Chapter Sixteen: The Unusual Senior Brother

That night, the sky was adorned with countless stars, and a full moon hung high like a flawless jade plate, shining with pure radiance.

In Yu Family Village, inside a humble farmhouse courtyard.

Gu Xian gradually awakened, his eyes adjusting to the unfamiliar surroundings, his voice hoarse as he asked, “Where am I?”

By the bedside came the delighted voice of a young girl, full of joy. “Master, master, Uncle Gu has woken up!”

Gu Xian turned his head and saw the dark-skinned little girl he had met in Nanyang City at the Liu family’s home.

A moment later, the door was pushed open, and a burly man entered, followed by a woman dressed in simple, coarse cloth.

It was Zhou You and Xia Qinghe.

After the fierce battle earlier, Xia Qinghe’s clothes were torn and tattered; these were garments she had bought from villagers.

After the death of the ghost infant, the villagers were finally freed from control.

Having taken the secret healing pill from the Demon-Slaying Bureau, her wounds had largely healed, and she was now able to move about normally.

Zhou You strode to the bedside, his tone full of concern. “Little junior brother, how are you feeling now?”

Gu Xian shook his head lightly. “Senior brother, there’s no need to worry. It’s just that the consecutive battles have drained my spiritual energy. A few days of rest will be enough to recover.”

Zhou You nodded gently. “While you were unconscious, Miss Xia fed you one of the Demon-Slaying Bureau’s healing pills.”

Gu Xian looked up at Xia Qinghe. Even dressed as a simple village woman, her extraordinary beauty could not be concealed.

He spoke softly, “Thank you, Lady Xia.”

Xia Qinghe waved her hand generously. “It’s only what I should do.”

Then a trace of guilt appeared on her face. “Come to think of it, it was I who dragged you into such perilous circumstances. I should be the one apologizing.”

“We’re all friends; there’s no need for that.”

Gu Xian glanced at the dark-skinned girl nearby and smiled. “I haven’t congratulated senior brother yet on taking such a fine disciple, strengthening the legacy of Mount Wuwang.”

Mentioning this new disciple, a heartfelt smile appeared on Zhou You’s usually expressionless face.

“That girl is indeed quite remarkable.”

Gu Xian beckoned the little girl to come closer.

The timid girl obediently stepped forward.

Gu Xian’s tone softened. “What is your name?”

“Uncle Master, I don’t really have a name. My parents usually call me Little Fish.”

Zhou You immediately said, “Junior brother, you have the most knowledge among us on the mountain. Why don’t you give Little Fish a proper name? That way, when she comes to the mountain, she can have her name recorded in the sect’s jade register.”

Gu Xian pondered for a moment. “How about Liu Nianyu?”

“Nianyu, Liu Nianyu,” Zhou You murmured softly.

Then, smiling, he said, “Not bad, not bad. That’s a good name. Master will surely be pleased.”

Hearing this, Gu Xian couldn’t help but feel a bit speechless. Their eldest senior brother was excellent in many ways, but always putting Master first was something all the brothers often teased him about.

After some casual conversation, Gu Xian gained a clearer understanding of the situation in Yu Family Village.

Originally, the villagers were ordinary farmers working the land. But roughly six or seven years ago, a shaman appeared. At first, the villagers were hostile toward her.

Then she suddenly displayed immortal arts, producing piles of gold and silver, freely giving it to the villagers. This earned her their deep gratitude, and they praised her as a living bodhisattva.

Later, the shaman chose eight young villagers with outstanding constitution as disciples. Before long, they had obtained various supernatural abilities akin to those of immortals.

Since then, the villagers worshipped them as deities, offering daily devotion in every household.

Then came the matter of the old woman raising the ghost infant.

After hearing this, Gu Xian frowned deeply. “I feel this isn’t so simple.”

He looked up at Zhou You and Xia Qinghe. “Senior brother, Lady Xia, have you learned from the villagers if the shaman has any connection with Chen Kai and the others?”

Xia Qinghe lowered her voice. “During the day, when the villagers regained their senses, I chatted casually with the village chief. He said that every other month, two figures cloaked in black robes enter the shaman’s courtyard. But the disciples guard her residence closely, so they don’t know what happens inside.”

“That’s suspicious. The shaman must have other supporters behind her.”

Gu Xian continued, “Otherwise, she couldn’t possibly raise such a terrifying ghost infant in broad daylight.”

Suddenly, Zhou You interjected, “Miss Xia, I recall that the Demon-Slaying Bureau periodically patrols the jurisdiction. With such thick yin energy here, it should be easy to detect.”

At this, Xia Qinghe instantly understood his implication.

Someone within the Demon-Slaying Bureau was covering up the shaman’s raising of the ghost infant—and quite possibly held a high rank within the bureau.

After all, the bureau is strict and disciplined; it’s rare for anyone to forge patrol records.

Thinking of this, her expression darkened.

“Mr. Zhou, Gu Xian, I will give you both an explanation on this matter.”

With that, she turned and left the room, using secret arts to contact the Demon-Slaying Bureau.

Zhou You then took Little Fish and departed as well.

Watching senior brother’s retreating figure, a glimmer of insight sparked in Gu Xian’s eyes. During his cultivation on the mountain, aided by the Wuwang Immortal Mirror, his foundation had grown exceptionally solid.

He considered himself one of the strongest among the senior brothers.

Yet today, when eldest senior brother borrowed his power, he had released strength far beyond his usual level. Even as Gu Xian was about to lose consciousness, his perception was not mistaken.

He took a deep breath, growing more perplexed, and thought to himself:

Why would senior brother hide his true cultivation from me?

If so, then the eldest senior brother’s earlier mention of visiting Ran Yi Lane was not, as I and senior sister supposed, an impulsive act to intervene for us. Instead, he truly had the confidence.

If that were the case—

What does senior sister, who lived alongside me on the mountain for three years, really know?

Do the other senior brothers also conceal things from me?

Could master himself be a peerless genius who has secluded himself from the world?

...

For a time, his mind was filled with countless questions, yet no answers came.

He silently vowed that if given the chance, he would uncover the truth of it all.

If it all turned out to be true, he thought, he would surely faint from shock.

Shaking his head, Gu Xian cast away all distractions, seated himself cross-legged on the ground, and immersed himself in meditation.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a vast, empty hall. At its center lay a jade meditation cushion, surrounded by thick spiritual energy that flowed like water, refreshing the mind with every breath.

This was a training ground within the Wuwang Immortal Mirror. Not only was the spiritual energy abundant, but time here flowed differently from the outside world.

Gu Xian had tested it before: one day in this place equated to three days outside.