Chapter 116: The Young Master And A Gu Primer

Chapter 116: The Young Master And A Gu Primer

Chen Haoran had tried to use the bare minimum he thought he needed to reach the top of the tree. As it turned out, he still underestimated how much power his advancement brought. His leap brought him high into the air and almost through the canopy entirely. Fortunately, he reacted quickly and grabbed a branch before he flew too high and swung himself onto the tree.

At the very top was an open space, enough for two people to sit in. The branches and leaves grew up and away from this space, covering it from view from both above and below save for one side that opened up directly facing the center of the Basin and its impaling mountain.

Bao Si took her time in climbing after him, giving Chen Haoran enough time to bury his face in his hands and cringe. Earn his arms. Did he really say that? Why? There wasnt enough water in Zumulu to drown him as badly as he wanted to right now.

Chen Haoran schooled his face back into indifferent calm when Bao Si finally arrived, Phelps floating them both to the top. She alighted onto the tree and took Phelps in hand off her back, giving him a few chin scratches as she did. Phelps squealed and allowed it before shrugging her off and floating to Chen Haoran, settling on his back as was his proper place.

Youve tamed quite the beast, Bao Si said. Ive never seen its like before. Where did you find him?

Something about her had changed in the time it took for her to climb the tree. There was something different about her features. Something predatory. Chen Haoran felt like a slab of meat being stared at.

It was a bit of an adventure. What did you want to show me up here?

Bao Si pointed toward the mountain and its impaled skeleton. That, of course. Sit. This tree has the best view of the sunset.

They shuffled around a bit. Two people and a sloth made for crowded company up here. Eventually, Chen Haoran settled Phelps into his lap and sat side by side with Bao Si to watch the evening light fade. A cool breeze brushed across his face. The humidity of the Basin lost some of its strength as high up as they were.

What is it you want from me? he finally asked.

Simple curiosity, really, Bao Si said. She was flush against his side, and he could feel every small movement she made as she made herself comfortable. We found the Gu you fought. It still hadnt recovered from the injuries you gave it. Given their powerful vitality, its rare for them to suffer such lasting injuries. It was a first for me.

Was that it? If so, then Chen Haoran was relieved. This, at least, was easy to deal with. He wasnt surprised to hear the Gu was still injured. Compared to what the White Tyrant could do, it was childs play. Its because of my Harmonization. Its a bit special.

Bao Sis interest was piqued. It must be quite the technique if the Harmonization alone is so powerful.

To be perfectly honest, Chen Haoran didnt know if the Canyon Carving Sword even was a technique anymore. It certainly had never been the same since the White Tyrants image basically infected it. If he didnt know any better, he would have considered them two different techniques.

You can see it for yourself, he said. I just need a place to practice it. I dont think people will be too happy if I start cutting down trees.

Thats no issue. Just go to the lake. Plenty of the tribes cultivators practice their more destructive techniques there.

Right the. lake. I dont suppose you know anything about that giant skeleton.

As much as anyone else does about Zumulus bones. Some theorize there was once an ancient battle here and that these skeletons fell during it. The Screaming Giant is considered as the obvious evidence.

Screaming Giant. What an appropriate name.

Bao Si seemed to read his thoughts and chuckled. To answer your actual question, every bone on that skeleton matches a human one. The only difference is in scale.

Somehow, thats even scarier than the Snakes Mouth, he said.

If it looked human, did it think like a human? Something that big with a fully sapient mind was disquieting. Whatever killed something like that, even more so.

Jin took you through the Snakes Mouth, did he? Why am I not surprised? Thats so like him. Bao Si quietly laughed under her breath, faint as it was though it sounded clear as day to his ears. However, this was less due to his enhanced senses and more to just how close she was to him. The Screaming Giant isnt the only one of its kind. There are other bones across Zumulu identified as human. The Screaming Giant is the most complete skeleton, however.

The sun began its descent over the horizon, and the jungle canopy was bathed red and gold. Bao Si curled up to his side and rested her knee on his thigh. Chen Haoran locked eyes with her. Bao Sis black eyes were the type to draw one in. If he were poetic, hed say they were limpid pools. Chen Haoran wasnt a good poet. Her eyes were attractive, the same way an abyss was. He placed a hand on her knee

and pushed it off.

What do you want now? he asked.

Bao Si huffed indignantly, but a small smile played across her face. Id like to hear how Jin met you.

Bao Si stopped and looked at him in disbelief. Are you serious?

Pretend that I am.

I thought you wanted to know about Gu.

I can learn more than one thing at once.

Well, I cant teach more than one thing at once. Bao Si placed the back of her hand on her forehead and mimed fainting, leaning heavily into Chen Haoran as she did. Not unless you can do something for me. Ive been talking a lot. I deserve a reward.

Chen Haoran sighed. What do you want?

Bao Sis eyes slowly fell down his body and below his belt. His heart did not skip a beat as she did. It was just the Yellow Dragon that passed too close to it while it cycled. Phelps blearily looked up from atop his lap and sleepily burbled at Bao Si before curling up

Id like a place to rest my tired head as well, she said. Surely Ive earned your lap if not your arms.

It was his lap. Chen Haoran would have breathed relief if Bao Si wouldnt have immediately noticed it and no doubt teased him more for it.

No, came his instant response.

Please? Bao Si tilted her head down and batted her eyes at him.

Phelps is trying to sleep. Dont disturb him.

Is there no more room in your heart for one more?

No. I can just ask Xie Jin.

Bao Si clicked her tongue. Youre no fun. Its 200 years, barring any accidents.

The number hit him like a truck. Double a human lifespan. Even if he didnt reach the maximum, hed still be living well beyond even the oldest human back on Earth.

To finish answering your question, Bao Si said, stirring him from his thoughts. A Gu can be considered a living cultivation technique. Their miasma is their most used weapon, but many cultivators have died for thinking its their only one.

Chen Haoran scratched his chest where there was once burned skin. The Gu I fought stole the armor off my body and dropped a horde of insects on my head.

Gu are the embodiment of greed. Bao Si curled a strand of her hair around her finger as she spoke. Their special qi is used to power arcane and hard-to-resist abilities. They can steal the clothes off your back with a thought, the weapons out of your hands, even your cultivation if you allow yourself to be overwhelmed. Their miasma is one of the most poisonous substances in Zumulu and can be used in every way poison can be used. They can enslave and seduce people. Turn them into evil spirits and control them. Sense wealth and draw it toward their owner. Their vitality makes them incredibly difficult to kill by anything short of total annihilation. Their qi makes them harder to detect. And, of course, they can command other insects.

Chen Haorans heart fell more and more as Bao Si listed one power after another. More than ever now, he was beginning to regret coming to Zumulu. How the hell did he survive fighting one? Knowing what he did now, he couldnt believe he actually won that fight.

A Gu is versatile, but its not all-powerful, Bao Si said. She yawned and stretched her back, a motion that did very interesting things to her front, particularly with her being as close as she was to him. Their means of direct at are weak, and the majority of their abilities require preparation to be used effectively. You can consider a Gu to be another type of poison; they both share the same limitations. On top of that, while their vitality is strong, doing enough damage to them will have them exact a greater price from their shaman in return. In addition, every Gu is vulnerable to fire, boiling water, and lightning, as well as just being overwhelmed by power in general. Even a Gu is helpless in the face of someone who can destroy them in one blow. Bao Si waved a hand over herself. And, as always, the shaman is the weak link. If you kill the shaman, then while the Gu will still be a problem, it will act far more instinctually and lack the same deadly precision they do while controlled.

It was still a lot to take in. Even if he could beat a Gu in a direct fight, there was no telling what would happen to him if he was caught unawares. He was lucky the shaman he fought had been so crudely forward with his Gu. That fight could have gone so much more differently if he hadnt been. Chen Haoran pushed those thoughts away and distracted himself by watching the sun disappear from view. Bao Si, in the meantime, twisted so that her legs lay across his shins. Her dress rode up a bit while she moved and exposed the centipede tail on her knee once more.

Hey, Chen Haoran said, resolutely ignoring her antics. Everything you said is about normal, Gu. What makes a Black Bone Shaman so special?

Bao Si laughed.Isnt that obvious? A slow, superior smile grew on her face, and Chen Haoran was struck by just how much it looked like the one Xie Jin so often sported. Were the best.

Pride was universal to a Black Bone Shaman, it seemed.

Do you have any more questions to ask? The last light of the sun covered Bao Sis face in a golden glow. Only her eyes remained dark.

Just one. The most important one.

How do friends become official?