"First Level in four days!?"
"Not possible!"
Yu Hua was momentarily at a loss for words, leaving her in a long silence. The greatest surprise isn't shown by shouting, but by silence, sheer wordlessness.
She had seen many talents, witnessed Daoist disciples who established their foundation in a day, Buddha's sons who attained a Golden Body by kowtowing before Buddha, and sword prodigies who slew Demon Kings at the age of sixteen. She had even seen divine beings born with a Golden Core.
The world never lacked talents like Gu Wen, but the shock they provided was different from what Gu Wen gave her, at least for her, who had spent day and night meditating on Enlightenment Cliff, enduring countless storms, until her heart grew weary. He had achieved something she couldn't.
With his first step, Gu Wen had embarked on the path to becoming an Immortal, a path even those with great power couldn't completely traverse in a lifetime.
And such talent was abandoned by the sect and demoted to a servant of the Zhao family!
At this moment, Yu Hua was not just sighing at the unfairness of the world, the irrationality of the sects, or the unvirtuous Zhao family, but she felt an added worry that never existed before. Snatching one's destiny was a grievance so great that, should he rise, he would inevitably become a great enemy of The Three Pure Ones.
Even she couldn't contain this thought. If that 'donkey' beside her were here, she reckoned Gu Wen's corpse would be before her right now.
Just because his talent is as peerless as the Yuqing Heart Method, the top and the foremost in the world.
"You ..."
Yu Hua parted her thin lips slightly, only to realize she didn't know what to say. Help him regain his chance?
But that wasn't something she could do at the moment, the only thing she could do was to speak solemnly: "Do not reveal your Yuqing Daoji to others, especially that 'donkey' beside me and the Zhao family; otherwise, your death is certain."
"Why? Simply because I didn't rot in the mud as they wished? Because I can stand on my own without relying on an immortal destiny?" Gu Wen asked.
"The world works this way; you must break down right and wrong with absolute power, which you don't have now."
Yu Hua couldn't deny the ugliness of the sects, retorts couldn't change the reality, so she just explained the seriousness to him.
"Your talent ranks among the very best of this world. Should you have joined the Three Pure Sect, you might have become the next Sect Leader, but my martial uncles would never allow you to exist. If you can put the past behind you, I can contact my master and have someone from the Yuqing Sect come and hide you."
Gu Wen had already anticipated that his issues with the Sanqing Taoist Sect were irreconcilable, but he couldn't help but smile at this Heavenly Girl's reminder; he wasn't a good person, but he certainly didn't hate it.
He shook his head and said, "Gu has no intention of hiding. I remember the Immortal saying that the Sanqing Taoist Sect does not refuse outsiders learning the Three Pure Daoist Skills."
"You want me to teach you more Three Pure Daoist Skills without joining the sect?"
Gu Wen was candid, and Yu Hua was smart enough to sense the danger in the topic, a tempting prospect that other sects would practically never allow. Learning the sect's skills meant either joining them or being eliminated.
Yet Yu Hua had given Gu Wen the Yuqing Heart Method on their first meeting, indicating that the Three Pure Sect was more like a teaching than a mere sect in the eyes of ordinary people.
Gu Wen was severely lacking in Daoist Skills, having no means of acquiring them and too fearful to seek them out openly, lest the Zhao family discover him.
Their gazes met, and the atmosphere grew silent.
"Okay."
Yu Hua nodded unexpectedly. Just as Gu Wen was about to bow in thanks and promise a generous return in the future, the Heavenly Girl before him once again made a startling pronouncement: "I will not only teach you the skills the Three Pure Sect allows to be transmitted, but I can also teach you those that are not meant to be transmitted."
"Why?"
Gu Wen looked shocked and Yu Hua, instead of answering directly, gazed deeply at him and likewise asked: "How many days did it take you to complete this First Level?"
Yu Hua was by no means foolish, and moreover, with her Divine Hearing Skills, had seen and heard too many human hearts. Often, she could see through the essence of things at a glance, although usually there was no need for her to reveal or make the effort to correct them.
It was just like the Lord Emperor hoping to use her to connect with Qingcang Master, thus encouraging his children to pursue her, while the Mountain Guardian Beast, having received benefits, flattered them on the side.
Yu Hua found these repulsive, but as long as it was not excessive, there was no need to concern herself.
From her gift of the Yuqing Heart Method to Gu Wen until now, only four days had passed. Meanwhile, he was hardly ever at the mansion, reportedly spending nights at the brothel…
Truly a playful spirit in need of discipline!
Although she didn't know why he still had Yuan Yang, with such a busy schedule there was little time for his cultivation. However, Gu Wen needed only two days to forge his Dao foundation, accomplishing the First Level of the Yuqing Heart Method, matching those of the Upper Pure Sect!
The former wasn't important, as geniuses were countless, and prodigies were never unique. But the latter was extremely rare; her small investment might yield returns a million times greater in the future.
Gu Wen himself was already a great opportunity.
"When the Dao Child of the Upper Pure Sect entered, he sat still for a month before he comprehended Upper Pure Dao Foundation. That already caused the True Monarchs of the Three Sects to fight till their heads were bloodied. You've managed Foundation Establishment in four days. If this gets out, not only the Three Pure, but other Daoist Sects might come to recruit you."
Yu Hua watched Gu Wen fall silent but playfully added: "And the karma with the Sanqing Taoist Sect is enough to make the True Monarchs defy the heavens and die trying to eliminate you."
"..."
Gu Wen fell speechless.
I'm already at the Second Level, what now? And I guess the Third Level isn't far off. What kind of disciples does your Sanqing Taoist Sect have that their worth is so low?
Yu Hua thought he was scared and chuckled lightly: "Rest assured, I will not inform those within my sect."
Gu Wen regained his composure and stated with solemn sincerity, "I am deeply grateful for the immortal's kindness. Should you ever need me, I will brave any danger."
Demonstrating one's talents to win over the other party is just the beginning. The most crucial aspect is to promise benefits. The other party may not need them, but one cannot fail to mention them. If you don't offer incentives, how can one willingly invest in you?
Making promises is an art.
Yu Hua hesitated and then asked, "As for the karmic consequences with the Three Pure Sect, can this favor be used to settle them?"
After all, it was the sect that raised her, and she did not wish for those who had cultivated the Yuqing Daoji to clash with the Three Pure Sect.
Gu Wen grinned and replied, "Every debt has its debtor and every wrong its perpetrator. The Zhao family has wronged me, and I only seek the head of that aged Emperor and Zhao Feng. There is no need for the immortal to counter enmity with kindness, for I will never forget your graciousness."
He was not one to kill needlessly, nor would he let his anger affect others. Moreover, if debts of gratitude cancelled out grievances, how could he continue to claim more benefits?
Favors also serve as bridges for closer relationships.
"That is very good."
Yu Hua nodded, visibly pleased.
Although she was not lacking in opportunities or manpower,
and could mobilize the entire Three Pure Sect, even calling upon True Monarchs, all of these required valid reasons and procedures. Thus, she was helpless against the annoying harassments from the Zhao family.
But Gu Wen's debt of gratitude was owed personally to her.
"This is not the place to talk, please follow me to a smaller courtyard."
Gu Wen glanced around; the area was silent, primarily surrounded by the Weaving Bureau's textile mills, deserted at night and hence not attracting people. But there was no guarantee against night guards or patrolling imperial guards.
In Daqian, places like Dragon Bridge did not impose a curfew, but residential homes and factories were restricted from movement at night.
-----------------
About an incense stick's time later, the two returned to the courtyard. Gu Wen looked at the completely fallen door and tugged at the corners of his mouth, while Yu Hua said seriously, "I have no money to compensate you."
No money and still so bold?
Gu Wen responded with a smile, "It's just a door, no need for the immortal to compensate."
"I can compensate you with pills. This is a Heart-Protecting Pill, it keeps one alive as long as they breathe."
Yu Hua took out a pill from her sleeve, and Gu Wen quickly took it. His smile immediately turned very sincere as he said, "Of course, an immortal of your stature wouldn't let me…"
"Hmm?"
"Let me suffer a loss."
This pill, who knows how much Heavenly Marrow it contains.
Gu Wen contemplated internally but decided not to use it for cultivation. Its life-saving function was more important than speeding up his cultivation.
The two went inside.
The decor in the small courtyard house was simple, with a bed, a bookshelf full of assorted books, a dining table, and a desk and chairs for work.
The homely atmosphere was strong, evidently, he spent more time here than in the princely mansion.
Yu Hua's nose twitched slightly; the air was fresh, lacking the pervasive fragrance of makeup found in the mansion, indicating that women likely did not frequent here.
She noticed many account books on the table, among which a scroll of white paper was particularly conspicuous.
As Gu Wen poured water, he said, "It's hard to always have hot water in this humble dwelling, please forgive me."
A glass of cold water was placed on the table, and Yu Hua's delicate finger pushed aside the account books. The desk was cluttered with various papers, among which a line of unfinished sentence immediately caught her eye.
"This humble room only reflects my moral fragrance."
Good literary grace, truly aspiring as high as the heavens.
Without a change in expression, Yu Hua looked up at the plain-clothed man in front of her. He bore no jade pendants, silver ornaments, or even fragrance sachets. His clothes were only slightly better than those of an ordinary person and utterly plain.
Yet such a seemingly ordinary person could establish his foundation in four days, picking profound truths as easily as picking flowers.
Externally he seemed like a weed, but his roots were deep beyond measure.
Yu Hua grew increasingly curious about how much he was hiding. Although barely over twenty, he was as serene as an old monk who had meditated for a thousand years and never revealed his depths.
A master of concealing his abilities, ready to flee at a moment's notice, he was like a loach or a turtle—truly the legendary Xuanwu.
With a half-joking tone, as Yu Hua looked at the plain-clothed man pouring water, her gaze fixed on his still decent face.
Huayang Master Uncle, it's just your bad luck in the way of Dao. As you sow, so shall you reap, and you must swallow the bitter fruit too.