Chapter 160: The Legendary Four Sacred Grounds
"Gu Qiuhong?" Lan Xueruo's words made Yun Che startled, and then he fell into deep thought. Someone whom Cang Wanhe would allow to cut a wound on his body, especially at the location of his heart, had to be someone he deeply trusted or was very close to. Yun Che had originally thought it would be the Crown Prince, the Third Prince, or some other prince. He never expected Lan Xueruo to name Gu Qiuhong instead.
And as Lan Xueruo said, Gu Qiuhong seemed to have no reason whatsoever to go to such lengths to harm Cang Wanhe. Unless...
"Yun Che..." Cang Wanhe's expression was extremely complex. He asked with some difficulty, "Is this kind of gu, residing in the heart meridian, extremely difficult to detect?"
Yun Che understood why he asked that and said solemnly, "For ordinary physicians, especially those who have no knowledge of gu poisons and gu insects, it is indeed difficult to discover its existence. But if Gu Qiuhong's medical skills are truly as superb as legend says, there is no way he could fail to detect the 'Soul Devouring Life Sharing Gu'. Of course, if he was the one who planted the gu... then naturally he would 'not discover' it."
"I understand..." Cang Wanhe exhaled a heavy breath of turbid air, leaned back on the couch, his face pale, as if he had aged a great deal in an instant. "Yue'er, there can be no mistake. All the facts prove that the one who planted the gu is Gu Qiuhong. The scar on my chest was left by him three years ago. It was after that day that I lay seriously ill for three full years. Yun Che has already forced the gu out for us to see. It truly exists. That is the most real fact. Everything else... is false."
At this moment, he felt he was unworthy of being an emperor. For these three years, he had been trusting, even respecting, a person who was poisoning him. Now thinking back, he, the dignified Emperor of Cang Feng, was like a fool being toyed with in the palm of someone's hand... truly foolish and laughable to the extreme.
"But why would Master Gu do this? Our imperial clan has always been on good terms with him. Even Father Emperor treated him with great respect. How could he do such a thing?" Lan Xueruo still found it hard to accept, her lips tightly pressed together.
"He may not have a direct reason, but there must be an indirect one. For example, some transaction with the rebellious sons Cang Lin and Cang Shuo... it might also involve the Xiao Sect or the Fen Tian Gate. Moreover... Yue'er, your nature is too pure. You have always respected Gu Qiuhong, even regarded him as a saint. But in my early dealings with him, I discovered that his character was not as virtuous and harmless as it appeared on the surface. On the contrary, he sometimes secretly engaged in despicable acts. But his medical skill is unquestionable, so I always tried to maintain good relations with him. However, there are too many people who want to be on good terms with him. Compared to those massive sects, my identity as emperor might mean nothing."
Cang Wanhe shook his head, a look of sorrow on his face. As an emperor, he had been silently harmed to such an extent, bedridden for three full years, unable to leave his bedchamber. It was almost the same as being dead. Moreover, if he had not 'fallen ill,' Cang Lin and Cang Shuo would not have dared to act recklessly, nor would there have been an opportunity to invite the wolf into the house.
"Yun Che, thank you. If not for you, I might have died without knowing the truth. In my final moments, I might even have ignorantly thanked the person who harmed me." Cang Wanhe laughed self-deprecatingly. "Earlier, I questioned your medical skills. I am truly ashamed."
"Your Majesty, you must not say that." Yun Che quickly waved his hand. "Your Majesty, regarding the matter of you being afflicted with the gu, I have a doubt. I ask Your Majesty to shed some light on it. Of course, if this involves imperial secrets, Your Majesty may choose not to answer."
"Ask away. I am but a remnant of a life. My final wish is entirely for Yue'er. You are the person Yue'er trusts most, so I have no secrets from you." Cang Wanhe closed his eyes, his expression calm and without ripple.
Yun Che was deeply moved... For these words to come from the mouth of an emperor, how heavy their weight. These few short sentences reflected the darkness in Cang Wanhe's heart, as well as his deep affection for Lan Xueruo. After three years of illness, he had finally seen clearly what his most precious treasure had always been... not his throne, not his beloved ministers and seven sons, but his only daughter.
Yun Che slowly said, "As far as I know, cultivating the gu seed of the Soul Devouring Life Sharing Gu is extremely difficult. Not only is the gu source hard to find even for ten thousand gold, but during cultivation, at most one out of a thousand gu seeds will succeed, and the rest become dead gu. Therefore, obtaining a single gu seed of the Soul Devouring Life Sharing Gu requires a great deal of time and cost. Once the Soul Devouring Life Sharing Gu enters the body, it is extremely hard to detect. The afflicted person will become weak, age rapidly, and die within five years. After death, the gu also dies simultaneously, turning into a pool of blood in the victim's body, leaving no trace of its existence. Hence, this gu is often used to secretly harm someone without leaving any trace, making others believe the person died of illness."
"But according to rumors, the Crown Prince and the Third Prince are both eager to compete for the throne, with the Xiao Sect and Fen Tian Gate secretly fueling the flames. If Gu Qiuhong planted the gu in Your Majesty's body, it must be related to them. But since they are in a hurry to see Your Majesty pass away, why not use faster methods like assassination or poisoning? Why go through all the trouble of using such a troublesome method that takes longer to cause death? If the Xiao Sect and Fen Tian Gate truly have such ambitions, choosing secret assassination or poisoning should be the most normal approach. The only explanation I can think of... is that behind Your Majesty, there is something that makes both the Xiao Sect and Fen Tian Gate apprehensive, something that prevents them from leaving any trace?"
When Yun Che was halfway through, Cang Wanhe already knew what he wanted to ask. When Yun Che finished, he slowly nodded and did not hide anything from Yun Che. He answered in a low voice, "It is because of the Tian Jian Villa."
"Tian Jian Villa?"
"The Cangfeng Imperial Clan and the Tian Jian Villa were founded on the same day of the same year. My ancestor was a sworn brother as close as blood to the founder of the Tian Jian Villa. After the Cangfeng Imperial Clan took control of the empire's government, they spared no effort to promote the growth of the Tian Jian Villa, until it became the number one sect of the Cang Feng Empire. Meanwhile, the Tian Jian Villa has always existed as the imperial clan's guardian sect. Although over time, the relationship between the imperial clan and the Tian Jian Villa has gradually grown distant, certain agreements between them have never been broken. They do not interfere in internal affairs of the imperial clan, but if external forces threaten the imperial clan, they will act. Moreover, if I were to die by assassination or poisoning, they would certainly take action and investigate thoroughly."
"...But the Xiao Sect and Fen Tian Gate are known as two of the Four Great Sects alongside the Tian Jian Villa. Would they be so afraid of the Tian Jian Villa?" Yun Che asked somewhat puzzled.
Cang Wanhe shook his head slightly. "You may not know this. Although they are called the Four Great Sects, when it comes to comprehensive strength, even if the Bing Yun Fairy Palace, the Xiao Sect, and the Fen Tian Gate were combined, they could not compare to the Tian Jian Villa. Though the Tian Jian Villa is ranked alongside them, its level is completely above them. Moreover, the background of the Tian Jian Villa is something that makes the other three great sects shudder."
"Background? The Tian Jian Villa has a background?" Yun Che was astonished again. The Tian Jian Villa was already the number one sect of the Cang Feng Empire, the pinnacle. And it still had a background?
"Have you ever heard of the 'Four Sacred Grounds' of the Tian Xuan Continent?" Cang Wanhe asked.
"The Four Sacred Grounds... I think I remember Grandfather mentioning them occasionally..." Yun Che pondered for a moment, then said, "But aren't the Four Sacred Grounds legendary? Do they really exist?"
"Heh, in terms of level, the Four Sacred Grounds are indeed legendary, even mythical. Even I am not qualified to touch that level, not even qualified to look up to it. The four great sects of our Cang Feng Empire are as insignificant as ants before these Four Sacred Grounds. If the Four Sacred Grounds wished, they could easily destroy the seven nations of the Tian Xuan Continent."
"There are... such existences." Yun Che's heart was shaken. "Is the background of the Tian Jian Villa one of the Four Sacred Grounds?"
"That's right." Cang Wanhe nodded slowly. "The Huangji Sacred Domain, the Sun Moon Divine Palace, the Tian Wei Sword Domain, and the Supreme Sea Palace... these are the names of the Four Sacred Grounds of Tian Xuan. They exist for a certain 'guardian' mission and never participate in or interfere with the conflicts among the seven nations. And the Tian Jian Villa has a connection with the Tian Wei Sword Domain, one of the Four Sacred Grounds. Because the founder of the Tian Jian Villa was the eldest son of a certain Sovereign Xuan realm supreme powerhouse from the Tian Wei Sword Domain. However, due to his poor aptitude, he was not qualified to stay in the Tian Wei Sword Domain and was expelled. Later, he founded the Tian Jian Villa on this land. The sword arts used by the Tian Jian Villa also bear traces of the 'Tian Wei Sword Art'."
A discarded disciple of the Tian Wei Sword Domain could actually establish the number one sect of the Cang Feng Empire. The terror of the Four Sacred Grounds was unimaginable.
"Because of the founder's relationship, the Tian Jian Villa pays tribute to the Tian Wei Sword Domain every three years. At first, the Tian Wei Sword Domain ignored it, but later they finally accepted it, thus establishing a connection between the Tian Jian Villa and the Tian Wei Sword Domain. Although this connection is shallow and fragile, it is, after all, the Tian Wei Sword Domain. Even a thread of connection made the Tian Jian Villa untouchable and unprovokable. I have also heard that a hundred years ago, the Tian Wei Sword Domain secretly imprisoned an extremely important 'demon' in the Tian Jian Villa, indicating that they did place some importance on the Tian Jian Villa."
"The various sects of the Cang Feng Empire have been in open and secret strife for years, but no sect has ever thought of shaking the Tian Jian Villa's position as the number one sect. If they want me dead, they have to consider the Tian Jian Villa. Hence, using a method that leaves no trace is only natural."
After finishing, Cang Wanhe let out a long sigh, his face full of exhaustion.
Yun Che remained silent for a long time, quietly digesting what Cang Wanhe had said.
The words between them, Lan Xueruo, whose heart was in turmoil, did not absorb much. And these were not her greatest concern. She tugged at Yun Che's sleeve and said nervously, "Junior Brother Yun, you still haven't told us... since you know about this gu, is there a way to cure it?"
Yun Che continued to be silent for a moment, then nodded slightly. "There is."
"Ah——" Lan Xueruo exclaimed in surprise, her beautiful eyes instantly becoming extremely bright. Cang Wanhe also opened his eyes, a glimmer of hope in his dim gaze. "Yun Che, is this true? Is this not an incurable gu?"
"All things in balance govern mutual generation and overcoming. In this world, there is no incurable gu. However, to cure the 'Soul Devouring Life Sharing Gu,' it is extremely easy on the one hand, yet as difficult as ascending to heaven on the other." Yun Che said calmly.
"Then how do we cure it?" Lan Xueruo tightly grasped Yun Che's arm, her face flushed with excitement. "As long as I can save Father Emperor, no matter how difficult, I will definitely accomplish it."
"Blazing Soul Flower," Yun Che said softly, looking at Lan Xueruo. "Just one petal of a Blazing Soul Flower, and I can cure the 'Soul Devouring Life Sharing Gu' in Your Majesty's body. But this Blazing Soul Flower... is hard to find in the world."
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The key word of this chapter is actually that "demon," the rest is just filler.
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Next chapter might only be updated next year... I'm really not joking!!