Chapter 247 - 118: Gu Xiangzhu: If I Take the Initiative to Kiss Him, Then I’m Not Being Passive, Am I?

Chapter 247: Chapter 118: Gu Xiangzhu: If I Take the Initiative to Kiss Him, Then I’m Not Being Passive, Am I?

As for the idea that "a great stir in the Divine Cocoon means the Saint Monarch will surely make a comeback," that was merely her own speculation.

This time, the Divine Pupa Fragment had stirred again, but it had grown even dimmer.

She truly couldn’t be sure what situation the Saint Monarch was in now.

She was starting to panic.

Seeing Huangfu Song’s devout expression, Shuimo finally made up her mind, but she still asked another question, "You’ve been undercover in the Tenth Prince’s Mansion these past few days. Have you learned anything? What kind of person is Zhao Ci, exactly?"

Huangfu Song quickly took a piece of paper from his robes and handed it to her. "Miss Shuimo, look. This is a list of everyone I’ve observed during the Martial Arts Competition who fits your criteria.

Most of those who could be considered to be making a comeback are Civilian Mansion Officials.

Although some scions of the great clans have also lost quite a few matches, most of them are simply not in their prime yet. Their innate talent is exceptional.

Only three people fit the criteria, and all of them are in the Tenth Prince’s Mansion.

One is Yang Mo, another is Feng Kucha, and the last is Zhao Ci.

Zhao Ci has only recently begun his rise.

The other two just obtained Heavenly and Earthly Treasures from the Merit Library and are very likely to gain momentum because of it.

But none of these three men resemble the Lord Saint Monarch in any way.

Yang Mo is timid and shrinking. You could toss him on a trash heap and no one would give him a second glance.

Feng Kucha is just an old lecher. Although he’s eager to achieve something, his mind is filled with matters of Kucha all day long.

Zhao Ci has the heart of an expert, but he’s abrasive on the outside and soft on the inside. He’s nothing like the Lord Saint Monarch..."

Shuimo shook her head. "Since the Lord Saint Monarch has already been reborn, he is a completely new person. You mustn’t let your preconceived notions cloud your judgment."

"A new person?"

Huangfu Song was taken aback. "If the Lord Saint Monarch was reborn just to become a new person, then what’s the point of this reincarnation?"

Shuimo looked at the Divine Pupa Fragment with sorrow in her eyes. "Actually, this is what happened..."

「Finally.」

She told him everything she knew from beginning to end.

Huangfu Song was stunned. He never expected that the Saint Monarch would, for the sake of a bet, voluntarily reincarnate as an utterly mediocre person—or even... become someone else entirely.

’The Seventh Transformation was already so powerful!’

’Xiang Tiange is dead, so who could possibly be your rival?’

’Did he really have to pursue the Eighth Transformation?’

"So..."

Huangfu Song felt a headache coming on. "The Lord Saint Monarch might be on this list, but it’s also possible he was barred from entry by the threshold for the competition between the Prince’s Mansions?"

Shuimo nodded. "That’s right! However, the people on this list are still the most likely candidates. But I don’t want to take any chances. So, Guardian Song, I must trouble you to pay close attention to these individuals. You must also continue to monitor those who failed to enter a Prince’s Mansion but remained in Lingge as Junior Officials.

If any of the Civilian Mansion Officials from the various Mansions die, their replacements can be chosen from these Junior Officials.

Focus on observing who shows signs of practicing demonic techniques.

You must be fast.

The competition between the Mansions is too cruel. I’m afraid the Lord Saint Monarch..."

"Don’t worry, Miss Shuimo. I will do my utmost!"

Huangfu Song promised solemnly, but still hesitated. "But if we interfere with the Lord Saint Monarch’s plan like this, when the time comes..."

Shuimo gritted her teeth. "When that time comes, I will bear all the blame. I just want him back!"

"Alright!"

Huangfu Song nodded with grim determination.

Shuimo added a warning, "Also, you must be careful of Gu Xiangzhu. She came to see me today and was clearly trying to fish for information. The Lord Saint Monarch is too vulnerable right now. He cannot withstand her torment."

Huangfu Song finally asked the question that had been weighing on his mind. "Zhao Ci is quite close to her now. Do you think it’s possible that Gu Xiangzhu already knew...?"

"Impossible!"

Shuimo shook her head. "Besides the Lord Saint Monarch, I am the only one who knows that the Celestial Demon Dissolution allows for reincarnation. Gu Xiangzhu could never have figured that out. Judging by Zhao Ci’s current performance, I’m afraid Gu Xiangzhu has already developed ideas of replacing the Lord Saint Monarch.

If Zhao Ci is the Lord Saint Monarch, that would actually be a good thing.

At least it could suppress Gu Xiangzhu’s rebellious heart."

"But..."

"Are you trying to say that you’ve acted against Zhao Ci in the past?"

"Yes! If Zhao Ci really is the Saint Monarch, I must ask Miss Shuimo to put in a good word for me!"

"No problem!"

"Also..."

"What is it?"

"In the Black Fog Space, Zhao Ci once used the Celestial Demon Body. Gu Xiangzhu must have taught him. I’m afraid the sign of practicing demonic techniques can’t be used as the basis for judging whether Zhao Ci is the Saint Monarch."

"This is really getting troublesome!"

Shuimo’s gaze turned sharp. "Gu Xiangzhu really is a bitch!"

...

「Wangshu Palace.」

Gu Xiangzhu frowned. For some reason, she’d just had a sudden urge to sneeze.

Logically speaking, with her current level of cultivation, there was no reason for her to have such a reaction.

’Could it be...’

’Is someone cursing me?’

’Or maybe...’

’Someone’s missing me?’

’It couldn’t be the kiddo, could it?’

The image of Zhao Ci looking like a lovestruck young man suddenly popped into Gu Xiangzhu’s mind. ’That’s very likely,’ she thought.

’This young man is so clingy!’

She shook her head and looked again at the "Alcohol Refining Technique" manual Zhao Ci had left for her that night. She felt more and more that this boy was a true prodigy.

He had taken the Brewing Skill that Alchemists always looked down on and worked wonders with it, turning the tables and teaching those same Alchemists a lesson that left them completely submissive.

And the kiddo was very thoughtful.

He had even marked up the more difficult-to-understand details with notes in the margins.

There was a lot of content.

So the characters were very small.

But they were written so neatly that they weren’t difficult to make out at all.

After just a few read-throughs, she had completely committed the Alchemy of Wine to memory.

’This kiddo is really...’

’No!’

She quickly touched the corners of her lips and pulled down the slight upward curve that had formed there.

’This is not good!’

Gu Xiangzhu felt a jolt of alarm, feeling more than ever that her master was right: a Demon Cultivator must never fall in love.