Lingyun Sect, Cliff of Reflection. The whimpering wind spun around a figure covered in a thin layer of frost, as if searching for a heat source to extinguish at any moment.
Gu Chengshu, her head and face muffled, sitting in meditation in a bizarre posture, tried hard to ignore it and accelerated the circulation of the Heaven and Earth Formula once again.
It was not that she did not want to sustain a spiritual energy barrier to protect herself; the wind on the Cliff of Reflection contained the cold baleful qi from the freezing abyss below and was bound by special restrictions. Any spiritual energy barrier below the Nascent Soul stage would only fuel the cold baleful qi—whoever cast it would suffer.
Yet as for this reflection... she had committed no fault, so what was there to reflect upon?
The only word Gu Chengshu could think of now was: fast!
How to make the Heaven and Earth Formula run faster.
Once it was running, no matter how fierce the wind on the Cliff of Reflection or how heavy the cold baleful qi from the abyss below, it would be of little consequence to her.
Stripped of her dharma robe and storage bag, having survived on air and dew for nearly three months, Gu Chengshu already knew how to survive here.
Once upon a time...
Thinking of the days when she used to lie in a hospital bed reading web novels, Gu Chengshu let out a soft sigh.
This present body shared her name and surname. On the surface, she had family wealth, a master, and a childhood sweetheart; her spiritual root aptitude could barely be considered good. But in truth, her wealth was an illusion, her master was the childhood sweetheart's father, and the childhood sweetheart's heart belonged to another.
If that were all, it would still be fine, but stubbornly...
Gu Chengshu let out a long breath, preventing the emotions from the merged memories and soul fragments from seamlessly continuing to interfere with the circulation of the Heaven and Earth Formula.
No matter what, she had to stay alive first before she could speak of the future.
The bridge between her palms and the soles of her feet unblocked once again, and the micro-universe within her body reformed. Gu Chengshu plunged once more into a state of deep cultivation, oblivious to the passage of days and nights.
...
"What did you say? Chengshu has been punished and sent to the Cliff of Reflection?"
True Monarch Feng Lan, who had just stepped off the flying boat and returned to the sect, was extremely displeased by her disciple's words. "For what reason?"
"Junior Sister Gu beat up an outer sect disciple."
Jiang Pan, who was answering, furrowed his brow. "That disciple said she was repaying kindness with enmity, bullying Junior Brother Yin, and that she was unworthy of being Uncle Yin's disciple. He also said that if Uncle Gu were still alive, she would surely be ashamed of her."
What?
Feng Lan turned sharply. "What did your Uncle Yin say?"
"Uncle Yin is in seclusion; he's not here. Senior Brother Geng from the Punishment Hall said that harming fellow disciples is a grave taboo. No matter what, Junior Sister Gu beat someone to within an inch of their life in full view of everyone, and that was her fault. Therefore... she was sentenced to three months on the Cliff of Reflection."
"And you? What were you doing?"
Him?
Master's words were so cold.
Jiang Pan's face paled as he hurriedly followed her steps toward the Punishment Hall. "I went to plead for her, but Senior Brother Geng scolded me out."
At this moment, he was truly glad that he had merely gone through the motions for appearance's sake, otherwise...
True Monarch Feng Lan's expression softened. "And Yin Cheng? How did Chengshu bully him? After Chengshu was punished, what did he say?"
"The cause of the matter, it is said, was because of a piece of Yinyuan Grass. That Yinyuan Grass was put out on a stall by an ignorant rogue cultivator and sold as ordinary Yinyue Grass. The two of them likely saw it at the same time, and in the end, the Yinyuan Grass was bought by Junior Sister Gu. Then some disciples started seeking justice for Junior Brother Yin.
I heard that before this, there were several other small matters, but none of them blew up. This time, it was probably because that disciple brought up Uncle Gu, and Junior Sister made her move too fiercely out of anger."
Jiang Pan's mouth felt a bit dry, and he cast a stealthy glance at his master. "As for Junior Brother Yin, he tried to break up the fight all along. However, Junior Sister Gu almost hurt him as well. At the time, when Senior Brother Geng questioned him, he said it wasn't Junior Sister Gu's fault, that it was just his own carelessness.
He also wanted to plead for Junior Sister Gu, but the injured party wouldn't agree. These past few days, I've heard that he frequently visits that disciple, on one hand atoning for Junior Sister Gu's sins and trying to appease him, and on the other planning to go together to plead for mercy."
"How long has Chengshu been on the Cliff of Reflection?" Feng Lan asked, reasonably satisfied as she walked.
"Ah?" Jiang Pan was stunned, pausing for several breaths. "It has been... almost three months."
Feng Lan, marching with long strides toward the Punishment Hall, abruptly halted. She turned and stared at her disciple for a moment, her voice as cold as ice. "How many days until three months?"
Jiang Pan swallowed a mouthful of saliva, calculating rapidly. "Four... four days!" Something seemed to flash across his mind, but he failed to grasp it in time.
"Four days?"
Such audacity!
Feng Lan narrowed her eyes. "Where is that disciple now?"
"He is... at Senior Brother Geng's place. Senior Brother Geng said he is not afraid of power and remains uncorrupted by temptation, making him fine material for the Punishment Hall. He has already taken him on as a discipling disciple."
"Ha!"
Feng Lan was so angry she laughed. "What a magnificent farce! Have you been to the Cliff of Reflection to see Chengshu these past few days?"
"Ever since Senior Brother Geng took over the Punishment Hall, he has been extremely strict and won't let any of us enter or leave as we please."
Feng Lan closed her eyes briefly. "Jiang Pan, do you really dislike Gu Chengshu?"
"No, no, this disciple wouldn't dare!"
"Then is it that you don't, or that you wouldn't dare?"
"Junior... Junior Sister Gu is somewhat spoiled. I... although I don't particularly like her, I certainly don't hate her either. I..."
"Enough, say no more."
Feng Lan cut him off flatly. "Go back and reflect for three months. You are not to step out without my orders."
Ah?
Jiang Pan opened his mouth, but ultimately lowered his head. "...Understood!"
Junior Brother Yin's attitude toward Junior Sister Gu did seem a bit off.
He...
Thinking of Master's solemn charge before leaving to take good care of Gu Chengshu, Jiang Pan felt a pang in his heart and hurried back to face the wall in reflection.
Feng Lan gave a cold snort. She hesitated between Tianxiang Peak and the Cliff of Reflection, but in the end, she flickered away toward the Cliff of Reflection.
A moment later, looking at the young girl stripped of her dharma robe and wearing only her inner garment, who was using the length of her inner garment to wrap her sleeves around her head yet still unable to withstand the freezing cold, huddled over with her waist bent and torso pressed against her thighs to circulate her cultivation method against the cold baleful qi of the Cliff of Reflection, a flash of heartache could not help but cross her eyes.
However, the three-month sentence was drawing to a close. If she intervened now, even if the one surnamed Geng was willing to compromise, he certainly wouldn't say anything pleasant.
She...
Feng Lan suddenly sensed something and her figure flickered, concealing her presence.
"Chengshu!"
Before long, a figure rapidly approached—it was Yin Zhenghai, who had emerged from seclusion right on time, coming in person. "You have suffered. Come home with Master."
Home?
The surrounding chill was instantly replaced by warmth. How could Gu Chengshu not feel it? She slowly ceased her cultivation, raising her head to see a hazy figure.
"Master has come to fetch you."
Seeing the large patches of congealed black stains on her inner garment, Yin Zhenghai's gaze flickered, and his voice grew even gentler. "Rest assured, Master will certainly give you an explanation for this matter!"
Explanation?
Pulling down the thin garment wrapped around her head, Gu Chengshu finally saw the person before her clearly.
Yin Zhenghai, Master of Tianxiang Peak, a cultivator in the early stage of Nascent Soul, her good master.
"Master..."
"It is Master!"
Yin Zhenghai's face was full of heartache. "Come, let us go home with Master."
Home? Return to Tianxiang Peak?
Gu Chengshu was startled with dread. "Master, it is true that I struck someone, and Senior Brother Geng punished me according to the rules; it cannot be considered a violation. Rest assured, in a few more days, this disciple will be able to return."
Yin Zhenghai: "..."
Very well, this girl seemed to have become sensible once again.
His expression straightened. "It doesn't matter. I have already spoken with Senior Brother Geng; you can come home with me right now."
"...Master, I... I do not want you to owe Senior Brother Geng a favor!"
Gu Chengshu almost failed to control the expression on her face. "I have endured for so many days, do I care about a mere four days?"
This?
Yin Zhenghai was quite gratified that this little girl could maintain this spirit throughout. "In that case, Master will wait a few more days. Rest assured, as for Yin Cheng, Master has already scolded him. He..."
"Master, it is not Senior Brother Yin's fault."
Gu Chengshu forced down the hatred burning in her heart. "It is Zhang Minglin; he harbors malicious intentions."
"Master knows. He is now..." A flash of anger crossed Yin Zhenghai's face. "...He has already taken Geng Shu as his master and joined the Punishment Hall."