Volume One: The Soul-Guiding Gourd and the Spirit-Burning Lamp Chapter 41: Circles, Loops, and Snares!

Inside the candle and incense shop.

Seated behind the counter, Gu Mo’s face was deathly pale. No matter what was said, he simply couldn't believe his own ears.

Yet Yanwang Jiang Jingxue, with her phoenix coronet and bridal robes, didn’t seem to be joking in the slightest.

Terror-stricken, Gu Mo trembled from head to toe; even his voice lost its normal timbre.

“G-Great King, please don’t joke like that. Even a Supreme Celestial Immortal is involved? This time, am I really… really doomed?”

Hearing this, Yanwang Jiang Jingxue frowned deeply and nodded.

“Little underling, do you think I’m joking?”

At those words, it was as if a thunderbolt had struck Gu Mo’s mind.

Suddenly, the gold bar in his hand felt like a scalding hot potato!

“No, it can’t be! I’m still young, there are so many things I haven’t done yet. I’m still a vi…”

He stopped himself, his snow-white face etched with every shade of grievance. Tears welled up, threatening to spill over at any moment.

Yet, unwilling to give up, Gu Mo clenched his teeth, looking to Jiang Jingxue for help.

“Great King, what exactly is going on? Fine, I won’t go to the Mountain God Temple at midnight! I don’t want the gold bar either!”

At this, Jiang Jingxue glared at him with utter disdain.

“Little underling, do you think immortals are so easily trifled with? If you break your promise, even if you flee to the underworld, they’ll find you! Besides, how would you even return the gold bar to that immortal?”

Gu Mo’s mind went completely blank. After years of struggling in a major city, he hadn’t saved a penny, and his career was going nowhere. Now, he was broke and about to lose his life as well!

Thinking of all that had passed, fat tears dropped onto the counter with a splat.

Sorrowfully surveying his surroundings, Gu Mo felt as if his life was shrouded in darkness; his will to survive soared to its apex.

But then, curiosity overtook his fear. Why on earth was that damned yellow weasel bent on harming him?

Gu Mo looked up, his eyes red, and asked Jiang Jingxue, “Great King, why does that immortal want to hurt me? How will it destroy me?”

Jiang Jingxue sighed awkwardly and, after a long silence, finally spoke.

“Little underling, do you know why that immortal’s fur is pure white?”

Gu Mo only shook his head in helpless confusion; he truly hadn’t a clue.

Jiang Jingxue fixed him with a stare.

“That immortal’s cultivation is profound. Each time it survives a heavenly tribulation, a new strand of white fur appears. Its whole body of white fur is proof of this. But…”

The bizarre turn of the conversation made Gu Mo break out in a cold sweat.

“But what? Great King, please, just say it! I’m already scared half to death!”

Jiang Jingxue lifted her head, displaying her perfect profile, and gazed at the ceiling as she spoke.

“But everything in the world follows its own laws, and yet there are always beings who defy heaven. These include humans, animals, plants, even objects—perhaps a simple stone…

All things must face their ‘tribulations.’ A tribulation is an obstacle, the price of defying fate, a punishment from the laws of heaven. There are countless kinds of tribulations, the most familiar being ‘heavenly thunder.’

Humans, too, as the most spiritual of all creatures, must sometimes face tribulations. This is the path of cultivation: only by enduring tribulations can you be transformed, build your foundation, form your core, and ascend to immortality. All of this requires effort and comes at a price!”

Gu Mo’s mind was a tangled mess after this lengthy explanation, but there was one thing he understood.

“Great King, you’ve said so much, but none of it explains that immortal!”

Jiang Jingxue nodded and rolled her eyes at him.

“Since ancient times, foxes, snakes, weasels—when they reach a certain age or level of cultivation, they must face a so-called ‘heavenly tribulation’ and endure the test of divine punishment. Only by surviving can they advance in their path; failure might mean a setback, or even the annihilation of their soul.”

But Gu Mo was still plagued by questions, his teeth clenched in fury.

“Great King, what does that have to do with me?”

Jiang Jingxue’s face darkened as she replied.

“This time, it’s not the immortal itself facing tribulation—it’s its offspring!”

She paused, realizing she’d misspoken, then coughed gently and continued.

“Little underling, it’s because you have the ‘Extreme Yin Fate’ that the immortal sought you out!”

Gu Mo’s brows knit in confusion as he grumbled, fists clenched.

“What does it want with me? Just because I have this ‘Extreme Yin Fate’? That’s absurd!”

Jiang Jingxue flicked his forehead sharply.

“Are you stupid? With you nearby, even if the tribulation comes, those heavenly purple thunderbolts will strike you instead! Wouldn’t that make the immortal’s offspring perfectly safe?”

At this, Gu Mo exploded in outrage.

“Damn it! That beast is using me as a lightning rod? That wretched creature!”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Jiang Jingxue’s eyes sparkled slyly, though outwardly she remained calm.

“But…” she began.

Immediately, Gu Mo’s attention was drawn back to her.

“Great King, but what? Can you please not be so suspenseful?”

Jiang Jingxue sighed behind her hand, her expression and tone perfectly controlled.

“Never mind, you wouldn’t agree even if I told you. The result would be the same in the end.”

Curiosity burned in Gu Mo’s heart, drawing him in like a moth to the flame.

“Great King, just tell me! No matter how tragic the outcome, I can take it!”

Jiang Jingxue sighed again.

“You and I are fated to be together, whether in the world of the living or in the underworld. As long as you marry me, I might be able to help you survive this disaster.”

Gu Mo’s mind reeled. Inwardly, he muttered,

“It’s over!

I’m really doomed this time!!

She’s right, though. I’m still alive now, but even if I refuse to marry her, once I die I won’t escape her grasp. The outcome would be the same!

Am I really fated to have a Yanwang wife?”

With a long sigh, Gu Mo looked around at the candle shop, at last reconciling himself to his fate.

This fool of an underling, his face ashen, turned to Jiang Jingxue.

“Alright, Great King! I agree to marry you, but I don’t have the means to throw a banquet or provide a bride price. I can’t even notify relatives and friends. You…”

To his surprise, Jiang Jingxue maintained her composure, her delight hidden.

She lifted her star-like eyes and looked at Gu Mo serenely.

“It matters little. What concerns me most is your safety. Even if I give my all, I may not be able to keep you safe. If you perish, then our fated bond will amount to nothing.”

With that, Jiang Jingxue turned her head, beaming at the paper wedding dolls in the corner.

Another moment, and she would have burst out laughing!

Gu Mo, oblivious, was moved to tears.

He raised his head and let out a long, desolate howl.

“Well, if it’s fate, it’s fate; if it’s disaster, I can’t escape it! Since you’re not one for formalities, I’ll marry you right now!”

At this, Jiang Jingxue felt as if a spring breeze warmed her heart. Who would have thought that after all the searching, the answer was right before her eyes!

She slowly turned her head, gazing at Gu Mo with deep affection, her exquisite face still streaked with tears.

(This acting is incredible! If she doesn’t get an Oscar for this, even the night spirits would object!)

Gu Mo gently wiped away her tears.

“Foolish girl, meeting you is the luck of three lifetimes. Are you really willing to marry a doomed man like me?”

Jiang Jingxue, seeing her plan about to succeed, continued to act pitiful.

Gu Mo’s conscience twisted inside him.

“I’m about to die, and I’m still dragging a lady into this. Am I a beast?”

Muttering to himself, he turned to Jiang Jingxue.

“Great King, perhaps we should wait. Let me come back alive, then I’ll marry you.”

Jiang Jingxue, thinking her efforts were in vain, began to weep silently.

“Your Majesty…”

Seeing her tears fall like rain, Gu Mo was filled with guilt.

After a few seconds, he sighed, “Fine! Let me do one good deed before I die!”

Jiang Jingxue thought, Ah—this little underling has finally come around?!

Gu Mo clenched his jaw, steeled himself, and strode to the shelves.

An auspicious pair of wedding candles, an incense burner, and sandalwood sticks were soon arranged before the counter.

With a thud, Gu Mo knelt. Jiang Jingxue gracefully floated to his side and knelt as well.

The two exchanged glances, and Gu Mo lit the dragon-and-phoenix candles and set the incense.

At that moment, Jiang Jingxue waved her hand, and a bright red bridal veil appeared, covering her phoenix coronet.

Gu Mo wiped his tears away, forced a cheerful smile, and bowed toward the heavens and the earth.

“Heaven above, earth below, bear witness! Today, I, Gu Mo, take Yanwang Jiang Jingxue as my wife. Should I ever have a divided heart, may my soul be destroyed and never reincarnate!”

The couple then bowed three times to heaven and earth.

Then they turned, and bowed three times to each other.

When the ceremony was done, Gu Mo gently lifted Jiang Jingxue’s veil.

For a moment, her breathtaking beauty left him utterly entranced.

Although Gu Mo and Jiang Jingxue had been together for days, this was the first time he had truly appreciated her beauty.

Compared to her, even the most legendary beauties could not capture a fraction of Jiang Jingxue’s allure.

Jiang Jingxue herself lowered her head in shyness, her gaze full of affection.

Gu Mo couldn’t help but smile, then cupped her face and kissed her deeply.

The tingling sensation sent his soul soaring; even the icy chill that flowed into him no longer felt so unwelcome.

(Here, let’s omit ten thousand words of poetic description!) …

After their lips parted, Gu Mo opened his eyes, gazed at his wife, and called softly,

“My dear…”

Jiang Jingxue nodded shyly and said something that made Gu Mo’s face darken.

“Aha~”

…

The two exchanged a sweet smile. Suddenly, Gu Mo felt a pang of guilt.

“Foolish girl, I still owe you a grand wedding. When I make something of myself, I’ll come for you with thirty-two red sedan chairs!”

Jiang Jingxue only blushed and nodded.

“Husband, now that the rites are complete, I… I am yours. For the rest of my days, as long as you treat me well, I’ll never hit you.”

Gu Mo, face covered in black lines, nodded.

“I… how could I bully you? Your family’s the underworld; I want to live a few more years!”

At this, Gu Mo’s heart grew heavy. Who knew what midnight would bring?

Seeing his distress, Jiang Jingxue guessed his thoughts.

She turned slightly, her hands moving within her ornate dress…

In an instant, a bright red embroidered dudou appeared before Gu Mo, its seductive fragrance overwhelming.

When he saw what his wife held, Gu Mo was struck dumb, petrified.

“My dear, I still have to go to the Mountain God Temple… Besides, this is an incense shop. We can’t consummate our marriage here!”

At this, Jiang Jingxue blushed furiously, gave him a glare, and flicked his forehead again.

“What are you thinking? If you wear my dudou, it might shield you from the ‘Nine Yin Purple Thunder’!”

Gu Mo lowered his head to inspect the dudou carefully.

Its four red cords, silver trim, and golden clasps were exquisitely crafted—clearly no ordinary item! The delicate fragrance was soothing and enchanting.

But when he unfolded it, Gu Mo was instantly terrified, cold sweat pouring down his back.

The dudou’s crimson cloth looked as if steeped in blood. Its embroidered design was chilling and shrouded in black mist!

At the top, nine ghastly skulls stared out. Gu Mo felt as if their hollow eyes, burning with eerie green flames, were fixed on him.

As the saying goes,

When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes back into you!

Utterly aghast, Gu Mo’s soul trembled as he looked beneath the skulls, only to be even more horrified.

The embroidery was anything but simple!

The scene depicted was bizarre beyond words.

Above, there were no stars; below, no trace of earth.

A winding river of golden magma surged violently, filled with the wailing, twisted souls of the dead, struggling in vain to escape the endless sea of suffering.

Amid the black mist, a gigantic, looming boundary stele could be seen, inscribed with blood-red characters: “Yellow Springs Fire Sea!”

The scene on the dudou was so vivid and ethereal, it felt like a live feed from the underworld.

At this, Gu Mo’s scalp tingled, his entire soul shaking.

“My dear, is it really appropriate to embroider something like this on such an intimate garment?”

Jiang Jingxue only frowned and snorted coldly.

“Don’t underestimate my dudou. In a life-or-death crisis, it can keep you safe.”

Hearing this, Gu Mo could only force a grim smile and, treading on thin ice, unzipped his tracksuit and donned the dudou.

He took a deep breath, wiping sweat from his brow.

“My dear, what is this ‘Nine Yin Purple Thunder’ you mentioned?”

Jiang Jingxue shook her head.

“Husband, I’ve spent three thousand years in my father’s Judgment Hall, and only heard of the ‘Nine Yin Purple Thunder.’ When the time comes, you’ll find out for yourself.”

Gu Mo nodded blankly, gathered his phone and black bundle, and finally set off on the road east—to the Mountain God Temple, a journey of no return…