Chapter 13: Shackles Removed
Fu Yuying lightly nodded, then dismissed the two people inside the room.
Although Chunchao was somewhat worried about Shen Yanzhou’s safety, at this moment she could only leave first.
“Saintess, this is—?”
Shen Yanzhou had been closing his eyes when he suddenly felt the pool water ripple, as if a fish had slipped in, stirring up the waves.
He instinctively opened his eyes, only to see Fu Yuying also removing the peach-blossom-embroidered outer robe, stepping lightly into the pool, and sitting down not far from him.
Her fair skin at the neck, pale as snow and bright as moonlight, was dazzling to the eyes, yet her entire expression was incomparably cold.
The water soon submerged her waist, and thin strands of white mist rose, making her figure indistinct and hazy.
“To expel poison, one must first draw it out. Those few items could only stir the toxins in your body. To completely lead them out, I must personally take action.”
“In the pool, mist rises and clouds the vision. You and I keep a proper distance—there is no transgression here.” Fu Yuying’s tone was calm.
Shen Yanzhou had not expected that the process of resolution would be this complicated.
He nodded.
Although the white mist in front of him made everything indistinct, some inexplicable emotions still rose within him.
The woman before him was acknowledged by all hidden sects deep in the southern mountains as the foremost prodigy and the number one beauty.
In the original plot, not even the protagonist’s group managed to win her over.
After resolving the threat of the Demon Suppression King intimidating the southern sects, this extraordinary woman had led her sect into seclusion, vanishing completely.
Soon, Shen Yanzhou felt the water growing warm.
From Fu Yuying’s slender hand, the Purifying Nirvana Gu exhaled a faint breath.
Strands of sacred crystalline silk slowly melted into the water, followed by thicker mists surging upward, as though this were an immortal’s ascension pool.
“Still your mind.” Fu Yuying, sensing Shen Yanzhou’s emotional fluctuations, spoke softly.
Shen Yanzhou stopped overthinking.
He gathered his spirit inward, and his heart grew as calm as a still well.
He felt faint streams of warmth flowing from the pool, merging inside his frail body, where his blood and qi gave off dim, eerie glimmers.
Those eerie lights, like maggots on bones, were buried deep in his meridians like scars, constantly devouring what little vitality and spirit he had left.
“These are the Nether Breaths, remnants left by the Nether Curse…” Fu Yuying explained, seemingly understanding Shen Yanzhou’s condition.
If this curse were not removed, he might not survive the year.
Gurgle, gurgle—
The heated water churned, the white mist surged, soon shrouding the entire room.
Shen Yanzhou felt the dim, eerie glimmers within him being slowly carried away by the warm current, and his body grew inexplicably lighter.
It was like a bedridden patient stepping outside for the first time, sunlight spilling warmly on him—the kind of comfort words could never convey.
He did not know how much time had passed.
Shen Yanzhou felt as though he had dozed off, or perhaps had only rested his eyes for an instant.
When he opened them again, the mist filling the room had completely dispersed.
Fu Yuying was draped once more in her peach-blossom-embroidered light robe, reclining lazily on a soft couch, propping her cheek with one hand.
Her expression carried a trace of weariness.
A few strands of smooth dark hair fell forward, which she absentmindedly twirled around her fingers.
The Purifying Nirvana Gu, shaped like a silkworm, now appeared drowsy, feeble in spirit.
It lay in a wooden box, gnawing weakly at a few branches that glowed faintly with violet light.
Shen Yanzhou rose from the pool.
“How long has it been?”
“Three hours,” Fu Yuying answered, glancing at him.
“It seems the Nether Curse has indeed been resolved.” Shen Yanzhou looked at his status panel.
【Name: Shen Yanzhou】
【Techniques: None】
【Secret Arts: None】
【Realm: None】
【Available Basic Points: 0 (115.11/100)】
“Don’t be too optimistic. The Purifying Nirvana Gu has only suppressed the Nether Gu. It is temporary. Once the Nether Gu matures in its master’s hands and advances to Second Grade, it will break free of suppression. By then, its master will know that the Nether Curse in your body has been dissolved.” Fu Yuying warned.
Shen Yanzhou smiled.
“For me, this much time is already enough.”
The Demon Suppression King had planted the Nether Curse in the original body not only to control his life, but also to prevent him from cultivating—whether inner force or Daoist spiritual energy, all would be gradually devoured.
For Shen Yanzhou, now free of the Nether Curse, it was as if his shackles had fallen away.
With any cultivation method in hand, and by investing basic points, he could swiftly advance from entry to mastery, even reaching the peak.
Shen Yanzhou already had a goal in mind.
Once he obtained that inheritance, he would be completely at ease.
“Next, you should show your sincerity.”
Fu Yuying cared nothing for Shen Yanzhou’s future plans.
What she wanted was to know the true heir’s identity, so that she could safeguard her sect.
“The true heir’s name is Shen Tian.”
“These days, he has been training with the Demon Suppression Army in the southern frontier. If your sect had been paying attention, you should have known of him. However, by noon today, he had already arrived in the capital and is now living at the Wu Residence.” Shen Yanzhou smiled faintly.
Drive away the wolf, let in the tiger—Shen Tian was about to enjoy some trouble.
“Shen Tian?”
Fu Yuying was slightly surprised, her bright eyes flickering with thought.
This name she had indeed heard before—a newly promoted young Vice Captain in the Demon Suppression Army.
It was said that he was highly valued by the Demon Suppression King, had achieved multiple merits, destroyed several monster lairs.
Rumors even claimed the Demon Suppression King intended to adopt him as a foster son.
Never had she thought that this man was the true heir.
…
“Chunchao, return to the mansion.”
By the time Shen Yanzhou left that place and returned to the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion, it was already nearly the Hour of the Ox.
Chunchao had been waiting outside in the courtyard with her sword the entire time.
Although curious, she did not presume to ask what Shen Yanzhou and the Saintess of Luofu Cloud Cavern had spoken of.
After returning, she went toward the Emerald Bamboo Courtyard.
At this hour, Yu Chenyu would usually already be asleep.
Shen Yanzhou could not be bothered whether Chunchao would report to her or not.
Back in his room, after a simple wash, he went straight to bed.
With the Nether Curse no longer a looming threat, his sleep was deep and peaceful.
The next morning.
Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, falling across Shen Yanzhou’s face.
He rubbed his eyes awake, faintly sensing a lingering, delicate fragrance from last night.
“It’s time to consider dealing with Wu Ruyue.”
“If I want that inheritance, the most suitable tool is still her.”
With the maidservants’ help, Shen Yanzhou rose, dressed, and washed, his mind already turning over strategies.
Just then, a mental notification came: Negative emotions from Wu Ruyue +3 +4 +5…
“Thinking of me so early in the morning, hehe…”
Shen Yanzhou smiled faintly.
After finishing his wash, he headed toward the Emerald Bamboo Courtyard to pay respects to his nominal mother, Yu Chenyu.