Chapter 27: The First Mission

“All right, it’s not as if we’re parting forever,” Gu Weiyu sighed, rubbing her forehead in resignation.

“But I heard that going out on missions is very dangerous…” Gu Weihuan said, worry clouding her features.

“Cultivation itself is a defiance of fate. If we’re timid and afraid of everything, what’s the point of cultivating at all?” Gu Weiyu dismissed the concern, her eyes shining with anticipation at the thought of going out on a mission.

Gu Qingyun and Gu Weihuan exchanged glances: That makes sense. It seems they were worrying for nothing; their eleventh sister has always been fearless, and heading out for a mission is just what she wants!

As they chatted, the three reached Hibiscus Residence and parted ways to return to their own courtyards.

Back at her quarters, Gu Weiyu headed straight for the bamboo grove. With time to spare, she planned to practice the movement technique she had recently learned—Heavenly Thunder Flash.

This technique was part of the Eight Wilds Mountain and Sea Manual she studied. It was notoriously difficult to master and required breaking through to the fifth layer of Qi Refining before it could be learned. It had taken her half a month to grasp it.

She was about to go out on a mission, and a good movement technique was crucial in combat. This was leagues ahead of the beginner Gale Step. If danger arose, a swift movement technique might just save her life!

It was a pity she had to wait until the sixth layer of Qi Refining to learn the Escape Art; that would offer even more security.

The bamboo grove was dense and lush, and Gu Weiyu darted through it, zigzagging left and right, her figure flickering like lightning. Yet it was clear she had not fully mastered the technique.

“Bang—” Unable to control herself, she crashed into a bamboo stalk, stumbled, and landed squarely on her backside.

Grimacing, she climbed up, cast a Dust-Cleansing Spell on herself, and resumed practicing Heavenly Thunder Flash.

“Miss, it’s getting late. Why not have supper and then continue cultivating?” called out Yueya from the edge of the bamboo grove, her voice crisp and clear.

Gu Weiyu glanced at the sky. At some point, the sun had sunk below the horizon, dusk enveloping the world.

She strolled out of the bamboo grove and entered the house, where Yueya had already set out the meal.

“Miss, the New Year’s Eve is in two days. When will you return to Green Mountain Village?” Yueya asked softly as she served Gu Weiyu, who had settled at the table.

“I’ll go visit Father and the others tomorrow and be back in a couple of days,” Gu Weiyu replied, looking at Yueya with a hint of helplessness. “Sister Yueya, why don’t you come with me this time?”

Yueya smiled and shook her head. It was just a joke, but Miss took it seriously. How could a maid like her really accompany her mistress home?

She put down her chopsticks, took a small stool, and sat quietly to the side, watching Gu Weiyu eat with relish, her heart full of emotion.

Miss had grown so much, nearly as tall as herself now. Yet she could still recall the adorable image of Miss at their first meeting, as if it were only yesterday—two years had passed in the blink of an eye!

After supper, Gu Weiyu cultivated eight cycles in the quiet room before going to bed.

Early the next morning, she rode a paper crane back to Green Mountain Village. Now at the fifth layer of Qi Refining, she could travel on her own.

She spent a day accompanying her parents, then the next day took little Stone, now three years old, to the county town to play. After returning him to Green Mountain Village, she made her way back to Gu Manor as dusk fell.

“Miss, you’re back?” Yueya had returned home for New Year’s Eve and came back to Jade Bamboo Courtyard the following day. Hearing the commotion, she joyfully rushed out to welcome Gu Weiyu.

“Huh, Sister Yueya, why didn’t you stay at home a few more days?” Gu Weiyu asked in surprise. She had told Yueya she could manage alone, encouraging her to spend more time with her family.

“Miss, there’s nothing for me to do at home. I thought I’d rather come back,” Yueya smiled, and the two entered the house together.

Afterwards, Gu Weiyu went to the clan’s library to borrow the Complete Guide to Demonic Beasts and the Herbal Record.

She planned to spend an hour each day memorizing knowledge about various beasts and herbs.

There were countless types, and after reaching the fifth layer of Qi Refining, her mental strength and memory outclassed ordinary people, though it still required considerable time to study.

The rest of her time was devoted to practicing spells and improving her cultivation. After all, strength was paramount when venturing outside.

Her days were full and productive. For half a month, aside from occasionally gathering with Gu Weihuan and the others, she spent all her time cultivating and reading.

“If you feel ready, then go,” Gu Qingzhou said, lounging lazily on the couch, idly raising a cup of tea with spiritual power and taking a sip.

“Ancestor, tell me what I should pay attention to on missions, will you?” Gu Weiyu asked sweetly, dissatisfied with his perfunctory attitude.

“What to pay attention to?” Gu Qingzhou squinted, carelessly replying, “There’s nothing in the deep mountains but plenty of beasts. Just don’t let yourself become their dinner.”

Gu Weiyu was speechless. What ancestor talked to juniors like this?

She got nowhere with her ancestor, so she went to ask Sixteenth Uncle.

Gu Hui, upon hearing she was heading out on a mission, gave her a jade slip detailing everything she needed to prepare and watch out for.

Sixteenth Uncle was reliable! Unlike the ancestor, who only offered sarcastic remarks.

Armed with the jade slip, she spent a whole day preparing enough food and water for ten days, packed two extra sets of clothes and a tent for nighttime rest, and finally used the spirit stones she’d gathered over two years to exchange for a concealment and alert formation.

Gu Weiyu glanced at her bulging storage pouch—everything was ready.

The next day, she went to the clan’s mission hall and chose a beginner task near Green Mountain Village.

The hall was overseen by her Fifth Grandfather, who, seeing it was her first mission, couldn’t help reminding her, “Little Eleven, it’s your first task, so be careful! If you really can’t complete it, it doesn’t matter; your safety comes first.”

He was a veteran of the mission hall, having seen too many juniors get severely injured—or worse, devoured by beasts—for the sake of bravado.

Gu Weiyu looked down at the task in her hand: collect ten Wind Rabbit pelts, ten fig plants, and ten colorful pheasant tail feathers—all first-tier beasts and herbs. She shouldn’t have trouble with them.

Leaving the county town, she took out a pink paper crane, infused it with spiritual power, and tossed it into the air, expanding it to the size of a donkey before mounting it.

Wind Rabbits, figs, and colorful pheasants could all be found in the outskirts of Mount Wen, not far from Green Mountain Village. She flew the paper crane toward Mount Wen.

In less than half an hour, she arrived before a towering mountain—Mount Wen.

It was sunrise, clouds billowing, green trees and vines trailing, mist weaving through the forest, monkeys and birds calling chaotically, snow still lingering atop the peaks, a scene of early spring everywhere.

From her vantage point atop the paper crane, Gu Weiyu surveyed the mountain, chose a flat open spot, and descended.