Chapter 55: Gu Master

Relying on the concealment properties of his black robe, Song Changsheng moved freely through the crowds, shaking off all the pursuers he sensed. He then cautiously circled the market several times before shedding the black robe in a secluded spot and returning to the Treasure Seeking Pavilion, acting with extreme caution...

Not long after his return, in a tavern at the northwest corner of the Treasure Seeking Pavilion, a mysterious figure wearing a robe with strange patterns and a silver face mask took a seat by a second-floor window.

Diagonally opposite the window was the Treasure Seeking Pavilion. His arm rested on the windowsill, and a pair of eyes flashing with a cold light gazed quietly out the window, lost in thought.

A waiter from the tavern approached the mysterious man and spoke enthusiastically, "Guest, what would you like to order?"

The mysterious man turned his head, and the waiter's body instantly stiffened, his eyes gradually becoming shrouded in a layer of blood-red light, though they returned to normal in an instant.

"Just a pot of wine, randomly," the mysterious man said in a raspy voice.

"Right away, please wait a moment."

The waiter seemed unaware of what had happened and hurried downstairs to fetch the wine.

The mysterious man drank a pot of wine and did not leave until sunset. In the time that followed, that waiter would occasionally stare blankly out the window.

If one stared closely at his pupils, faint streaks of blood-red light could still be seen, making him appear incredibly eerie...

Song Changsheng waited for three full days before receiving another message from Zhu Yiqun. This time, it was good news: the rogue cultivator senior who possessed the [Heart-Protecting Pill] had agreed to meet him.

However, the location was to be arranged by the other party. Perhaps for safety reasons, the chosen spot was within the market, in a high-traffic medicinal herb area.

As usual, he first checked in with Song Luyuan, then concealed his tracks and arrived at the appointed location—a medicinal herb stall tucked away in a corner.

While other stalls were not necessarily teeming with people, they at least had a few customers lingering; this stall was different. For a long time, no one came to buy herbs, making it exceptionally desolate.

Upon entering, Song Changsheng immediately understood why: the items at this stall were outrageously expensive. Anyone with a functioning brain would not buy from him.

However, his attention was not on these herbs. He quietly observed the stall owner sitting cross-legged behind the counter—a dignified middle-aged cultivator with a deathly pale complexion, devoid of any color.

Wearing a faded blue Daoist robe, the man sat with his eyes closed in meditation, giving off an aura that warned others to keep their distance.

Judging solely by appearances, this person did not seem to belong to the demonic sects.

Song Changsheng quietly gripped the talisman given to him by Song Luhua and said in a steady tone, "Senior, don't you think choosing such a place is a bit too conspicuous?"

The stall owner slowly opened his eyes. Although his complexion was poor, his eyes were bright and spirited, like lanterns in the night, shining clearly.

"A crowd is also a form of cover. That person's tracking methods are very formidable. I smelled his aura on you; you have already been targeted by him," the stall owner said. His voice was steady and calm, yet it could not hide his underlying weakness.

Song Changsheng was startled and immediately used his peripheral vision to discreetly scan the surroundings, but he found nothing unusual.

"There is no need to look. This place is crowded and chaotic, and the various medicinal herbs provide interference. Those little things under his command won't notice us so quickly," the stall owner said, casually fiddling with the herbs in front of him.

"Who is that person?"

The stall owner looked up at him and then said, "His name is Feng Wuming, a highly skilled Gu Master."

"A Gu Master?" Song Changsheng's pupils dilated suddenly. A Gu Master was an extremely niche profession and an existence shunned by everyone, because their methods of planting Gu were incredibly difficult to defend against. One moment of inattention could lead to disaster, and no one wanted to deal with such dangerous individuals.

"You had better be careful during this period. Do not contact strangers. Once a Gu is planted, you will either die or be left in a terrible state," the stall owner said indifferently.

Song Changsheng frowned slightly but did not lose his composure. He cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for the warning, Senior."

"It is merely small talk," the stall owner smiled slightly and reached out a hand toward Song Changsheng. "You have met me as you wished. Now, where is the item I requested?"

Song Changsheng took out the stone and stared into the stall owner's eyes. "This stone does not seem like an object of the righteous path. Might Senior be willing to tell me what it is?"

One must realize he was facing a Foundation Establishment cultivator; such words were extremely rude, even somewhat offensive.

This was only possible because they were within the market; if they were outside, he would not have had such courage.

The stall owner glanced at him and said calmly, "This is a strange stone that Feng Wuming has nourished with blood through a secret method. It can attract Gu insects. I need it to draw out the Gu insects within my body. In essence, it is an evil object; it is normal for you to feel that way."

"Has Senior not considered that this might be a poisoned bait?"

The stall owner chuckled. "Feng Wuming has been searching for me for years, but he only knows I am in Great Qi and not my specific location. Thus, he intends to use this object to lure me out. For these past few years, whenever this item is auctioned in any place, he deliberately leaks news of it. He knows I need it, and once he hears the news, he will not give up. Although the bait is poisoned, I naturally have ways to deal with it. There is no need for you to worry, young friend."

The stall owner's words were almost identical to Song Changsheng's suspicions, which made him even more curious about the man's identity. If so many appraisers from the Bafang Pavilion could not recognize it, yet this man knew it so clearly, could it be that he and Feng Wuming were of the same kind?

"The [Heart-Protecting Pill] is inside here. Young friend, it is time to give me the item," the stall owner said, taking a purple jade bottle from his robe and placing it before Song Changsheng.

Since the other party had cooperated to this extent, if Song Changsheng were to push his luck any further, he would truly be acting without regard for the world. He hurriedly handed the stone and the remaining spirit stones to the stall owner.

Both parties inspected the goods, and after confirming there were no issues, the stall owner rose slowly and said, "Young friend, you have done me a great favor. I will give you one piece of advice: beware of the person wearing the silver mask."

With that, the stall owner rolled up his stall's belongings and vanished into the crowd.

"I'll deal with whatever comes my way," Song Changsheng murmured softly, looking at the purple jade bottle in his hand.

He had essentially averted a disaster for the other party this time. Being targeted by a Gu cultivator was indeed a very dangerous matter, but he did not regret it; it was merely an equal exchange.

As for Gu Masters, he wasn't actually worried; the Primordial Qi he had accumulated for so many years was not just for show.

Song Changsheng also blended into the crowd and disappeared...

A short while after they left, an inconspicuous black insect arrived at the place where they had just met. After circling the spot where the stall owner had been sitting, the insect landed.

Feng Wuming strolled over. Sensing the auras of the two men, he frowned slightly and said, "The energy connection has been severed. It seems the contingency I left behind has been discovered by him. I miscalculated. It seems I can only start with the other person."

...

(End of Chapter)