Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Forcing a Jailbreak? Thrilling
"You’re right, Fellow Daoist... It’s my own fault for not thinking things through. If I’m to die here, then it’s what I deserve."
Lu Sangjiu’s eyes filled with sorrow. "But... Fellow Daoist, since I was only imprisoned because I was trying to help you, could you please... send my remains back to the Seven Emotions Sect after I die? I would be eternally grateful!"
Gu Jue was taken aback for a moment. "What are you talking about, Fellow Daoist? We’re only being held for half a month. How could you die?"
Lu Sangjiu suddenly broke into a fit of violent coughing, then offered a bitter smile. "...There’s something you don’t know, Fellow Daoist. I suffer from a strange illness. I don’t have much time left... My senior brothers came on this trip just to find a cure for me."
"But now, it seems I won’t live long enough for them to find the cure and save me."
As she spoke, a surge of turmoil roiled within Lu Sangjiu, and she suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.
The color seemed to instantly drain from her face. Leaning against the wall, she said mournfully, "Such is time, such is fate. It seems I’m destined to die in this place..."
Gu Jue had been skeptical of Lu Sangjiu’s story, but his expression changed the moment he saw her spit blood.
After a moment’s hesitation, he spoke up. "May I have a look? I might have some Elixir Pills that can help you."
’He probably won’t believe me unless he can confirm it for himself.’
So, she nodded weakly. "Of course... but I don’t think you’ll be able to save me."
A trace of Heavenly Dao Qi, left behind by a Heavenly Punishment, lingered within her body. Outsiders couldn’t identify it, but they could sense the abnormality within her.
Duan Xingyun had examined her before, and they had even found a professional Medical Cultivator to take a look, but none of them could get to the bottom of it.
All they knew was that there was a strange energy inside her that was difficult to expel. When it moved about, it would cause internal turmoil, making her cough up blood.
Just as she expected, after Gu Jue finished his examination, his expression turned grave. "I can only tell that there’s something amiss with your body, but I truly can’t determine the cause..."
"However, since your senior brothers are seeking a cure, they must know what medicine you need. Why don’t you tell me what it is? I have plenty of Elixir Pills on me; I might just have it."
Lu Sangjiu replied, "The Elixir Pill is a unique formula that has to be personally refined by an elder from my sect, so it’s not convenient to disclose the details. The main ingredient my Eldest Senior Brother and the others are searching for is Hell Grass."
’She was just spouting nonsense, but she also had a sliver of hope. Gu Jue is the male lead, after all. What if he happens to have Hell Grass on him?’
Unfortunately, in the face of Lu Sangjiu’s expectant gaze, Gu Jue shook his head in embarrassment. "...I don’t have any Hell Grass on me."
The disappointment in Lu Sangjiu’s eyes was plain to see, yet she forced a smile. "It’s alright... I suppose this is just my fate."
"I just feel so bad for my senior brothers. They don’t even know I’m in trouble. They’re going through so much for me, only to return and find my dead body... How devastated will they be?"
Gu Jue pursed his lips, his resolve clearly wavering.
Lu Sangjiu spoke again. "Oh, by the way, Fellow Daoist... we’ve been through this together, but I still don’t know your name. I’m Lu Sangjiu. And you?"
Gu Jue didn’t answer. Instead, he suddenly rose to his feet. "You were indeed dragged into this because of me. I won’t stand by and watch you die here."
With that, he reached out and pulled Lu Sangjiu to her feet. "Stick close to me from now on."
Lu Sangjiu was stunned. Just as she was about to ask what he was planning to do, she saw Gu Jue unsheathe his Phoenix Cry Sword!
Even though most of its power was sealed, the might of an Immortal Sword was no match for an ordinary Magic Treasure.
With a single swing of his sword, the cell door and the Array inscribed upon it shattered to pieces!
Lu Sangjiu: !!!
She was dumbfounded. Only then did it dawn on her. "Fellow Daoist... you’re not actually planning to force your way out, are you???"
Gu Jue didn’t even turn his head. "Stick close!"
He didn’t give Lu Sangjiu another moment to speak before heading out.
Lu Sangjiu was completely flabbergasted. It was the first time she had ever met someone who acted so illogically.
’She had only acted pitifully to get Gu Jue to ask his master for a favor, or perhaps to reveal his own identity so they could be released.’
’But she had never imagined Gu Jue’s way of thinking was so peculiar. There were far simpler solutions, yet he insisted on forcing their way out!’
But things had already come to this, and Lu Sangjiu had no other choice. If she didn’t follow Gu Jue, she really would end up rotting in this prison.
She hurried to keep up with Gu Jue, watching as he cleared a path, taking down one opponent after another as they appeared.
He never dealt a fatal blow, but his methods were clean and decisive, instantly neutralizing his opponents’ ability to fight.
’I have to admit, even though his logic is a little skewed... this is pretty awesome!’
’Ever since she’d become so weak, it had been a long time since she’d felt so unstoppable, cutting down gods and buddhas alike. Now, she was getting to relive that feeling, all thanks to Gu Jue.’
’In a word: exhilarating!’
Unfortunately, the exhilarating rush only lasted from the cell to the prison gates.
When she saw that the elder blocking the entrance had the cultivation of a Nascent Soul Stage expert, Lu Sangjiu couldn’t help but look at Gu Jue. "...Can you handle this?"
’She asked the question, but in her heart, she was already debating whether to use her Devouring Spirit Sand.’
’The Spirit-killing Water is far too lethal; she definitely couldn’t use that, or it would create an irreconcilable grudge.’
’But she could control the Devouring Spirit Sand quite well. A surprise attack with it should have some effect.’
’Her only hesitation was that Devouring Spirit Sand was a rather rare item. If she used it in plain sight, she feared her situation would become precarious once they entered the Secret Realm.’
While she was lost in thought, Gu Jue had already made his move, his actions speaking louder than words: A man can never admit defeat!
’Well, in other words, even if he wasn’t strong enough, he had to go for it.’
As expected of the male lead, Gu Jue was able to fight across Realms, engaging a Nascent Soul Stage expert despite only being at the Late-stage Golden Core.
But there was a major Realm separating them, and he was quickly put on the defensive.
’Lu Sangjiu knew she had to get out of here today, otherwise Li Qiancheng would certainly die.’
She couldn’t worry about the consequences any longer and was about to use the Devouring Spirit Sand.
But just then, with nowhere left to retreat, Gu Jue had no choice but to finally unleash his signature sword move, Phoenix Cry Nine Heavens.
"You’re..." The Nascent Soul Elder’s expression changed dramatically. The words were on the tip of his tongue, but wary of something, he swallowed them back down.
He was then knocked back several steps before he managed to steady himself.
Gu Jue pursed his lips. "...My apologies for the offense."
The Nascent Soul Elder’s gaze was complicated. He probably couldn’t figure out why his own sect’s chosen prodigy had suddenly shown up in the dungeons.
Though he didn’t know the full story, the elder glanced at the pale and extremely weak-looking Lu Sangjiu and guessed it probably had something to do with this Female Cultivator.
Thus, he didn’t expose Gu Jue’s identity. He simply stepped aside to clear the path and said, "My skills were inferior... You may go."
Lu Sangjiu breathed a sigh of relief. ’Finally,’ she thought, ’someone in the Lingjian Sect isn’t completely unreasonable.’
’This old man hadn’t lived all those years for nothing. At least he knew to show some leniency after recognizing Gu Jue.’
Outside the dungeon, Lu Sangjiu took a deep breath of fresh air, her heart gradually calming.
She turned, about to say something to Gu Jue, when she heard him speak in a detached tone. "You should go on your own."
Lu Sangjiu froze. "...What do you mean? Aren’t you leaving?"
