My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion-Chapter 71 - 56 Ge Sheng

Lu Ying couldn’t understand why her master had to set foot in this obscure little village.

It wasn’t until she saw someone summoning souls and recognized the lead summoner as the Taichua Goddess that she began to have some guesses.

"Is Master... helping her seek enlightenment?"

The one-armed woman replied flatly:

"The Dao is something one must comprehend for oneself; no one else can deliver it to you."

Lu Ying, half-understanding, replied:

"Still, Master is helping her, right? But... why help her?"

Zhou Yitang raised her eyes to gaze into the distance,

"To cut one’s Three Corpses."

Lu Ying was stunned upon hearing this.

The pursuit of immortality, the severing of Three Corpses, and the expulsion of the Nine Worms had always been paths to long life. Precisely because of this, it often required elaborate preparations, meticulous arrangements, and an indispensable moment of epiphany. The difficulty of such a task was plain to see; hence Daoists often severed their own Three Corpses.

But for her Master to do this not for herself, but to help someone else sever their Three Corpses... Lu Ying couldn’t help but feel both curious and puzzled.

"Who... is worthy of Master going to such lengths?"

Lu Ying asked.

Zhou Yitang did not answer.

Lu Ying’s curiosity grew, and she shook Zhou Yitang’s only remaining arm, asking:

"Who is it? Is it that person from before?"

Zhou Yitang sighed lightly and patted Lu Ying’s head,

"Hmm."

"But why?"

"Because his evil thoughts are rampant, and his sins weigh heavy."

Lu Ying was shocked. By that logic, someone like him deserved a punishment as severe as being struck by thunder—yet Master wanted to help him sever his Three Corpses.

"Actually, he’s also very kind,"

Zhou Yitang gazed into the distance,

"It’s just that he buries his kindness deep beneath his Three Souls and Seven Spirits."

After that, she said no more, silently staring into the distance.

............

"Release two pieces of information."

"What..."

"The West Factory Thousand Households is sealing Yuxiu Manor to investigate the case of the Grand Chancellor."

Chen Yi spoke plainly.

Min Ming froze upon hearing this, her naturally alluring brows furrowing. She, of course, understood the gravity of the Chancellor’s case, so she asked:

"You... want heads to roll?"

When Chen Yi heard this blunt comment from the woman, he laughed and said:

"What, don’t want me to die?"

Min Ming instinctively wanted to deny it, but then she heard an infuriating remark.

"Well, naturally... a concubine wouldn’t want her master dead. That’s only natural."

The courtesan furrowed her brows and glared at him. Her semblance of anger, unlike the tempestuous wrath of Min Ning, instead carried a soft, watery charm.

After a moment, she softened her expression and said softly:

"I know you went to Yuxiu Manor for Min Ning’s sake. She told me everything—how the Thousand Households wears the face of a tiger and wolf but harbors countless tender sentiments."

"An undeserved compliment..."

Before the words could even leave his mouth, Chen Yi caught the smile tugging at her lips and immediately realized—

"You’re calling me a dressed-up beast?"

"When have you seen a concubine insulting the master? I don’t even have time to flatter you."

Feigning innocence, Min Ming responded. After a while, she became a bit more serious and asked:

"Are you investigating the Chancellor’s case... for us?"

Chen Yi replied nonchalantly:

"And if I were?"

Min Ming leaned in closer, her charm on full display:

"How touching. Could this humble woman offer a kiss as gratitude?"

"I decline. I’ve told Min Ning I wouldn’t touch you within the year."

"I’m willing to offer myself to you."

She drew even closer, but Chen Yi pushed her away.

He sneered and said:

"Trying to make me break my vow so that Min Ning will lose faith in me?"

Min Ming chuckled lightly and teased back:

"Why couldn’t it be that I’ve fallen for you at first sight?"

Chen Yi understood her intent in drawing closer. It was her way of protecting her sister.

Perhaps it was that moment of leniency that allowed this sharp-minded courtesan to discern his code of behavior. In her eyes, though he might behave beastly at times, he was still human—someone capable of guilt for breaking a promise, someone with compassion. Her current overt seduction was but a ploy to execute her plan: to use her sacrifice to leverage his guilt and compassion as weapons tightly gripped in her hand.

Min Ming exhaled faintly and asked:

"Can you truly resist? Even if I come knocking again?"

Chen Yi didn’t answer.

Min Ming’s expression suddenly shifted, feigning fear:

"Does the Thousand Households... not respond to women? Even the top courtesan of Baihua Building couldn’t win him over!"

Chen Yi shot her a glare.

Yet she stubbornly repeated it once more.

Chen Yi leaned in abruptly and stole a fierce peck on her cheek.

Min Ming’s face went pale, then flushed crimson as she hastily pushed him away and retreated.

"You talk a good game but lack the action to back it up."

Chen Yi mimed a grabbing motion, jesting with her.

The courtesan’s face grew redder still, and she murmured:

"Scoundrel... If you’re so bold, why not act for real instead of playing the gentleman."

Chen Yi simply said:

"I’m in no hurry. After all, you’re just an unwed concubine."

Min Ming adjusted her clothes, calming her flushed face, before asking:

"What’s the second piece of information?"

"In the eighth month, on the thirtieth day of the third year of the Huanglong Era of Great Yu...

West Factory Thousand Households Chen Zunming will hang his sword and slay the evil dragon."

............

In the teahouse, rumors were everywhere.

"Have you heard? The West Factory Thousand Households plans to hang his sword to slay the evil dragon."

"Of course, I’ve heard. It’s all anyone talks about. But he’s just a brocade guard—why take on a Taoist’s duties? Isn’t this a case of a dog meddling in someone else’s business? If he slays the dragon, what are the Taoists supposed to do?"

"A few days ago, he sealed Yuxiu Manor and took down the Feng family father and son in just a few moves. In the Capital, he’s considered a renowned figure in Martial Arts."

Everywhere in the teahouse, the topic of discussion was Chen Yi’s plan to slay the evil dragon. Few believed he could succeed. After all, it seemed as absurd as a dog catching rats. Even if he could catch one, it would require tremendous effort—and this wasn’t just any rat; it was a malevolent dragon.

Ever since Demon Extermination Day, the northern rivers near the Capital had risen three feet. Countless fishing and cargo boats had capsized, and even some riverbank buildings collapsed into the waters. Despite all this destruction, the evil dragon had yet to reveal itself. Occasionally, people glimpsed its shadow on the water’s surface, but no one could say how much chaos it would bring when it finally emerged.

The Taoists hadn’t been idle either. Feiyuan True Man from the Shangqing Sect had personally attempted to seal the dragon at the river’s source. It was said that after a fierce battle, the dragon had sustained significant injuries. However, Feiyuan True Man fared worse—his Daoist foundation was shattered, costing him fifty years of cultivation.

If even an accomplished True Man of the Shangqing Sect couldn’t subdue the dragon, how could anyone believe that a West Factory Thousand Households could hang his sword and slay it?

In a private room of the teahouse, a one-armed woman with a lotus crown sipped tea while flipping through the Book of Songs, the pages spread flat before her.

Lu Ying added ground tea leaves into a teacup, pouring in water, and whisked with a tea whisk until the tea and water blended perfectly, creating a foamy surface. Her skill in tea preparation was seasoned—it was the pinnacle of the "Three Mysteries of Tea Brewing."

Compared to the rough tea-drinking habits of Western Jin, which focused on steeping tea and drinking it as it soaked, Great Yu preferred the more refined tea-whisking tradition reminiscent of the Song Dynasty. Thus, the people of Yu often mocked those of Western Jin as "barbarians of the northwest."

Currently, Lu Ying was preparing tea so that Zhou Yitang could drink another cup after finishing her first.

"Master, why is he taking over your task?"

She asked while whisking tea.

Zhou Yitang had intended to slay the dragon when it caused flooding, wanting to avoid alerting the beast. Even the disciples of Yin Sword Mountain were unaware of this plan; Lu Ying herself had only learned of it recently. freeweɓnovel.cøm

"I don’t know."

Zhou Yitang didn’t raise her head, her focus still on the Book of Songs in her hand.

In contrast to Zhou Yitang’s aloofness, Lu Ying was naturally lively and talkative. She continued:

"He’s a Thousand Households from the West Factory. No one believes he can slay the dragon, not even the dragon itself. So by spreading the news, instead of alerting it, he’ll just make it arrogant and overconfident, thinking that no one in the Capital can stop it from transforming."

Zhou Yitang remained silent.

Lu Ying curiously glanced at the Book of Songs in her master’s hands.

Thud!

Zhou Yitang shut the book and knocked Lu Ying on the head with her remaining hand,

"Focus on the tea."

Lu Ying held her head, pouted, and whined:

"I only took a peek! Besides, Master hasn’t even finished her cup yet."

The one-armed woman immediately downed her tea in one gulp and placed the empty cup in front of Lu Ying,

"It’s empty now."

Lu Ying stared blankly for a moment before silently taking the teacup, secretly chuckling.

Just now, during her brief glance, she had seen what her master was reading—it was none other than "Ge Sheng" (The Mulberry). She’d read it before and even remembered its closing lines:

On summer days, in winter nights. After a hundred years, we return to our dwelling...

On winter nights, in summer days. After a hundred years, we return to our room.