Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 43 - 43 37 Gu Mudfish

43: Chapter 37 Gu Mudfish 43: Chapter 37 Gu Mudfish Gu Wen had just planned to snatch Zhao Feng’s Pills, but he hadn’t expected that his adversary would take the initiative to deliver them to his door.

On second thought, it made sense.

Setting aside personal grudges with Zhao Feng and removing himself from the equation, he was now Zhao Feng’s most capable subordinate, the only competent official after Eunuch Feng and Hu Sanyuan’s deaths.

There were many capable Guest Elders, but either they were just nominal figures from influential families or they didn’t hold a candle to Gu Wen.

And so far, Gu Wen had never shown any disloyalty; he was effective and knew how to make money for the prince’s mansion.

As for those personal grudges, Zhao Feng probably didn’t care about them anymore, since from the beginning, it was all for show to Yu Hua and the Immortal Sect.

Gu Wen understood these nobles and high-ranking officials well; they had mentally and reproductively isolated themselves from common folk, never considering them as human beings.

The distinction between nobility and the commonality wasn’t just empty words; to them, ordinary people were no more than animals.

To these officials, the people of the world were mere numbers, like discarded chips on a gambling table, replaceable no matter how many died, as weeds grow back.

He himself was no exception, so his emotions were of no consequence.

Gu Wen calmly said, “Concerning the matter of Pills, I, a mere mortal, do not understand.”

“It’s nothing.

Just treat it as a normal purchase of supplements.

However, you must not deliver directly to my mansion, nor let the trusted aides know you are buying medicine for me.

Remember, this must only be known by you and me.”

Zhao Feng’s strange request confirmed what Hee Huan said last night, but Gu Wen didn’t ask further.

Many matters were not to be disclosed; digging too deep would only invite suspicion.

“Then how should I deliver them to Your Highness?”

“At the end of each month when compiling the accounts, send a batch.

If there is an urgent need, I will send someone to notify you.

Figure out the reason yourself to avoid raising suspicion in the palace.”

Avoiding the palace’s eyes and ears was not difficult; in ancient times, it was impossible to establish the dense surveillance and information acquisition abilities of modern times.

Even if Zhao Feng were to be killed, it would take at least half an hour to an hour for the news to reach the palace, making it extremely difficult to discover such specific individual actions.

But why was Hee Huan able to know?

Did those involved in the world also have their circles?

Perhaps her methods are much like mine.

Knowing that the Dragon Tiger Pill is a supporting and side effect pill of the Condensing Dao Pill and seeing Hu Sanyuan buying it would also lead one to guess.

Everyone is no fool.

“Yes.”

Gu Wen nodded in agreement, not uttering a word more.

Zhao Feng was quite pleased, knowing the matter was settled, while also regretting not entrusting Gu Wen with this task from the beginning instead of Hu Sanyuan, that servant.

He wouldn’t be surprised whenever Hu Sanyuan died; those who took shortcuts were like rural collectors of tenant rent, doomed to be wiped out one day.

He just hadn’t expected it to happen at this time, causing him an unwarranted loss of ten thousand silver taels.

And if Gu Wen knew Zhao Feng’s thoughts, he would only sneer at him.

Leaders are such fools, not listening until something goes wrong.

Gu Wen was the type to not take the blame, meticulously preserving his reputation, and was unlikely to garner favor from the masters.

On the contrary, his position and abilities would root deeply in the prince’s mansion, just as previously Zhao Feng and Hu Sanyuan couldn’t keep any moves a secret from him.

For he controlled the economic lifeline of the entire mansion.

“You may go, Gu.

Once the matter is accomplished, I will petition to grant you a noble rank, to expedite your title.”

Zhao Feng waved him off, thinking he was generously bestowing a favor, but it only caused Gu Wen to internally spit.

‘So you don’t want to give any benefits at all, huh?

With the current situation of the Zhao family, even if you granted me the title of a single-character king, it wouldn’t be worth a thousand taels.’

But it didn’t matter.

Zhao Feng’s unwillingness to give to Gu Wen would only result in him taking more.

With such vast expenditures, he would feast until he was oiled up, taking at least ten thousand taels as a base.

Controlling the main income with one hand and the main expenses with the other, faking the accounts would be effortless, leaving no need for concealment.

In the end, it wouldn’t just be skimming off the top, but outright cutting off chunks.

Moreover, Hee Huan and he still had Pills to contend over; so, there was already a scapegoat for such embezzlement.

Gu Wen bid farewell with a hand salute and did not linger long in the mansion, leaving by carriage.

Returning to Dragon Bridge, he saw Qianfeng Tower decorated brightly, with two large banners unfurled.

“With a smile that blossoms a hundred flowers, with a glance that adds brilliance and spirited charm.”

As for Qianfeng Tower, which sold its own Pills and had the Immortal Sect backing it, Gu Wen took it seriously and had his people inquire about it.

Qin Mian returned after the time it took to burn incense and said, “Master, it was the top scholar who composed a poem for Qianfeng Tower’s new Oiran last night, attracting the whole city to watch, called something…”

“No need to tell me more; I’m not interested.”

Gu Wen immediately lost interest, figuring it was all about lewd entertainment.

After five years of seeing enough, he had no desire for more.

There’s always a new Oiran at Qianfeng Tower, and every year someone composes a poem for the Oiran.

Probably the only special thing today was that it was the top scholar.

On the way, he ran into Hee Huan again, who was surrounded by a crowd pointing and making remarks; a young woman confronted him, the same Chief of Staff’s daughter from this morning.

Acting like a ruffian, Hee Huan said, “Miss, I have not laid a finger on you.

I only take in beautiful women in distress.

With your noble birth, why come to me?

How about this, when your family falls into ruin, I’ll seek you out.

If not, just pretend I don’t exist.”

A peculiar fetish.

Gu Wen stayed out of it, staying aloof as he returned home untroubled.

Recently, Dragon Bridge and even the whole of Bianjing had become lively.

—————–

Midnight.

Gu Wen practiced with closed eyes, and the door to his room opened and closed again; on any other day, he would have thought a thief had struck.

At the Foundation Establishment First Level, it’s the generation of Qi; the Qi Sea revolves through the Cycle, thus the Qi strength is unceasing—this is the Yuqing Daoji First Level.

Foundation Establishment Second Level is the body’s transcendence; with bones of jade and a purified body, one’s bodily senses become extraordinary.

Everyone has a scent, and he could discern them all, at least the out-of-place ones.

Except there was one person whose scent he could not detect, truly scentless and soundless.

A stick of incense later, after circulating his Qi through the Grand Circulation and back to the Qi Sea dantian, his mana had grown a bit stronger.

Mana the size of an egg, Sword Intent as thick as two thumbs, and the intention behind the spear technique, not bound by heart or sword, without distinction in size.

He opened his eyes as if from a trance, and a sliver of candlelight entered his vision; a woman in plain clothes sat quietly by the window sill reading poetry, peaceful and serene, with only the sound of pages turning marking her presence.

She truly loved poetry, not the feigned interest of Zhao Feng.

“How has your cultivation been lately?”

“I’ve had some breakthroughs.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Yu Hua pointed to a food box on the table, saying, “I’ve brought some pastries, prepared by the royal palace; I wonder if they suit your taste?”

Gu Wen wasn’t hungry, but he didn’t refuse either.

He sat down across Yu Hua, picked up a piece of mung bean cake, and stuffed it into his mouth like an old ox chewing grass.

Seeing no reaction from his Fate Diagram, he felt slightly disappointed.

Still, he complimented, “The pastries brought by fellow Daoist are only slightly inferior to those from the Dragon Bridge River Moon Building.”

“They’re not mine, but rather the pastries Zhao Feng sends daily,” Yu Hua spoke without looking up.

“After transcending the mundane, I too need to consume grains and have sustained myself solely on pills.

According to the rules, the palace must prepare three meals a day, and pastries are not included.”

“He dares not come these days, but the kitchen continues to send them; what a waste for my old donkey.”

So the pastries Zhao Feng sends are for me to eat, cakes from a slobbering dog, huh?

Gu Wen’s expression turned slightly odd, a strange sense of déjà vu washing over him.

Say what you will, but the more he ate, the tastier it seemed!

Seeing Gu Wen’s enjoyment, Yu Hua also became curious and reached for a piece; the familiar taste, enhanced by the spirited competition, seemed somewhat more delicious.

After the two had finished, Gu Wen shared with her the night’s experiences.

Yu Hua was the only one in Bianjing who had no conflicting interests with him and also understood the Cultivation World.

Of course, this excluded his plans to snatch Zhao Feng’s pills, which had nothing to do with Yu Hua—more people knowing would do no good.

Yu Hua wasn’t surprised to hear that Gu Wen had defeated the tenth-ranked person on the list.

However, seeing the spirited manner in which he described it, she couldn’t help but nod along to support him.

She never saw Gu Wen as a mere domestic servant or an average person; his talents should always be unmatched in the world, even compared to a senior brother in the sect known as a Daoist progeny.

Instead, she watched Gu Wen with interest and asked, “Your Xuanming Spear breakthrough, the Fourth Level?”

It had only been a few days.

He had to practice his mental method, spear technique, and movement technique, as well as the Body Protection Daoist Skill.

Gu Wen was not a formal disciple of the Mystical Sect, and even with her personal teaching, she did not bestow complete knowledge.

Lack of time for growth was his disadvantage, but his talent was evident in his development.

The greater the disadvantage, the more a person’s potential becomes apparent.

“I managed to achieve it by chance.”

As soon as he humbly stated that, he heard, “Not just the Xuanming Spear, but also your movement technique.”

Without the movement technique, how could he possibly have covered such distance and managed to defeat the tenth-ranked person on the list?

The emphasis lay on defeat, not letting the opponent escape.

“Likewise, I attained it by luck.”

Gu Wen was again humble; he did not see any issue with that, otherwise, it would not do justice to his identity of ‘Four-day Dao Establishment.’

Appreciation glinted in Yu Hua’s eyes, and suddenly a thought arose, ‘With his slippery nature, he must be hiding other tricks.’

She inquired smoothly, “How’s the Spiritual Jade Body Protection Skill coming along?”

“Gu is yet to learn it….”

Before the last word fell, a hand suddenly reached out.

Gu Wen moved back, Yu Hua advanced.

Moving in great sync, their forms danced through the air, and in an instant, Gu Wen found himself pressed against the wall, almost immovable.

Yu Hua’s palm rested on Gu Wen’s chest, feeling the solidity from the Spiritual Jade Body Protection Skill.

Although expected, it still surprised her.

Thorax and trunk merged as one, but the limbs and bones were not yet well-honed.

“Have you also mastered the First Level of the Spiritual Jade Body Protection Skill?”

This little wily one surely knows how to hide his skills when not monitored!