In Emei, start by obtaining golden attributes.

Chapter 512 An Unwelcome Guest Arrives, Yuwen Shiji

Gu Shaoan's question immediately silenced the room, and the atmosphere became inexplicably heavy.

Shang Xiufang hadn't expected Gu Shaoan to be so perceptive.

Just as Shang Xiufang was pondering how to respond, Gu Shaoan's voice rang out again.

“Transactions are reciprocal. Before Miss Shang answers, why don’t you listen to what I have to say?”

Since it is a transaction, it can only be called a transaction if both parties can get what they need.

Gu Shaoan has never liked doing things he's not sure about.

The reason they brought Mei Jiangxue directly onto the ship this time was because they knew that this top-notch expert who had protected Shangxiu Pavilion for many years was about to die.

Shang Xiufang looked at Gu Shaoan, their eyes met, and all Shang Xiufang saw in Gu Shaoan's eyes was calmness and certainty.

After a long silence, Shang Xiufang finally spoke, "I am all ears."

Gu Shaoan pointed to the old woman next to Shang Xiufang.

"Since Miss Shang knows me, she should also know that I have some medical skills. As the price for obtaining the map of Yang Gong's Treasure Vault from Miss Shang, I can help Miss Shang heal the injuries of the person next to her."

Shang Xiufang could no longer maintain her composure.

"Can you cure Granny Zhou?"

Gu Shaoan looked at the old woman.

"Would the old man be willing to let me take his pulse?"

In response to Gu Shaoan's words, the old woman surnamed Zhou first looked at Shang Xiufang.

After Shang Xiufang nodded in acknowledgment, she stepped forward and sat down next to Gu Shaoan, extending her hand.

Gu Shaoan raised his hand and placed three fingers on the old woman's wrist.

Ten breaths later, Gu Shaoan withdrew his hand, his gaze lingering briefly on the old woman's face.

Shang Xiufang asked, "How is it?"

Gu Shaoan said, "If my diagnosis is correct, the old man was injured by a master who had condensed his Qi into Gang more than ten years ago. When this person injected this Qi into the old man's body, he also used a special method, so that the Qi did not simply damage the internal organs, but rather forcibly injected a strange Qi that combined the practitioner's spiritual imprint with the Yin Gang Qi into the body, directly rushing into the brain."

"In addition, this strange energy is inherently cold and stagnant. Once it enters the human body, it is like a carbuncle that clings to the bone, lodging in acupoints such as 'Fengfu' and 'Naohu' where the Kidney Meridian of Foot-Shaoyin and the Governing Vessel intersect."

"Judging from the injuries in the old man's body, around the time of the full moon each month when the yin energy is at its peak, or during rainy and cold weather, the yin evil spirits residing in his brain will be agitated by the energy of heaven and earth, causing severe headaches, like being stabbed by a thousand needles, or like ice picks piercing his brain, causing unbearable pain."

"Furthermore, the cold and damp evil has lingered in the body for a long time, suppressing the heart's yang energy. The heart governs the mind, and when the heart's yang energy is suppressed, the mind is lost. When the old man's injuries flare up, he will become violent and bloodthirsty."

"In addition, the old man's injury has been lingering for a long time, damaging all five internal organs. His vitality is like a candle flickering in the wind, gradually weakening. He has a feeling of coldness and stagnation in his breathing, and occasionally coughs and wheezes."

The old woman, Granny Zhou, trembled slightly with her withered body. When she looked at Gu Shaoan with her cloudy old eyes, her expression was obscure and difficult to understand, but she did not refute him.

Clearly, the symptoms Gu Shaoan described were identical to those she had.

At this point, Gu Shaoan paused for a moment before continuing, "Given the energy in the old man's body and his condition, his internal injuries have already penetrated to his lungs and internal organs, which can be considered a chronic illness. Logically speaking, the old man should have been affected by these invading energies long ago, causing him to lose his composure and suffer a qi deviation. However, he is still in good spirits, so he must have used other methods to temporarily suppress these energies in his body."

"But now, he's almost at his limit. Given his current condition, if he doesn't receive treatment, he has at most six months left."

Upon hearing this, Shang Xiufang's expression changed, and she couldn't help but look at the old woman.

Meeting Shang Xiufang's gaze, the old woman opened her mouth, but in the end, she said nothing.

Seeing this, Shang Xiufang knew perfectly well that Gu Shaoan was telling the truth.

The old woman is now like a candle flickering in the wind, her days numbered.

After a moment, Shang Xiufang took a deep breath and said, "As long as Young Master Gu can cure Granny Zhou, I can give you the topographical map of Yang Gong's Treasure Vault."

Upon hearing this, Gu Shaoan smiled lightly: "It's a deal."

As he spoke, Gu Shaoan reached into his robes and took out a pre-prepared elixir bottle.

However, just as the pill bottle was taken out, Gu Shaoan's hand holding the bottle suddenly paused, and he glanced at the vast night outside.

Immediately afterwards, Gu Shaoan spoke up: "It seems that I am not the only one who has come uninvited to board the Shangxiu Pavilion ship today!"

Just as Gu Shaoan uttered his words, before Shang Xiufang and the old woman could react to his abrupt statement, a series of heavy and orderly footsteps approached like muffled thunder, accompanied by the clanging sound of metal armor rubbing against each other. The sound clearly penetrated the soundproofing of the cabin and drifted into the ears of the people inside.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Then, three urgent and somewhat panicked knocks sounded on the door.

Then, the middle-aged woman surnamed Zhou, who had been sent by Shang Xiufang to prepare the food and wine, anxiously entered the room. She quickly walked to Shang Xiufang's side and whispered, "Miss, someone is forcibly boarding the ship with a large number of soldiers. Our people can't stop them."

Shang Xiufang's expression changed slightly, her delicate eyebrows furrowed instantly, and a hint of barely perceptible annoyance and coldness flashed in her eyes. She quickly got up and leaned against the railing outside, where she saw nearly a hundred soldiers in armor on the deck.

The cold armor gleamed eerily in the candlelight, instantly filling the room with a chilling atmosphere that completely shattered the elegant ambiance of Shangxiu Pavilion.

With just one glance, Shang Xiufang recognized the identities of these soldiers from the armor they wore.

The Yuwen family's guards were one of the four great clans of the Sui Dynasty.

Seeing this, Shang Xiufang turned to Gu Shaoan inside the house and said, "We have an unwelcome guest. Please wait a moment, Mr. Gu."

Gu Shaoan smiled and said calmly, "It's alright, Miss Shang, please go ahead."

As he spoke, Gu Shaoan picked up the wine glass on the table, sniffed it lightly, and took a sip.

Seeing this, Shang Xiufang said no more. With a light step, her body floated down onto the deck like a fairy under the moon.

The old woman surnamed Zhou remained standing by the railing, her internal energy slowly circulating.

"Sect Master."

As Shang Xiufang floated down from the pavilion, those detained by the Yuwen family's soldiers in Shangxiu Pavilion began to speak.

And one after another, figures rushed out from the cabins and pavilions of Shangxiu Pavilion, and stood behind Shang Xiufang, facing the soldiers of the Yuwen family.

Immediately afterwards, several men dressed in casual clothes, but with a restrained demeanor, escorted a young man in a magnificent brocade robe and a jade-inlaid curved sword at his waist as he swaggered onto the deck.

The man was about thirty years old and quite handsome, but his brows revealed an undisguised arrogance and domineering air.

After boarding the deck, the man glanced around before his gaze settled on Shang Xiufang, a smile playing on his lips.

"Yuwen Shiji greets Lady Xiufang. It's been a long time. I hope you've been well!"

As soon as the man spoke, he revealed his identity to the group of people around Shang Xiufang, as well as Gu Shaoan and Mei Jiangxue inside the pavilion.

Yuwen Shiji is one of the four top masters among the younger generation of the Yuwen clan, whose internal energy cultivation has reached the level of Qi Condensation.

As he spoke, Yuwen Shiji walked towards Gu Shaoan and Shang Xiufang, and then sat down next to Shang Xiufang as if no one else was there.

Seeing this, Shang Xiufang said, "Although the Yuwen family is one of the four great clans of the Great Sui Kingdom, this place is not the Yuwen family's territory. Young Master Yuwen, don't you think it's a bit impolite of you to force your way onto my Shangxiu Pavilion's ship?"

Although her voice was still pleasant, there was a distinct chill in her tone.

However, Yuwen Shiji seemed oblivious to the dissatisfaction in Shang Xiufang's words, saying, "I am also unwilling to do so, but unfortunately, my Yuwen family and I have invited Xiufang to our home as guests time and time again, and Xiufang has declined repeatedly."

"I happened to be passing through Tongyang Prefecture recently on some business, and I heard that Shangxiu Pavilion's flower boat would also make a temporary stop in Tongyang Prefecture, so I came to try my luck. It seems that my luck is not bad."

As he spoke, Yuwen Shiji's gaze swept lightly over Shang Xiufang's graceful figure, and his smile deepened.

When his gaze fell upon Shang Xiufang's almost flawless face, a possessive glint flashed in Yuwen Shiji's eyes.

Noticing Yuwen Shiji's gaze, Shang Xiufang felt even more disgusted.

She immediately said, "I am just an ordinary woman. My only wish in life is to enjoy the scenery, play the zither, sing and dance. I have no intention of participating in world affairs, nor do I have any intention of becoming a tool or vassal of other forces. Please forgive me for not accepting the invitation from the Yuwen family."

Yuwen Shiji smiled and said, "You can't say that. Lady Xiufang has traveled all over the country and is well-informed. I think Lady Xiufang is aware of the current situation in the Great Sui Dynasty and knows that the Great Sui Dynasty will soon be in chaos."

"The Xiufang Pavilion is filled with women inside and out. In this chaotic world, who would spend a lot of money to continue to invite Xiufang to play music and perform dances? In that case, how will we support the hundreds of people in Xiufang Pavilion? It would not be an exaggeration to say that it will be 'extremely difficult'."

"Even if you don't think about yourself, you should at least think about the hundreds of people in Xiufang Pavilion who follow you around begging for food, right?"

"A good bird chooses a good tree to perch on. Although the four major clans are in conflict within the Great Sui Dynasty, the current dominant power is in the hands of my Yuwen family. If Lady Xiufang is willing to cooperate with my Yuwen family, it will be entirely beneficial. What do you think, Lady Xiufang?"

Shang Xiufang said in a calm tone, "Xiufang Pavilion is full of pitiful people who have nowhere to go. Even if chaos is coming, I will naturally find a way to help the people of Xiufang Pavilion survive. I appreciate the kindness of the Yuwen family and Young Master Yuwen."

"As for the Yuwen family, the act of regicide is not a good reputation. I suggest that Young Master Yuwen and the Yuwen family think about how to make amends for this, so as to avoid causing turmoil and plunging the Sui Dynasty into war."

Seeing that Shang Xiufang's attitude remained unchanged, Yuwen Shiji couldn't help but sigh.

"It seems that you have a deep misunderstanding about my Yuwen family, Xiufang. Well then! I happen to have some free time in the coming days. Once you have a better understanding of my Yuwen family, these misunderstandings will naturally be cleared up."

Shang Xiufang frowned slightly.

"Is Young Master Yuwen making things difficult for me?"

Yuwen Shiji laughed and said, "Why do you say that, Miss Xiufang? I merely wish to invite you to my Yuwen family as a guest. How could that be considered forcing someone to do something against their will?"

At this moment, Yuwen Shiji paused slightly, and his voice suddenly became more stiff and cold.

"Or is it that Xiufang doesn't even give face to my Yuwen family?"

(End of this chapter)