How Much For Your Soul?

Chapter 58

An awkward silence soon ensured after Gu Bei left to buy the herbs necessary for the cure. Shen Yue silently observed Gu Lan from the side. Pretending to be a servant would mitigate any scrutiny, but it also didn't allow him any chance to probe the guests for information. Gu Lan looked roughly eighteen or nineteen years old, and if she hadn't been sick for so many years, she would have definitely been a beauty. He was just about to command Hua Ling to say something when she suddenly spoke.

"Thank you, sir, for saving me." Said Gu Lan, her speech was neither fast nor slow, making listeners feel as though a cool breeze had blown by.

"You're being too polite, miss Gu. It's only natural for one to try their best when completing the missions from Cultivation Hall." Hua Ling replied as he lightly smiled.

Gu Lan nodded and continued to sit in a quiet mood. She pondered for a brief moment before she found a topic to talk about. "I wonder where sir came from?"

"I hail from the Little Heaven Realm, miss Gu. I would be surprised if you had ever heard of it."

Gu Lan had indeed never heard of such a minor Realm, after all, thousands of them were connected to the Draconic Ruins. With that conversational topic shut down, she could only ask another question to fill the awkward silence.

"You are very young to be such an accomplished physician, how come you are not better known? With your skills, the Sect would have financed your education or at the very least, offer you an apprenticeship."

"I'm afraid that I chafe under the control of others. I would have been content to practice medicine in anonymity if not for my father's current situation and my need for spiritual stones." Hua Ling wistfully informed her.

"A pity you did not need spiritual stones three years ago! I have not enjoyed the experience of being ostracised by my entire Clan and family. If it is not too rude to ask, what situation does your father find himself in that would force you to reveal your skills?" Gu Lan continued, her ashen white face still devoid of any emotion.

"I'm afraid it is nothing exciting, my father is competing for the position of Chief Enforcer of the Outer Division. Since he has supported me since childhood, the least I could do was secure him some support to fulfil his goals."

As Hua Ling and Gu Lan were chatting, Gu Bei quickly ran over with a bowl of brewed herbs. "This is the medicine that I concocted. Sister, give it a try." Gu Bei said as he passed it to her.

Gu Lan nodded as she received the bowl from Gu Bei, lowered her head, and started drinking. She had such a calm countenance that her expression remained as placid as ever, even as she swallowed the medicine. Her brows slightly frowned for a brief moment as she shut her eyes, searching for any change in her soul realm.

Gu Bei looked at her anxiously. After a brief moment, Gu Lan opened her eyes, looked at Hua Ling and said, "This medicine can indeed relieve the poison in my body. I can already sense traces of changes in my veins! Thank you so much for helping!" She couldn't help the small smile that graced her face as she thanked Hua Ling, it was the most emotion she had shown in years.

Gu Lan never imagined that this medicine would take effect so quickly. She'd always thought that her illness was incurable, so she'd gradually sealed away her heart. That is, until today. At last, she could see a trace of light in her life.

"It's good that it can help miss Gu Lan with your illness, you should follow this prescription for a month. After that, I'll change it to another prescription. After this treatment, I can guarantee that miss Gu Lan will be rid of her illness!"

Gu Bei was extremely excited. He had his doubts that the medicine would actually work, but as long as it could cure his sister's illness, he'd be willing to sacrifice anything.

"This is the reward for curing my sister. If you need any help in the future, don't hesitate to say the word. As long as I'm capable of accomplishing it, I will!" Gu Bei patted himself on the chest as he spoke and passed an interspatial ring filled with spiritual stones over to Hua Ling.

Hua Ling didn't check the contents of the ring, if Gu Bei ripped him off, the damage to his reputation would cost a hundred times the amount in the ring. Unlike with Nie Li, there was no talk of returning any spiritual stones for any overpayment. One thousand five hundred spiritual stones were nothing to the Gu Clan, even if it was all of Gu Bei's personal money. If a famed doctor had been called to cure Gu Lan, the amount would have been closer to a hundred thousand spiritual stones.

Shen Yue transmitted new instructions to Hua Ling as he stood and moved to gather the untouched, and now cold tea that he had served when they first arrived. He had not bothered to drug their drinks, as the Gu siblings were already cautious and on edge to start with. If they had a method to check for poison, Gu Lan could have wiped the floor with them, even as sick as she was. At the very least, she could cause enough of a disturbance to draw the attention of witnesses.

"Now that you have seen that my claims were true and that I am indeed able to cure your sister, I wonder if you have had a chance to think of the future? With already one attack on your sister, if you continue to live within the Gu Clan, you will need to proceed cautiously." Probed Hua Ling.

Gu Lan and Gu Bei's parents had died early. Although the children themselves were direct descendants with extraordinary talent, Gu Lan had lost the qualifications to become the Patriarch's successor because of her paralysis. Unless Gu Bei's cultivation suddenly soared, he also won't qualify as the successor. In the eyes of others, Gu Bei had always been a bit of a wastrel. However, in reality, Gu Bei had worked very hard towards his cultivation, and his talent wasn't inferior to his sister's.

"Sir, you don't have to be worried." Gu Lan naturally understood what Hua Ling was asking. "After this experience, I'm well aware that within our family are people after our lives. Since sir can cure me of my poison, we will conceal everything concerning the matter. As far as the outside world is concerned, I'll still be a handicapped person."

Hearing this, Gu Bei clenched his fists and stared at the ground in frustration. Their so-called Clan had actually been behind all of his family's problems! In this world, only his sister mattered to him, and his own Clan had actually been behind her pain and depression for the last three years! His mind was suddenly filled with different thoughts, but it was clear to everyone watching that revenge was the most predominant topic on his mind.

Hua Ling smiled, "The way I see it, you have three paths that you can walk. The first is to endure this attack and quietly continue with the status quo. The second is to fight back and become the next successor to the Clan, maybe even poison the one responsible. And the third is to leave the Clan and strike out on your own."

Gu Bei looked up at Hua ling, and his eyes seemed to glow with resolve, but it was the quiet Gu Lan that was the one to answer. "You are wrong, there is a fourth path. Destroy the Gu Clan and then build our own Clan."

Shen Yue was not expecting to hear such a vicious response from the seemingly frail woman. He had wanted to use this opportunity to draw the Gu siblings to his new faction, but destroying the mighty Gu Clan was a very bold move! Gu Heng was nothing to be concerned about, but there were many powerful elders and hidden experts that could squash them like bugs, Sect rules be damned! He quickly sent new instructions to Hua Ling.

"Miss Gu, I think you are aiming a little high. From my research into your problem, Gu Heng and his supporters were responsible for your situation. The rest of the Clan was content just to sit back and watch it play out.

Even if you want revenge, it will take years to achieve it, and the Divine Feathers Sect will not just sit back and watch you whittle away at one of their power bases. They would gladly wipe you out in favour of retaining their current strength, one or two low Realm children over a powerful Clan? You wouldn't know how you died!

But you are right about not letting them go unpunished, here is my plan..."