Lingyan had her back to Gu Zhong, and her awkward tone revealed her wholehearted worry.
"Okay, then I won't go back."
A hint of a smile flashed in his eyes, and Gu Zhong hugged Ling Yan even tighter.
"There is some news from the capital—the Queen has passed away."
Lingyan let out a soft sigh.
The virtuous queen, who was used by the demons as a life-extending elixir, ultimately could not hold on.
Having suffered such immense harm, it is truly remarkable that she was able to endure for so long. However, with her passing, the truth about Qingxi Taoist Temple and her connection to it will be completely lost to time.
"One month later, the king will establish a new queen—is this the heartlessness of an emperor?"
Lingyan's subsequent words became indignant.
"Emperors also judge people—I don't."
Recalling the past, Gu Zhong muttered a dissatisfied remark.
"You talk as if you've ever done it."
The little bit of sorrow that Lingyan had finally managed to feel was instantly banished to the winds by Gu Zhong's meddling.
"Maybe? In a dream?"
"Gu Zhong, you've really been dreaming more and more lately."
"Ah Yan, maybe in our dreams, we can be together for all eternity—"
"You're just talking nonsense. Get up, it's time for dinner—I'm starving!"
They were like many ordinary couples, cooking and taking care of daily necessities.
I don't need luxury cars or fine horses, nor do I need music or delicacies.
Simply light an oil lamp at dusk and place it on a small wooden table.
A clean and tidy earthenware bowl, filled with two dishes of seasonal vegetables, topped with a bowl of freshly bought pork fat and eggs, and served with soft and sticky rice, is enough to make one's mouth water.
A room, a table, two people sitting opposite each other, a glance is enough to bring peace of mind.
This is the most ordinary yet most authentic life, without strife or demons, where dreams once longed for but could never be realized have finally become reality.
Life is peaceful and stable, like a gentle stream flowing endlessly. If possible, Gu Zhong would like to extend this scene before him forever.
The only sounds inside were the clinking of bowls and chopsticks.
The torrential rain, which had just stopped, suddenly started falling again. A new gust of wind howled and violently pounded against the windows, making a crackling sound loud enough to frighten a child.
"The rain is really heavy today—I hope the house won't leak."
Lingyan looked up at the old roof, her face filled with worry.
“Ayan…this house may be old, but it’s not as fragile as you think.”
Gu Zhong's reply was full of helpless consolation and doting affection.
"Knock knock!"
Suddenly, the door was knocked on with a distinct and forceful rhythm.
The two stopped talking, turned their heads in unison, and focused their gaze on the wooden door that provided shelter from the wind and rain.
With such a massive downpour, who would visit at nightfall?
"Knock knock knock!"
There was no response, so the knocking became louder and more urgent.
Gu Zhong darted to the wall, picked up the sword sheath that had been idle for a long time, and cautiously walked to the door.
--------------------
Author's Note:
After a long time, Gu Zhong is back in action!
//Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 2022-04-19 23:25:37 and 2022-04-20 23:11:49!
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: Gulu Hulu (10 bottles); 59236049 (2 bottles); and Anxiang (1 bottle);
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 139 Swordsman and Exorcist (Twenty-Five)
================================
The torrential rain continued, when a bright light suddenly illuminated the sky, followed by a muffled rumble.
Gu Zhong gripped the bolt on the wooden door and slowly moved it open. The fierce wind outside eagerly pushed the door open a crack.
A hand opened the door wide from the outside, and rainwater, mixed with the wind, poured into the room, soaking the dry and clean floor with mud and water.
A man wearing a straw hat was standing at the door. His face was obscured by the low brim of his hat, and rainwater was pooling in the raincoat he wore to keep out the rain, forming small streams that gurgled down his body.
"Long time no see, Elder Gu."
He pulled his straw hat up with his other hand, and the light from the oil lamp barely illuminated half of his face.
Reddish-purple centipedes writhed and twisted all over his face, his pockmarked skin looking as if it had been scorched by fire—a face so terrifying it could frighten a child to tears.
"Chu Cheng? Come in..."
Gu Zhong recognized the person and relaxed, making way for him to pass.
Chu Cheng hurriedly crawled into the house, lifted his straw hat and raincoat, revealing his entire face.
——Half-faced Shura, half-faced Crown Jade.
Lingyan sighed silently in her heart. Since the great battle that day, although Chu Cheng was rescued, he was ultimately reduced to this inhuman and ghostly state due to the injuries he suffered.
"It's raining so hard today—are you eating?"
Chu Cheng, without any hesitation, picked up the teapot on the table, poured himself a cup of hot tea, and contentedly squinted his eyes.
"So what are you doing here in this heavy rain?"
Gu Zhong re-locked the door and sat back down at the table.
"Couldn't it be because I missed you? That I came here specifically to visit you?"
Perhaps because he had shed the pride and arrogance of an exorcist, Chu Cheng was now much more casual in his conversations with them.
"No one visits the Three Treasures Hall without a reason. The Grand Preceptor of Chu is busy with countless affairs every day. How could he have time to come here? Let's get down to business."
Lingyan rolled her eyes at him.
"What imperial advisor—my abilities are waning day by day, I'm almost as weak as an ordinary person—"
Chu Cheng gave a bitter laugh and said self-deprecatingly.
Upon hearing his words, Lingyan and Gu Zhong also fell silent.
Since the patriarch is dead, the blood pact that was with him naturally no longer exists, and the power obtained from the blood pact should also not exist.
The demon-transformers have perished, the great demons who continued the bloodline of their ancestors have turned to ashes, and the demon-slaying masters should also disappear. Only the swordsmen who slay demons and the original demons of the past will remain in this world—not too many of them.
The rules that were once trampled upon have been re-established, and a delicate balance has been achieved once again.
But they believe that in the not-too-distant future, demons will be completely abandoned by the world, become ashes of history, and cease to exist in this world.
"So, what happened?"
After a moment, Gu Zhong continued to press for answers.
There's a saying in Chu City that suggests the purpose of coming here is definitely not pure.
"I don't know if you've heard this news—the king intends to establish a new queen."
His expression turned serious and solemn, and Chu Cheng spoke slowly.
"I only found out about this recently, is there a problem with it?"
Recalling the letter that Bai Rilingyan had written to her, Gu Zhong now remembers the news clearly.
"The Imperial Preceptor's Office took on some internal affairs responsibilities, such as tailoring clothes for the new Empress and making shamanic attire for grand ceremonies. However—"
Chu Cheng reached into his robes and pulled out a scroll.
The torrential rain soaked his outer robe, and the scroll was inevitably stained with water.
"This damn rainy day!"
After muttering a curse under his breath, Chu Cheng handed the scroll to Gu Zhong.
“Take a look.”
After receiving the scroll, Gu Zhong and Ling Yan huddled together and slowly unfurled it.
This is a black and white ink painting of a woman undressing. The lines are simple and clear. The technique may not be superb, but the painting is full of spirit. It is clear that the artist completed this painting in a very short time.
The woman in the painting does not show her face; only her smooth back is facing the viewer outside the painting. What is particularly striking is the distinct line on her lower back and her slender fingertips, which are painted with cinnabar.
"This is?"
Gu Zhong tightened her grip on the scroll, looked up, and stared intently at Chu Cheng.
"New queen."
Chu Cheng's answer was filled with deep worry.
"One of the disciples in the mansion happened to be there that day and found it novel and strange. She also loved painting, so after returning home, she painted a group painting of the new empress making clothes."
I saw it, so I made her choose the new empress and make another one—if nothing unexpected happens, the new empress is a demon, and perhaps she is the real possessing demon.
But the current king has been bewitched, and the exorcists are growing weaker day by day; they are probably no match for such demons. We must ask you to give it a try.”
Looking at the red thread around the woman's waist in the painting, and the red on her fingertips.
A spark flashed through Gu Zhong's mind, and she suddenly had a realization.
Why was Xuanhu able to escape death? Why was she able to awaken the ancestral master sealed beneath the capital? Why was she able to contact Gu Xuansheng? Why was the imperial court controlled by the Grand Preceptor's mansion? Why was the Queen possessed by a demon?