Chapter 78: The Fiend Gu An, Famed Across the Land
The late summer moon was full, though heavy clouds quickly veiled its light.
Inside a modest room, Gu An and Zhang Chunqiu sat chatting. Zhang Chunqiu shared his experiences over the years, while Gu An listened attentively.
Zhang Chunqiu’s tale felt like it came from a scholar’s pen. He had left the Taixuan Sect for a woman he loved, who turned out to be a demon.
Years ago, on his way to the Taixuan Sect in search of immortal destiny, he was attacked by a demon but saved by a female demon named Xiao Lian. Thanks to her, he safely entered the sect.
He never forgot Xiao Lian’s kindness and visited her every year. Their bond quickly deepened, and after years of failing to achieve Foundation Establishment, he left the sect to live out the rest of his life with her.
They reunited and settled in a small town, where they bought a house, married, and had a child.
However, living with a demon took its toll. Zhang Chunqiu’s spiritual energy was drained, and even his vitality began to fade. Unable to bear burdening him, Xiao Lian left one morning without a word.
Hearing this, Gu An wanted to say something but held back.
“You might think I was deceived by her, but that’s not the case. A union between humans and demons always ends this way. I left the sect because the immortal path was no longer within my reach. I have no regrets. Her lifespan far exceeds mine; I won’t live much longer. Her leaving early spares us the pain of parting by death,” Zhang Chunqiu said with a kindly smile. His eyes, though cloudy, held the wisdom of someone who had seen the vicissitudes of life.
Looking at him, Gu An couldn’t help but recall the youthful Zhang Chunqiu he had met when first entering Xuan Valley. The passage of time had changed so much.
Gu An could sense that Zhang Chunqiu had only three years left to live, filling him with a touch of sorrow.
Half an hour later, the demonic energy Gu An had sensed earlier appeared in the courtyard. It was Zhang Chunqiu’s son.
[Zhang Bukui (Foundation Establishment, Level 2): 22/460/2300]
A 22-year-old at the second level of Foundation Establishment—undoubtedly a genius!
Could it be that a union between humans and demons easily produced such talents? Gu An suspected it had more to do with Xiao Lian’s exceptional abilities.
“Bukui, this is your martial uncle, Gu An,” Zhang Chunqiu called out, waving to Zhang Bukui, who had climbed over the courtyard wall.
Zhang Bukui looked like a teenager of sixteen or seventeen, though his cheeks were unusually hairy.
“Hello, Martial Uncle Gu,” Zhang Bukui said shyly, stepping forward to greet him.
Gu An smiled and nodded, taking a bottle of pills from his storage pouch. “These are high-grade Spiritual Energy Pills, a meeting gift for you.”
“Oh, I can’t possibly accept this.”
“Senior Brother, are you rejecting my goodwill?”
“Of course not; it just feels too valuable.”
After some back-and-forth, Zhang Chunqiu reluctantly allowed his son to accept the gift.
Zhang Bukui curiously observed Gu An. It was the first time someone outside his parents had given him a gift, making him warm up to Gu An immediately.
Zhang Chunqiu then began asking about Xuan Valley. Gu An did not hold back in his responses.
When Zhang Chunqiu heard that Cheng Xuandan and Meng Lang had died, he was neither grieved nor indifferent, but rather nostalgic, advising Gu An to act cautiously in the future.
When Gu An mentioned that Li Ya had already formed a Golden Core, Zhang Chunqiu expressed his amazement, saying he had always known Li Ya would soar to great heights.
The two talked for a long time until Zhang Chunqiu could no longer stay awake, prompting Gu An to bid him farewell.
Before parting, with Zhang Bukui’s help, Zhang Chunqiu turned back and said, “Junior Brother Gu, since you’ve reached Foundation Establishment, it means your potential is not the worst. Train well, and live to see the world a few centuries from now on my behalf.”
Standing at the doorway, Gu An turned back and nodded slightly.
From start to finish, Zhang Chunqiu hadn’t made a single request, only reminisced about old times.
As Gu An walked away from the courtyard, he couldn’t resist looking back. He could hear Zhang Chunqiu and his son talking softly. Zhang Chunqiu was asking his son where he had been wandering that day, while Zhang Bukui mentioned meeting a young man with whom he had exchanged blows.
That young man turned out to be none other than An Hao. During their earlier fight, Gu An had sensed that although there was a gap in cultivation levels, Zhang Bukui bore no killing intent. After a few exchanges, Zhang Bukui had left.
“What about poetry and songs?”
“I know a bit of everything.”
Admiration flashed in Shen Zhen’s eyes, prompting Gu An to tilt his chin slightly in satisfaction.
So, you’re impressed now, huh?
“Well, it’s no wonder. After all, you wrote Romance of the Gods,” Shen Zhen said with a sigh.
Gu An, however, asked, “Why did you draw this picture?”
Could she have a grudge against Han Ming?
“To tell the truth, I’m very interested in the Sword Sovereign of the Righteous Path. I imagine him as a handsome, aloof swordsman. With so many people coming to watch, and yet he remains absent—it’s so mysterious,” Shen Zhen said, a hint of infatuation in her eyes.
Gu An’s mouth twitched as he remarked, “What if he turns out to be an unattractive old man?”
“Well, that’s not impossible. Aside from writing, my next goal is to investigate the Sword Sovereign. I must find him!”
“And then what?”
“Obviously, I’ll make him my Dao partner! Pan An, don’t think for a second I frequent your place because I like you. While I’m not a fan of cultivating, my Dao partner must be one of the top grandmasters in the world. Otherwise, if my writing or painting offends people in the future, how could they protect me?”
With that, Shen Zhen rolled her eyes at Gu An, then collected her painting and headed for the door.
Gu An shook his head with a laugh but didn’t follow her.
After Shen Zhen left Medicine Valley, he went downstairs to inspect the herbs.
The outer sect disciples were still fervently discussing the Sword Sovereign of the Righteous Path, their faces alight with excitement. Listening to their praises put Gu An in a good mood.
Though he had recently shown off his strength, Gu An knew better than to become complacent. He needed to continue diligently accumulating longevity.
After all, the ninth level of the Integration Stage wasn’t nearly enough for him.
In the blink of an eye, another year passed, and summer came once again.
To this day, Gu An no longer visited An Hao and An Xin daily. Instead, he checked in twice a month. By now, An Hao had reached the ninth level of the Qi Refining Stage, fully capable of protecting An Xin.
Last month, An Hao passed a trial set by Gu An, personally slaying the wolf demon that had once hunted them. Gu An had deliberately spared the wolf demon, leaving it for An Hao to defeat.
Alright, he admitted it—when he first saw An Hao’s potential, he had devised an extensive plan to nurture him.
The reason they hadn’t yet gone to the Taixuan Sect was that An Xin’s cultivation level was still insufficient. Besides, both of them were still young and could learn much more under Gu An’s guidance.
That day, around noon, Gu An arrived alone at the Outer Sect. His first stop was the Heavenly Mending Platform.
There were more and more sword cultivators on the platform, many of whom weren’t from the Taixuan Sect.
News of the Sword Sovereign of the Righteous Path heavily wounding the Da Yu Sword Maniac with a double-leaf strike had spread like wildfire through the cultivation world. The Sword Sovereign had now become the most admired figure among Taixuan Sect disciples.
Even though a year had passed, every time Gu An visited the Outer Sect’s city, he could hear disciples still discussing the battle.
The fame of that fight had drawn an increasing number of sword cultivators to visit, and while the Taixuan Sect hadn’t turned them away, they had strengthened the city’s defenses. This, in turn, significantly boosted Jiang Qiong’s authority, as she was the Grand Elder overseeing the city.
From afar, Gu An spotted Han Ming standing beside Zuo Lin, shouting at him impatiently. Meanwhile, Zuo Lin sat on the ground, his face dark and gloomy.
Gu An couldn’t help but laugh.
This was exactly the scene he had hoped to see, which was why he’d recommended Han Ming take Zuo Lin as a disciple.
Zuo Lin was undeniably a genius, except for one thing—he had terrible comprehension in the way of the sword. Yet, ironically, he was utterly obsessed with it.
Amused for a moment, Gu An shifted his gaze to the others on the platform, scanning for unfamiliar grandmasters.
And he found one!