fangchen turned his head and pointed, saying, "Mother, this is Miss Qingjian. Although Princess Banruo cannot temporarily solve the poison in my body, she is kind-hearted and felt an immediate kinship with me, so she specifically sent someone to look after me."

Qingjian: "..."

This man’s ability to lie with his eyes open was truly top-tier.

She bowed to Ning Caiyong, "Princess."

Ning Caiyong was dazed for a moment before realizing—was this not… the Xiyin Attendant of the Matriarch Sect?

Qingjian continued calmly, "The Princess ordered me to serve Young Master Gu."

*Serve?!*

Ning Caiyong’s eyes widened in shock. Previously, when this Xiyin Attendant had come to convey the Princess’s orders, she hadn't even held Gu Yuye in high regard; though superficially respectful and ceremonious, she had yielded not an inch. She had clearly been the picture of cold, high-minded arrogance!

Given the Xiyin Attendant’s high status in the Matriarch Sect—only slightly lower than Princess Banruo herself—and despite not being among the very top in terms of cultivation, she was a representative of the Princess, and no one dared to look down on her. How could she be willing to serve Chen'er? With Chen'er’s reputation, Princess Banruo should have been avoiding him at all costs! To send a personal maid to a man, and to have her serve and care for him—the implications were far too vast. What did Princess Banruo mean by this?

Ning Caiyong was truly bewildered. If the Princess were interested in the poison on Chen'er and wanted to take a look, that could be explained. But this action was completely incomprehensible. Although she doted on Gu Fangchen, she knew better than anyone what kind of person her son was; it was impossible for him to catch the eye of someone like Princess Banruo.

However, Ning Caiyong looked at the Martial Sage on her left, then at the Xiyin Attendant on her right. Finally, she turned her gaze to the dark sky in the west. Strange, the sun didn't rise from the west today, did it?

"Mother, what is it? Why are you still standing at the door?"

A cold, clear voice sounded. Gu Youren appeared at the gate and immediately noticed Qingjian, who was wearing a black cloak and had golden lotus eyes. She was stunned. Her expression changed: "Xiyin Attendant? Is Princess Banruo visiting?"

Qingjian’s expression remained unchanged, her voice still calm: "I am now Young Master Gu’s maid."

Gu Youren looked suspicious, then frowned, asking curiously, "Is this Princess Banruo’s intention?"

Qingjian nodded, her tone very cold: "Princess Banruo is concerned for Young Master Gu’s safety, so she sent me to look after him."

Gu Youren nodded, glanced at Gu Fangchen, and snorted, agreeing, "Indeed. Certain despicable villains have just revealed their true colors, and they are already impatient to eliminate the rightful heir so they can continue to occupy the magpie’s nest."

"Princess Banruo’s foresight in protecting the gentleman and guarding against the villain is indeed a necessary move."

Hearing this, everyone present wore a strange expression. Ning Caiyong opened her mouth, finally realizing why her eldest daughter’s tone was so off… Why she was only curious, not surprised or questioning. Instead, she had even expressed her agreement.

Ning Caiyong had initially thought her eldest daughter had changed, but it turned out… she thought Qingjian had been sent by Princess Banruo to protect Gu Yuandao!

Gu Fangchen blinked, spread his hands, and put on a serious, teeth-gritting expression of indignation: "Gu Youren! I have already fallen to such a state, yet you still mock me! Are you even human?!"

"Why can't Princess Banruo have sent someone to protect me?"

Gu Youren chuckled, "Heh, you?"

"Do you not know why Gu Yuandao’s heart was damaged? Only a despicable villain like you would ambush someone the moment you met."

Gu Fangchen’s expression remained unchanged as he continued to bluster, "Who is the villain? It’s just that Gu Yuandao’s cultivation wasn't up to par, and his heart shattered after being told a few words—he’s not even as good as me!"

Gu Youren’s gaze grew colder: "Whoever Princess Banruo is guarding against is the villain. Do you still not admit it?"

Gu Fangchen curled his lips: "You said it yourself, remember that."