Beneath the Altar - Chapter 4

“I told you I was going to the next village. How did you find me?” I asked.

“When you gave me the talismans, I had a vague feeling you were keeping something from me.”

Gu Changsheng’s breathing was rapid and labored. He was exhausted, but showed no intention of setting me down to rest.

After I left, he had asked an inn attendant where I was going. When he learned I had gone toward Sea-Wail Cliff, he grew uneasy. Then the innkeeper told him the message I had left, and he went out to find me at once.

But his blindness meant it had taken him more than half a day to cover the same route.

“If I haven’t returned in three days, head north.” He gave an almost inaudible huff of laughter. “Such a small young lady. Such big plans.”

“Couldn’t let both of us end up dead here, could I?”

As I muttered, something in his tone struck me as odd.

“Gu Changsheng, are you… angry?”

He didn’t answer, continuing slowly through the darkness with heavy steps.

“We were strangers, miss. Why would you risk your life for me?”

After a long silence, I heard him sigh.

“We’ve known each other for over half a month. How are we strangers?”

He shook his head. “Miss Su, I was happy when you said you would help me return to the cultivation world. When I learned I might see again, I found hope once more. But none of that can come at the cost of your life.”

His cool, clear voice washed over me with the pouring moonlight.

“My life changed without warning. My cultivation was destroyed, and I was left alone in this world. Whether I regain my sight, whether I live or die—none of that matters to me anymore. Even if that wretched disciple takes me to his demonic lair, it will only be the fruit of the seed I planted myself. This is my trial. I must bear it.”

Helplessness filled his voice. “But you are different. You had nothing to do with any of it. You saved me from suffering, and I cannot thank you enough. But I truly don’t deserve any more of your kindness…”

“That’s not true, Gu Changsheng,” I interrupted. “I believe I came here to save you.”

“You were the bright moon, the person closest to the realm of immortals. Someone else’s malice shouldn’t have dragged you down here.” My arms tightened around his neck. “I hate stories where gods fall into the dirt. The moon belongs in the sky, shining on everyone.”

“There’s a form of torture worse than death: having your identity stripped away, your freedom shackled, your will destroyed. Being played with like a doll without a soul.”

I was sure Gu Changsheng understood. He had lived alongside Lu Zefeng for twelve years. There was no way he hadn’t noticed what that man wanted.

“If one day you truly have to die, it can’t be at Fengyue Hall. And it certainly can’t be at that vicious dog’s hands.”

“An untouchable flower can only die on its altar.”

Small lights appeared in the distance. It was the way we had come.

A painful ache filled Gu Changsheng’s heart. He didn’t know what to say.

He had devoted himself to the Dao. If he could, he, too, wished to die for the sake of all living beings.

“Let me be your hero, Gu Changsheng,” I said.

“I want to lift you back onto your altar with my own hands. I want you back in that world untouched by mortal dust, fulfilling your duties. And when that happens, I’ll be your very first believer…”

The wound on my forehead throbbed. My spell of lucidity was ending; everything was getting hazy again.

“Su Xi, why are you so good to me?”

His voice was low and rough. Where I couldn’t see, emotion moved across his face.

“Because I’m your…”

“Career fan.”

The branch in my leg hadn’t pierced the bone.

The physician said a few days of ointment would fix it.

The more serious injury was the one on my forehead.

Gu Changsheng was worried. At Fengyue Hall, he had once been present when two wealthy young men fought. One smashed a vase over the other’s head, and the injured man was left witless.

On our way back, that possibility hadn’t occurred to him.

Not until I started talking nonsense like “career fan.” Then he realized how serious this might be.

“Where I come from, being a career fan means that as long as you’re faithful to your calling, I’ll always like you and support you!”

I explained helplessly, “I’m not delirious.”

Gu Changsheng said nothing more. Apparently, my words were a little too direct for him.

The bloodspirit herb wouldn’t work immediately. Since I couldn’t move around much anyway, we put off leaving for a few days.

During that time, I kept asking Gu Changsheng to teach me how to use talismans and recite spells.

Even talismans that anyone could use still depended on talent.

Take Gu Changsheng. Although he was now essentially an ordinary mortal, the fire he summoned with a talisman could fill the entire room.

Someone as obviously untalented as me could only produce a tiny flame—like a cigarette lighter.

My sole contribution on a battlefield would probably be lighting the enemy’s cigarettes.

I was terribly nervous on the day his sight fully returned.

Something that had taken hundreds of chapters in the original novel was happening today, because of me!

I removed the band over his eyes.

Gu Changsheng slowly lifted his gaze. The mist had cleared from his eyes. They were bright and clear as though washed by rain, yet as deep as the still water of a cold pool.

The moment our eyes met, my heart started thumping for no reason.

“What’s wrong?”

Seeing me turn away, he sounded puzzled.

I covered my face in shame. “Your fully upgraded form is too dazzling. Have mercy. I’m no match for it.”

I heard a soft laugh.

Through the fabric of his sleeve, Gu Changsheng moved my hand away.

With the sight he had lost and regained, he looked at me and said softly, “Su Xi. Thank you.”

He was so earnest that I grew a little embarrassed myself.