Chapter Seventeen: Turmoil Within the Cave

“Never be anyone’s pawn?”

Cui Yunshen quietly gazed at Gu Liubai, speaking with unusual sincerity, “It’s just that we were never born with that fate.”

Gu Liubai replied calmly, “I have no interest in debating fate with you. If you truly have no desire to live, then I can oblige.”

Cui Yunshen pondered for a moment and said, “If you can bring the Frost Sword Master here, we only need to speak with her briefly. Whatever you want, perhaps we can mediate.”

Chen Tu was momentarily stunned.

Gu Liubai suddenly smiled, “That’s all?”

Cui Yunshen, as if making a huge decision, said, “Yes, that’s all.”

“So your target, the three of you, is just this great swordsman?” Gu Liubai looked directly into Cui Yunshen’s eyes, teasingly, “To give her the plague?”

Even though the sound of horse hooves had been faintly heard on the wind earlier, Cui Yunshen’s expression had barely changed. But now, his face shifted dramatically.

His lips began to pale, yet he forced a smile, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“That makes sense now.” Gu Liubai ignored him and furrowed his brows, deep in thought.

“The border troops recalled to Chang’an know she’s a great swordsman, but the fact that Qiu Baiyu and He Fenglin died by her sword is even more convincing.”

“I guess if it’s not shocking enough, the noble behind you will probably send more formidable swordsmen to fall under her blade.”

“But she will contract the plague because of you. When the disease manifests, sending someone to formally duel her will be a death disguised as a fair fight.”

“The one who can kill her in a duel must naturally be a great swordsman.”

“All this elaborate scheming is just to force the creation of a great swordsman for their own training ground.”

“Think carefully: families who already have a great swordsman wouldn’t do such a thing.”

“Which families need a great swordsman to boost their prestige? The Wang clan of Langya? The Xiao clan of Lanling? Or the Xie clan of Chenjun?”

“You…” Cui Yunshen listened to these words, his face filled with undeniable shock.

Looking at Gu Liubai’s calm contemplation, he finally shared Chen Tu’s thought.

This probably isn’t human—it’s a demon!

His childlike, small, and pale fingers trembled uncontrollably. He could not believe such a terrifying monster existed in this world.

Chen Tu’s entire body also stiffened involuntarily.

Cui Yunshen’s reaction confirmed to him that Gu Liubai’s guess was correct.

But what does “contracting the plague” mean?

He was beginning to feel very uneasy.

It seemed something dreadful had already happened.

Though standing behind Gu Liubai, he felt as if countless ants were crawling on his back.

“Talent, perseverance, opportunity, the finest masters… this is what creates the great swordsman the world knows. But your noble treats great swordsmen like toys, like something they can create with their own hands.” Gu Liubai’s voice turned icy as he looked at the speechless Cui Yunshen. “Though I’ve never met your noble, I truly dislike him. As you can imagine, he is the kind of man who squanders heaven’s gifts.”

Sweat began to bead on Cui Yunshen’s forehead, the color drained completely from his face as he looked at Gu Liubai in disbelief. “If you’ve figured it out, then why…”

“What plague?” Chen Tu couldn’t contain himself and chuckled darkly.

“Within the Tang Empire, around Yongzhou and Sizhou, there are many barbarian tribes in the mountains that often clash with local authorities. Over a decade ago, the Tang army launched several expeditions against the Wuling barbarians but suffered defeat each time. Military reports frequently mention a plague: no matter how strong the soldiers were, once they entered the barbarians’ forests, they would unknowingly contract the disease. Most soldiers lost their vitality and appetite, with symptoms ranging from chills and fever to coma. Beyond environmental discomfort and insect troubles, the military discovered a type of person among the barbarians called ‘Great Shamans.’ These shamans could infect some members of their tribes with the plague but used shamanic medicine to suppress symptoms, allowing them to function normally. However, when Tang soldiers came into contact with them, they quickly fell ill. Many who practiced internal energy cultivation could not resist and became helpless in battle.” Gu Liubai glanced at Chen Tu and said, “The military reports describe several plagues, one of which is called the Black Eye Disease. Those infected have dark rings around their eyes; when light dims, their vision blurs, and at night they are blind. They become weak, cold, and lack endurance.”

Chen Tu stared in shock at the two with dark eye circles. “You mean they have Black Eye Disease and plan to infect Yin Shiniang so that when the light dims, she can’t see clearly and lacks strength?”

“For cultivators, sensory perception will drop sharply.”

Gu Liubai nodded, “The armies tasked with attacking the Wuling barbarians were the Xiao clan of Lanling and the Xie clan of Chenjun. They may have figured out the Black Eye Disease. The Wang clan of Langya later took charge of pacification. Conveniently, all three clans lacked a great swordsman to enhance their prestige.”

“You’re just a youth raised beyond the border; how do you know all this?” Cui Yunshen trembled uncontrollably.

“I’ve read the most military dossiers over the years. They’re more practical and provide clearer accounts of what’s happening inside and outside the Tang Empire.” Gu Liubai sneered slightly. “Besides, the Tang Empire is flawed—men from far Chang’an to nearby Sha and Guazhou rarely respect women. Even the military files misled me enough that I thought the Frost Sword Master was a man before meeting her.”

As Chen Tu pondered how this related to their current situation, Gu Liubai sneered and continued, “Even if you came here, you only focused on investigating the relationship between Liang Fengning and me, seemingly indifferent to who my mother is.”

Chen Tu’s head buzzed.

He had indeed overlooked this point.

Cui Yunshen’s mind went blank, and almost instinctively asked, “Who is your mother?”

“My mother raised me here because she’s the best doctor along this trade route—possibly stronger than all the medical officers in the western and northern border armies.” Gu Liubai sighed, “Back when Liang Fengning was alive, anyone disrespecting my mother or breaking rules at Mingbai Slope would easily fall ill, go mad, or suffer epilepsy, biting their own tongue. After Liang Fengning’s death, my mother stopped enforcing order, and over the years, it seems no one remembers a woman anymore.”

A doctor?

Stronger than the border armies’ medical officers?

Not only could she save lives, but possibly take them as well?

Cui Yunshen looked at Gu Liubai, whose innocent appearance belied a devilish nature, and for the first time doubted Xie Wan’s abilities.

He knew how terrifying Xie Wan was.

He had met many formidable figures who were all toyed with by Xie Wan.

If there were no accidents, a terrifying great swordsman like Yin Shiniang was destined to be nothing more than a plaything during his time beyond the border.

He believed Xie Wan would never make mistakes or have rivals.

Unless, of course, they were descendants of noble families so lofty he couldn’t even see them clearly.

Yet, such an intricate scheme, such elaborate measures, and they couldn’t even uncover the true background of someone like Gu Liubai?

“How does one contract the disease?” Chen Tu’s anxious voice sounded.

He no longer just felt ants crawling on his back; his heart was filled with dread.

“Black Eye Disease spreads easily within fifteen steps during conversation,” Gu Liubai said.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Chen Tu was dumbfounded.

They weren’t even fifteen steps apart from Cui Yunshen and those two with dark eyes—at most six or seven steps.

“Take out the shamanic medicine on you now!” Chen Tu reacted quickly, silencing his curse, and shouted irritably at Cui Yunshen and the two dark-eyed men.

Cui Yunshen shook his head.

Chen Tu sneered, “What’s with the head shake? You don’t want to give it? You think only the Black Riders can take your head off?”

“We don’t have any shamanic medicine on us.” Cui Yunshen smiled bitterly. “Our master wouldn’t give us any. I didn’t come here with those two; they were already showing symptoms and not thinking clearly, so I needed to lead them. I didn’t expect you to see through this before even approaching the Frost Sword Master.”

“Gu Fifteen, then you must treat them. You need treatment yourself anyway, so just do it while you’re at it.” Chen Tu recovered and said. Gu Liubai seemed completely unconcerned, so he must have a solution.

But what Chen Tu never expected was Gu Liubai shaking his head, “My mother might be able to, but I can’t.”

“What the hell…” Chen Tu was utterly baffled.

“I told you to let me talk to them alone, but you didn’t believe me and insisted on following. I have no choice.”

“Aren’t you afraid of getting infected?”

Gu Liubai replied calmly, “I cannot contract this disease.”

“What do you mean you cannot?” Chen Tu’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“My mother gave me many medicines. This minor plague has no effect on me.”

“Immune to all poisons?” Chen Tu felt a chill. “So you’re saying you won’t get infected, but I will?”

“Yes.” Gu Liubai looked seriously at the two with black eyes. “Usually, one infected with Black Eye Disease is dangerous enough. Now there are two. They definitely want to make sure Yin Shiniang gets infected without fail. Since you’ve been here so long with us, it’s unlikely you’ll escape infection.”

Chen Tu regarded Gu Liubai with a look of admiration, “Deliberately setting me up?”

Gu Liubai gave an innocent smile. “Being infected just means you can’t see in the dark and feel weak for about half a month. It’s nothing serious.”

“Those two are already delirious from the disease, and you say it’s nothing serious?” Chen Tu sneered.

Gu Liubai smiled slightly, “Just chills all over and a blocked forehead.”

“Deliberately making me suffer? Gu Fifteen, you’re something else.” Chen Tu seemed to praise him, but his right hand formed a blade-like gesture and struck toward Gu Liubai’s forehead.