Gu Junshi had no desire to confide in anyone about her personal matters and, instead of answering his question, changed the subject.
"Why are you so curious about these things? Tell me, if one is poisoned by Mo Zhong, besides the blood of the Shidu Mo tribe, what other medicinal ingredients are needed to perfectly fuse and extract it?"
What the Human Emperor was about to blurt out was again chewed and swallowed back down.
Not led by the nose, the Human Emperor quickly realized her intentions and said with annoyance, "You're going to use Netherforce on a foul-smelling dirty thing?"
The Human Emperor was himself forged from evil souls, and his sense of other people's souls was extremely strong. The young man Gu Junshi had carried back, he didn't even need to look, just a casual sniff, and he knew that despite his youth, he possessed a greedy, turbid, and weak soul, utterly worthless, evoking contempt and disgust.
Yet, he was treated with special regard by Gu Junshi. What she intended to use was not death qi, but Netherforce.
A power from another realm, and no other force could, without an antidote, simply and brutally devour the cold demonic poison.
"Aren't you afraid of others detecting your identity?"
Gu Junshi's dark eyes gazed at him, her expression instantly becoming very dangerous. She smiled dismissively and said, "What you know is what I am willing to let you know, so naturally, I'm not afraid of you leaking it."
When she had placed the Human Emperor in her spiritual space to cultivate, she had generously offered the "Yellow Springs Gate" for him to absorb death qi and quickly reshape his physical body, and had never intended to deliberately conceal everything from him.
The Human Emperor paused, then said in a deep voice, "I won't leak it. I know..." He took a deep breath, a half-smile on his face, and muttered self-deprecatingly, "You treat me differently from others. You, such a cold and indifferent person, have been honest with me from beginning to end. Your kindness to me, I am not unaware of it, but your kindness... it's as if through me, you are reminiscing and repaying someone else..."
He lifted his half-lowered eyelids, his deep, bewitching eyes cold, and he sneered, questioning, "Are you?"
Gu Junshi's eyes were calm, but she asked, "Is it difficult to be treated as someone else?"
The Human Emperor laughed in anger, "What do you think?"
Gu Junshi, however, seemed perplexed by this question. She said unhurriedly, "Then who do you take me for?"
Unexpectedly, after a slight pause, the Human Emperor's gaze met hers without evasion and he said, "Not anyone, just you."
It was then that Gu Junshi suddenly remembered that the Human Emperor rarely called her "A Miao" anymore. He seemed to have adapted to her identity as Gu Junshi. Occasionally, he would call her "A Miao," but it was always with a possessive, domineering tone.
She couldn't help but guess, "How much of your memory have you recovered?"
"None."
"Have you remembered Nan Weng Miao?"
"No."
Gu Junshi didn't believe him, but since he had repeatedly denied it, she didn't press the matter further.
"Tell me, can the heart's blood of the Pure Lotus of Immaculate Purity purify the demonic poison? How would it be as a medicinal ingredient?" she asked casually.
The Human Emperor found it strange and surprising, then he stared into her eyes as if to confirm. Seeing that she wasn't joking, he said cheerfully, "Of course, it would be excellent. But can you bear to part with it?"
Gu Junshi's expression was unfathomable, and she remained silent.
The Human Emperor assumed that, as usual, she was resolute, whether she was willing to part with it or not, she had her own decision.
However, she seemed to want to know the answer too. She said, "I don't know. Let's try it."
—
It wasn't a lie that Zi Ying's blood on the "Demon Breaking Arrow" could detoxify, but the need for Liu Jiang Fusheng's heart's blood as a medicinal ingredient had no basis.
She guided the Human Emperor to put on a show with her.
The Human Emperor's mindset was easy to understand; he was eager to torment Liu Jiang Fusheng.
Everything proceeded smoothly. After Liu Jiang Fusheng agreed to offer his heart's blood, his only request was to see the person whose blood was being offered.
Gu Junshi didn't care about his motives; she just wanted to see if he could really do it.
The group arrived at the Bamboo Pavilion. Liu Jiang Fusheng looked at the young man on the bed, who resembled him greatly, his gaze gradually turning icy. Gu Sijun, startled, quickly hid behind Li Sheng.
Although he had been told by Li Sheng that she had brought back someone who looked very much like him, he had thought it was merely a resemblance. But the person lying on the bed, though sallow and greenish due to poisoning, clearly had the appearance of his youth.
Liu Jiang Fusheng couldn't help but wonder if she would transfer her affection to him.
Comparing the past with the present, her affection and care for him in his youth were different from anyone else's favoritism. But now, she could be gentle and meticulous with anyone, except him, she was no longer patient. Had he been wrong? Had he been wrong to maintain a cold and proud demeanor, enticing her to come closer? What if she was taken by someone else...?
"Didn't you say you'd give blood after seeing the person? Why aren't you doing it?"
The Human Emperor said coolly from the side.
Li Sheng glanced at Gu Junshi and added fuel to the fire, "Let's not force Brother Fusheng. Offering heart's blood is incredibly painful. A person's heart is cut by a sharp blade, and even a cultivator would suffer unbearable pain."
Gu Junshi remained silent, while Gu Sijun was terrified, utterly panicked.
He had been audacious when he was young, daring to use a magic artifact gifted by his father to change his father's face for an outsider, resulting in the current chaotic situation. He simply couldn't handle it.
Of course, he also lacked the ability to bear it, so he dared not tell anyone the truth. He... he was afraid of being severely spanked if his father found out about his filial betrayal.
Liu Jiang Fusheng took a snow-white, slender dagger, its blade shimmering with pearlescent light. His vacant, silent eyes shifted to Gu Junshi.
"You really want my heart's blood?" he asked her.
Gu Junshi remained silent.
He understood, and with a wry smile, he suddenly said in a deep voice, "Gu Junshi, look at me."
Gu Junshi turned her face at his words.
*Pfft—*
The slender dagger plunged more than halfway into his chest, and blood immediately gushed from the wound. He was wearing immaculate white clothes, making the crimson blood starkly visible.
His lips gradually turned pale, as if he wasn't the one in pain. He said, "I wonder, how much heart's blood is enough?"
As he spoke, he increased the force with his hand, the dagger now more than halfway in.
Everyone else was stunned.
"Father—"
Gu Sijun ran forward in a panic, grabbed his arm, and pulled back, "No— don't stab any more."
Unable to stop Liu Jiang Fusheng, he turned his tear-filled eyes and cried out, "Mother... Mother, why are you saving another man and demanding Father's heart's blood?"
"A single drop is sufficient."
Gu Junshi waved her sleeve, drew out a drop of blood, turned around, took the blood essence from the "Demon Breaking Arrow," fused them, and slowly pushed it into Hua Jie's body. At the same time, with her other hand, she drew out the cold, dark purple poisonous liquid with her Netherforce.
Staring at her retreating back, Liu Jiang Fusheng pulled out the dagger with a *pfft*, throwing it to the ground. Watching her wholeheartedly work for another man, his heart ached as if he were about to die. A cold laugh escaped his pale lips.
Even he, with excessive blood loss, would falter.
"Father—"
Gu Sijun fumbled to catch him.
But in the next second, he was caught by Gu Junshi, who had instantly appeared.
Li Sheng's eyes widened slightly, while the Human Emperor's expression darkened.
She reached out to heal him, but Liu Jiang Fusheng grabbed her wrist, his eyes reddened, and he said hoarsely, filled with resentment, "Your heart is always crueler than mine."
He flung her hand away, refusing her pity. He tried to push her away, but at this moment, with his weakened limbs, he was no match for Gu Junshi.
Gu Junshi's eyes, seemingly filled with many emotions, lowered. After a moment of stillness, she waved her hand, clearing everyone else from the Bamboo Pavilion and sending them away.
The next moment, she embraced Liu Jiang Fusheng's waist and forcefully, coldly, and fiercely kissed his pale lips.
His pupils widened in shock. He didn't resist, remaining motionless. It was unclear what expression was on his face at this moment – rejection, indifference, or something else.
Seeing that he did not resist, she relaxed her grip, gently pried open Liu Jiang Fusheng's teeth, and infused his body with her essence and energy, helping his wound heal faster.
External wounds healed easily, but the wound in his heart was not so easily mended, especially when he had stabbed himself so violently and carelessly.
When she felt it was enough, she prepared to release him, but her body was instantly bound in a powerful embrace. He greedily inhaled her scent, his unfinished words drowned in the passionate kiss.
—
Those who were driven out of the Bamboo Pavilion were all stunned.
The Human Emperor gritted his teeth, feeling an unbearable sense of urgency. He tried to re-enter, but the barrier Gu Junshi had erected repeatedly repelled him.
She was stronger than him, so he couldn't break through.
"Gu Junshi—"
"Gu Junshi—"
He struck the barrier with a palm, his angry and helpless roar receiving no response, eventually turning into a hateful curse.
"Gu Junshi..."
"She kicked us out, perhaps she intends to do something illicit with Liu Jiang Fusheng inside?" Li Sheng, however, was not worried at all.
Instead, he watched the Human Emperor's agitation with keen interest, as if watching a good show.
Gu Sijun was worried about his father's injuries, but he also felt that his mother wouldn't abandon his father.
He glared at Li Sheng and stated truthfully, "Hua Jie is still inside, so it's not like they're alone!"
"But he's still unconscious. If she's healing him, why kick us out?" Li Sheng said something casually, intending to provoke the Human Emperor.
Gu Sijun didn't know Li Sheng's intentions. He was just thinking, "Mother doesn't want us to disturb her."
"Never mind us, but why was even her fiancé kicked out? It seems Jun Jun still prefers her ex-lover— Ugh..."
Before Li Sheng could finish speaking, his neck was firmly gripped and he was lifted up.
His hands clutching his throat, he raised his head with great difficulty, only to meet a pair of ferociously scarlet, hellish eyes. "What are you saying?"
The Human Emperor smiled at him, but the smile carried a bloodthirsty killing intent.
Had he gone mad?
No, it was an evil soul.
This was the true Human Emperor. Li Sheng's young body was thin and fragile, no match for the Human Emperor's god-like power.
"Let, let go of me..."
Gu Sijun watched as the Human Emperor gripped Li Sheng like a chick, and exclaimed in shock, "You, you let go of him quickly! You're strangling him to death!"
The Human Emperor lowered his eyes, glanced at Gu Sijun, and said in a deep, cold voice, "If you don't want to die, get away from me now."
Gu Sijun, however, was frozen by his gaze.
*Crack—*
The grating sound of breaking bones echoed in his ears. Li Sheng's neck had been snapped by the Human Emperor.
His neck was bent at an unnatural angle, his eyes wide open, dying with his eyes open.
Gu Sijun's hands and feet turned cold as he witnessed this scene.
*Bang—*
Li Sheng was casually thrown to the ground by the Human Emperor like a piece of rotten garbage. Then, he chuckled softly, his eyes both deranged and lucid.
His next words were enough to send Gu Sijun's soul flying in terror.
"Kid, if I killed you, she might be sad. I really wanted to send you to keep that little slut company."
"Ah— Mother— Help me."
"Come, scream louder."
The Human Emperor, like a ghost, flickered behind him. Ignoring his fearful struggles and screams, he forcefully pinned him in place, laughing with perverse pleasure.
"Scream louder, let her hear."
Gu Sijun was on the verge of tears but dared not stay silent. The main reason was that he felt if his mother didn't intervene, this demonic creature might truly consider him useless and kill him.
Just like Li Sheng, in his eyes, death was not a pity.
"Mother—"
—
Gu Junshi couldn't possibly not hear the commotion outside the Bamboo Pavilion. Initially, she paid no mind to the Human Emperor's angry shouts, but later, upon hearing Gu Sijun's terrified screams, accompanied by a fearful cry, she pushed Liu Jiang Fusheng away and teleported outside the Bamboo Pavilion.
When she saw the Human Emperor, his eyes like burning ghosts, grabbing Gu Sijun, and a corpse with a broken neck lying on the ground, she was uncharacteristically stunned.
He released Gu Sijun, letting him scramble away with his hands and feet, fixing his greedy and hateful gaze on Gu Junshi.
"You've finally come out."
His face was cold and etched with hatred. His black hair moved without wind, and violent demonic energy surged upwards. His pitch-black long robe, as it flapped, revealed intricately woven patterns hidden within the golden trim.
Seeing the unusual demeanor of the Human Emperor before her, Gu Junshi paused, frowned, and asked with restraint, "Human Emperor, what are you doing?"
"What am I doing?" The Human Emperor tilted his head in confusion for a moment. His demonic energy was exceptionally rampant, and then he smiled at her, his expression unpredictable. "I haven't done anything. It's you, what were you doing with someone else inside?"
Speaking of this, he tilted his chin upwards, his face filled with righteous indignation. The ground beneath him cracked and churned with dust and air currents due to his fluctuating aura. "Whatever you want, I can accompany you. If you want to play with others, I won't stop you, but you can't do it behind my back!"
The suppressed tone in his throat was like erupting magma, and the surging, cold energy spread towards the flowering trees, causing them to dance wildly. The frantic rustling of leaves amplified his rage. A faint, demonic flame pattern appeared on his forehead.
Gu Junshi raised her palm and pressed it downwards. Misty waves flowed like liquid colors, and powerful energy coiled like snakes, expanding directly. The poisonous miasma and the underworld within a radius of ten li were crushed to dust, making it impossible for even demonic beings to descend.
"Calm down."
If he willingly descended from the Ghost King to the demonic path, he would undoubtedly become a demon that only recognized slaughter and bloodshed, and even the last vestiges of his humanity would be completely lost.
The Human Emperor's demonic energy was shaken by her actions. He moved slightly, and his eyes, steeped in dark energy, regained some clarity. Just then, Liu Jiang Fusheng emerged, clutching his chest wound.
Upon seeing him, the Human Emperor's mind seemed to flash with some images. Meeting his proud and elegant gaze, the demonic patterns covering his face intensified.
"You, deserve, to, die! Why did you have to appear—"