Chapter 188: Are You a Sea Sponge?

Chapter 188: Are You a Sea Sponge?

Night fell. Hui meditated, the picture of a studious cultivator. Gu Tian practiced sword forms in the open space of the room, full of energy. At last, a knock sounded from their window.

Huis eyes opened. With a gesture, he stored the piece of Mount Mu. Gu Tian sheathed his sword. Their eyes met.

Another knock sounded on the window. Hui opened the window and stared out.

The triplets stood on the branch opposite. One tossed an acorn in his hand, ready to throw. At the sight of the open window, he raised his eyebrows and gestured for Hui to follow.Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

Hui leaped out the window to the triplets branch. Gu Tian hesitated a moment, then snatched up his flute and followed.

Whos this?

Just you!

Eh, Xie Hao, I thought it was only you?

Hui held up a hand apologetically. Gu Tian wanted to see the beauty as well. He insisted! How could I refuse?

The triplets smirked.

Ah, I see!

Showing her off?

Couldnt resist the urge to show off your new girlfriend to your friends?

Gu Tian frowned at Hui. He leaned in and murmured, The what?

Hui waved his hand. Dont worry about it, Elder Brother. Youll see when we get there!

If this is some strange attempt to cheer me up by taking me to a brothel

Hui stared at Gu Tian, taken aback. Elder Brother, you wound this small cultivator! Am I really that immoral of a man, in your eyes?

Gu Tian gave him a look. Everyone knows about you and Hong Xue. Are you loyal to him, despite how he is to you?

IGu Tian, those are baseless rumors. Hong Xue and I are merely friends, merely friends, Hui said, looking down at Gu Tian with disappointment.

It didnt look like they were baseless, Gu Tian muttered.

Hui sighed, tired. I suppose I reap what I sow, but does associating with Bai Xue really have to be this painful?

The triplets glanced around. As one, they chorused, Are you two ready?

Ready, Elder Brothers! Hui replied.

Gu Tian nodded stiffly, uncertain.

They set off through the forest. The triplets led the way with Hui close behind, while Gu Tian trailed behind the four of them. This time, Hui kept track of their route there. The forest grew dense around them, and the triplets sped up. Hui had to abandon his route-tracking to keep up. Behind him, Gu Tian struggled to keep pace, as the lowest cultivation base among them.

At last, the forest closed in around them, the same way as it had the first time. They hurtled through a tunnel of branches and burst out into the courtyard on the far side. The lotus bud stood plump before them, on the verge of blooming. Qi seed plants lined the path.

The triplets hurried ahead at top speed, excited.

This way.

Over here!

Even Gu Tian squinted upward.

At the top of the lotus, is that a projection of the beauty? Hui exclaimed, still pointing. He waved his other hand, scattering the talismans around the bulbous bottom of the blossom. With the snake skins help, they blended into the lotus petals.

A dozen fire talismans and barrier talismans, paired together, then disguised! Like this, I leave my old technique for destroying the lotus behind, ready to launch even when Im not here. Like this, I can destroy the lotus from a distance, as long as I know when its about to blossom. And as long as I stick close to Gu Tian, it shouldnt be impossible to know when it blossoms.

I dont see it

Shadows?

Are you seeing things?

Hui squinted. Eh? Its gone now. How strange, how strange.

He pressed his hand against the blossom. Bai Jingwen appeared again, reaching out for him, a mirror image of his own pose. Before, hed been startled and jumped back before he could get a good look, but now, he wasnt startled.

Bai Jingwen stood there blankly. Her eyes stared into the middle distance, misty and unclear. Her usually-braided hair hung in wavy clumps behind her, hanging in the blossom as if she stood underwater. Even standing, she looked more like she floated, her weight not on her legs, her toes fully extended. She wore no clothes, but neither were there any details in the shape of her body, excluding the face. No details, nor color, simply a transparent image of Bai Jingwen.

When Bai Fenfeng became a lotus woman, she had color, and she wore clothes, too. Her consciousness was gone, but at least her form fully remained. Is Bai Jingwen like this because she spent longer asleep in the lotus? Or is there some other reason?

Whoa

He did it!

You were right. There is a projection!

Hui glanced back. Eh? You can see her, too?

The triplets nodded enthusiastically. The third one gave him a thumbs-up.

Gu Tian stepped up beside Hui. His hands trembled. He gazed at Bai Jingwen and bit his lip. I a woman, inside? If I bloom it, then

Huis eyes lit up. Nows my chance!

He whirled and clasped Gu Tian on the shoulders. Putting on his best puppy dog eyes, he gazed into Gu Tians eyes. Please, Elder Brother, can you help me? She doesnt deserve to be stuck in there. We should free her! Before it blooms and she withers away. You said you still have your plant arts. Surely, someone as successful as yourself can assist me?

For love!

Let her out!

Wed do anything for a beauty. Ah, but make sure you dont completely destroy the lotus. We wont take the fall for you if you do.

Gu Tian hesitated. Master Erlan said I shouldnt bloom it until he says

Im not asking you to bloom it. Just help me extract the beauty! Hui insisted, pouting slightly to make himself look all the more pitiful.

Ah, I knew it! Erlan brought the lotus and the qi seeds here. I wonder if he collaborated with Mysterious Heavenly Forest to create or recreate them in the first place? After all, Gu Tians plant arts are only enough to bloom them, according to the man himself. Then, if thats so Twin Elemental City was nothing but a testing ground for the Southern Sect Conference!

Last time, the woman who emerged from the lotus was twice as terrifying, no, immeasurably more terrifying than the lotus itself! If I can extract Bai Jingwen before she can fully mature into a lotus woman and seal her away, my talismans should be more than enough to destroy this blossom!

He struck a heroic pose and looked at Gu Tian firmly. Gu Tian. All this time, youve told me how regretful you are that youve given in and done what they ask, rather than listen to your own heart. Its fine to stay alive, but if you simply stay alive without acting for yourself, youre nothing but a sea sponge!

A sea sponge? Gu Tian asked, flabbergasted.

Sitting on the bottom of the ocean, motionless, absorbing whatever falls to you without thought! Do you want to be a sea sponge, or a cultivator? Hui asked, putting his hands on his hips.

Gu Tians pupils shook. He swallowed and stared at Hui, then shifted his eyes to the lotus. Resolute, his eyes shone with light. Obviously a cultivator!