Chapter 331 - There Is Nothing I Can’t Do
Chapter 331: There Is Nothing I Can’t Do
Only a handful of people in the ancient martial arts world knew who Tengen was and those who knew him personally only knew him as the person who guarded Delxun Forest. It could be said that Dubhe was the only person who was aware of his true identity.
However, it was also because of this knowledge that the Dubhe was surprised.
Initially, Tengen stated that he didn’t care whether he found his master or not. After all, Tengen was known to many as a person who had lost his mind; Dubhe merely assumed that Tengen was just making nonsensical madman talk.
But what the hell did he say just now?!
That Gu Xiqiao was his master?!
Of course, Tengen understood what the word ‘master’ meant!
B-But wasn’t that person already long dead?! Dubhe was baffled. He didn’t even care when the blade had already sliced through the skin of his neck. Dumbfoundedly, he stood there as if he had been struck by lightning!
“And to think you were saved by her hands! I can’t believe you failed to recognize her aura!” The blade in Tengen’s hand sliced deeper into Dubhe’s throat. He had learned a little more about Gu Xiqiao’s experience when she first came to the ancient martial arts world over the past few days. During that period, her powers couldn’t even be compared to Dubhe’s, and she must’ve kept doubting herself, thinking that she really was going to bring disaster to their world. Such thoughts further fuelled Tengen’s murderous rage, which was directed at Dubhe!
“T-Tengen.” Dubhe stared blankly at Tengen. He didn’t know what he could say at this point. “She really is…”
Tengen’s words kept echoing in his mind. His entire body was trembling and his mind was empty.
Each time the image of her plain face flashed in his mind, he felt as if someone had plunged a knife into his heart.
“You get the hell away from here!” Tengen yelled as he slammed his foot into Dubhe’s body. If she did not make the call to save this little brat, he would’ve killed him by now!
Theoretically, Dubhe’s skill would’ve warranted him the ability to dodge Tengen’s attack. However, he did not choose to do so. He accepted the heavy blow as his punishment, upon which, a red stream of blood started flowing from the corner of his mouth.
Seeing Dubhe standing there as if his soul had been completely shattered somewhat calmed Tengen down. Of course, he understood the dilemma Dubhe was going through at the moment. This was the punishment he deserved for all the sins he had committed up until this point.
Tengen gave Dubhe a cold glare before storming off for good.
Tengen picked up his bottle of liquor and arrived unannounced at the doorstep of the Jiang family manor. The butler serving the Jiang family popped out of the door. “Mr. Tengen, I’m afraid the young mistress has already gone to bed. It would be better for you to come tomorrow instead.”
Tengen paused for a moment when he heard what the butler said. He peered down at his phone to realize that it was already 10 pm now.
“Mister butler, care for a drink?” asked Tengen while passing his bottle towards him.
The butler waved his hand. “Your offer is much appreciated but unfortunately, I do not drink.”
“You don’t drink? Then is there even a point in living?” Tengen did not insist on seeing his master right away but he did not turn around immediately either. He raised his bottle to his lips and took a swig. He felt his eyelids grow heavier by the moment. “Hey, mister butler, lemme ask you something.”
The butler smiled at Tengen.
Tengen glanced back at him before letting out a great sigh. “Back then, master… Miss Gu, she was accused of being the source of calamity for this world. What happened afterward?” He suddenly recalled Gu Xiqiao’s instruction to stop referring to her as his master.
The butler’s expression darkened the moment he heard Tengen mention the incident. It was obvious that he did not want to be reminded of the past. “What has passed is past. The young mistress has said that Mr. Dubhe had been set up by an enemy. It’s getting late now, Mr. Tengen. Good night.”
The butler of the Jiang family proceeded to slowly shut the door.
Tengen stared at him and quietly muttered under his breath, “Thank you.” He more or less understood the big picture now. The Jiang family must’ve struggled to have her back during that period.
There was no further exchange until the door was shut.
***
On the second floor, Gu Xiqiao was still wide awake but there were too many things she had to deal with.
The butler brought a warm glass of milk up to her but he did not mention Tengen dropping by at their home. What has passed is past. There was no point in bringing up things that would add to the burden Miss Gu was already shouldering. He stood there patiently until Gu Xiqiao finished the glass of milk before bringing it downstairs, with his mind still preoccupied with many thoughts.
Gu Xiqiao leaned into her chair and took a break from her reading session. She turned to look at Jiang Shuxuan.
The snow-white light of the lamp outlined the side profile of his chiseled face. The follicles of his brows were long and dense, and his pencil-thin lips were tightly pursed. With a serious expression, he was fully absorbed in reading a document. Although he could not remember anything, his usual mannerisms and quirks were showing through subtly.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
Gu Xiqiao smiled back at him. “Oh, it’s nothing. I was just thinking about matters related to the United States.”
Gu Xiqiao had yet to make a decision on this yet. And so, she decided to think about it in the shower.
Jiang Shuxuan had just taken a shower. He looked down at the white dog lying next to his feet. He reached down and picked it up, moving it out of his room. “Go sleep in your kennel.”
Thud!
The door was slammed coldly in its snout.
“Woof woof woof!” (Do this one more time and I’ll file a report to the police for animal abuse!)
Jiji hopped up next to it and taunted, “Don’t you realize how futile that is? Believe me when I say that no one has the balls to apprehend him.”
“…”
Jiang Shuxuan was drying his hair with a towel when his phone rang. He walked over to the table, where his phone was, and looked down at the caller ID. It was Yi Bing. He proceeded to pick up the call.
“Big boss, the supernatural organization of the United States have just contacted us…” Yi Bing’s voice came through from the earpiece.
It was the same moment when Gu Xiqiao exited the bathroom. Instinctively, Jiang Shuxuan turned towards her and his body jolted slightly.
“Big boss?”
“The United States?” Jiang Shuxuan quickly snapped out of his mental haze and responded with a single utterance, “Understood,” before he hung up the call.
“Yi Bing was looking for you?” asked Gu Xiqiao as she wiped her hair with a towel.
“Yeah.” Jiang Shuxuan put down the phone and approached Gu Xiqiao. He firmly grabbed her hand, and then the towel she was holding. Slowly, he started helping her to rub her hair dry. “The supernatural organizations of the United States have finally made their move.”
Patiently, he repeated what Yi Bing had told him to Gu Xiqiao.
The United States? Gu Xiqiao rubbed her chin and pondered. The Americans must’ve started to believe her about the starting points she had provided them with. And so, she sent a text message to Yi Tiao—[I’ll drop by for a visit tomorrow.]
She then sent another message to Zhu Yuan after a brief moment of contemplation.
On the next day.
Gu Xiqiao was supposed to visit Yi Bing but Wei Xi came over first and informed her that Zhuge Yan wanted to see her. She then amended her plans and went over to Zhuge Yan’s place first.
“Brother Jiang, you go over to Yi Bing’s place. I’m visiting Zhuge Yan today,” said Gu Xiqiao with a cheeky smile.
Jiang Shuxuan glanced at her and replied quietly, “I’ll be back immediately.”
The two then parted ways at the intersection. Jiji, in its floral-pattern clothing, trailed behind Gu Xiqiao.
Gu Xiqiao ran into Dubhe before she reached Zhuge Yan’s residence. He appeared to be in a rather dejected mood today, as he stared at her from one of the intersections.
Gu Xiqiao walked by without even sparing him a look as if he was a ghost.
“Miss Gu,” Dubhe called out skittishly.
Gu Xiqiao stopped walking the moment she heard him speak. She turned towards Dubhe with eyes as calm as a millpond. “What’s the matter?”
That look made him feel a stinging pain in his heart. He flashed her a bitter smile as memories of what happened in W Town replayed through his mind. More specifically, it was the scene of when he told her that she deserved to die, and how helpless she seemed at that moment.
He had not slept a wink the previous night due to this very scene replaying in his mind. The more he thought about it, the more unbearable this whole thing started to feel.
He really had no other choice but to endure the feelings of grief upon seeing her die once.
However, Tengen had told him yesterday about how he had nearly killed her one more time!
Dubhe’s personal values had been crushed upon hearing that. He felt nothing but fear after realization had set in. This feeling, in his perspective, was much more terrible than the prospect of a worldwide apocalypse!
If Jiang Shuxuan had not intervened and he had proceeded to kill her, he would have resorted to suicide at this point!
He wanted to tell her that it wasn’t intentional, that he was seeking her forgiveness, but he did not even dare to look her in the eyes. He was…he feared that it would invite her wrath.
“I’m sorry.” In the end, seeing that Gu Xiqiao was growing increasingly impatient, he finally blurted it out.
Gu Xiqiao glanced up at him and issued a rather nonchalant response. “It’s alright.”
She walked off as soon as she said that. Dubhe was left standing there, covering his face with both his hands.
Jiji intended to follow Gu Xiqiao but it paused next to Dubhe and cursed at him before leaving him in a trail of dust.
“Dumbass!”
It then returned to Gu Xiqiao’s side and discussed changing its body into something more tall and mighty.
Zhuge Yan’s home wasn’t situated too far away; Gu Xiqiao reached her destination within a short amount of time.
“You know, there’s no need for you to come to my place. I was planning to drop by for a visit already,” said Gu Xiqiao in a friendly manner.
Zhuge Yan cleared his throat and signaled using his eyes for Wei Xi to pour his guest a cup of tea. “For what, if I may ask?”
Gu Xiqiao frowned at him. “Are you still taking the medicine that I gave you?”
“Yeah.” Zhuge Yan nodded. He then exclaimed, “I’ve always known how capable you were but never would I have expected how skilled you are in the field of medicine.”
Jiji, who sat obediently at the doorway thought to itself, ‘You’re surprised by just this? Just wait till Beauty Qiao cures you of your little disease. Maybe then, you’ll be so surprised that you’d leap off a building!’
“Miss Gu,” Zhuge Yan’s demeanor was as serious as it could get. “The reason I wanted to see you today is because of an incredibly important thing.”
The seriousness of Zhuge Yan’s tone got Gu Xiqiao’s attention. “Which is?”
“It’s about Mr. Jiang.” Zhuge Yan trod carefully with his wording. “Earlier, I have already calculated that something serious would befall him. However, I wasn’t able to make precise predictions as to what that disaster would be, which was also partially why I did not plan on telling you about it just yet.”
It was futile, telling someone about a disaster that one had no idea how to avoid. It would only serve as an additional weight to her already surmounting mental burden.
Gu Xiqiao looked up immediately and remained silent. With a hoarse voice, she asked, “What about now? Why choose to tell me now?”
“The United States of America.” Zhuge Yan was interrupted mid-sentence by a coughing fit. “You guys should go there. There are still things that he has lost over there.”
Right after that, he took out a piece of paper on which he wrote a birthday horoscope, which he passed over to Gu Xiqiao. “This is the most I can calculate.”
Gu Xiqiao received it and thanked Zhuge Yan.
“Thank you.”
She figured that he must’ve discovered this final thread of hope last night, and it probably was also the reason why he was in such a poor state today.
“I have violated Heaven’s will so many times now,” said Zhuge Yan with a sad smile. “At most, I have two years left to live. Before I die, I was hoping that I’d get the chance to do something meaningful.”
His words were blunt. For people like him, it wasn’t a difficult task, calculating how much time one had left to live.
Gu Xiqiao had already prepared herself mentally. However, hearing what he said made her couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow skeptically. “Who said you only have two years left to live?”
“Hm?” Zhuge Yan looked up in surprise.
Gu Xiqiao slowly folded up the piece of paper and tucked it into her pocket. She smirked at Zhuge Yan. “I guess I haven’t told you this yet. I was looking for you, to cure you of your ailment. Not only would you be able to live on for over two years, but you might even have a hundred more years left to live!”
Crash!
Wei Xi, who had entered the room with Gu Xiqiao’s tea was so taken aback that she lost her grip on the tray, shattering the teacup as it hit the floor.
“Miss Gu, is what you’re saying true?” asked Wei Xi with a shaky voice.
Gu Xiqiao turned over and produced a couple of golden needles that shine underneath the lights. “I thought that my achievements in the field of medicine should’ve made it clear to you guys. You know, I have never failed at a task which I have set out to do, not even once!”
She smiled at Wei Xi.
How confident! How empowering!
Zhuge Yan too was stunned beyond words. He finally understood why the people of the ancient martial arts world had such deep-rooted respect for her. It was because she really did walk the walk and talk the talk.
Her words stirred up a tidal wave in his heart, which could only be described as still water.
She had reignited his hope.
Not only could he live on for another two years, but there were still a hundred years more to go!
If such a remark was made in the past, he definitely would’ve shrugged it off with a cynical laugh. However, looking at her expression right now, he started to believe in what she was saying.