Master, Please Help Me Break the Love Curse! - Chapter 13

The moment Qin Wangyue appeared, all eyes turned to her.

“Senior Sister Qin?” Gu Yunqing asked, surprised by her attire. “Did you just return from the mountain?”

Qin Wangyue nodded, patting the medical kit on her back. “Today was my day to provide free medical consultations down the mountain. I just got back. What’s going on? I saw so many people heading down the mountain. Did something happen?”

Gu Yunqing didn’t doubt Qin Wangyue’s explanation. She quickly explained, “The Little Princess has gone missing. We’ve sent people to search for her.”

Qin Wangyue gasped. “Missing? How did she go missing?”

“They say she organized a group to visit Buddha’s Finger Cave, but no one has returned since.” Gu Yunqing hesitated to mention Pei Hui’s Soul Lamp had extinguished in front of so many people, so she simply told Qin Wangyue, “Most people are out searching now. Senior Sister Qin, have you seen the Little Princess?”

Qin Wangyue shook her head slightly. “I haven’t seen her since she was punished to kneel in the ancestral hall.” She glanced at the group and added, “I’ll come with you. More hands will make the search faster.”

“No need, Senior Sister,” Shang Qianye interjected before Gu Yunqing could speak. “We have enough people for now. It’s best if you stay on the mountain and wait for news.”

Shang Qianye’s words were polite, but everyone understood the underlying meaning. Medicinal Cultivator disciples generally had weak cultivation, and Qin Wangyue was notoriously lacking in magical power. She couldn’t even manage basic sword flight, and bringing her along would only slow them down.

Qin Wangyue understood Shang Qianye’s concerns. Gripping the strap of her medicine chest, she pursed her lips before forcing a wry smile. “Alright, then. I’ll wait here for news.”

Shang Qianye nodded and led the group into the Formation. Gu Yunqing glanced awkwardly at Qin Wangyue, offered a few words of comfort, and then hurried after the others.

As the group vanished into the Formation, Qin Wangyue’s expression turned icy.

Clutching the strap across her chest, she turned away with a grim face.

The bodies were discovered on the fourth day of the search, hidden among a jumble of jagged rocks.

In addition to Pei Hui’s corpse, the bodies of five other disciples were found, including two attendants who had accompanied Pei Hui to the mountain. All lay lifeless among the scattered stones.

As soon as the corpses were brought back to the mountain, Gu Jin rushed to examine them. No one could discern her thoughts, but she immediately convened a meeting with all the elders to discuss the matter. The bodies of Pei Hui and the other five were preserved in the secluded courtyard at the mountain’s highest peak.

Lingxiao Council Hall.

Gu Jin sat at her seat, her expression grim as she addressed the five elders present. “You’re all aware of what has transpired, I presume? It’s only a matter of time before the Royal Family demands answers. We must devise a response.”

The Sword Cultivator Elder spoke first. “The path of cultivation is fraught with peril. Who can expect a smooth journey on the road to immortality? When they sent their children to the mountain, they should have understood such a day might come.”

The Body Cultivator Elder chimed in, “Which sect doesn’t suffer casualties? Besides, Pei Hui ventured into Buddha’s Finger Cave of her own accord. Even if something went wrong, it’s hardly Lingxiao’s responsibility.”

The Weapon Cultivation Elder stroked his snow-white beard and shook his head with a sigh. “While that’s true, they were still members of the Royal Family. Their deaths will require an explanation.”

“What explanation? They’re dead. We can’t just produce another one, can we?”

“We can’t put it that way.”

“Pei Hui and the other disciples had no visible injuries. It’s clear they fell victim to some scheme. They were just junior disciples—who could they have offended?”

“No proper sect would dare trespass into Lingxiao Territory. It must have been rogue cultivators. The children were just unlucky enough to cross their paths.”

“Rogue cultivators trade human lives for cultivation. They’re an affront to natural law and deserve to be exterminated.”

“But the problem is, how can we fob off the Royal Family with such a flimsy excuse? Besides, rogue cultivators are just our theory—we have no concrete evidence.”

“They’re dead! What more evidence do we need?”

“……”

The council hall erupted in heated debate. Gu Jin sat at the head of the table, her expression grave. Luo Jiu, never one for such affairs, remained seated, sipping tea. Yu Shiyan, beside her, offered a few words, but only a few.

The Elders argued for a full four hours, ultimately reaching no resolution.

They decided to adjourn the meeting, take a break, and resume the debate later.

As Luo Jiu emerged from the council hall, she spotted Yu Shiyan walking ahead. She paused briefly, then quickened her pace to catch up, calling out, “Elder Yu, please wait.”

Yu Shiyan stopped and turned to face Luo Jiu, a hint of confusion in her eyes. She nodded politely in greeting. “Elder Luo.”

Luo Jiu wasn’t particularly close to Yu Shiyan. In fact, aside from Sect Leader Gu Jin, she wasn’t close to anyone in Lingxiao.

She disliked crowds and had few official duties within the sect. Her days were spent either resting in her courtyard or secluding herself at the Heavenly Dao Brake for cultivation. She rarely even took on disciples. Now, facing Yu Shiyan, she found it difficult to speak.

Still, Yu Shiyan was far more approachable than the other Elders. Surely asking a few questions wouldn’t be too much trouble?

With this thought, Luo Jiu closed the distance between them.

“Elder Yu,” Luo Jiu said, her gaze steady, “I have some matters I’d like to consult you on. Do you have time now?”

Yu Shiyan was equally surprised. Luo Jiu rarely spoke to her, yet now she was asking for guidance, which meant she must be facing a serious challenge.

“Elder Luo, there’s no need for such formality,” Yu Shiyan said. “We are both Elders of Lingxiao. Just ask me directly—I’ll answer anything I know.”

Luo Jiu breathed a sigh of relief and cut straight to the point: “Elder Yu, are you familiar with Witchcraft and Gu Techniques?”

Yu Shiyan blinked at her, pondered for a moment, and replied, “Medicine and poison are closely related. I have some knowledge of Witchcraft and Gu Techniques, though I’m not an expert. What aspect are you interested in, Elder Luo?”

“It’s about love gu.”

“Love gu?” Yu Shiyan raised an eyebrow slightly at the mention of the term. Glancing around, she said to Luo Jiu, “This isn’t a suitable place to talk. Elder Luo, please follow me. Let’s sit down and discuss this properly.”

They settled into a quiet pavilion, each taking a seat on a stone bench.

Yu Shiyan spoke first: “Elder Luo, what specifically about love gu do you wish to know?”

Luo Jiu looked at her intently. “I want to know what kind of love gu can trigger a Heart Demon.”