“A towering and peerless hero…” Hearing his wife’s description, Gu Changqing suddenly felt a daze, as if the vast Gobi Desert and swirling sands reappeared before his eyes. Back then, the gray-robed novice monk, driven by loyalty and righteousness, had charged forward despite overwhelming odds.
Looking back, the memories were vivid—the youthful vigor, the chivalrous spirit, the pain, the hatred, the guilt—all flowed slowly through Gu Changqing’s heart as if separated by a long stretch of time, allowing him to observe them with relative calm.
No, not “as if.” It truly had been decades since that reckless young man left the boundless Gobi Desert. For ordinary people, that span could encompass an entire lifetime from birth to death.
Time flies, always aging people, always making them fond of reminiscing…
Now, he stood as a grandmaster ranked at the forefront of the Earth List, the Divine Constable of the Six Gates overseeing Zhongzhou, wielding immense power. Moreover, he had been personally granted the “Divine Talisman of the Envoy of the Supreme Nine Heavens True King” by the Human Emperor. Once activated, it could temporarily bestow upon him the strength of an Earth Immortal at the level of a Celestial Duke or Earl, reinforced by the imperial dragon qi of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Few in the martial world could rival him. And if his martial path ever reached a dead end, the Human Emperor had already hinted that he could transition into the divine path.
Such favor, though unspoken, was clear to him—it all stemmed from that little novice monk, who now sat solemnly in the Jade Void Palace atop Mount Kunlun…
Just as Gu Changqing was lost in reminiscence, absentmindedly rocking the baby girl in his arms, the Universal Communication Talisman on his person emitted an unusual sound.
“Divine Constable Gu, there’s a matter requiring your decision,” came the voice of a Golden Badge Constable.
“What is it?” Gu Changqing collected his thoughts and asked steadily.
The Golden Badge Constable reported in detail: “Two true disciples of the Splendid Blossom Sword Sect killed someone in the streets today. Though there were extenuating circumstances, they must still be handed over to the Ministry of Justice for judgment. We’ve already located their whereabouts. The question is whether we should arrest them directly—after all, they are true disciples of the Splendid Blossom Sword Sect…”
True disciples were core members of major sects, and targeting them meant challenging their entire sect. The Splendid Blossom Sword Sect was highly prestigious in the former territories of the Great Jin Dynasty. Following past precedents, the Golden Badge Constable hesitated.
Though the Splendid Blossom Sword Sect could no longer stir waves in the current world, they still had the means to retaliate against those involved.
Gu Changqing, who had always abhorred evil due to past experiences, said sternly, “The state has its laws. How can they be disregarded for sect rules or family traditions? Under the Human Emperor’s rule, all land is sovereign territory. Even the sect leader of the Splendid Blossom Sword Sect must obey the law, let alone two true disciples. Send men to arrest them immediately and deliver them to the Ministry of Justice. I trust the local representative of the Splendid Blossom Sword Sect will understand.”
Before the Six Gates grew into a monstrous entity, Gao Lan had restructured it, separating the investigative and judicial functions, reviving the pre-Six Gates Ministry of Justice for trials and imprisonment.
“As you command,” the Golden Badge Constable replied respectfully.
With this consultation, even if the Splendid Blossom Sword Sect resented the action, the blame would fall on Divine Constable Gu. Given his strength and backing, who would dare trouble him?
Gu Changqing was well aware of his subordinate’s cautious thinking, but as a superior and the Divine Constable responsible for Zhongzhou, bearing responsibility was his duty.
He ended the communication and noticed his wife Tang Ziyue’s gaze. Nodding slightly, he said, “Just a minor matter at the Six Gates. Nothing to worry about.”
Tang Ziyue smiled faintly in response but suddenly furrowed her delicate brows. “There’s another letter from the Gu Family Fortress in the west, hoping you’d return for a visit…”
Before she could finish, Gu Changqing cut in firmly, “Ignore it!”
Tang Ziyue said no more, lowering her head to stroke little Gu Su’tong’s cheek. Smiling, she said, “Your father just acquired a century-aged jar of Carefree Wine. He wants you to come taste it.”
Though she had reverted to her maiden name, Tang, she could never forget the years of nurturing kindness. She still honored Su Li as her father, treating the Su ancestral home as her maternal family’s residence and often returning to stay. She also took the children to Shaolin Temple yearly to pay respects to Xuan Bei.
Gu Changqing exhaled, the earlier restlessness in his heart dissipating. This was his home, his life. The Gu Family Fortress in the west held no connection to him anymore!
—
Moss-covered rockeries, water droplets slowly falling—the courtyard of the Splendid Blossom Sword Sect always carried a poetic charm.
“The Six Gates’ arrest warrant has arrived at our doorstep,” said a plump young man in his early twenties, dressed in brocade, his face twisted in worry as he looked at his elder. “Uncle Mu, what should we do?”
“What else can we do? Comply with the Six Gates. Your case will be judged by the Ministry of Justice. I’ll find someone to plead your circumstances,” replied a refined and dignified woman dressed in simple yet elegant attire. She was Mu Yunle, the Splendid Blossom Sword Sect’s most promising candidate to achieve the Dharmakaya.
“Hmph! That scoundrel harassed an innocent woman in broad daylight—he deserved death! Are the Six Gates siding with villains now?” The disheveled young man beside the plump one gritted his teeth.
Mu Yunle gave him an amused glance. “Do you intend to defy the Great Zhou Court?”
The two youths immediately fell silent, not daring to utter another word. The gods watched from above!
With the Human Emperor ascending to legend and the Great Zhou’s imperial aura solidified, the royal authority had penetrated even the sects and noble families, leaving no room for resistance.
Seeing their expressions, Mu Yunle sighed inwardly. The days when top-tier sects and families stood above the law, replacing it with their own rules, were long gone.
Compared to past generations, the true disciples of the last decade had noticeably less arrogance but also lacked the boldness bred from deep heritage, becoming somewhat timid. There were pros and cons to this.
Her voice softened. “Don’t worry. As long as your actions were justified, with the divine oversight and the presence of the Zhongzhou Hero and his wife here, you won’t be wronged. The sect will also exert its influence.”
The plump youth grimaced before saying, “Since Uncle Mu says so, I’ll rest easy. I’ll treat it as a stint of cultivation in the celestial prison. But…”
His expression suddenly turned pitiful. “But prison life is austere—no fine wine or delicacies to savor the poetic mood. Uncle Mu, please visit often and bring along the Eight-Flavored Exquisite Cake and Moonlit Green Blossom Seeds from the Ruan family’s ‘Gluttony Tower’…”
A rapid-fire list of gourmet dishes spilled from his lips. By the end, he rubbed his belly, feeling genuinely hungry.
The Ruan family’s “Gluttony Tower” had branches in every major city, and many of its pastries and snacks could even be purchased via the Universal Communication Talisman, making it the top culinary brand in the Great Zhou, rivaled only by their banking business.
Suppressing a smile, Mu Yunle said, “Alright, alright. As your elder and since I’m passing through the capital, I’ll look after you two.”
The plump youth grinned ingratiatingly. “Uncle Mu, you’re the best—kind, beautiful, skilled in martial arts, able to paint with a brush and compose poetry on the spot.”
Then, recalling his master’s advice, he teased, “Just a bit too picky. With so many admirers, you never spare a glance. What kind of partner are you looking for, really?”
Mu Yunle froze for a moment. Her gaze drifted past the dripping rockery, past the verdant greenery, as if seeing that powerful, reliable yet deeply sorrowful figure who stirred an irresistible pity in her heart.
Once gone to Penglai, forever parted from the mortal realm.
“What kind of partner am I looking for…? Someone who can rival the Immortal Venerable Yuanhuang,” she murmured, her voice tinged with wistfulness.
The plump youth burst out laughing. “Uncle Mu, you’ve been influenced too much by poetry and art—that’s just unrealistic. Who in this world could possibly rival the Immortal Venerable Yuanhuang?”
Indeed, who could? Mu Yunle withdrew her gaze and sighed softly. Flicking her sleeve, she said, “Go now. Don’t keep the Six Gates constables waiting.”
—
In the Great Zhou’s Eternal Joy Palace, Gao Lan stood with his hands behind his back, listening to his minister’s report.
“Since the divine oversight was established, heretics and demonic factions have grown more secretive, leaving no traces… The royal law now penetrates noble families and sects, eliminating the old habit of resorting to violence at the slightest provocation… However, while those at the External Scenery realm and above can still venture into the desert, the Eastern Sea, the Southern Wilderness, or even other star systems for tempering, those in the Aperture-opening stage have few enemies to hone their skills against aside from arranged duels. This poses a hidden danger for martial development…”
Gao Lan nodded almost imperceptibly. “I’m aware. We’ve been heavily investing in virtual reality technology, and it’s now mature enough to simulate battles at the Aperture-opening level and below.”
Then, his gaze turned toward the window as he murmured under his breath, “Almost half a year now…”
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