Chapter 69

Gu Tingshuang averted his gaze. “…You’re just trying to placate me. I know better.”

Gu Feiyin hadn’t returned to the Wangye’s estate for several days, and Ning Shiting didn’t ask about it. During this time, Ting Shu came by a few more times, though only once when Gu Tingshuang was present. 

Ever since his two encounters with the Snow Yao on Spirit Mountain, Gu Tingshuang realised that advancing his current Third Realm Spirit Mastery to the Fourth Realm was an urgent priority. However, breaking through this barrier was no easy feat, and he encountered some obstacles. This time, he had come to search Ning Shiting’s library, hoping to find inspiration from other spiritual cultivation techniques. 

This time, he was genuinely focused on finding books. When Ting Shu arrived to see Ning Shiting, the latter was sitting at the table with the little wolf, brewing tea and eating pastries, while Gu Tingshuang was rummaging through cabinets and shelves on the other side. 

By now, Ting Shu had come to accept Gu Tingshuang’s frequent presence—a replacement for his former position, someone who appeared at Ning Shiting’s side at any time for any reason. He no longer avoided Gu Tingshuang when speaking to Ning Shiting. 

But as Gu Tingshuang listened, all he heard was the same predictable chatter from the little brat: what he’d eaten or played with at the Baili estate, the sights he’d seen beyond Dongzhou and Xizhou... 

Conversations like these didn’t interest Gu Tingshuang. After confirming that Ning Shiting, his “prey,” wouldn’t waver in his loyalty due to Ting Shu’s presence, he contentedly returned to his cultivation practice. 

That evening, Gu Tingshuang returned from his training to find the sky already dark. He assumed he would, as usual, see Ning Shiting enjoying pastries with Ting Shu, but this time, he didn’t.

 Ning Shiting was not in the Fragrant Pavilion. When Gu Tingshuang asked Hulu, he learned that Ning Shiting had gone to the Civil Affairs Hall. 

Since Ning Shiting had feigned illness, the responsibilities of the Civil Affairs Hall had been handled by Hua Qiu in his place. Ning Shiting’s feigned illness was a tactic to appease Gu Feiyin and avoid the calamity of the Snow Yao that had entangled him and Ting Shu in their previous lives. 

Now that Ting Shu had been taken in by the Baili family, given the Baili family’s historical attitude toward the Qing Wang's estate, Ting Shu would no longer have any ties to the estate. Ning Shiting could protect Ting Shu only up to this point. As for the Snow Yao threat, he would still have to search for Bu Cangqiong, the one master he knew who might have the means to seal the s\Snow Yao if it grew too powerful. 

The Civil Affairs Hall remained operational, especially now with the severe snow disaster. Ning Shiting didn’t want the people of Xianzhou to lose a channel for seeking help, so the hall continued its work. Soul Returning Incense was still being produced, and Fen Lü had already mastered the methods for preparing the ingredients required in the early and middle stages. This was undoubtedly a significant support for Ning Shiting. 

Additionally, the master-disciple pair had begun experimenting with the preparation of the last of the Four Divine Incenses besides Soul Returning Incense—Zhen Sandalwood Death Repelling Incense, Nine Death Shroud Incense, and Obliterate All. This singular incense was a miraculous incense capable of sustaining immortals, preventing hunger, death, and decay while reinforcing their essence and fortifying their immortal forms. In the prolonged days of snow disasters, when supplies were frequently delayed, this incense could potentially be used to aid more people.

Lights flickered to life in the Office of Civil Affairs. The ailing Jiaoren, wrapped up as thickly as ever, sat at the front of the hall, flipping through case files.

After a while, a sudden “pa-da” sound came from beside him, and a round, the silver-white little wolf leapt onto him.

Not long after, another large lump jumped up as well.

Yueya and the little wolf squeezed together, both burrowing into his arms. Caught off guard, Ning Shiting lost his grip on the book he was holding and had to struggle to gather up the two heavy wolf cubs instead.

Gu Tingshuang wheeled himself closer and bent down to pick up the fallen papers. He glanced at them.

There was nothing written on the pages, but a distinctive emblem resembling a tiger or a hound stood out prominently.

Gu Tingshuang had seen this emblem all his life—it was the crest of the Gu family. Clearly, this was an order from Gu Feiyin.

“It’s so late—are you heading out?” Gu Tingshuang studied Ning Shiting. “An order from my father? Seems like pretending to be sick hasn’t done you much good.”

When Ning Shiting feigned illness at the Fragrant Pavilion, he never bothered to take care of his appearance. Now that he was actually sick, he was even more indifferent—his sleep robes were changed daily, but after that, he would simply wrap himself in layers of thick cloaks before going out to meet people.

But today was different. He had changed into the formal attire he only wore when presiding over court matters—a deep black robe embroidered with the Gu family crest. Over it, he wore a dark red cloak, which made his complexion look even paler. The candlelight reflected in his water-laden eyes, and for once, the usually indistinct pupils shone a vivid, eerie green, like a ghostly apparition.

But where could one find such an enchanting ghost? Gu Tingshuang couldn’t help but think about it subconsciously.

Ning Shiting said, “Major events can be avoided, but some minor matters are inevitable. Wangye ordered me to wait here—he claims to have found a master capable of dealing with the Snow Yao. Tonight, the restriction on Spirit Mountian will be loosened, and he wants me to go and observe. Later, I can draft a memorial to report to Bixia.”

Gu Tingshuang was puzzled. “The Spirit Mountian restriction? Isn’t it within the manor? Why do you need to leave?”

Ning Shiting replied, “At first, I thought the same. But after reading the Xizhou Chronicles, I learned that when the Wangye sealed Spirit Mountain back then, he did so by casting a formation at four points—east, west, south, and north—to anchor the mountain, which otherwise drifts without a fixed location. The seal within the Dianxia’s manor is the Western one. Perhaps it is fate that Dianxia is connected to the white wolves—heading west leads directly to the domain of the White Wolf God. The surrounding area is a sea of magma, and the Eternal Moon of Spirit Mountain, forming a natural barrier that blocks the Snow Yao’s path. That’s why the mountain cannot be accessed through the manor’s seal.”

Gu Tingshuang nodded. “That makes sense. So where do you plan to start?”

Ning Shiting said, “Wangye didn’t elaborate, only instructing me to go there first. Whatever I may think, he may not necessarily follow.”

Gu Tingshuang fell silent for a moment, unsure of what else to say. His fingers idly played with the divination lot tube on the table. Then, suddenly interested, he pushed it toward Ning Shiting. “Since you’re heading out, why not draw a lot before you go?”

He remembered that this Fuli Divination was eerily accurate—it had even predicted his last humiliating return.

Might as well recommend it to Ning Shiting.

Ning Shiting looked surprised as if he was aware that the Office of Civil Affairs had such a thing but had never used it himself.

Still, since Gu Tingshuang suggested it, he went along with it and casually drew a stick.

Gu Tingshuang leaned in. “What is the outcome?”

He heard Ning Shiting murmur softly, “Ah… seems like it’s not too good.”

Under the candlelight, a few lines of text gradually surfaced:

Great misfortune. The object sought lies in the southeast. Danger of a loss. A noble benefactor is expected.

“There’s a benefactor, yet it’s still a ‘great misfortune’ lot?” Gu Tingshuang asked.

Ning Shiting simply flipped the lot face down on the table with a calm gesture. “No need to dwell on it, Dianxia. My luck is always bad. No matter how many times I draw, I always end up with ominous lots—it’s been this way for years.”

Gu Tingshuang frowned. “I don’t believe it. You have bad luck like this?”

Ning Shiting was also a bit helpless.

His fate was exceptionally ill-starred—this was something Bu Cangqiong had calculated for him on the very day he became his disciple. The immortals held a deep faith in divination, and from childhood to adulthood, the rare occasions when Ning Shiting had entered a temple to seek a reading had all resulted in ominous omens.

Having endured misfortune his whole life, looking back now, it hardly seemed worth fretting over.

In his past life, he had lived through an existence of decline and ruin, yet even after death, he had somehow been reborn into a second life. Whether this was an extraordinary stroke of fortune or an even greater calamity, he still couldn’t tell.

Gu Tingshuang urged him to draw another lot. Resigned, Ning Shiting obliged, pulling another one. Sure enough, it was another ominous sign.

“How can this be?” Gu Tingshuang, having already witnessed the eerie accuracy of the Fuli Divination, paid close attention to the outcome.

He rummaged through the tube, picking out a lot at random. Seeing the words Moderate Fortune at the top, he hurriedly handed it to Ning Shiting, speaking in a tone that brooked no refusal: “Here. This is the one meant for you.”

Ning Shiting took it, but right before their eyes, the words on the jade lot twisted and shifted, morphing back into Great Misfortune, identical to the previous one.

Gu Tingshuang had forgotten that the Fuli Divination was different from the lots drawn in mortal temples—its inscriptions weren’t fixed, but rather determined by the identity of the one holding it.

Panicked, he grabbed several more jade lots and checked them one by one, hoping to find a different result.

But his efforts were in vain. Every lot in his hand showed Small Fortune, yet the moment they were passed to Ning Shiting, the inscriptions changed to Great Misfortune.

Finally, he picked out a lot that seemed different. Holding his breath, he looked at it closely—only to see the words:

“Youngster, don’t bother me.”

Gu Tingshuang: “…”

However, beside him, Ning Shiting let out a laugh.

Seeing Gu Tingshuang’s unconvinced expression, he reached out, gently took the jade lot from his hand, and tucked it into his sleeve.

At that moment, Ning Shiting’s gaze softened. “Dianxia, I appreciate your concern. The lot says that though my fortune is ill, a benefactor will appear tonight. Surely, that benefactor must be you, and you will help me turn misfortune into fortune.”

Gu Tingshuang averted his gaze. “…You’re just trying to placate me. I know better.”

Before he could say more, the lights outside the manor brightened. The immortal crane carriage sent to fetch Ning Shiting had arrived. After a series of relayed messages, a servant entered and respectfully urged, “Wangye requests your presence.”

Ning Shiting nodded slightly to Gu Tingshuang. “Dianxia, I’ll take my leave.”

But just as he was about to step away, he felt his wrist suddenly grasped.

“Wait a moment.” Gu Tingshuang lifted his eyes, his gaze sharp and unwavering. “Take me with you. I don’t trust you going to see my father alone.”

Ning Shiting was momentarily speechless. “This…”

Gu Tingshuang repeated firmly, “You are my person—my prey. I won’t allow my father to order you around at will. Take me with you. Didn’t you say I’m your benefactor tonight?”

Ning Shiting chuckled. “Dianxia, I am a Poison Jiaoren. Wangye… would not simply command me at his whim. And if you follow along like this, I’m afraid—” 

Before he could finish his sentence, he saw a golden flame flicker in the youth’s eyes.

The next moment, Ning Shiting froze in place, unable to move or speak.

Yueya darted forward, instantly returning to its normal size, pushing both Gu Tingshuang and his wheelchair away. Clearly, it was already quite adept at the task of “hiding a king who cannot move nor speak.”

Ning Shiting lowered his gaze and found a small, furry wolf nestled in his sleeve, its golden eyes staring straight at him.

This little wolf’s gaze…

This little wolf…

Why does it look so much like the Shizi?

Ning Shiting thought for a moment, then suddenly realised what had happened—this was exactly how the little wolf looked whenever it was displeased with him.

Because of this, he had categorised the wolf into two states: a little wolf that liked him and a little wolf that didn’t.

Tentatively, he called out, “Dian—Dianxia?”

Gu Tingshuang, his spirit now occupying the little wolf’s body, was pleased with Ning Shiting’s quick realisation. “Jiaoren, at least you’re not too slow—I didn’t have to waste much effort explaining.”

Except what came out was just a series of garbled growls.

Ning Shiting let out a quiet laugh and murmured, “Sir—ah.”(1)

He didn’t say anything further. Instead, he weighed the little wolf in his hands, tucked it securely into his robes, and walked out the door. The cloak draped over him concealed the small, furry stowaway, making it almost impossible to notice.

Foot Notes

1. He uses the formal word for “you” here.