Chapter 238: Pain Beyond Recognition
Nan Xun wasn’t tired of living—she just had solid backing. She had a divine beast, Little Eight, who could block her pain at any time. At the very least, she didn’t have to worry about being tortured to death by pain.
Feeling quite confident, Nan Xun suddenly noticed a pair of snow-white, long boots appear in front of her, along with the hem of a white robe slightly higher up.
That long robe had to be made from the finest silks and brocades of Southern Yun Kingdom. It looked thin and soft; at a glance it seemed pure white, but upon closer inspection, there were faint auspicious cloud patterns embroidered into it—something only a master embroiderer could achieve.
At some point, the National Preceptor had walked up to her. His lowered hand moved slightly, slowly lifting and reaching in her direction.
What a beautiful hand it was—fair and slender, each finger like a piece of jade bamboo. Even the nails seemed to gleam. Nan Xun stared, completely entranced.
She foolishly raised her own hand to meet it. Unexpectedly, that beautiful palm passed right by her hand; two fingers bent and lightly flicked her forehead instead.
Something burrowed into her forehead.
Nan Xun froze for a split second—then her pupils shrank violently.
A scream of agony about to burst out was forcibly stuck in her throat, because Little Eight had activated the pain-blocking in time.
But even so, that brief instant—when it felt like something was gnawing at her brain marrow—made her entire body tremble uncontrollably.
Gong Seventeen’s eyes widened slightly. Sir had used it… This was the brain-eating Gu personally refined by the National Preceptor!
Nan Xun, a mere woman, didn’t utter a single sound after being afflicted with the National Preceptor’s own brain-eating Gu. Her expression looked as though she were facing death calmly, her gaze unwavering.
Everyone watched as her complexion changed from the fresh flush of a water lotus to a deathly pallor, white as snow. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead and slid down her beautiful face, gathering into small streams that disappeared into the wide neckline of her robe.
Gong Seventeen stared at her in a daze. For the first time, he looked at this stinking little beggar with new eyes, and the murderous thoughts he had earlier faded considerably.
A moment later, the National Preceptor’s hand lightly swept across Nan Xun’s forehead, and the brain-eating Gu was withdrawn.
In that final second, Nan Xun nearly cried out. Thinking of how long she’d put on an act as a tough guy, she forcibly endured it.
“Damn it, Little Eight, why did you remove the block so fast? Don’t you know pain has aftereffects?” she complained inwardly.
Little Eight replied innocently, “…I already delayed it for a few seconds.”
Nan Xun said, “Really? Then why does it hurt so much? This is pain no normal human could endure!”
Little Eight sighed. “If you can’t even handle this little bit of pain, what are you going to do in the days ahead?”
Nan Xun immediately retorted, “Don’t I have you?”
“If you block pain too often, your five senses will be affected eventually. You could go blind or deaf or something. I’m not lying.”
Nan Xun stayed calm. “Compared to pain so bad I don’t even recognize my parents, I’d rather be blind and deaf.”
Little Eight: “……”
In the dead silence, the spotless National Preceptor suddenly spoke. “Passable. From now on, you will be this seat’s exclusive Gu tester.”
To Nan Xun, that flat, chill-laced voice sounded like heavenly music.
She kowtowed deeply. “Thank you, National Preceptor, for granting this!”
After saying that, the National Preceptor returned to the main hall to rest. The remaining task of assigning the Gu testers was handed over to Gong Da.
Gong Da asked each disciple for their preference. If there was no conflict, the Gu testers they favored were assigned to them. If there was a conflict, seniority decided—those higher in rank chose first.
Each disciple received one. The extra Gu testers were all assigned as cleaners or hall guards, to be used as needed.
Gong Seventeen randomly picked one, looking rather listless.
That kid—no, that little girl—had clearly been the one he noticed first. How had she ended up being taken by Sir? He felt inexplicably unwilling to accept it.
Moreover, Mo Ran Hall never accepted women, yet Sir had made an exception today!
Gong Seventeen shot Nan Xun a vicious glare. “Just you wait, damn woman.”
Nan Xun rolled her eyes at him.
Idiot.
Because Mo Ran Hall was short on menial servants, the selected Gu testers were used not only for Gu poison trials but also for chores. For convenience, each disciple slept in the inner room of a side hall, while their respective Gu testers slept on straw mats in the outer room. But when it came to Nan Xun, Gong Da hesitated.
The National Preceptor’s main hall did not allow outsiders to enter. Even they disciples were forbidden without permission—and even then, they could only stand in the outer hall to report matters.
Gong Da didn’t know how to arrange this Gu tester’s lodging.
After much deliberation, he decided to ask the National Preceptor directly.
Gong Da stood at the entrance of the outer hall. Even though the person inside couldn’t see him, he still maintained a slight bow and asked respectfully, “Sir, where should the Gu tester you accepted earlier rest? Sir dislikes being disturbed. Would it be better to arrange her with this disciple?”
He deliberately kept his voice low—first, out of fear of disturbing the resting National Preceptor, and second, because he already had his own judgment.
Based on Sir’s habits, he would never agree to let a Gu tester stay in his outer hall. Gong Da was merely going through the motions, showing that he had sought Sir’s opinion—out of respect.
After speaking, he indeed heard no response from within and was about to withdraw when an unexpected voice finally came, as indifferent as ever: “Let her rest in this seat’s outer hall.”
Gong Da’s eyes flew wide open. He stared in disbelief at the hall doors, as if he could see through the carved wood into the inner hall—what expression did Sir have when he said that?
How could he allow a Gu tester—especially a woman—to stay in the outer hall of the main hall? This was a privilege even the eighteen disciples had never enjoyed!
But Gong Da quickly reined in his shock and replied evenly, “This disciple understands.”
When Nan Xun learned that she could stay in the outer hall of the main hall, she was in an excellent mood—forming a sharp contrast with Gong Da’s probing, puzzled gaze.
“Sir sleeps lightly. Don’t make too much noise at night,” Gong Da reminded her.
Nan Xun nodded. “Don’t worry. Once I’m asleep, I’m like a corpse—no sound at all!”
Gong Da: “……”
Little Eight rare agreed. “That’s true. Once you fall asleep, you’re like a dead pig—thunder and lightning won’t wake you.”
Nan Xun thought she had taken a historic step toward success. Little did she know, she was completely mistaken.
After becoming the National Preceptor’s exclusive Gu tester, aside from the first day, she never saw him again.
And during the day, she was ordered around to do this and that by any random disciple of Mo Ran Hall. If she showed the slightest dissatisfaction, they would directly poison her with Gu—especially Gong Seventeen, who made things difficult for her at every turn. Truly petty to the extreme.
