Chapter 19: Love Gu and Love Potion

Sang Ying had originally thought that Xie Lingyu would return the next day when she woke up, but several days passed without any sign of him. Only the medical cultivators from the Immortal Alliance delivered medicinal soups daily.

Was the Immortal Alliance that busy? Or… was he with Shen Ying?

At the thought of the latter possibility, Sang Ying pursed her lips, shook her head, and decided to pick up the Glazed Mirror to see what her unruly group of friends were chatting about, hoping to lift her spirits.

Black Cat Swordsman: “Mimi has run away from home again. Has anyone seen Mimi?”

Delivery Heavenly Venerable: “I think if you stop obsessing over dyeing its fur, it won’t run away.”

Daoist Bukong: “Shared photo: (One hundred and one jin of Snow Flying Fish)”

Daoist Bukong: “I won.”

Hermit Tian Hu: “Damn, I refuse to accept this! Let’s go again!”

Hermit Tian Hu: “If I hadn’t wasted time cleaning up after my foolish son, how could I, the Fishing Heavenly Venerable, possibly lose to you?”

Daoist Bukong: “By filling the lake with bait?”

Hermit Tian Hu: “That’s called strategy.”

Sang Ying blinked. Loves fishing, his son caused trouble a few days ago… Could this Hermit Tian Hu, who’s competing in fishing, be the Lord of the Demonic Realm?

Stock-Buying Demon Emperor: “So boring lately. There haven’t been any good love stories to listen to. Feels like I’m growing mold.”

Cave Master Cai Xia: “None? What about Qingyu Sword Lord and his white moonlight? People have been talking about them a lot recently.”

Delivery Heavenly Venerable: “I’ve heard about it too. Seems like a tragic love story—two people in love but kept apart by countless obstacles. Qingyu Sword Lord had to marry Sang Ying, the daughter of the former Wu Wen Sect leader, to repay a debt of gratitude.”

Stock-Buying Demon Emperor: “…Let’s skip that one. By the way, what about the Sleepy Fellow and her husband?”

Cave Master Cai Xia: “I don’t know either. A few days ago, when I messaged her privately about the medical cultivator, she just replied ‘no need’ and hasn’t been heard from since. No idea what she’s been up to these days.”

Cave Master Cai Xia: “@Sang Biao, you’re closer to the Sleepy Fellow. Do you know why she hasn’t shown up lately? Did something happen?”

Sang Biao: “Meow meow meow? What Sleepy Fellow? She told me before that her name is Sang Ying.”

Sang Biao: “And what’s this about a white moonlight?”

The group suddenly fell silent.

Seeing this, Sang Ying rubbed her temples with a headache.

She never expected that the arranged marriage couple her friends had been giving advice to and the tragic love story everyone was talking about were actually about the same people.

The group members were clearly protective of their own. Initially, they hadn’t paid much attention to Xie Lingyu and his white moonlight, treating it as just gossip. But after learning that Xie Lingyu was Sang Ying’s husband—the one she’d been sleeping separately from for three years—they immediately sided with Sang Ying and began cursing Xie Lingyu.

Hermit Tian Hu: “Scumbag. Marrying one while pining for another.”

Daoist Bukong: “+1”

Stock-Buying Demon Emperor: “Exactly, exactly.”

Cave Master Cai Xia: “What era is this? Repaying a debt of gratitude by marrying someone? Couldn’t he have chosen another way?”

Sang Ying felt she should respond and sighed softly: “Thank you all for your concern. I’ve decided to divorce.”

Stock-Buying Demon Emperor: “Dump him! Dump him!”

Cave Master Cai Xia: “Have you made up your mind, Fellow Daoist?”

Sang Ying: “Yes.”

Stock-Buying Demon Emperor: “Dump him! Dump him!”

Black Cat Blade Master: “There are plenty of male cultivators in the world, fellow Daoist is sure to meet someone better.”

Stock-Buying Demon Emperor: “Dump him! Dump him!”

Hermit Tian Hu: “Ahem, you’ve met my useless, foolish son, perhaps you could consider him as well?”

Sang Ying: “…”

So it really is the Lord of the Demonic Realm.

This seemingly ordinary group truly hides dragons and crouches tigers.

Cave Master Cai Xia: “@Stock-Buying Demon Emperor, why are you so excited about someone else’s family matters?”

Stock-Buying Demon Emperor: “Dump him, ahem, I just can’t stand such despicable behavior from male cultivators, alright?”

Sang Ying put away the Glazed Mirror, not wanting to look anymore. She got up from bed and sat before the dressing table.

Her health had improved a lot these past two days, so she planned to go out for a walk and get some sun.

Pushing her hair aside, Sang Ying noticed a faint red mark on her neck, which struck her as odd.

Although the Nanli Realm was humid with many insects and snakes, the room was hung with insect-repelling sachets given by Xiao Lingzhou, so there shouldn’t be any mosquitoes.

She touched it; there was no itching or pain. Sang Ying looked in the mirror and decided to let it go, not paying it further mind.

These past few days, perhaps due to sleeping in an unfamiliar bed, she hadn’t been resting well, often waking up with sore limbs.

After tying her hair into a simple bun, she went out. The Immortal Alliance headquarters was bustling with disciples passing by. These disciples didn’t know Sang Ying, so no one paid her any attention.

Sang Ying found a pavilion to sit in and bask in the sun, overhearing the idle chatter of other disciples resting there.

“Hey, I saw the Yaochi Saintess at the department head’s place today. She’s so gentle in person, just like the rumors say—beautiful and with a high cultivation base.”

“Speaking of which, do you know about her and the Qingyu Sword Lord?”

“What? What about them? Isn’t the Qingyu Sword Lord already married?”

“Ah, who doesn’t know that the Qingyu Sword Lord only married that woman out of gratitude, with no real feelings involved? Actually, the Yaochi Saintess is the one the Qingyu Sword Lord truly likes. I even saw the two of them walking together, laughing and chatting these past few days.”

Sang Ying: “…”

Even when she came out to sunbathe, it followed her. It really was out to get her.

Sang Ying leaned on a pillar to stand up, avoiding these people and walking into the woods. She found a parasol tree and sat leaning against its trunk.

Closing her eyes, sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling her face.

A dark shadow seemed to flicker before her eyes. Sang Ying opened them to see a silvery-white snake tail swaying in front of her.

Seeing her awake, the snake tail retracted and transformed back into legs. A youth sat on a tree branch, leisurely saying, “You still have the leisure to sleep now?”

It was the real Southern Realm Demon King Yintu.

Previously, Wei Li had trapped him in the Shuiyue Jinghua, impersonated him, and deceived Second Senior Brother Xiao Lingzhou.

“Your husband is about to run off with someone else, and you’re not the least bit worried?” Yintu raised an eyebrow.

Sang Ying picked up a leaf and placed it over her face, closing her eyes again. Without missing a beat, she said, “Worried? You all only see me idle all day, sleeping late and waking late, constantly scrolling through the Glazed Mirror. But you don’t see me cultivating diligently, staying up late drawing talismans, and persistently studying. You don’t see it, and I haven’t done it either.”

Yintu: “…”

After two seconds, he couldn’t help but laugh.

“You’re quite interesting.”

The youth nimbly jumped down and poked her leaf. “I have a way to help you. Want to hear it?”

“Just talk, but could you stay farther away from me?”

Sang Ying lifted the leaf and sat up, expressionless. “The bugs on you are so numerous they’re blinding me.”

“Ignorant, this is called a Gu. Don’t you think it’s quite adorable?”

Sang Ying counted out ten Spirit Stones and placed them before him: “The Immortal Healer’s Office is just left after exiting the woods. Go and get an expensive appointment.”

Yin Tu clicked his tongue, “I’m trying to help you, what’s with that attitude? Are you really just going to stand by and watch your husband be with that so-called ‘white moonlight’?”

“What else should I do?” Sang Ying glanced at him, “Find a block of tofu to bump into?”

“Pathetic.”

Sang Ying leaned against the tree, “Being pathetic doesn’t matter; just being alive is impressive enough. Please move aside, you’re blocking my sunlight.”

Yin Tu took out a small box, his tone disdainful, “It’s just a man, isn’t it? This is the most famous Love Gu from the Southern Realm, refined by my own hands—the fiercest Gu in the world. Just plant the seed Gu on him, and the Love Gu will flare up every month. The only way to ease it is through Dual Cultivation with you, so he’ll never be able to leave you.”

Sang Ying politely declined, “Thank you, but that won’t be necessary. I’ve already decided to divorce. You should keep it for someone who needs it.”

He had always been the one others begged to refine Gus for them. This was the first time in his life he had offered one to someone, only to be rejected. The esteemed Southern Realm Demon King felt a bit annoyed and somewhat embarrassed.

He tossed the jade box to Sang Ying, snatched up the Spirit Stones from the ground, and said, “Anyway, you’ve already paid for it, so it’s yours now.”

With that, he vanished in a flash. Sang Ying stared at the small jade box in her hand, lost in thought.

Was this… a forced sale?

Sang Ying felt that coming out to sunbathe today had been a bad idea. She sighed, got up, and headed back to her room. Not far along, she encountered a stunningly beautiful female cultivator dressed in revealing attire.

Leaning against a tree, the woman glanced at Sang Ying, her eyes captivating and alluring, and gently beckoned her with a finger.

Sang Ying walked over, puzzled, “Miss, is there something you need?”

The female cultivator looked her up and down, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly as she leaned in, her fragrance wafting over. “You’re Sang Ying?”

Sang Ying had never met this female cultivator before, but her appearance seemed to fit the impression of a certain sect—perhaps a cultivator from the Huanhe Sect? What could she want?

Sang Ying softly acknowledged, “Yes.”

The female cultivator clicked her tongue, dissatisfaction coloring her features. She reached out and pinched Sang Ying’s slender arm, “With your frail, sickly look, a gust of wind could knock you over. There’s no ghost of a chance you could keep a man in check.”

“If a man dares to fool around outside, it’s definitely because he wasn’t disciplined strictly enough. He just hasn’t been beaten enough.”

Sang Ying: “…?”

Still somewhat confused, the female cultivator pulled her along and began speaking as if to herself.

“But your husband is indeed quite formidable. It’s normal that you can’t beat him. So, let’s try a different approach. I’ll teach you a couple of tricks.”

“This is our sect’s treasure, Love Thread Entanglement. Just use a little bit, and even if he were Liu Xiahui, he wouldn’t be able to resist. The effects of Love Thread Entanglement last longer than ordinary Love Potions. Once he’s been with you the first time, he won’t be able to leave you for a year.”

“Pair it with our sect’s exclusive Secret Manual. You don’t need to learn much—just a few moves will be enough to handle someone with little experience. Let me tell you, men are creatures driven by desire. With this combination, I guarantee he’ll be completely submissive and won’t have eyes for anyone else.”

The female cultivator pulled out a Secret Manual with her left hand and a small pink medicine bottle with her right, stuffing them into Sang Ying’s hands. Then, with the profound expression of someone who had done a good deed, she turned and left, as if brushing dust from her sleeves without a trace.

Sang Ying: “…”

She looked down at her hands: in her left, the Love Gu; in her right, the Love Potion.

Not good.

Why does she now look so much like the vicious villain who would stop at nothing to snatch the male lead from the female protagonist, only to end up suffering the consequences herself?

“Little Junior Sister, you’re here. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

Xiao Lingzhou’s voice suddenly sounded in front of her. Sang Ying looked up.

Xiao Lingzhou’s smiling gaze fell on the object in her hand, gradually freezing, and he spoke stiffly.

“Little Junior Sister, you…”

Sang Ying: “…”

Second Senior Brother, I really just came out to sunbathe, do you believe me?