Chapter 518 - 455: Accomplices (2)
Chapter 518: Chapter 455: Accomplices (2)
While Gongsun Ruxue and Sun Yiming were talking, Xiao Man slipped into the next office and called the Gu Mansion, asking Gu Shaojun to come over a little early.
’Before the new year, I happened to see Gongsun Ruxue and Bai Qingyue together at Second Miss Sun’s birthday party. That made me wonder if Gongsun Ruxue had some connection to the Bai family. Then yesterday, I saw that Cultivator run away from Bai Junfan on the street, heard Yang Liu’er talk about the Bai family’s "relatives," and noticed that faint, almost imperceptible mist around Gongsun Ruxue. It all adds up. I’m almost certain: Gongsun Ruxue is with the Cultivator from yesterday. They’re both "relatives" of the Bai family!’
’These "relatives" came to the Bai family to guide them in Cultivating their Bodies, which was obviously Mr. Bai’s doing. Yang Liu’er and Luo Chunxiang were both surprised by their arrival, which means this didn’t happen in my past life. By this point back then, Mr. Bai was already dead, so he likely never had the chance to pass his connections on to Bai Lihua and Bai Junfan.’
’But Mr. Bai is alive in this life. He’s old, shrewd, and worldly-wise. He’s the one who attracted these Cultivators.’
’Cultivators usually need to cultivate in seclusion; they don’t just show up unless there’s something in it for them. So, did they really come all the way to Beijing just to guide the Bai family onto the path of Cultivation?’
’I remember how the Bai family deliberately tried to get on my good side just for my herbs and prescriptions. And then there’s Gongsun Ruxue—a girl who seems so cool and ethereal. Why would she put up with my repeated snubs and keep trying to cozy up to me as if nothing happened?’
Xiao Man trusted her intuition. ’Gongsun Ruxue, or the people backing her, were after me from the start!’
’The Bai family brought them here.’
’The Bai family had gotten herbs from me before, and Mr. Bai is obsessed with cultivation. For a Cultivator, the craving for herbs rich in Spiritual Energy is like a desert traveler’s thirst for an oasis spring.’
A chill ran down her spine. ’Could it be that aside from hiding their Cultivator auras, they have other secret techniques? Like X-ray vision, which would let them see the pocket dimension I carry? Why else would Gongsun Ruxue be clinging to me so relentlessly?’
Xiao Man felt her precautions had been adequate. She had mostly avoided eating anything Gongsun Ruxue offered her. Gongsun Ruxue was a skilled Pharmacist, capable of poisoning someone without them ever realizing it. Some poisons were undetectable at first, and even with an antidote, they could leave lasting damage. That was why, with Gongsun Ruxue inviting her to dinner today, Xiao Man needed to be prepared. She wanted to keep Gongsun Ruxue around a bit longer, too. Since Gu Shaojun had already reached Foundation Establishment, he should be able to observe her and figure out her situation.
Maybe they could even find out more about her group.
Everyone feels greed. Some people just fantasize a little but act within their limits. Others, however, become obsessed and take extreme measures, vowing to reach their goal even if it means hurting themselves and others. Such actions inevitably lead to disaster. If they succeed, others get hurt. If they fail, they invariably suffer the backlash, hoisting themselves by their own petard. This is what people call retribution.
Today was Gongsun Ruxue’s unlucky day.
When Gu Shaojun appeared before Gongsun Ruxue, Sun Yiming, and Xiao Man, he didn’t intentionally release his Suppression. Even so, Gongsun Ruxue felt a chill run down her back, experiencing the same sensation her grandfather had.
’I specifically said this was just a small get-together for classmates to keep other people from joining in,’ she thought. ’I can’t believe Xiao Man’s fiancé came anyway.’
’So this is the eldest grandson of the Gu family,’ she mused. ’He looks to be only in his twenties, yet his cultivation is so high! Could he be the one who intimidated Grandfather with his Suppression yesterday?’
’Now *this* is a true dreamboat! His looks, his bearing... they’re all a cut above Bai Junfan’s. On top of that, to have such a high cultivation at his age means he must have an outstanding aptitude and a pure Spirit Root. His future potential is immeasurable!’
It was a matter of finding a suitable match. An ordinary woman choosing a partner would first consider his looks and talent, followed by his job, income, and family status. A female cultivator, however, would naturally prioritize finding a male cultivator. They were on the same plane, which made communication easy and allowed them to progress together. Consequently, a man’s cultivation level was paramount; the higher it was, the more attractive he was to a female cultivator. In this End of Dharma World, Cultivators were already scarce, and exceptional young male Cultivators were rarer still. Just as Gongsun Ruxue was planning ahead for her own marriage, she suddenly encountered such a handsome and outstanding male Cultivator. Her heart skipped a beat.
Gongsun Ruxue could spend half the night calmly facing Bai Junfan, but upon seeing Gu Shaojun, she nearly lost her composure. For a moment, she was dazed. Her cheeks flushed red and her thoughts fell into a brief turmoil, making her completely drop the vigilance she should have had. She didn’t bolt like her grandfather had.
There was a reason she hadn’t been scared off. Gu Shaojun was acting quite amicably toward her, so she didn’t sense any danger.
When a High-level Cultivator and a low-level cultivator meet for the first time, a small amount of Suppression is naturally released. It can feel uncomfortable at first, but one gradually adapts after getting acquainted. Of course, among family or close friends, this effect is generally not felt unless it is released intentionally.
At Xiao Man’s subtle suggestion, Gu Shaojun had reined in his Suppression so it wouldn’t leak out. The moment he arrived, he noticed Gongsun Ruxue was different—she was a female cultivator, enveloped in a mist just like the Cultivator from yesterday. Perhaps because she was a "delicate young lady," Gongsun Ruxue’s "protective layer" was even thicker. For a moment, Gu Shaojun couldn’t ascertain her exact cultivation, but he could tell it wasn’t very high.
He was a little surprised that Xiao Man had a friend from school who was involved in Cultivation, and that she had never mentioned it to him.
But then he realized that with Xiao Man’s level of cultivation, she wouldn’t have been able to see through the woman’s "protective layer" at all. ’This woman is her classmate and a fellow Cultivator, yet she deliberately hid her identity to get close to Xiao Man,’ he thought. ’Her purpose and intentions are self-evident.’
Gu Shaojun’s eyes instantly turned cold and sharp. Before Xiao Man could stop him, a wave of Suppression washed over Gongsun Ruxue.