Gu Qingxian's face darkened like the bottom of a wok. That precious Dao Heart Pill of hers was gone just like that, and the heartache was almost suffocating.
Such hopeless dead wood... Urgh!
"Forget it. Your physical frame is far too frail after all. Stay here for now, and we can talk about anything else once you've recovered your health."
Gu Qingxian shook her head helplessly. Given that Xu Wuwang's meridians were currently damaged, there was no point in rushing; he simply needed a good, long period of recuperation.
Before any smug look could form on Xu Wuwang's face, he heard Gu Qingxian say, "Take these scriptures back and study them thoroughly. I expect to test you on them tomorrow."
With that, Gu Qingxian flicked her delicate hand, and a fierce gale swept through the Zizhu forest. Moments later, a small cottage materialized right next to the left side of the main courtyard.
"From now on, you will live here. Please help look after Xiaoyuan with some of the chores."
Having said her piece, Gu Qingxian's figure flashed, and she vanished without a trace.
The moment Gu Qingxian left, Gu Yuan cast a complicated look at Xu Wuwang and let out a soft sigh. Though she was a young girl in the springtime of her youth, the expression on her face at that moment carried the weary resignation of an aging mother.
She bowed slightly toward Xu Wuwang and apologized, "The Peak Master's personality is a bit erratic. Since you're already here, Junior Brother, you might as well stay."
Though the young girl named Gu Yuan looked young, she was exceptionally gentle, and being a cultivator, she was surprisingly courteous to Xu Wuwang.
With a graceful gesture of her hand, she said to Xu Wuwang, "Let's go get you settled in your room first. I'll find you a clean set of clothes; your injuries require several days of quiet rest."
As a newcomer who still had not figured out the situation, Xu Wuwang nodded along with Gu Yuan and said, "Thank you for the trouble, Senior Sister."
"There's no need to call me Senior Sister. I am not under the Peak Master's tutelage; I am merely the Peak Master's personal maid. Just call me Xiaoyuan."
Gu Yuan was very polite, her smile revealing two cute little dimples on her cheeks.
"Senior Sister Yuan."
Xu Wuwang cupped his fists, though naturally, he wouldn't be quite so casual about it.
Gu Yuan smiled without saying anything more, leading Xu Wuwang to the small cottage that had just been conjured out of thin air.
The cottage was not large, nestled in the courtyard right on the left side of the main house.
"The center is the Peak Master's residence, and the right side is mine."
After giving a brief introduction and making sure Xu Wuwang was settled in, Gu Yuan said, "I'll go fetch some daily necessities for you. Junior Brother, just stay here and rest for now."
With that, Gu Yuan left, and within a split second, all commotion outside died down.
Peering out of the doorway like a crafty rodent, Xu Wuwang discovered that apart from the rustling of some spirit fowl in the courtyard, there was not a sound to be heard.
That unhinged fairy sister was gone, and Gu Yuan was gone too. Was this his chance to slip away?
Seeing that the courtyard was deserted, the urge to bolt stirred in Xu Wuwang once again.
While this Gu Yuan seemed somewhat normal, as for that Peak Master...
Xu Wuwang couldn't help feeling a bit jittery. He glanced back at the copy of the Blood-Moving Secret Art sitting on the table, which was practically as tall as a person, and curled his lip.
Fleeing for his life was far more important! Since he had already transmigrated and gained infinite longevity, why on earth would he bother cultivating immortality or studying books? Wasn't finding some quiet corner to lie low much better?
Every part of Xu Wuwang's body still ached; although his damaged meridians were concentrated around his wrists, he inexplicably felt varying degrees of pain all over his body.
If he let Gu Qingxian put him through the wringer a few more times, Xu Wuwang doubted he would live very long, infinite longevity or not.
At the mere thought of that woman's brutal methods, Xu Wuwang hardened his resolve and snuck out of the forest courtyard.
Outside the courtyard lay a dense thicket of Zizhu. Xu Wuwang could not tell directions, nor did he have any idea where he actually was. He had been unconscious when he was dropped off here, and he remained utterly bewildered to this hour.
Amidst the sea of purple bamboo, immortal mist swirled. With every inhalation, Xu Wuwang felt his exhaustion fade away, as if a gentle current were slowly generating within his body.
It truly was a wondrous place where even breathing felt comfortable, yet Xu Wuwang still had no intention of staying.
And so, Xu Wuwang walked and walked through the Zizhu forest, going from daylight into the dead of night.
At night, his stomach was growling with hunger, yet he hadn't seen a single soul. Like a salted fish, Xu Wuwang sprawled flat on his back in the forest, staring up at the crescent moon hanging high overhead with an expression that doubted the very meaning of existence.
"What in the world is this damn place?"
Ultimately, Xu Wuwang let out a wretched, thoroughly exhausted howl.
Fearing that someone would come looking for him, Xu Wuwang had bolted the moment he left the courtyard, walking and walking almost without a single break. Yet the bizarre thing was that this Zizhu forest seemed infinitely vast. He had been walking for an entire day, and he still hadn't managed to walk out of this wretched patch of woods?
Xu Wuwang was dumbfounded. He was certain he had walked in a straight line; at his speed, even a small forest should have been crossed within a day. Yet he truly had failed to walk out of this mere Zizhu forest.
Was this the legendary methods of immortals?
Suspicion flickered in Xu Wuwang's mind, but at this point, he didn't care anymore.
Tired to death, starved to death—just let it all end, he didn't want to live anymore.
"Junior Brother?"
Just as Xu Wuwang was lying on a stone platform questioning his life choices, a melodious voice drifted into his ears. Opening his eyes, Xu Wuwang saw Gu Yuan's cute little face smiling down at him.
"Wah! Senior Sister, you're finally here! I got lost, this place is terrifying, no matter which way I walk it's just trees!"
At the sight of Gu Yuan's pretty face, Xu Wuwang wept tears of joy, grabbed her leg, and cried his eyes out.
"There, there, it's Senior Sister's fault for being late. The Holy Land... never mind, let's not talk about that. Why did you run all the way out here? This Zizhu forest has a specialized magic array set up by the Peak Master; without a special jade pendant to guide the way, you'll just be trapped inside."
With a helpless expression, Gu Yuan gently patted Xu Wuwang's little head.
"I just wanted to take a stroll outside to get familiar with the surroundings, but I never expected that once I came out, I wouldn't be able to find my way back."
Xu Wuwang wailed loudly, naturally keeping his failed escape attempt to himself.
So there really was a magic array in this forest. It seemed his plan to escape was shelved.
"All right, let's head back. Master is waiting for us."
With an amused expression, Gu Yuan took Xu Wuwang by the hand and started walking.
Xu Wuwang felt a mystical force envelop them both, and the surrounding scenery shifted like a dream. In a flash, that familiar little courtyard reappeared in his line of sight.
Well, it was all for nothing. After walking for a whole day, one turn around and he was right back where he started.
Xu Wuwang let out a faint sigh. Head lowered, he resigned himself to his fate and followed Gu Yuan back into the courtyard.
"What were you up to? Didn't I tell you to stay inside and study properly?"
Sitting with her legs apart on the steps of the main entrance, gnawing on a large meat rib and grease dripping from her lips, Gu Qingxian cast a sideways glance at Xu Wuwang.
The woman was sitting on the steps with zero dignity, taking a swig of wine and a bite of meat, her mouth covered in grease, with a grease stain smeared across her long, trailing sleeve.
Any illusion of her image was thoroughly shattered. There was not a trace of the dignified poise of a mighty immortal cultivator left; right now, Gu Qingxian gave Xu Wuwang the impression of someone remarkably down-to-earth.