The Scheming Boy: Du Gu Wei

Gu Qingfeng was absolutely furious at this moment. Just when he was basking in the spotlight, enjoying himself, someone had to interrupt him forcefully. Who could tolerate that?

"Dugu Wei, let go of me right the hell now! Otherwise, once I get my hands on the Emperor Demon Sword, you’ll regret it!"

Dugu Wei looked at Gu Qingfeng’s savage, twisted expression and let out a long sigh. "Ah, Junior Brother Gu, just listen to yourself. Isn’t this proof enough that you’ve fallen into demonic corruption?"

"Demon corruption my ss!"

Gu Qingfeng was livid. "Take a damn good look at me—where do I seem corrupted? I’m perfectly clear-headed right now. I’m about to gain control of the Emperor Demon Sword! Let me go already! Don’t you want to save the Sword Sect?"

Dugu Wei observed Gu Qingfeng’s enraged, distorted face, which resembled a malevolent ghost, and thought to himself: If this isn’t demonic corruption, then nothing in this world is.

"Junior Brother Gu, those who fall into demonic corruption are often just like you—completely unaware. They all believe they’re on the verge of mastering the Emperor Demon Sword, not realizing they’ve already become its slaves. That’s why they crave it so desperately. Here, take this Calming Pill. It’ll help."

"Why won’t you listen to reason?! I’m not corrupted! I’m perfectly lucid!"

"Alright, alright, you’re not corrupted. Just take the pill first."

Damn it!

"If I’m not corrupted, why should I take it?!"

Gu Qingfeng eyed the pitch-black pill with extreme reluctance, the scene eerily resembling a mental patient being force-fed medication by a doctor.

The patient insists they’re fine, but the doctor doesn’t believe them—because no mentally ill person ever thinks they’re sick.

So, how exactly does a sane person prove they’re sane?

Gu Qingfeng realized he couldn’t keep this up. The Emperor Demon Sword was within reach, and his heart burned with impatience, as if ten thousand ants were crawling under his skin.

Suppressing his rage, he forced himself to appear calm.

"Senior Brother, trust me. I’m really not corrupted," Gu Qingfeng said with clear, sincere eyes.

"Fine, I believe you. But take the pill first," Dugu Wei replied, as if coaxing a child.

Motherf—!

Stay calm. Just endure it. Once I get the Emperor Demon Sword, you’re dead meat!

"Alright, Senior Brother, I’ll take it."

With that, he swallowed the Calming Pill.

Gu Qingfeng’s spirits lifted instantly, his face glowing. "Senior Brother, I’m cured! I feel incredibly clear-headed now. Let me go."

Dugu Wei’s lips twitched. "Junior Brother, you just took the pill. It hasn’t even been a second. How are you suddenly cured?"

"I really am! Those corrupted by demonic influence lose all rationality, but I remember everything clearly, and my thoughts are perfectly coherent.

"I’m the fourteenth-generation disciple of the Sword Sect. I joined on the seventh day of the third month, brought in by Old Meng. During the Hall of Enlightenment trial, I stepped in with my left foot first...

"Senior Brother Han from Windblade Peak loves playing chess but is terrible at it, so he bullies juniors into matches and uses his status to force them to lose.

"Senior Sister Lin from Frostpeak Peak acts cold and aloof, but she’s actually vain—her inner demon tribulation was triggered by the Sword Formation rankings. Typical woman!

"And then there’s Senior Brother Tang from Earthburial Peak, always dressing like a scholar and pretending to be refined, but all he talks about is chopping people down..."

Gu Qingfeng laid everything out with perfect logic, and Dugu Wei’s expression gradually softened, seeming to believe him a little.

Seeing this, Gu Qingfeng rejoiced inwardly and pressed on: "And finally, there’s you, Senior Brother. In my eyes, you’re powerful, carefree, and devoted to the Sword Sect—except for your habit of loitering around Frostpeak Peak to peep at the female disciples..."

Cough, cough, cough!

Dugu Wei choked violently. "Junior Brother, your corruption has worsened—you’re spouting nonsense now! Come with me to the Hall of Serenity. I’ll purge the demonic influence from you."

Without waiting for a response, Dugu Wei grabbed Gu Qingfeng and vanished from the Sword Tomb realm in a flash, sealing his mouth shut along the way.

Fuming internally, Gu Qingfeng cursed: Everything I said was the damn truth, and you call me corrupted?!

If I lied, how else would I prove I’m sane?!

......

"Sect Leader, judging by your expression... did Junior Brother Gu fail?"

In the Sword Sect’s grand hall, one of the peak masters spoke up.

Dugu Wei nodded gravely. "Despite possessing the Four Saintly Physiques, Junior Brother Gu couldn’t suppress the Emperor Demon Sword’s demonic nature. The moment he touched it, he was corrupted."

"What?! Is Junior Brother Gu alright?" Lin Miaoke of Frostpeak Peak asked anxiously.

"He’s fine. I intervened the instant he was corrupted and rescued him. He’s now confined in the Hall of Serenity. In a few days, the demonic influence should be cleansed."

Lin Miaoke sighed in relief but then frowned. "Sect Leader, given Junior Brother Gu’s talent, how could he be corrupted so quickly? He even devoured the inner demon during his tribulation!"

"The inner demon from the tribulation is just one among billions in the Demon Realm—how could it compare to the Emperor Demon Sword? If you don’t believe me, see for yourselves."

Dugu Wei waved a hand, conjuring a circular mirror through the Light Reflection Technique. The scene from earlier played out before them.

In the vision, the moment Gu Qingfeng touched the Emperor Demon Sword, his entire aura transformed!

Like an ancient demon god resurrected!

Wreathed in demonic energy, his hair wild and his face twisted into a monstrous visage, he resembled a bloodthirsty Asura clawing its way out of the abyss!

"Keh keh keh..."

A bone-chilling laugh echoed from the vision, making everyone’s expressions darken.

"From this day forth, heaven and earth shall bow before me alo—"

The scene then shifted to Gu Qingfeng’s attempt to prove his sanity.

"Senior Brother Han from Windblade Peak loves playing chess but is terrible at it, so he bullies juniors into matches and uses his status to force them to lose."

Hearing this, the crowd shot odd glances at the Windblade Peak master.

Senior Brother Han’s face darkened instantly. "Junior Brother Gu is clearly corrupted!"

The others stifled laughter—until Gu Qingfeng continued.

"Senior Sister Lin from Frostpeak Peak acts cold and aloof, but she’s actually vain—her inner demon tribulation was triggered by the Sword Formation rankings. Typical woman!

And then there’s Senior Brother Tang from Earthburial Peak, always dressing like a scholar and pretending to be refined, but all he talks about is chopping people down..."

Now, aside from Senior Brother Han, everyone else wore pained expressions, their faces twitching.

They erupted in outrage:

"Junior Brother Gu is deeply corrupted!"

"Indeed, he’s even started spouting delusions!"

Dugu Wei watched them silently, secretly amused, as the vision played on.

"And finally, there’s you, Senior Brother. In my eyes, you’re powerful, carefree, and devoted to the Sword Sect—"

Snap!

The vision abruptly ended as Dugu Wei cut off the Light Reflection Technique.

"Everyone, you’ve seen it now. The Emperor Demon Sword’s demonic nature is overwhelming—even Junior Brother Gu couldn’t resist it."

"It seems this method won't work. We'll have to find another way."

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