Jiangshan Fengwuzhi

Chapter 267 Different ways

From the moment she met Gu Jingnian today, Pei Nian noticed a significant change in him, a change that she didn't like. He had acquired the same deep-seated cunning and ruthless nature as her father.

Although she herself was that kind of person, she did indeed prefer the pure and simple Gu Jingnian of the past.

The hint of expectation that had been in Pei Nian's eyes faded, and she asked in a businesslike tone, "Who is the God Venerable?"

"It's a long story, let me tell you slowly."

Gu Jingnian picked up the tea on the table, poured a cup for the two of them, and slowly recounted his entry into the realm, the content of which was similar to what he had told Zhao Boheng.

He didn't trust Pei Nian as much as he did Feng Niang.

Although Feng Niang is cunning, she is the same kind of person as him, both being dregs of medicine; Pei Nian's thoughts are simple, but she is also stubborn, and Gu Jingnian does not have much confidence that he can subdue her.

During their conversation, Pei Nian noticed a detail. She looked around and suddenly interrupted Gu Jingnian, asking, "Don't you need a hearing shield?"

Gu Jingnian was talking about how he and Zhao Boheng were awakened from their dream of spying on Longxushui by the "God Venerable" when he was interrupted. He was only slightly taken aback, but quickly said calmly, "This is not a secret. Many people know about it."

Pei Nian asked, "In the past, whenever I asked you what happened, you usually refused to tell me. Why are you being so proactive today?"

“I have indeed changed a lot,” Gu Jingnian said. “Before, I just went with the flow and didn’t speak up when I was too lazy to do so. From now on, if I want to control my own destiny, I can’t help but take the initiative.”

Pei Nian gave him a deep look and asked, "So, you want to control me?"

Gu Jingnian countered, "Are you someone I can control?"

“No,” Pei Nian replied.

She wasn't fooled by Gu Jingnian's attempt to dodge the question and continued, "But what I'm asking is, do you want to?"

Gu Jingnian hesitated for a moment before replying, "I would like to, but rather than to control it, it's more like to fight alongside it."

"Fighting side by side, should we listen to you or me?"

"listen to me."

Gu Jingnian answered honestly first, then leaned back slightly, his attitude much more relaxed, and said, "But I also know that you are ambitious, so I can only try my best to persuade you. If I can't keep you, it's just that I have no choice."

He meant "cannot be kept," and Pei Nian understood that if she did not cooperate with him, he would not allow her to stay in Yong Kingdom. The fact that he let her return to Rui Kingdom was only because of their friendship.

As Gu Jingnian tilted his head slightly, Pei Nian's gaze fell upon the rouge that Gu Jingnian hadn't yet wiped off his Adam's apple.

That touch of delicate red seemed to faintly reflect a scene of passionate lovemaking.

Pei Nian looked away and picked up the previous topic, saying, "It's an honor that you're willing to tell me what happened, whether it's true or not."

She knew Gu Jingnian too well; she knew he would definitely hide part of the truth, deliberately creating a disturbance first before letting Gu Jingnian continue.

This time, since it involved the God's aspirations, Gu Jingnian deliberately used a secret language that only the two of them understood.

Finally, he said, "I have returned from the realm to assist the God in his plans to unify the Central Plains, which is also your ambition..."

“That’s not my ambition.” Pei Nian shook his head immediately without any hesitation, saying, “My ambition is to unify Zhongzhou for the people of Zhongzhou, not to be unified by the aliens.”

"There is no difference."

“Yes,” Pei Nian said. “If superhumans have unified the Central Plains with their abilities, can they treat ordinary people well?”

Before Gu Jingnian could speak, she stood up and prepared to leave.

"There's no point in continuing this discussion. Ultimately, it's because we have different perspectives. You are an extraordinary person, while I am just an ordinary person. Let's each serve our own masters."

“Don’t forget, Emperor Rui was also an extraordinary being,” Gu Jingnian said. “The emperors of Zhongzhou have probably all already transformed into extraordinary beings, so your insistence is meaningless.”

“At least in name they are still emperors of ordinary people, and they still have reverence for the people of Zhongzhou.”

“Birds of a feather flock together,” Gu Jingnian said. “You’re just afraid of changing masters; in the end, it’s nothing but blind loyalty.”

He didn't get up, but seeing Pei Nian turn to leave, he continued to provoke her with words. "You didn't just find out I'm an extraordinary person today, why didn't you say so before? I wanted to flee and posed no threat to the Kingdom of Rui, so you planned to use me. Now that I've switched sides and am going to be an enemy of the Kingdom of Rui, you realize we're not the same kind of people? Pei Nian, you're too old-fashioned and stubborn. In this world, change leads to progress, stagnation leads to ruin..."

"Gu Jingnian, let me tell you why I'm leaving: because I don't want to see you become like those people!"

Pei Nian suddenly interrupted Gu Jingnian, raising her voice and speaking in a stern tone.

She didn't turn around, but she seemed quite agitated, a stark contrast to her usual cool demeanor.

"There are many selfish and scheming people in this world. You and I once fought side by side. Back then, you were an extraordinary being, yet you, like me, despised those who satisfied their own selfish desires with the blood and flesh of countless people. We shared the same indignation. At that time, we were kindred spirits. Now you have changed, and I understand, but I will not stay by your side and watch you refine other people's abilities into your own! No matter what, you and I... have different paths and cannot work together."

Having said that, Pei Nian did not linger and left the post station.

Gu Jingnian sat alone for a long time.

Only a short candle was lit in the hall, which gradually went out, and then darkness completely engulfed him.

After a while, Miao Chunniang came in carrying a candle.

"Shiyilang, you didn't subdue Pei Nian?"

Gu Jingnian turned around, his expression calm, and asked, "What did Zhao Boheng say?"

Miao Chunniang said, "Unlike the Jieren who refines pills using living superhumans, his previous method of refining pills was to first extract the blood of superhumans, remove impurities, and then condense it into pills."

"So, my idea is feasible?"

“Difficult,” Miao Chunniang said. “With your blood volume, it’s far from enough to make all the Undead Army’s pig-men stronger.”

Gu Jingnian understood and said, "It's just a bit slower."

“It is very slow,” Miao Chunniang said. “Although you can heal yourself, the essence in your blood will not regenerate quickly. The blood drawn out is often full of impurities. If too much is drawn at once, your superpower will also weaken.”

"Understood, then I'll try refining some pills for A-Xu first," Gu Jingnian said. "I'll go see Zhao Boheng tomorrow."

Miao Chunniang asked, "Since Pei Nian is a member of the Kaiping Division, if we let her go unchecked, will she inform Rui Kingdom of your information, thus affecting your plan to rescue Gu Siniang?"

Based on Gu Jingnian's understanding of Pei Nian, Pei Nian probably wouldn't tell Rui Guo about his affairs. Regardless of whether she tells him or not, Rui Guo is threatening him with Gu Caiwei's life.

But anything can happen, what if Pei Nian really does discover some important secrets?
"What does your sister-in-law mean?" Gu Jingnian then asked.

"Would it be better not to let her return to Rui?" Miao Chunniang said, "But if we just detain her, I'm afraid she might use other methods to pass on intelligence..."

At this point, fearing that Gu Jingnian might misunderstand her as wanting to kill Pei Nian, Miao Chunniang added, "Could I try? I can look into her memories and see why she is so blindly loyal to Rui. Or, I can make her forget some of the information I learned from you."

Gu Jingnian thought for a moment before replying, "Let's see."

"it is good."

Miao Chunniang appears to be a sister-in-law who is worried about her brother-in-law, but in her conversation she seems to be a subordinate who follows Gu Jingnian's orders.

Before leaving, she left a candle on the table to light Gu Jingnian's way.

Although she knew Gu Jingnian didn't need it, she wanted to give him this faint light.

Just as she was about to leave, Miao Chunniang remembered something else.

"By the way, when I came back in the evening, I was with Pei Nian. She is a mortal, so I saw her recent memories at a glance."

"So? What is her connection with Switzerland?"

“No.” Miao Chunniang hesitated for a moment, but still said, “She was very worried about you. She asked Huang Hu about you. It’s probably because after you entered the realm, Huang Hu suddenly couldn’t sense you anymore. Pei Nian didn’t show it on the surface, but he didn’t sleep for several nights in a row. He always wrote your name on paper at night.”

Gu Jingnian had just asked Miao Chunniang to look at Pei Nian's memories, but after hearing this, he thought for a moment and said, "Sister-in-law, let her stay."

He has now come to understand a principle: to achieve something, one must be ruthless in using any means necessary.

(End of this chapter)