I Ruined the Long Ao Tian Script

Beneath the towering Black Tortoise Tower, under the bright morning light, a woman dressed in dark robes stood before the gate, greeting the guards with a smile.

She was strikingly beautiful—had her folding fan not been pressed against a man’s throat, the scene might have been a delight to behold.

If the man she held hostage hadn’t so closely resembled the master of Black Tortoise Tower, the guards would have spared her more than a glance.

As it was, they could only scramble into the building in a panic, shouting, “Disaster! The master has been kidnapped!”

Those who heard the news dismissed it as a joke. Black Tortoise Tower had long dominated Ruzhou City—who would dare kidnap its master? Who even could?

A senior disciple immediately scolded the guards for spreading nonsense, but others grew suspicious and went to search for the master. When they couldn’t find him, they eventually discovered his unconscious concubine in his bedchamber, carefully dressed and tucked under the covers. After waking her, they realized the gravity of the situation.

Black Tortoise Tower’s disciples swiftly surrounded Xu Shulou and her companions, even drawing out several reclusive elders who rarely showed themselves.

In the time it took for them to mobilize, Xu Shulou had already set up a table and chairs, pouring herself a cup of tea. Unhurried, she pushed the tightly bound master toward Yue Ling and her junior sister behind her, then stood and offered a graceful bow. “I am Xu Shulou of Dustless Island, passing through this land when I happened to capture this impostor masquerading as your esteemed master.”

“Happened to?” The sheer audacity of her words left everyone speechless. Did she just happen to stumble upon him in his own bedchamber? What an incredible coincidence.

One of the more hot-tempered disciples couldn’t hold back. “That is clearly our master!”

“Impossible,” Xu Shulou retorted, pointing at Gao Zhang. “This man cannot wield the master’s bonded spiritual artifacts. He’s clearly a fraud.”

An elder noticed Gao Ming beside her. “Nephew, what is the meaning of this? Why are you aiding this woman in her mischief?”

“This man is not my father,” Gao Ming said coldly. Back in the courtyard, he had nearly drawn his blade in fury, ready to cut Gao Zhang down—only Xu Shulou’s intervention had stopped him.

Another elder sighed. “Here we go again. Nephew, you’ve truly lost your mind.”

The others pressed for an explanation, and the elder revealed Gao Ming’s long-standing suspicions.

Shock rippled through the crowd. A peacemaker stepped forward. “Nephew, it’s true the master has unfairly blamed you for your mother’s mistakes, but you shouldn’t let your imagination run wild.”

Gao Ming shut his eyes, visibly restraining himself. “I’ve had enough of this. My mother was innocent.”

Xu Shulou flicked open her fan. “Arguing is pointless. Let’s see if he can wield the master’s bonded artifacts.”

“Enough nonsense! Release the master at once!” A furious disciple lunged at Xu Shulou.

“Stop!” Others tried to intervene, but it was too late.

Xu Shulou deflected the attack and, in one fluid motion, drove a dagger—where had she even pulled it from?—into Gao Zhang’s thigh. Bound by immortal-binding ropes and unable to summon protective qi, he could only endure the blade’s smooth entry.

“If you don’t care about your master’s life, by all means, keep trying.”

She rummaged through her spatial bracelet, found no spare daggers, then thoughtfully pulled the embedded one out of Gao Zhang’s leg for reuse.

Gagged, Gao Zhang could only let out a muffled groan, sweat beading on his brow.

Someone cried out in outrage, “How could you collude with outsiders to humiliate your own father like this?”

“I said—he is not my father,” Gao Ming snapped. “Are you all deaf?”

Another voice roared, “To demand a sect master prove his innocence in broad daylight, with commoners watching—this is beyond reason!”

Xu Shulou’s patience wore thin. “Fine. Let’s skip the talk. I’ll just kill him.”

“Wait—what I meant was, perhaps we should discuss this inside—”

But Xu Shulou moved faster than his words. Before he could finish, her palm struck Gao Zhang’s chest, sending him coughing up blood, his life hanging by a thread.

She wiped her hands leisurely. “I refuse to negotiate. Your master is in my grasp. Either you do as I say, or I kill him. There is no third option.”

The crowd fell silent, faces dark with fury but no longer daring to object.

Only one voice muttered, “We will make Dustless Island pay for this insult.”

Xu Shulou arched a brow. “Instead of wasting time on vengeance, go enjoy a good meal. Given your intellect, enlightenment is likely beyond you. Savor what little time you have left.”

Behind her, Bai Roushuang burst into laughter.

Ignoring the collective glare, Xu Shulou tossed two artifacts forward. “The Golden Bell Shield and Mandarin Duck Axes—your master’s bonded treasures. Examine them yourselves.”

Even the most negligent elder wouldn’t fail to recognize their master’s artifacts. After careful inspection, they handed them to Gao Zhang, wary of any tricks.

Xu Shulou smiled, recalling the immortal-binding ropes. “Master Gao, the floor is yours.”

Freed, Gao Zhang spat out his gag and shouted, “Don’t listen to her! Seize them now!”

Xu Shulou flicked her fan, sending a wave of spiritual energy ripping through the stone tiles at Black Tortoise Tower’s entrance. The shattered debris sent Gao Zhang flying. She stood calmly, tilting her head. “Master Gao, why aren’t you defending yourself?”

Stripped of his spatial ring and other artifacts, Gao Zhang had only the two treasures in hand—useless without his spiritual blood.

As some disciples moved to intervene, a blue-robed elder who had remained silent until now raised a hand. “Wait. Let’s see more.”

Gao Zhang struggled to his feet, exposed under countless judging eyes like a naked man in a crowd.

Since becoming master of Black Tortoise Tower, he had never endured such humiliation.

He longed to tear Xu Shulou apart, but he forced a pained expression. “Young lady, I have no wish to fight you. You’ve been misled by Ming’er. He is my son—seeing him stray only grieves me. Let us sit and clear this misunderstanding.”

Xu Shulou leapt into the air, her fan descending like a blade. With no artifacts to counter, Gao Zhang could only brace himself with raw spiritual energy—but it wasn’t enough. Within moments, she slammed him into the broken tiles.

“Who knew Master Gao was so forbearing,” she mused. “You won’t fight back, nor even curse at me.”

More and more people began to sense that something was amiss. Over the past two years, the master of Black Tortoise Tower had grown increasingly stubborn and self-willed, even raising the rent for tenant farmers in Ruzhou City on a whim, disregarding the rules set by his predecessor. He was not a man who took advice, nor was he the kind of father who would endure humiliation just to persuade his son to return.

One of the elders couldn’t help but ask, "Master, why don’t you use your magical artifact?"

Gao Zhang deliberately forced out a mouthful of blood, feigning weakness. "That woman injured me too severely. I can’t muster any spiritual energy right now. Are you all just going to stand by and watch me be beaten to death in front of Black Tortoise Tower?"

Bai Roushuang clicked her tongue. "How is this guy even better at playing innocent than me?"

The elder in blue robes frowned and turned to Xu Shulou. "Do you have any other evidence?"

"This man is Gao Zhang, an outcast from the Joyous Union Sect. Decades ago, he murdered his twin brother, Gao Zhuo, and took his place. Everyone in the Joyous Union Sect can recognize this face."

An uproar broke out.

Gao Zhang immediately shouted, "How can we trust the words of a demoness from the Joyous Union Sect? They’ve held a grudge against me ever since the conflict with Ming!"

"Search his study!" Gao Ming gritted his teeth. "He’s kept my father imprisoned all these years, draining his blood. There must be evidence there!"

Gao Zhang sneered. "The study of a sect leader is filled with confidential matters. Do you think you can just barge in and search it?"

"Then summon the Black Tortoise," Xu Shulou said, looking at him. "The divine Black Tortoise understands human speech, discerns character, and distinguishes loyalty from treachery. It possesses unparalleled wisdom. Surely, the words of your sect’s guardian beast can be trusted?"

"..."

"I understand," the blue-robed elder said, giving Xu Shulou a deep, solemn glance before turning to his subordinates. "Someone, summon the Black Tortoise."

A disciple immediately rushed off to carry out the order.

Xu Shulou smiled at Gao Zhang. "You should know the Black Tortoise’s abilities well. It’s said that every new master of Black Tortoise Tower must swear an oath before it. If they break that oath, the Black Tortoise itself will execute them. I wonder if Master Gao will have that honor today."

Gao Zhang’s expression darkened. "I am the rightful master of Black Tortoise Tower. What do I have to fear?"

The sound of heavy footsteps echoed from within the tower. The vermilion gates of Black Tortoise Tower swung open, revealing the massive shadow of the Black Tortoise.

All eyes turned toward it. The blue-robed elder heard a sharp whistling sound behind him. When he turned, Gao Zhang had vanished from where he stood, and a slow smile spread across Xu Shulou’s face. "He fled."

Silence fell over the crowd. His escape was as good as an admission of guilt.

Without another word, the disciples of Black Tortoise Tower gave chase.

The remaining people turned their gazes to Gao Ming, whose expression was unreadable.

Bai Roushuang quietly leaned in toward her senior sister. "Understands human speech, discerns character, distinguishes loyalty from treachery—I thought that was the Xiezhi’s job."

Xu Shulou stroked her chin. "It is the Xiezhi."

Bai Roushuang blinked before realizing. "You tricked him?"

Xu Shulou grinned.

"So the Black Tortoise can’t actually distinguish loyalty from treachery?"

The Black Tortoise, which had just lumbered out of the gates, huffed indignantly. "Who says I can’t? That man looks shifty-eyed to me. Definitely not a good person."

Xu Shulou patted its shell absentmindedly. "Yes, yes, you’re the best."

Bai Roushuang still found the plan too risky. "What if the trick hadn’t worked?"

"If it didn’t, we’d just cut him down," Xu Shulou said breezily.

"..."

"Just kidding. Even if it hadn’t worked, it wouldn’t have mattered. His refusal to use his magical artifact had already made others suspicious. He would’ve been exposed sooner or later," Xu Shulou said, glancing at Gao Ming, who was still staring in the direction Gao Zhang had fled. "But this matter deserves a clean, decisive ending."

Gao Ming ignored the sympathetic or shocked looks around him. When Gao Zhang was dragged back, he asked only one question: "Is my father still alive?"

Knowing his fate was sealed, Gao Zhang looked at him and slowly curled his lips into a cruel smile. "He died two months ago. I decided he was no longer useful, so I killed him. You were just a step too late. If only you’d realized sooner, you could’ve saved him."

"..."

"Do you know what I did the day I killed him? I hid him under my bed and then called you in to talk to you," Gao Zhang said, his grin bordering on madness. "I wanted to see the look in his eyes when hope was just within reach—only to be crushed."

"..."

"When you left, I dragged him out and killed him. If your ears had been sharp enough, you might’ve even heard his screams."

"Enough!" an elder roared. "How can you still show no remorse?"

Gao Zhang laughed. "Remorse? You’re right. I should’ve killed this little bastard long ago."

Xu Shulou flicked her folding fan, knocking out his front teeth, then gently placed a hand on Gao Ming’s shoulder. "Don’t believe him. He’s trying to drag you down with him."

Gao Ming’s eyes flickered. "Two months ago, he did summon me to Black Tortoise Tower because of my ties to the Joyous Union Sect..."

Xu Shulou shook her head. "No. You said yourself that he hadn’t used his magical artifact in the past two years. The real master of Black Tortoise Tower must’ve died two years ago, not two months ago. And I don’t believe he would’ve killed him outright—Master Gao’s death was likely an accident, something Gao Zhang couldn’t control."

"My dear brother is dead either way," Gao Zhang sneered at them. "Well? Do you hate me? Do you want to kill me with your own hands?"

"You’re ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‍the one who deserves pity," Xu Shulou said, stepping closer. "You’ll never possess the wealth of Black Tortoise Tower or the treasures of the Joyous Union Sect. After decades of scheming, decades of living in fear—you’ve gained nothing. In the end, you’re still just an outcast from the Joyous Union Sect, with nothing to your name, not even your life."

"..." A crack appeared in Gao Zhang’s smug expression. "At least I enjoyed decades of power."

"Enjoyed it?" Xu Shulou countered. "Carefully inventing excuses to remove those who knew the real Gao Zhuo, exhausting yourself to mimic his speech, handwriting, even his tastes in food—terrified of making a single mistake, waking up in cold sweat from nightmares every night. Did you really enjoy that?"

"I—of course I did."

Xu Shulou pressed further. "Have you ever wondered what your life would’ve been like if you hadn’t done it? Your brother was a good man—kind to his family, fair to his subordinates. If not for your betrayal, you might’ve lived comfortably under his protection, free from scheming, free from fear. Do you truly feel no regret?"

"...I regret nothing."

"Is that so?" Xu Shulou smiled. "I hope you’ll still think that way on your way to the underworld."

All eyes turned to Gao Ming. He gave a single nod, and the executioner of Black Tortoise Tower swung his blade, severing Gao Zhang’s head from his body.

The last expression on Gao Zhang’s face was one of faint hesitation.

Xu Shulou looked at Gao Ming. "You’re more decisive than I expected."

Gao Ming lowered his gaze to the lifeless head. "This has been my wish for years—to see him dead."

A man and a woman threw themselves onto Gao Zhang’s corpse, weeping. Xu Shulou recognized the woman as his third daughter.

Perhaps this was yet another new feud—such is the way of the world.

The elders of Black Tortoise Tower surrounded Gao Ming, and Xu Shulou caught fragments of their words: "worthy nephew," "our apologies," "we wronged you," "should have trusted you sooner," "your mother was truly innocent."

She found it all rather ironic.