Chapter 37: Discarding Like A Worn-out Shoe, Dojo Merchant
Du Gu Guan was quiet throughout.
Fang Shu sitting alone in the Scorpion Basin, cross-legged in meditation, appeared in everyone’s eyes just like a painting.
Senior Sister Yu Er and the others gazed at this scene, momentarily entranced.
Those Dojo Disciples who had mocked Fang Shu were even more shaken, finding the scene before them unbelievable. Yet the sight of snakes and insects fleeing from him in the Scorpion Basin was undeniably real.
It starkly proved that Fang Shu had not only successfully passed through Tribulation and entered the Refining Essence stage, but the Precious Blood he had refined this time was absolutely no ordinary item!
Xiang Xing Wu of Seven Fragrance Tower watched, her face flushed with excitement, stars practically sparkling in her eyes—especially when she thought of Fang Shu’s age and cultivation time, which made her even happier.
“Such a heroic youth, I must claim him!” Xiang Xing Wu thought joyfully to herself.
After a long while, someone finally reacted and began whispering among themselves.
Senior Sister Yu Er also came back to her senses. She exhaled, walked to the Dojo Master’s side, and said softly:
“Invulnerable to myriad insects! Grandmother, the only other time someone perfectly completed the Scorpion Basin ritual was Senior Brother’s ten years ago, right?”
Hearing this, the Dojo Master’s expression shifted slightly.
But she shook her head and said: “Not just that—there was also your father’s time twenty years ago. All in all, including this Fang Shu, our Dojo has had three people who relied on the Scorpion Basin to complete this step.”
“Father…” Senior Sister Yu Er murmured softly.
The Dojo Master showed a sigh on her face and said:
“It’s not easy. To pass through Scorpion Basin Tribulation, one must first cultivate Insect Skill properly, have excellent temperament without fear of snakes and insects, understand the Scorpion Basin’s Gu Worm nurturing, and add a bit of luck and talent, proceeding cautiously.
Among the disciples I’ve taught, many have excellent aptitude, and many have obtained superior Precious Blood after Tribulation, but Precious Blood that perfectly completes the Scorpion Basin ritual is actually nothing special in comparison.
But those people, precisely because of their good aptitude and decent family background or external financial support, disdain and refuse to take this Scorpion Basin Tribulation path. Few can pass this hurdle.”
As she spoke, the Dojo Master glanced at her granddaughter beside her.
Hearing this, Senior Sister Yu Er lowered her head slightly.
Then she asked puzzledly: “Then Grandmother, for those who successfully pass Tribulation this way, is their Precious Blood good or bad? Among the inner disciples over the years, what tier would it rank?”
The Dojo Master replied calmly: “Middle tier, neither high nor low.”
This surprised Senior Sister Yu Er: “Only middle tier?”
Middle tier—let alone compared to geniuses like Qin Min with Spiritual Roots—even compared to the Dojo’s disciples over the years qualified to join a Sect, it fell short.
The Dojo Master gave a faint smile and said:
“What upper, middle, lower tiers? Those without Spiritual Roots are all mortal stock.
Those who perfectly pass Scorpion Basin, invulnerable to myriad insects, represent not bone or root varieties, but a kind of potential and possibility.”
She paused:
“A potential to contact ‘Witchcraft and Suppression’ at the Refining Essence stage, and the possibility of becoming a Gu Master early.”
Hearing “Witchcraft and Suppression” and “Gu Master” in the Dojo Master’s words, Senior Sister Yu Er’s eyes froze, her expression complex.
Their conversation wasn’t hidden from those around, but many disciples were baffled and uncomprehending.
Only Xiang Xing Wu nearby, from Seven Fragrance Tower and a young lady, seemed to understand the meaning of “Witchcraft and Suppression” and “Gu Master.”
Her face flushed red, staring intently at Fang Shu, her eyes burning with heat.
She thought excitedly to herself: “So the Du Gu Guan’s Scorpion Basin ritual has such implications!
No wonder Mother risked offending Du Gu Guan and ruining Shi Hou’s chances, insisting I persuade Shi Hou that seeking stability is inferior to seeking progress, forcing him to take the gamble!”
Countless thoughts surged in her mind in an instant, making her feel the trip to Du Gu Guan was worthwhile.
Meanwhile, in the cultivation practice hall.
Fang Shu sat in the Scorpion Basin, spending a full tea’s time to refine all the toxins in his body.
The Scorpion Basin Gu Worms’ toxins were not just poison, but a kind of spiritual medicine, known as Spiritual Poison!
After refining, it became a stream of Spiritual Energy and Medicinal Power, nourishing Fang Shu’s entire body, penetrating bones, reaching organs, entering tendons and meridians, helping his physical body undergo metamorphosis.
This metamorphosis would bring a daily change over the next seven days, fully transforming the mortal blood in his body into Precious Blood!
It was a long process, so there was no need to rush. After stabilizing his physical body, Fang Shu slowly opened his eyes.
The hall’s scene entered his eyes, with people showing varied expressions.
Fang Shu didn’t look at their reactions. Lowering his eyes to the snakes and insects fleeing around him, he knew his metamorphosis far surpassed that of ordinary Dojo inner disciples.
Even with his temperament, a faint look of joy appeared on his face publicly.
Without hesitation, Fang Shu moved his tendons and bones, then stood up.
His body seemed carved from stone, exuding a wild, sturdy vigor. With a shake of his muscles, the poisonous blood on his body and underpants slid off and evaporated like mercury, not a drop remaining.
Now clean, Fang Shu stepped through the poisonous blood and walked toward the edge of the Scorpion Basin.
With each step, the basin’s snakes and insects rustled, swiftly retreating to both sides, not daring to block him.
This bizarre scene shocked the disciples once more.
“Tsk tsk tsk, worthy of someone with great resolve.”
A disciple couldn’t hold back and called out:
“Well done! Senior Brother Fang, excellent!”
“Fang Shu, I knew you could do it!”
Amid the shouts, murmurs of longing filled the hall:
“This is how an Immortal Cultivator should be.”
And some sour jealous ones muttered darkly:
“What’s with the swagger? Just passed Tribulation—why make such a fuss?”
Fang Shu ignored the surrounding noises. With a leap, he exited the Scorpion Basin, then bowed and cupped his hands to the Dojo Master:
“Disciple has not failed the mission. Thank you, Du Shi, for your guidance!”
The Dojo Master’s aged face, now facing Fang Shu, softened with kindness, but she just smiled faintly and said:
“Not bad, not bad.”
After master and disciple exchanged a brief pleasantry, Xiang Xing Wu suddenly squeezed forward.
Holding the Plain Moon Jade on her wrist, her face blushed, shy yet eager, her eyes hooked on Fang Shu as she spoke hesitantly and hurriedly:
“Fellow Daoist Fang Shu… Xing Wu congratulates Fellow Daoist on successfully entering the gate and advancing to Refining Essence.
This is the Prize. Please accept it, Fellow Daoist.
Besides, Seven Fragrance Tower is willing to provide financial support to Fellow Daoist, appoint you as an offering elder—all treatments can be discussed privately with me.”
At “privately,” the shyness and admiration in her eyes nearly dripped out.
Any man seeing this would find his heart stirred.
But Fang Shu merely glanced at her and stayed silent, looking instead to the Dojo Master.
The Dojo Master restrained her faint smile, her eyelids drooping as she said flatly:
“Having an offering is a good thing. Fang Shu, your background is humble; you might need it, but decide for yourself.”
Fang Shu nodded, indicating he understood.
He cupped his hands to the Dojo Master, then turned to Xiang Xing Wu and said:
“Fellow Daoist Xiang, I’ve just passed Tribulation and have some minor matters, so please allow me time to consider the offering position.”
This made Xiang Xing Wu’s smile stiffen slightly.
Fortunately, Fang Shu’s next words revived her entirely.
He pointed at the jade on her hand and asked:
“May I ask, Fellow Daoist, is this Prize now fully mine to dispose of?”
Xiang Xing Wu, overjoyed, noticed nothing amiss.
She nodded with a smile and playfully extended her fair wrist, letting Fang Shu remove the jade pendant himself instead of doing it.
Fang Shu didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward, his hand moving like a snake, pecking the jade pendant’s cord loose and pulling it off.
The swift motion drew a melancholy glance from Xiang Xing Wu, as if chiding him for not cherishing the fair flower.
But next, it delighted her: Fang Shu held the jade overhead, examining it closely.
His actions let all disciples in the hall see.
This sparked envy and longing among many, with some whispering:
“That Prize is worth at least thirty thousand Talisman Money!”
“Talisman Money’s nothing—becoming Seven Fragrance Tower’s son-in-law and having this beauty is the real prize.”
Fang Shu’s showy display pleased Xiang Xing Wu greatly.
She thought smugly: “This boy is still young at heart. Though he didn’t accept Seven Fragrance Tower’s offering immediately, with a crook of my finger, he’ll fall into my lap.”
But the next moment, a clear voice rang through the hall.
It was Fang Shu: “This jade is fine, but it kills its wearer.”
Then—crack!
With a calm face, he gripped the exquisite crescent jade pendant before all Dojo Disciples and crushed it to pieces with his fingers.
He flicked his hand, tossing the jade fragments into the Scorpion Basin behind him.
Rustle! Snake and insect sounds rose behind him.
Sensing spiritual energy in the basin’s poisonous blood, the snakes and insects swarmed, tearing and grinding the jade, making the poisonous blood bubble like boiling.
These depleted Gu Worms, parched with hunger, couldn’t pass up such a spiritual item.
In stark contrast to the basin’s frenzy, the hall’s disciples fell silent and stunned.
The most shocked was Xiang Xing Wu.
Her eyes bulged like beads, momentarily uncomprehending, staring blankly at Fang Shu.
All eyes now focused on Fang Shu.
Unfazed, he said: “The Dojo’s Scorpion Basin is depleted. If the jade can’t nourish people, it can nourish the insects.”
Then, calmly, he took out his one tael of Spirit Stone from his bosom and offered it to Senior Sister Yu Er:
“Du Shi wouldn’t take my Spirit Stone, but rules can’t be broken—tuition fee must be paid.
Please accept this one tael of Spirit Stone, Senior Sister, for Senior Brother Shi Hou’s medicine fee.”
These words hushed the hall further; many hadn’t expected this.
Senior Sister Yu Er, suddenly handed the Spirit Stone, showed varied expressions on her face, caught off guard, instinctively looking to the two beside her.
Xiang Xing Wu had reacted, her face extremely ugly.
The Dojo Master’s face, unusually, broke into a clear smile. In her raspy voice, she rarely said:
“Mischievous.”
………………
After Fang Shu successfully entered the Dao, the Scorpion Basin Tribulation matter in Du Gu Guan came to an end.
But the disciples lingered, buzzing about Fang Shu’s Tribulation and his discarding of the jade like a dead rat.
Some praised endlessly, others regretted endlessly.
Someone commented: “A mere merchant girl dares sabotage in our Du Gu Guan. Thanks to Senior Brother Fang, or it would’ve been hard to teach her a lesson directly.”
Others muttered critically:
“Why only save Shi Hou? Weren’t there other fellow disciples? Besides, he should’ve thrown the Spirit Stone into the Scorpion Basin and used that Plain Moon Jade for the medicine fee.”
“Exactly! A mud-legged peasant dares refuse the jade, acting like he’s rich—aren’t you afraid of offending people?”
But someone immediately retorted:
“Turtle bastard! Your cultivation’s gone to the dogs? No wonder you’re no Immortal Cultivator—gutless.”
“Hmph! Offend people? Seven Fragrance Tower should fear our Du Gu Guan.”
The disciples chattered noisily.
This affair would likely fuel Du Gu Guan disciples’ talk for half a month nonstop.
As the person involved, Fang Shu, after accompanying the Dojo Master in hall incense offering, entered Du Gu Guan’s backyard with the grandmother-granddaughter pair.
He ignored the disciples’ chatter, just as he ignored Seven Fragrance Tower’s Xiang Xing Wu.
Not only Fang Shu—even the usually amiable Senior Sister Yu Er ignored the woman.
The Dojo Master casually pointed to a female disciple in the hall to see her off politely.
Xiang Xing Wu left in silence, unsure how she exited Du Gu Guan’s cultivation practice hall, front courtyard, ending up alone at the Dojo doorway.
Clearly, someone had succeeded in Tribulation today with decent quality and great Immortal Path potential; clearly, she had successfully given away the jade.
Both good things—why did this happen!?
If that Fang hadn’t destroyed the Plain Moon Jade publicly, she could have swallowed her pride and coaxed him later.
Rage surged; Xiang Xing Wu gripped her bare wrist, nearly grinding her silver teeth to bits.
She even darkly resented Shi Hou.
“Hateful! If you’d striven a bit, how would I suffer such humiliation?” Xiang Xing Wu fumed.
He merely failed Tribulation, while she lost a cherished childhood pendant. If word spread, how could she marry a husband or mingle in the marketplace sisters’ circle!
Xiang Xing Wu turned, etching Du Gu Guan’s plaque firmly in her mind, eyes flickering, then headed straight home.
Once home, she changed demeanor entirely.
Her hatred vanished; pale-faced and silent, no matter how her sisters and brothers asked or cared, she appeared despondent and lost.
Only when their mother returned and inquired did Xiang Xing Wu shed tears, throwing herself into her mother’s arms, crying “Mother.”
After much comforting from Seven Fragrance Tower Master, who frowned and sent someone to Du Gu Guan for news, she learned what happened.
Instantly, the Xiang children were indignant, itching to storm Du Gu Guan for reckoning:
“Mother, you must seek justice for Fifth Sister.”
“Fifth Sister was wronged; we’ll tell the marketplace others—never select Du Gu Guan disciples for marriage, especially that poor Fang boy.”
But contrary to their expectations, Seven Fragrance Tower Master just lowered her eyes in thought, sighed lightly, and showed little emotion.
This quieted the sisters, wondering if they’d touched a taboo.
But their only brother, Xiang Xing Lu, oblivious to moods, smashed his jade to the ground in fury:
“Pah! What trash—ruining an old-as-dirt disciple and daring to shame our Seven Fragrance Tower.
I’ll rally the boys and tear down that rundown Dojo!”
The jade hit the ground with a crisp sound, startling the sisters into soothing him and picking it up.
“Aiya, why smash this jade for no reason!”
Even Xiang Xing Wu, who had been tearful, was startled and quickly checked her brother’s jade, saying:
“Good, good—it’s not broken.”
But next, Xiang Xing Lu’s usual foolproof jade-smashing not only failed to win Seven Fragrance Tower Master’s pity—crack!
Seven Fragrance Tower Master rose abruptly, strode forward, and slapped her youngest son hard across the face.
Her face grim, she said lowly:
“You fatherless brat! Seems you’ve truly been spoiled by your sisters.
It’s a Dojo—dare fight them? You think we lack manpower, so we invite Dojo people as offerings?”
Seven Fragrance Tower Master’s words silenced all children.
Looking at her worthless offspring, she said again:
“Let you fatherless brats know: if we don’t invite, they’ll come take it themselves!”
Hearing this, the children realized.
Xiang Xing Lu, slapped, lost all nerve, terrified, meek and pale, no trace of his earlier temper.
Only Xiang Xing Wu’s face shifted, still somewhat unwilling, eyes flickering.
Before she spoke, a cold gaze pierced her—like her mother viewing a dead person—giving her goosebumps.
Seven Fragrance Tower Master asked calmly:
“Fifth Daughter, are you thinking of seducing other Dojo people to target Du Gu Guan? Or spreading rumors, even setting yourself as bait to frame that Fang youth and incite conflict?”
Xiang Xing Wu felt seen through, unsure how to reply.
No need—Seven Fragrance Tower Master walked to her gently and said lowly:
“Mother will explain first: your actions would only bring disaster to the Xiang family.
Even if two Dojos clashed, the best outcome is the Xiang family devoured by the winner, and I, your mother, reduced to fawning as an old maid.”
Seven Fragrance Tower Master gently stroked Xiang Xing Wu’s fair slender neck, nails extending like hooks, saying calmly:
“If you have such plans, to avoid family disaster, don’t blame Mother. So, Fifth Daughter, do you?”
Now thoroughly terrified, Xiang Xing Wu trembled, seeing a stranger—not her mother.
“N-no, Daughter dares not, doesn’t!” she answered hastily.
Seven Fragrance Tower Master smiled satisfiedly, her charm returning as the female Tower Master, chuckling lightly:
“Good! I knew you understood the big picture. You sisters and brothers, watch it too.
This time, we were at fault first—can’t give them more leverage.”
“Yes, Mother.” The other girls replied promptly.
After soothing, the girls and Xiang Xing Lu quieted.
But then, Seven Fragrance Tower Master’s words made their hearts jolt:
“Right, Fifth Daughter.
Mother will prepare generous gifts, send someone to Du Gu Guan to say you were immature and willful, nearly ruining ties between our houses.
But you won’t go. Rest at home these days—no need to go out.”
Eyes turned to Xiang Xing Wu, as if all knew the inside story.
They all bowed heads, not daring to speak.
Xiang Xing Wu paled, fully realizing she’d take the blame.
Daring say no more, eager for it to end, she said lowly:
“Yes, Mother.”
