Gu Zuo’s interest was piqued: “Can you elaborate?”
That woman shot a glance at the other two men. After they appeared to think it over, they also nodded to her. The woman replied: “This time around, the person who hired us is the distinguished guest of the seventh prince. I’ve heard that the seventh prince treats this distinguished guest with affection and great care. It’s almost to the point of total submissiveness. If you can get our employer’s agreement to help, and ask him to bring up this matter to the seventh prince, he should be able to smoothly open the teleportation array.”
Once Gu Zuo finished listening, his expression became a little strange.
Why did he feel that this woman’s wording…was so odd?
What was this about affection, great care, and total submission? Why did it not sound like the description of an actual distinguished guest? Moreover, a distinguished guest was usually the one with the highest status and least restraint among the subordinates of a prodigy, and was often the most revered. Yet, when this woman talked about that distinguished guest, there wasn’t too much respect… Could it be that the strength of this distinguished guest didn’t match his position?
However, even though Gu Zuo was thinking about this, he didn’t foolishly blurt it out. He only asked: “Is there anything this distinguished guest likes that would make him willing to help?”
The woman said: “That distinguished guest is a pharmacist. Normally, he diligently researches the path of medicine refinement, so he often needs spirit medicines. Great one, since you’re also a pharmacist, it’ll probably be easier to talk to him. If you have spirit medicines as gifts, you can be even more sure of the outcome.”
Activating the teleportation array wasn’t actually a big deal. Usually, it didn’t matter that much when it was opened. The reason why the royal family controlled the teleportation array in the imperial capital was actually just to protect the city itself. Once there was a war or any other crisis, control over the teleportation array meant control over the path of escape. It also blocked large-scale enemy invasions.
Gu Zuo understood.
Speaking of spirit medicines… The amount he stored up in here wasn’t small. Even for wondrous medicines, there was quite a large pile.
It really wasn’t a big loss to give a stalk to that distinguished guest for the sake of getting into his good graces.
As a result, Gu Zuo directly said: “In that case, I’ll have to ask you guys to help introduce us.”
Naturally, those two men and one woman promptly agreed: “For this small thing, this great one can rest assured.”
After that, the matter was settled.
Gongyi Tianheng, Zhao Ji, and Gu Qi also happened to finish eating their fills. Right away, the group prepared to leave this forest. But before departing, he gave that wild beast he killed to those three people. While they immediately refused, they finally accepted it at Gu Zuo’s insistence. At the same time, they became more attentive and enthusiastic in doing things for Gu Zuo. One ought to know that, with regards to these martial artists, it could be said that this basic spirit-level wild beast was a huge sum of free wealth!
Those two men and one woman had a map of this forest, so it was much more convenient getting out.
Because they had to take care of two ordinary people, the group’s speed wasn’t very fast. When they absolutely had to hurry, Tianheng carried the two uncles as he ran. Meanwhile, Gu Zuo urged his psychic power, and quickly kept pace with them — Because he used his psychic power to propel his body forward, his feet didn’t touch the ground. His speed wasn’t slow either.
After a couple hours, the edge of the forest was right before their eyes.
The three’s beast mounts were stabled in the town outside the forest. Later on, they brought everyone along, hastened the journey, and quickly arrived at the capital city of the Great Zhou Empire.
The forest hadn’t been that far from the imperial capital.
The three swiftly handled matters. After arriving at the capital, they carried the stalk of spirit medicine they found in the forest, and handed in their mission — If it wasn’t for harvesting the spirit medicine that the basic spirit-level wild bull was guarding, how else could they have antagonized that wild bull into crazily pursuing them?
As for Gu Zuo and his group, they rested in a tavern, and waited.
Gu Qi sized up this tavern of the other world. Although it wasn’t as convenient as a modern hotel, the human service was particularly good, and the furnishings in the first-class rooms were much more luxurious than that of most modern hotels. With a casual look around, one could see several things that would be sold for sky-high prices. As for these items, they were unexpectedly treated as ordinary bobbles in the other world and placed randomly throughout the room. He couldn’t help but feel somewhat amazed in his heart.
Upon seeing this, Gu Zuo deliberately said: “Dad, once you go to Ten Ultimates Sect with us, don’t be too surprised.”
The corner of Gu Qi’s mouth twitched. Taking advantage of the fact that Tianheng was standing on the other side of the room, he abruptly reached out and pinched Gu Zuo’s nose. After that, he said: “Make fun of your old man again, and I’ll spank your butt.”
Hearing these words, what Gu Zuo recalled weren’t the scenes of getting spanked in his childhood. Instead, he suddenly remembered what his dear big brother once did to him… His face blushed a deep red.
Gu Qi: “…”
Just what was this silly son thinking about?!
Zhao Ji hooked his arms around Gu Qi’s waist. For the first time, he spoke a sentence to Gu Zuo: “Not obedient, get spanked.”
Gu Zuo was helpless, and looked towards Tianheng with a pleading expression in his eyes.
Tianheng couldn’t help laughing: “This…this elder brother is powerless to help.”
Gu Zuo: “…”
The whole family was happy and harmonious. Outside, someone knocked on the door.
As it turned out, a little more than an hour had already passed. Those two men and one woman had turned in their mission without a hitch, and brought back information to them.
That seventh prince’s distinguished guest had agreed to meet with them.
And since he agreed, then there was certainly some leeway for discussion.
Among the three, the woman said: “With regards to the teleportation array, we didn’t take the initiative to talk about it. But as for the matters of this great one having spirit medicine in his possession as well as wanting to pay a visit, both have been brought up.”
Gu Zuo nodded his head: “I have troubled you guys.”
The three of them replied: “This great one is courteous. We’re already very happy being able to provide a bit of help. This great one saved our lives, so a few small matters aren’t worth mentioning.”
Following this, they wanted to give gifts of gratitude and invite them to have a meal together. These offers were naturally refused by Gu Zuo. After thinking about it, one would know that if these people wanted to prepare gifts, the expenses wouldn’t be small. He wasn’t short of money, so why should he snatch things from these folks who were struggling below the Immortal Realm? As for having a meal, the other party would also certainly have to spend a lot, so it was even less necessary. In actuality, he really thought that it was enough to get information and the opportunity of a meeting from them. After all, saving them was as easy as lifting a finger.
In the end, to avoid making Gu Zuo unhappy, the three finally took back the gifts and invitation. At the same time, their bearing towards Gu Zuo and the others became even more respectful. Under Gu Zuo’s request, the three brought everyone straight to the location of their employer.
That woman said: “This pharmacist usually resides within the seventh prince’s official residence. For the past two weeks, he has been changing locations to purchase spirit medicines. After another couple of days, he’ll probably leave. Once these sirs go inside, try to reach an agreement as soon as possible. Otherwise, there might not be enough time.”
Gu Zuo smiled and said: “Many thanks for the reminder. As for the subsequent matters, we’ll do our best.”
Once the three heard this, they asked the guards at the gate to go in and report to their superior. Only after getting a definite reply did the three bid farewell to them.
Shortly thereafter, guided by one of the guards, Gu Zuo and the others went inside.
This was a relatively beautiful and secluded courtyard. After passing through rock gardens, small streams, and stone-lined pathways, they were able to see an open-air medicine hut. In that place, a slim silhouette was seated. In front of that figure was a pill furnace.
From far away, Gu Zuo looked over. He only felt that this figure was very familiar… In addition, it seemed as if he had seen this pill refining posture many times before.
In an instant, a name emerged from his throat, and was hesitatingly called out by him: “S-senior Sect Brother Xu?”
That pharmacist’s perception was also extremely sensitive.
Once Gu Zuo let out his voice, the person in the medicine hut suddenly raised his head. That elegant appearance that always wore a haughty look… Wasn’t that Xu Lingxiu?
The purple-robed young man’s brows furrowed. When he got a clear glimpse at the people, his expression loosened: “Junior Sect Brother Gu, Junior Sect Brother Gongyi. It’s actually you guys.” While speaking, he rapidly waved a hand, “Come over here.”
Although the tone of these words wasn’t particularly polite, one could clearly hear the joy contained within them.
Gu Zuo’s mood was also very happy.
This was…meeting an old friend in a foreign land, right?
If it was said that he had made any friends in Qingyun Sect, Xu Lingxiu was definitely among the ones he had made the deepest connections with. Previously, when he came out from the Road of Death, he wasn’t aware of Xu Lingxiu’s whereabouts. Nevertheless, he had been worried for quite a while. Now that they bumped into one another, this was a load off his mind.
Hence, Gu Zuo didn’t hesitate to walk into the medicine hut with large strides.
Very quickly, a couple of people met up inside the hut.
Xu Lingxiu had just completed the most challenging step in the medicine refining process. After performing a Pill Receiving Seal to collect the finished products, he put away the medicinal pills. When he looked at Gu Zuo, he showed a trace of a smile.
Gu Zuo sighed in relief: “I didn’t expect that I could meet Senior Sect Brother Xu again under these circumstances.”
Xu Lingxiu raised his chin, and looked just as arrogant as when they were in Qingyun Sect: “Being able to see you alive also makes me happy.”
Gu Zuo blinked his eyes.
Okay, it seemed that Senior Sect Brother Xu truly was overjoyed.
After that, Gu Zuo asked: “Senior Sect Brother Xu, how did you end up in this place?”
He was really quite baffled. With this senior brother’s temperament, he shouldn’t have gone to become someone’s distinguished guest. It was because, no matter how good the reputation of a distinguished guest sounded, it was the same thing as a type of subordinate. This little young master had grown up like a moon surrounded by the stars. How could he have been willing?
Xu Lingxiu heard Gu Zuo’s words. While his face became somewhat gloomy, his mood didn’t seem too bad. It gave others a type of complicated feeling.
Gu Zuo was even more confused.
Then, he subconsciously recalled a few of the adjectives used when that woman mentioned her employer… And the employer was Senior Sect Brother Xu. In other words, the one whom the seventh prince doted upon with complete submission was Xu Lingxiu?
All of a sudden, Gu Zuo’s state of mind also became complicated.
Just what was going on here?!
Xu Lingxiu’s facial expression didn’t look too good: “While on the Road of Death, I was rescued by Zhou Qi, and became his distinguished guest.”
Gu Zuo immediately understood.
Apparently, the seventh prince of the Great Zhou Empire really was Prince Zhou, one of the three great prodigies on the Road of Death. For some reason, that fellow saved Senior Sect Brother Xu, and asked him to become a distinguished guest…to repay the favor?
After that, Gu Zuo carefully sized up this Senior Sect Brother Xu, and discovered that his internal qi realm was already at the Immortal Realm. Xu Lingxiu’s spiritual path realm was also quite condensed. He was close to forming a psychic core. It probably wouldn’t take much time before he could smoothly break through.
One ought to know that it had only been about two years since they passed through the Road of Death. He and big brother had many fortuitous encounters and obtained the vigorous nurturing of the sect to achieve their current progress. Since Senior Sect Brother Xu had made such large improvements, it could be seen that Prince Zhou Qi treated him extremely well.
Of course, with Senior Sect Brother Xu’s present strength, he should still be only a golden-level pharmacist. He wouldn’t have reached the realm of the profound level. In a bronze-ranked organization, a golden-level pharmacist was a rising star, but he wouldn’t have reached the point of being sought after with high demand.
In other words, there was still a lot of room for growth… After coming to the Central Continent, even though Senior Sect Brother Xu was only judged to have quasi-golden level potential when he was in Qingyun Sect, in bronze-ranked organizations, his potential was far more than that. Merely, he still needed large amounts of experience to hone himself.
And to be Prince Zhou Qi’s distinguished guest, one generally needed to be a profound-level pharmacist to be worthy of this position. Xu Lingxiu was just at the golden level. As a result, those previous people didn’t respect him enough. Thus, he was trying his best to search for spirit medicines to improve himself as soon as possible.
Thinking up to here, Gu Zuo couldn’t help but heave a sigh.
In this place, Senior Sect Brother Xu definitely didn’t have it easy… Originally, he was a proud son of heaven in Qingyun Sect, but he didn’t seem that outstanding here. Although he was stubborn, persistent, and incredibly hardworking, his heart certainly wasn’t filled with delight.
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