Under pressure from the constables, the two family heads were forced to dissolve the newly arranged engagement.
Gu Junye chose not to make a bigger scene. The crime of violently interfering with marriage freedom was an offense prosecuted only upon complaint; since the victim dropped the charges, that was the end of it.
After the constables departed, Gu Junye knit his brows, pondering a question.
If his father were thrown into prison for the crime of violently interfering with marriage freedom, would it affect his eligibility for the imperial examinations?
"It seems my grasp of the law is still not proficient enough." Gu Junye reflected inwardly, deciding that instead of absorbing the essence of the moon tonight, he would continue studying the law.
Although he was the reincarnation of an ancient powerhouse, that was a very long time ago. The current era was different from the ancient times, and adapting in advance was the only proper path forward.
That was precisely why he listened attentively in class and studied diligently afterward. His grades far outstripped his peers, and his teacher often praised him, predicting he would place as runner-up in the imperial examinations.
"How about you find an alchemist to concoct a pill that can break the curse?" Lu Yang suggested to Meng Jingzhou.
After observing him, they were certain Gu Junye was indeed the person Senior Brother Dai was looking for, so there was no further need to test his character.
Of course, the primary reason was that watching this kid was simply too mortifying—even the thick skins of Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou could barely endure it.
"All right." Meng Jingzhou took the pill recipe that the Immortal Fairy had dictated and Lu Yang had transcribed.
Alchemists were easy enough to find. The Falling Coin Chamber of Commerce offered alchemy services, and even if their alchemists were not the very best in the city, they ranked among the top five masters—more than capable of concocting an entry-level pill like this.
"Xi'er, let's go," Father Mu said.
Mu Xi had never imagined Gu Junye would be so heartless. Just to avoid marrying her, he had actually called the constables!
"Junye, you will regret this! Your destiny is flawed, and only I can mend it! Aside from me, anyone you ever love will come to harm because of you!"
Gu Junye remained unmoved. He put no faith in talk of destiny. If he believed in destiny and preordained fate, he never would have defied the heavens and attained immortality in his past life.
Cultivating immortality was, by definition, defying the heavens!
"My fate is forged by me, not decreed by Heaven."
The Immortal Fairy chimed in to instruct Lu Yang, "You must never harbor such thoughts. Immortal Ying Tian strikes down people like that especially hard."
Lu Yang nodded repeatedly. Immortal Ying Tian claimed to be born in accord with Heaven's will, so suddenly blurting out that one's fate was forged by oneself rather than decreed by Heaven was practically asking to pick a fight with him.
Even if someone thought such a thing, they should never say it aloud.
After Meng Jingzhou revealed his identity at the Falling Coin Chamber of Commerce, the manager personally attended to the young master of the Meng Family with utmost warmth and deference. Upon hearing that Young Master Meng needed a pill concocted, he immediately summoned the chamber's top grandmaster alchemist.
In truth, an alchemy apprentice with ten years of experience could have handled this pill, but that would hardly convey proper respect to Meng Jingzhou.
Even without his status as the young master of the Meng Family, the mere title of a Nascent Soul stage disciple from the Dao Seeking Sect would have commanded the same treatment.
Such a figure was equivalent to a Soul Formation cultivator in standing, whereas the strongest person in this entire city was merely at the Nascent Soul stage.
"Oh, right. The pill needs to dissolve in water and be completely colorless and tasteless," Meng Jingzhou reminded him, planning to secretly administer it to Gu Junye.
"Uh, Young Master Meng, if I may remind you... poisoning is a crime," the manager said, unaware of the pill's purpose and kindly offering a warning.
With a darkened expression, Meng Jingzhou replied, "I know."
Before long, a gray pill was presented on a tray.
Meng Jingzhou felt a slight pang of disappointment. Had someone from Pill Cauldron Peak concocted it, it would have had at least one pill pattern.
Still, he could not be overly picky. Where would he find a senior brother from Pill Cauldron Peak right now? As long as it broke the curse, it would suffice.
Meng Jingzhou collected the pill and headed back to the Gu residence to rendezvous with Lu Yang.
"How did the surveillance go?"
"My toes nearly curled holes straight through my shoes from cringing."
Meng Jingzhou took out the pill. The Immortal Fairy glanced at it and confirmed it was indeed what she had described. Only then did Meng Jingzhou feel reassured enough to dissolve the pill into the Gu family's evening old-duck soup.
After drinking the duck soup, Gu Junye wiped his mouth, showing no abnormal reaction whatsoever.
"No reaction?"
The Immortal Fairy rolled her eyes. "What kind of reaction were you expecting? Even though the curse was placed on the kid, its effect manifests on the people around him. Now that the curse is lifted, of course he won't feel anything himself."
"Come on, let's go check on the Mu residence," Lu Yang told Meng Jingzhou. Mu Xi's reaction upon learning the engagement was dissolved had been exceedingly strange.
Under cover of night, the two slipped into the Mu residence and peered into Mu Xi's bedchamber.
Inside the room, Mu Xi was gritting her teeth, clutching a red paper figurine tightly in her hand. Written on the back of the figurine were Gu Junye's eight characters of birth.
Chapter 706