Chapter 54: Qing Tang City – In This World, Only Sword Cultivators Lack Money…

Gu Changhuai spoke up.

Jin Shuang instantly fell silent.

Gu Changhuai snorted with laughter. “What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue? Got something against me?”

“…”

After a long while, Jin Shuang’s usual refined and easygoing voice came through, carrying a faint, barely detectable tremor. “Are you… using the same Tongtian Instrument?”

Not understanding why he asked that, Gu Changhuai replied blankly, “Yeah.”

Jin Shuang fell silent again.

It was well-known in the Xinnan Immortal Sect that each person used their own Tongtian Instrument. When switching users, the previous person’s divine sense would typically withdraw, or it would be pushed out by the new user’s. There was no such thing as two people sharing one—unless they were dao companions whose minds were perfectly in sync.

In just a few short days, had the Immortal Venerable and Gu Changhuai already reached that point? Had he missed something?

Hearing no reply from Jin Shuang, Gu Changhuai clicked his tongue. “Why are you hemming and hawing today? What’s the matter?”

Jin Shuang’s mind churned with turmoil, but he maintained a calm facade on the surface before finally squeezing out, “…It’s nothing.”

Apart from the portrait, Gu Changhuai was also quite interested in the person Jin Shuang had clashed with in the Imperial Palace. He asked, “What was that guy’s status in the Imperial Palace? And…” His tone turned teasing. “How ugly was the portrait, exactly?”

Jin Shuang said, “I heard others address him as the National Advisor. Everyone in the Capital respects this National Advisor greatly, though he’s often away from the Capital. As for the portrait…”

His voice paused. “The Imperial Palace has a violet qi restriction, so I couldn’t use spells and had to disguise myself to get in. It wasn’t very flattering… The person I fought must have recognized my swordsmanship as coming from the Xinnan Immortal Sect, since the wanted poster already lists the sect—though it doesn’t have my name.”

“No big deal. At worst, it’s an embarrassment to the sect.” Gu Changhuai laughed. “It won’t fall on Rong Ye’s head anyway.” As he spoke, he raised his brows and glanced at Rong Ye.

Their eyes met, and Rong Ye’s gaze held a smile as he quietly watched Gu Changhuai chat alone with Jin Shuang.

Jin Shuang: “…”

He could never admit that he was a disciple of the Immortal Lord.

“Oh, right—one more thing.” Jin Shuang’s tone suddenly grew serious. “While fleeing, I hid in a golden hall in the Imperial Palace. That palace was very strange—completely empty. While hiding on the rafters, I spotted a spirit artifact wrapped around the main beam in a small corner, and it actually bore the emblem of the Red Feather Manor’s main family.”

The Red Feather Manor again.

Gu Changhuai said, “What a coincidence. We’ve found the location of some souls here, and there’s a Red Feather Manor spirit artifact too.” He joked, “It can’t be that the Red Feather Manor is short on cash and peddling off main family spirit artifacts on the cheap, right?”

Jin Shuang reminded him, “…In this world, there are only sword cultivators who lack money—no artifact cultivators who do.”

His implication was clear: no matter who lacked money, the Red Feather Manor couldn’t possibly. He added, “Moreover, that spirit artifact’s emblem belongs to the main family line. Only people from the Red Feather Manor can use it.”

“Weren’t there some Immortal Abode cultivators rescued from the Imperial Palace? Didn’t you ask them what was going on?” Gu Changhuai asked.

Jin Shuang replied awkwardly, “We didn’t rescue them.”

“…” Gu Changhuai smiled. “Haha.” He said, “So you were barely saving your own skin.”

He hadn’t succeeded, yet his tone was so confident—this guy had real talent!

Jin Shuang felt mortified and lightly coughed twice. “The Immortal Abodes fall under the Two Instruments Pavilion’s jurisdiction. I’ve already reported this to the Two Instruments Pavilion’s Saintess, so someone will investigate soon. It won’t be delayed for long.”

As for the purpose of the transmission, it was mainly to report the wanted poster stain he’d left on the immortal sects, along with the bizarre phenomena in the Imperial Palace.

“I’ve got a Two Instruments Pavilion disciple right here—he’s from the Immortal Abodes too.” Gu Changhuai leaned out and called, “Gong Yingnan!”

Gong Yingnan, who had been meditating against the wall, turned back, his eyes clear as he awaited further instructions.

Jin Shuang said, “Not unusual. Though any loose cultivator or sect disciple in the Cultivation World can voluntarily join the Immortal Abodes, eighty percent are still from the Two Instruments Pavilion.”

You could’ve said that earlier! Gu Changhuai smiled at Gong Yingnan. “Never mind. Just calling you for fun. Go play.”

Gong Yingnan: “…”

Bewildered, he turned back to continue regulating his breathing.

Gu Changhuai’s gaze casually swept around and happened to catch the compass Rong Ye had taken out—the needle had begun to spin, this time pointing—northwest.

He poked the needle, but it remained as steady as a rock, unmoving.

Seeing that Gu Changhuai was playful again, Rong Ye simply handed him the compass and walked over with the Tongtian Instrument to exchange information with Jin Shuang. Examining the compass so closely for the first time, Gu Changhuai noted its exquisite craftsmanship, flawless workmanship, an overall ancient and subdued tone—simple and low-key, yet not to be underestimated.

Gu Changhuai flipped the compass over and over, wondering if this thing that could suck in evil spirits could suck him in too.

Only Gong Yingnan, who witnessed this, felt his heart skip in shock.

Was he seeing this right? That had to be the Shura Spirit Compass from the great Demon Clan war—the one that formed an array with the disk itself, slaying ten thousand demons in a single breath?

And Qing Lian Immortal Lord had casually handed it to his little attendant… to play with?? Could he touch it too? Just once?

…

Gu Changhuai was unaware of the compass’s history and renown. His knowledge of Qing Lian was limited to the golden finger described in the original novel and the Qiankun One Sword that had spread like wildfire in the Demon Realm.

As for the Shura Spirit Compass, all the demons who had seen it were dead, so it couldn’t spread far. Even if the Cultivation World knew, they wouldn’t publicize it excessively.

While Gu Changhuai fiddled with the compass, he sensed a burning gaze from the side. He paused and looked up to see Gong Yingnan’s fervent stare fixed on the compass in his hand.

Gu Changhuai: “?”

Kid, your expression gives you away.

Gu Changhuai grew wary. “Something up?”

“C-Can I touch it?” Gong Yingnan swallowed, fidgeting with his hands. He looked at the compass like a long-lost first love. “Just once.”

Seeing his eager, desperate expression, Gu Changhuai couldn’t help but flip the compass again. This casual gesture made a trace of heartache flicker across Gong Yingnan’s face.

Gu Changhuai: “…”

Wasn’t there anything special about it?

The kid seemed so pitiful… He hesitated, then instinctively glanced at Rong Ye and blinked.

Should he give it?

By now, Rong Ye had confirmed the information with Jin Shuang and given instructions. Noticing Gu Changhuai’s gaze, Rong Ye’s eyes showed no ripple as he merely glanced faintly at Gong Yingnan.

Gong Yingnan’s body stiffened abruptly.

It was just an ordinary glance, yet it made him feel an endless, bone-chilling cold sweep over him in an instant.

He had mingled in the Cultivation World for years; how could he fail to read the room?

He instantly understood and waved his hands frantically at Gu Changhuai. “N-No, no need! No need at all. This disciple was foolish—Fellow Daoist, please don’t take it to heart.”

Gu Changhuai looked puzzled. “….?”

You’re the one who wanted it, and now you’re the one saying no.

…He’s got issues.

*

Destroying the four pillars in the outer tomb chamber completely shattered the Soul-Locking Array. Gu Changhuai had little interest in this opulent palace and didn’t feel like exploring further, so he pulled Rong Ye along and left the underground palace.

Just as they exited, Gong Yingnan requested to take his leave. His injuries were severe; though the pills had eased them somewhat, his condition wasn’t optimistic, and he needed to return to the Two Instruments Pavilion for treatment.

Their next destination was the new direction indicated by the compass.

—Northwest.

After all this fuss, Gu Changhuai was tired too and wanted to find a place to rest. Not wanting to delay things, he specifically asked Rong Ye, “Is this urgent?”

Rong Ye’s voice was low and measured. “It can be slow or urgent, depending on whether any accidents occur.”

Gu Changhuai got it.

After all, this Soul-Locking Array had locked souls for five hundred years. Without Lady Mengying stirring things up this time, it might have gone undiscovered for another century.

Which meant—it wasn’t that urgent.

Gu Changhuai had an idea. He leaned close to Rong Ye and whispered, “I think I’m a great contributor here. I deserve a reward.”

Rong Ye turned to look at him, a faint curve lifting the corner of his mouth. “What reward?”

“I hear there’s a Qing Tang City that’s super prosperous.” Gu Changhuai directly grabbed Rong Ye’s hand, excited, his eyes bright and the corners of them slightly upturned. “Let’s rest there for a couple of days!”

Rong Ye’s gaze shifted slightly, lingering on Gu Changhuai’s backward glance and lazy smile. His clear, cold, and striking features carried the unique indolence and warmth of youth, his smile casual and languid. The two Plum Blossom Jade Hairpins were a bit loose, and his ink-black hair like raven feathers seemed to envelop his entire being.

Rong Ye reached out and adjusted Gu Changhuai’s jade hairpins, his voice low and husky. “Alright.”