The grand hall of the royal mansion was opulent and majestic, approximately thirty feet wide, adorned with gold and silver Chi dragons and embroidered with blue Manchu silks.
Gu Wen did not enter but respectfully stood at a distance, waiting for Zhao Feng's arrival. Although the other party had promised to elevate him to nobility, it had not yet been finalized, and he did not want to give anyone a handle against him.
Moreover, what benefit was there for him to confidently walk in and sit down and potentially clash with these noble young masters, only to have Yu Hua, the immortal, arbitrate justice on his behalf for a moment of satisfaction?
He knew when to be bold and when to be cautious.
Patience!
Inside the hall, guests from noble families had already started frolicking with the beautiful handmaids raised by the royal mansion, with some even beginning to slide their hands inside their clothes.
In Daqian, the moral climate was open; there wasn't much pomp and intricacy concerning affairs between men and women, and behavior debasing to debauchery among courtiers was prevalent. While the scholars posed as disciples of saints, their actions were no better than beasts.
They were sons of high-ranking officials in the court, and Zhao Feng needed to win them over to support his battle for the position of Crown Prince. This was also a way to expand his influence by leveraging their family's power.
However, today's discussion was supposed to be about the matters concerning the Immortal Sect, but these people were openly indulging in pleasure. Weren't they afraid of angering Yu Hua, the immortal?
Usually, Gu Wen would not have had such concerns because it was common for the nobility in Daqian to conduct meetings this way, even sometimes bare-chested.
But, that immortal, or perhaps the outsider, might have a different mindset from Daqian scholars. Gu Wen had very little interaction with Yu Hua, but from his ability to understand people, he felt this immortal championed fairness more than most, perhaps even valuing face a bit more.
Merchants chase profits but also need partners.
No matter what, at least she had given him a Cultivation Technique. If there was a chance to collaborate in the future, Gu Wen wouldn't regard her and Zhao Feng at the same level. In his eyes, this fair-dealing immortal shone too brightly, perhaps naive about worldly affairs or possibly so high above in the Nine Heavens that she was unaware of human suffering.
This made her quite distinctive. It was the first time someone had spoken to him about justice, the first time someone reassured him that they wouldn't harm him.
It was somewhat amusing; after all, he had competed for food and accidentally killed someone on his first day in this new world, and after entering Dragon Bridge, he had fought fiercely for profits, shedding blood numerous times.
A little eunuch hurried past Gu Wen into the grand hall, and shortly after, the absurd scene inside was immediately stopped.
"Such a pity."
Footsteps approached from behind, and even before the person arrived, Gu Wen's ears twitched; he could roughly estimate the number of people and their vague direction.
He turned around, looked up, and saw a plain white figure appear at the corner of the wide corridor. Their gazes met, pausing briefly.
Gu Wen's gaze uncontrollably fell on Yu Hua. Even though he couldn't see her face, just the plain white silhouette stirred ripples in the depths of his heart.
More captivating than the bare chests and backs inside the grand hall, perhaps it was the allure of cultivation. He wondered about her level of cultivation.
His thoughts were like vines born in the gutters, climbing high walls, daring only to peer timidly at the blazing sun.
Would he accidentally reveal his cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Second Level?
His heart skipped a beat, and Gu Wen's rationality and sense of crisis crushed all emerging ripples. He bowed his head low, earnestly concealing the essence of his cultivation path.
The Yuqing Heart Method was extremely detailed in its contents, including applications for all aspects of the cultivation path, naturally covering concealment techniques too.
At first, when Yu Hua noticed Gu Wen, his pace quickened, arriving within three steps from her. She detected the flow of thoughts reaching her ears. The young man in plain black, bowing his head in front of her, suddenly erected a high wall against her.
The wall of thoughts, filled with intense rejection and resistance.
While only three steps away, it seemed as though a thousand miles separated them.
Yu Hua took a half-step forward, and Gu Wen, imperceptibly, retreated half a step; the wall of thoughts continuously fortified.
She could no longer approach even half a step closer, yet he seemed like a fish glimpsed in a deep pool – observable from a distance, but should she reach out, he would dive into unfathomable depths.
Was it so necessary?
Yu Hua recalled what Maotalked about—the Gu family's ancestors and the Yuqing Sect had settled on a karma that now couldn't be honored.
The grudges were difficult to resolve, but she had only intended to offer compensation on behalf of the sect, not arrogantly taking decisions for Gu Wen. It was a matter between the Gu surname and the entire Sanqing Taoist Sect. If he managed to step onto the path of immortality, it would be between Gu Wen and the true monarchs within the sect.
Yet now, Gu Wen's avoidance and resistance somewhat vexed Yu Hua. When had she ever been treated this way? However, due to various reasons, she couldn't fault Gu Wen even slightly.
He had to at least give him a simple and easy-to-understand cultivation technique, thereby ridding himself of a troublesome burden.
"You..."
"Greetings to the Ninth Prince, Immortal Yu Hua."
Gu Wen's bowing gesture had interrupted her, and Zhao Feng also followed suit, walking up to Gu Wen and directly blocking the two.
However, Zhao Feng was being rather annoying!
Zhao Feng, unable to detect the change in expression behind the light gauze of the hat, saw Gu Wen showing a completely opposite demeanor to Yu Hua "Gu Wen, I hear you've been quite lax in the brothels these past few days. It's best to visit such places of wine and willow less often, and instead, settle down and find a decent family."
As usual, he spoke from on high, but for some reason, there was a touch of consideration.
Once Gu Wen saw Yu Hua, he immediately understood; he was being used to highlight another's character portrayal.
But no matter, since visiting the brothels was a facade for those observing, to prevent them from growing suspicious. The more disreputable he appeared in their eyes, the safer he was.
It also served to extricate himself, for Gu Wen was truly afraid that Yu Hua would notice he had already begun his cultivation. Regardless of his feelings toward her, the Three Pure Sect and the Zhao family were in cahoots.
It was better to have fewer dealings with this Immortal Yu Hua.
"The prince teaches me well."
Just as Gu Wen bowed, a deep gaze rested upon him, sending a chill down his spine.
"Cultivating the body and preserving one's essence without loss."
Yu Hua said sofely, her own grievances emerged, having not expected Gu Wen to spend his night in a brothel while she lingered under the eaves.
But if his essence was intact, why visit the brothel at all?
Listening attentively to the fluctuations in mind, she did not catch Gu Wen's thoughts; his emotions were like a secluded spring, difficult to capture. Instead, it was Zhao Feng next to her, showing signs of restlessness.
'Fortunate are the women who bear children, fortunate are the men who seek pleasure, yet it does not involve releasing essence.'
Yu Hua suddenly felt an uncontrollable disgust.
She knew that homosexual relations were prevalent among commoners and the Cultivation World was not without its "Dragon Yang True Men." The Sanqing Taoist Sect upheld the order of Yin and Yang, and strictly prohibited such behavior. Yu Hua neither endorsed nor objected.
However, engaging with both sexes was purely to satisfy one's own greed and lust.
Indeed, it was an unbearable sight!
Gu Wen, vaguely sensing an off atmosphere, said, "The gentlemen inside have been waiting for a long time. Perhaps the prince and immortal would like to take their seats first to avoid fatigue."
Zhao Feng was very satisfied with Gu Wen's humility, and continued to instruct, "It's good you stood outside without entering, showing you still understand the rules. You remain a servant of my household. Yet, you don't have to be so reserved in the future. In the royal mansion, you will truly be Marquis Wen."
"Thank you for your profound favor, Your Highness."
Gu Wen bowed, almost etching his forbearance onto his forehead.
Zhao Feng, finding his authoritative aura upon Gu Wen, then turned to fawn over Yu Hua, "Immortal Yu Hua, please step inside."
Yu Hua didn't respond; her gaze fixed on Gu Wen only resulted in encountering taller barriers of thought.
Within the resistance, there was further distance.
Yu Hua grew more frustrated, but she had no choice but to acquiesce.
"Immortal Yu Hua?"
Zhao Feng called out a few more times before Yu Hua came back to her senses and walked into the grand hall. The well-dressed children of noble families rose, bowing first to Zhao Feng, then to Yu Hua.
Yu Hua looked around, and before she knew it, Gu Wen had already slipped into the crowd, his head down, completely blending into the background, hardly noticeable by the average person.
This descendant of the Gu family was truly like a mudfish!
If Gu Wen had heard this, he would surely protest: he was a descendant of the dragon.