Gu Fangchen coughed twice.
"The whereabouts of the Sixth Division Star Lord... I do not know."
"But-"
Xu Fu's expression, which had just turned cold, froze again at those words. She felt as if she had been tricked by this man.
She thought for a moment, then silently raised her hand to form a seal, staring at Gu Fangchen with an expression that said, Say one wrong word, and I'll erase both your body and soul.
Gu Fangchen: "..."
Alright, no more jokes.
First, no one ever got his humor. Second, someone here really wanted to kill him.
Maintaining a serious face, Gu Fangchen continued calmly,
"What I mean is that the Sixth Division Star Lord's location cannot be directly determined."
"You must have tried deducing his position yourself, yet every result you received was chaotic, sometimes he appeared as a young man, sometimes as an old one, and sometimes even as an infant."
"That is because he cut his own threads of causality into six parts and cast them into the cycle of reincarnation."
Xu Fu frowned.
"But that would mean his memories are lost with each severed thread. Once lost in reincarnation, he would forever lack part of his causality."
According to her knowledge, the existence of the Sixth Division Star Lord was far older than even the birth of the Demon Sect.
That meant that at least one period of his life had no relation whatsoever to the Demon Sect. If he no longer remembered his purpose, he could become a completely different person within reincarnation, let alone serve as a veil for the Demon Sect's movements.
Moreover, for anyone who practiced the Art of Causality and Fate, the greatest taboo was the loss of one's own causality.
To calculate by using heaven and earth as a cosmic astrolabe, one had to take oneself as the central anchor, fixed between the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches.
If the anchor itself was unstable, the resulting deductions could never be true.
Gu Fangchen nodded.
"That's right. But what if, he used his six causal threads, through enough time and distance, to weave a new fate-disc for himself?"
Xu Fu's pupils constricted sharply.
Gu Fangchen's words weren't beyond her comprehension, and that was precisely what made them so shocking.
In simple terms, an ordinary person used himself as the origin of his coordinate system to observe and measure the world.
A human being was merely a speck in this vast world.
But according to what Gu Fangchen said, the Sixth Division Star Lord intended to become the coordinate system itself, no, to become heaven and earth itself!
The Sixth Division Star Lord sought to use his six causal lines, time as longitude, and distance as latitude, spanning heaven and earth, and ultimately become the invisible master of the world. All causality would fall under his dominion.
That was the Latitude and Longitude Fate Technique of the Sixth Division Star Lord!
He didn't need his six incarnations to stay conscious in reincarnation, just their continued existence was enough.
His fate-disc was already woven by time itself.
Xu Fu immediately recognized the crux of the problem, her eyes turning grave.
"Therefore, to break his Fate Technique, one must first locate which six people now carry his causal threads?"
Gu Fangchen nodded again.
"I imagine that won't be too difficult for you."
In the game, this mission was the very definition of a psychological trap.
The Sixth Division Star Lord was the Dao Lord of the Demon Sect, but the fragments of his causality had long reincarnated into independent lives.
Before reaching his main questline, players would receive minor daily missions involving these people.
You would think they were just ordinary NPCs in Great Wei, maybe even increase their favorability or develop relationships with them.
Then later, the game would make you kill them with your own hands.
And to make matters worse, their identities were randomized each run, utterly impossible to predict.
To complete the mission, you had to harden your heart, or avoid unfamiliar tasks from the start.
But to level up quickly, you couldn't avoid missions altogether.
As for Gu Fangchen, his attitude was simple. Forget it.
Whatever experience points he lacked, the Grand Preceptor would just have to make up for.
Xu Fu had long harbored doubts in her calculations. Hearing Gu Fangchen's explanation, she knew at once he was speaking truth.
But that realization raised yet another problem.
Xu Fu said solemnly,
"Since the Sixth Division Star Lord's causal lines have been reincarnating in the world for so long, his Fate-disc should already be nearly complete."
"In recent years, I've often felt my deductions being disrupted. I thought it was due to astronomical anomalies, but now, it must have been the Sixth Division Star Lord misleading me."
"In other words, he can already sense my divinations."
Gu Fangchen had expected that. He raised an eyebrow.
"Grand Preceptor fears that the Sixth Division Star Lord will anticipate your actions and flee early?"
He grinned casually.
"That's easy enough, just feint east and strike west."
Of course... it wasn't.
If the Sixth Division Star Lord could be fooled that easily, he wouldn't be the Dao Lord of Causality.
Gu Fangchen did have a method to shield against the Sixth Division Star Lord's reverse divinations, but he intentionally kept quiet, testing a certain suspicion of his own.
Xu Fu pressed her lips together, lowering her gaze as she said stiffly,
"No. Matters succeed through secrecy and fail through exposure. The more people who know of this, the greater the chance that the Sixth Division Star Lord will learn of it."
She lifted her head, her tone solemn.
"You will do it."
Gu Fangchen blinked.
"No one else can? I don't even have cultivation. Besides, doesn't the Grand Preceptor dislike me wearing your tiger skin?"
He teased lightly, "Don't tell me... it has to be me?"
Xu Fu fell silent for a moment, then said,
"It has to be you."
Even she couldn't calculate Gu Fangchen's future, so neither could the Sixth Division Star Lord.
Only Gu Fangchen could act without risk.
Since he was drawn to beauty, that very flaw could now be used against him.
Hearing that, Gu Fangchen immediately understood.
He sighed, thumped his chest with noble conviction, and declared,
"Alright, since the Grand Preceptor holds me in such esteem, how could I refuse? I am willing to serve."
"Only... I can't act without reason."
He smiled mischievously.
"Grand Preceptor, I have a small, shameless request..."
Another demand for payment? Truly a man ruled by greed.
Still, so long as he did his work, giving him a small favor was reasonable.
Xu Fu convinced herself, bit her lip, and said evenly,
"Speak."
Gu Fangchen raised a finger.
"I've heard that within the Pillar of Silence are three hundred scrolls of scripture personally copied by the Grand Preceptor."
"I've long yearned to see your true handwriting. I don't ask for much, just one scroll, so I may gaze upon it each day and ease my lovesick heart."
Even he was impressed at how smoothly his nonsense flowed now.
Xu Fu froze. Because she had already prepared herself mentally, this unexpected request somehow flustered her instead.
The person is right here before you, and you want scripture to soothe your yearning?
Seeing her silence, Gu Fangchen thought she was displeased, so he quickly added,
"I may lack talent, but I will study your handwriting diligently. Perhaps under your inspiration, even this blockheaded brain of mine might awaken."
Personally copied?
Xu Fu gave a cold snort inwardly. So he wanted it from her own hand, not through possession.
The man was insatiable.
When she didn't respond, Gu Fangchen began to worry.
Xu Fu always prioritized Peace under Heaven, but those scriptures were Celestial Fate Dao secrets. Given her current low favorability toward him, perhaps he wouldn't get one after all.
If not, well, Gu Youren seemed to have two manuscripts, those would do.
After a long wait, he finally heard a timid, soft voice:
"Your Highness... what's wrong? I-I'm sorry for disturbing you!"
He looked up to see Xue Xiang nearly in tears, about to kneel.
She left?
Women, truly unpredictable.
At least say whether you'll give it or not!
Gu Fangchen sighed to the heavens and quickly helped the girl up.
"It's alright. Your mistress sent you, didn't she?"
The little maid nodded quickly.
Gu Fangchen thought for a moment.
"From now on, stay and serve me. Tell others you're my chamber attendant."
Xue Xiang's eyes widened, first with joy, then confusion.
Why only say she was one?
Gu Fangchen pressed her shoulder, serious.
"And next time, don't dress like that. I prefer your usual appearance."
Xue Xiang murmured an "oh," feeling even more puzzled.
Didn't His Highness say before that she looked better dressed as a Daoist girl?
But nobles were always capricious, thinking one way one day, another the next.
Blushing, she bowed.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Gu Fangchen smiled, pushed open the door, and stepped outside, just as a servant came running.
"Your Highness, the Grand Preceptor sent a scripture scroll!"
...
At the gate, he saw the same young Dao attendant again.
Gu Fangchen waved casually in greeting.
The boy looked him over from head to toe, genuine surprise flickering in his eyes.
He handed over a box containing the scripture and said solemnly,
"This was copied by the Grand Preceptor herself. Please keep it safe."
Uh...
Thinking of what he planned to do with it, Gu Fangchen felt guilty, though he maintained a bright smile.
"Of course, of course."
Ning Caiyong, who had followed out, froze in confusion.
What is the Grand Preceptor doing?
First gold, now scripture?
She knew exactly what sort of son she had, no, the entire Huangtian City knew what kind of person Gu Fangchen was.
Why would the Grand Preceptor favor him so?
Then the Dao attendant produced a token.
Gu Fangchen blinked, taking it. On it was a single word, "Xu."
The boy bowed.
"This is the Grand Preceptor's decree token. With it, you may freely enter the Grand Preceptor's estate and command her household guard."
Ning Caiyong covered her mouth in shock.
"T-this is also from the Grand Preceptor?"
The boy nodded.
"The Grand Preceptor said she is seldom present in her own residence and needs someone to manage it."
"She believes His Highness is suitable."
Gu Fangchen: "..."
He twitched the corner of his mouth.
He understood perfectly well, this was Xu Fu giving him her "tiger skin" to wear.
But the Grand Preceptor, who almost never interacted with others and had the emotional intelligence of a brick, clearly had no idea how misleading her wording sounded.
Beside him, Ning Caiyong's eyes widened, her earlier gloom dissipating in shock.
What did this even mean?!
Gu Fangchen forced a smile as he sent off the Dao boy, then turned to find his mother gazing at him thoughtfully.
"Mother? What's wrong?"
Ning Caiyong shook her head softly.
"Perhaps I'm overthinking it..."
She reached out and stroked his cheek.
"No matter what happens in the end, I've decided to return to the Sword Pavilion for a time of quiet. Will you accompany me?"
Gu Fangchen paused, then nodded at once.
"Of course. Wherever Mother goes, I go."
He thought to himself, the Sword Pavilion was a fine place. The best swords in the entire game came from there.
Though... with his current awkward identity, that sister-obsessed Sword Saint might just draw his sword on sight.
...
"Your Highness, there's no need to worry," one of Princess Gu Youren's female retainers from the Prince's manor said softly.
"Even if the heir has gained some fortune, his vile nature is undeniable. The title will surely be restored to the true young master."
Had she not mentioned "the young master," Gu Youren might have kept her composure. But hearing that name again only twisted her emotions further.
Provoked by that wretch, she had lost control once, and now couldn't even chastise him without guilt.
Gu Youren sighed.
"Elder Ding is eccentric, and Princess Prajna is unpredictable. Their unusual actions aren't surprising."
"What confuses me is why even my master..."
The attendant sneered.
"How could our Grand Preceptor, exalted and pure as she is, possibly send someone gold? That must be mockery."
Gu Youren blinked, then her frown eased.
Yes, she'd overthought it.
Her master was peculiar but never without reason.
The Grand Preceptor surely knew what had happened in the manor.
Perhaps, upon hearing of it, she deliberately sent gold to mock that disgraceful wastrel.
Indeed, even her master was expressing disapproval, perhaps on behalf of Yuan Dao.
Gu Youren shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips.
She had been thinking too much.
Once Master Juehui arrived and exposed Gu Fangchen's schemes, everything would return to order.
She stood, her recent unease finally calming.
She asked her attendant to play the zither, lit incense, and began reading Xu Fu's handwritten notes, seeking to understand her master's profound wisdom.
The more she read, the more she admired her teacher's transcendence, her refusal to be tainted by worldly things.
"How foolish of me," she murmured. "How could I ever think Master sent gold because of that man's liking? I must have lost my mind."
She pressed a hand to her forehead, smiling faintly.
But just then, noise erupted outside. She frowned and called coldly,
"What is that commotion?"
The sounds stopped. Someone outside replied nervously,
"Your Highness, another messenger from the Grand Preceptor has arrived."
Gu Youren brightened.
"Master is summoning me?"
Surely her master had sensed her earlier misunderstanding and come to clear it up.
The voice outside hesitated, then said with difficulty,
"No... it's for the heir again. This time they brought a scripture scroll copied by the Grand Preceptor herself, and a Grand Preceptor's decree token."
Gu Youren's smile froze. The manuscript in her hand slipped and hit the floor with a sharp clack.