After Being Struck By The Love Gu, I Reached A Happy Ending With My Frail Best Friend - Chapter 6

The antidote to Buzhanyi?

Everyone turned toward Tang Xing at once. Those with even a basic understanding of spiritual power sucked in a sharp breath.

If Tang Xing had truly stolen the antidote from a Golden Core Five-Legged Horse, calling her the reincarnation of a heavenly god would hardly be an exaggeration.

In an instant, crushing pressure descended from every direction.

The wine banner outside the inn was torn to shreds by the force. Amid the panicked cries of the crowd, the Longming Sword howled into the wind, as though impatient to slay the demon and earn glory for its master.

A battle was about to erupt.

Cheng Che was the first to leap down from the third floor. She drew her saber in a flash, her gaze cold and fierce.

No one noticed that at that very moment, the faint black mist lingering in her eyes vanished completely.

Ning Ruyue hurried over and was just about to swing her sword when Shen Fangzhou stopped her.

Holding Longming, Shen Fangzhou said steadily,

“Be careful and don’t come any closer. The Five-Legged Horse carries a strange poison. You’re only at the peak of Foundation Establishment. If you inhale it, your life will immediately be in danger.”

Ning Ruyue laughed in exasperation.

“Shen Fangzhou, aren’t you also at the peak of Foundation Establishment?”

Before Shen Fangzhou could respond, she sensed another person step beside her.

She turned and saw Tang Xing, still covered in dried blood, gripping the broken half of her sword.

When Tang Xing noticed Shen Fangzhou looking at her, she straightened her back and said quietly,

“I caused this. I’ll take responsibility.”

The Five-Legged Horse grinned viciously.

Its heavy, iron-like hoof cracked the ground with ease. Its expression darkened, and each word seemed to grind its way out like ink pressed from a stone.

“So the one who stole the antidote was only a mortal! Don’t worry—none of you will escape! A mere peak Foundation Establishment cultivator? This entire inn will be buried with you!”

Tang Xing gritted her teeth and stepped forward.

“I stole the medicine. Fight me by the river!”

The moment she finished speaking, she quickly shoved a small bottle into Shen Fangzhou’s hand, her expression resolute.

“I know you’re cultivators, but cultivators do not appear in these mountains without reason. There is no need for you to waste spiritual power for my sake, much less sacrifice lives that could have been used to save more people.”

“Take Buzhanyi and run. Consider it my selfish request.”

Shen Fangzhou stared at Tang Xing.

“You’re only a mortal.”

Tang Xing paused.

Then she raised her eyes to Shen Fangzhou, their brilliance shining even brighter.

“I once nearly became a sword cultivator myself. Unfortunately, someone said my aptitude was too poor for cultivation.”

“You need not worry. I am a martial artist. If I pay with my life, I can hold it back for at least twenty breaths.”

“It’s only a pity that the wine I owe you today will have to be repaid in my next life.”

The system fell silent for a moment.

“You humans really are interesting.”

Yet those few sentences had already consumed enough time.

At that moment, the thunderous sound of water rose in the distance.

The demon general grinned savagely.

“None of you are leaving!”

Countless streams of river water condensed into pure blades of ice and came pouring down like a storm of pear blossoms.

Tang Xing’s pupils contracted sharply, and she prepared to charge forward.

Clang—

Longming struck first.

Pure sword qi that should have been usable only by Golden Core cultivators roared like a golden lion and swallowed every ice blade in a furious bellow.

“Friend, there’s something I should remind you of.”

“Perhaps you were deceived back then.”

“The Sword Pavilion does not judge aptitude. It judges character.”

Shen Fangzhou’s green robes fluttered as she leaned on her sword and laughed freely.

“If you still wish to study the sword, come to Shu. When the time comes, simply give them my name.”

“As for that pot of wine you owe me, you can repay me on Little Golden Mountain.”

The great river surged eastward as the cold wind swept in every direction.

Sword qi erupted violently from the ground.

Amid the dazzling radiance, the green-robed swordswoman stood tall and graceful, her single strike as breathtaking as a startled swan.

Countless streams of light reflected from the edge of the Longming Sword—and from a pair of clear eyes as bright as the moon.

The system puffed itself up, ready at last to wipe away its earlier humiliation.

“Zhouzhou! I’m ready!”

Shen Fangzhou looked at the Five-Legged Horse, which was as large as a city gate, and smiled faintly.

“No need.”

It was merely at the early Golden Core realm.

If she still needed to use a restraint against a Five-Legged Horse, she would truly be unworthy of her Innate Sword Bones.

The Five-Legged Horse stared at her in alarm and uncertainty.

“Externalized sword qi? Are you a Golden Core cultivator disguised as Foundation Establishment?”

“No. I truly am at Foundation Establishment.”

Shen Fangzhou kicked off the ground and sprang forward, sword in hand.

“But I’m a Foundation Establishment cultivator who can kill you.”

The first form of the Nine Songs Sword Art—

Longming Sword: Dragon Slayer.

Shen Fangzhou dove forward.

The Five-Legged Horse formed an ice sword in its hand and slashed down.

Yet just as the two attacks were about to collide, Shen Fangzhou abruptly leaped backward through the air, perfectly avoiding the ice blade coming straight at her.

She pulled her sword fully behind her.

Pale sword qi trailed from it in an arc like a tongue of flame.

The next instant, Shen Fangzhou gripped the sword hilt in one hand and swept out an almost perfect circle.

The strike tore through everything in its path and slashed directly across the Five-Legged Horse’s front hoof.

Demonic energy surged outward in an attempt to block it.

But the sword qi ripped through the gray demonic mist without hesitation.

The Five-Legged Horse let out a piercing scream as its entire body pitched forward and crashed to the ground.

Blood gushed like a waterfall from between its legs, revealing a gruesome wound carved into the bone.

That strike had not merely cut through its front hoof.

It had sliced an entire inch into the bone.

In a single exchange, Shen Fangzhou had severed one of the Five-Legged Horse’s hooves.

The price of underestimating her had been severe.

Yet the Five-Legged Horse was still a Golden Core cultivator. It quickly recovered from its momentary defeat.

Demonic energy surged into the sky, and it no longer concealed the full strength of its Golden Core cultivation.

Everyone present watched as it opened its foul-smelling mouth and abruptly inhaled.

Ning Ruyue’s heart lurched.

“Not good! It’s going to release poison!”

Before she finished speaking, the Five-Legged Horse spat out a cloud of white mist, its voice overflowing with hatred.

“Sword cultivator! Let’s see whether you can save all of them!”

Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator could hold their breath for only fifteen minutes.

Yet Shen Fangzhou remained completely calm, as though she did not care whether the companions behind her lived or died.

She simply tightened her grip around Longming and lunged forward once more.

A streak of white light flowed across the blade.

In an instant, murderous intent flooded the surroundings.

She sprang upward again, and the Longming Sword erupted with overwhelming power.

At the very moment its blade cut into the demon general’s body, the poisonous mist was already about to engulf the entire inn.

Boom!

Heaven and earth seemed to shudder.

From within the pale mist came a soft laugh.

Golden light flashed.

A supreme-grade Daoist talisman shattered with a thunderous explosion, forming a defensive barrier the size of an eggshell above the ground.

Like a beacon in the endless night, it forcibly divided the poisonous fog.

The corner of a white robe embroidered with immortal cranes lifted gently.

Xie Guiwan stood before the doorway, neither retreating nor showing fear. She only smiled and shook her head.

“I expected you would recognize me.”

The Five-Legged Horse’s plan had failed. It cursed furiously.

The sword force before it was too overwhelming. While desperately fending off each strike, it attempted to retreat into the river and escape beneath the water.

Unfortunately, Shen Fangzhou had no intention of giving it that opportunity.

Now that her opponent had already lost the will to fight, the conclusion came in barely a dozen breaths.

Shen Fangzhou slid her sword back into its case and lightly stepped backward.

Boom!

The demon general, now deprived of all five feet, collapsed helplessly to the ground.

Dust billowed into the sky, lifting the corner of Shen Fangzhou’s green robe.

Shen Fangzhou winked at the dumbfounded Tang Xing.

“Remember that pot of wine you owe me, Junior Sister.”

After saying this, she slowly walked toward the dying Five-Legged Horse.

With a sweep of her sleeve, she planted one boot on its neck, her voice almost cheerful.

“Now tell me. Why did you have the antidote to Buzhanyi?”

Blood poured into the nearly frozen river.

The Five-Legged Horse’s strength gradually faded until it could barely breathe.

Lying on the ground, it still spoke with hatred.

“Who… who exactly are you?”

“A sword cultivator capable of releasing sword qi before reaching Golden Core… I never knew the immortal realm had produced such a genius!”

Shen Fangzhou smiled as though she truly intended to answer.

“If I tell you, will you tell me the truth?”

The Five-Legged Horse’s eyes immediately brightened.

Yet in the next instant, a talisman shot straight into its body.

The brief light in its eyes vanished completely.

“Why waste words?”

Xie Guiwan coughed lightly several times as she approached.

“A Soul-Searching Talisman is enough. Be careful. Delays may lead to unexpected changes.”

The night wind blew fiercely, and dew dampened their clothes.

Soul-Searching Talismans carried severe adverse effects. Shen Fangzhou was about to say there was no need to go that far when she raised her eyes and saw the sect master covering her lips as she coughed, her frame thin and frail.

At the sight, Shen Fangzhou instantly discarded her previous thoughts.

She hurried forward, removed her green outer robe, and draped it across the sect master’s shoulders.

A faint reproach entered her voice.

“I wanted to say this earlier. Winter nights are freezing. Why didn’t you wear more clothing? The wind beside the window was so strong too. Sect Master—”

In the blink of an eye, she was enveloped by a gentle yet cool presence.

Xie Guiwan lowered her eyes and discreetly pulled the collar of the robe closed.

With a smile that made the system tremble in alarm, she softly admitted her fault.

“It was my mistake. I made you worry.”

“G-Good that you know.”

Shen Fangzhou had expected to argue with her and was now left somewhat at a loss.

She coughed twice, hurriedly explained something to the sect master, and went to retrieve the Soul-Searching Talisman.

Wrapped in the green robe, Xie Guiwan could smell nothing but the sword cultivator’s warm pine fragrance.

She watched Shen Fangzhou deliberately avoid her eyes, laughed softly, and turned her gaze away.

For now, she would let her go.

There was no hurry.

Once the sect master finally walked away, Shen Fangzhou sighed in relief.

She was somewhat confused about what exactly she had been avoiding.

The next instant, however, the information drawn from the demon general’s soul filled her with delight.

“So this demon general was one of the Boundary Monument’s guards! Buzhanyi poison is placed at the very center of the monument, which is why it carried the antidote.”

“Hmm. Zhou Xu will arrive at the Boundary Monument in a day and a half.”

Shen Fangzhou thought this truly was an unexpected gain.

The demon horse’s memories even contained a hidden path leading directly to the Boundary Monument. Perhaps it would allow them to move much faster.

Memorizing the details of that route would take some time.

After thinking it over, Shen Fangzhou told the sect master and the others to return to the inn and rest while she remained outside to deal with the corpse.

The night had deepened, and the dew was growing heavier.

The other members of the team did not have energy as abundant as hers, so preserving their strength was the wiser choice.

Xie Guiwan left first.

The system, which had long been unable to contain itself, immediately popped out.

“Zhouzhou! Zhouzhou!”

Shen Fangzhou beamed foolishly.

“You came at the perfect time! Hurry and help me memorize this route!”

“That’s not what I mean!”

The system was frantic and tried to guide her patiently.

“Don’t you think it’s strange that the female lead appeared here?”

Shen Fangzhou nodded and sighed.

“It is strange. I thought it would be my senior sister.”

“But now that I think about it, neither of them coming is very good. The romantic plotline is going to stagnate again.”

The system said, “No, that isn’t what I meant.”

Shen Fangzhou suddenly understood.

“Oh, you mean they’ll have fewer chances to spend time together? It’s fine. I’ll work hard to persuade the sect master to return later.”

The system flew into an embarrassed rage.

“That isn’t what I mean either!”

Shen Fangzhou frowned in thought.

Then realization dawned. She swore solemnly on the spot, her gaze determined.

“I understand! Don’t worry, System. I will protect the female lead and absolutely refuse to let any harm come to her.”

The system fell silent.

“…”

Unable to endure it any longer, the system said,

“Zhouzhou, don’t you think the female lead likes you?”

Shen Fangzhou: “?”

Shen Fangzhou spoke earnestly.

“System, when you’re bored, study sword manuals or calculate cultivation techniques. Stop spending every day reading obscene stories on those pink websites.”

“You’ve read so much of that nonsense that you’ve damaged your brain.”

“No! Shen Fangzhou, wake up!”

“You wake up! We’re friends!”

The system roared furiously,

“What kind of friend risks death to come after you?! Look at the way she smiled just now. She obviously has ulterior motives!”

Shen Fangzhou stared in disbelief.

“??? How can you say that about the female lead? She barely has any friends to begin with. What’s wrong with smiling at me?”

Seeing that its host viewed the mission target through seven layers of filters, the system softened its tone and decided to explain as though teaching a child.

“All right, Zhouzhou, listen carefully. Tell me, what do you have that I don’t? Isn’t it a filter toward the female—”

“A brain.”

The system: “?”

Shen Fangzhou said, “The sect master cares about me just as I care about her. You simply don’t understand friendship. Hmph!”

The system was about to erupt again when it discovered it could no longer speak.

Shen Fangzhou had muted it.

The system: “…Shen Fangzhou, you really are one hell of a genius.”

As an outsider, it understood everything clearly.

Whether it was rescuing the cultivators atop Huizhou City’s walls or helping Tang Xing inside the inn just now, Shen Fangzhou had always acted first.

In other words, if Shen Fangzhou had done nothing, Xie Guiwan would never have helped anyone.

Now that the words of the original novel had come vividly to life before it, the system finally realized that the female lead’s behavior carried an almost cruel indifference.

She practically cultivated the Dao of Heartlessness!

The Dao of Heartlessness itself was perfectly fine.

The problem was that if Xie Guiwan abandoned it for Shen Fangzhou alone, they would be in serious trouble.

Still, it did not matter.

If the two continued spending every day together, the system would eventually find evidence to show Zhouzhou.

It had once appreciated Shen Fangzhou’s romantic obliviousness.

Now it truly hated the sheer depth of her insensitivity.

The system drew a deep breath and began hypnotizing itself.

Other people may get angry, but I will not. If anger makes me sick, no one will suffer in my place. I’m a system, so I’m even less angry. Stay calm. Stay calm…

Wait!

Under the dim yellow light, Xie Guiwan’s face showed a trace of regret.

“There are no rooms left?”

Shen Fangzhou said,

“Then should we stay together?”

The system: “…I quit.”