The Female Lead is Looking at Me Differently (GL) - Chapter 36.1
Upon hearing the system’s words, Wen Zhao almost let her surprised expression slip. Even so, her breath quickened for a moment, and her fingers unconsciously gripped the edge of the bench.
Fu Yu noticed her state very keenly. She turned her head to look over, her eyelashes slightly lowered, and a hint of worry hidden in her eyes. She asked softly, “What’s wrong?”
Wen Zhao came back to her senses and quickly shook her head.
“No, nothing.”
Seeing this, Fu Yu’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, and seeing that Wen Zhao seemed to be fine, she turned her attention back to Lu Bicai.
As for Wen Zhao, she reached out and pressed her forehead, calming her inner shock.
Zhan Fu… had she died young because of the charm gu? So that was why she wasn’t a character in the original novel. It was because Zhan Fu had already passed away before the plot reached Luoyue City…
No wonder, so that was it. One of the puzzles that had been bothering her was solved.
But thinking about it, Wen Zhao didn’t feel very relieved. Instead, she felt a heavy weight on her heart, cold and heavy.
Lu Bicai said, “Once the charm gu activates, there’s no cure except death.”
Hearing this, Wen Zhao couldn’t help but feel a little confused, “Then… wouldn’t it be enough to just find an antidote? Do you know where the antidote is, or do you have any news about it? With the City Lord’s ability, he should be able to gather the antidote.”
However, after saying this, Wen Zhao realized that as Zhan Fu’s father, how could the City Lord of Luoyue City not know about his daughter’s condition? Moreover, he loved Zhan Fu so much. Therefore, after knowing that Zhan Fu had been infected with the charm gu, he must have tried every means to gather information about the antidote. The previous mention of the City Lord secretly visiting Xie Ting was probably for the charm gu.
But if the City Lord had already returned from Xie Ting and still did nothing as the charm gu activated, could it be that…
Wen Zhao opened her lips slightly, “Or is there no cure?”
Lu Bicai looked up at her, then took a sip of wine and lowered his eyes.
“As far as I know, it’s not that there’s no cure, but…”
••••
On You Zixia’s side, he followed the guide and walked into the mansion, then entered the reception room. Inside, the City Lord of Luoyue City was waiting for him.
Seeing You Zixia come in, Zhan Yongyuan waved his hand and the person who had led the way retreated, closing the door behind him.
Zhan Yongyuan turned to You Zixia, his hands behind his back, his eyes narrowed, with a look of scrutiny and observation as he examined You Zixia from head to toe.
You Zixia felt a little uneasy and confused. After all, he thought he had come here to visit Zhan Fu? He didn’t know why he was here with the City Lord… but he still remained composed and stood there, letting the other party observe him.
Zhan Yongyuan asked, “You are the eldest disciple of the Lihuo Sect’s Sect Master and the next heir of the Lihuo Sect?”
You Zixia was startled, then bowed and replied humbly, “I dare not presume. I am You Zixia, and I still have much to learn.”
Zhan Yongyuan frowned slightly, paced a few steps in the room, as if thinking and making a decision. Then, as if he had compromised and figured it out, the stern expression on his brow softened.
He looked at You Zixia and asked, “I ask you, are you willing to marry my daughter?”
His daughter – naturally referring to Zhan Fu.
Now You Zixia was truly shocked. He raised his head and asked in confusion, “Ah?”
Zhan Yongyuan said, “Originally, the candidate for my son-in-law would have to be carefully selected. Regardless of their character, talent, or cultivation, they must be the best of the best. Only then would they be worthy of Fu’er and could accompany her for life. Originally… I also wanted to take my time in selecting, but…”
Hearing his following words, You Zixia thought of the charm gu on Zhan Fu, and his expression moved slightly. He tentatively asked, “Is the City Lord so eager to choose a husband for the young lady because of… the young lady’s health?”
Zhan Yongyuan’s eyes changed, and he glared at You Zixia. The oppressive aura of a Golden Core cultivator suddenly surged out, pressing down on You Zixia. Within moments, You Zixia was sweating profusely and struggling to stand.
Seeing this, Zhan Yongyuan slowly withdrew his pressure. He narrowed his eyes, “How did you find out about this?”
You Zixia quickly explained, “It wasn’t intentional. I just happened to find out.” Then, after a moment of hesitation, he mentioned Lu Bicai. Of course, You Zixia didn’t reveal everything, but embellished the story a bit so as not to create negative associations.
Hearing You Zixia’s explanation, Zhan Yongyuan slowly retracted his gaze.
“Lu Bicai… indeed, that kid does have a bit of medical skill. No wonder he could smell the charm gu.”
You Zixia’s mind was full of questions, and he didn’t know how to express them. Fortunately, Zhan Yongyuan didn’t intend to hide anything from him.
“Since I’m going to make you my son-in-law, I might as well tell you. Just remember, you’re the only one who knows about this. Don’t tell anyone else.”
You Zixia originally wanted to deny being a “son-in-law,” but after hearing Zhan Yongyuan’s later words, he paused for a moment and nodded, saying, “Yes.”
••••
Zhan Yongyuan, as the City Lord of Luoyue City, didn’t start out with such a powerful force. In fact, more than a decade ago, Luoyue City was no more than a second-rate force, just like the current Lihuo Sect.
But Zhan Yongyuan wasn’t content to be so ordinary, and he wasn’t willing to always be suppressed. Therefore, he worked hard to improve his strength and expand his influence, and finally, bit by bit, he made Luoyue City famous.
However, while expanding his influence, he also offended many people. Among them was a sinister individual who, unable to deal with Zhan Yongyuan, set his sights on his wife at that time.
That person used sinister schemes to induce the charm gu into the City Lord’s wife. Originally, the charm gu, once it touched someone, would immediately cause poisoning, but because the City Lord’s wife was already pregnant at the time, the charm gu was transferred to her child, Zhan Fu.
And the City Lord’s wife died during childbirth.
Initially, there were no signs of the charm gu, so even when Zhan Yongyuan found many doctors and medicine cultivators, they couldn’t detect it.
Fortunately, Zhan Fu was not in danger of life at that time, so the City Lord had no choice but to temporarily give up, while searching for a divine doctor, he also carefully raised Zhan Fu.
As Zhan Fu grew up, she showed an amazing talent for cultivation. Not only could she gather Qi at the age of four, but her progress in cultivation was also extremely fast after that, comparable to a child prodigy.
Even Zhan Yongyuan was shocked. The talent Zhan Fu showed was simply astonishing. If nothing unexpected happened, she would be able to form a Golden Core at the age of coming of age, becoming the youngest genius.
However, things took a turn when Zhan Fu was 10 years old.
At that time, the late Venerable Master Yuan happened to come to Luoyue City and stayed at the City Lord’s mansion. At the first glance at Zhan Fu, he saw the problem.
Zhan Yongyuan had simply hoped to take this opportunity to have Master Yuan give Zhan Fu some guidance. Even a few casual words might greatly benefit Zhan Fu. That was why he had so enthusiastically invited Master Yuan to stay at his place.
However, when the Master Yuan saw Zhan Fu, he immediately realized that she was afflicted with the charm gu, and that it had already taken root and was taking effect in her body.
When Zhan Yongyuan heard this, he felt his back stiffen. He couldn’t help but ask Master Yuan.
Master Yuan summoned Zhan Fu to his side, examined her, and then explained the true nature of the charm gu.
It turned out that the charm gu was not a simple poison, but a kind of gu, and a very insidious one at that.
When this gu was placed on a woman of marriageable age, it would cause her to become extremely alluring, and when the poison activated, she would turn into a mindless, promiscuous beast until she died.
But because the City Lord’s wife was pregnant at the time, by chance, the gu transferred to Zhan Fu, and its function also changed inadvertently.
Because it had been in Zhan Fu’s body since childhood, the gu and Zhan Fu’s constitution had influenced each other, and both had changed.
Zhan Fu’s cultivation had accelerated due to the gu’s transformation, and she could achieve twice the results with half the effort in whatever she cultivated. However, in contrast, her constitution had transformed into the legendary furnace body.
Although she had a natural talent for cultivation, once she was possessed by a man, all her cultivation and power would be absorbed by the other person, and so on.
After Zhan Fu reached the age of marriage, if she already had a Dao companion, then the gu would subside and no longer cause trouble, even if Zhan Fu became pregnant, it would not be passed on to her child.
But if Zhan Fu had not yet… after reaching the age of marriage, then the gu would activate, and she would immediately fall seriously ill and die, unless someone could provide her with an antidote.
And what that antidote was, it goes without saying.
When Zhan Yongyuan heard this, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He never imagined that the charm gu would transform Zhan Fu into a furnace body. And once this got out, if it was known by people with ulterior motives, then…
Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but hold Zhan Fu tightly.
Although Zhan Fu was young at the time, she was already sensible. She also understood the meaning of Master Yuan words.
A furnace body meant that… no matter how hard she tried now, no matter how powerful her progress was, one day, all of that would be taken away by someone else.
That person could be her future beloved husband, or more likely… someone with ulterior motives.
Zhan Fu was not a foolish person, and she clearly understood what this meant.
Zhan Yongyuan knelt down and sincerely begged Master Yuan to help Zhan Fu.
However, there was only one way to cure the charm gu.
Of course, Zhan Fu could also choose another relatively safe way, which was to hide her cultivation and become an ordinary mortal, never leaving Luoyue City again, in this way, she could maximize her self-preservation.
At that time, after careful consideration, Zhan Fu agreed to this plan.
From then on, the young genius who was about to become famous “passed away.” In her place was the titular Young lady of Luoyue City, Zhan Fu, who had no real power.
Although this would ensure her safety, it was not a permanent solution. The most reliable way was to find a husband for Zhan Fu who was both morally upright and virtuous, someone who could take care of her. Only then could she be safe from the danger of her coming of age.
When Zhan Fu reached the age of marriage, Zhan Yongyuan specially ordered her to tour the city and spread the news of selecting a husband, all in preparation for this.