Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 404 - 24 Seeing Lu Chan Again

Chapter 404: Chapter 24 Seeing Lu Chan Again

Upon hearing this, Xie Yunnan instantly perked up.

Her eyes shone brightly, and her ears pricked up.

Yuqing Heavenly Venerate and Xuanjin Venerable’s past? And the Yu Hua mentioned by Chi Venerable must be the Taoist Heavenly Girl.

Wow!

The stories of our parents’ generation!

Hearing this, Gu Wen was also stunned, pinching Chi Yu Zi’s cheek and stretching it into a circle, saying, "I’ve never had any official or concrete marital relationship with Yu Hua."

"I didn’t say anything about marriage, what are you getting so worked up about?"

Once Chi Yu Zi spoke, a delicate melon seed face was yanked into a pancake, the voice turning unclear.

"That little demoness had dishonest intentions towards you from the get-go, talking about some ’becoming enlightened to one’s true heart.’ I’ve always taken such talk with a grain of salt. Likings are just likings, and dislikings are just dislikings; there’s no need for so many reasons."

"There’s that problem again, can’t you focus on matters befitting great powers?"

Gu Wen was somewhat speechless. Lan Yongning in the past did the same, pestering him for details about Lu Chan.

Admittedly, I came into contact with her quite early, but we were never especially close. We could only be considered ordinary friends. We had fought side by side, killed people together, shared loot, and got along reasonably well.

I couldn’t compare with Yu Hua, nor could I with Jun Yan, Chi Yu Zi, or He Huan.

But it was because Lu Chan had declared her admiration for me that people had harped on it for eight hundred years.

Gu Wen felt these old geezers were just fishing for gossip.

Chi Yu Zi countered, "Aren’t the affairs between Heavenly Venerates big enough matters for great powers?"

Xie Yunnan nodded subconsciously in agreement. If it were a mortal marriage, it would probably be a question of suitable matches and mutual affection. Perhaps both would be pleasing and cause for congratulations, or maybe having only one would leave regrets.

But at the end of the day, none of it would be a big deal.

But with Heavenly Venerates, it’s different. Their exalted identity and status were such that even their dietary preferences would be the subject of discussion.

Gu Wen also retorted, "Do you like me too, then?"

"Of course, I do," Chi Yu Zi replied without hesitation, her gaze steadfast as she said, "If I were fed up with you, I wouldn’t have taught you swordsmanship in the first place."

"Wow!"

Xie Yunnan let out an exclamatory yelp, quivering with excitement.

Gu Wen gave her a look, knowing what this young girl was thinking. Xiao Yunyi, his disciple, could sometimes be quite ’double-standarded’: absolutely no talk of romance for himself, but always eager for gossip about others.

However, what Chi Yu Zi meant was different from what she was thinking. Her liking was like that of a child. Pure, with a clear dividing line between love and hate.

"So how are you any different from Lu Chan then?"

Gu Wen jested, "If you can discern differences within what you like, why can’t you differentiate the boundaries between admiration and infatuation?"

"Because I’m not a fox spirit; I simply like your presence and don’t wish to possess anything. But that demoness definitely harbors ulterior motives!"

Chi Yu Zi answered resolutely, not hiding her sense of superiority or disdain for Lu Chan.

"Women fall into two categories: fox spirits and sly cats."

"So is Yu Hua one of them?"

Gu Wen fell silent, and from ten paces away, Xuan Yue, the prisoner at his feet, looked up with interest. He had no interest in the Taoist Heavenly Girl other than enjoying the story of a Saint’s romantic troubles.

Misinterpreting his silence, Chi Yu Zi exclaimed angrily, "Can someone who came first be the same? Yu Hua is divine destiny itself. I don’t acknowledge anyone else!"

"Let’s not make a fuss any further. I still have to visit anyway. Inform the others, to avoid an abrupt visit coming across as too presumptuous."

Gu Wen helplessly shook his head, knowing it was his mistake to discuss complex issues with Chi Yu Zi.

-----------------

Qianfeng Sect.

After Lu Chan sent out the communication with the Heavenly Venerate Order, she turned to leave the sect’s gate, heading to Chenhua City to use the heaven-and-earth announcement there to notify the other great powers.

To avoid Chi Yu Zi, who was on the verge of madness, causing chaos; after all, this was the Heavenly Venerate known as number one in battle. Once enraged, probably only Immortals could stop her.

And Qingcang Immortal had not shown up for a hundred years.

Suddenly, Chi Yu Zi sent another message.

[Little demoness, we’ll visit you later.]

Lu Chan immediately replied: "Chi Yu Zi, where are you now? If you still retain a shred of reason, seal your powers immediately—I’ll rush over later to protect you completely."

[I haven’t lost my mind.]

"Madmen always think they’re not mad."

[It’s hard to explain to you, we’ll arrive later.]

"Later?"

Lu Chan’s expression changed dramatically, and a thread of thought spread throughout the sect, directing all the elders to take their disciples away.

For three seconds, the Qianfeng Sect’s gates were eerily silent, then one by one, elders soared into the air, their voices echoing. Under their guidance, countless Qianfeng disciples hastily descended the mountain.

Spies from various factions at the mountain’s base witnessed the scene and also panicked, sending messages to others.

Thus, rumors spread that Qianfeng Sect was colluding with devils and now, in desperation, was starting a mass slaughter. The news reached the city’s lords, and the City Lord Mansion began summoning Taoist Soldiers for war, alarms echoing through the skies.

Qianfeng Sect recently had its reputation tarnished, and this activity seemed to confirm the accusations of collusion with devils.

The great powers who were currently besieging the Yin Yang Union Sect were confused as well. Receiving the news, they thought the rear was in chaos and hastily turned back toward their own sects.

Chenhua True Monarch heard the continuous reports from all quarters and was at a loss for a while. His first reaction was to run back and use the heaven-and-earth announcement to inform the Daoist Sect, asking the slaughter deity, Chi Venerable, to suppress the rebellion.

Then, seeing the indifferent white-haired man, he instantly found his anchor.

"Immortal Envoy, the Qianfeng Sect’s disciples are leaving en masse. What should we do now?"

"Wait a moment, let me see."

The envoy took out an official document from the Jade Palace and saw Qingcang’s primary request on opening the first page.

First, have Gu Wen return soon to the Daoist Sect to take charge of affairs, but he mustn’t know it was this poor Daoist’s request.

Second, have Gu Wen come to me at the Daoist Sect immediately upon his return, but again, he mustn’t know it was this poor Daoist who asked for it.

Third, Xuan Jin shall be dealt with leniently, whereas the offender shall receive a heavier punishment, ensuring that the innocent are not implicated.

"There is no problem with the Qianfeng Sect’s disciples descending the mountain."

"However, the matter has not yet settled, and their high-profile descent causes unease."

"The Immortal has not declared the Qianfeng Sect’s disciples guilty."

"....."

Chenhua True Monarch fell silent for a while before saying, "I ask the Envoy for an order to command the city’s Taoist Soldiers to stand down."

That way, the responsibility would not fall on him.

"Go ahead."

The Envoy waved his hand and suddenly furrowed his brow while looking at the document in his hand.

How should this be handled?

There must always be a reason for everything. It wouldn’t do to just go up and tell Gu Wen to return. Saying that the Daoist Sect has a throne of the Human Emperor for him might not work, especially since Qingcang forbade mentioning it was his command.

They couldn’t just abduct him back, could they?

The Envoy turned to She Jingqiu and smiled, "Little girl, I suspect you are colluding with devils, and you must be taken for questioning by the Yuqing Heavenly Venerate."

"Senior...."

She Jingqiu’s expression changed drastically, and in the next instant, she was swept into a bag with a wave of a sleeve, also coming face to face with the Envoy’s true form.

Not human, but a Fox Fairy.

She didn’t need to leave home, but due to a certain disciple almost going mad, the Fox Fairy had no choice but to take a long trip and to deal with some trivial matters of the Human Race.

-----------------

Qianfeng Sect, empty within just half a two-hour period.

Gu Wen and others finally made their Flying Escape and arrived, puzzled by the deserted mountain gate.

Yet, with a stir of Divine Thought, Chi Yu Zi discovered Lu Chan in a secluded valley, and she soon laid eyes on them as well.

A Vestment robe, Magic Treasures at ready, fully geared.

Chi Yu Zi said to Gu Wen beside her, "You see, this little demoness indeed has malicious intent. It appears she wants to take by force and plunder."

Gu Wen helplessly said, "You, you shouldn’t be so biased against her."

"Better to guard against others, day and night—guarding against the fox spirit is hard."

Chi Yu Zi talked with Gu Wen, caught in the Divine Thought inspection by Lu Chan, who appeared to be speaking to the air, acting utterly insane.

She said, "Fellow Daoist has come to visit, please come in for a chat."

Perhaps relying on the sect’s grand formation could delay for some time until other Heavenly Venerates from the Daoist Sect could come to help.

Afterward, Gu Wen and the others moved to the quiet valley outside.

The entrance was narrow, a stream of spirit water flowing out, the entrance wide enough for only two people, with smooth pebbles paving the way, the water occasionally splashing and making the path glisten.

Walking through, exotic flowers and rare herbs flanked the path, with peach blossoms drifting down and following the flow of the water.

A hundred steps away, a cool pavilion with green tiles came into view, where an old woman dressed in a black vestment robe embroidered with gold thread was sitting.

She cast a gaze, and seeing a trace of murderous intent on Chi Yu Zi’s face, she said, "Fellow Daoist, you are consumed by your own inner demons."

"How dare you insult me like this – watch grandma beat you to death!"

Seizing the opportunity, Chi Yu Zi immediately rolled up her sleeves, but before she could take a step, she was picked up and suspended in mid-air, her feet swinging.

Only then did Lu Chan notice a man standing behind her; her vision had long been damaged, preventing her from seeing into the distance. Many years ago, her opponent in a battle, Gu Venerate, excelled in cutting off the vitality of physical bodies, and the injuries caused were beyond the healing of Immortal Elixirs.

In her Divine Thought, there was nothingness, while her eyes saw only a blurred figure.

"Stop making a fuss, Chi Yu Zi."

A familiar voice resounded, causing Lu Chan’s body to tremble. She wondered if she had also fallen into madness or was under an enemy’s spell.

The blurry figure approached step by step, and memories from the long river of years surfaced.

That year, she had heard of a gun master at Dragon Bridge, and then a masked prodigy had stormed the Qianfeng Tower, pointing the gun at her.

’You have lost, Lu Chan – sixth on the Earthly List.’

The masked prodigy eventually removed his mask and killed the son of the Lord Emperor in front of everyone, escaping from Bianjing.

That year, the youthful group pursued a True Monarch. The leader, a man in black wielding a gun, his plain face shone with the pride of surpassing frost and snow.

’Brother Red Dust, that’s a True Monarch with a Seventh Level Dao foundation and one Level fulfilled! Even you have surpassed one Level of Dao foundation!’

’So what if he is a True Monarch? True genius should do what others cannot – a true prodigy should remain out of reach. Just follow me and you will see them knocked down with one punch, dumping the red and white all over the ground.’

’For we are extraordinary, we are mighty.’

In the end, the mighty who hunted down the True Monarch began to challenge all comers, topping the Earthly List, the Human List, the Heavenly List. She could no longer see his silhouette, and so could the others.

The blurry figure came within ten paces, and she could make out its fuzzy features, already recognizable.

Dressed plainly, with no crown,

When he came within the distance of an arm’s length, she looked up, her voice trembling slightly, "Brother Red Dust, you’re alive?"

"Still here, just came out a bit late."

Gu Wen’s eyes deepened as he looked at the stooped old woman, no longer bearing the beauty of her youth.

The once both beautiful and talented Lu Chan had become like this. It was clearly not normal aging but the result of inflicted Gu Poison and injuries.

She was worse off than Lan Yongning, but essentially both were injured, not yet beyond help like Chi Yu Zi’s Heavenly Defect.

Lu Chan, feeling Gu Wen’s gaze, hastily pulled down her vestment hood, shrinking back into her robe.

"I apologize for showing such a disgraceful state to my brother."

"Appearances are mere externals; where does the talk of disgrace come from? Besides, you don’t look ugly now."

Gu Wen lifted the hood and, with a gentle touch on her head, turned white hair to ink, restoring youth to age, making the murky eyes into a Spiritual Spring, as the old woman was transformed back into a girl in her flowering years.

He leaned over, smiling gently, his tranquil eyes like a quiet spring, reflecting her image back at her.

Snowy skin, crimson lips, a face as full as the moon.

"Lu Chan, after all these years, you have become even more beautiful, now fully grown up."