Gu Qingfeng did not speak, merely gazing at Cang Yan.
“What? Did I say something wrong?” Cang Yan wore an expression of pure innocence. “Or have I remembered incorrectly—did Yun Nishang also lose herself?”
“What do you think?”
“Ah! I suddenly remember now. It seems Yun Nishang, just like Jun Xuanji, buried her own soul… lost herself… What a pity, truly a pity.” Cang Yan shook her head, sighing. “Many of your former flames experienced the Desolate Ancient Era. Sadly, they all lost themselves… Why don’t you go ask Feng Zhuyue, Tang Hengheng, and Ye Tianlan? Perhaps they also experienced the Desolate Ancient Era…”
Gu Qingfeng knew Cang Yan was deliberately teasing him, and he couldn’t be bothered to respond. His mind was wholly occupied with thoughts of the Desolate Ancient Era.
No matter how he pondered, he couldn’t understand what bizarre events had transpired in the Desolate Ancient Era to produce so many bearers of Original Sin. Moreover, what terrifying experiences had these bearers of Original Sin endured? Why were some utterly annihilated, some hiding in the abyssal depths of hell, and many others banished to the Gui Xu?
Looking at Genggu Wuming across from him, Gu Qingfeng couldn’t fathom whether this woman genuinely didn’t know or simply refused to say.
After a moment of contemplation, Gu Qingfeng asked again, “Nameless Sister, how many Original Sin Anomalies do you think are imprisoned within the Gui Xu?”
“I do not know.”
“You’ve never been there?”
“No.”
“Fine.” Gu Qingfeng pondered a while longer before speaking again. “I’ve heard that even demon gods and ghost deities like Chiyou, Xingtian, Shen Tu, and Hou Qing are also Original Sin Anomalies?”
“Legend says they are.”
“Legend? You don’t know either?”
“I do not.”
“So then…” Gu Qingfeng rubbed his chin, probing further. “So these demon gods and ghost deities were also banished to the Gui Xu during the Desolate Ancient Era?”
“Perhaps.”
“Perhaps?”
“They may have been banished to the Gui Xu during the Desolate Ancient Era… or perhaps…” Genggu Wuming paused before continuing, “…they were banished during the Daoless Age… Or perhaps they were never banished to the Gui Xu at all.”
“Ha!” Gu Qingfeng let out a strange laugh. “I say, Sister Nameless, aren’t you being a bit too unprofessional in your role as the Causality Incarnation, Fate Envoy? Whatever I ask, you either don’t know or answer with ‘perhaps.’ Even if you’ve forgotten events before the Primordial Era, surely you can deduce something through divination?”
“The Karma of you Original Sin Anomalies is inherently chaotic and disordered. How do you expect me to deduce anything?”
“This…” Gu Qingfeng was momentarily speechless, truly at a loss for a rebuttal.
“Alright, let’s leave the Desolate Ancient Era talk here. Let’s return to the main topic. You said earlier there were five reasons why you didn’t banish me to the Gui Xu back then. I believe you only mentioned the third reason. What’s the fourth?”
“Back then, I saw that you had grown weary of the endless slaughter, only wishing to drift through the mortal world and enjoy a carefree life. Most importantly, you were innately averse to Karma, particularly hostile to fate, and had no interest whatsoever in Original Sin…”
“So, you changed my fate from Gu Tianlang to Gu Qingfeng, correct?”
“I hoped you could be like a gentle breeze—arriving softly, departing softly—without disturbing the already riddled Karmic order or the long-chaotic laws of fate in the Myriad Heavens.”
“And the fifth reason?”
“When I found you back then, some people came to see me—more than one. Their purpose was the same: they hoped I would show leniency and not banish you to the Gui Xu. ‘Hoped’ is putting it mildly; they were essentially there to stop me from banishing you.”
“Oh? There was such a thing?” Gu Qingfeng asked, “Who were they?”
“I do not wish to answer that question.”
“Why?”
“No reason.”
Since Genggu Wuming refused to say, Gu Qingfeng had no choice but to rely on his own speculation. However, without any leads or evidence, it was difficult to guess.
After much thought, he could only think of Jun Xuanji, and perhaps Yun Nishang and Canyang Wuyou. In Gu Qingfeng’s view, during the Primordial Era, those who knew he was an Original Sin Anomaly, could guess Genggu Wuming’s intent to banish him, and had the courage and ability to stop her, were probably only those few.
However.
If it were them, Genggu Wuming would have no reason to conceal it.
But if it wasn’t them, who else could it be?
Suddenly.
Gu Qingfeng thought of a few individuals: his master, Elder Zhenjue; Old Master; and Great Master.
The identities of these three were increasingly mysterious. To this day, Gu Qingfeng still did not know what beings his master and the other two truly were.
The only certainty was that his master, who taught him the word ‘Humanity,’ was likely a certain Human Ancestor. Great Master, who taught him the word ‘Buddha-Dharma,’ was likely a certain Buddha Ancestor. And Old Master, who taught him the word ‘Principle,’ was likely a certain Dao Ancestor.
Alas.
Since the end of the Primordial Era, Gu Qingfeng had never seen his master or the other two again and had no way of learning their true identities. Now that Genggu Wuming refused to clarify, he couldn’t pry anything out of her either.
Glancing at the sky, he saw it was almost midnight.
Gu Qingfeng yawned and said, “Alright, my two sisters. We’ve talked about everything we should and shouldn’t have. It’s getting late. Let’s end our conversation here, shall we?”
Genggu Wuming suddenly spoke, “There is one more matter.”
“What else?”
“Regarding Jin’er.”
Hearing Jin’er’s name, Gu Qingfeng, who had stood up ready to leave, suddenly halted. “What about Jin’er?”
“I wish to take her away.” Genggu Wuming said seriously. “It is not suitable for Jin’er to remain by your side.”
“How is it unsuitable for Jin’er to stay with me? What, are you afraid this Original Sin Anomaly will affect Jin’er’s Karma?”
“The Karma between you and Jin’er has long existed, and Jin’er’s Karma has already been disrupted by your influence. Ever since Jin’er triggered the Daoless Blood Moon in this world, and ever since you stopped Jin’er from merging with the Daoless Blood Moon and recklessly refined it yourself, Jin’er’s Karma began to become disordered…”
“So what if it’s disordered?” Gu Qingfeng’s expression turned icy as he stated solemnly, “Since Jin’er’s Karma was disordered because of me, then I alone am responsible for any impact Jin’er has on the Myriad Heavens. If anyone is dissatisfied, let them come find me.”
“Do not misunderstand. My intention in taking Xiao Jin’er away is not for any other reason. I merely wish to prevent others from disturbing her.”
“As long as I am here, absolutely no one will disturb Xiao Jin’er. I will not allow anyone to disturb Jin’er.”
“What if I told you this is Jin’er’s own wish?”
Hearing this, Gu Qingfeng’s brows immediately furrowed. He knew that if Genggu Wuming said this was Xiao Jin’er’s wish, then it undoubtedly was.