Chapter 52

The journey was smooth and peaceful, and everyone gradually relaxed.

However, the provisions Liuli had prepared had run out. After all, when she first came down the mountain, she never imagined she’d one day be responsible for the food and clothing of over twenty people.

These past few days, Liuli had taught them some knowledge about cultivation, but they weren’t particularly talented to begin with. Most had ordinary, common Five Spiritual Roots and wouldn’t be able to achieve Inedia in a short time.

To prevent them from starving to death, Liuli had no choice but to stop halfway.

The only things nearby were a small town and a Daoist temple. What could possibly go wrong… right?

The group entered the town to purchase supplies. This area was already very far south, and the south got hot early. Though it was only May, summer had already arrived.

The sunlight was exceptionally bright. Everyone had changed into light, thin clothing. As the creditor footing the bill, naturally, it was Liuli who paid… Looking at the smiling faces of the girls in their colorful new dresses, Liuli felt both pain and joy.

Lin Mengxian turned her face towards Liuli and smiled. “I’ve always felt that Liuli has become prettier. It seems my feeling wasn’t wrong.”

The bright, warm summer sunlight spilled onto Liuli, and in a flash of brilliance, it truly seemed as if one could see glass as clear and pure as snow.

Liuli naturally knew the reason. It was the soft-glow special effect from her Heavenly Fragrance Spirit Body after its seal was broken.

But it was best not to disclose this physique. So Liuli just chuckled, accepting the compliment.

Just as they finished their shopping and were about to leave, the group was stopped by two young Daoist children who suddenly appeared.

“Excuse me, Senior. Are you Senior Xue, daughter of the Heavenly Martial Sect’s Sect Leader?” The Daoist child looked directly at Liuli, who stood at the very front.

Liuli’s robust frame trembled: “Have my father and I really become this famous?!” Famous enough that someone over three thousand li away could identify her at a glance.

The Daoist child smiled and said, “My master is an old acquaintance of your esteemed parents. The Senior’s arrival here fills the master with great delight. The master requests the Senior come up the mountain as a guest and have a cup of hot tea.”

“May I ask your master’s esteemed name?”

“The Master of Green Pine Temple, Gu Bozhi.”

“…”

The Daoist child noticed Liuli’s expression and couldn’t help but be curious: “By the Senior’s look, could it be you know of my master?”

“It sounds familiar somehow…” Liuli scratched her head. She felt like she had seen this character in the book before, but for a moment, she couldn’t recall.

The Daoist child said, “The path up the mountain isn’t far. The temple is quiet and peaceful. All you Seniors are travel-worn; you must be tired from the road. Why not come into the temple to rest for a while?”

Liuli said, “How do I know your master isn’t lying?”

The child chuckled and produced a token: “This is a Heavenly Martial Sect token. Only those on friendly terms with the Heavenly Martial Sect possess one. The Senior should recognize it.”

Liuli took it, examined it herself, and then passed it to Ye Zhenzhen and Lin Mengxian. After confirming it was genuine, she breathed a sigh of relief.

She turned her head back to look. Most of the faces showed some fatigue. Hearing that they could be guests and rest, they were all very expectant.

Half a month had passed since they left Huishui City. Liuli had constantly felt that danger lurked everywhere. Traveling with a group of mortal women, she might encounter danger at any moment. Thus, they had been pressing on without pause, spending most nights in the mountain wilderness.

It was about time they relaxed just a little.

Liuli suddenly reached out and pinched Lin Mengxian’s slightly thin cheek, her heart aching. “Alright, we won’t hurry on with our journey today. Let’s rest well.”

Lin Mengxian laughed and swatted her hand away, using a bent finger to rub the spot where she’d been pinched.

.

Though the road wasn’t far, and Liuli carried them up the mountain quickly, they had wasted a lot of time earlier. The sky was already starting to darken.

The Daoist temple on the mountain was exceptionally tranquil and secluded. As its name implied, it was planted with green pines and cypresses. The place wasn’t large, but it had two separate courtyards that were just enough to house this group of girls.

As mortals, the girls weren’t qualified to enter the inner courtyard to meet the Temple Master. Only Liuli and her two companions were invited in.

The Temple Master, Gu Bozhi, appeared to be a handsome, humorous man of about thirty. Despite being a Nascent Soul powerhouse, he had no airs whatsoever. In fact, he personally prepared a banquet of vegetarian dishes to entertain the three of them.

Gu Bozhi wore an expression of reminiscence as he talked with Liuli about her parents, recounting some past events involving him and her parents.

Liuli had never known who Xue Liuli’s birth mother was. She probed with great curiosity, but unexpectedly, Gu Bozhi noticed that she knew nothing about her mother and promptly clammed up.

His expression turned slightly odd: “Meiniang never mentioned your mother to you?”

“No. I don’t even know my mother’s name.”

“I, however, do know just who your mother is.”

Earlier, Gu Bozhi had insisted that Liuli not keep calling him ‘Senior’ so distantly and asked her to call him Uncle Gu. Liuli had to comply. “Uncle Gu, can you tell me in detail about my mother? What was her name?”

Gu Bozhi laughed. “I had initially thought you at least knew her identity. Now, it seems it was likely Yuan’er’s request that caused Meiniang to say nothing at all.”

Meiniang, Yuan’er… So it seemed her mother’s name contained the character Yuan.

Uncle Gu, just what is your relationship with my parents? How can you call them so intimately? It’s giving me goosebumps!

Liuli rubbed the goosebumps on her arms and laughed awkwardly. “Uncle Gu, is it inconvenient for you to speak of?”

“This matter is a secret.” Gu Bozhi winked at her with a smile. “If Liuli is truly curious, come to my courtyard alone later. I will tell only you.”

What’s with all this secrecy?

But Liuli was truly intensely curious about her mother’s identity. She chuckled, “I’ll think about it.”

She said she’d think about it, but after the dinner banquet dispersed and Liuli watched the moon slowly rise, she decided to go.

Lin Mengxian was a little uneasy.

Liuli said, “Honestly, I’m a bit creeped out too. But this is the closest I’ve ever gotten to my mother’s identity. Don’t worry, that courtyard isn’t far. If there’s any trouble, you two can just come rescue me!”

“You really do have a lot of faith in us.” Ye Zhenzhen tapped her on the forehead. “That’s a Nascent Soul expert. Be careful.”

“Fought the Black Lotus Sect Leader before. I’m not afraid of some weird uncle!”

…

Guided by a Daoist child, Liuli entered a serene little courtyard. Inside, there was a rock garden with a pond, and the sound of trickling water. A towering pine tree cast a shadow that almost covered the entire yard. When the wind blew, the shadow swayed with the tree. Looking down from above, it almost resembled a gigantic black lotus gently swaying in the breeze.

In the courtyard was also a stone table, upon which rested a wine pot and cups. Gu Bozhi sat with his back to Liuli, leaning lazily against the stone table, boredly raising a cup to drink.

Gu Bozhi’s voice was a bit strange. It sounded somewhat finer and sharper than it had during the day. “You’ve come.”

A sudden jolt went through Liuli’s heart. She was abruptly uncertain of this Uncle Gu’s attitude.

She probed cautiously, “Uncle Gu?”

“Uncle?” “Gu Bozhi” laughed in that sharp, shrill tone. Just as Liuli thought she might have mistaken the person, he turned around.

Yep, that was definitely the face, the clothes, and the feel of the aura—it was the same Gu Bozhi from dinner!

“Do you know who I am?” “Gu Bozhi” lifted a sleeve to cover their mouth as they laughed. The movement was delicately charming. Not only did they not seem like an uncle, they actually seemed like a woman!

“You’re not Gu Bozhi?”

Liuli slowly began backing away but suddenly found herself bumping into a transparent, unseen layer—a barrier!

“Gu Bozhi” laughed and nodded. “I am not Gu Bozhi. I am Gu Boshe.”

Liuli: “?? What the hell is the difference!”

Gu Bozhi(Gu Boshe) said with a coquettish huff, “You child, can’t you see the difference between him and me?”

“You’re… a woman?”

“Sharp eyes.”

“But you have an Adam’s apple!”

Gu Bozhi’s face changed violently. Gnashing teeth in a sinister tone, they said, “Indeed. This body is male. To think I share a body with a man!”

“…”

What the actual hell?! This person has a split personality!

Gu Bozhi’s face shifted dramatically again, their eyes narrowing as they let out a “giggle”. “Good child, weren’t you curious about your mother’s affairs? Come here. Auntie will tell you.”

A brain-sick expert was still an expert. They effortlessly grabbed Liuli and sent her crashing onto the stone table. Dizzy and seeing stars from the impact, Liuli quietly clutched a talisman in her palm and laughed nervously, “Suddenly, I’ve realized I’m not the least bit interested. It’s so late, Uncle… ah, Auntie! Why don’t we just turn in for the night!”

“You don’t want to know about your mother, nor do you want to know who told me you were coming?”

“Who was it?” Liuli asked reflexively.

Then she saw Gu Bozhi pause briefly. In a third tone of voice, one that was also very familiar, a light laugh sounded: “You can’t underestimate my good little sister. She has a good Shizun, one who is… never away from her side for a moment.”

Those last four words were spoken with an extremely suggestive, playful lilt.

Even though it was Gu Bozhi’s body and voice, Liuli immediately realized: “Tang Shikou!”

“Tang Shikou” let out a light laugh, tacitly admitting it. Reaching out, she pulled the Little Cloth Doll Liuli had tucked into her clothes, and crushed it.

“Wait for me.”

They were the last two words Feng Xiwu left for her.