270: Chapter 270 Gong Yu's Dilemma: Helpless

Faced with Xu Chen's unquestionable inquiry, Gong Yu's already dim state of mind felt as if a warm ember had been tossed into it.

She did not dodge the fan rib lightly touching her chin; instead, following Xu Chen's presence, she recounted the deeply buried past that had subjected her to immense humiliation, holding nothing back.

Three years ago, a once-in-a-century heavy snow fell over Tianyin City.

At that time, Gong Yu was merely an orphaned girl, wandering the streets and blind. The only thing she possessed was a worn-out zither inherited from her deceased birth mother.

On that snowy, wind-swept winter night, the Seven Orifices Exquisite Zither Heart latent within her body suddenly awakened prematurely.

This Heaven-Defying Physique, capable of resonating with the Great Dao, was akin to a fatal poison for the Gong Yu of that time.

Vast musical Laws charged through her body like an unbridled wild horse, almost tearing her frail Meridians apart inch by inch.

Just as Gong Yu thought she would freeze to death on the street, the Old Master of the Myriad Treasures Tower happened to pass by in his beast-drawn carriage.

The Old Master immediately recognized Gong Yu's special Physique that was on the verge of collapse, and also saw that if this Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart was cultivated properly, it would surely become a cash cow in the future.

Merchants value profit and never engage in unprofitable business.

The Old Master took out an extremely rare, seventh-grade Spirit Medicine capable of stabilizing the Divine Soul—the Nine-Leaf Soul-Suppressing Lotus—forcibly protecting Gong Yu's heart Meridians and saving her life.

"To survive, to be able to continue playing the zither, I had no choice but to sign that Heavenly Dao contract imprinted with my Divine Soul."

Gong Yu's voice carried a barely perceptible tremor.

Her fair fingers tightly gripped the hem of her moon-white skirt.

"The contract stipulated that the Myriad Treasures Tower would provide resources to aid my cultivation, and in return, I must unconditionally play the zither to enliven the atmosphere at the three highest-level grand gatherings hosted by the Merchant Guild, to repay the debt of saving my life and nurturing me.

If I violated this, the Law of the Heavenly Dao would unleash lightning punishment, leading to my Divine Soul being utterly destroyed."

Hearing this, Xu Chen frowned slightly.

Exchanging a seventh-grade Spirit Medicine for three free performances from a future Great Grandmaster of music—the Old Master of the Myriad Treasures Tower had indeed calculated things exquisitely.

However, it could also be considered a clearly priced transaction; although a bit harsh, it aligned with the conduct of a merchant.

If it were only this, it wouldn't be enough to make Gong Yu display that look of despair bordering on mutual destruction.

"Since it was a contract for three times, why did you just say this was a dead end?" Xu Chen pressed.

Gong Yu bit her red lip, a deep sense of humiliation and disgust appearing on her exquisitely beautiful, otherworldly face.

"I have already fulfilled the first two performances as agreed.

Originally, after playing at this final top-tier auction, I would regain complete freedom.

But just half a month ago, the Old Master announced he was entering secluded death cultivation, entrusting all authority of the Myriad Treasures Tower in Tianyin City entirely to his only son, Jin Buhuan."

Upon hearing this name, Hua Jieyu, standing nearby, let out a cold sneer.

She had seen too many of these spoiled brats who relied on Family influence to throw their weight around.

Gong Yu took a deep breath and continued:

"That Jin Buhuan is an ignorant, unrestrained, and lecherous fellow.

He has coveted me for a long time and used this final contract as an opportunity, hiding a trap within that invitation letter."

A layer of despairing mist welled up in Gong Yu's vacant eyes.

"He not only demanded that I play the zither at the auction but also stipulated in the addendum that after the auction concluded, I must remain in his private inner courtyard to 'exchange musical insights' with him all night.

If I dared to step half a step out of the inner courtyard, it would be deemed a violation of the ironclad rule in the Heavenly Dao contract: 'unconditional obedience to the Merchant Guild's arrangements.'"

Everything became clear.

This was a blatant open conspiracy.

The so-called all-night exchange was merely a vulgar excuse for that Jin Buhuan to forcibly possess Gong Yu and keep her as his concubine.

On one side was the ruin of her reputation, destined to become the plaything of a spoiled brat; on the other was violating the contract and being annihilated by the Law of the Heavenly Dao.

For a helpless, blind girl groping in the darkness, this was an unsolvable dead end.

This was why her zither music earlier was filled with accusations against the injustice of fate, and the Death Qi of someone ready to snap the strings and perish together at any moment.

"What excellent 'unconditional obedience.'"

Xu Chen withdrew his fan rib, the last trace of gentleness in his eyes completely vanishing, replaced by a cold killing intent that viewed all things as straw dogs.

Exploiting a loophole in the Heavenly Dao contract to coerce a weak woman into submission—this Young Lord of the Myriad Treasures Tower was not only despicable in his methods but was also challenging Xu Chen's bottom line.

"Young Lord."

Hua Jieyu sensed the terrifying aura faintly emanating from Xu Chen and immediately stepped forward, volunteering: "This ignorant toad, I will go now and sew up his mouth that harbors such filthy thoughts."

"No hurry."

Xu Chen raised his hand, stopping Hua Jieyu's action.

He turned around, looking at Gong Yu, who was still immersed in sorrow and fear.

The grace of saving a life indeed must be repaid; this is the most fundamental Karma in the cultivation world.

The Heavenly Dao contract also truly cannot be violated casually, or it will invite the backlash of the Great Dao, creating much unnecessary trouble even if he were to intervene.

A cold and arrogant curve touched Xu Chen's lips.

"The contract only states that you must go and play the zither to enliven the atmosphere; it never said you couldn't bring Family along."

Xu Chen extended his broad hand and firmly grasped Gong Yu's cold, trembling small hand in his palm.

That trace of domineering yet warm Pure Yang Qi instantly spread throughout Gong Yu's body through her palm, dispelling all the coldness and fear in her heart.

"You just focus on taking your zither to fulfill your final agreement; don't worry about anything else.

I will accompany you to the Myriad Treasures Tower for this visit."

Xu Chen's voice was not loud, but every word carried immense weight, filled with a composure that suppressed everything.

"I would like to see what truly remarkable treasures are hidden within this top merchant guild of the Eastern Wasteland that could raise such an arrogant Young Lord.

If what he presents cannot satisfy me, then this Myriad Treasures Tower will have no need to continue operating in the future."

Hearing these words, Gong Yu's heart, which had already resigned itself to fate, suddenly leaped.

Although her eyes, veiled with a grayish-white film, could not see, large, crystalline tears fell silently down her exquisitely beautiful cheeks like pearls from a broken string.

For so many years, she had been like a solitary bird struggling in the storm, never having anyone willing to hold an umbrella for her.

But now, this white-robed youth, resembling a Heavenly God, not only shielded her from the raging storm but was also going to completely tear apart the dark cloud pressing down on her.

A simple 'I will accompany you' surpassed all the sweet talk in the world.

At this moment, Gong Yu's proud and closed-off Seven Orifices Exquisite Zither Heart completely surrendered.

She no longer refused, nor was she afraid.

By this man's side, she felt a towering mountain capable of shielding all wind and rain.

Gong Yu slowly stood up, tightly embracing the ancient zither that had accompanied her for many years.

Following Xu Chen's presence, she took a step forward, and a stunning, beautiful smile, like the clear sky after rain, bloomed on her world-toppling face.

"Gong Yu will abide by whatever Young Master decides."

Xu Chen nodded with satisfaction.

He casually took the weighty ancient zither from Gong Yu's arms and stored it in his storage ring, then naturally took hold of her soft, boneless hand.

"Let's go.

We will go to the Myriad Treasures Tower and teach that Young Lord a good lesson."

Xu Chen led the blind girl, accompanied by Hua Jieyu, and strode down the stairs of Listening to Rain Pavilion towards the grandest and most magnificent complex of buildings in the city center.