CHAPTER 189: CHAPTER 56: REUNION WITH HUA SHIYU

"Fourth senior brother, did you really give that guy the antidote?" Gu Qingqing looked back, finding Yang Huan’s figure no longer visible, and turned curiously to ask Mu Chen.

"It’s the antidote," Mu Chen nodded and added, "but I added a little something extra."

"What kind of thing?" Gu Qingqing was very curious, knowing Mu Chen’s character, he wouldn’t easily let someone like Yang Huan off.

"Something that will make him impotent." Mu Chen blinked and said with a cheeky smile.

Upon hearing this, the others all looked at Mu Chen and then collectively gave him a thumbs up.

"For someone like Yang Huan, this kind of thing fits him best!" Yun Ran, who had learned about Yang Huan’s deeds before, already disliked him greatly, and now, hearing Mu Chen’s words, she was thoroughly pleased just thinking about Yang Huan’s plight!

"Exactly, this punishment is more unbearable for someone like him than death!" Zhuo Tingqiu chimed in from the side.

"Didn’t expect it, little Mu Chen has gone naughty too." Nan Hua fanned himself, teasingly remarked.

"Learned it all from senior brother." Mu Chen blinked, responding unabashedly.

Nan Hua was stumped for words, giving Mu Chen a resentful glare, "Ah, kids grow up and become disobedient." He said, shaking his head exaggeratedly.

Gu Qingqing and the others exchanged glances, amused by Nan Hua’s exaggerated expression, and burst into laughter, creating a very amiable atmosphere inside the carriage.

Qian San and his group were also headed to the Wuji Sect, sharing the same route with Gu Qingqing’s group, so they brought the three along, though they rode in a different carriage.

Their next stop was Baiyin City, a day’s journey from Galuo City. They set off early and would basically arrive before dark.

Baiyin City appeared larger than Galuo City, and its citizens seemed to be living better lives; there were also more trading caravans coming and going.

"Isn’t Baiyin City’s order supposed to be bad too? Similar to Galuo City, but it doesn’t seem like that at all?" Entering the city, Gu Qingqing observed the bustling streets, full of people and activity, and asked curiously.

"You folks are from out of town, right? Our Baiyin City was indeed quite chaotic like Galuo City before, but five years ago, a descendant of our City Lord ascended to Galuo City. Under his governance, the unruly families in Galuo City were taken care of, which brought about the current state of Baiyin City." An elderly man selling sweets overheard Gu Qingqing’s words and chimed in with a smile.

Hearing this, Gu Qingqing and her companions exchanged curious glances.

"That descendant of the City Lord is that impressive?" Gu Qingqing walked up to the stall and asked curiously.

"Of course, young master is the savior of the people of Baiyin City. Without him, we wouldn’t be living such good lives now." Mentioning the young master, the old man appeared very excited and respectful.

"How did he deal with those families? They’ve been rooted in Baiyin City for many years." Gu Qingqing placed a low-grade Spirit Stone on the old man’s stall, blinking her big eyes and asked curiously.

"I’m not sure exactly how he did it, I only know that those families were taken down one by one. Even if they were defiant, the young master suppressed them, his methods are very formidable!" The old man pocketed the Spirit Stone, stroking his beard as he spoke.

Without getting the answer she wanted, Gu Qingqing wasn’t upset, she simply thanked the old man and went with Yue Zhao and the others to find a place to stay.

By now, the sky had darkened. While the streets of Galuo City would have been deserted by now, Baiyin City was still bustling, with lamps lit everywhere, making it seem even more lively than daytime.

After walking for a while, they found a luxurious-looking inn, checked in, and went to their rooms to freshen up.

After freshening up, Gu Qingqing wanted to experience Baiyin City’s night market, so she dragged Jun Wu out with her.

"Baiyin City indeed seems much better than Galuo City. The descendants of the City Lord’s Mansion are quite remarkable, though I wonder what they’re like." Gu Qingqing said to Jun Wu as she observed the stalls on the street.

"Hmm, being able to deal with the entrenched families of Baiyin City in just five years shows some capability." Jun Wu, for once, agreed with Gu Qingqing.

Gu Qingqing nodded, buying a sugar-coated haw for both herself and Jun Wu. Jun Wu wanted to refuse, but Gu Qingqing shoved the haw into his mouth, leaving him to swallow with a frown.

Just as she was secretly laughing at Jun Wu’s expression, a commotion broke out ahead, and she immediately looked over.

"Brother, what’s happening up there? Why does it seem even more lively all of a sudden?" A man beside Gu Qingqing grabbed another man’s clothing to ask.

"Don’t you know? The young master has come out to parade the streets, and everyone wants to see him, that’s why it’s so lively." The man who was pulled aside glanced in surprise at the other man, explained briefly, then hurriedly pulled his clothes back and ran toward the crowd.

Gu Qingqing and Jun Wu, who overheard the conversation, exchanged a look. Gu Qingqing decisively headed toward the commotion in the crowd.

When they approached, they discovered that the people in front suddenly started parting to either side, as if making way for someone.

When the crowd split, Gu Qingqing saw the young man walking in the middle. She squinted her eyes, feeling that he looked familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere before.

The young man surrounded by the crowd also felt the same as Gu Qingqing, that man being Hua Shiyu.

While Gu Qingqing only had a vague impression of him, Hua Shiyu remembered her quite well. After all, when Gu Qingqing was just ten years old, she was already so formidable, and her senior brothers were all very powerful, making a lasting impression on Hua Shiyu!

Of course, what impressed him the most was during the beast tide, the sight of Gu Qingqing slaying demon beasts among the hordes!

Gu Qingqing’s features were still somewhat similar to when she was young, and since Hua Shiyu had a strong impression of her, he immediately thought of Gu Qingqing when he saw her.

He withdrew in front of Gu Qingqing and the others, hesitated for a moment, then spoke up, "Excuse me, are you Gu Qingqing from the Xuantian Continent?"

"I am," Gu Qingqing nodded, "Have we met somewhere before?"

"I’m Hua Shiyu." Upon hearing Gu Qingqing acknowledge her identity, Hua Shiyu was very happy, a bit disappointed that Gu Qingqing couldn’t remember his name, but still quite pleased that she could recall him!

Once Hua Shiyu spoke, Gu Qingqing immediately remembered who he was, looking at him with a bit of surprise.

"Weren’t you going to become the emperor? Why did you choose to ascend?" She was indeed rather surprised, Hua Shiyu had risked so much to head to another country, surely he had big ambitions, yet in the end, he chose to ascend to the Sub-immortal Realm?

"I wanted to be emperor mainly for my concubine mother, but after I ascended, my father and the next emperor would certainly not dare treat her badly. As long as my mother is living well, I have no regrets." Hua Shiyu briefly explained.

Gu Qingqing nodded, observing the people accompanying Hua Shiyu, and thought to herself, "Aren’t you the one they say solved the families in Baiyin City in five years, turning Baiyin City into what it is now?"

She was only speculating, because the people just now mentioned a young master here, and since Hua Shiyu came out from among the crowd and those people seemed very respectful toward him, his identity was surely extraordinary.

"That’s me," Hua Shiyu said somewhat bashfully, rubbing his fingers, "The City Lord of Baiyin City is a senior from our Hua Family. Because of those families, even as City Lord, he was quite wretched. After my ascension, I ended up in Baiyin City, which was a kind of fate, and I wanted to help the senior. As you know, given my background, dealing with those families wasn’t too difficult."

Hua Shiyu appeared very humble; helping the other was only because after arriving in the Sub-immortal Realm, he wasn’t sure of what to do and had no support, so he chose to assist the City Lord.

Gu Qingqing nodded in understanding at Hua Shiyu’s reasoning.

"You’re quite impressive then," Gu Qingqing rarely praised him, "Baiyin City has been in chaos for so many years, famous even in the Sub-immortal Realm, and many have tried to govern it but couldn’t handle those families. Yet you managed to solve it!"

These were things Gu Qingqing learned from Yue Zhao, so she was a bit curious when hearing about the person governing there.

"Perhaps I was just lucky. For other things, I might be clumsy, but when it comes to scheming and political maneuvering, it’s straightforward for me." His education since childhood aimed toward governing the nation, aligned with his professional background, so he naturally found it easy to do well.

Gu Qingqing nodded, indicating her understanding.

"What brings Miss Gu to Baiyin City, are you just visiting?" He was eager to know more about Gu Qingqing, so he asked.

"No, I’m just passing through. We are headed to the Wuji Sect." Gu Qingqing shook her head, revealing their destination.

Upon hearing Wuji Sect, recent matters related to Wuji Sect flashed in Hua Shiyu’s mind, "Are you going to attend the Double Cultivation Ceremony of the Wuji Sect Master’s son?"

"Yes, that’s the reason." There was nothing to hide about this, so Gu Qingqing admitted it frankly.

"Coincidentally, a senior, who is a friend of the Wuji Sect Master, also received an invitation, and he wants me to go. Would it be possible for me to travel with Miss Gu and your party?" Hua Shiyu’s eyes glimmered with expectancy as he inquired.

"No." Before Gu Qingqing could say anything, Jun Wu expressionlessly refused, pulling Gu Qingqing closer to his side.

"Miss Gu?" Hua Shiyu had actually noticed Jun Wu’s presence long ago, but had chosen to ignore it. Now, hearing Jun Wu’s words, he couldn’t help but look to Gu Qingqing.