On Xiaoci Mountain, Nanzhu stood outside the Penglai Palace, her face filled with joy. When she saw Gu Pinglin, she came over with a big smile, patted his shoulder vigorously, and held his arm as she walked towards the door: "I went back to Penglai before, and Qi Niang said she liked snow, so I had to accompany her here again. It's only been two days since I arrived, and I heard that you are here too."
Gu Pinglin said: "Madam..."
"Your sister-in-law is pregnant and has been a little tired recently, so I didn't let her out. Don't mind it." Nanzhu couldn't help laughing when she mentioned this.
Gu Pinglin immediately cupped his hands and said, "So there is such a good thing. Congratulations, Brother Nan."
Nanzhu stopped smiling and sighed, "But she hasn't been in good health since she got pregnant. Ming Qingzi said that she might have a disaster during this pregnancy and I don't know where she is. I was really worried, so I let her rest inside."
"Your Madam must be blessed by heaven," Gu Pinglin changed the subject, "Tianji calculated Qingzi, is he in Penglai?"
Nanzhu said, "He travels around the world. He happened to come to Penglai to buy medicinal herbs the day before yesterday, and then he left again. Why, do you want to find him?"
Gu Pinglin always remembered the different comments Ming Qingzi made about him in this life, and wanted to meet him. Now that the path was hopeless, perhaps he could ask him to peek into the secrets of heaven and point out a bright path for him. However, fate determines the fate, and since he has already left, Gu Pinglin did not force it: "I have only heard of your great name for a long time."
"I'll ask them to prepare some wine, and we'll have a few drinks tonight," Nanzhu noticed Lan Feiyu, "This is..."
Gu Pinglin said: "The guard hired by the Sword King Pavilion, Wu Jian San."
Nanzhu's eyes sparkled when she heard that, and she smiled at Lan Feiyu and said, "So you are a master from the Sword King Pavilion. I heard that your Pavilion Master has superb swordsmanship, but it's a pity that I don't have the chance to see him."
Lan Feiyu simply cupped his hands.
"My palace is relatively safe and does not need guards. Let this friend go down and have a rest. We are brothers and can talk to each other easily." After Nanzhu finished speaking, she waved her hand and summoned a maid to take Lan Feiyu to the guest house to settle down.
Lan Feiyu looked at Pinglin, and when he nodded, she followed the maid.
After he left, Nanzhu immediately turned to Gu Pinglin, her expression solemn: "I was just about to ask you about the Sword King Pavilion. Is the Pavilion Master really the Sixth Master Duan from back then?"
He will know this sooner or later. Gu Pinglin did not hide it from him: "We look similar, but he no longer recognizes me. Perhaps it is because of the injury he suffered that year."
Nanzhu sighed, "If you hadn't said it yourself, I would never have believed it. I clearly saw it at the time..." He also knew that corpses could be disguised, so he didn't say anything more. After thinking for a while, he smiled and said, "Back then, his sword shook the cultivation world. Now that he has founded the Sword King Pavilion, he will only be stronger. You had no choice back then. Even if he wants to retaliate, it has nothing to do with you and me. To be honest, I just came to the Lu Realm and was constrained everywhere. If he can really change the situation, it will be good for me."
Gu Pinglin knew that he was influenced by his openness to her, so he didn't answer and just smiled.
Nanzhu obviously did not regard Duan Qingming as a threat. She quickly changed the subject and took Gu Pinglin to visit Xiaoci Mountain. It was obvious that he was in a very good mood and looked very proud.
Gu Pinglin asked casually, "Is the daughter of the Minggong in the palace?"
"She's here, accompanying your sister-in-law." Nanzhu seemed to understand something and raised her eyebrows with interest. "You rejected her kindness in the past. Could it be that now..."
Gu Pinglin neither admitted nor denied: "Brother Nan, you are joking."
Nanzhu said: "What's there to be embarrassed about? You are too thin-skinned."
Gu Pinglin said: "Brother Nan, please don't talk nonsense. If the young lady has no intention, it will be bad."
Nanzhu snorted coldly: "Things are different now. You are the head of the Lingxin Sect. It is her blessing that you have chosen her. Shun Shigong, that old man, dare not do anything. If you don't dare to speak up, I will..."
"No need," Gu Pinglin interrupted him, "It's more fun to do this kind of thing by myself."
Nanzhu laughed when she heard this and put her arm around his shoulders: "I said you don't seem like such an honest person."
Xiaoci Mountain has beautiful scenery, with flowers hanging on branches and streams reflecting their shadows. The two walked and stopped, talking about what happened in the cultivation world recently. Gu Pinglin secretly felt that the spiritual energy in the mountain was more abundant than last time. Nanzhu ordered a banquet to be prepared, but in the evening, two maids suddenly came to report that the lady was unwell.
Nanzhu became nervous: "Wasn't he fine when he got up early? He was accompanied by a public girl, what's going on?"
The maid bowed her head.
Nanzhu was worried and looked at Pinglin with embarrassment: "This..."
Gu Pinglin said tactfully, "Madam's health is very important, Brother Nan should go and see her."
"I'm sorry for neglecting you this time. Let's have a good drink together tomorrow." Nanzhu relaxed her brows and told the maid to send Gu Pinglin to the guest room.
Gu Pinglin followed the maid forward and asked casually, "Where is my bodyguard friend?"
The maid smiled and replied, "Don't worry, Master Gu. He is doing well in the guest house. The island owner ordered you to stay in Panxi Cottage. It is close so he can go drink with you."
Gu Pinglin said "hmm" and stopped asking.
Panxi Cottage was built on the bank of a stream. The stream made a sharp turn here, half surrounding the cottage. After the maid left, Gu Pinglin stood alone beside the curved railing, looking across the water at a few flower trees on the other side. It was quite quiet and peaceful.
Not long after, footsteps were heard behind me.
Gu Pinglin turned around and said, "My lady, how are you?"
After not seeing each other for many days, Lady Ming looked more haggard than before. She walked up to him with a smile and said, "The island owner specifically asked me to come and see if Sect Leader Gu has settled down properly. I think Sect Leader Gu intended to make him misunderstand."
"The situation forced me to do this to avoid the island master's suspicion, so I had to let you down," Gu Pinglin bowed. "When I received the letter from the Taoist temple the day before yesterday, I knew it was your plan."
Lady Ming shook her head: "I can't hide my thoughts from Master Gu, but there is one thing you must not know." She paused and whispered: "Master Pingcang just passed away."
Gu Pinglin was a little surprised. Thinking back to Nanzhu's cheerful and talkative appearance just now, it turned out that she was relieved. Thinking back to Nanzhu's wedding in the past, Pingcang Gong found that Ji Shi had problems and condescended to ask him for advice. Everything seemed like yesterday. Gu Pinglin couldn't help but sigh. Pingcang Gong was loyal to Nanzhu all his life and devoted himself to her. In order to protect Penglai's foundation, he tried his best to fight with Liuyu Gong and Shunshi Gong, but he didn't expect to end up in such a miserable way. Nanzhu was suspicious by nature, but who would have thought that he was also afraid of this old minister who worked hard and made great contributions.
The daughter of Lord Ming showed a sad expression: "Lord Pingcang has been acting strangely in recent years and his heart is no longer in the Dao. This is also expected..."
Gu Pinglin suddenly interrupted her: "Has Envoy Jun Ling come back?"
Lady Ming did not hide the truth from him: "On the night of Lord Pingcang's death, he did come back once, and then he left again. You also know his current identity. The Tiancan Sect is not to be trifled with."
Jun Muzhi had already discovered Nanzhu's abnormality, but he didn't show it. He was also a smart man. Gu Pinglin said: "That is to say, the news of Lord Pingcang's death had not yet spread."
Lady Ming realized something: "The Envoy Jun Ling is a man of love and righteousness. I'm sure he's always keeping an eye on Penglai's movements in secret. It's not surprising." She said this, but her eyebrows were already furrowed. After a while, she said, "I can't take care of these things now. The island owner has lost his mind and has become a puppet of the Ji family. Sect Leader Gu has a good relationship with the island owner. I hope you can help him."
Gu Pinglin said: "The lady sent me a letter, isn't that a sign of progress?"
Lady Ming shook her head: "I did try to start with Madam, but she never reacted."
"Not betraying you is a good reaction."
"But she refused to rescue the island owner."
Gu Pinglin said: "If you have intentions but no actions, you are naturally worried."
Ming Gongnu said: "I think so too. After all, she was born in the Ji family. She was rejected by Qi Shisan at the beginning, so she had no choice but to marry the island owner. I'm afraid she doesn't have much for the island owner..."
"She's pregnant," Gu Pinglin interrupted her, "A woman is willing to give birth to a man's child, ignoring Ming Qingzi's reminders and not caring about herself. Don't you understand, my lady?"
Ming Gongnu was stunned for a moment, and said, "I am an ambitious woman, I don't have much kindness, and I have never given much sincerity to any man. Are you mocking me, Master Gu?"
Gu Pinglin asked: "Am I kind?"
The two looked at each other and smiled.
"On the road of life, everyone has their own persistence and what they pursue," Lady Ming thought for a moment and said, "Since Sect Leader Gu said so, I have some confidence, but what exactly is she worried about?"
Gu Pinglin understood it in his heart, but he didn't say it out loud: "The time is not right yet. I think you don't need to worry."
"Hearing you speak so easily, I feel relieved," Lady Ming sighed, "Then I'll go back first and not disturb your rest." She took two steps, turned back and smiled, "Master Gu is so wise, but it's a pity that I don't have the chance. I don't know who has the chance to travel with Master Gu. I'm a little jealous when I think that you will take the initiative to pursue her."
Gu Pinglin was stunned for a moment, but soon his expression returned to normal: "You are joking, young lady."
Ming Gongnu left with a smile.
Gu Pinglin accidentally learned the whereabouts of Jun Muzhi and Zhou Yi. He did not expect to gain anything this time. He was in a good mood and returned to his room to sit in meditation. Now he was not so obsessed with cultivation. Trying to realize the truth was just a habit. The result was not unexpected. He still gained nothing.
In the middle of the night, Gu Pinglin suddenly opened his eyes, got up and walked out.
There was a man standing beside the curved railing.
"Mrs. Ji." Gu Pinglin bowed.
The person turned around and it was none other than Ji Qiniang. She was now dressed in gorgeous clothes and radiant with beauty. She no longer looked like the delicate girl she once was. Her eyes and eyebrows were even colder as she reflected the cold pearl light. "Master Gu, why are you still not asleep so late?"
Gu Pinglin stepped forward and said, "Madam arranged for me to live here. Of course, Gu Jiu would not dare to sleep without seeing Madam."
Ji Qinnan turned around again and looked at the flowing water outside the fence.
Gu Pinglin stood beside her and said, "The South Island Master only married you for Penglai in the past. His motives were not pure. Now he has reaped the fruits of his own labor. You don't need to feel guilty."
"Shouldn't you be the one who feels guilty?" Ji Qiniang said coldly, "Back then, you actually knew where Qi Shisan was, and you even brought him to Penglai to watch me get married."
Gu Pinglin said: "The flowers are affectionate, but the water is ruthless. Madam is a smart person, why force it?"
Ji Qiniang suddenly raised her head and looked at him: "If he hadn't run away, how would you know that he wouldn't like me?"
Gu Pinglin said calmly, "I only know that even if Qi Shisan was brought back to the Qi family, your father would no longer agree to you marrying him. From the moment he escaped from the marriage, there was no possibility for you two, and your fate of entering Penglai was already determined."
Ji Qinnan took two steps back as if struck by lightning.
Gu Pinglin sighed upon seeing this and stepped forward to help her: "I'm sorry, holding on to this obsession is really harmful to you, Gu Jiu had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure."
Ji Qiniang pushed his hand away, tears welling up in her eyes: "Am I ridiculous?"
Gu Pinglin frowned, "No, I admire your courage that day, but as the saying goes, man proposes, God disposes. Even the road is not immune, let alone this kind of thing. Since you have tried your best to fight for yourself, even if you fail, your life will not be in vain."
Ji Qiniang gradually calmed down and looked at the woods on the other side with a confused look. I don't know if she was reminiscing about her girlish thoughts or worrying about the choices she faced. After a long time, she spoke again: "You are right. I should have let it go long ago. I just used it as an excuse to ignore the fact that I was ashamed of Nanzhu. I was not wanted by Qi Shisan. Although he married me for Penglai, he gave me face and status, and I was using him from beginning to end."
Gu Pinglin said: "Madam had no choice."
Ji Qiniang lowered her head: "I decided to give birth to this child because I felt guilty towards him and wanted to at least leave him for Penglai..."
Gu Pinglin interrupted her: "If Brother Nan dies, can the child survive?"
Being told the truth, Ji Qiniang finally looked at him helplessly: "Anyway, he has treated me well over the years, and you are his most trusted friend. Can you think of a way to save him?"
"We are friends, but you are his wife," Gu Pinglin said, "Isn't his life in your hands?"
Ji Qinniang was silent.
Gu Pinglin said: "You are afraid. Saving him would be a betrayal to the Ji family. If he wakes up, he may not love you so much anymore, and may even hate you."
With her fingers tightly clasped on the railing, Ji Qinnan turned her face away.
Gu Pinglin said: "This kind of magic only amplifies the original emotions in people's hearts and leads them to extremes. Brother Nan is now open with me because he trusts me to a certain extent."
Ji Qiniang turned back to look at him: "Really?"
"Everything he said is true, but I'm not sure how much love he has for you," Gu Pinglin said cruelly as he looked at the night sky. "Choose him and the child, or choose Ji. You have no choice but to choose."
Ji Qinnan was stunned for a while, didn't say anything, then turned around and went back.
.
Gu Pinglin stayed in Xiaoci Mountain for two days before finding an excuse to leave and hurried back to Lingxin Sect. When the two arrived at the long street outside the mountain gate, Gu Pinglin immediately realized something was wrong.
The streets are so busy with people coming and going, it's too lively.
"Someone is watching," Lan Feiyu lowered his voice, his eyes dark, "What should we do?"
Gu Pinglin sneered and walked straight forward.
In the blink of an eye, the bustling street became empty and all the pedestrians disappeared. The dozen or so disciples who were following him were on guard, looking nervous.
"Enchantment!"
"It's a battle formation," someone sighed, "The Lingxin Sect is good at battle formation swordsmanship. We've been discovered."
…
The Ying Clan, the Zhenshui Sword Sect, the Liudao Sect… These disciples actually came from different sects and families, even including people from the Xuanming Sect. They openly monitored the Lingxin Sect, which surprised Gu Pinglin very much.
Lan Feiyu also recognized it and wondered: "What do they want to do?"
Gu Pinglin frowned and looked for a moment, then kicked a stone outside the store door back to its original position and removed the magic circle: "Let's go."
The disciples were warned and did not dare to follow. The two walked up the mountain along the stone path and saw Mu Shiqing and several young disciples waiting at the mountain gate from afar. Mu Shiqing was no longer Yu Jian Thirty-three. As a direct disciple of the head of the Lingxin Sect, he was highly valued and had a high status. However, he seemed to be the same as usual, still silent and expressionless. When he saw Gu Pinglin, he immediately came up with the young disciples.
Gu Pinglin stopped everyone from greeting and asked, "Are there any guests?"
Mu Shiqing glanced at Lan Feiyu and lowered his head to report: "The head of the Sword King Pavilion came to visit and has been staying in the mountain for two days."