Chapter 198: Marble of Celestial Captivation (1)
Dust clung to the bandage covering her eyes, and judging by the red tint, it was clear that there was a lot of bleeding.
At that moment, it was highly likely that she had completely lost her sight.
“You’re surprisingly calm for a girl. Hehe.”
Gu Huibi frowned at the old man’s words.
Given her messy situation, the unexpected appearance of this character made it obvious she had to keep her guard up.
“Who are you?”
“Would you even recognize me if I told you?”
A frail body riddled with signs of torture stood before her.
Yet, the unsettling chuckle resonating from him only added to Gu Huibi’s discomfort.
She quickly assessed her condition.
I’m shackled.
There was one shackle on each leg, and one on each arm.
Not a hint of her Qi showed signs of movement at all.
Is this really some kind of acupuncture?
If this is acupuncture, I would have at least felt something.
After all, it’s almost impossible not to notice such a weird sensation.
But if it isn’t…
Gu Huibi pondered what exactly was keeping her Qi in check. She couldn’t understand why it wouldn’t respond, even though her dantian felt fine.
Focusing her mind, she attempted to move her energy.
Even if she couldn’t reach her dantian, just getting even a little movement would suffice.
But as she threw all her focus into her dantian—
“…!”
A wave of unimaginable pain shot through Gu Huibi, causing her to curl up.
“Ughh…!”
It wasn’t just pain; it was as if something were gnawing at her insides.
She wanted to scream, but Gu Huibi forced her mouth shut.
“Impressive. Most people couldn’t endure that.”
The old man merely chuckled as he watched her.
“…You…”
Gu Huibi glared at him, realizing that he knew about her predicament.
The old man continued speaking as he stared at her.
“I’d advise you not to wear such a fierce expression. I’m not the one responsible for this.”
“Can you see?”
“Does it seem that way to you?”
“No… There’s no way.”
“Correct. I am indeed a blind man.”
His words felt contradictory.
He spoke as if he could see everything, then immediately declared himself blind.
The bandage covering his eyes seemed far too contradictory in light of this.
“Some things are only visible to those who do not see.”
After hearing this, Gu Huibi let out a snicker.
Sure, he was in the same mess as her, but that didn’t matter right now.
“Do you understand the current situation?”
The old man made a curious expression upon hearing Gu Huibi’s question.
He seemed almost fascinated.
“What’s the matter?”
“You really are a unique one. To ask me that in this situation.”
“Seeing as you’re the only one here, I had little choice but to ask.”
“How could you trust my words without knowing what I might do?”
Gu Huibi’s reply came quick.
“You said you weren’t responsible.”
“Do you believe that?”
“Does it matter if I don’t?”
“Hoho.”
The old man chuckled hollowly as he sat in front of Gu Huibi.
Now adjusted to the darkness, she could make out his features more clearly.
The shackles on his feet appeared larger and more ornate than the ones she was wearing.
“I’ve heard rumors, but you’re quite the crazy one, aren’t you?”
“You know me?”
“Of course, how could I not? You’re the famed Sword Phoenix.”
The greatest prodigy since Peng Woojin.
She was a jewel of the Gu Clan, a masterpiece crafted by the Tiger Warrior.
Her fiery personality matched with her striking appearance couldn’t hide her flaws.
However, it was said that she possessed talents that overshadowed her shortcomings, making her a beacon of hope for Shanxi.
That was Gu Huibi’s reputation.
“You truly are as bizarre as they say.”
“It’s a bit rude to discuss someone’s character right in front of them.”
The old man simply stared at Gu Huibi.
To rephrase, he was perceiving her since he was blind.
Should I call her calm or stubborn?
A young woman barely in her twenties shouldn’t exhibit such composure in a situation like this.
Even considering her martial artist status, Gu Huibi looked astonishingly calm.
Or perhaps, she’s just pretending to be composed.
The old man decided not to voice his observations.
There was no need to state the obvious, after all.
“This place is the Black Palace.”
At the mention of that, Gu Huibi’s body twitched slightly.
Her eyes narrowed, and her teeth clenched upon recognition.
“Looks like you already knew that.”
Gu Huibi began to chew on her lips, acknowledging that part of it had been expected.
Then, that man really was…
Her mind drifted back to the last moments of the battle.
A mysterious crack opened before her, and the Second Elder had jumped in to help.
In that moment, Gu Huibi felt an overwhelming presence press down on her.
Without even having the chance to draw her sword, she was pushed away by the Second Elder’s touch, narrowly escaping with her life intact.
Just recalling that moment felt like a humiliation.
While the Second Elder was left to fight against that terrifying presence, she’d felt utterly useless.
The mental picture of her own inadequacy was as sticky as a tenacious weed.
She couldn’t count how many times she swung her sword, determined not to become someone useless.
Time passed, and even if she had overcome her limits and reached the Peak Realm, she still grappled with her feelings of inadequacy.
The old man broke Gu Huibi’s silent reverie.
“It appears you’ve encountered the Palace Lord.”
Gu Huibi’s eyes widened at his statement.
“How I came to that conclusion is simple. Only the Black Palace Lord could render a martial artist like you in such a state.”
So it was that man who made it impossible for me to use my Qi.
The master that the Second Elder had battled with full power.
The image of him turning everything around into ashes while blocking the Second Elder’s heavy fists played in her mind.
It truly did feel like a monstrous force.
So that’s the power of the Black Palace Lord, one of the Four Emperors and Five Kings.
“You can still use your Qi. You tried to use it earlier.”
The old man remarked, causing Gu Huibi to focus further.
It felt like he was talking about the pain she experienced when she tried to channel her Qi.
“If you can endure that pain and the backlash, you should be able to utilize it. Although whether a mere human can achieve such a feat is uncertain.”
In the end, he was basically saying it might not be possible for her.
Then, I need to find another way.
“Are you planning to escape?”
“I can’t just sit here forever.”
“I commend your bravery, but it won’t be an easy feat.”
Ignoring his words, Gu Huibi scanned her surroundings more thoroughly.
In the prison encased in iron bars, a minute hole allowed a sliver of moonlight to seep in.
From that, she was able to gather that it was nighttime.
How much time has passed?
Besides time, are my comrades and the Second Elder alright?
Her thoughts were a tangle, and she couldn’t fathom why she was even in this place.
…phew.
Gu Huibi swept her hair back, making an effort to calm herself down.
No matter the situation, she must remain composed.
That was advice from her father, given her position as the leader of her army.
He meant for her to control her fiery temperament, but those words resonated with Gu Huibi in ways she hadn’t expected.
What should I do in this situation?
Without her sword and her Qi refusing to respond—
In this thick darkness, there were only iron bars and the old man.
“As I said before, keep still. It’s quite bothersome.”
“Are you really blind?”
“If you’ve lived as long as I have, wouldn’t you develop a sharp sense like mine?”
Could he truly consider himself perceptive if he knew what was going on despite his blindness?
The old man continued to chuckle in amusement.
“It’s been lonely, so it’s nice to have someone to chat with.”
“I admire your ability to be so carefree in such a situation.”
“How could I not feel hopeful when my situation has become more favorable?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Your presence here means there’s a chance the Tiger Warrior might take action.”
At hearing her father’s title from the old man, Gu Huibi scowled.
“I do not understand why you would mention my clan lord’s title.”
“He’s your father, and your captors have taken his daughter. Naturally, he would want to save you.”
Gu Huibi let out a reluctant laugh at the absurdity of that notion.
“I don’t know what kind of delusions you’re harboring, but my clan lord is not that type of person.”
He wasn’t the kind to show favoritism, even towards his own children, nor was he one to offer unnecessary help.
He hadn’t shown any affection, and if love had been present to begin with—
He wouldn’t have left her mother or her little brother’s mother to suffer like that.
“So, dispose of that hope of yours.”
The old man offered no retort to Gu Huibi’s resolute words.
He merely continued to gaze at her with his blind eyes.
“Why do you stare at me like that?”
“It’s rude for you to accuse me of staring since I am blind.”
She wasn’t in the mood for such trivial banter.
Gu Huibi found the old man’s nonchalant demeanor strangely unsettling.
There was no time for playful exchange, so she forced herself to disregard him and organize her thoughts.
Just then, the old man spoke to Gu Huibi.
“Child, you seem unaware of your father.”
Gu Huibi sighed upon hearing him.
“If you’re going to spin tales about a father’s love—”
“You don’t seem to grasp the reaction from the Tiger Warrior’s family when they are harmed.”
His cryptic comment made Gu Huibi narrow her eyes.
“Old man, do you know about my father?”
“Well, I can’t say for sure.”
But his tone suggested he knew something.
The old man finished his words and dragged his chains to sit against the wall.
“I’m feeling tired, so I’ll close my eyes. You do as you please.”
“What you just said—”
“If you’re worried about your wellbeing, rest assured, others won’t be able to lay a finger on you for a while, including the Palace Lord. Oh, and…”
The old man slowly extended his hand, pointing toward Gu Huibi’s waist.
Gu Huibi glanced at her waist where he pointed.
“…!”
It didn’t take long for her to understand what the old man was referring to.
The charm she wore at her waist was reminiscent of the one she had given to Gu Yangcheon just before their last parting.
“Let’s discuss the contents of that tomorrow, along with what you’re curious about. Tsk tsk, an old man like me should just kick the bucket. Aging makes one so easily fatigued.”
“Old man, who exactly are you?”
“How odd you are to ask me that when you’re able to see while I cannot. Can’t you tell just by looking? I’m merely human.”
“That’s not what I meant!”
“I’m tired, so do stop asking. I don’t have a name; from now on, just call me Old Man Mook. Save your chatter for another time.”
With that, the old man fell silent and snored loudly, as if he wanted Gu Huibi to hear it.
Left alone, Gu Huibi cautiously undid her charm with trembling hands and tucked it into her pocket.
It seemed no one noticed it during her capture, which was a blessing in disguise.
However, the marble contained within—
What is it? What purpose does it serve?
Gu Huibi wished desperately that her little brother would never find out.
After all, it was a pair of treasures that allowed the users to locate each other.
As Gu Huibi nervously tucked the charm away, Gu Yangcheon faced the Second Elder.
The Second Elder, covered in bandages and slumped on the ground, addressed Gu Yangcheon with a pained expression.
“What a pitiful sight this is.”
Gu Yangcheon responded calmly, “If you’ve awakened, why aren’t you just resting in bed? Why would you come here?”
Fortunately, it seemed the Second Elder had managed to regain consciousness.
The Immortal Healer had predicted he would awaken soon, but Gu Yangcheon hadn’t suspected it would be this quickly.
Even if the surgery went perfectly, this was largely due to the Second Elder’s astounding regenerative abilities.
Hearing Gu Yangcheon, the Second Elder clicked his tongue and replied, “I came here because you haven’t shown up.”
As the Second Elder stated, even if he had regained consciousness, Gu Yangcheon couldn’t visit him in his precarious situation.
It was all understandable, considering—
Gu Yangcheon found himself in prison.
More precisely, the prison of the Gu Clan.
“I’ll be allowed to leave soon, so why the impatience?”
“You think you can just waltz out after causing such a ruckus? You wish!”
“It won’t take long, I assure you.”
Gu Yangcheon’s nonchalant reply only further annoyed the Second Elder.
“The Third and Fourth Elders plan to use this incident as an excuse to teach you a lesson.”
“Hah, which of them do you think can teach me? They aren’t even active anymore.”
Unlike the First and Second Elders who actively contributed to the clan, the other two were simply old men who no longer participated in clan affairs.
“Are those two even going to call me out now?”
“Those senile old coots!”
“That’s precisely it! Why do you keep causing trouble when I can’t help you?”
The Second Elder’s scolding made Gu Yangcheon pout instead.
He had killed the First Elder for what he believed was a justified reason, but that was a secret only he knew.
Even if he had received a sort of approval from the Steward, in the end, he killed an Elder within the clan, so a punishment awaited him despite being of blood relation.
It’d be fine if the First Elder’s basement was discovered.
But here I am, lost on what to do, as my father isn’t here in the clan right now.
“How are you feeling?”
“Perfectly fine.”
“Then how could you be fine when you were said to have a hole in your chest?”
“You brat? Why even ask if you’re not going to believe me?”
After Bantering with Gu Yangcheon, the Second Elder couldn’t help but chuckle lightly.
“Are you planning to stay still like this?”
“What can I do? My father isn’t present.”
“Do you want me to use my strength?”
“I’m getting the feeling you’re actually considering using your strength… so I’ll pass.”
Given his reaction, he truly was planning to use his sheer strength to get me out of here.
Why is he like this, especially when he’s not in good shape?
Having realized his attempts would not work, the Second Elder redirected the conversation.
“Your girls are extremely worried about you.”
“…”
“Especially your servant. She’s been crying every day.”
Seems like he’s referring to Wi Seol-Ah.
“I’ll handle that myself.”
Though I have no choice but to.
Setting that concern aside, Gu Yangcheon turned to the Second Elder.
“Can you start explaining now?”
“About what?”
“About my sister, Gu Huibi.”
“I know you came here to tell me about that. What happened?”
“You’ve become quite perceptive compared to before.”
The events of Gu Huibi’s abduction and the Second Elder’s brush with death.
The urgency that had driven him to find Gu Yangcheon the moment he regained consciousness likely stemmed from this incident.
The Second Elder hesitated momentarily and then began to speak while gazing at Gu Yangcheon.
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