"Where is Gu Xuansheng? Could he already be dead by your sword?"
The black mist then pressed for an answer, seemingly genuinely curious about the question.
"Isn't that right? You know perfectly well I can't kill him."
Gu Zhong gestured to the side with disgust.
"It doesn't even have a human form anymore—was this something Gu Zhong made?"
The black mist uttered a cryptic sigh, its meaning unclear—whether it was mockery or pity.
"Wait! Gu—Xuansheng?"
Chu Cheng, who was standing to the side, was struck dumb as the golden seal that had been out of his control returned to his hands.
"Feels familiar? What if it were Li Xuansheng instead?"
Gu Zhong looked at Chu Cheng with a hint of sympathy.
Li Xuansheng is the name of the old imperial advisor who was rumored to have gone into seclusion and been murdered.
"Master—is he a demon?"
Chu Cheng remained stunned and continued to press for answers.
"Stop talking nonsense!"
"The Imperial Preceptor has devoted himself to the cause of exorcising demons; how could you demons slander him?"
The other disciples who had gathered nearby heard this conversation and were filled with indignation, so they began to denounce it.
After all, no one can accept that the belief they have always upheld was just a false illusion from the very beginning.
"Whether you believe or not is up to you."
Gu Zhong didn't bother to explain further; there were more critical issues that needed to be addressed.
"Did Gu Xuansheng rise to power by stepping on me and gain the respect of the world?"
A hint of anger could be faintly heard in the black mist's words. Gu Xuansheng, who was already huddled up, trembled even more upon hearing the question from the black mist.
"The Imperial Advisor is a demon! Li Xuansheng is a demon!"
Suddenly, a hoarse voice abruptly broke into the room.
A beggar with disheveled hair limped over. When he got closer, he swept his long hair back to reveal a skeletal face that looked like a monster.
"Elder... Elder who upholds the precepts?"
Even though he had lost his former plumpness and rosy complexion, some people still recognized him.
—He was one of the elders who helped the National Preceptor into seclusion, as mentioned by Senior Brother Lu.
"We, fellow disciples, were only trying to help others, but who would have thought that we would end up doing all the work for the demons? If it weren't for Miss Gu's rescue, I'm afraid I would have died underground and become nourishment for it."
"How could this be... how could this be..."
With the confirmation of the Elder of Discipline, it wasn't just Chu Cheng who experienced the sudden collapse of the spiritual beliefs that had sustained the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion for a century.
"Whether the Imperial Preceptor is a demon or not, the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion represents the supreme ideals of exorcists, and that has never changed! Let's not get stuck on this!"
Seeing the demon-slaying prodigies in the arena, especially Chu Cheng, who was almost losing his fighting spirit due to this earth-shattering thunderbolt, Ling Yan quickly shouted, hoping to wake them up.
“How boring, humans are so boring—Gu Xuansheng, look at this, no matter how much you do for humanity, once your identity is exposed, all the fame, fortune and historical renown you seek will vanish like smoke.”
Immortality and power? You? It's impossible to have both—"
Having witnessed the gathering and scattering of people's hearts, the black mist became pleased again and mercilessly launched a mental attack on Gu Xuansheng.
Complete denial can sometimes be more painful than death.
Things gained and then lost, dreams within reach yet ultimately thwarted, are more regrettable than unattainable starlight.
"Sir—Sir! I know I was wrong! I really know I was wrong! I shouldn't have been misled by Gu Zhong a hundred years ago, and I shouldn't have betrayed you! Please, for the sake of all that I've done for you, give me another chance!"
This time, I want nothing but immortality! Let me follow you again, as your dog!
With the colossal statue painstakingly built by humankind toppled, Gu Xuansheng knew that everything he sought would be difficult to achieve again.
The idea of him re-ascending the throne as the Imperial Preceptor, receiving endless offerings from the world, and controlling the imperial court has all vanished.
The culprit behind this outcome is Gu Zhong.
From a young age, Gu Zhong's shadow had always loomed over him in the tribe.
Despite having finally won the favor of the great demon and the destruction of her tribe, Gu Zhong was still the one who received more attention, even though she was unruly.
When he was no longer willing to be controlled by others, he coaxed Gu Zhong into helping him suppress demons, and then devised a plan to transfer Gu Zhong's control to his own hands. He thought he could finally rest easy—
As a result, Gu Zhong managed to escape and destroyed his original body, forcing him to become a possessing demon, repeatedly entering bodies that were not compatible with his.
Otherwise, how could he have been trapped by Chu Cheng's mere golden seal?
Gu Zhong, Gu Zhong! It's all because of Gu Zhong!
Now, he has no choice but to rely on the demons again and live under their roof.
He once again abandoned his dignity, transforming into a complete demon, paying such a heavy price.
This time, Gu Zhong cannot live, he absolutely cannot!
"Oh? You've made up your mind? To work for me again? In exchange for eternal life?"
The black mist moved closer to Gu Xuansheng and asked gently, seemingly genuinely wanting to give him a chance.
"Yes, sir! Please—"
His passionate words came to an abrupt halt—in just a second, he was completely swallowed up by the black mist.
"How boring... I'm still worrying about what I should do if you bring up power—I hate ungrateful wretches more than anything else in my life—"
The demon in the black mist muttered a few words in a low voice.
Gu Xuansheng died just like that, without leaving a trace, without even having time to struggle.
Killing Gu Xuansheng was as simple as crushing an ant, effortless for him.
This demon's power exceeded everyone's comprehension, not to mention that the exorcists present tonight were all too young and too inexperienced.
"Now, it's time to settle our old scores—"
The black mist turned towards Gu Zhong, whose wristband of mysterious crystal began to flash. She let out a muffled groan and quickly pressed down on her right hand.
"Gu Zhong, if you are willing to submit to me, to submit to me sincerely, everyone present will live—"
The demon's offer was unexpectedly generous; a simple choice would save dozens of lives, including Lingyan's.
"You know I can't agree to that."
The blood feud that led to the destruction of the tribe, the ever-growing chaos of demons and monsters—the culprit behind all this is right before his eyes. How could Gu Zhong possibly agree to this?
"Unfortunately... I really wanted more than just one puppet."
The black mist sounded very disappointed, but then it seemed to have thought of something and continued to tempt her.
"Well then—haven't you always wanted to know who gave me the prophecy back then? If you submit to me, I'll tell you. You won't lose out in this deal, right?"
“I remember you said you killed her.”
Gu Zhong naturally knew that it was referring to the Black Fox, who must have played a part in the destruction of the Gu clan back then.
"Oh right, because I don't like being used—but who would have thought she wasn't dead?! She's really interesting. Without her help, how could I have broken free from the seal you two put up together back then so quickly?"
While I should indeed thank her properly, Gu Zhong, you are more important to me, so—I hope you will carefully consider my suggestion.
These words were spoken with utmost sincerity. If it weren't for the current scene of demons and monsters, a ghostly and eerie place, some people might mistake them for a heartfelt confession.
Although Gu Zhong desperately wanted to know Xuan Hu's whereabouts, she would rather not have the answer than have to trade her freedom for the chaos and devastation of this world.
"impossible."
Her answer remained the same, resolute and unwavering.
She stood tall, like a pine tree, her righteous spirit soaring, determined to sweep away all demons in the world.
The surviving exorcists put aside their differences, rekindled their fighting spirit, and unleashed their magical weapons. They knew that if they could not survive this night, there would be no future for them.
Lingyan gripped the sword Gu Zhong had given her tightly, her heart pounding, waiting for the command to attack.
"Gu Zhong, I thought you should know that there is no one here who can attack me—"
With a sneer, the black mist gradually condensed, transforming into a substantial human figure. The emerging outline seemed familiar.
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Author's Note:
Gu Zhong: Don't come any closer! My wife will misunderstand!
//Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 2022-04-17 21:55:47 and 2022-04-18 23:22:42!
Thank you to the little angel who watered the nutrient solution: 10 bottles of "Let's Go, Older Women!"
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 137 Swordsman and Exorcist (Twenty-Three)
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The black mist gradually materialized into a kind-faced elder, whose clothing was identical to that of the Imperial Preceptor's residence—a black robe adorned with gold embroidery, exuding solemnity and majesty.
His beard and sideburns were white, yet incredibly smooth, and his eyes gleamed with a sharp light, making him appear remarkably energetic.
But this face—this face—is all too familiar to everyone.
I've seen it in the rituals for awakening magic, in the annual worship ceremonies, and in the picture books that circulate in the imperial court and among the common people.
This face is the face of the statue that the whole country worships day and night, the face of the ancestor who opened the era of magic and gave mankind a chance to live and breathe, the face of the true god worshipped by all exorcists.
"You audacious demon, how dare you impersonate our patriarch!"
Some disciples, enraged, stepped forward, ready to fight to the death.
Unlike Gu Xuansheng, the patriarch's existence was much more ancient, his origins and whereabouts unknown, leaving behind only magic as a sharp weapon to slay demons and monsters.