The Warmth of Spring River Waters, Gu Bei’s Foresight

“Elder Liu, it seems you have something to say?”

Leaning her head on one hand, Yu Qiuqiao idly flipped through the documents on her desk, which detailed the chief disciple of the Minor Sword Sect. A casual smile played on her lips as she posed the question.

Yu Qiuqiao’s query stemmed from Elder Liu’s lingering presence; instead of departing directly after their return, they stood in the room, an air of indecision clinging to them.

“Do you require this subordinate to send someone to the Minor Sword Sect…”

Without even lifting her head, Yu Qiuqiao languidly stated, “I understand your unspoken query. While Gu Bei’s thoughts remain a mystery to me, Ning Wanzhuang is utterly ignorant of the affair’s genesis, progression, or likely conclusion. She didn’t even bother to leave a method of contact… she simply cannot prevail.”

“As for his Minor Sword Sect, if Gu Bei doesn’t call, there’s no need to interfere.”

Elder Liu nodded silently, then bowed and left.

Many questions still lingered in their mind, yet they understood Yu Qiuqiao’s frequent aversion to her subordinates discerning her true intentions.

****

After Elder Liu departed, the only sound in Yu Qiuqiao’s presence was the soft rustle of pages turning as she continued her perusal.

Given Yu Qiuqiao’s standing, it was a simple matter to uncover information about a named, active, lower-tier cultivator.

This included Gu Bei’s past exploits, traversing the land under the alias ‘Scholar’—though, to be fair, the fellow had never bothered to conceal his tracks during his wanderings.

Everywhere he went, he conducted himself openly, yet even when he announced his name and sect, people often met him with blank stares.

A local, minor sect like the Minor Sword Sect, a mere ninth-rank establishment, would naturally not be recognized by many.

Furthermore, when it came to sects, one needed either an exceptionally renowned cultivator within its ranks or to be among the top ten sects of Xiaoyao (TL Note: A major cultivation faction, roughly translated as ‘Carefree’ or ‘Free and Unfettered’) or one of the nine first-rank sects of the Immortal Alliance.

Otherwise, an ordinary second-rank sect would possess less renown than esteemed aristocratic families like the Five Surnames and Seven Clans.

Even in terms of cultivation heritage, the Five Surnames and Seven Clans were merely on par with the second-rank sects of the Immortal Alliance and the hundred-odd sects of Xiaoyao.

Thus, when Gu Bei traversed the martial world and others declared their affiliations, he too would state his. After all, before Yun Qingyi’s arrival, his Minor Sword Sect comprised a grand total of four individuals: two junior disciples who rarely ventured down the mountain for cultivation, and a Nascent Soul stage master.

Should any unperceptive fool dare to seek vengeance at their doorstep, his master would likely dispatch them with a single sword stroke.

Therefore, his information proved relatively simple for Yu Qiuqiao to unearth.

As for Yu Qiuqiao’s earlier warning to Gu Bei—‘If you don’t kill, others will kill you’—once he had refused, she could essentially foresee the outcome.

This, then, was why she merely waited.

She desired to ascertain precisely how many two-faced individuals surrounded her, and how many ‘clever’ people would presumptuously second-guess her intentions.

Then, she would systematically purge them all, from top to bottom.

As for Gu Bei and his Minor Sword Sect…

While intervention was certainly necessary, in her estimation, after Gu Bei had rejected the optimal solution, any further involvement on her part would require Gu Bei himself to come begging.

She harbored no concerns about whether Gu Bei would eventually plead for her help, for she was well aware that Ning Wanzhuang remained ignorant of the true circumstances.

At that juncture, if Gu Bei possessed even a modicum of intelligence, he would realize that abandoning the Minor Sword Sect would be a suicidal act. How could Ning Wanzhuang, who hadn’t even left contact information, possibly win?

‘Ning Changxi, oh Ning Changxi, this round…’

Yu Qiuqiao let out a soft chuckle, her delicate, rounded fingertips gently tracing the characters on the scroll.

‘This Gu Bei is quite capable…’

‘Yet, his mannerisms clearly don’t belong to a domesticated dog. How then, did that woman Mu Qingsi manage to win his complete devotion?’

From her exalted position as Young Miss Yu, she had encountered countless individuals, allowing her to discern at a glance whether Gu Bei’s past conduct was the patient forbearance of a gentleman biding his time for revenge or merely the suppressed indignation of a commoner.

“You even dared to trick a sixth-rank sect…” Yu Qiuqiao murmured, a knowing smile gracing her lips as her finger brushed the descriptive line.

‘But when it comes to me, you merely beg for my clemency?’

‘I wonder, what would you do if you weren’t bound by Mu Qingsi or the Minor Sword Sect?’

‘Gu Bei, Young Master Gu?’

At that very moment, Gu Bei, who was at the Minor Sword Sect, let out a sneeze.

He smacked his lips, rubbed his nose, and continued perusing the scroll in his hands.

Yun Qingyi hadn’t ventured far and had only just returned.

She had, however, brought back no good news.

The neighboring ninth-rank sect, which had previously expressed interest in cooperation, had suddenly reneged on their agreement.

Gu Bei, unsure how to handle such a matter, had initially merely glanced at it before ceding full authority to Yun Qingyi.

“Is this a coincidence? Or…” Gu Bei continued to pore over the documents, not because he could conceive of any solutions, but because the opposing party’s attitude, as detailed in Yun Qingyi’s report, struck him as peculiar.

Gu Bei, already prone to a touch of paranoia, naturally recalled Yu Qiuqiao’s warning from a few days prior.

In fairness, he genuinely believed that a Young Miss of Yu Qiuqiao’s stature wouldn’t specifically target him, yet he couldn’t entirely dismiss the possibility either.

Was there not a perfectly convenient, readily apparent reason?

The sparring match between disciples of Xiaoyao and the Immortal Alliance, scheduled for just over half a month later.

It had been agreed that he would be the first to participate, yet he had fled back.

While this ‘agreement’ had been made between Yu Qiuqiao and Ning Wanzhuang without any need for his consent, and while his return had been orchestrated by his master dragging him back.

Nevertheless, the outcome remained the same.

The higher one’s position, the more weight they placed on matters of ‘face.’ It wouldn’t be surprising if Yu Qiuqiao genuinely intended to force him back.

Humans, by nature, were not creatures of stable emotions or temperaments.

If something was logically plausible, it was highly likely to occur.

After all, he felt the likelihood of his repeated cultivation dispersion and re-cultivation being the sole cause of this misfortune was rather slim.

Young Miss Yu, as the Young Master of Xiaoyao, couldn’t possibly have her inner circle be as leaky as a sieve.

For something shown to her just days ago to be known by others today…

Honestly, that sounded as preposterous as a presidential candidate being assassinated by a random citizen during a speech.

“Alas…” Gu Bei let out a long sigh, set down the scroll, and leaned his head back against the cushion atop his chair.

If Yu Qiuqiao merely intended to force him back, that would be manageable; if not, then he was truly in trouble.

To be targeted by a force capable of planting their people near the Young Master of Xiaoyao was, frankly, a terrifying prospect.

Though not even a hint of the truth had yet surfaced, Gu Bei resolved to descend the mountain.

He would seek out a few acquaintances to inquire about the situation.

However, he was met with a cold shoulder.

“My apologies, Young Master Gu, my master has recently encountered some issues with their Dao Heart and is currently in seclusion for recovery. Please return after some time.” The doorman respectfully turned Gu Bei away.

Gu Bei frowned, gazing at the grand estate before him, and with a slight sigh, turned to leave.

The situation at the next household was not much different.

He wasn’t even allowed through the door.

They seemed to be avoiding something.

Gu Bei realized the matter was serious. The individuals he sought had relatively close ties to him, primarily due to shared interests.

Their current refusal to open their doors could only mean one thing in his mind: the Minor Sword Sect was in trouble, or rather, he, Gu Bei, was in trouble.

Their closed-door policy did not evoke any sense of despair in Gu Bei; their relationship was purely one of mutual benefit, and any sentiment between them merely meant they might consider each other first for suitable collaborations.

To expect more from them would truly be a jest.

Gu Bei himself held the same view toward them; if they encountered a devastating calamity, he would likewise avoid them at all costs.

Everyone had elders above and young ones below; the game of deep brotherly affection was long past.

Earning money together and scattering when trouble arose was the proper way.

However, what Gu Bei found most vexing was his complete ignorance of the opposing party’s objectives.

Nor did he know their bottom line.

What if their bottom line was murder…

Gu Bei subtly furrowed his brow, glancing back at the bustling, vibrant street, teeming with carriages and clamoring voices.

Yet, a chill subtly crept into his heart.

‘Very well, then. Since things have come to this, it’s time to call for help.’

Gu Bei pulled out two tokens.

Ning Wanzhuang had not reclaimed the token she gave him, and Yu Qiuqiao had given him another after the incident.

He wasn’t sure when Yu Qiuqiao had slipped it into his robes, but upon returning to the sect, he found an extra token at his waist.

Yu Qiuqiao’s token was undoubtedly the most effective, a low-grade magical artifact usable even by Qi Condensation stage cultivators, capable of summoning someone directly with a burst of spiritual energy.

However, Gu Bei was not keen on interacting with Yu Qiuqiao again.

Having finally extricated himself from her, there was no reason to return.

As Fairy Ning had said, if given a choice, one should choose anyone but Yu Qiuqiao.

But to summon Fairy Ning, he would have to make another trip himself.

Who knew if he would even survive that journey?

In any case, Fairy Ning still owed him a reward—he didn’t care if that reward was rightfully his; given this pretext and the feeling of being targeted, there was no reason not to use it.

While resorting to a gentleman’s trick made Gu Bei feel a little ashamed, that shame didn’t prevent him from figuring out how to find Ning Wanzhuang.

Thus, Gu Bei turned back to the grand gate from which he had just been refused entry.

“Young Master Gu, why have you returned? My master—”

“I know he’s home. Either he opens the door, or I’ll force my way in,” Gu Bei stated flatly, his expression devoid of emotion.

“You’re making things difficult for this humble one…” The doorman said, his face contorted in a forced smile.

“Oh, fine. If you, Gu Bei, have gone to such lengths, it would be improper for me to refuse you any longer.” A youth in fine clothes emerged, pushing the door open with a smile.

Gu Bei sighed softly, “If there were another way, I wouldn’t have come to this.”

“Alright, since you’re forcing me out, I presume you’ve found a way to break this stalemate. Let me say this upfront: I can help, but you should know your limits.” The richly dressed youth yawned, turning back inside.

“Come in. Close the door behind you.”

After Gu Bei entered, the doorman furtively glanced around like a thief before securely closing the large gate.

“Speak your piece?” The richly dressed youth sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, lowering his head to pour Gu Bei a cup of tea.

The cup was filled to nine-tenths.

As he slid it towards Gu Bei, the surface of the tea remained perfectly still.

Gu Bei wasted no further words, pulling out a token and gently placing it on the table.

The richly dressed youth’s eyes widened. Clearly engraved on the token was a demonic, enchanting character: ‘Yu.’ He instinctively shuddered from head to toe.

“You’re a demonic cultist?! I’ll lop off your head today and eliminate evil to uphold justice!” The youth reacted violently, overturning the table.

Caught off guard, Gu Bei only then realized he had pulled out the wrong token.

“Wait, I have another one.”

“?”

Gu Bei produced Ning Wanzhuang’s token and showed it to him.

“?” The richly dressed youth frowned, tilting his head, his neck recoiling, and his mouth slightly agape, a look of profound suspicion on his face. “Young Master Gu, are you perhaps here to mock me?”

“Wrong one.”

“Wrong one? Both your tokens are real?!” The richly dressed youth genuinely wanted to kill someone. “Damn you, Gu Bei! Do you not know that knowing things you shouldn’t can get people killed?! Ah? My dear Young Master Gu, if you want to kill me, just say so! What do we do now? Is this something I should know?! Is this something an inner disciple executive of an eighth-rank sect should know?!”

“This humble one truly cannot help you. Would you please seek higher assistance? Once you leave, I’ll have to start planning my funeral. Tell me, how does one commit suicide with dignity?” The richly dressed youth asked sarcastically.

“Therefore, you must help me. For you, knowing only one token might lead to death, but knowing two might not.”

“Cut the useless chatter. Tell me, what do you want?” The richly dressed youth’s face darkened. He exhaled slowly, then sat heavily back onto the meditation cushion, cross-legged.

“Help me get in touch with the Blade-Wielders.”

“?” The richly dressed youth leaned back again. “You’re still involved with the imperial court?”

“If I were deeply involved with the imperial court, why would I come to you? To be frank, I’ve stumbled into something, a major affair, one that I estimate only the Blade-Wielders can resolve.”

“Alright, alright, no need to say anything more. I wouldn’t dare to listen anyway. You only have this one request, right?” The richly dressed youth lowered his head, one hand pressed on his knee, the other palm outstretched to stop him.

“Yes.”

“But how can you ensure the Blade-Wielders will help you—never mind, don’t answer that. In any case, let’s go. I’ll take you to the Blade-Wielders’ yamen in Sanchuan Commandery,” the richly dressed youth said, looking up again.

“They have a specific yamen?”

“They do, but don’t ask for more details. That’s not something I can disclose. If you’re truly curious, go ask Young Miss Yu or Fairy Ning later.”

A carriage rumbled out from the back gate of the estate.

“Senior Brother Song, Gu Bei will never forget your great kindness,” Gu Bei remarked from inside the carriage.

“…” Song Ting, the richly dressed youth, twitched his lips. “Damn you, Gu Bei, you get a bargain and then act smug about it, don’t you?”

“No, no. I was thinking that if I land smoothly this time, I’ll definitely find you a lucrative position to repay you.”

“Oh, please. The moment I opened the door to let you in, I was destined to be dragged into your mess. I don’t know what trouble you’ve gotten into, but I’m absolutely terrified right now.”

“Heh, guess what? I don’t know what trouble I’ve gotten into either.”

“?” Song Ting genuinely looked alarmed this time. “Huh?”

Song Ting then treated Gu Bei to a five-minute-long performance of rapid-fire complaining.

Gu Bei merely smiled, not uttering a single retort.

“You’re truly heartless! You, you! Damn it all! I shouldn’t have thought you, Gu Bei, would have a reliable plan if you came back to me! You bastard! You bastard!”

Song Ting’s furious, rapid-fire complaints echoed continuously within the carriage.

Joyful times always passed quickly. With the constant chatter, the carriage soon stopped before a small alley.

The Blade-Wielders’ yamen was not particularly mysterious, and even appeared somewhat shabby.

However, once Song Ting knocked open the main gate and Gu Bei stepped inside the Blade-Wielders’ yamen, he glanced around to find the interior’s spacious cleanliness utterly worlds apart from the exterior’s shabbiness.

“The Commander is currently receiving a superior from the Central Capital. Please wait a moment, both of you.” The Blade-Wielder who led them in took them to a side room, placed a teapot and two teacups down, and then promptly exited.

They appeared to be in a hurry, as if on an important mission.

“It seems we’re not catching them at a good time. Let’s wait.” Song Ting shook his head, picked up the teapot, and poured a cup for Gu Bei, then one for himself.

After taking a small sip, he frowned. “Damn, the Blade-Wielders’ yamen is still so stingy, serving tea dregs to guests…”

Gu Bei, however, was indifferent. He shrugged and chuckled, “Later, when I make it big, I’ll get you, Senior Brother Song, the finest spiritual tea.”

“Heh heh, isn’t getting spiritual tea just a matter of opening your mouth for Young Master Gu? It’s truly a shame that Young Master Gu has had to drink these scraps with us all this time.”

“Still angry? I couldn’t help it, could I? I figured Senior Brother Song is the most reliable and capable, so when I was truly desperate…”

“Stop! Stop right there, I’m not falling for that.” Song Ting said he wouldn’t fall for it, but the expression on his face had visibly softened.

As the two spoke, the outside grew a little more bustling.

The Silver Blade Commander of Sanchuan Commandery walked out, smiling apologetically, alongside a graceful figure.

His words were filled with flattery.

Gu Bei’s eyes held a hint of curiosity. To be honest, although he had heard of the Blade-Wielders’ yamen before, he had never directly learned about them or established contact.

After all, who among respectable people enjoyed associating with secret police?

Though the Blade-Wielders were ultimately distinct from secret police, Gu Bei still politely declined involvement with such a special agent organization.

The graceful figure, being flattered, occasionally nodded indifferently to indicate she was listening, but mostly conveyed an air of nonchalance.

That was until the large group passed the entrance to the side room.

The person whom the Silver Blade Commander was continuously complimenting subtly turned their head and looked into the room.

“Commander, do you have other guests?” A somewhat husky female voice asked, with a hint of coldness.

“Ah? Ah! Yes, yes, this…” The Silver Blade Commander nodded awkwardly.

Called by name, Song Ting naturally led Gu Bei out of the side room.

“This junior, Song Ting, an inner disciple executive of Cloud Sea Pavilion, greets the senior,” Song Ting said, bowing with a gentle smile.

The woman nodded briefly, then looked at Gu Bei, who stood with his head bowed, merely bowing in greeting. “And this is?”

“This junior, Gu Bei of the Minor Sword Sect, greets the senior.” Gu Bei did not look up, simply bowing respectfully.

“Gu Bei…” The woman scoffed. “Look up.”

Gu Bei obediently lifted his head, then instinctively narrowed his eyes.

Before him was a beautiful face with a hint of wildness and aggression, though a years-old sword scar marked the side of her face. Far from detracting, it accentuated the bold, untamed features, creating a striking harmony.

Gu Bei felt this face seemed somewhat familiar.

“Don’t you recognize me, Chief Gu?”

Song Ting abruptly glared at Gu Bei.

‘Damn it, you said you had no connection to the imperial court?!’