Blind Ghostwriter: Starts with the full level of Nine Yang Magic Skill

Chapter 205 Going Home for the New Year (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Because of his identity within the Six Doors, Chen Xiuyuan could only guide Gu Mo and Gu Chudong to the border of the northern desert, after which the siblings were allowed to return to Linjiang County on their own. Of course, his ability to act as a living map was limited to the northern desert, as he had lived there for decades. Once they reached Yunzhou, he was less familiar with the area than Gu Mo and Gu Chudong.

However, although Gu Mo and Gu Chudong were from Yunzhou, they mainly lived in Linjiang County and were not familiar with the other counties. Therefore, they found a security escort agency to send them back to Linjiang County.

Due to the long and arduous journey, the brother and sister did not return to Linjiang City until mid-December.

Returning to a familiar place, Gu Chudong was filled with emotion. This trip was the only one she had been away from for so long, almost nine months, since Qu Heng brought her and Gu Mo to Linjiang County five or six years ago.

From the moment she stepped into Linjiang City, Gu Chudong was in a very good mood. She walked with a bouncy gait and felt close to everything she saw on the street. By the time she returned to Jiuyan Lane, she had bought a lot of things, which filled both horses to the brim.

“Finally home!”

Gu Chudong pushed open the door and quickly ran to the pond in the yard, exclaiming in surprise, "Brother, those two fish have really grown up! Hmm, why is that turtle still so small?"

Gu Mo chuckled and said, "As the saying goes, a tortoise takes a thousand years to grow and a turtle takes ten thousand. If you want the tortoise to grow up, you'll have to wait it out!"

"That's it."

Gu Chudong muttered something. She didn't care whether the tortoise would grow up or not, as long as it was still there. Then, she ran across the covered walkway to the main room, took out the key from the book box, and opened the door.

Gu Mo followed behind, somewhat surprised that there was no musty or dusty smell after the door was opened, which was very unusual. Linjiang County has a fair amount of rainfall, and the house should have a smell after being uninhabited for a long time. The same was true for the pond in the yard; it hadn't been cleaned or disturbed for nine months, and it should have been full of rotten leaves and smelling terrible by now.

"Xiaoxiao is so nice!"

Gu Chudong said, "Brother, the house and yard are very clean, and there is no smell at all. Xiaoxiao must come and take care of it often. Before we left, I gave Xiaoxiao a copy of the house key and asked her to keep an eye on things when she had time. Hehe, she did more than just keep an eye on things. Now that we're back, we can use it right away!"

Gu Mo's doubts were resolved, and he nodded slightly, saying, "It is indeed a trouble for Xiaoxiao."

Gu Chudong said, "Brother, let's go visit Uncle Qu's house later!"

"it is good."

Gu Chudong immediately got busy.

Although the house was clean thanks to Qu Xiao's cleaning, there were still many places that needed tidying up before we could live there directly after such a long time away.

After tying up the horse, Gu Chudong first cleaned the pots and pans, and then went to the market to buy firewood, rice, oil, salt, and horse feed.

By the time the meal was finally ready, it was almost dark.

The brother and sister quickly finished their meal, then went out to buy some gifts and headed straight to Qu Heng's house.

……

Upon arriving at the Qu family's door, Gu Chudong couldn't wait to knock and shout, "Xiaoxiao, Xiaoxiao, open the door quickly! It's me, Chudong, I'm back!"

Footsteps soon came from the courtyard. It was Qu Li who opened the door. She was very excited to see Gu Mo and Gu Chudong. She quickly pulled the two of them into the house. When she saw that Gu Mo was carrying something, she started to nag and complain that Gu Mo was too polite.

If an ordinary person said this, Gu Mo would just think it was politeness. However, when Qu Heng and Qu Li Shi said this, they definitely meant that they thought he was being too polite by bringing gifts to their door.

Listening to Qu Li's rambling, Gu Mo only smiled and remained silent.

Gu Chudong looked around and asked, "Auntie, where are Uncle Qu and Xiaoxiao? Aren't they home?"

Qu Li said, "The escort agency is doing its year-end settlement today. Your uncle and Xiaoxiao both went, but they should be back soon."

Gu Mo had worked at a security escort agency. The so-called year-end settlement was just an annual summary, where the owner would give the agency's employees a New Year's bonus, then they would have a big meal together, and then everyone would go home. They wouldn't return to work until after the Lantern Festival. Of course, they would be notified separately if there were any special circumstances.

"Where is Xiaoxiao going?" Gu Chudong asked, puzzled.

Qu Li pulled the two into the house, and then hurriedly went inside to bring out some melons and fruits. Hearing Gu Chudong's question, she said with a smile, "Xiaoxiao is also working at the escort agency now, as an accountant."

"Wow," Gu Chudong's eyes lit up, "Xiaoxiao has finally gotten her wish. Before, when we were practicing martial arts, Xiaoxiao was extremely unwilling. She liked learning arithmetic and said her dream was to be an accountant, counting money every day. Now that she's really an accountant, she must be very happy, right?"

"Happy my foot," Qu Li laughed. "That brat is just taking things for granted. She thinks being a female manager is so easy. Now that she's actually doing it, apart from the first few days when it's new and exciting, she's been calculating every single day. She doesn't like it anymore. She's always frowning and looking miserable!"

"Oh, how could that be? Isn't this what she's always liked?" Gu Chudong asked, puzzled.

Gu Mo chuckled and said, "Things in this world are never something that can be encompassed by just liking someone. Moreover, most liking is actually just wishful thinking and self-deception because of the distance. Once you actually get it, you will find that the reality is very different from what you imagined."

“Is that so…that makes sense,” Gu Chudong said. “It’s like the martial arts world. Many people think that the martial arts world is all about fine clothes and spirited horses, exhilarating experiences, and making a name for oneself. But in reality, the martial arts world is extremely cruel and bloody. Most people are just stepping stones for others to make a name for themselves.”

Gu Mo chuckled lightly, "The world of martial arts in the distance is full of charm, but the world of martial arts under our feet is a mess."

Gu Chudong muttered, "Then, isn't Xiaoxiao going through a lot of suffering right now?"

Madam Qu smiled and said, "Tang Buyi accommodated her and allowed her to accompany your Uncle Qu on escort missions as a courier, so it wasn't too much of a hardship for her. In the past six months, under your Uncle Qu's supervision, she has become much more sensible and has been practicing martial arts seriously. Your Uncle Qu said that her martial arts skills have improved a lot."

While the group was chatting,
The gate to the courtyard was pushed open, and Qu Heng and his daughter Qu Xiao came in from outside.

Qu Xiao was stunned for a moment when she saw Gu Chudong and Gu Mo in the house. Then she ran into the house with a happy face and hugged Gu Chudong, excitedly asking, "Chudong, when did you come back?"

"I just got back this afternoon!"

"..."

The two girls started chatting away.

At this moment, Qu Heng also walked in.

Gu Mo stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Uncle Qu."

Qu Heng stepped forward and patted Gu Mo on the shoulder, saying, "Good lad, you've caused quite a stir since you left home. The Ten Grandmasters of Qian Kingdom, tsk tsk tsk, I've never even seen a Grandmaster in my entire life, I never dared to dream that one day I would have a junior who could be so accomplished!"

Gu Mo smiled slightly and said, "Just lucky."

“There’s no such thing as luck,” Qu Heng said, pulling Gu Mo down to sit. He then said to Qu Li Shi, “Go and fetch that bottle of wine I’ve been saving in my room. I want to have a drink with A-Mo.”

Qu Li immediately went inside to fetch the wine.

Qu Heng looked at Gu Mo and said, "I heard from people in the martial arts world that you found the Medicine Saint Qi Miaoxuan to cure your eyes in Qingzhou. How is it going?"

Qu Xiao also turned her head and asked, "Yes, Brother Amo, how are your eyes?"

Gu Mo nodded slightly and said, "Indeed, Qi Miaoxuan treated me, but I still need time to recover and am still applying medicine. That's why I'm wearing a veil, just in case I get strong light."

"It's good that it's getting better, it's good that it's getting better!" Qu Heng breathed a sigh of relief.

Qu Xiao asked, "Brother Amo, is Qi Miaoxuan as ethereal and otherworldly as the legends say?"

“Let me tell you,” Gu Chudong said, pulling Qu Xiao along, “I’m very close to Senior Qi Miaoxuan. He even gave me two thousand-year-old ginseng roots…”

Immediately, Qu Xiao led Gu Chudong into her boudoir. Gu Mo and Qu Heng drank in the hall, while Qu Li went to the kitchen to cook.

Qu Heng said, "A few months ago, someone from the Canglan Sword Sect sent you a large bag of silver notes, at least tens of thousands of taels. I didn't dare count the exact amount; it was too much, and I was afraid of losing it. They didn't tell me what it was for. Is that alright?"

Gu Mo took a sip of wine and said, "I killed a major wanted criminal in Qingzhou, the former number one gangster in Yunzhou, and asked the Canglan Sword Sect to help me collect the bounty."

"I see. That puts my mind at ease." Qu Heng clinked glasses with Gu Mo and asked, "What are your plans next? Are you going to start your own sect?"

Gu Mo shook his head slightly and said, "Continue to be the ghostwriter."

"You want to be a ghostwriter too? Aren't you making enough money?"

"It's purely a personal hobby."

“That’s fine…” Qu Heng thought for a moment and said, “By the way, I’ve received a few letters over the past few months, from Yan San Niang to you and Chu Dong. They’re being sorted by Xiao Xiao, and she should give them to Chu Dong soon. I haven’t read the letters, so I can’t relay them to you.”

Gu Mo nodded.

Qu Heng added, "Shen Bai, a renowned swordsman of the Canglan Sword Sect, is getting married on the 25th of the first month next year, and he has sent you an invitation. Tang Buyi will also be attending, so you can all go together."

"can."

"..."

That night, Gu Mo chatted with Qu Heng for a long time and then stayed at the Qu family's house, while Gu Chudong slept in the same room as Qu Xiao.

Both Gu Mo and Gu Chudong slept soundly. They were used to sleeping at the Qu family home and were quite comfortable with the environment. The next day, after breakfast, Gu Mo and Gu Chudong left the Qu family home.

Gu Chudong now carried an extra bundle containing silver notes from the Canglan Sword Sect and letters returned by Yan San Niang.

“Sister Yan writes a letter almost every month,” Gu Chudong said. “Last night, I read all of those letters. Sister Yan first went to Jiutai Mountain to see the sea of ​​clouds. There she met a reclusive female monk and they lived together for a few months. Now she has gone to Luzhou to see Feitian Mountain.”

"That's good." Gu Mo smiled. "She's pursuing the life she's always wanted to live."

"Sister Yan said she'll miss us!"

Gu Mo chuckled and said, "Let's go. Take me to a pharmacy now, a big one."

Gu Chudong asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"

"To make medicine and concoct poisons, to help you cultivate the Mingyu Kung Fu."

"what?"

Gu Mo smiled but didn't offer any further explanation.

Originally, he planned to use his Mingyu Gong and Frost Qi to forcibly help Gu Chudong refine the Ice Silkworm after obtaining it. However, later, he obtained the Medical Classic and the Poison Classic, thus gaining at least ten methods to fully refine the Ice Silkworm's energy.

Originally, he wasn't very confident in using the Ice Silkworm to help Gu Chudong break through to the eighth level, but now, combined with his medical skills, he was absolutely certain.

……

After returning to Linjiang City,
Gu Mo then entered a peaceful life, a tranquility and serenity far removed from the fighting and killing.

His main task each day was to assist Gu Chudong in refining the Ice Silkworm and guide him to break through the Bright Jade Technique. Besides that, he was constantly figuring out how to integrate the five types of true energy within Gu Chudong's body.

Tang Buyi visited twice, but after agreeing to go to Canglan Sword Sect together to attend Shen Bai's wedding after the New Year, Tang Buyi left Linjiang County and returned to Zhushan County for the New Year.

However, Chu Yuan, the inspector of the Six Doors, would occasionally come to Gu Mo's house to sit for a while, have some wine and a meal.

In general,

Gu Mo's life was relatively uneventful.

But Gu Chudong was always cheerful. Every few days, she would go out with Qu Xiao to buy New Year's goods. Even if she didn't buy anything and just spent most of the day shopping for nothing, she was still happy to do it.

Time flies, and soon it was New Year's Eve.

Quite coincidentally, Gu Chudong successfully refined the Ice Silkworm on this very day, and his Mingyu Gong broke through to the eighth level, the Flame Jade Rebirth Realm!
……

As the year draws to a close, Jiuyan Lane is bustling with activity, filled with people coming and going, and brimming with busyness and joy. The sound of footsteps crunching through the snow is the only sound, interspersed with laughter and cheerful chatter.

The shops along the street were decorated with lanterns and colorful lights. The bright red lanterns hung high and swayed gently in the wind, reflecting on the snow and adding a touch of warmth.

Red lanterns were hung everywhere in the Gu family compound, creating a festive atmosphere.

However, the Gu family courtyard was very quiet today.

Because Gu Chudong's breakthrough opportunity had arrived, Gu Mo had been protecting her the whole time. The two siblings were both inside the room, so it was naturally very quiet.

As a grandmaster of martial arts and a master of medicine, Gu Mo specially designed an absorption method for Gu Chudong, allowing her to fully absorb the energy of the Ice Silkworm. After more than ten days of refining, the Ice Silkworm's cold poison has completely permeated Gu Chudong's body.

At this moment, a critical point has been reached.

It was as if a great river had burst open, with energy surging wildly.

Gu Chudong, on the other hand, seized the opportunity to break through the barrier.

For ordinary people, this is a very dangerous process. Whether it is a breakthrough in martial arts or energy absorption, this process is bound to be extremely arduous.

However, with Gu Mo protecting her, Gu Chudong didn't need to worry about anything else; she only needed to focus on breaking through the barrier. The process lasted a long time, until it was completely dark, before the cold poison energy within Gu Chudong's body finally subsided.

Immediately afterwards, Gu Chudong broke through to the eighth level of Mingyu Gong in one go.

……

The snowstorm gradually subsided, and the icicles on the eaves reflected the pale moonlight.

Gu Chudong sat quietly in the room, seemingly unaware of anything. A faint blue aura rose from the point where she formed a seal on her palm, as still as the water of a cold pool.

Suddenly, the sound of firecrackers on New Year's Eve came from afar, but it seemed as if they were separated by mountains and rivers.

She slowly opened her eyes, her eyelashes adorned with ice crystals, while her pupils gradually became clear and transparent like glass. Her internal energy flowed like rivers returning to the sea, forming a closed loop within her eight extraordinary meridians. With each circulation, it drew the cold energy of heaven and earth into her dantian, transforming it into a clear light that nourished her limbs and bones.

As his inner force spread like a vortex, the snow outside suddenly floated in mid-air, yet remained solidified and did not disperse. It flew wildly through the window into the house, turning into snow rolls. Gu Chudong seemed to have merged with the endless snow.

Even Gu Mo, who was standing to the side, felt a chill.

Gu Chudong's breakthrough this time was different from the normal eighth level of Mingyu Gong, because the Ice Silkworm is an extremely cold natural treasure, and Mingyu Gong is also an extremely cold cultivation method. The two merged and completed a qualitative leap.

At this moment, in terms of pure internal strength, Gu Chudong far surpasses most top-tier masters in the martial arts world. At least, back at Fengming Ferry, when Gu Mo fought against six top-tier masters from the six major sects of Yunzhou, none of those six could now match Gu Chudong in terms of internal strength in a one-on-one battle.

Upon reaching the eighth level of the Mingyu Gong, one enters the state of perfect clarity and understanding. True Qi forms a closed loop within the body, continuously increasing rather than decreasing during its circulation, inexhaustible and ever-renewing. Furthermore, it generates a vortex-like suction force; when internal energy is released externally, it produces a magnetic field-like attraction that can pull opponents into the attack range or disrupt their rhythm. This characteristic effectively restricts an opponent's freedom of movement in actual combat and can even neutralize some external attacks.

Furthermore, Gu Chudong's Mingyu True Qi now contains the cold poison of the Ice Silkworm, making its strength several times greater, and its cold power is impossible to defend against.

However, Gu Mo was more concerned about the changes at the eighth level of the Mingyu Gong. Reaching the state of perfect clarity and the rebirth of the Flame Jade would cleanse and strengthen her physical constitution. In martial arts, she would reach a state of selflessness and detachment, meaning her comprehension would greatly improve. This state of "selflessness and detachment" was equivalent to being able to focus her mind without distraction at any time.

With the two factors combined,

Gu Chudong's average appearance will become a gift.

……

"so far so good!"

After calming down the turbulence of her newly broken-through true energy, Gu Chudong immediately checked the time. When she learned it was only Hai Shi (9-11 PM), she breathed a long sigh of relief and said, "It's not too late, it's not too late!"

Then she hurriedly ran into the kitchen.

Gu Mo knew that Gu Chudong wanted to cook a New Year's Eve dinner. Although he felt that as long as people were together, it didn't matter whether there was a New Year's Eve dinner or not, he could understand Gu Chudong's thoughts. So, he went into the kitchen to help.

Gu Chudong had prepared the ingredients for the New Year's Eve dinner well in advance, so it was quick to cook. In addition, Gu Mo used his true energy to start the fire, so the New Year's Eve dinner was ready in just half an hour, with a whole table full of dishes.

Considering it was New Year's Eve, Gu Mo made an unprecedented exception and allowed Gu Chudong to drink.

After finishing their meal, Gu Chudong pulled Gu Mo up to the roof to watch the fireworks.

Night fell, the sky dark and inky, only the fireworks illuminating the gloomy heavens.

The brother and sister sat side by side on the snow-covered roof tiles, as if enveloped in a layer of clear light.

Icicles hung from the eaves, reflecting tiny rays of light under the glow of the fireworks, like stars fallen to earth.

A thin layer of snow settled on the shoulders of the brother and sister, yet they felt no chill. Gu Chudong gently brushed the snowflakes from Gu Mo's hair, then tilted her head slightly to rest on Gu Mo's shoulder, her eyes reflecting the dazzling fireworks.

The city streets and alleys were bustling with people, filled with laughter and cheerful voices. Children ran and played in the snow, clutching unburnt firecrackers, their crackling sounds weaving a joyful melody of the New Year. Shops along the street were brightly lit, their crimson lanterns swaying in the cold wind, casting warm yellow glows onto the snow.

Fireworks exploded continuously in the sky, some like silver snakes dancing wildly, some like golden chrysanthemums blooming, and some like shooting stars streaking across the sky.

"Brother, do you think we can watch fireworks like this every year from now on?" Gu Chudong asked softly, her voice filled with anticipation.

Gu Mo nodded slightly and chuckled, "Of course, every year from now on, we'll be accompanied by fireworks."

"Then, will you stay with me all the time?"

"Will do."

The light from the fireworks shone on the two of them, casting two intertwined shadows.

(End of this chapter)