《Adorable Creature Attacks! Cuteness Overload!》 Chapter 1: Transmigrated into another world Chapter 1: Transmigrated into another world Translated by: iris.knight Didn¡¯t I just get... stabbed? She was surrounded by trees, along with a river just next to her. Gu Qingyu walked over to the river and checked her reflection in the water. She is still herself. But where is this place? And why is she dressed in... period clothes? Suddenly, a voice came from behind her. ¡°You can¡¯t escape, Gu Qingyu! Hand over the scroll and I just might spare you!¡± I¡¯m a little speechless with what is going on right now. I guess I have travelled through time. But really? What is going on? Why did I arrive in such a scenario? There seemed to be something sharp hidden in her sleeve, so she pulled up her sleeves and lo and behold! There were a few needles hidden neatly in her sleeve! Looks like the original Gu Qingyu wasn¡¯t someone to be trifled with. ¡°Who are you guys?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at the group of men surrounding her, and batted her eyes in puzzlement. She was not afraid because she had a black belt in taekwondo. ¡°Oh, are you spooked out of your mind?¡± A masked man swung his sword. ¡°To think that you would even dare to take the scroll and escape on your own, you must be so brave. But I sure need to thank you for bringing the scroll out here to us...¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s lips twitched, only then did she realise that she was holding a scroll in her hands. She opened up the scroll and saw a portrait of a man. ¡°Why... why do you guys even want this?¡± Gu Qingyu asked as she examined the portrait. The masked man burst into a bellow of laughter. He finally sneered, ¡°You¡¯ve really lost your marbles, lady. Did you really think that a portrait of Hero Jia could protect you?¡± ¡°Hero Jia? Fake hero?¡± Gu Qingyu froze, then laughed out loud. ¡°Why in the world would I want a fake hero to protect me?¡± ¡°Gu Qingyu, don¡¯t push your luck. He¡¯s not a fake hero, that¡¯s his actual name, Jia Yingxiong!¡± Another masked man said. ¡°Stop talking to her! Let¡¯s get things over with!¡± The leader of the masked men swung his sword, and a flash of blade energy flew towards her. Instinctively, Gu Qingyu tried to dodge the blade, but she couldn¡¯t move. It was as if something was restraining her movements. Clang! That blade was deflected by a flying dart. Gu Qingyu realised she could move again. Subconsciously, she took a few steps back only to find the river behind her. And right then, her foot slipped. ¡°Ah!¡± Suddenly, a hand grabbed her flailing arms and pulled her upright. Gu Qingyu righted herself, and looked at the person who helped her. Yep, it¡¯s a man. Jet black hair flowing in the wind, a cool expression across his face. Tightly pursed lips, with an ethereal vibe. Dress in all blue, with a touch of badass-ness. He looks familiar... Hang on, isn¡¯t he the person in the portrait? How did he appear out of nowhere? What did that man call him just now? Um... Hero Jia? That sounds so lame, but screw it. ¡°Pleased to meet you, Hero Jia!¡± Gu Qingyu straightened her back immediately. That man looked at her flatly. What¡¯s up with him? Isn¡¯t he here to save me? Why is he not saying anything? ¡°Hero Jia...¡± Those masked men freaked out the moment they saw this man. ¡°We just wanted to get a copy of your portrait!¡± That man simply said,¡°All of you, leave.¡± His voice was quite pleasant to the ear. It sounded clear as a bird song, yet calming like a quiet creek. Those men nodded, and ran off in an instant. Gu Qingyu clicked her tongue as she watched the men leave. This Hero Jia is quite a force of deterrence. She then pressed her hands together, like in period dramas, and exclaimed, ¡°Many thanks to the Hero¡¯s rescue!¡± That man glanced at her with an odd look, ¡°Let¡¯s just head back to the residence.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Gu Qingyu panicked, ¡°We?¡± ¡°Did you damage your head when you fell just now?¡± Hero Jia eyed her suspiciously. Does he think that I turned into an idiot or something? ¡°Ah, yeah, I feel like I¡¯m forgetting something...¡± Gu Qingyu decided to go with the flow. ¡°Oof, I can¡¯t remember anything at all after my fall.... Hey, dude, Hero Jia, wait for me!¡± It turned out Hero Jia already left while she was still talking. So Gu Qingyu picked up her pace, and caught up to Hero Jia. Outside the Gu residence Gu Qingyu stared wide-eyed as people rushed out from the residence to welcome them. One of the maids ran up towards her, ¡°Welcome back, Young Miss!¡± ¡°Erm....¡± Just as Gu Qingyu was figuring out a response, Hero Jia cut in and said, ¡°Your Young Miss had a bad fall just now, there¡¯s some slight damage to her memory.¡± ¡°Oh dear, are you ok, Young Miss?¡± That maid grabbed Gu Qingyu and spun her around to check for injuries. ¡°Yu¡¯er.¡± A middle-aged lady stepped out. Gu Qingyu realised immediately that she was the mother of the body¡¯s original owner. ¡°You¡¯re back, how did things go?¡± ¡°Erm, yeah, it was okay.¡± Gu Qingyu replied awkwardly, ¡°I just can¡¯t remember some things, got hit by a large rock so...¡± The lady sighed, and began to nag. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you so many times not to go out and do these dangerous things! You¡¯re a lady, why did you volunteer as bait? Luckily, Hero Jia was around to protect you. Or else things would have gotten so much worse.¡± Gu Qingyu listened attentively and picked up a few fragments of information. It appeared the original owner went with Hero Jia to complete a mission to retrieve the portrait, but they were attacked on the way back to the residence. Somehow, the original owner got hit on the head, and that¡¯s how she came over. This method of space-time travel... I¡¯m speechless. They entered the residence. Gu Qingyu gawked as she took in the interior. The maid then led her to her room. Gu Qingyu looked around at the layout. Hm... not bad, it¡¯s exactly to her taste. Or should she say, she has the same taste as the previous Gu Qingyu? Chapter 2: Escape Plan Chapter 2: Escape Plan Translated by: iris.knight Secondly, the previous Gu Qingyu knew martial arts and was agile, she was also well-read and good at observing others. On the other hand, the current Gu Qingyu could not do any of those things except for the last point. But Gu Qingyu discovers that she could use all the abilities of her original host! And she seems to know magic! Third, Jia Yinxiong¡¯s actual name was Jia Qizhe, and he was proficient in both martial arts and magic. Due to his mission, he currently lives in the Gu Residence. The original Gu Qingyu seemed to have wanted to help Jia Qizhe, so she left the residence with him. Fourth, the original Gu Qingyu appeared to have been a demon, but only Xiao Qi was aware of this. The original Gu Qingyu seemed to be a cat demon, and treated Xiao Qi well, thus this was a secret between the two. Lastly, the original Gu Qingyu... did not seem to be on good terms with the other ladies in the house. These were all the details she had so far. What shocked Gu Qingyu most was that... she was a demon! What¡¯s with that! Fortunately, she is a cat demon... If she was a cockroach or rat demon, then that would be way too embarrassing! ¡°Young Miss, the old master is looking for you.¡± A maidservant spoke gently at the door. Gu Qingyu blinked, ¡°Um, yes, I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Hm? Is she really not on good terms with the rest of the house? Since there isn¡¯t anything going on, let¡¯s just go and meet them! Gu Qingyu sauntered to the main hall, and found quite a few people there. ¡°Ah, Elder Sister is here¡± A small girl holding a handkerchief smiled, ¡°I wonder if you¡¯ve met any trouble while helping Hero Jia?¡± ¡°All is well.¡± Gu Qingyu smiled faintly. This girl was very beautiful, but too devious. ¡°Are you all right, Younger Sister? Welcome back.¡± Another girl also smiled faintly as she stared at Gu Qingyu. ¡°Elder Sister, I am well, no need to worry.¡± Gu Qingyu replied easily. Xiao Qi, who was by her side, kept nodding and smiling. Her lady seemed to have gotten smarter since she hit her head! You know, her lady used to avoid all these situations in the past, or just refused to speak... She had really gotten smarter! ¡°Yu¡¯er, we heard you had a fall and lost your memory?¡± asked the man sitting in the main seat. He gave off an air of authority; he must be the father of the original Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu bowed as she replied, ¡°Father, your daughter didn¡¯t lose any memories.¡± ¡°Ay, I have warned you so many times about this sort of dangerous work! You are not to do any more of them! Luckily, Hero Jia was around, but he is leaving soon. Hero Jia is powerful in magic and travels all over the world. He won''t be here forever!¡± It was obvious that man was very fond of the original Gu Qingyu. ¡°Yes, Father.¡± Gu Qingyu smirked, because she thought of an idea. Hero Jia travels all over the world? Haha, he must be a man of great strength! Let¡¯s have Hero Jia bring me around! The politics here are too messy! I will definitely be bullied by those devious aunts and sisters! ¡°Yes, do take note next time.¡± The man nodded. ¡°Younger Sister still needs to take care of her image, being a lady and all!¡± The ¡°elder sister¡± spoke out, with an expression of concern, but the cynicism in her voice was unmistakable. Gu Qingyu smiled gently, ¡°Thank you for your concern, Elder Sister! I know I am kind and beautiful, so I attracted the adoration of many men, so I don¡¯t need to be like some people, having to resort to jealousy without anything to show for themselves!¡± She outright complimented herself, and what she meant was very obvious: You are just jealous that I am better than you! ¡°You!¡± The sister exclaimed as she stomped. ¡°Ok ok, Yu¡¯er must be tired, let her go back and rest.¡± Father spoke. ¡°Yep!¡± Gu Qingyu nodded, ¡°Your daughter excuses herself.¡± She was finally able to escape and return to her room. Just then, a girl called out to her, ¡°Gu Qingyu, don¡¯t you think you¡¯ve forgotten to say something to us?¡± ¡°Who am I to you that you can call me by my full name?¡± Gu Qingyu turned her head back, then waved her hand. ¡°Oh well, since you idolize me so much, I will at least say bye to you!¡± With that, she left without turning back. The girl was stunned for a moment, and then bit her handkerchief in exasperation, ¡°Gu Qingyu!¡± She shouldn¡¯t have called out to her, now it really looked like she idolized Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu returned to her room, closed her doors. ¡°Sigh...¡± ¡°Young Miss, are you alright?¡± Xiao Qi couldn¡¯t resist asking. ¡°Yep, I¡¯m fine!¡± Gu Qingyu nodded, ¡°Xiao Qi, I have an excellent idea, will you help me?¡± Yes, the first thing to do right now is to tell Xiao Qi the plan and get her to help, then come up with a plan to escape this place! ¡°What idea? Young Miss can speak freely.¡± Xiao Qi nodded, looking curiously at Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu described her idea, ¡°I want to leave.¡± ¡°What? Young Miss, you grew up here! No, no!¡± Xiao Qi immediately waved her hand, ¡°How did you suddenly have such an idea, Young Miss... oof!¡± Her voice was muffled by Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu glared at Xiao Qi. ¡°Do you want the whole house to know that I want to escape! Can you be even louder?!¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes as Xiao Qi nodded confidently, ¡°Will you just help me?¡± Looking at the rebellious glint in Xiao Qi¡¯s eyes, Gu Qingyu began ¡°persuading¡± her, ¡°You see, Xiao Qi, I suffered a lot here, right?¡± Xiao Qi nodded furiously. ¡°Exactly! You of all people should know that I¡¯ve always suffered in silence.¡± Gu Qingyu slowly ¡°enlightened¡± Xiao Qi. Xiao Qi nodded furiously again. ¡°And you can¡¯t stand it anymore as well, right? For you, for me, we need to get out of here and find our own place! Let¡¯s build a beautiful home for ourselves!¡± Gu Qingyu spread her arms out with an air of righteousness. Chapter 3: Illusory Spiritgrass Chapter 3: Illusory Spiritgrass Translated by: iris.knight Xiao Qi nodded hesitantly. ¡°Um, as long as you are happy, Young Miss. Xiao Qi will help you!¡± ¡°You¡¯re the best, Xiao Qi!¡± Gu Qingyu hugged Xiao Qi affectionately, then spilled all the beans of her plan. ¡°We will do this...¡± Evening at the Gu Residence. Gu Qingyu gently opened Jia Qizhe¡¯s door with a knock. Dressed in a blue robe, Jia Qizhe stood at the doorway while leaning against the door frame. His eyes scanned Gu Qingyu, ¡°How can I help Ms. Gu?¡± ¡°Hero Jia!¡± Gu Qingyu ¡°sincerely¡± looked at Jia Qizhe, ¡°I know you are super strong!¡± ¡°Yes, so?¡± Jia Qizhe looked at Gu Qingyu, a hint of amusement tugged at his lips. Gu Qingyu gave her best puppy eyes, ¡°Since I¡¯ve helped you before, why don¡¯t you take me with you?¡± ¡°And where do you plan to go?¡± Jia Qizhe shaked his head as he shrugged, ¡°And ¡®helped¡¯? I was fine on my own, you¡¯re the one that wanted to come along. I¡¯ve always heard that the Gu Family¡¯s heir is willful and stubborn, and with what I can see now, the rumors are quite true.¡± ¡°You!¡± Gu Qingyu restrained her anger and squeezed out a smile, ¡°Hero Jia! We can talk this out! If you promise to bring me along, I will give you anything!¡± ¡°Oh? Anything?¡± His eyes narrowed into slits. Gu Qingyu nodded sincerely. ¡°I¡¯m a lone traveller; there really isn¡¯t anything I want.¡± He slightly raised his eyebrows, ¡°Though, lately, I seem to be in need of something...¡± ¡°What is it? Tell me!¡± Gu Qingyu exclaimed with excitement. Jia Qizhe gestured for Gu Qingyu to come closer, Gu Qingyu immediately plastered her ears to him and he whispered a few things to her. Gu Qingyu nodded as she listened, ¡°Oh! As long as I get that for you, you will take me with you?¡± Jia Qizhe nodded. ¡°Oh yeah! Just wait and see, Hero Jia, I will bring that thing back for you!¡± Gu Qingyu hopped away in jubilation. Jia Qizhe returned to his nonchalant demeanor, but the corners of his lips seemed to hide a smile. He requested for the Illusory Spiritgrass. The Illusory Spiritgrass was capable of creating hallucinations, a sentient herb, but it was really hard for regular people to find it, much less, obtain it. He does not want this Lady Gu to follow him, but since she did help him earlier, it was not polite to refuse her outright. With an excuse like this, surely he can turn her down now... Night. Gu Qingyu hummed as she walked to the dining hall. Everyone was already seated, yet they were still waiting. ¡°Father, your daughter is late, do forgive me.¡± Gu Qingyu bowed. ¡°Yu¡¯er, come, sit down.¡± The man pointed to a seat and Gu Qingyu sat in it. The nerve-wrecking meal was finally over, everyone seemed to keep quiet, Gu Qingyu breathed a sigh of relief. But, just then, right before she could escape... ¡°Yu¡¯er, the day after tomorrow is the annual talent competition, you need to prepare well for it.¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s mother looked at her with sweet loving eyes. Gu Qingyu nearly choked, ¡°Talent??¡± ¡°Yes, you didn¡¯t go all the past years. But this time, you must go, as a Young Miss of the Gu Family!¡± One of the aunts chimed in ¡®sincerely¡¯. What¡¯s with that face of schadenfreude? Why don¡¯t you go?! Gu Qingyu really wanted to retaliate, but she held it in, and replied, ¡°Indeed, I cannot bring shame to my status as the next heir to the Gu Family.¡± She was reminding her aunt that, regardless, she will remain the legitimate daughter. Her aunt was stunned, she didn¡¯t think the current Gu Qingyu would retaliate, much less render her speechless... After her meal, Gu Qingyu decided to head to the rooftops to practice her martial arts, and test how powerful her cat demon powers were. She walked near a roof ledge and gently jumped... Her body became as light as a feather and she flew up to the roof! Something grew out of the top of her head and out of her lower back. Gu Qingyu subconsciously reached up.. There were two fluffy ears and a long tail! Really? These are considered the characteristics of a cat? Gu Qingyu felt speechless, but her perspective quickly turned positive; with Feather Feet that allows me to climb with ease, surely it wouldn¡¯t be a problem to find the Illusory Spiritgrass. She had asked Xiao Qi and found out there was a mountain not far from here, full of rare herbs. So Gu Qingyu went through a few simple routines and jumped back down, returned to her room and went to bed early. After all, she needed to wake up early to harvest those herbs. She didn¡¯t notice the figure that watched her from the shadows. After Gu Qingyu left, he stepped out of the shadows and into the moonlight. The figure was dressed in a blue robe, with a fleeting smile on his face. Chapter 4: Doctor Mo Chapter 4: Doctor Mo Translated by: iris.knight With her Feather Feet, Gu Qingyu reached the foot of the mountain. After covering her cat ears and hiding her tail, she walked into one of the mountainside villages. The villagers were especially hospitable, Gu Qingyu carefully pulled an elder aside and asked, ¡°Is there a convenient path into the mountains?¡± ¡°There is, but it can be hard to find... If you don¡¯t mind, why don¡¯t this old man bring you there?¡± The old man smiled. Something felt strange and odd about this, but Gu Qingyu nodded with caution, ¡°Then, thank you in advance for your trouble.¡± ¡°No trouble, no trouble at all.¡± The old man chuckled, and walked up the mountain. Gu Qingyu followed behind, and found the scenery behind her becoming more unnerving by the minute. Something is wrong! Why isn¡¯t there a path behind me? I clearly followed the path up! She looked forward, and found the old man had disappeared! WTF is going on?! Suddenly, a hand latched onto her shoulder. ¡°Wah!¡± Gu Qingyu jumped, and looked back. It was a man with long black hair, red lips with the whitest teeth; dressed in a green robe, as if he was an immortal sage. Gu Qingyu patted her chest, relieved, ¡°You scared me!¡± ¡°Lady, are you alright?¡± The man asked gently, his lips were lifted in a fairly good-looking way. Gu Qingyu nodded her head, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine.¡± She curiously looked behind the man, ¡°Eh? How did the road reappear?¡± ¡°Lady, this mountain is the Mountain of Illusions. Those who don¡¯t know their way would often be fooled into getting lost by the demons that live at the foot of the mountain. Yours truly was on the mountain harvesting herbs and saw you by coincidence so I came to help. Are you in need of assistance?¡± ¡°Yes! I do need help!¡± Gu Qingyu clung onto him like a lifesaver. ¡°Please bring me out of the mountain!¡± She changed her mind, ¡°...Uh, if it is fine with you, can you also help me find an herb named the Illusory Spiritgrass?¡± The man looked at her hand, tightly gripping his own arm, hesitated, and did not say anything. He then curiously asked, ¡°What would you need the Illusory Spiritgrass for?¡± ¡°I need it for a friend!¡± Gu Qingyu blurted out without a second thought. ¡°The Illusory Spiritgrass is the treasure of Mountain of Illusions It lives on the cliff sides, terribly difficult to obtain.¡± He shook his head. Gu Qingyu twisted her lips, realized that Jia Qizhe was playing her! It is impossible to find that herb! He clearly didn¡¯t want to bring me along! Seeing Gu Qingyu¡¯s crestfallen eyes, the man gently sighed, ¡°Yours truly is also looking for the Illusory Spiritgrass, I do know where it is. If you do not mind, you can follow me, but whether we can find it will depend on our fate.¡± ¡°Uh-huh!¡± Gu Qingyu nodded, following the man. Who cares! If I can¡¯t find it, I¡¯ll just pick a random weed, it¡¯s not like Jia Qizhe knows what the Illusory Spiritgrass looks like! But Gu Qingyu disregarded a serious problem. For someone like Jia Qizhe, who had travelled around the world, what has he not seen? Gu Qingyu followed behind the man, and discovered that after a while, the trees behind her would close automatically. ¡°Um...¡± Gu Qingyu finally dared to ask, ¡°Mister, how should I address you?¡± ¡°Mister?¡± The man seems confused, but continued quickly, ¡°Yours truly is Mo Bai. A hermit from another mountain who heals people. I came here as I need the Illusory Spiritgrass.¡± ¡°Oh, oh! You¡¯re Doctor Mo!¡± Gu Qingyu nodded in shock, ¡°I am Gu Qingyu.¡± ¡°Gu Qingyu?¡± Mo Bai tilted his head, puzzled, ¡°The willful lady of the Gu Family?¡± I am really curious, who spread this rumour, that a hermit of the mountains would hear it? ¡°Eh...actually...I...¡± Gu Qingyu did not know how to explain, perhaps the past Gu Qingyu was willful? ¡°Well, I see today that the rumours are not true.¡± Mo Bai gently smiled, and continued walking on. Gu Qingyu finally heaved a sigh of relief. After a while, they reached a cliff. Gu Qingyu suddenly had the urge to shout into the mountains. But there is a handsome man beside me! Gu Qingyu resisted the urge. ¡°It is here.¡± Mo Bai stopped next to the edge. Gu Qingyu looked below in curiosity, and there was a glowing herb. It might be a cat¡¯s nature, but she had lost the fear of heights she had back in the modern world. ¡°I¡¯ll go down first, to see if it¡¯s safe. Just wait for me here.¡± Mo Bai held out a leaf. Gu Qingyu nodded, with a puzzled look at Mo Bai¡¯s leaf. Mo Bai tossed a leaf as he chanted. The leaf suddenly grew in size, almost to the size of a flying carpet! Mo Bai stood on it, and the leaf started drifting downwards... Mo Bai came to the side of the cliff, picked the herb, and the herb fell easily into his hands. This magic is amazing... Gu Qingyu watched the leaf bring Mo Bai back up, awestruck. She silently fumed... I thought being a cat demon was so great! But it feels like nothing compared to these grandmasters who could fly! ¡°There seems to be only one herb.¡± Mo Bai said with regret, ¡°Lady Gu, the cave may have more, but it is guarded by demons and will be too dangerous. Yours truly still need to tend to the sick... How about I help you get it another day?¡± ¡°Um...¡± Gu Qingyu hesitated. The talent competition is tomorrow, who knows what traps those people have for her after it? What if Jia Qizhe left? But, he did say he needed it to save people, so it wouldn¡¯t be nice of her to take it. He did harvest it after all. ¡°Sure, thank you so much.¡± Gu Qingyu smilled out of a clenched jaw. Mo Bai already did a great job bringing her here, so she intended to check the cave out on her own. ¡°Lady Gu, the roads of these mountains are treacherous, how about I bring you back down?¡± Mo Bai asked her. Gu Qingyu shook her head, ¡°No need to trouble Mr. Mo, I can walk down myself.¡± ¡°But...¡± Mo Bai wanted to say more, but was half-pushed, half-pulled away by Gu Qingyu. Chapter 5: Talent Competition? Chapter 5: Talent Competition? Translated by: iris.knight Gu Qingyu returned to the cliff once more, called out her ears and tail, and cautiously walked down the cliffside. She arrived at the pitch-black cave, but the darkness did not stop her. She was a cat spirit with night vision. Despite her fear, she proceeded. Suddenly, a few bats flew towards her. Gu Qingyu somersaulted backwards and avoided them. ¡°Hehe, it has been a while since anyone came here...¡± A hoarse voice rang out. With caution, Gu Qingyu watched a man walk out of the shadows. No! Not a man! He had huge bat wings, long fangs and lengthy, dishevelled hair. The bat demon licked his lips greedily, ¡°It has been so long since I¡¯ve had anything so sweet and fresh... Finally I can taste such delicacies again...Your blood will be delicious!¡± Gu Qingyu shivered, but she was confident in her ability to escape, ¡°Hehe! Only if you could catch me!¡± She broke into a sprint and headed towards the heart of the cave at superhuman speed. The demon spread his wings and flew towards her. In a blink of an eye, he stood right in front of Gu Qingyu. At that moment, Gu Qingyu had already grabbed the Illusory Spiritgrass, she held it close to her chest. ¡°Oh! You¡¯re here for the Illusory Spiritgrass!¡± The bat demon had already blocked the entrance and it seemed that there was no other way out. Gu Qingyu took a step back and felt something hard under her foot. She looked down... ¡°Ah!¡± Gu Qingyu screamed. It was a human bone! ¡°Hahahahaha...¡± The bat demon laughed maniacally as he flapped his wings and closed the distance between them. Gu Qingyu yelled, "You psycho! Go away!¡± Just then, in the nick of time, someone stood in front of Gu Qingyu. A lazy voice followed, ¡°Do you really have to throw your life like that? Idiot.¡± It is... Jia Qizhe! He¡¯s come to save her! Gu Qingyu¡¯s heart stirred... ¡°Jia Qizhe, you¡¯re here!¡± Gu Qingyu got too excited, and exclaimed his name. ¡°Oh dear, this is so embarrassing...¡± ¡°...¡± Jia Qizhe looked at Gu Qingyu, speechless. ¡°You really went all out for the Illusory Spiritgrass, I was just joking.¡± He shrugged in defeat, but it annoyed the hell out of Gu Qingyu. ¡°Jia Qizhe!¡± Gu Qingyu roared, ¡°What the hell, you¡¯re such a hypocrite!¡± ¡°But I never said I wouldn¡¯t bring you along.¡± Jia Qizhe grinned, ¡°Hypocrite? Sure, then let me show you how a true hypocrite looks like.¡± ¡°...¡± Gu Qingyu heard this and felt bad. ¡°Hero Jia, I was just kidding, don¡¯t do this...¡± The duo was very focused on their banter, completely ignoring the bat demon right in front of them. And that demon was not happy about it, ¡°Oi! Am I nothing to you two?¡± ¡°Hehe!¡± Gu Qingyu grinned creepily at the bat demon. The bat demon shivered. He had scared many people in his life, and this was the first time anyone managed to spook him. ¡°Hehehe!¡± That devious grin was still plastered on Gu Qingyu¡¯s face, she was most definitely not in a good mood. ¡°Well then,¡± Jia Qizhe looked at Gu Qingyu and said, ¡°if you take care of him, I will bring you with me.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Gu Qingyu blinked in surprise, ¡°For real?¡± ¡°I never go back on my word.¡± Jia Qizhe smiled, almost as if he didn¡¯t have any choice. ¡°But I got the Illusory Spiritgrass! You¡¯re supposed to bring me along!¡± Gu Qingyu stomped, then looked at the approaching bat demon and gritted her teeth, ¡°Accelerate!¡± She ran to the side. The bat demon knew Ji Qizhe was not easy to take down, so he went after Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu then stopped in her tracks, and stretched out her hands, ¡°Cat Flare!¡± Immediately, a purple ball of flame shot out of her palms. It flew towards the bat demon in a beautiful arc. Jia Qizhe watched on without much surprise. Flap! The bat demon spread his wings immediately and tried to dodge, but the flame was too fast. Bam! The flame hit the bat demon right in the face, and he fell onto the ground. Jia Qizhe walked over to Gu Qingyu¡¯s side and gently scratched behind her cat ears, ¡°Hm, so cute.¡± Gu Qingyu exploded, ¡°Oi! You promised to take me away!¡± He shrugged, ¡°Alright.¡± Is that... a yes? Gu Qingyu cheered, ¡°Oh yeah!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t celebrate just yet.¡± Jia Qizhe looked at the bat demon on the ground. At that opportune moment, the bat demon took flight once more towards Gu Qingyu, but a golden sword flashed from Jia Qizhe¡¯s hand, and its swing destroyed everything in a bright flash... By the time she woke up, it was already late-afternoon. ¡°Urgh...¡± Gu Qingyu rubbed her eyes, ¡°This is...¡± ¡°Young Miss!¡± Someone pounced onto her, ¡°I thought I would never see you again! Waaaaa...¡± Gu Qingyu then realized that she was in her room, and Xiao Qi was standing next to her. ¡°Oh right! Jia Qizhe...Where is he?¡± Gu Qingyu tugged Xiao Qi. At the mention of Jia Qizhe, Xiao Qi¡¯s eyes lit up, as if she had just seen the latest gossip in town. ¡°Young Miss! Hero Jia was the one who brought you back! He actually cradled...ah no, dragged...that¡¯s still not right, carried? Yes! He actually carried you back!¡± She felt pleased with the accurate description. Gu Qingyu¡¯s face darkened, gritted her teeth, ¡°Then, did he say anything to my parents?¡± Carried me back? It would be weird if my parents weren¡¯t furious! ¡°Nonono, Young Miss.¡± Xiao Qi said seriously, ¡°Hero Jia secretly brought Young Miss back, the Master and Madame are unaware that Jia Yingxiong carried you back. Hero Jia told them that you collapsed from practicing too much.¡± ¡°@#$%^&*!¡± Gu Qingyu punched the sheets in rage, ¡°Can he be even more ridiculous?¡± As it turned out, yes, he can. ¡°Young Miss...¡± Xiao Qi spoke weakly, ¡°Hero Jia also said that you must be the champion at tomorrow¡¯s talent competition or he won¡¯t take you with him...¡± ¡°[email protected]&£¤/$...¡± Gu Qingyu was so shocked, she couldn¡¯t string a sentence together. How could he do that! We had a deal! Chapter 6: Preparing a performance Chapter 6: Preparing a performance Translated by: iris.knight Gu Qingyu arrived at the Guzheng room, and found one of her sisters there. ¡°Well, I never knew you were interested in Guzheng, Younger Sister?¡± The elder sister smirked, ¡°But, one should know their limits...¡± Gu Qingyu gave a wide smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Elder Sister, I will definitely keep within my limits!¡± She paused, and continued, ¡°Yep, with my skills, getting first would not be a problem at all. Do watch me, Elder Sister!¡± The girl did not expect such a bold and confident response, but she gathered her wits and replied, ¡°Rest assured, I will definitely peel my eyes open to see you become the champion.¡± Gu Qingyu smiled brightly. ¡°Then, I shall thank Elder Sister in advance!¡± I must become the champion and escape this place! That was now Gu Qingyu¡¯s only goal. The warm afternoon sun shined on the trees, the relaxing sunlight scattered through the leaves. Gu Qingyu sat in the pavilion as she watched the ripples in the pond. The lotuses bloomed beautifully, their leaves swaying in the wind. Everything looked so pleasing, but Gu Qingyu felt irritated and troubled to no end. ¡°What can I perform...¡± Gu Qingyu sighed over and over again. ¡°Young Miss,¡± Xiao Qi walked over with a plate of fruits, ¡°Have some fruits.¡± ¡°Xiao Qi, you can have them, I am not in the mood...¡± Gu Qingyu sighed for the N-th time, ¡°This would be so much easier in modern times...¡± ¡°Young Miss, what is ¡®modern times¡¯?¡± Xiao Qi looked at Gu Qingyu in puzzlement. ¡°Young Miss, you should really have some fruits, maybe you would feel better.¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s eyes flashed brightly, ¡°Xiao Qi, what did you just say?!¡± ¡°Young Miss, you should really have some fruits...¡± Xiao Qi repeated her reply word-for-word. Gu Qingyu shook her head, ¡°Nonono... before that!¡± ¡°Young Miss, have some fruits?¡± Xiao Qi asked warily. ¡°After that!¡± ¡°Young Miss, what is ¡®modern times¡¯?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it!¡± Gu Qingyu clapped, ¡°Thanks Xiao Qi! I know what I am going to perform!¡± She ran back into her room and started her preparations. ¡°Young Miss, but your fruits...¡± Xiao Qi looked at the closed door helplessly, and decided to eat the fruits herself... The next day. Gu Qingyu left her room with a skip in her step, and decided to take a relaxing stroll in the courtyard. After all, the competition was just around the corner, it was imperative to rest and relax a little. But to her surprise, someone was already in the courtyard! Dress in all blue, jet black hair flowing in the wind. An extraordinary air surrounded that person, nonchalant yet cunning. Gu Qingyu was stunned, but walked over nonetheless. She sneaked up behind him, raising her hands to surprise him (or spook), but who would have thought... ¡°Hey.¡± He turned around, ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Eh...Oops!¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s hands hung awkwardly in the air. She withdrew her hand as if nothing had happened, and changed the topic, ¡°Uh-hum, Jia Qizhe, I just wanted to ask if you are ready?¡± ¡°Ready for what?¡± Jia Qizhe was confused by the sudden question. ¡°To take me away!¡± Gu Qingyu said matter-of-factly. ¡°You¡¯ll have to win the competition first.¡± Jia Qizhe smiled. Gu Qingyu returned the same smile, ¡°You just wait and see!¡± She sauntered off, leaving Jia Qizhe speechless... Talent Competition. ¡°Haha! What a crowd!¡± Gu Qingyu looked at the people surrounding her. She couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°Such a grand display! I wonder who got so bored out of his mind that he would organise such a competition...¡± But I really have to thank him! If it weren¡¯t for him, perhaps Jia Qizhe will never take me away? Even though he did bluff me before, I still believe he isn¡¯t such a dishonest man. ¡°Now that¡¯s not exactly nice to say, young lady!¡± An usher around the venue spoke out, looking displeased, ¡°My young master organises this competition every year, to give ladies from any part of the city a chance to display their talents, rather than compete with their looks. And Young Master promised to fulfill three of the winning lady¡¯s requests or prize her with a rare instrument, completely up to the winning lady¡¯s needs. This is a platform for talented ladies to perform, how can you say this as the efforts of someone being bored out of his mind?¡± He made a great point, which Gu Qingyu also agreed, thus she took a deep bow, ¡°Sorry, my bad. I shouldn¡¯t have mocked your Young Master.¡± Seeing Gu Qingyu¡¯s sincerity, the usher didn¡¯t take it to heart, ¡°It¡¯s fine, Young Miss. My Young Master is forgiving and friendly, he won¡¯t hold it against you, but you¡¯ll need to be careful outside.¡± He reminded her out of goodwill. ¡°Yes, thank you!¡± Gu Qingyu bowed again. ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± The usher walked away. Gu Qingyu watched his back, and fell into deep thought, ¡°A usher under the organizing committee is already so well-spoken, wouldn¡¯t the man himself be even greater?¡± Forget it, why should I care so much about him? It doesn¡¯t concern me anyway! Gu Qingyu swung her sleeves and sat down in a seat. The talent competition was about to begin. Chapter 7: A song that Surprised Everyone Chapter 7: A song that Surprised Everyone Translated by: iris.knight Gu Qingyu pursed her lips. But I have to win, so I will definitely get first place. Her sister played the Guzheng. The piece she played was sombre at times, joyful at others; as if the song told the life of a young girl as she reminisced about her past. The whole song was enveloped in melancholy. After the performance, the audience gave an unanimous applause. ¡°Wow! That is a good performance!¡± ¡°This must be the second daughter of the Gu Family? No wonder!¡± ¡°I hear the third daughter, Gu Qingyu, is here too!¡± ¡°What? Is she the one who has always been in martial arts?¡± ¡°Who knows! It¡¯s so weird!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see what performance she brings!¡± ¡°But I hope it¡¯s not sword dancing or something like that!¡± ¡°Hahaha...¡± Laughter echoed through the crowd, Gu Qingyu helplessly rolled her eyes. These idiots, prepare for yourselves to be blinded by my brilliance! A few more performances went by, but none of them were as good as the second daughter of the Gu Family. As a result, the audience¡¯s reactions were relatively quiet. Suddenly, Gu Qingyu picked up on something with her cat demon instincts. Someone was approaching her! Gu Qingyu turned back with caution... A man dressed in blue stood on the roof, his blue robe swayed in the wind. Jia Qizhe. He... is here to watch her compete? Their eyes met, and Jia Qizhe smiled at her, as if to say that he was here to watch her lose. Nope, I can¡¯t lose! There is no way I would let him see me being humiliated! Gu Qingyu clenched her fists as she glared at him. Then, a purple-robed girl walked on stage with a Pipa. The music from her Pipa rang out, drawing Gu Qingyu¡¯s attention. The girl¡¯s music was soothing. Yet in that pure tune, there were subtle hints of magic. This girl isn¡¯t ordinary. Gu Qingyu thought briefly, but she was not too concerned. That girl¡¯s performance ended to a resounding applause. Finally it was Gu Qingyu¡¯s turn and she walked on stage. She took a random Guzheng and started playing. At the start, the music was soft and calming. Then, Gu Qingyu began to sing, ¡°Flowers and mist, scattered throughout the lands. They laugh at the world, trapped in fates of joy and sorrow. Yet we are not unaware...¡± At this point, she goes into the main verse. Her thin fingers plucked and strummed the strings of the Guzheng, and a beautiful tune rang out, ¡°In our eyes, a look that sealed our fates. A silent moment that stopped time amidst the bustling night, the stories stitched on water rippled and disappeared.¡± The song swelled at the chorus, ¡°Everlasting flames that sealed fate with no regret. Unchanging love that transcends countless lives. In an instant, dreams vanished like melting snow, blooming into oaths buried for you...¡± The song was filled with ups and downs, it was long and beautiful. The audience was flabbergasted as the song ended. They had never heard any song like this, or any song with lyrics like this. It was their first time, the song was... surprisingly good. Hehe! Of course! Gu Qingyu laughed to herself. Hahaha! You¡¯re all blown away! Several people clapped. Then, as if everyone was snapped out of a dream, a thunderous round of applause echoed through the hall. ¡°Hey, is this really the third daughter of the Gu residence? She¡¯s exceptional!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Who was the one that said she only knew martial arts?¡± ¡°Her lyrics paint such a beautiful scene!¡± Gu Qingyu smiled and bowed, then walked down the stage with grace. Jia Qizhe narrowed his eyes. She is surprisingly talented... I thought she only knew a bit of martial arts, but it turns out she is exceptional in music as well... Well, I suppose I ought to bring her along now. Jia Qizhe turned around and disappeared. At this time, Gu Qingyu looked at the spot Jia Qizhe was at. She missed him by seconds. Eh? Where is he! He left? Where did he go? When did he leave? How did I not notice? Did he even see my performance? ¡°You are really very talented.¡± A voice rang out behind her. Gu Qingyu turned back, ¡°Um... You¡¯re...?¡± The man was dressed in white, and held a fan in his hand. He carried himself with an ethereal grace, as if he was more than a mere mortal. ¡°I am Qi Yichen¡± ¡°Hello, Mr Qi,¡± Gu Qingyu bowed gently, ¡°How can I help you?¡± This was the competition grounds, so she must act appropriately, with grace and decorum. ¡°I was simply in awe with your performance and talent.¡± Qi Yichen smiled,¡±I believe the champion will be yours this year.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr Qi.¡± Gu Qingyu smiled back, ¡°But there are still many others who are better than Qingyu.¡± ¡°Qingyu?¡± Qi Yichen was stunned for a moment, ¡°Your last name is Gu?¡± Gu Qingyu nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± Qi Yichen smiled, ¡°I¡¯m glad I made this trip, to be honest, my master has instructed me to find you.¡± Chapter 8: You Practice Medicine? Chapter 8: You Practice Medicine? Translated by: iris.knight ¡°My master has been living in hiding with me. He taught me magic, martial arts and poetry, you can say he is practically my father.¡± Qi Yichen spoke and smiled like a gentleman, distracting Gu Qingyu. ¡°So?¡± But Gu Qingyu kept her wits, ¡°Then? Why are you telling me this?¡± Living in hiding? For some reason, that reminded her of Mo Bai. It was not the best time to be reminded of that person. ¡°My master fell severely ill a few days ago. He said that only a special young lady in this city, named Gu Qingyu, has the means to cure him.¡± Qi Yichen smiled warmly, ¡°I hope you can accept my bold request.¡± Special young lady? Cure him? I may have been a doctor in the modern world, but I was a psychiatrist! Still, I do know a thing or two about general medicine... ¡°Um...¡± Gu Qingyu was speechless for a while. She paused, then started her plan to bluff Qi Yichen. ¡°Ah! B-by your looks, you must be a scholar! A handsome and intelligent man like you must know that the world is very large and full of mysteries! Maybe you¡¯re looking for someone else that just happened to share my name? Perhaps there is another Gu Qingyu in this city.¡± Qi Yichen firmly shook his head, ¡°No, I¡¯ve already asked around. Young lady, you are the only person with the name Gu Qingyu in this city.¡± ¡°...¡± So you¡¯ve really left no stone unturned! Looks like you are determined to take me away! ¡°I am really sorry, but if I just up and left, my family would be terribly worried!¡± Gu Qingyu smiled in return. Let¡¯s see how you could respond to this! Qi Yichen gave a profound smile, ¡°To be honest, I learned not only magic, but also a bit of fortune-telling. Just now, I had divined that Miss Gu does not want to stay at the Gu residence, and is actually looking for someone to take Miss Gu away. Wouldn¡¯t you agree, Miss Gu?¡± ...Is he really a scholar? Is that how all scholars behave in this world? Gu Qingyu¡¯s worldview instantly shattered. Even a mere scholar could do such things! ¡°Urgh, fine, you win, but I won¡¯t...¡± Gu Qingyu waved her hand weakly, but right before she could turn down Qi Yichen¡¯s offer, a thought crossed her mind. Wait! What if Jia Qizhe goes back on his word again? Or, what if I missed something, and didn¡¯t win the competition? ¡°But I won¡¯t leave without you!¡± Her stance and attitude took a 180 in an instant. Qi Yichen smiled, ¡°Thank you kindly, Miss Gu.¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Just then, a cold voice rang out, ¡°so you don¡¯t want me to take you away?¡± ¡°Jia Qizhe?¡± Gu Qingyu spun on the spot, ¡°Hmph! What if you go back on your word again?¡± Jia Qizhe smiled as he leaned in, right next to Gu Qingyu¡¯s ears and whispered, ¡°Then, what if you can¡¯t save his master?¡± ¡°Um...¡± Gu Qingyu was stunned. Indeed, he came all this way to find me, what if I can¡¯t save his master, then what will I do... ¡°Sir, I am not very well versed in medicine, what if I can¡¯t do anything about your master¡¯s illness?¡± Qi Yichen just sighed, ¡°It¡¯s not an issue. My master just told me to bring you to him.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, alright!¡± Gu Qingyu grinned and turned to Jia Qizhe, ¡°Hey, you want to tag along?¡± What a turn of events... First, Gu Qingyu begged Jia Qizhe to take her away, now Gu Qingyu asked Jia Qizhe to tag along... ¡°Sure,¡± Jia Qizhe shrugged. ¡°Seems fun.¡± ¡°Fun?¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. ¡°You think this is a vacation?¡± ¡°What, is it not a vacation to you?¡± Jia Qizhe retorted. ...Yes, he¡¯s right. It is a vacation. I admit, you got me, Jia Qizhe! ¡°...¡± Gu Qingyu walked towards the audience of the competition, ¡°They¡¯re announcing the results soon, let¡¯s go check it out.¡± The trio sat down together in the audience. A man walked up... Gu Qingyu realised he was the man that called her out earlier! He¡¯s one of the judges? Gu Qingyu was shocked. ¡°Now, let¡¯s announce the winner of today¡¯s competition. In first place, Gu Qingyu. A perfect fusion of beautiful vocals and soothing Guzheng, with a style like no other; In second place, Zhao Jiner. Proficient skills with the Pipa, music as soothing as a river...¡± The announcer read the list out, Gu Qingyu almost jumped up from her seat, ¡°Oh yeah!¡± Qi Yichen clapped, ¡°Miss Gu deserves this.¡± Gu Qingyu felt strange to be called Miss constantly, then said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to call me Miss Gu, just call me Qingyu!¡± ¡°...Qingyu.¡± Qi Yichen said, ¡°Then, feel free to call me by my name as well.¡± The competition ended, but Gu Qingyu did not have any prize in mind, so she left. Gu Qingyu said to Qi Yichen, ¡°I¡¯ll head back to pack a few things, then we can leave tonight! Wait for me by the crooked tree in my backyard!¡± Qi Yichen nodded, ¡°Thank you, Young... Thank you, Qingyu.¡± ¡°Yep!¡± Gu Qingyu looked at Jia Qizhe, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°...¡± Jia Qizhe said nothing, and left with Gu Qingyu. Qi Yichen watched as Gu Qingyu disappeared into the crowd, the corners of his mouth curled into a smile. Back at the Gu Residence, Gu Qingyu¡¯s mother came up to her immediately, ¡°Impressive, Yu¡¯er! Your mother saw your talent show today!¡± Gu Qingyu nodded, ¡°Thank you, Mother.¡± Actually, her mom does treat her well here... It¡¯s a little sad to just leave her like this... Gu Qingyu went to her room and Xiao Qi quickly joined her. ¡°How was it, Young Miss?¡± ¡°It was great!¡± Gu Qingyu told Xiao Qi everything about Qi Yichen and winning the competition. ¡°Let¡¯s get ready to leave tonight!¡± Xiao Qi nodded, ¡°Alright!¡± ¡°...Xiao Qi, do you really want to come along with me?¡± Gu Qingyu suddenly asked. She kept insisting Xiao Qi to go with her, but she didn¡¯t really stop to ask Xiao Qi¡¯s own opinion. ¡°Young Miss, Xiao Qi will follow you wherever you go!¡± Xiao Qi nodded with conviction. Gu Qingyu smiled, ¡°Thanks, Xiao Qi, let¡¯s go pack your things!¡± Xiao Qi nodded and left. Gu Qingyu breathed a long sigh of relief. Finally! We¡¯re leaving! After packing her things, she decided to go for a short stroll. It would be the last time she sees this scenery. She walked to the pavilion, and lo and behold, Jia Qizhe was there. ¡°Hey, what brings you here?¡± Gu Qingyu asked, bewildered. Chapter 9: The First Assassin Chapter 9: The First Assassin Translated by: iris.knight Gu Qingyu stood next to Jia Qizhe and watched the rippling pond. ¡°It¡¯s nice to be able to leave...¡± ¡°Do you really know medicine?¡± Jia Qizhe suddenly asked out of the blue. Gu Qingyu nodded innocently, ¡°yeah, well, a little... ¡± ¡°Can you guarantee that you can cure that man¡¯s master?¡± He asked again. ¡°...No.¡± Gu Qingyu replied, ¡°I¡¯m not confident in my skills, but I probably could try something if it¡¯s something related to emotions, or mental illnesses.¡± ¡°The issues of the mind.¡± Jia Qizhe looked at Gu Qingyu, dubious, ¡°Wait, you can cure the issues of the mind?¡± ¡°Probably.¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. Hey, I was a psychiatrist in the modern world! She went back to her room after chatting a bit more with Jia Qizhe. Soon, it was nightfall. Gu Qingyu wore her black stealth suit and used the agility of her cat spirit powers to bring both herself and Xiao Qi to the crooked tree. As Xiao Qi knew a bit of magic, no one picked up on their trail. They finally got past a group of guards and arrived at the crooked tree. It appeared that Jia Qizhe and Qi Yichen have been waiting there for a while. ¡°This is?¡± Qi Yichen looked at Xiao Qi. ¡°Ohoh! She is my friend, and will be coming with us! Qi Yichen... is that okay?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Yichen nervously, his approval was needed after all. Qi Yichen nodded, ¡°Of course, if she is Qingyu¡¯s friend...¡± Since they decided to leave together, the master-servant relationship no longer existed between Gu Qingyu and Xiao Qi. They were equals now. That was why Gu Qingyu told Qi Yichen that Xiao Qi was her friend. Besides, it was the truth. Xiao Qi looked at Gu Qingyu with gratitude. Qi Yichen smiled warmly, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± Gu Qingyu nodded. They nimbly jumped on top of the wall. Right then, the second daughter of the Gu Family came to Gu Qingyu¡¯s room. Gu Qingyu left her room lit with a candle in order to throw others off her trail. The second daughter entered the room through the window. She pulled out the dagger hidden in her sleeve and stabbed the bed. But she quickly discovered that the sheets were empty and lifted them up frantically, before carefully slipping her dagger back into her sleeve. After all this, she ran out of the room in pretended panic. ¡°Oh no! My younger sister is missing!¡± Gu Qingyu saw all of this while she stood on the wall. She sighed, ¡°Luckily we escaped tonight... Otherwise, I¡¯m afraid I would have been lying in my sheets in a pool of blood, completely unaware of what had happened...¡± Qi Yichen looked at Gu Qingyu with concern. He thought Gu Qingyu would be uncomfortable after she witnessed this, but reality proved otherwise. ¡°Finally! Let¡¯s go!¡± Gu Qingyu breathed a long sigh of relief as she jumped down from the wall, ¡°Oh, come on! Hurry up!¡± ¡°...¡± Qi Yichen jumped down too, speechless. Xiao Qi and Jia Qizhe soon followed. Soon, the footsteps of the running guards could be heard from the other side of the wall. ¡°Where¡¯s the Third Young Miss?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know! Hurry! She could be anywhere!¡± ¡°We are doomed if we can¡¯t find her!¡± Gu Qingyu felt bad towards these guards, but she kept walking. They arrived at a tavern outside the city. ¡°Waiter! ¡° Gu Qingyu and company walked into the tavern, exhausted. They sat down, and Gu Qingyu spoke like the traveling men from television. ¡°Give us four...No, two rooms!¡± She did bring quite a sum of money, but it was best to be a bit careful with it, so she changed the number of rooms. ¡°...Um, some light snacks too.¡± ¡°Yes sir!¡± The tavern keeper seemed very passionate. He quickly brought a plate of steaming buns and a few dishes. ¡°Please eat! The rooms are ready too!¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Jia Qizhe said plainly. Soon, everyone was well fed and satisfied. ¡°I will be in a room with Xiao Qi. Jia Qizhe, you¡¯re with Qi Yichen. Let¡¯s just save as much money as we can, okay?¡± Gu Qingyu rubbed her neck in embarrassment. Jia Qizhe and Qi Yichen both nodded. They didn¡¯t say anything. Everyone then went to their rooms. Gu Qingyu and Xiao Qi laid on their beds and snuffed out their lights. Gu Qingyu looked around in their pitch-dark surroundings for a bit. She could not help but blurt, ¡°Xiao Qi, are you asleep?¡± ¡°No, Young Miss...¡± Xiao Qi¡¯s crisp voice seemed pleasant in the air. ¡°Don¡¯t call me Young Miss anymore, call me Xiao Yu.¡± Gu Qingyu smiled, ¡°We¡¯re friends now!¡± She paused, then spoke again, ¡°Xiao Qi, can you tell me your full name?¡± ¡°Young... Xiao Yu, my family name is Xun, so Xun Qi is my full name.¡± ¡°Hm... it¡¯s a really beautiful name!¡± Gu Qingyu was pleased, Xiao Qi was the first friend she made in the ancient times. ¡°Yes...¡± Xiao Qi smiled gently. Suddenly, a dark shadow zipped by the window and went next door. Gu Qingyu saw the shadow as she was staring out the window with her night vision. She sat up and put on her shoes immediately. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Xiao Yu?¡± Xiao Qi looked at Gu Qingyu. ¡°Someone went into Jia Qizhe¡¯s room!¡± Gu Qingyu slipped on her shoes, pulled Xiao Qi to her side and stuck their ears to the wall, hoping to pick something that could tell them what was going on. Unfortunately, the walls of the tavern were too well-built, so Xiao Qi couldn¡¯t hear anything. But since Gu Qingyu was a cat spirit, she had a sharper sense of hearing. There seems to be sounds of fighting next door! Gu Qingyu told Xiao Qi, ¡°Wait for me, I¡¯ll go help them!¡± ¡°What?¡± Xiao Qi heard nothing. ¡°Just wait for me.¡± Gu Qingyu left that line behind, then ran to Jia Qizhe¡¯s room. She kicked down their door without thinking. ¡°Jia Qizhe, Qi Yichen, I¡¯m here to....¡± She swallowed her last word back as her eyes dropped to the black-robed man lying on the floor... I must be stupid to rush over in such a hurry! How did I forget that two martial art experts live here? Qi Yichen looked at Gu Qingyu and smiled, ¡°It seems you¡¯re a little late.¡± ¡°...¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. She felt like a fool. ¡°What is this? Someone wanted to assassinate one of you?¡± Just as Jia Qizhe wanted to speak, the black-robed man on the floor jumped up, and lunged towards Gu Qingyu with a dagger! Chapter 10: You Don’t Know How to Fly? Chapter 10: You Don''t Know How to Fly? Translated by: iris.knight Stab! Jia Qizhe¡¯s sword went through the assassin¡¯s chest without any hesitation. ¡°You...¡± The assassin looked at Gu Qingyu in anguish with bulging eyes, his voice was hoarse and lowered to a mere whisper as he slumped to the floor. But, Gu Qingyu still heard his last three words, ¡°Go to hell!¡± Why... Why would anyone want to kill me? Could it be that the original Gu Qingyu did something...? Gu Qingyu watched as blood began to pool around the man on the floor. Jia Qizhe cleaned his sword calmly, without much reaction. ¡°I wanted to leave him alive for interrogation tonight, but looks like that won¡¯t be the case.¡± Gu Qingyu looked at the assassin¡¯s body in fear, then her eyes flitted back to Jia Qizhe... ¡°Qingyu, did you offend anyone?¡± Qi Yichen suddenly asked. ¡°No...¡± Gu Qingyu replied in a steady voice, but she soon faltered. After all, she didn¡¯t know what the original host might have done. Qi Yichen smiled softly, ¡°Qingyu, you need to be more careful in the future.¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Gu Qingyu nodded, ¡°Then I¡¯ll head back first? I would rather not let Xiao Qi worry herself sick.¡± ¡°Yeah, go.¡± Qi Yichen closed his fan. Gu Qingyu helped Jia Qizhe close the door and went back to her room. Xiao Qi sat on the bed and pounced on Gu Qingyu the moment she returned. ¡°Xiao Yu! Are you okay?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯m ok.¡± Gu Qingyu patted Xiao Qi¡¯s head. ¡°Xiao Qi knows Xiao Qi¡¯s magic is weak and couldn¡¯t help Xiao Yu, so Xiao Qi could only wait here...¡± ¡°It¡¯s ok, Xiao Qi, I¡¯m fine. Besides, we live next to two martial arts experts!¡± Gu Qingyu laughed, ¡°Let¡¯s get some sleep.¡± ¡°Yep!¡± For some reason, Gu Qingyu slept very well that night. The next day. Tap tap tap. A stream of knocks woke Gu Qingyu up. Gu Qingyu was not a morning person, and she certainly did not like being woken up so early! Someone shall suffer the consequences of making Gu Qingyu angry! Gu Qingyu got dressed haphazardly, and did not even bother to comb out her messy bed hair. She kicked the door open and roared, ¡°Who is it?¡± In front of her was a man dressed in white... It was Qi Yichen! His hand was lifted awkwardly in the air, as if to greet her, but he was shocked at the sight of Gu Qingyu. His face froze in disbelief as the awkwardness of the situation hung in the air. Gu Qingyu shut the door out of instinct. ¡°Ah! My image is completely ruined!¡± She cried as she covered her face. Xiao Qi got dressed and tied up her hair neatly before she walked over to Gu Qingyu. ¡°Who¡¯s at the door, Xiao Yu?¡± ¡°Qi Yichen!¡± Gu Qingyu stood up, dejected. ¡°Xiao Qi, just help me tie up my hair. The style doesn¡¯t matter¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Xiao Qi took up her brush, apparently feeling pumped. ¡°Xiao Yu, it¡¯s okay, I will help you do up a fabulous hairstyle that will blind them all!¡± ...Is this the Xiao Qi I know? Give me back the Xiao Qi I knew! I want my Xiao Qi! Gu Qingyu screamed internally. After she finally got dressed and looked more prim and proper, Gu Qingyu opened the door and discovered someone else was waiting for her. ¡°Morning, Jia Qizhe.¡± Gu Qingyu greeted awkwardly. Jia Qizhe nodded, ¡°Qi Yichen went down first to order breakfast for all of us, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°...okay...¡± Gu Qingyu hid behind Xiao Qi and went down reluctantly. Qi Yichen was all smiles. It was as if he did not remember what just transpired. ¡°Let¡¯s eat, Qingyu.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Since he pretends nothing happened, then it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate to say anything. Suddenly, they heard horses outside slowing down from a gallop. ¡°Quick! There¡¯s news that the Third Young Miss is here! Don¡¯t let her escape!¡± Guards shouted from outside. Gu Qingyu panicked. She quickly grabbed a few meat buns, then dragged and pulled Jia Qizhe, Qi Yichen and Xiao Qi upstairs into her room. Such speed! Such resolve! Gu Qingyu slammed the door shut. She squeezed out in between pants, ¡°How did they find this place?!¡± Jia Qizhe looked at the meat buns in her hands and ignored her question. ¡°Are you that hungry?¡± ¡°Of course! I haven¡¯t even had a single bite!¡± Gu Qingyu ate the meat buns nonchalantly. Very soon, they heard the guards¡¯ footsteps coming up the stairway. ¡°What do we do?¡± Gu Qingyu stomped while continuing to eat her buns. The gesture left Xiao Qi stunned. Jia Qizhe eyed Gu Qingyu suspiciously, ¡°You think I would be afraid?¡± ¡°No! But it¡¯s not good to just kill our way out! The Gu Residence does hold substantial power...¡± Gu Qingyu said hesitantly. She referred to the Gu Residence without any sort of attachment, as if she was talking about an unrelated family. Technically, she was right. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Jia Qizhe went silent. Even though the situation seemed dire, the atmosphere between everyone still felt quite relaxed. Finally, Qi Yichen sighed defeatedly, ¡°I will take a look outside and buy some time. Jia Qizhe, see if you can bring them out through the windows.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Gu Qingyu was confused for a moment, then quickly realised that Qi Yichen was the only one that the guards had never met! ¡°Let¡¯s meet at the creek near the bamboo forest!¡± Qi Yichen nodded and walked out the door, and with a flick of his wrist, closed the door behind him. Jia Qizhe gently pushed open the windows and turned to Gu Qingyu. He said, ¡°You both go ahead, I¡¯ll go last.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Gu Qingyu nodded, said to Xiao Qi, ¡°I¡¯ll open a path. Xiao Qi, you follow behind me. Jia Qizhe will keep them off.¡± Xiao Qi said nothing, she just nodded seriously. Since Xiao Qi is well aware of her powers, and Jia Qizhe found out about it in the bat cave, she could transform safely! The ears and tail of her cat spirit sprang out. Gu Qingyu checked the windows, then nodded towards Jia Qizhe and Xiao Qi before jumping down. Xiao Qi and Jia Qizhe subsequently followed. Meanwhile, Qi Yichen had just reached the stairwell as the guards were rushing up the stairs. ¡°Search this place! Don¡¯t let the Third Young Miss escape!¡± Chapter 11: Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover Chapter 11: Don''t Judge a Book by its Cover Translated by: iris.knight ¡°Who are you?¡± A guard saw Qi Yichen and blocked him. Qi Yichen smiled, ¡°Yours truly is Qi Yichen. Who are all of you looking for?¡± ¡°The Third Young Miss of the Gu Residence, Miss Gu Qingyu. Have you seen her?¡± That man saw Qi Yichen¡¯s smile of an angel and softened his tone. Qi Yichen pointed in a random direction. ¡°I believe she went that way.¡± ¡°Thank you so much.¡± The people of the Gu Residence were not overly fierce, they bid farewell in respect and ran in the direction Qi Yichen pointed towards. Qi Yichen smiled and walked out. The remaining guards arrived in another room, where another man happened to walk out. He was breathtakingly handsome, that red robe brought out ethereal beauty in that man. ¡°Did you see-¡± The guards stopped mid-sentence, ¡°Ah! The Lord of Xie Zang Castle!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The man gave a faint smile, beautiful yet sinister. ¡°Nonono! Nothing!¡± The guards immediately ran off. The man called ¡®The Lord of Xie Zang Castle¡¯ shook his head and grumbled, ¡°Was that really necessary? It¡¯s not like I bite... ¡± Jia Qizhe and the rest of the team arrived at the creek near the bamboo forest. They took a short rest while they waited for Qi Yichen. He soon arrived at the creek as well. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Suddenly, Gu Qingyu was really excited to leave this place. ¡°Qingyu, do you know how to fly?¡± Qi Yichen asked something out of the blue. ¡°Huh?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Yichen, puzzled. ¡°That place is quite far from here, we¡¯ll have to fly.¡± Jia Qizhe gave a condescending look at Gu Qingyu, ¡°Which, you know how to fly, right?¡± ¡°Um...¡± Oh boy. ¡°I...¡± Gu Qingyu stammered. ¡°It¡¯s ok, Qingyu, I¡¯ll fly with you.¡± Qi Yichen smiled warmly. ¡°Good, there¡¯s four of us so we¡¯ll fly in pairs.¡± Jia Qizhe looked at Gu Qingyu and told Qi Yichen, ¡°You take the other one.¡± ¡°No!¡± Gu Qingyu immediately took two steps back. ¡°Jia Qizhe, I¡¯m scared of heights! Xiao Qi is all yours!¡± With that, Qi Yichen flapped his giant white wings and took off with Gu Qingyu in tow. Jia Qizhe pursed his lips and followed suit. However, as he took off with his blue wings, he glanced back. Behind a tree, there was the corner of a red robe. In the sky. Gu Qingyu closed her eyes in a tight squeeze. Qi Yichen held onto her arms with a vice-like grip, while her legs dangled in the air. Imagine what it feels like to hang in the air! Meanwhile, Xiao Qi seems to be very comfortable flying with Jia Qizhe. If I knew Jia Qizhe was better at flying, I would have gone with him! Gu Qingyu regretted immensely at her choice of pilot. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Qingyu?¡± Qi Yichen asked. What¡¯s wrong? You tell me what¡¯s wrong!Gu Qingyu growled, ¡°Nothing, just fly faster!¡± ¡°Oh...¡± After a while, Qi Yichen caved and asked, ¡°Qingyu, would you like to sit on the fan?¡± ¡°The fan?¡± Gu Qingyu suddenly had a bad feeling, a very very bad feeling! Qi Yichen waved his hand and a huge fan appeared beneath Gu Qingyu¡¯s feet. Qi Yichen folded his wings as he landed on the fan. The fan drifted steadily in the wind. ¡°!!¡± Gu Qingyu then realised, Qi Yichen looks as harmless as an angel, but he''s actually a demon full of tricks! Gu Qingyu waved her hands, completely exhausted. She gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Oh, thank you kindly!¡± ¡°You''re welcome.¡± Qi Yichen smiled warmly. ¡°...¡± I lost this round! Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes, annoyed. Jia Qizhe conjured a sword as well and flew on it with Xiao Qi. Before long, the sky darkened and they finally reached the foot of the mountain. When Jia Qizhe and Qi Yichen landed, the stars were already out. ¡°Why did we stop flying?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Yichen, puzzled. That bad feeling was back. ¡°It¡¯s exhausting to fly for that long,¡± Qi Yichen blinked, ¡°and there are many monsters on the mountain. It is dangerous to fly at night, better to walk instead!¡± ...Better to walk? Gu Qingyu grimaced. ¡°Let¡¯s just go.¡± ¡°Eh? Qingyu, you¡¯re ok with this?¡± Qi Yichen seemed surprised. Don¡¯t make it so obvious! ¡°Uh..." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes, annoyed, ¡°Are there any other options?¡± ¡°No.¡± Qi Yichen answered honestly. ¡°Then.¡± Gu Qingyu glared at him as she pulled Xiao Qi along and began their hike up the mountain. Jia Qizhe conjured his sword as he fell in step. Qi Yichen did the same and stayed at the back of the group. Nobody spoke a word and the atmosphere became awkward. Suddenly, a flash appeared before Gu Qingyu, followed by a blue light from Jia Qizhe¡¯s sword. Before anyone knew what was going on, Jia Qizhe calmly sheathed his sword. Gu Qingyu looked at Jia Qizhe in bewilderment. ¡°What was that?¡± ¡°Nothing, just a tiger monster.¡± Jia Qizhe smiled nonchalantly. Gu Qingyu¡¯s face became one of shock. ¡°You, you mean, you took out a tiger demon in an instant?¡± ¡°Yes, anything else?¡± Jia Qizhe tilted his head. Gu Qingyu was speechless. ¡°Jia Qizhe is famous in the world of martial arts, this is not really surprising for him.¡± Qi Yichen commented with a smile. ¡°Ah! I forgot to mention.¡± Jia Qizhe gave an evil grin. ¡°I actually quite like monster hunting, and I especially love to hunt cat demons.¡± ¡°Um...¡± Gu Qingyu instantly felt very uncomfortable, she forced a grin, ¡°Is that so? Haha, what an interesting fetish, do you agree, Qi Yichen?¡± Qi Yichen doesn''t know I am a cat demon! I must not blow my cover! ¡°Indeed.¡± Qi Yichen smiled, ¡°Then let¡¯s find some cat demon one day for him to practice!¡± ...Can¡¯t you just shut up! Gu Qingyu suddenly had the urge to slap herself. ¡°Hehehe!¡± Gu Qingyu laughed stiffly and continued walking. They soon reached halfway up the mountain, then someone¡¯s stamina reached its limit. ¡°Ah! I can¡¯t walk anymore!¡± Gu Qingyu leaned on Xiao Qi, absolutely drained. She sighed for the n-th time, ¡°Why is this mountain so high! Why are these rivers so deep!¡± ¡°...¡± Jia Qizhe and Qi Yizhen ignored Gu Qingyu very ¡®naturally¡¯. Gu Qingyu saw that it was not working, then switched to her second plan. She ran in front of Jia Qizhe with a stern face. Then she dropped to the ground... Chapter 12: Qi Yichen in Critical Condition! Chapter 12: Qi Yichen in Critical Condition! Translated by: iris.knight ¡°...¡± Jia Qizhe stopped, then continued on, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Qi Yichen looked at Gu Qingyu, then followed after Jia Qizhe. ¡°Damn! You¡¯re really willing to abandon me? Xiao Qi! ¡± Gu Qingyu shouted after Xiao Qi, who was last in the group. Xiao Qi ran to Gu Qingyu¡¯s side, ¡°Xiao Yu, there¡¯s really a lot of monsters at night, we have to keep going!¡± It looked like asking Xiao Qi would not work, so Gu Qingyu changed her mind. She shuffled to Jia Qizhe and latched onto his leg, ¡°Ah! The beautiful and handsome Hero Jia! Please have pity on me!¡± Xiao Qi froze. Her face was full of shock, her whole body turned rigid in the strong wind. ¡°Xiao...Yu...¡± Even the ever-calm Qi Yichen widened his eyes. ¡°...¡± Jia Qizhe was silent for a bit, then squatted down and patted her on her head, ¡°Ok, let¡¯s rest for a while.¡± Gu Qingyu tilted her head upwards as she looked at Jia Qizhe in disbelief, ¡°You...You actually agreed?¡± ¡°Actually I agreed from the start, I was looking for a good place to rest.¡± Jia Qizhe shrugged nonchalantly, while smiling deviously. ...You gotta be kidding me! Gu Qingyu felt enraged. Suddenly, a rustling noise came from the woods. Qi Yichen immediately spread his fan in front of himself. ¡°Shield!¡± A golden light formed a shield, blocking the attack of several silver needles. ¡°Those needles are poisonous!¡± With her cat demon senses, Gu Qingyu could smell the poison on the needles. ¡°So we¡¯re not fighting demons, we¡¯re fighting people.¡± Jia Qizhe smiled as he relaxed, ¡°Then if it¡¯s just men we¡¯re dealing with, there¡¯s nothing to be scared of.¡± ...Of course you have nothing to be scared of, what about me? And with Qi Yichen here, she cannot transform. She was in deep trouble. Within moments, shadows descended upon them. All of them wore black masks and skin-tight suits. They all look like professional assassins! Gu Qingyu grumbled internally. Who in the world did I piss off! ¡°Why are you after us?¡± Jia Qizhe conjured his sword, the tip of his blade emitted an azure mist. Despite the situation he kept an even tone, there was not an ounce of panic in his voice. ¡°No. Hero Jia, we respect you immensely.¡± One of them, who looked like the leader of the assassins, bowed. ¡°We are here to assassinate the Third Young Miss of the Gu family. As long as you do not interfere, we will not hurt you or your friends.¡± The leader of the assassins looked at Qi Yichen. ¡°We apologise for what we just did.¡± ¡°But, she¡¯s my friend too.¡± Jia Qizhe tilted his head slightly and the man collapsed in a flash of blue light. So fast! I can¡¯t even see when he swung his sword! Gu Qingyu¡¯s admiration for Jia Qizhe swelled like waves. The others watched their leader fall to the ground and skipped the pleasantries. They attacked Gu Qingyu in an instant. Jia Qizhe swung his sword multiple times and took down more assassins, but there were just too many assassins. ¡°Shield!¡± Qi Yichen placed himself in front of Gu Qingyu and waved his fan, all while using his hand to support the shield with more power. His golden shield blocked numerous darts that flew towards them. Thankfully Xiao Qi¡¯s magic was not too weak, she could more or less protect herself. The assassins also did not treat Xiao Qi as a target. They practically ignored her. Xiao Qi stood at the sidelines as she watched everyone fight. Slash! A hidden blade flew past Gu Qingyu and Qi Yichen, the blade left a crimson line on Qi Yichen¡¯s white sleeve. He was hurt! ¡°Qi Yichen, you...¡± Gu Qingyu looked at his wound and felt very conflicted. ¡°Why are you shielding me? If you didn¡¯t, then you could have protected yourself!¡± ¡°Because I have to bring you up the mountain.¡± Qi Yichen smiled, his smile was as warm as always. ¡°Besides, you are my friend too.¡± Friend...He sees me as a friend... Gu Qingyu was touched by his words, but the sight of Qi Yichen¡¯s black blood pulled her back to reality. ¡°You¡¯ve been poisoned!¡± Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Yichen as his lips slowly turned purple, ¡°The dart¡¯s poison is very strong, don¡¯t move!¡± She turned, ¡°Jia Qizhe! Qi Yichen is poisoned, what do we do?¡± ¡°Figure something out yourself!¡± Jia Qizhe released a blue shield for them, both he and Xiao Qi were still fending off the black assassins. Is this how I die? No! I just got here! I¡¯ve only been here for a few days! Out of all the martial arts badasses like Jia Qizhe, Qi Yichen and Mo Bai, I¡¯ve only got to meet three of them! Wait, Mo Bai? Brilliant, Gu Qingyu! You¡¯re a genius! Gu Qingyu took out the Thousand Blossoming Grass from a small pouch. ¡°Here, how do I...use this?¡± Since Mo Bai didn¡¯t seem like a bad person, Gu Qingyu kept his gifts by her side. He is a doctor after all, his things must at least have some use! ¡°Qingyu, what¡¯s that?¡± Qi Yichen looked at the herb curiously. To think he still has the energy to ask questions! ¡°How would I know! I think it¡¯s some Thousand Blossoming Grass. Let¡¯s just try and see if it works!¡± Gu Qingyu passed the Thousand Blossoming Grass to Qi Yichen. A green light sparkled from the Thousand Blossoming Grass, the light grew and surrounded Qi Yichen. Even Gu Qingyu, who was next to Qi Yichen, could feel the power of the Thousand Blossoming Grass. The green light was so gentle and soothing. Then Qi Yichen¡¯s wounds closed right in front of their eyes. It was extraordinary! ¡°Thousand Blossoming Grass...¡± Qi Yichen tilted his head and flashed a grateful smile. ¡°This is a very rare herb. Qingyu, you¡¯re far too generous.¡± Chapter 13: Hundred Spiral Leaf Chapter 13: Hundred Spiral Leaf Translated by: iris.knight What should she do? What can she do? Gu Qingyu glanced at the Thousand Blossoming Grass, which was still glowing with a faint green light, and gritted her teeth. Then she took out the Hundred Spiral Leaf, brought it to her lips and blew it. Even though I don¡¯t know Mo Bai very well, he¡¯s the only one I could count on right now! The leaf whistled between her lips and a pleasant melody echoed through the woods. Blinding white light appeared in front of Gu Qingyu. She could vaguely make out a person¡¯s silhouette in the light. Before long, the light faded and Mo Bai appeared with his black hair and green robe. The faint white light still encircled him, almost like a halo. He was surprised to see Gu Qingyu but he smiled. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Miss Gu.¡± ¡°Amazing, Mo Bai! I knew you would come!¡± Gu Qingyu skipped over to Mo Bai immediately. ¡°We were going up this mountain but we¡¯re trapped by these black-robed men, what should we do?¡± Mo Bai gave a light wave, numerous spinning leaves shot out from his sleeves and towards those black-robed men. Wherever the leaves passed, the black robed men would fall to the ground. Gu Qingyu was very impressed! Thank goodness I still had a trump card! Soon, the assassins suffered severe casualties. ¡°Wow! Mo Bai, you¡¯re so great!¡± Gu Qingyu was impressed. ¡°I will follow you from now on!¡± ¡°Miss Gu overestimates yours truly, Miss Gu is embarrassing yours truly.¡± Mo Bai bowed. Jia Qizhe scoffed softly, Gu Qingyu heard it with her sharpened hearing. She whipped around, ¡°Jia Qizhe, are you hurt?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Jia Qizhe pouted. ¡°Yikes, where? Aren¡¯t you very strong?¡± Gu Qingyu ran over to Jia Qizhe¡¯s side immediately, then she looked back at Mo Bai. ¡°Mo Bai, have you got any medicinal herbs with you?¡± ¡°Yes...¡± A green light emitted from whatever that is in Mo Bai¡¯s hands. ¡°Tch, I don¡¯t want his herbs.¡± Jia Qizhe interrupted Mo Bai. He stretched out his arm. ¡°Ah, here.¡± Indeed, there was a huge gash on his arm, blood gushed out from the wound. ¡°Ah! You¡¯ve lost so much blood! Mo...¡± ¡°I said I don¡¯t want his herbs!¡± Jia Qizhe frowned. ¡°Heal.¡± A faint blue light gathered at his hand as he finished his incantation, and the wound instantly healed. ¡°Huh?¡± Gu Qingyu was shocked. ¡°This...¡± ¡°I know healing magic too.¡± Jia Qizhe said, his lips still in a pout. For some reason, at that moment he looked...very innocent and cute! ¡°Then, then why didn¡¯t you heal yourself earlier?¡± Gu Qingyu was flabbergasted. ¡°None of your business.¡± Jia Qizhe made a show of sheathing his sword. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Qi Yichen and Xiao Qi walked over and joined them. Gu Qingyu looked at Mo Bai. ¡°Sorry, Mo Bai, I was so desperate that I had to trouble you...Do you want to follow me up the mountain or go back?¡± Her bravado quickly faded away in front of Mo Bai. ¡°Yours truly shall follow Miss Gu up the mountain. After all, yours truly don''t have anything to do and could use some companions for the road.¡± Mo Bai smiled. ¡°Yes!¡± Gu Qingyu nodded excitedly. ¡°That¡¯s great! Now we have another expert with us, no need to fear those assassins anymore! Protection all around!¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Jia Qizhe sneered as he resumed the walk up the mountain. Gu Qingyu looked at Jia Qizhe¡¯s back in confusion, then fell in step with Mo Bai. Then Xiao Qi caught up, and Qi Yichen took the rear guard. Jia Qizhe became more and more upset along the way, the sword in his hand emitted rays of blue light as he cut down demons left and right. This scared Gu Qingyu, Mo Bai ignored his behaviour while Qi Yichen kept his cool. Xiao Qi looked at Gu Qingyu worriedly, and Gu Qingyu was so shaken her teeth clattered non-stop! ¡°Jia Qizhe, you...are in a bad mood?¡± Gu Qingyu finally could not hold it anymore and asked cautiously. ¡°Hmph.¡± Jia Qizhe gave her a cold look, then brutally slaughtered a monster as a response. ¡°You...like to kill demons when you¡¯re moody?¡± Gu Qingyu asked cautiously again. ¡°Hmph.¡± Jia Qizhe gave her the same cold look and brutally slaughtered another demon. ¡°What a coping mechanism...¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s teeth still clattered a bit, ¡°Then...well, please continue, just go on...¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Jia Qizhe replied coldly again. ¡°...¡± Gu Qingyu was so scared she could not say anything. Suddenly, Mo Bai asked at the worst moment. ¡°How did Hero Jia join you anyway?¡± ¡°Um...He is our friend and he¡¯s travelling with us.¡± Gu Qingyu explained... Wait, why does this sound so weird? ¡°Oh...¡± Mo Bai glanced at Jia Qizhe. He opened his mouth, then closed it without saying anything. It was as if he wanted to say something, but he stopped himself. ¡°Qingyu, when you meet my master later. I apologise in advance if he offends you in any way.¡± Qi Yichen suddenly said, ¡°My master is rather mischievous and fond of pranks...¡± ¡°...¡± Mischievous? Pranks? Now I¡¯m wondering how he got sick! Gu Qingyu laughed, ¡°Don¡¯t worry! I can¡¯t guarantee that I can cure him...¡± She trailed off, as she turned around and looked at the green-robed Mo Bai. Cure? Qi Yichen was talking to me about healing him, right? Don¡¯t we have a doctor right here? How did I miss this? ¡°Um...Qi Yichen...¡± Gu Qingyu spoke weakly. ¡°Yeah?¡± Qi Yichen looked at Gu Qingyu. ¡°I think your master will be fine...¡± She looked at Mo Bai, ¡°There, that¡¯s a doctor right there...¡± Mo Bai said nothing. ¡°Qingyu, I forgot to tell you, my master is sick in the mind.¡± Qi Yichen added abruptly. Gu Qingyu was stunned. I was right all along! It''s a mental illness! Chapter 14: The Perfect Party Chapter 14: The Perfect Party Translated by: iris.knight ¡°Thank goodness I can...¡± Gu Qingyu sighed. But then she suddenly felt the party had everything now! Jia Qizhe would handle assassins; Mo Bai would handle injuries; Qi Yichen would handle negotiations; Xiao Qi would handle the bargaining of supplies. (Meanwhile, Xiao Qi thought, ¡°Why am I only good for bargaining! Hey!¡±) As for herself, she would handle emotional therapy and psychiatry? Gu Qingyu felt that she was more useful than she initially thought! On that note, she continued the hike happily, while the others eyed her strangely. About half an hour later. ¡°Ah!¡± Gu Qingyu heaved a long sigh. ¡°We¡¯re finally here!¡± She scanned the tiny house. The lush forest surrounded the estate and kept it away from prying eyes. A small creek peeked out from the backyard and trickled softly as it snaked to the side of the estate. A classical hidden paradise! ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful here!¡± Gu Qingyu exclaimed in praise. ¡°If Qingyu is willing, you can stay here for as long as you want.¡± Qi Yichen added. ¡°Tch, nah. This is your home, not mine.¡± Gu Qingyu replied, then pushed Qi Yichen forward. ¡°Hurry up, go tell your master that we¡¯re here.¡± ¡°No need.¡± A young voice rang out, then a shadow landed in front, ¡°I¡¯m already here.¡± What... What?!?! Gu Qingyu¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Master? That¡¯s a long way off from how a master should look! The man in front of her was dressed in a black robe that contrasted against Qi Yichen¡¯s white robe, his hair was tied neatly by a black hairband. His eyebrows were slightly raised, and he looked very lively. In fact, he looked almost as young as Qi Yichen. Qi Yichen, are you sure he is sick in the mind? ¡°You¡¯re...Qi Yichen¡¯s master?¡± Gu Qingyu could not resist asking. The others seemed unperturbed by his appearance. ¡°Yes, Xiao Chen actually managed to find you. Come, let¡¯s head inside.¡± The man walked into the house on his own. The team followed the man into the house without exchanging a word. ¡°It¡¯s getting late, there are lots of spare rooms here, you all can take a room each and rest first. Qingyu, follow me.¡± The ¡°master¡± called her ¡°Qingyu¡±, as if they were already acquainted. ¡°Oh...¡± Gu Qingyu bit her lips nervously and followed him. Mo Bai watched her with concern in his eyes, but he remained silent. No one noticed the faint green light in his hands. Gu Qingyu followed the black-robed man through several turns and corners, the house may look small, but it had a rather complicated layout... Finally, he stopped in front of what seems to be a secret chamber. He opened the door with a push and walked in, Gu Qingyu followed. The door then slowly closed behind them. A candle on the table lit up. The black-robed man smiled. ¡°Hello, lady from another world.¡± ¡°You...¡± Gu Qingyu stared incredulously at the man in front of her. He knows my real identity? Then, does that mean...he knows the reason I died in modern times and how I came here! ¡°This old man knows what you¡¯re thinking, you can calm your anxious heart first...¡± The black-robed man stroked his chin, but he did not have much of a beard. Old man? How old is this guy? ¡°Then...¡± Gu Qingyu asked weakly, ¡°can I ask how old are you?¡± The black-robed man seemed stunned, his smile left frozen on his face. Age? She did not want to ask the reason she came here, but his age? ¡°Cough cough...¡± The black-robed coughed weakly. ¡°This old man is slightly over fifty.¡± Gu Qingyu looked at him strangely. ¡°No, you look way too young for fifty years old.¡± ¡°No wonder the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny chose you. You¡¯re...unique...¡± The black-robed man looked very weak and feeble, he coughed a few more times. ¡°This old man has not long to live, I have a task for you.¡± As he was speaking, a red light flashed in his hand and a red stone appeared. Chapter 15: A Rock! Chapter 15: A Rock! Translated by: iris.knight ¡°This is the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny. It is a useless rock in the hands of some, but in the hands of others, it is a precious jewel to be guarded with one¡¯s life!¡± The man declared, then passed the rock to Gu Qingyu. ¡°It has a mind of its own, it told me that you came from another world. Take it, it will tell you what you should do.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like following instructions, much less from a useless rock.¡± Gu Qingyu shrugged. ¡°So what if it knows where I came from? I¡¯m already here and I¡¯ve found a great party for myself! It¡¯s nice to travel back in time and go on an adventure in the world of martial arts! ¡± ¡°A useless rock?¡± The man laughed. ¡°You call this a useless rock? A rock? Rock?¡± ...What¡¯s with this man! Now I definitely believe he¡¯s sick! Just as Gu Qingyu was about to interrupt him, the man waved his hand. ¡°A rock! No! This isn¡¯t just a rock!¡± As he finished his words, a blinding red light shone from the stone. Gu Qingyu raised her hand to shield her eyes from the light. The red light faded and Gu Qingyu opened her eyes. In front of her...was a world completely in red and a red-robed man stood before her. He had a devilishly handsome face, his mouth curled with sinister intent. What a powerful aura! ¡°Who-who are you?¡± Gu Qingyu subconsciously took a step backwards. ¡°Hey, you just called me a rock. And now you ask me who I am?¡± The man spoke with a husky voice. ¡°You, you¡¯re the Lifeblood Jewel thing he spoke of?¡± Gu Qingyu gawked as she stared at the devilish man before her in shock. ¡°No way...¡± ¡°Or what?¡± The man retorted, ¡°Hehe, this is the first time anyone has called me a useless rock...¡± ¡°But, you¡¯re really a rock!¡± Gu Qingyu continued to stare in disbelief. ¡°According to the other guy, not only do you know where I came from, but you chose me? By what criteria?¡± ¡°Hehe, not only I know where you came from, but also who killed you.¡± The red-robed man smiled deviously. ¡°Would you like to know?¡± His husky voice was especially alluring. ¡°No!¡± Gu Qingyu replied immediately. ¡°So what if you know where I came from? Not that you have any way to send me back! Even if you do, I don¡¯t want to go back, I have a great party with me on an amazing adventure! This body has some nice skills, some people dream of being able to use magic! So just stop pestering me, ok?¡± ¡°Me, pester you? On what basis?¡± The man was neither angry nor annoyed. Instead, he laughed at her. ¡°What a joke.¡± ¡°Well I don¡¯t see you laughing!¡± Gu Qingyu snapped back. ¡°Let me tell you, my friends are very strong, so I suggest that you let me go while you still can!" ¡°Oh? Strong?¡± That man was slowly losing his patience. ¡°Then let¡¯s just see how powerful they really are!¡± ¡°Urgh, you¡¯re so irritating!¡± Gu Qingyu had a short fuse and it has long expired. ¡°Ok, fine! I¡¯ll do whatever you ask. Just let me out!¡± ¡°Simple. ¡° The man smiled deviously. ¡°From now onwards, you must bring the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny with you wherever you go, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all? Really? You spent so much time arguing with me for something so simple! You could have said so from the beginning.¡± Gu Qingyu glared at him. ¡°I¡¯m not done.¡± The man was not flustered at all, a red light flashed in his hand and the rock reappeared. ¡°You can tell your so-called friends about the jewel, but you must never let them know that you¡¯ve seen me.¡± Tch, that just sounds like you''re up to no good. Gu Qingyu narrowed her eyes in despise before she nodded. ¡°I can agree to that, but first you have to tell me the reason I¡¯m here.¡± To do something without reward would be too generous. I, Gu Qingyu, am not someone so charitable! ¡°You will have your reward, but not now.¡± The red-robed man smiled deviously again. ¡°Before I forget, this Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny is a treasure without equal. Many people, pretty much everyone in the martial arts world, are after it.¡± ¡°Eh? Then what do I do?¡± Gu Qingyu frowned. ¡°I¡¯m no expert, Jia Qizhe and Qi Yichen can¡¯t protect me all the time forever. What if someone wants to take the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny, then wouldn¡¯t I die? Hey, I¡¯m not about to throw away my second life like this.¡± ¡°Tch, I wouldn¡¯t let my people get hurt.¡± The red-robed man picked up a rock from the ground, then slowly, slowly, crushed it to dust with his bare hands. ¡°I will personally handle those imbeciles.¡± Your people? Alright, just roll with up. So is that a deal? Why does that sound so frightening? Oh well, let¡¯s not think about that for now. ¡°Then, who are you?¡± Gu Qingyu asked curiously. To her surprise, the man looked forlorn. ¡°I was... Yan Zun.¡± Was? Gu Qingyu wanted to ask more but the man shook his sleeves. ¡°That¡¯s all for today, I¡¯m tired.¡± Before Gu Qingyu could squeeze in another word, the world spun before her eyes. She closed her eyes and passed out. Chapter 16: Cross-dressing Chapter 16: Cross-dressing Translated by: iris.knight ¡°Mo Bai?¡± Gu Qingyu realised she was lying on a bed, she wanted to sit up but Mo Bai pushed her back down. ¡°Miss Gu, you were chosen by the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny. Your body would need some time to adjust, it may get a little rough.¡± Mo Bai smiled. ¡°It is best to rest and not overexert yourself for the next few days.¡± ¡°Oh...I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Gu Qingyu sat up. Beside her was Jia Qizhe, Qi Yichen, and Xiao Qi. And right next to her pillow was the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny. Mo Bai is a doctor after all, so it is normal to wake up to his face, but... ¡°Why did I faint just now?¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s first reaction was to ask this. A black-robed man walked in, ¡°You have accepted the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny, and its power entered your body. Of course you would pass out.¡± Gu Qingyu recoiled the moment she saw the old man, she had not forgotten that he called it ¡®a rock¡¯! ¡°Relax, this old man won¡¯t hurt you.¡± The black-robed man waved his sleeve. ¡°Tomorrow morning, you all should look for a man named Murong Ranyue.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Gu Qingyu got interested. ¡°Murong? Isn¡¯t that the name of the royals?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± The black-robed man nodded. ¡°Why do we need to find him?¡± Gu Qingyu tilted her head. ¡°He has a particular medicine that can conceal the scent of the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny. Specifically, he is a doctor.¡± The black-robed man explained. Doctor? Gu Qingyu looked at Mo Bai. ¡°Don¡¯t we have Mo Bai? Mo Bai is a doctor himself!¡± ¡°Murong Ranyue developed the medicine himself, no one else knows the formula.¡± The black-robed man shrugged. ¡°He is the best doctor out of all the princes, but he doesn''t know any martial arts. He lives in the capital, you all would be able to find him easily.¡± ¡°No way! Really? ¡± Gu Qingyu groaned. ¡°I just escaped there....¡± The sun¡¯s rays shone viciously on the ground but Gu Qingyu was working up a cold sweat. Mo Bai, who was beside her, kept turning around to check on her. ¡°Miss Gu, are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine...¡± Gu Qingyu wiped off the perspiration. ¡°I was just thinking, why did I agree to that Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny¡¯s request? And how are we gonna get out after finding Murong Ranyue...¡± ¡°You¡¯re worried about that?¡± Jia Qizhe smirked as he pulled her towards him. ¡°Huh?¡± Gu Qingyu looked confused. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just worried that people from the Gu residence would see you, right?¡± Jia Qizhe hummed, a blue light flashed from his hands, enveloping Gu Qingyu. ¡°Erm...¡± Before Gu Qingyu could say anything, the blue light enveloped her entire body. Jia Qizhe then lowered his hands and scanned Gu Qingyu from top to bottom, as if admiring an art piece, ¡°Hmmm...Not bad.¡± ¡°Eh...?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at herself in a daze. She was stunned. Not just her, everyone else was stunned too! Gu Qingyu subconsciously touched her cheeks. It didn¡¯t feel any different. So why was everyone still staring at her? What in the world...She looked down in reflex. Oh my! Her yellow dress turned into a man¡¯s purplish robe, embroidered with an elegant yet mysterious pattern. Then she reached up to touch her hair...Wow! Her tied hair has changed to a men¡¯s hairstyle! A classical case of cross-dressing as a disguise! So that means...so that means, Jia Qizhe wants her to disguise herself as a man? That¡¯s so clever! Chapter 17: Are you as handsome as me? Chapter 17: Are you as handsome as me? Translated by: iris.knight Black hair that''s tied up neatly, piercing eyes, a chiseled jawline, a purple robe. I look like a handsome young man... Never thought I could look this good! Gu Qingyu caressed her face in self-admiration. ¡°I¡¯m handsome to boot!¡± ¡°Pff.¡± Qi Yichen could not hold it in and laughed. ¡°I had seen some narcissists, but I¡¯ve never seen one more narcissistic than Master.¡± ¡°Why, thank you!¡± Gu Qingyu put down the mirror joyfully and continued to stroke her own face. ¡°...¡± Jia Qizhe knocked Gu Qingyu¡¯s head. ¡°Handsome?¡± ¡°Yep!¡± Gu Qingyu nodded without a second thought. Jia Qizhe knocked again. ¡°More handsome than me?¡± ¡°Yea...Eh?¡± Gu Qingyu nodded again then realized something was wrong, she looked up and saw the stern expression on Jia Qizhe¡¯s face. She shook her head immediately. ¡°Nope, of course not!¡± What are these two doing? Qi Yichen looked at them as if he were looking at a pair of idiots. ¡°You¡¯re comparing who is more handsome?¡± ¡°Do you have any objections?¡± Jia Qizhe looked at him. Qi Yichen sniggered, then used his white fan to flip his fringe. ¡°I¡¯m obviously the most handsome one!¡± ¡°Pff!¡± Now it was Gu Qingyu¡¯s turn to laugh. Mo Bai also chuckled in the corner. ¡°You¡¯re the most handsome one?¡± Jia Qizhe retorted. Qi Yichen nodded in plain narcissism. Jia Qizhe smiled grimly. ¡°You¡¯re more handsome without a limb. Want to try?¡± Qi Yichen immediately shook his head. ... Gu Qingyu was speechless. Oh my! Everyone here is narcissistic and sharp-tongued! Of course, except Mo Bai... They chatted enthusiastically along the road, and soon they arrived at the capital... ¡°Let¡¯s look around first!¡± Gu Qingyu did her best puppy eyes on Jia Qizhe. In their team, Jia Qizhe is pretty much the leader! ¡°...¡± Jia Qizhe looked at Gu Qingyu, then at the busy streets. Finally he nodded slowly. ¡°Ok...¡± ¡°Yay!¡± Gu Qingyu cheered without a care and jumped in jubilation. Four handsome men and one beautiful lady would attract some attention on the streets. The crowd all ¡®checked them out¡¯. Gu Qingyu did look very handsome when disguised as a man. ¡°Boss, boss!¡± Gu Qingyu pulled everyone to a jewellery stall and spent her time picking, ¡°Um...I want this! And I want this too!¡± She held a royal blue hairpin with her left hand and a pair of lilac earrings on her right. ¡°This Young Master has good tastes!¡± The shopkeeper smiled cheerfully. ¡°But...Young Master, you are buying this for yourself?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Gu Qingyu did not find anything odd with the statement. ¡°If not me, then who else? Ok, one is for Xiao Qi...But the other three men seem uninterested in these.¡± Gu Qingyu looked lovingly at the jewellery, ¡°How is this Young...Master¡¯s taste so good!¡± ¡°Young Master, are you interested in these?¡± The shopkeeper asked skeptically. ¡°Of course! Any lady would be interested in these!¡± Gu Qingyu said nonchalantly, seemingly forgetting that she was no longer a ¡®girl¡¯. ¡°As long girls are interested, you are interested?¡± Jia Qizhe asked quietly. ¡°This Young Master of course...¡± She shuddered, realized something was wrong. She then glared at Jia Qizhe. ¡°This Young Master is of course uninterested!¡± To prove her ¡°uninterest¡±, Gu Qingyu put down the jewellery and left in a huff, leaving the shopkeeper, who regretted speaking too much. Mo Bai¡¯s eyes lit up, he seemed to have spotted something. He walked over, and Gu Qingyu followed with great curiosity. He stopped somewhere and Gu Qingyu looked up and saw the sign board: Hundred Herb Apothecary. Ah! What else could attract Mo Bai? An apothecary, of course! Gu Qingyu followed Mo Bai and entered the apothecary. ¡°Mo Bai, you don¡¯t come here often?¡± Gu Qingyu quietly asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Mo Bai nodded slightly. ¡°I usually harvest herbs in the mountains on my own. To think the capital¡¯s apothecary is stocked with so many rare herbs.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Gu Qingyu didn¡¯t doubt it. ¡°This is the biggest apothecary in the capital.¡± Mo Bai requested for a bag of herbs, Gu Qingyu picked the bag of herbs from Mo Bai¡¯s hands and checked it out of curiosity. What sort of herbs would Mo Bai buy? At this moment, Gu Qingyu saw a familiar face walk through the door. A pink dress and long hair flowing in the wind. That woman was stunningly beautiful, but her eyes showed a calculating look beyond her years. It¡¯s her! That''s the ¡®sister¡¯ that tried to assassinate me! Gu Qingyu nervously grabbed Mo Bai¡¯s sleeve, Mo Bai looked at Gu Qingyu, her cautious gaze confused him. Mo Bai followed Gu Qingyu¡¯s gaze. ¡°Who is she to you?¡± Mo Bai asked in a hushed voice. ¡°She is supposed to be my sister.¡± Gu Qingyu whispered, ¡°She wanted to kill me before, but luckily I escaped.¡± At this moment, the woman looked at Gu Qingyu. For a moment, their eyes met. Chapter 18: A Coincidental Meeting Chapter 18: A Coincidental Meeting Translated by: iris.knight Mo Bai wrapped his hand around Gu Qingyu¡¯s hand that gripped his sleeve. He leaned in and whispered in her ear, ¡°Calm down, it doesn¡¯t look like she recognised you.¡± Gu Qingyu calmed down after hearing Mo Bai¡¯s words. For some reason, Gu Qingyu trusts Mo Bai inexplicably. The woman asked the apothecary owner a few questions, then walked straight towards Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu was not afraid of her, but she¡¯s worried that her ¡®sister¡¯ would go back and tell the family. The Gu family does have a sizable influence, it would be disastrous if she was caught. ¡°Young Mister.¡± The woman bowed towards Gu Qingyu, her voice was as calm and gentle as a river. Gu Qingyu steadied herself. ¡°Is there something I can help you with, Young Lady?¡± I cannot lose out on my aura! ¡°Just now, Young Mister bought the last Seven-coloured Herb. Yours truly has an urgent need for the Seven-coloured Herb and is willing to pay five times more than its market price for the herb, is Young Master willing to part with it?¡± The woman smiled faintly. What an actress. Gu Qingyu sneered. ¡°Young Lady, do you think you can buy everything with money?¡± The woman flinched. Gu Qingyu did not give her a chance to reply and continued. ¡°Money can be medicine, but not another life. Everyone¡¯s life is unique and shouldn¡¯t be trampled on, wouldn¡¯t you agree, Young Lady?¡± Gu Qingyu left after saying those words, dragging Mo Bai with her. The woman was left standing there, in absolute shock. ¡°His voice sounds so familiar...¡± The woman muttered to herself. ¡°Who is he...¡± Meanwhile... Jia Qizhe turned back and found that Gu Qingyu and Mo Bai had run off. Immediately, he went around to find them. Just then, he saw them walk out of the apothecary, hands intertwined! And for some reason, Gu Qingyu had a smile of relief on her face! Jia Qizhe approached them, annoyed and irritated. ¡°What are you two doing?¡± ¡°We just saw the woman that tried to assassinate me the night we left. ¡° Gu Qingyu frowned, barely hiding her disgust. ¡°Luckily Mo Bai bought the herbs she wanted, or else who knows what bad things she will do with them.¡± ¡°Now, I think you need another name.¡± Qi Yichen, who just rushed over, held his hand over his chin. ¡°Huh? Good idea, but what shall it be?¡± Gu Qingyu blinked. ¡°Blackie?¡± Qi Yichen said after much pondering. Jia Qizhe frowned. ¡°What kind of name is that!¡± Gu Qingyu nodded in full agreement. ¡°I think Shiro is better!¡± Jia Qizhe then added. ¡°Ha!¡± Gu Qingyu burst out laughing. ¡°The names you two are giving keeps getting better and better.¡± ¡°Thanks for your compliment.¡± Jia Qizhe smirked. ¡°You can come up with one yourself if you don¡¯t like our suggestions¡± ¡°Mo Bai, what do you think?¡± Gu Qingyu asked ¡®thoughtfully¡¯. ¡°Umm...Why don¡¯t Miss Gu change her last name to Zhu for now?¡± Mo Bai asked tentatively. ¡°Yes, that sounds good.¡± Gu Qingyu started to clap. ¡°So the full name?¡± ¡°Zhu means bamboo; it¡¯s firm and resilient, and Zhu is a fairly ordinary and humble name. How about going with Zhu Fan?¡± Mo Bai smiled. Gu Qingyue nodded. ¡°Alright! From now on, I¡¯ll go with Zhu Fan!¡± ¡°Brother Zhu, let¡¯s go.¡± Jia Qizhe said flatly and walked away. ¡°Hey!¡± Gu Qingyu followed suit, then gave a teasing smile. ¡°Wait for me, Brother Jia!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± At that, the team chatted and laughed all the way to the palace. ¡°How do we enter the palace?¡± The long-ignored Xiao Qi finally spoked. ¡°I can scout the area around first, then we infiltrate the palace tonight.¡± Jia Qizhe turned around with gusto. ¡°Come, let¡¯s find a tavern.¡± ¡°Oh...¡± Gu Qingyu frowned, her cat instincts were telling her that someone is tailing them! And, that person is very strong in magic. At the tavern, Gu Qingyu ordered a few dishes, ¡°Come, let¡¯s all eat. We¡¯ll only have the energy to move after filling our stomachs!¡± Okay, that is an undeniable truth! The rest sat down and ate in silence. After a ¡®scrumptious¡¯ meal, Jia Qizhe rose, gently dabbed the corners of his mouth. ¡°I¡¯ll go first, you all rest for a bit and get ready.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go with you!¡± Gu Qingyu suddenly stood up. ¡°You?¡± Jia Qizhe raised his eyebrows in doubt. ¡°Yes!¡± Gu Qingyu stood with arms akimbo and squared her shoulders, as if she¡¯s about to start a fight. ¡°What¡¯s with that face? Are you looking down on me? Hmph! Don¡¯t forget, I am...¡± She suddenly stopped. What else could she say? That I¡¯m a cat demon? Qi Yichen and Mo Bai did not seem to know her true identity. What if they think I¡¯m a monster? ¡°You¡¯re?¡± Jia Qizhe teased. He expected Gu Qingyu to snap back, and he wondered how she would help herself out of this situation. Gu Qingyu frowned, as if she was thinking and would kill anyone who disturbed her. ¡°Hmm...After all, I am the smart, kind, lively, cute, agile, cunning and brave... Zhu Fan!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, sure. Then let¡¯s go.¡± Jia Qizhe waved and gestured for her to keep up. Did he believe this excuse? Hey, Gu Qingyu, you¡¯re so smart! ¡°Bye bye!¡± Gu Qingyu turned and waved towards the trio. ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon!¡± ¡°...¡± Qi Yichen waved his hand while stuffing his mouth, ¡°Gogogogo!¡± ¡°Gogogo¡±... Shouldn¡¯t it be ¡®Go and come back soon¡¯? Qi Yichen, do you really want me to be gone that badly? ¡°Take care and come back soon, Xiao Yu.¡± Xiao Qi smiled and waved. Mo Bai said nothing, he just gently smiled and pointed towards the pouch that Gu Qingyu carried with her. The Hundred Spiral Leaf is inside...Yes, he is telling me to call for him if I get in danger, he¡¯ll be there as soon as I blow the leaf. Mo Bai and Xiao Qi are truly good people. Gu Qingyu returned a smile and turned back... Jia Qizhe was already gone! Gu Qingyu immediately dashed out and caught up to him quickly using the speed of a cat demon. Gu Qingyu could not help but to feel pleased with herself. Seeing her happy self, Jia Qizhe ¡®could not bear¡¯ and sighed. ¡°You really think you caught up to me?¡± ¡°Huh? Wasn¡¯t that the case?¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s smile vanished at once. ¡°Did you think you could catch up if I didn¡¯t wait for you? You are really slow, even slower than I imagined.¡± Jia Qizhe¡¯s face was full of mockery. Chapter 19: The Lord of Xieli Castle Chapter 19: The Lord of Xieli Castle Translated by: iris.knight ¡°Hmm...¡± Jia Qizhe paused, then smiled. ¡°I actually didn¡¯t.¡± No? He said no? Then...he really didn¡¯t! Gu Qingyu nodded and her smile came back. Since Jia Qizhe can¡¯t sense it, then maybe I¡¯m wrong? But Jia Qizhe seemed to be in thought. Truth be told, he had sensed someone tailing them since they left the bamboo forest. But he was unsure of that person¡¯s identity, because that person¡¯s magical power is on par with his own... Who is it then? In the shadows, a corner of a red robe appeared briefly. They soon reached the palace walls, Jia Qizhe stopped. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t drag me down dumbass.¡± ¡°I know!¡± Gu Qingyu pouted as a pair of snow white ears grew on her head, a tail also appeared behind her, swaying side to side. ¡°Who knows? Maybe you¡¯re the one that¡¯s dragging me down!¡± ¡°...¡± Jia Qizhe gave her a long look, for a moment there was complete silence. Then, he finally said. ¡°I¡¯ll go in and check if the coast is clear, you keep an eye out for trouble.¡± ¡°Eh? Okay then.¡± Gu Qingyu nodded, she knew she was not as powerful as Jia Qizhe. If she really insisted on following, she could really trouble him and drag him down. Seeing Jia Qizhe stealthily enter the shadows, Gu Qingyu also gently hopped and hid in a bush. Suddenly, she saw someone in red clothes lying on a branch. He appeared to be sleeping. This man. So brazen, to sleep on a tree in the palace! ¡°Go find out who he is.¡± The man within the Lifeblood Jewel told her. Alright, I know you wouldn¡¯t hurt me. She replied internally as she approached the man with caution. ¡°Hey...Who are you?¡± ¡°Hey,¡± The red-clothed man chuckled, the look he gave her as he laid on the tree reminded Gu Qingyu of the red-robed man in the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny. ¡°You can call me Xie Zang.¡± Indeed, they address themselves similarly... Xie Zang also means Blood Burial. And Yan Zun is in the Lifeblood Jewel. Blood, why? ¡°Xie Zang...¡± Gu Qingyu repeated his name. ¡°Sounds very powerful! Then again...Why do you have the guts to sleep here?¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t I sleep here?¡± The red-clothed man gently leaped off the tree. The corners of his lips were lifted in a devious smile, he was quite handsome. ¡°This is your home?¡± ¡°Ah, nono, that is not the case.¡± Gu Qingyu shook her head. ¡°This is the palace!¡± The man got closer. ¡°But, I followed you here.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Gu Qingyu got stunned for a moment and blinked, puzzled, then smacked her head. ¡°I knew that someone was following us, it was you!¡± The red-clothed man smiled and nodded. ¡°Following you guys has been fun so far!¡± ¡°You, what do you want?¡± Gu Qingyu took a step back. ¡°I¡¯m warning you, I got the super powerful and famous Hero Jia, Jia Qizhe by my side!¡± ¡°Who is he?¡± The red-clothed man frowned slightly as if he was in deep recollection. Looking at him, surely, he doesn¡¯t know Jia Qizhe. But that¡¯s impossible! Not knowing Jia Qizhe! Then, Jia Qizhe isn¡¯t actually famous? Little did Gu Qingyu know, the man before her is the Lord of Xieli Castle, who was known for being too arrogant to keep up with the world. ¡°Um... Erm...¡± Gu Qingyu paused. ¡°Then...why were you following me?¡± ¡°Cause I think,¡± Xie Zang¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Third daughter of the Gu residence would be quite an interesting target?¡± ¡°Huh?¡¯ Gu Qingyu was shocked. ¡°How did you know...¡± She paused and changed, ¡°Why are you interested in her?¡± ¡°Nothing much, I''m just interested.¡± Xie Zang held his chin with a single hand, looking innocent. ¡°And it showed, it really is interesting following you guys. Wouldn¡¯t you agree, Miss Gu?¡± Chapter 20: A Quarrel Chapter 20: A Quarrel Translated by: iris.knight ¡°Hahaha.¡± Gu Qingyu laughed weakly. ¡°You figured it out...¡± ¡°You really think there¡¯s something in this world that can be hidden from me?¡± Under the moonlight, Xie Zang¡¯s smile appeared devious yet pure and genuine. ¡°Didn¡¯t think so.¡± Gu Qingyu shrugged. ¡°Well, I have to continue my recon, there isn¡¯t much time and I¡¯ve already spent too much chatting with you. Good-bye.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let me keep you then.¡± Surprisingly, Xie Zang did not pester her any further. ¡°Also!¡± Before he left, Gu Qingyu called out softly. ¡°Stop following us.¡± She paused and said with a sad face. ¡°We¡¯re really not that interesting.¡± ¡°Nonono,¡± Xie Zang gracefully shook his finger. ¡°I¡¯ll keep following you guys, see you again.¡± He vanished as soon as he said his piece. Damn it! Damn it all! How could this be! See you again? You¡¯ll see me every day, ok! ¡°Hey.¡± Gu Qingyu turned in annoyance, only to find. ¡°Jia Qizhe! You...¡± She asked tentatively. ¡°You finished scouting so quickly?¡± Yes.¡± Jia Qizhe smiled. ¡°How is your scouting of the surroundings?¡± ¡°I...¡± Gu Qingyu felt relieved. Luckily, Jia Qizhe never saw Xie Zang! But, the sad thing is that I did nothing just now... Eh? Why is there a...crumpled ball of paper in my hand? Gu Qingyu unfurled the paper ball, it was a map of her surroundings! Not just that, it also had some rough lines of the palace and a few perfect escape routes! Jia Qizhe leaned over curiously and was amazed. ¡°How...How did you do this?¡± ¡°Haha! Surprised?¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s gratitude and admiration towards Xie Zang swelled like waves. ¡°Don¡¯t ask how, I am just that good! Hey? Jia Qizhe? Where are you? Hey? And my map? Hey! Jia Qizhe, wait for me!¡± Gu Qingyu finally reached the tavern in time as she chased after him desperately, only to find Jia Qizhe had already reached the tavern. He even told the plan to everyone else and they were about to leave for the palace, again. Gu Qingyu said in between breaths. ¡°So, I have to go with you guys, again?¡± ¡°Yes...¡± Mo Bai hesitated, his eyes were still so gentle. ¡°Yes, sorry about this, Miss Gu.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to apologise!¡± Gu Qingyu replied indignantly. ¡°Jia Qizhe! You¡¯re the one that should apologize to me!¡± ¡°Why?¡± The look in Jia Qizhe¡¯s eyes was strange. ¡°Why do I have to say sorry?¡± ¡°You left me behind!¡± Gu Qingyu frowned, she knew her reason would anger Jia Qizhe and may even be too much, but he crossed the line this time! For some reason, a raging flame burned in her heart! ¡°Hmph,¡± Jia Qizhe seemed unconcerned. ¡°Apologize for leaving you behind? Clearly you¡¯ve not been abandoned before.¡± ¡°No! I have!¡± Gu Qingyu shouted. ¡°Right in front of my eyes! And by the closest people in my life, people that I thought to be like family! Don¡¯t speak as if you know what that¡¯s like! ¡± After that, she dashed out without thinking. Soon, someone caught up to her. ¡°Are you alright, Miss Gu?¡± A gentle voice spoke, it was Mo Bai. ¡°Mo Bai...¡± Gu Qingyu shook her head. ¡°Let¡¯s go, our mission takes priority.¡± ¡°Yes...¡± Mo Bai looked fairly worried. The team regrouped outside the palace and Jia Qizhe planned the routes and infiltration groups before they sprang into action. Miraculously, Gu Qingyu was grouped with Jia Qizhe. Qi Yichen and Mo Bai were in another group, they were in charge of clearing obstacles, communication and distracting the guards. Jia Qizhe and Gu Qingyu¡¯s group was to infiltrate the palace and find Murong Ranyue, while Xiao Qi will stay outside alone as lookout to ensure that the escape routes were clear. ¡°...¡± On the way, Gu Qingyu kept silent. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jia Qizhe asked, it was rare for him to ask after her like this. ¡°...¡± Gu Qingyu kept silent. ¡°You¡¯re angry?¡± ¡°...¡± The silence persisted. ¡°Hey...¡± ¡°What?¡± Gu Qingyu finally spoke. ¡°Did you hear what I just said?¡± Jia Qizhe asked, annoyed. Gu Qingyu shook her head. She really didn¡¯t hear what Jia Qizhe said. ¡°...¡± Now it was Jia Qizhe¡¯s turn to be silent, ¡°You¡¯re angry?¡± Gu Qingyu shook her head again. ¡°Then what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Jia Qizhe finally stopped. He had been walking ahead of her. So when he stopped, she did not manage to react in time and slammed into him. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Gu Qingyu growled. But she kept a hushed tone to avoid alerting the guards. ¡°Your distracted state can easily jeopardize this mission, ok?¡± Jia Qizhe said seriously. ¡°Pull yourself together, this isn¡¯t a game. This is the palace, we would die at the slightest mistake!¡± ¡°But why don''t I feel like I¡¯m in danger?¡± Gu Qingyu scratched her head. Jia Qizhe sighed. ¡°Since you¡¯re not angry, then stop getting distracted. Stay close.¡± ¡°Yeah...¡± Gu Qingyu increased her pace. Tip-tap. Tip-tap. Soft footsteps echoed through the corridor. Chapter 21: Murong Ranyue Chapter 21: Murong Ranyue Translated by: iris.knight ¡°Okay,¡± Gu Qingyu nodded. Gu Qinyu watched as Jia Qizhe entered the garden, nothing happened. He took a few more steps. Then suddenly, the flowers in the garden started moving on their own! ¡°Jia Qizhe!¡¯ Gu Qingyu called out in a hushed voice. Within the garden came Jia Qizhe¡¯s reassuring reply. ¡°I¡¯m okay, take care of yourself.¡± His voice was still so reassuring, even as he was swallowed by the flowers. ¡°Quick, go around me and go inside Murong Ranyue¡¯s room. I can handle this! Trust me!¡± ¡°Alright, I trust you.¡± Gu Qingyu smiled, bent her knees a little and leaped up. I¡¯ve got to say, this ¡®cat spirit body¡¯ is very useful! Gu Qingyu hopped about in the night sky. She quickly found Murong Ranyue¡¯s room, as she had memorised the path beforehand. Gu Qingyu jumped through the window without a second thought. There, a handsome man with olive green hair and pale green robes gaped at her. He asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°I, I...¡± Gu Qingyu began to regret her recklessness earlier, but let bygones be bygones. They were already here, they had to follow through with the plan. ¡°Hello, are you Murong Ranyue?¡± It should be him since the air was full of the smell of herbs and medicine. ¡°Yes.¡± The man seemed cool, without any sort of panic from someone who was facing a robber. ¡°Hi, I am Zhu Fan.¡± Gu Qingyu said while trying to give her best smile, to give a good impression. ¡°I am here to borrow herbs to conceal powers.¡± ¡°Conceal powers?¡± Murong Ranyue looked weird, his face paled. ¡°You have...¡± He sniffed the air. ¡°the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny.¡± This was a statement. ¡°Yes.¡± Gu Qingyu nodded in frankness. At the same time, she also could not help but be impressed that he picked up the smell of her Lifeblood Jewel among all the other smells in the air. ¡°Since you know why I¡¯m here, then please hand over the medicine.¡± ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t give them to you.¡± Murong Ranyue turned and said plainly. ¡°Why?¡± Gu Qingyu asked, puzzled. ¡°Just help me!¡± Her sulking tone caused Murong Runyue to flinch. What happened to this young man before him? ¡°Yours truly is afraid to be of no help.¡± Murong Ranyue walked forward to a table and grabbed a batch of herbs. ¡°Why are you so stubborn!¡± Gu Qingyu stomped her feet, she did hear from Jia Qizhe that this Murong Ranyue knew nothing about martial arts, so it would probably be fine if she took it by force? ¡°I¡¯m really sorry!¡± She dashed towards Murong Ranyue. If time could rewind, she would not have dashed forward! Splat. Murong Ranyue turned as she was about to grab him, and threw out the batch of herbs in his hand. Gu Qingyu felt her head getting heavier, then collapsed to the floor. Damn it, it was... a trap... ¡°Gu Qingyu!¡± As she lost consciousness, she felt someone running towards her, someone dressed in blue robes. ¡°Jia...Qizhe...You¡¯re here...Sorry, I couldn¡¯t...get the medicine...I...¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s voice got softer and softer, until it was inaudible. ¡°I¡¯m sorry...¡± Gu Qingyu heard Jia Qizhe¡¯s remorseful voice in the haze. ¡°I¡¯m so so sorry...¡± Why are you sorry? I was the one who messed up... Sorry, Jia Qizhe, I failed you, I couldn¡¯t get the medicine... Finally, everything faded to black. By the time she came to her senses, It was already mid-afternoon. When she opened her eyes, Jia Qizhe stood before her. ¡°You...¡± Gu Qingyu stretched out her hand. ¡°How did you...¡± ¡°Idiot,¡± Jia Qizhe took her hand. ¡°What do you mean how?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Gu Qingyu pulled herself up with Jia Qizhe¡¯s help. ¡°This is?¡± Surrounding her were Xiao Qi, Mo Bai, Qi Yichen and even that Murong Ranyue! ¡°Looks like her condition has improved.¡± Mo Bai chuckled. ¡°This is the tavern, Miss... Um, Brother Zhu, how are you feeling?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been better,¡± Gu Qingyu rubbed her temples, then she suddenly remembered something. ¡°The medicine?¡± Murong Ranyue stepped forward. ¡°I won¡¯t give up the medicine.¡± ¡°Hey, why are you so stubborn!¡± Gu Qingyu jumped up at once. ¡°Oh yeah! Then...why are you here?¡± ¡°Yours truly is here to apologise.¡± Murong Ranyue had an innocent look on his face. ¡°...¡± Gu Qingyu was dumbstruck. ¡°You¡¯re here to apologise? You don¡¯t know martial arts, right? What if we take the herb by force?¡± ¡°Yours truly is confident to leave unscathed.¡± Murong Ranyue kept his cool. ¡°Such arrogance.¡± Gu Qingyu looked at Jia Qizhe, ¡°Jia Qizhe? What happened to you?¡± Jia Qizhe looked stern, ¡°Nothing, he doesn''t have that kind of medicine.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Gu Qingyu suddenly realised. No wonder Murong Ranyue was so confident of leaving unscathed! Because he never had the medicine! Since Jia Qizhe said so, then it must be true. Sigh, why do I still trust Jia Qizhe so much? ¡°The medicine was taken by his elder brother.¡± Jia Qizhe sighed slightly. ¡°That guy is a Duke and was given the title as the Emperor doted on him since young. He¡¯s also most likely to become the next heir to the throne. His name is Murong Zuoyu, the Third Prince.¡± ¡°Huh? Then which prince is Murong Ranyue?¡± Gu Qingyu couldn¡¯t hide her curiosity. ¡°The Fourth Prince.¡± Murong Ranyue said faintly. For some reason, his face seemed even paler than before. ¡°But...why did you give your medicine to your brother?¡± Gu Qingyu asked further. Murong Ranyue thought for a bit. ¡°He knew you were coming.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Gu Qingyu blinked. ¡°That¡¯s to say, he knows mind-reading? Divination? Clairvoyance? How powerful is he?¡± Murong Ranyue shook his head. ¡°Ah? Then how did he find out that we''re here?¡± Gu Qingyu pushed on. ¡°Magic.¡± Murong Ranyue continued faintly. Gu Qingyu was speechless. That¡¯s as good as saying nothing! I was so hopeful and asked so much! Are you not ashamed in giving such a vague answer! ¡°Urgh, kill me.¡± Gu Qingyu hopped off her bed. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Qi Yichen asked in surprise. ¡°To where?¡± ¡°Hehehe!¡± Gu Qingyu laughed eerily. ¡°To find that Murong Zuoyu of course...¡± ¡°You sound so scary!¡± Xiao Qi was scared stiff. No! What happened to the cute and funny Xiao Yu that she knew? ¡°Then yours truly is afraid he couldn¡¯t follow.¡± Murong Ranyue bowed. ¡°Farewell.¡± ¡°Take care!¡± Gu Qingyu greeted him in the same way as those martial artists on TV do. ¡°Let us meet again someday!¡± ¡°No, I hope to never meet you all again.¡± Murong Ranyue walked out. What was that? He really doesn''t want to see me at all? Am I really that scary? ¡°Tch, who cares.¡± Gu Qingyu bit her lip, ¡°Shall we move tonight?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Mo Bai nodded. ¡°Oh yeah, Jia Qizhe, how did you get out last night?¡± Gu Qingyu finally asked. Jia Qizhe tilted his head slightly. ¡°What else? I cast a dispelling charm to get into the room, only to find you out cold on the floor. So I had to knock Murong Ranyue out and carry both of you back.¡± He said it so nonchalantly, as if he was describing the weather. True, it might not concern him. But it concerned Gu Qingyu immensely! ¡°You¡¯re saying that you knocked out Murong Ranyue and carried us both back?¡± Gu Qingyu emphasized on the words ¡®knocked out¡¯ and ¡®carried¡¯. ¡°Yeah,¡± Jia Qizhe crossed his arms before his chest, as if he was looking at a spoiled child. ¡°Even though he¡¯s so weak, you still got hurt. Oh my.¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s face flushed red with anger. ¡°You...¡± ¡°Okay, that¡¯s enough,¡± Mo Bai stopped the quarrel. ¡°Let¡¯s discuss the plan for tonight.¡± The plan was mostly set in place, Gu Qingyu was still grouped with Jia Qizhe to find Murong Zuoyu, while Mo Bai and Qi Yichen took charge of the small fry, Xiao Qi made sure they could escape. There were no changes to the plan, but just a better chance of success... Nightfall, the team got dressed in their usual clothes, except for Qi Yichen and Mo Bai. They needed to attract the enemies¡¯ attention, so they wore white clothes instead. ¡°Pfff!¡± Gu Qingyu, who just drank a sip of tea to calm her nerves, spit out all of her tea when she saw Mo Bai. ¡°...¡± Mo Bai followed her gaze and checked his attire. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Miss Gu?¡± ¡°Nothing...¡± Gu Qingyu shook her head, her eyes flashed with a sinister light. ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s go! Tonight, we will catch Murong Zuoyu! Muahahahaha...¡± ¡°Xiao Yu is so scary!¡± Xiao Qi was quivering at the side. In her heart, Gu Qingyu had turned into a demon, with a pair of horns on her head, a pair of black wings on her back, complete with a trident and a dark red backdrop. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± At Jia Qizhe¡¯s command, everyone wore their masks and sneaked into the night... Whoosh... They could only hear the sound of the wind. If not for the sharp senses of a cat demon, Gu Qingyu could not feel anyone around her... This time, we must not fail! Finally, they were back at the palace, Jia Qizhe ran ahead while Gu Qingyu followed closely behind. She has to admit, Jia Qizhe was so fast she could barely keep up. And actually, their current speed would be considered slow for him. They soon reached a door. For some reason, there were surprisingly few soldiers. Was Mo Bai successful in distracting them? Or, was this a trap? ¡°Be careful, get ready.¡± Jia Qizhe pulled out a dagger and held it tightly in his hand. Gu Qingyu pulled out her own dagger as well. ¡°Yes, you too.¡± Jia Qizhe suddenly kicked the door open, Gu Qingyu waved. ¡°Absolute Zero!¡± Instantly, an ice-blue ring of light emitted from her body. The ring of light grew bigger and bigger until it engulfed the room. The ring froze everything it touched. Chapter 22: Absolute Zero Chapter 22: Absolute Zero Translated by: iris.knight ¡°Hey,¡± Yan Zun laid on a chaise lounge. ¡°Some guy sprinkled some powder on you and you¡¯re out?¡± ¡°I...¡± Gu Qingyu was ashamed. ¡°My powers are not strong enough yet, I¡¯m sorry¡± ¡°Don¡¯t apologise to me,¡± Yan Zun sat up. ¡°You should apologise to that ¡®companion¡¯ of yours. Your weakness would drag him down and leave him to fight alone in such a dangerous palace.¡± ¡°This...¡± Gu Qingyu sighed, then remembered something, her eyes glinted. ¡°That¡¯s right! Aren¡¯t you the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny? The self-proclaimed powerful Yan Zun? Help me please!¡± ¡°How do you want me to help you?¡± Yan Zun lifted his chin, showing his interest. ¡°If it¡¯s too difficult, then I wouldn¡¯t bother.¡± ¡°Teach me a powerful move!¡± Gu Qingyu was extraordinarily excited. ¡°You can teach me a move, then I can use it to beat that guy!¡± Yan Zun shook his head. ¡°But he¡¯s not your only enemy.¡± ¡°Huh? Who else was there?¡± Gu Qingyu widened her eyes. In that room, she did not sense anyone else but the two of them! Yan Zun narrowed his fiery eyes. ¡°They¡¯re very powerful, so you couldn¡¯t sense them. In that case, I will teach you one move. This move would instantly freeze anyone or anything within several metres of you, but it takes a huge toll on your energy, magic and stamina. You must remember that well, don¡¯t disappoint me...¡± Back to the present, Gu Qingyu and Jia Qizhe walked into the room. The floor was covered in a thin layer of ice that creaked and cracked with each step. The noise was jarring, especially to those with sensitive ears like Gu Qingyu... Swoosh. Jia Qizhe lifted the blankets. There wasn¡¯t anyone there. ¡°Dammit.¡± Jia Qizhe put the dagger back in his sleeve and swapped his weapon to the blue sword, ¡°Murong Zuoyu must be nearby.¡± Gu Qingyu put her dagger back too, but she doesn¡¯t have another weapon, so she reluctantly took the dagger out again. ¡°For you.¡± Jia Qizhe nudged Gu Qingyu in the arm with something. ¡°Huh?¡± Gu Qingyu tilted her head and took the item, which was a crossbow sleeve! ¡°Why did you give me this?¡± ¡°It goes well with your cat powers. Use it to protect yourself.¡± Jia Qizhe said as he walked out in a hurry, Gu Qingyu followed hastily. Outside, a row of soldiers rushed over. ¡°Quick! Don¡¯t let them escape!¡± One of them saw Gu Qingyu but Gu Qingyu had her back towards them, so he didn¡¯t see her face. ¡°Your Highness!¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Murong Zuoyu is back?! ¡°Relax.¡± Jia Qizhe whispered softly in her ear. ¡°They mistook you for Murong Zuoyu.¡± Gu Qingyu looked at her purple robes that she didn¡¯t change on Jia Qizhe¡¯s insistence. Was it because this Murong Zuoyu also liked to wear purple robes? Gu Qingyu coughed a couple of times in pretense. ¡°Cough cough! You all fall...¡± ¡°He isn¡¯t the Duke!¡± ¡°Yeah, the Duke doesn¡¯t cough when talking!¡± ¡°They must be the assassins, get them!¡± ¡°Run!¡± Jia Qizhe, without a second word, grabbed Gu Qingyu and leaped to the roof. Gu Qingyu understood immediately and fastened the crossbow on her hand, then shot the front few soldiers. ¡°Good job.¡± Jia Qizhe grinned, a blue light surrounded them, then they reached the tree near the palace. Teleportation? Just as they thought things were over, Someone was standing under the tree! He was dressed in purple robes with wavy black hair. He stood there with his eyes closed while holding a sword in his hand. This must be the real Murong Zuoyu? But how did he know that they will be here? ¡°Ah, it¡¯s you.¡± Murong Zuoyu opened his eyes, his words filled an unspeakable chill and callousness. ¡°Running away after ruining my bedroom? It won¡¯t be so easy.¡± Oh dear! Gu Qingyu exclaimed, ¡°Why are you stopping us? We didn¡¯t offend you, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± Murong Zuoyu gave a cold smile. Gu Qingyu frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t force us or things will get ugly.¡± ¡°Ha.¡± Murong Zuoyu laughed flippantly, ¡°With just the two of you?¡± ¡°You¡¯re really too condescending.¡± Jia Qizhe swung his sword. ¡°Break.¡± A blue slash of air flew towards Murong Zuoyu. Yet, he simply hopped onto a branch, he moved so fast that Gu Qingyu couldn¡¯t keep up! Swoosh. Gu Qingyu shot an arrow while he was distracted, Murong Zuoyu swiftly evaded and caught the arrow with his teeth! The crossbow given to her by Jia Qizhe did pack a punch, he actually dodged it just by tilting his head! And he caught the arrow with his teeth! How powerful is he? ¡°There¡¯s no choice, we can¡¯t beat him!¡± Gu Qingyu spoke to Jia Qizhe in a low voice, ¡°Run!¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Jia Qizhe grabbed Gu Qingyu and flew up, but was blocked by Murong Zuoyu, ¡°Leaving so soon? I¡¯ve not even gotten started with you.¡± ¡°Why are you blocking us?¡± Gu Qingyu couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°It was fine not giving us the herb, now you won¡¯t let us go. Hey, just because you¡¯re a Duke doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m scared of you!¡± ¡°You have the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny,¡± The look Murong Zuoyu gave Gu Qingyu was mixed with coldness and greed. ¡°Hand it over.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at him strangely. ¡°The Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny? You¡¯re after the Lifeblood Jewel as well?¡± Now that I think about it, the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny is quite rare, who wouldn¡¯t want to take it when given the opportunity like this? ¡°Yes, so give me the jewel.¡± Murong Zuoyu replied. The footsteps and voices of the soldiers could be heard in the distance. ¡°They seemed to have gone this way, after them!¡± ¡°Hurry up!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let them escape!¡± Gu Qingyu stomped. ¡°I cannot give you the Lifeblood Jewel, but you can take anything else you want!¡± It would be disastrous if they were caught; not only would she be recognized, but Jia Qizhe, Qi Yichen and the rest would also be implicated. Murong Zuoyu thought a bit and said. ¡°Then I¡¯ll just follow you.¡± ¡°What?¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s kidding with you?¡± Murong Zuoyu tilted his head. ¡°The Lifeblood Jewel is very difficult to steal once it has recognized an owner, in that case I¡¯ll just follow you all. What, do you have any complaints?¡± ¡°Ah, nono, of course, shall we go?¡± Gu Qingyu asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Murong Zuoyu faintly nodded. He actually agreed to this so readily...I was so worried that I wouldn¡¯t escape! With Murong Zuoyu¡¯s lead, they quickly reached outside the palace, where Xiao Qi, Qi Yichen and Mo Bai were waiting for them. Their jaws collectively dropped when they saw Murong Zuoyu. ¡°He is?¡± Mo Bai looked towards Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu explained snarkily, ¡°The legendary Murong Zuoyu!¡± ¡°Murong Zuoyu?¡± Qi Yichen paid no attention to the description. ¡°What¡¯s he doing here?¡± ¡°I want to know too,¡± Gu Qingyu sighed, ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the tavern first.¡± They soon reached the tavern, everything seemed extraordinarily easy because of Murong Zuoyu¡¯s presence. ¡°Let¡¯s talk, what¡¯s going on?¡± Qi Yichen seemed especially curious. ¡°This...¡± Gu Qingyu was about to explain but was interrupted. ¡°I am here to protect the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny. Besides,¡± Murong Zuoyu said, looking at Gu Qingyu. ¡°The jewel¡¯s owner seemed to have agreed already.¡± ¡°Well...¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Murong Zuoyu looked towards Gu Qingyu. ¡°Um...yes.¡± Gu Qingyu felt like crying. ¡°Don¡¯t address me in such a weird way, I have a name, I am...Zhu Fan.¡± ¡°Oh, Zhu Fan.¡± Murong Zuoyu replied faintly. ¡°But...you¡¯re the Duke and you might even be the next Emperor, are you sure you can let go of your responsibilities and go on an adventure with us?¡± Gu Qingyu asked cautiously. Murong Zuoyu nodded. ¡°Or what else?¡± ¡°Alright, hope you have a good time...¡± Gu Qingyu stood up weakly. ¡°I think I¡¯ll go to bed, good night, everyone...¡± ¡°Brother Zhu, are you alright?¡± Mo Bai seemed worried, ¡°Want me to take a look? You seem unwell.¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯m just tired, Xiao Qi, let¡¯s go...¡± Gu Qingyu pulled Xiao Qi and was about to leave, then Murong Zuoyu¡¯s weird voice rang behind them. ¡°You two sleep together?¡± ¡°You. Have. A. Problem?¡± Gu Qingyu emphasized each word and turned back slowly, the creepy look on her face needed no description. Murong Zuoyu went silent. ¡°Xiao...Xiao Fan, let¡¯s go.¡± Xiao Qi looked at Gu Qingyu and shivered, then she dragged Gu Qingyu up the stairs. Gu Qingyu was pulled away by Xiao Qi, at least it was a form of escape... After Gu Qingyu and Xiao Qi left, Jia Qizhe glared at Murong Zuoyu with piercing cold eyes. ¡°What exactly are you after?¡± ¡°Protect the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny and prevent it falling into the hands of evil.¡± Murong Zuoyu replied with the same chill. ¡°Humph, I was born to protect the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny and I still have to observe and decide if that Zhu Fan is an evil person or not.¡± ¡°If he is?¡± Qi Yichen asked. Murong Zuoyu said without a hint of hesitation or fear. ¡°Then I will kill him.¡± ¡°Then I will kill you before you could.¡± Mo Bai gently sipped his tea. That did not sound like something he would say, it surprised Jia Qizhe and Qi Yichen. Mo Bai was so gentle, but now he¡¯s saying such words? ¡°Then you¡¯re welcome to try.¡± Murong Zuoyu left with these cold words. Mo Bai kept sipping his tea. Nobody said anything. Back at Gu Qingyu who went back to her room and laid down in a huff. Seriously! Murong Zuoyu actually followed along! ¡°You seem to be in a bad mood.¡± For some reason, she was back in the spirit world. Yan Zun was still lying on his chaise lounge. ¡°So? Was the move that I taught you not enough? Did the mission fail?¡± ¡°No...¡± Gu Qingyu hung her head. ¡°Murong Zuoyu tagged along. He said he¡¯s going to protect the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny!¡± Chapter 23: Shopping with Jia Qizhe Chapter 23: Shopping with Jia Qizhe Translated by: iris.knight Gu Qingyu yelled in exasperation. ¡°How is that good? You know how much more trouble I¡¯ll be in?¡± ¡°What kind of trouble?¡± Miraculously, Yan Zun was not angry, he was more intrigued instead. ¡°What do I do if he finds out that I¡¯m actually a woman and a cat demon?¡± Gu Qingyu crossed her arms in annoyance. ¡°And he would definitely fight with Jia Qizhe! The key is what to do when they actually fight...¡± Yan Zun tilted his head. ¡°Then, how about I teach you a few more moves?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Gu Qingyu would never pass up the opportunity to learn more moves. ¡°Hurry up!¡± Yan Zun seemed to be in a teasing mood, he sat up. ¡°Come, call me Master first.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Gu Qingyu cringed. ¡°Master?¡± ¡°Yes, my good disciple.¡± Yan Zun nodded in satisfaction. What was that? Did I call him Master? Oh, I think I did...Wait! When did I recognize him as my Master? Argh, fine! For the sake of those moves, I will agree to it for now! Beggars can¡¯t be choosers after all! ¡°Master, ¡° Gu Qingyu said reluctantly. ¡°Please teach me!¡± ¡°Hm.. very good,¡± Yan Zun nodded in satisfaction. ¡°I shall teach you some powerful moves then.¡± Soon, it was morning. ¡°Xiao Yu? Wake up, Xiao Yu!¡± Xiao Qi shook Gu Qingyu awake. ¡°The sun will scorch your butt!¡± ¡°The sun wouldn¡¯t come inside. Don¡¯t try to bluff me, our room is faced away from the sun.¡± Gu Qingyu rolled over and went back to sleep. ¡°Xiao Yu...¡± Xiao Qi was speechless, how did she know that so well? ¡°Please wake up...¡± She suddenly changed her tone, leaned close to Gu Qingyu¡¯s ear and said quietly. ¡°Jia Qizhe and the rest are already having breakfast!¡± ¡°What?!¡± Gu Qingyu jumped up. ¡°Breakfast? Dammit, and they didn¡¯t call for me?¡± Xiao Qi just watched all of this quietly. Gu Qingyu got dressed and kicked open her door without a second word. She ran down the stairs and saw a group of people chatting happily. That got her even angrier. ¡°All of you!¡± ¡°What about us?¡± Qi Yichen looked strangely at her. ¡°Brother Zhu, did you forget your medicine?¡± ¡°Let me give you some.¡± Mo Bai took over the conversation. Jia Qizhe rolled his eyes. ¡°What hysterics in the morning, we¡¯re all waiting for you to eat.¡± Waiting for me to eat? ¡°You guys haven''t started?¡± Gu Qingyu sat down in surprise. Murong Zuoyu gave a rare silent nod. ¡°Ah, since you all want it this way, then I will happily accept your kindness!¡¯ Gu Qingyu took up her chopsticks without hesitation. ¡°Come, come, come, let¡¯s eat.¡± Xiao Qi held her laughter as she slowly walked down the stairs and took her seat. ¡°What did you say to her?¡± Qi Yichen asked curiously. Xiao Qi shook her head helplessly. ¡°You guys were eating already. Usually, nothing would wake her up, but she immediately jumped up when I said that.¡± All four of them were speechless, while Gu Qingyu stuffed more and more food in her mouth. ¡°What? You guys aren¡¯t eating? Aren¡¯t you hungry?¡± ¡°Actually, we¡¯ve eaten.¡± Qi Yichen clearly was holding back a laugh. ¡°What?!¡± Gu Qingyu exclaimed. ¡°That¡¯s so mean!¡± ¡°Haha, we¡¯re just messing with you. Let¡¯s eat!¡± Qi Yichen chuckled. ¡°How could you do this!¡± They soon finished breakfast, Gu Qingyu then said solemnly. ¡°Our journey will not be easy, it is full of danger and treachery. Murong Zuoyu, are you sure you want to follow us?¡± Murong Zuoyu nodded with conviction. Gu Qingyu sighed in defeat. ¡°Oh well, one more mouth to feed...¡± She stopped herself. Feed? Oh my, what was I saying! Do I need to pay for the Duke and possibly, the future Emperor? ¡°Alright, as you wish.¡± Gu Qingyu shrugged nonchalantly. ¡°Just saying, don¡¯t look for us if you find trouble on the road.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± He nodded. Gu Qingyu stood up. ¡°Okay! Then let¡¯s mosey!¡± ¡°Where are we going?¡± Qi Yichen asked curiously. ¡°Xieli Castle.¡± Gu Qingyu seemed very serious. ¡°Yesterday, the Lifeblood Jewel told me to get an herb named ¡®Blood Crystal¡¯ from the Blood Crystal Castle.¡± ¡°Blood Crystal?¡± Mo Bai¡¯s eyes gleamed. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of that herb. It is very strong and thrives in solitary environments. It¡¯s said to grow on the peak of Xieli Castle and it¡¯s guarded by the Lord of the castle¡± ¡°The Lord of Xieli Castle?¡± Gu Qingyu smacked her forehead. ¡°Oh dear, that¡¯s more trouble, and it sounds like it¡¯s gonna be a huge pain in the neck!¡± ¡°Indeed, the Lord of Xieli Castle rarely shows himself in the world of martial arts, he is a mysterious being.¡± But, Murong Zuoyu frowned slightly. ¡°The Blood Crystal Herb is rumoured to be extremely toxic, what does the Lifeblood Jewel want it for?¡± Gu Qingyu honestly shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know, he didn¡¯t say.¡± ¡°He?¡± Jia Qizhe seemed alarmed. ¡°Who is this ¡®he¡¯? ¡± ¡°Um...¡± Whoops! I slipped up! Gu Qingyu laughed it off. ¡°He is...my heart.¡± Gu Qingyu said earnestly. ¡°This is the conclusion that my heart and the Lifeblood Jewel reached!¡± Jia Qizhe eyed her with skepticism. Gu Qingyu turned her gaze to the floor. ¡° Please don¡¯t look at me like that.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s just go with what you¡¯re saying.¡± Jia Qizhe cleaned his sword. ¡°We need to head to the marketplace first and prepare. I will split you all up, every group has their own shopping list.¡± He paused. ¡°We¡¯ll decide the grouping by drawing lots.¡± He waved his hand in the air and several blue straws floated in the air. Then, all of them turned towards Gu Qingyu. ¡°Um...I¡¯ll draw first?¡± Gu Qingyu stepped forward, knowing full well, and drew the leftmost straw. The most risky one tends to be the safest one. When the straw touched her hand, it turned into a picture. The rest then drew their straws one after another. ¡°Who¡¯s with me?¡± Gu Qingyu looked left and right eagerly, trying to catch the slightest glimpse of everyone else¡¯s straws. Frankly, if she had a choice, she would group with Mo Bai or Xiao Qi, as they treat her best. Jia Qizhe looked at the others, then turned towards Gu Qingyu with a blank expression. ¡°Me.¡± ¡°I...¡± Gu Qingyu felt like crying. ¡°Can we not...¡± ¡°No.¡± Jia Qizhe declined cleanly. Zero Hesitation!...I think my heart just broke... Gu Qingyu nodded stiffly, then she looked at Xiao Qi with glassy eyes. ¡°I seem to be grouped with Mister Qi.¡± Xiao Qi looked at Gu Qingyu and blinked a few times, meaning she got it worse. Gu Qingyu instantly felt happier. That also means Mo Bai and Murong Zuoyu were grouped together. That was pretty safe too. ¡°Then what are we buying?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at Jia Qizhe. ¡°Hurry up and distribute the shopping lists.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Jia Qizhe seemed expressionless, ¡°Mo Bai¡¯s group, you will buy the bags, our current bags are getting old, we¡¯ll need to replace them. Also, Mo Bai, get some useful herbs.¡± Mo Bai nodded. Jia Qizhe continued. ¡°Xiao Qi, you and Qi Yichen will get the food.¡± ¡°Food?¡± Gu Qingyu immediately protested. ¡°Why did you get Qi Yichen to buy that? Can¡¯t I go?¡± ¡°No,¡± Jia Qizhe¡¯s face said ¡®No objections¡¯. ¡°We¡¯re getting some supplies.¡± ¡°Then can we swap?¡± Gu Qingyu looked hopeful. ¡°No.¡± ¡°...¡± Gu Qingyu quietly walked to Qi Yichen¡¯s side. ¡°Qi Yichen.¡± ¡°Huh? What does Brother Zhu need?¡± Qi Yichen was still interested in what Gu Qingyu had to say, even though he could predict it. ¡°Qi Yi...Ah no, Brother Qi!¡± Gu Qingyu said with sickening sweetness. ¡°Can you help to bring some more food? Anything would do! Just some roasted chestnuts and candied apples...¡± She rambled on, listing more and more things. Finally, Qi Yichen seemed to have heard everything and nodded. ¡°Sure, don¡¯t worry, Brother Zhu!¡± Gu Qingyu instantly relaxed after hearing his words. Why did she not ask Xiao Qi instead? Because Qi Yichen was probably more reliable than Xiao Qi. She¡¯s more careless and could forget her requests. ¡°Then, let¡¯s go.¡± Mo Bai stood up and waved his sleeve. He was still dressed in white robes, with his black hair fanning out, he seemed especially handsome and gentle. Sometimes, Gu Qingyu felt Mo Bai was more suited to be a scholar. ¡°Ok.¡± Jia Qizhe nodded, sheathed his sword and walked out. ¡°Everyone, see you all in the afternoon.¡± Qi Yichen waved. ¡°Yeap!¡± Gu Qingyu looked at Mo Bai. ¡°Ciao!¡± ¡°Ciao?¡± Mo Bai¡¯s eyes seemed to question something. ¡°Um...this is how we say ¡®Goodbye¡¯ back home!¡± Gu Qingyu was stunned for a moment, then explained with a smile. ¡°Oh,¡± Mo Bai smiled back. ¡°Ciao.¡± ¡°Wow, you learn fast!¡± Gu Qingyu turned back. ¡°Huh? Where did this Jia Qizhe go again? Hey! Wait for me!¡± They strolled through the streets. Sounds of peddlers and bargaining filled the air. ¡°Jia Qizhe, Jia Qizhe, I want to buy that!¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s eyes gleamed at a bracelet. ¡°Can I buy it, please?¡± ¡°Why would you need that?¡± Jia Qizhe crossed his arms in a relaxed stance. ¡°Brother. Zhu.¡± ¡°Hey, you¡¯ve ruined such a nice name.¡± Gu Qingyu pursed her lips. ¡°I¡¯m still really a girl, ok?¡± Jia Qizhe seemed unconcerned. ¡°But you¡¯re a guy now.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Gu Qingyu watched the bracelet longingly as they walked further and further away from the stall. ¡°No, don¡¯t go!¡± ¡°How strange.¡± Jia Qizhe sighed. ¡°Why do you girls like these things?¡± ¡°It attracts attention! It looks good!¡± Gu Qingyu said as a matter-of-fact. Jia Qizhe looked even weirder. ¡°It is easy to attract attention. Just roll in the mud for a bit, everyone would be staring at you. After that, it is even easier to look good, you just wash the mud off your face.¡± ¡°...¡± Gu Qingyu looked sad. Why do I know this guy! ¡°Whatever, I don¡¯t know anyone like you, goodbye!¡± As she was about to leave, Gu Qingyu saw Jia Qizhe pick up something. ¡°Hey, shopkeeper. How much is this?¡± Chapter 24: A Gift Chapter 24: A Gift Translated by: iris.knight It was a water bag. ¡°Eighty coins.¡± An old lady replied. Jia Qizhe frowned. ¡°So expensive?¡± ¡°Young mister, I can tell from one look that you don¡¯t come here often!¡± The shopkeeper nagged. ¡°Let me tell you, my goods are the best and cheapest in this entire street!¡± ¡°Best?¡± Gu Qingyu picked out a random water bag. ¡°This is the best? Seriously, look at this water bag. Just one touch and you can tell what flimsy material it¡¯s made from! Look at it!¡± She brought the water bag closer to the shopkeeper. ¡°Take a good look! This can be sold for eighty coins?¡± She tossed the water bag back to the shopkeeper and grabbed Jia Qizhe. ¡°We would rather pay more and get better quality bags! Brother Jia, let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Sigh, you...¡± The shopkeeper seemed slightly less confident. ¡°How could you...¡± Gu Qingyu pulled Jia Qizhe along and walked away. ¡°Let¡¯s go tell other people not to buy from here. Gogogo...¡± The shopkeeper gritted her teeth. ¡°Hold it! Fifty coins!¡± ¡°Thirty coins.¡± Gu Qingyu took a step back. Jia Qizhe remained expressionless. ¡°Twenty coins.¡± Oh my! He drives a hard bargain! The shopkeeper glared. ¡°You...Oh well, twenty coins it is, just count it as my loss. Don¡¯t come here again!¡± ¡°Ok!¡± Gu Qingyu laughed internally. Yes! We won¡¯t be coming back to the city anyway! ¡°Thank you!¡± Jia Qizhe looked at Gu Qingyu, he was impressed, which made Gu Qingyu even more pleased. They continued their shopping spree. bargaining and haggling along the way. Before long, they¡¯ve cleared the list, most of the things were held by Jia Qizhe. Pretty much all of these were purchased by Gu Qingyu at a ridiculously low price, so they had some money left over. Jia Qizhe¡¯s lips curled into a smile. ¡°I never could tell, you¡¯re quite useful when out shopping.¡± ¡°Of course, do I need to remind you who I am?¡± Gu Qingyu just wanted to return back to the tavern. ¡°Come on, hurry up!¡± ¡°Why the rush?¡± Jia Qizhe seemed curious for the first time. Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. ¡°Silly, I got Qi Yichen to buy me food. What if it''s meat buns or roasted chestnuts? They will be cold by the time we get back.¡± Jia Qizhe, who was walking in front, stopped in his tracks. Gu Qingyu failed to react in time and slammed into him. ¡°Ow!¡± She rubbed her head. ¡°What are you doing?¡± He whipped around and stared into Gu Qingyu''s eyes. ¡°W-What?¡± For some reason, Gu Qingyu felt guilty, an indescribable sense of guilt. Jia Qizhe said very seriously. ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Gu Qingyu tilted her head, surprised. ¡°What? Are you crazy?¡± ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± Jia Qizhe repeated. ¡°Let¡¯s have some meat buns.¡± Gu Qingyu looked at him in disbelief. ¡°Really?¡± Jia Qizhe nodded and walked to a bun stall. ¡°Shopkeeper, five meat buns please.¡± Five? Jia Qizhe took the meat buns and passed the whole bag to Gu Qingyu. ¡°Take it.¡± Oh! Jia Qizhe was not hungry, he only said that to buy these for me! Aw... since he was so sweet, I should just forgive him! Although, he did not seem to have done anything that warrants forgiveness. Gu Qingyu nodded as she took the bag from Jia Qizhe¡¯s hands. Then she took out two buns, then passed one to Jia Qizhe, ¡°Here.¡± Jia Qizhe looked at her, puzzled. His hand remained at his side. ¡°Hey, weren¡¯t you hungry?¡± Gu Qingyu looked and smiled at him. ¡°Just eat one.¡± Jia Qizhe bought these for her, it¡¯s only polite that she shares it with him. Jia Qizhe took the meat bun. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You''re welcomed!¡± Gu Qingyu looked at the steaming meat bun, then took a huge bite. Jia Qizhe suddenly walked to Gu Qingyu¡¯s side, then started rummaging through his bag, all while holding the meat bun with his teeth. Gu Qingyu stared at him in puzzlement. But...Jia Qizhe looked quite cute like this, his cheeks were swollen with the meat bun in his mouth. After a while, he pulled out something. ¡°This is...¡± Gu Qingyu stared at the item. It was a beautiful pastel blue ribbon. Jia Qizhe circled behind Gu Qingyu, and started to do something to Gu Qingyu¡¯s hair. Gu Qingyu wanted to fidget but she willed herself to stay still, worried that she would mess up her ¡®handsome¡¯ hair. She asked. ¡°Hey, Jia Qizhe, what are you doing?¡± Jia Qizhe finally stopped after a while. He walked back in front of Gu Qingyu, as if admiring a work of art. Gu Qingyu pulled out a mirror, which they¡¯ve bought at a fraction of the price, from her bag and checked her reflection. The blue ribbon wrapped around a portion of her hair, holding it neatly with a pretty butterfly bow. Gu Qingyu eyed Jia Qizhe suspiciously. ¡°For me?¡± ¡°Yeah, well...¡± Jia Qizhe said hesitantly. ¡°I wanted to get the yellow earrings or that bracelet from earlier. But, well, your current look doesn¡¯t really go well with those. S-So I bought this ribbon for you...Take it as your reward for today.¡± He rambled. ¡°Pff!¡± Gu Qingyu burst out laughing. ¡°Right, sure, thank you..¡± Now that I mention it, this is the first time I see Jia Qizhe like this... ¡°...¡± Jia Qizhe smiled too and walked forward. The evening light stretched out their shadows, the silhouette of the pair trailed behind them as they walked back to the tavern. ¡°Hey, Jia Qizhe! Don¡¯t walk so fast, wait for me!¡± They soon reached the tavern. Gu Qingyu walked in and saw the others have taken their seat at the table, with a scrumptious meal. ¡°Huh?¡¯ Gu Qingyu was surprised. ¡°You¡¯ve already ordered?!¡± ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re just waiting for you.¡± Murong Zuoyu kept being cool. ¡°Huh?¡± Gu Qingyu sat down. ¡°How were you guys so fast?¡± ¡°Because our missions were easier.¡± Qi Yichen smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s eat!¡± Gu Qingyu scratched her head. ¡°I...¡± Burp! ¡°Brother Zhu, what happened to you?¡± Mo Bai looked especially worried. ¡°Anything wrong? Why did you just burp?¡± ¡°I...¡± Gu Qingyu stroked her head. What could she say? Tell them that she just ate four meat buns so she could not eat anymore? ¡°Haha, I could be... a bit sick! Yeap, I feel really queasy! I''m just gonna go up and rest for a bit!¡± Even she could not believe her own lie. ¡°Then...do you still want dinner?¡± Mo Bai looked at her worriedly. ¡°How about just eating a bit first?¡± Gu Qingyu shook her head vehemently. ¡°Nono, thank you, Mo Bai!¡± After those words, she fled up the stairs. For some reason, lying to Mo Bai left her with so much guilt...As if her heart could not take the sheer burden of it. Looking at Mo Bai¡¯s gentle smile, deceiving him is like a sin to herself too. Gu Qingyu laid on her bed, resting her arm under her head as she stared at the ceiling. Suddenly, the door was gently pushed open, Gu Qingyu followed the slight creak of the door, it was Mo Bai. ¡°Mo Bai?¡± Gu Qingyu sat up, surprised, ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Mo Bai gently smiled, ¡°You didn¡¯t reply when I knocked, so I got worried and barged on my own.¡± ¡°Ah, it¡¯s okay.¡± Gu Qingyu looked at Mo Bai, ¡°What is it?¡± Mo Bai took out a pouch of herbs from his sleeve. ¡°Miss Gu, these are herbs that aid in digestion, you can eat these directly... Also, whatever Miss Gu ate before might not be enough, so I brought up some food as well.¡± He placed the pouch on the table, along with a small bowl of rice and some other dishes. Ah...Actually, Mo Bai already saw through her white lie...When nobody was around, he went back to address her as ¡®Miss Gu¡¯. ¡°Thank you.¡± Gu Qingyu knew she couldn¡¯t deceive Mo Bai. She walked up to the table, ¡°Mo Bai, you¡¯re the only one that knows me so well.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Mo Bai bowed. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go first, okay?¡± ¡°Ok!¡± Gu Qingyu nodded. ¡°Ciao!¡± ¡°Ciao!¡± Mo Bai smiled and kindly closed the door. ¡°Hehe!¡± Gu Qingyu sat down and picked up her chopsticks excitedly. She was truly a huge foodie. Someone knocked. ¡°Come in!¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s mouth was stuffed with food. ¡°Yum, so good!¡± It was Murong Zuoyu, he looked at Gu Qingyu. ¡°You¡¯re...eating while being full?¡± ¡°I guess.¡± Gu Qingyu ignored him and kept eating. Murong Zuoyu said nothing and just stared at her. His intense gaze caused Gu Qingyu to break into a cold sweat. ¡°Um... Why don¡¯t you join me?¡± ¡°Ha.¡± Murong Zuoyu actually laughed. ¡°I am not a pig.¡± He is implying that I¡¯m a pig? What the hell! To actually call a girl a pig, right in front of her! Wait, Murong Zuoyu doesn¡¯t seem to know she is a girl... ¡°Fine, fine¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes in annoyance. Ignore him, just keep eating. Murong Zuoyu continued to stare at Gu Qingyu as he leaned against the wall, without a word. Gu Qingyu gave him a suspicious look, then went back to her food and paid no attention to him. But Gu Qingyu quickly found she could not eat anymore. Really, her appetite was very different after eating four meat buns. She raised her head, then found Murong Zuoyu was still staring at her, with an elusive smile. ¡°What are you up to?¡± Gu Qingyu suddenly had a bad feeling. He got closer to Gu Qingyu...Gu Qingyu only felt a powerful aura. It spun around her, suppressed her powers and kept her immobile. Murong Zuoyu looked at her, seemed to be admiring her changing expression. After a while, he said quietly, ¡°You have something at the corner of your mouth.¡± Damn! Turns out he was just messing with me! Gu Qingyu turned away in a huff. But she could not deny it, Murong Zuoyu was really powerful. ¡°Are you scared of me?¡± Murong Zuoyu narrowed his fiery eyes. Gu Qingyu raised her eyebrows and acknowledged it. ¡°Yeah, quite.¡± She didn¡¯t wait for Murong Zuoyu to reply and carried on. ¡°Hey, can you not talk in that tone? Normal people would freak out with that tone!¡± ¡°What is that to me?¡± Murong Zuoyu was successfully led off-topic. ¡°I usually visit places outside the palace in casual clothes, quite a few people recognised me.¡± Gu Qingyu fired back. ¡°Recognise you? The cold and callous Duke?¡± Murong Zuoyu frowned, spoke coldly. ¡°You...¡± Surprisingly, he went quiet in an instant. ¡°What are you guys talking about?¡± Qi Yichen appeared at the doorway. Chapter 25: Anomalies Chapter 25: Anomalies Translated by: iris.knight ¡°Nothing much.¡± Murong Zuoyu lowered his eyes and left the room. Qi Yichen looked at Murong Zuoyu curiously, then walked into the room. ¡°Are you cold, Brother Zhu?¡± Gu Qingyu was stunned for a moment, shook her head. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qi Yichen said creepily, ¡°When that Duke walked past me just now, I felt a gust of cold air. Then it got even colder when I walked into the room...¡± Gu Qingyu then realised what was going on and replied with a smile. ¡°Oh, is that so, I don¡¯t feel it...¡± She continued. ¡°Oh yeah, what brings you here?¡± Qi Yichen then looked at the leftovers on the table. ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t have much to eat, so I bought you a few buns...¡± He slowly raised the goods in his hands. ¡°Ah, thank you!¡± Gu Qingyu took them without a second thought. ¡°I don¡¯t mind having more!¡± ¡°Were you a pig in your past life?¡± Qi Yichen blurted. Gu Qingyu started eating again, slowly and methodically. ¡°Huh? You think so too?¡± ¡°Too?¡± Qi Yichen lifted his chin with one hand as if he was in thought. ¡°Who would be so smart, except me?¡± Smart? Alright, Gu Qingyu had to admit that. In the current party, using modern lingo, Jia Qizhe would be the warrior that protects the team, Qi Yichen would be the strategist, Mo Bai was the designated doctor, Xiao Qi was the quartermaster, Murong Zuoyu has his royal authority and could easily smooth certain things over. As for herself...She handled the odd-jobs and weird requests. But before anyone decided on what to do, they would ask for her opinion. Gu Qingyu thought with glee. Then I guess I¡¯m the leader then! ¡°Who else?¡± Gu Qingyu repeated. ¡°Of course it was that Murong Zuoyu!¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Qi Yichen seemed unconcerned. ¡°Looks like the medicine is a dead end, where shall we go next?¡± Gu Qingyu looked excited. ¡°Since we don¡¯t have anything to do, it would be nice to walk around and do a bit of sightseeing.¡± ¡°Looks like you hit the jackpot.¡± Qi Yichen rolled his eyes. ¡°The day after tomorrow is the Lantern Festival, sightseeing isn¡¯t exactly a bad thing for you.¡± For me? Oh well, I am getting used to all these hidden meanings. Nightfall. Gu Qingyu looked around the empty room, then she pushed open the door and walked outside. She was too full during lunch, so she did not eat much during dinner, and now she was feeling hungry again. Where should I go? Just as Gu Qingyu held that thought, she saw the blue curtains in the distance and decided. Gu Qingyu knocked. ¡°Jia Qizhe...Jia Qizhe, are you there? Jia Qizhe...Jia...¡± The door opened softly, Jia Qizhe¡¯s voice could be heard inside the room. ¡°What is it?¡± The curtains were pulled up and his voice was lower than usual. Gu Qingyu cautiously walked inside the dark room. ¡°Jia Qizhe?¡± Gu Qingyu saw someone lying on the bed, but she couldn¡¯t see them clearly, it was too dark. ¡°You...What happened?¡± If he¡¯s lying here, how did the door open just now? Did Jia Qizhe open it with his powers? Whatever, I can worry about this later. ¡°I¡¯m alright...¡± The man spoke hoarsely. ¡°You need me for something?¡± Gu Qingyu looked tentatively at the bed. ¡°I...I want to take a walk with you.¡± ¡°You...¡± The person in the bed sighed. ¡°Look for... Mo Bai instead.¡± ¡°Mo Bai?¡± Gu Qingyu approached the bed. ¡°Jia Qizhe, are you ok? You seem a little...¡± He seemed a little strange. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± The man sat up. ¡°I¡¯m good, just a little tired.¡± Gu Qingyu looked at him but she couldn''t make out his face in the darkness. Gu Qingyu nodded. ¡°Ok, I... I believe you.¡± She said, then slowly backed out and closed the door. If that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s look for others. Mo Bai? Qi Yichen? Xiao Qi? Or even...Murong Zuoyu? Mo Bai then, since Mo Bai is gentle and kind, it would be more enjoyable hanging out with him. With those thoughts, Gu Qingyu came in front of Mo Bai¡¯s door. She reached towards the door, then her hand stopped in mid-air. Hehe. A mischievous thought crossed Gu Qingyu¡¯s mind. How about pulling a prank on Mo Bai? She took out the black mask she bought in the market this morning, put it on, and gently opened the door. The room was lit, but there was no one in the room. She tip-toed into the room and closed the door. The room had a fresh scent of herbs. That was weird, Mo Bai did not seem to be in the room at all. Suddenly, Gu Qingyu felt a powerful aura enveloping herself. She whipped back. A sharp, icy blade rested against her neck. ¡°Who''s there?!¡± It was Mo Bai, his face was eerily cold. She surrendered immediately and took off the mask. ¡°It¡¯s me, Mo Bai!¡± Mo Bai was stunned for a moment when he saw Gu Qingyu''s face. Then he released her and smiled apologetically. ¡°Sorry, Miss Gu.¡± His eyes were so cold and harsh a moment ago, it was a strong contrast against the kindness he displayed. Now, he gazed at her with soft, warm eyes, as he gently rubbed his fingertips against Gu Qingyu¡¯s neck. ¡°Were you hurt? How do you feel?¡± Only then did Gu Qingyu realised that Mo Bai had held a leaf against her neck. So powerful! His aura was so intense and murderous! But, after knowing it was Gu Qingyu under the mask, that murderous intent dissipated immediately. Gu Qingyu shook her head and returned his smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Actually... Why didn''t I see you just now?¡± ¡°I was changing.¡± Mo Bai smiled and lowered his hands. ¡°It¡¯s late. Does Miss Gu still have anything to do?¡± ¡°Late?¡± Gu Qingyu then realized Mo Bai was wearing white pyjamas. She looked up at the sky, it would be only about seven o''clock in modern definitions. ¡°It''s not that late. Can you go on a walk with me? Also, stop calling me Miss Gu...¡± ¡°Sorry, I must have overstepped-¡± Mo Bai spoke, but he was cut short by Gu Qingyu. ¡°No, that isn¡¯t what I mean.¡± Gu Qingyu smiled at him. ¡°Mo Bai, you¡¯re very sweet and kind. From now on, when there¡¯s nobody else around, call me Yu¡¯er.¡± ¡°Yu...¡± Mo Bai seemed to blush a little. ¡°Yu¡¯er...¡± Gu Qingyu looked at him. ¡°Hurry up and get changed... Oh, I forgot to ask you properly, do you want to go on a walk with me?¡± Mo Bai nodded and smiled gently. ¡°Yes.¡± Gu Qingyu looked at him. ¡°Then, get changed.¡± ¡°...¡± Mo Bai stiffened. ¡°Miss...Um, Yu¡¯er, can you go outside and wait?¡± ¡°Eh, are you chasing me out?¡± Gu Qingyu frowned. ¡°It¡¯s ok, I¡¯ll just wait here.¡± Mo Bai smiled gently. ¡°Alright then.¡± He picked up his white robes and walked behind the screens. He quickly changed, then walked back out. Wavy black hair, dressed in pure white, gentle as water, as if an angel had descended from heaven. Like the purest jade, there is none like him. That line crossed Gu Qingyu¡¯s mind as she looked at Mo Bai. Mo Bai glanced at Gu Qingyu and was taken aback, then he pulled out a white handkerchief and held it out for Gu Qingyu. ¡°...?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at him in confusion. Mo Bai smiled. ¡°Yu¡¯er, you have a nosebleed.¡± Gu Qingyu flushed red, she took the handkerchief and covered her nose as she turned away. Oh no! Oh no! Oh no...Oh dear, I actually let Mo Bai see me having a nosebleed! Mo Bai asked. concerned. ¡°Yu¡¯er, are you alright? Shall I take a look?¡± ¡°Ah! Nono!¡± Gu Qingyu wiped off the blood in a hurry. ¡°Haha, I probably got a bit heaty these few days. Yes, heaty! Well, let¡¯s go soon, Mo Bai. It would be bad if it gets any darker.¡± Without waiting for Mo Bai¡¯s reply, she dragged him by the arm and left the tavern. Back on the streets, which were still bustling at night, Gu Qingyu looked around and found a sign with three big words on it. ¡®Man Chun Yuan¡¯, which meant the Court of Bountiful Beauty. ¡°That¡¯s the place!¡± Gu Qingyu seemed excited. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside, Mo Bai!¡± Mo Bai was hesitant. ¡°Yu¡¯er... Are you sure about this? You are a girl after all.¡± ¡°Ah, don¡¯t be shy!¡± Gu Qingyu covered her face as if she was embarrassed. ¡°Though I know they could never match my beauty, it¡¯s okay to take a look!¡± I have the rare chance to come back to ancient times, how can I say that I¡¯ve traveled back in time if I never visited a brothel in this era? It''s like the place to visit in all of the period dramas! Mo Bai smiled. ¡°Okay.¡± He patted Gu Qingyu¡¯s head. ¡°If Yu¡¯er wants to go, then let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Gu Qingyu held onto Mo Bai as they walked in. As soon as they entered, a lady came up to greet them. ¡°Young masters, how¡¯re you doing!¡± Gu Qingyu glanced at the woman, then she pulled out a fan from nowhere and teased the lady. ¡°Beautiful, bring out your best meat and wine for this young...master!¡± The woman smiled sweetly as she leaned towards Mo Bai, resting her hand on his chest. ¡°This mister, you¡¯re so quiet. Are you not satisfied with me?¡± She just... she actually ignored me! Mo Bai¡¯s eyes remained on Gu Qingyu, they were gentle but lost and helpless. There was even disgust directly at that woman. He only followed me because he¡¯s scared that I would get mad. And he worries about embarrassing himself, that¡¯s why he didn¡¯t shake off that woman. Gu Qingyu regretted her decision. Gu Qingyu walked forward and shoved the woman aside. Then she hooked her arm around Mo Bai¡¯s arm, and said. ¡°Young lady, could you serve us something to eat?¡± The woman flushed in embarrassment, she saw how Gu Qingyu clung to Mo Bai. ¡°You¡¯re...¡± ¡°Is it strange?¡± Gu Qingyu raised her eyebrows. ¡°Sorry, young lady, my brother here isn¡¯t very interested in women. Sorry to disappoint.¡± ¡°Ah...no no no,¡± The woman took a few steps back in horror. ¡°Then Liu¡¯er will go first, young masters, do make yourselves comfortable...Ah!¡± Gu Qingyu pinned her to the wall before she could finish. Gu Qingyu looked her in the eye as she spat out her order. ¡°Bring. Us. The. Wine. Now.¡± She bobbed her head in horror before she ran off. Gu Qingyu turned back and was greeted by Mo Bai¡¯s smiling eyes. ¡°Mo, Mo Bai...¡± Gu Qingyu gave him a wide grin. ¡°Are you ok?¡± Mo Bai flinched, then shook his head. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sorry that you had to flare up like that, Yu¡¯er.¡± Actually, despite her excitement, Gu Qingyu did not like this promiscuous place either. But Yan Zun told her last night that there was another way to conceal the Lifeblood Jewel. This time, it was not something, but someone. Chapter 26: Little Apple Chapter 26: Little Apple Translated by: iris.knight It was still somewhat exciting for Gu Qingyu, she could check out a brothel! Sadly, the place did not leave a good impression. For some reason, she would feel an indescribable rage at the sight of that woman flirting with Mo Bai. Gu Qingyu explained to Mo Bai, ¡°Truth be told, Mo Bai, the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny told me that there¡¯s someone here that would be of great help to us.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Mo Bai seemed curious. ¡°Then let us search for him.¡± Using the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny, they came in front of a room. They did not meet anyone else along the way. Then, someone suddenly appeared out of nowhere. ¡°You two cannot enter the room here.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Gu Qingyu frowned. ¡°And who are you?¡± The man was dressed in black, with a cold, off-putting demeanor. ¡°No comment.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be like this, Mister!¡± Gu Qingyu knew this man would be troublesome, and switched to a little bootlicking. ¡°You see nothing will happen if we go in, right? Anyway, you know...the person inside?¡± ¡°I serve him, he is my master.¡± The black-clothed man seemed unperturbed. Gu Qingyu widened her eyes. ¡°Master?!¡± The man inside really was not simple! Mo Bai stood behind Gu Qingyu, he gave the black-robed man a cold look. At that moment, Mo Bai¡¯s obsidian irises slowly turned white, and light flashed from his eyes. He looked sinister and horrifying. This all happened unbeknownst to Gu Qingyu, as she stood in front of Mo Bai. The black-clothed man widened his eyes, then slowly collapsed. Gu Qingyu gave a skeptical look towards the man, then turned around. ¡°Mo Bai, what happened to him?¡± Mo Bai¡¯s eyes had already turned back to its normal colour and he gave Gu Qingyu a soft look. He shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t know. But Yu¡¯er, isn¡¯t this good? Let¡¯s go in.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right...¡± Gu Qingyu gently rapped on the door. ¡°Anyone?¡± Mo Bai looked at Gu Qingyu, frowned and said nothing. No one saw the black light that twisted around his hand and formed a razor-sharp dagger. Suddenly, music rang out from the room, followed by a man¡¯s voice. ¡°If you two can guess what song this is, then you may come in.¡± Gu Qingyu lowered her hands and decided to guess the song. After all...I could not go in uninvited. But...I don¡¯t know any ancient songs! ¡°Mo Bai, do you...¡± Gu Qingyu stopped mid-sentence. Wait, this rhythm, this tune... Gu Qingyu then shouted. ¡°Little Apple!¡± Poof. The music stopped, and hearty laughter followed. ¡°Hahaha!¡± A humanoid shadow jumped out and wrapped Gu Qingyu in a bear hug. ¡°Bro! I finally found you!¡± Huh? What in the world is going on? ¡°Dude, who are you?¡± Gu Qingyu looked strangely at the man clinging to herself. Mo Bai frowned and waved his hand suddenly. ¡°Wah!¡± The man was sent flying from a shockwave. Gu Qingyu looked at the man lying on the floor, confused. ¡°What happened?¡± Mo Bai walked over and stretched out a hand for him. The man took Mo Bai¡¯s hand and got up. ¡°Thanks!¡± Mo Bai then coolly withdrew his hand. ¡°Aaah!¡± The man let loose a screeching howl, his hand began to swell, it resembled a pig¡¯s trotter. Gu Qingyu tried to hold her giggles. ¡°Mo Bai, what did you do to him?¡± Mo Bai smiled cryptically and remained quiet. Actually, he was not just a master of medicine but a master of poison too... Gu Qingyu looked at the man. ¡°Okay, Mo Bai, don¡¯t be difficult with him!¡± She walked over. ¡°Why do you know that song?¡± ¡°Bro.¡± The man seemed insulted. ¡°I¡¯m here to make your wish true!¡± ¡°Wish?¡± Gu Qingyu blinked twice. ¡°What wish?¡± ¡°Meet a tall, rich and handsome man, become powerful, rich and gorgeous and achieve the pinnacle of life!¡± The man did a strange pose. Gu Qingyu¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°So you travelled here too?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± The man snapped his fingers, ¡°Someone told me that good things will happen if I follow you! Okay, it''s actually a chance to go back. So.¡± He clasped his hands together. ¡°Big bro, please take me with you!¡± ¡°Yikes!¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. ¡°Alright, handsome. What¡¯s your name anyway?¡± ¡°Hello, my name is Qi Wan.¡± The man stretched his hand out. ¡°Qi Wan?¡± Gu Qingyu held his hand. ¡°Calling yourself Seventy Thousand, just how badly do you want money? Hahaha...¡± Mo Bai frowned slightly as he looked at Gu Qingyu. Sensing something was off with Mo Bai, Gu Qingyu turned behind. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mo Bai?¡± Mo Bai tugged on Gu Qingyu softly. ¡°Yu¡¯er, who is he?¡± The gentleness in his words was gone, replaced by a hint of jealousy. ¡°He is... a friend!¡± Gu Qingyu felt Mo Bai¡¯s change. ¡°Mo Bai, what happened to you? Today, you don¡¯t seem well...¡± ¡°Yu¡¯er?¡± Qi Wan¡¯s jaw literally was dropping. ¡°Big bro, what...is your name?¡± Gu Qingyu scanned her surroundings and looked at Qi Wan. Qi Wan took the message and pulled Gu Qingyu into the room. ¡°What should we do with him...¡± Gu Qingyu looked at the black-clothed man on the floor. Qi Wan shook his head. ¡°He¡¯ll make it.¡± ¡°Um...Mo Bai, can you wait outside for a bit?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at Mo Bat with a tentative look. Mo Bai seemed reluctant, but he still bobbed his head in affirmation, albeit a little disgruntled. Who could have thought? Even Mo Bai has a childish side like this. The gentle prince Mo Bai instantly turned into a disgruntled child! Closing the door, Gu Qingyu immediately cut to the chase. ¡°Hello, I am Gu Qingyu, third daughter of the Gu residence, but I ran away from home.¡± ¡°Third daughter of the Gu residence?¡± Qi Wan repeated and checked Gu Qingyu out, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t have guessed that you¡¯re a beautiful girl.¡± Gu Qingyu concurred. ¡°But for now, to stay hidden, I¡¯ve temporarily changed my name to Zhu Fan.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, Brother Zhu.¡± Qi Wan covered his mouth as he giggled. He wore dark green robes, embroidered with mysterious patterns. He looked flamboyant and dashing. Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. ¡°So you¡¯re going to follow me from now on?¡± ¡°Yeap.¡± Qi Wan seemed incredibly sincere. ¡°Take me in, I will go wherever you go!¡± Gu Qingyu nodded. ¡°Ok, sure.¡± More friends, more fun along the way. ¡°But...¡± Before Qi Wan could cheer, Gu Qingyu changed the subject. ¡°You¡¯re the owner here?¡± Qi Wan seemed innocently unaware. ¡°Yes, what of it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like it here,¡± Gu Qingyu was straight to her point. ¡°The women here know no shame...¡± Qi Wan could feel imaginary tears in his eyes. ¡°Where do you think you are, lady? This is a brothel! I...¡± ¡°Not gonna do anything about it? Goodbye then.¡± Gu Qingyu rose without hesitation as if she was leaving. Qi Wan immediately quickly grabbed onto Gu Qingyu. ¡°Please don¡¯t...don¡¯t, I can change! I¡¯ll change it!¡± ¡°That¡¯s better.¡± Gu Qingyu raised her eyebrows. ¡°I¡¯ll go first, meet me at the tavern around the corner the next morning!¡± ¡°Yes, see you, Brother Zhu!¡± Qi Wan immediately stood up and bowed with exaggeration. Gu Qingyu waved like the leader that she was. ¡°See you!~¡± ¡°See you!¡± Qi Wan smiled. Without a doubt, Qi Wan was very handsome, albeit quirky. Gu Qingyu held onto Mo Bai as they walked out of the brothel and found Mo Bai had been quiet the whole time. ¡°What happened to you, Mo Bai?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at Mo Bai strangely. Mo Bai shook his head as he returned to his usual gentle self. ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Nothing? Who believes that!¡± Gu Qingyu pursed her lips and sulked. ¡°You¡¯re telling me or not?¡± If not, I¡¯ll go first...¡± ¡°Um...¡± At that moment, Mo Bai stretched out his hand and grabbed the Gu Qingyu that was slipping away. ¡°Yu¡¯er, I...¡± Gu Qingyu stood still and looked at Mo Bai intently, indicating that she was listening. Mo Bai hesitated, trapped in his thoughts. ¡°Hmm...¡± ¡°Okok!¡± Gu Qingyu then suddenly laughed. ¡°I was teasing you! I never knew Mo Bai had a side like this...¡± She blinked in recollection as she looked at Mo Bai. Mo Bai¡¯s face blushed. ¡°Yu¡¯er...¡± ¡°Ha...¡± Gu Qingyu yawned. ¡°It¡¯s getting late, let¡¯s go back first! Come on!¡± ¡°... Very well.¡± They soon reached the tavern. Gu Qingyu looked up at the sky. ¡°Hmm...It looks like it¡¯ll rain tomorrow...Then, I¡¯ll go back to my room first. See you tomorrow, Mo Bai! Goodnight!¡± ¡°Goodnight.¡± A warm, reassuring smile appeared on Mo Bai¡¯s angelic face. His smile was enough to bless Gu Qingyu with sweet dreams tonight. Gu Qingyu opened the door and entered her room. Then, the door closed behind her on its own. It was unsettling. She was surrounded in pitch dark. She felt something was wrong and turned to open the door. But the door would not budge no matter how hard she pushed! The window was open, the white curtains swayed in the wind... ¡°Ha, haha,¡± Gu Qingyu laughed dryly. ¡°It¡¯s just the wind, yes, just the wind...¡± She walked over and closed the window. She turned back and got the fright of her life! There was the shape of something under her covers. Someone was lying in her bed! ¡°W-who is it?!¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s voice quivered. In the modern world, she was an atheist who did not believe in gods or ghosts or any supernatural entities, but this is a world of magic! It could contain all sorts of monsters! What if that thing in her bed was waiting to ambush her? The moment she got close, it would jump out of her bed, reveal its horrible face and swallow her whole! Ah! The more I think about it, the scarier it gets! But hang on, Murong Zuoyu stays next door! He is a martial arts expert, if I cry for help, he will definitely hear me! In an instant, Gu Qingyu banged the walls with balled-up fists. ¡°Murong Zuoyu! Murong Zuoyu! Help! Hurry! I might die if you¡¯re late! Ooh! ...¡± A hand reached around her and covered her mouth. Oh no! Can I still see the stars tomorrow morning?! (Stars?) Gu Qingyu felt she was pinned to the wall. She was pinned down by a man dressed in red robes. Thank goodness! It¡¯s not a monster! But the curtains were closed, so Gu Qingyu could not get a good look on the man¡¯s face. She had good night vision due to her cat demon powers, but it was sealed away by some mysterious power. Chapter 27: Your Lordship Chapter 27: Your Lordship Translated by: iris.knight The mysterious power that sealed her powers vanished. She activated her cat¡¯s eyes and saw her surroundings clearly. That man was the man she saw in front of the palace that day! But why did he show up in her room? And he¡¯s so powerful! If she was not mistaken, he said his name was... ¡°Xie Zang?¡± ¡°Ah, you remembered me.¡± The man smiled, looking extraordinarily devious and sinister. Gu Qingyu knew if she opposed him, she would definitely die. Murong Zuoyu should have heard her voice but for some reason, he was not here. Could it be...He was also trapped by Xie Zang? Xie Zang must be following me, this is trouble...The experts around me didn¡¯t notice a thing, what does that mean? It means Xie Zang¡¯s magic is superbly powerful! What to do...Oh whatever, save my own skin first! ¡°Umm...Your Lordship.¡± Gu Qingyu gave a few coughs. ¡°Your mystical handsomeness left a great impression on me, your beautiful and refreshing face was unforgettable!¡± ¡°Little girl, I didn¡¯t see you for a few days and you had become so glib.¡± Xie Zang laughed, looking extremely devilish. Gu Qingyu smiled. ¡°Had to, I need to save my own skin...¡± I was telling the truth! ¡°Oh, save your own skin? Am I really that terrifying?¡± Xie Zang asked with a smirk, eyebrows raised. He was quite good looking. What! I spoke my thoughts aloud! ¡°Um...¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s tongue betrayed her at the worst time. ¡°I...I...¡± ¡°Ok, I forgive you.¡± The red-robed man turned, his robe swayed with him. Forgive? He speaks as if I did something unforgivable! If only Gu Qingyu knew, had it been anyone else, that person would probably end up worse than having their body split apart by five horses. ¡°Why are you in my room?¡± Gu Qingyu spoke her thoughts aloud. At that moment, the door was kicked open. ¡°Brother Zhu, are you ok?¡± Murong Zuoyu¡¯s voice was still cold, but it was tinged with worry. Oh no! Gu Qingyu instinctively looked towards Xie Zang and realised that he had already left, that was lucky... Gu Qingyu heaved a sigh of relief. But...how did he leave? Even the windows are closed! ¡°Summon Flame.¡± Murong Zuoyu spoke in his usual calm and cold voice, a fireball appeared in his hand. ¡°Brother Zhu, how are you?¡± ¡°I...I...I¡¯m alright.¡± Gu Qingyu calmed herself down quickly, she was a psychiatrist after all. ¡°Someone barged into my room just now.¡± ¡°That man was a powerful mage.¡± Murong Zuoyu walked to Gu Qingyu¡¯s side. ¡°he trapped me within a barrier just now. It took me some time to get out, so I couldn¡¯t make it in time...Sorry...¡± Sorry? Murong Zuoyu, is this the first apology you made in your prideful life? ¡°It¡¯s okay, he didn¡¯t do anything to me anyway...¡± Gu Qingyu seemed distracted. Murong Zuoyu¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°He? Who was here?¡± He clearly suspected something from that statement. Gu Qingyu flinched. She tried to smooth over the topic with a laugh. ¡°Hahaha! The man just now was masked and wore black clothes, kind of looked like an assassin...¡± She swallowed weakly. ¡°But, as he was just about to make his move, you barged in. I think he got spooked by your powerful aura and ran off.¡± These words...Who would believe them! Not even I believe them, okay? But, the unbelievable happened. Murong Zuoyu actually nodded and said, ¡°Brother Zhu, I believe you.¡± A few simple words, but it made Gu Qingyu lower her head in embarrassment. To be trusted by a man she barely knew, that man was even someone who did not trust others easily. Gu Qingyu forced a smile. ¡°Thank you, Murong Zuoyu!¡± ¡°I think I need a new name too.¡± Murong Zuoyu frowned slightly. ¡°Why don¡¯t you help me come up with one?¡± Gu Qingyu could tell that he was changing the topic, but it was a little awkward... Gu Qingyu smiled. ¡°Xiao Hua! It suits you!¡± Murong Zuoyu¡¯s lips twitched uncontrollably. Little Flower? ¡°Hahaha...¡± Gu Qingyu watched his reaction and burst into peals of laughter. ¡°Okay, I was kidding!¡± Murong Zuoyu was still at a loss for words. Gu Qingyu held her chin. ¡°Since you¡¯re so cold and unapproachable, let¡¯s call you Leng Xuanyu?¡± Murong Zuoyu kept quiet, so Gu Qingyu took it as silent consent. She laughed gleefully. ¡°Brother Leng, it¡¯s late. Let¡¯s turn in for the night.¡± Brother Leng? Murong Zuoyu¡¯s lips twitched again. ¡°Goodnight.¡± Gu Qingyu only relaxed after he left. She flopped onto her bed and stretched out her limbs. Sigh. Ever since she travelled to the ancient times, she had been getting less and less rest... But maybe she would hear some interesting stories if she went and pestered Yan Zun! According to him, it was all some ¡°things of the past¡± and with Yan Zun¡¯s tone and lame jokes, it would be quite entertaining. And she did recover well the last time she visited Yan Zun. But, she has not truly slept for a long time. Let¡¯s just rest for today. Thus, Gu Qingyu snuggled under the covers, closed her eyes and drifted to sleep. It was a blizzard. Despite the snow, the room was extraordinarily warm. Gu Qingyu looked around, this was her old home. ¡°Xiao Yu, what¡¯s wrong?¡± A woman walked over holding a tray of bread, Gu Qingyu then realised that she was seated at a dining table. ¡°...Xiao Ran?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at the woman before her. For some reason, she felt stifled, and afraid. Xiao Ran was a college lecturer and a tenant in Gu Qingyu¡¯s house. In the past, Gu Qingyu lived alone, so she wanted to find someone to stay with her. Just then, she met the sweet and kind Xiao Ran. ¡°Hurry up and eat, you still need to go to work after this,¡± Xiao Ran laid out breakfast before Gu Qingyu in all smiles. ¡°Xiao Yu, you¡¯re so much busier than me! After all, you¡¯re a psychiatrist. My lectures are later this morning, so you need to hurry up!¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± Gu Qingyu smiled. ¡°Xiao Ran, it is nice having you here.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it!¡¯ Xiao Ran patted Gu Qingyu¡¯s head. ¡°Eat first, I¡¯ll go prepare a few things.¡± ¡°Yep!¡± After breakfast, Gu Qingyu grabbed her bags and slipped into her shoes in a hurry. ¡°Xiao Ran, I¡¯ll go first, bye!¡± ¡°Yep, take care.¡± Xiao Ran smiled and waved while she cleaned up. Gu Qingyu took a deep breath and opened the door. Everything was covered in white, the white light seemed to have engulfed everything...Then suddenly, the floor beneath her feet vanished, and she fell and fell through the air... ¡°Aaahhh!¡± Gu Qingyu woke up with a scream and she was drenched in her own cold sweat. That dream. That was what happened the morning she died... But why did she dream about Xiao Ran? This was probably the first time she dreamt of her life in the modern world? So creepy... So scary... She looked outside, it was twilight. Probably about three o''clock in the morning. Gu Qingyu closed her eyes again but she did not dare to sleep. She decided to look for Yan Zun. Gu Qingyu¡¯s spirit arrived at the ¡®world¡¯ of the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny and found Yan Zun still reclined in his lounge, dressed in crimson robes. ¡°Wow,¡± Gu Qingyu exclaimed. ¡°Why do I see you in that pose every time?¡± ¡°It looks badass.¡± Yan Zun propped up his head with his hand lazily. ¡°Huh?¡± His reply made Gu Qingyu¡¯s jaw drop, she thought he would reply with ¡®it was comfortable or something¡¯. Yan Zun stretched out his other hand and inspected his nails. ¡°What? Wouldn¡¯t you call it that way using the words of your world?¡± Eh...that¡¯s true... ¡°Then again, how do you know about the words from...Um...my time?¡± Gu Qingyu spoke with a stutter. Yan Zun raised his eyebrows. ¡°What? You came to me to ask that?¡± ¡°Ah, not really,¡± Gu Qingyu looked at Yan Zun. ¡°Yan Zun, you are very powerful in magic, right?¡± ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Yan Zun replied with a question. Gu Qingyu came forward, eager to please him. ¡°Hehe...Yan Zun, only the two of us know about this place. Why don¡¯t you teach me some magic everyday from now on, be my master!¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Yan Zun agreed without hesitation. ¡°Come, bow your head.¡± Gu Qingyu rested her hand on her forehead. ¡°Can we not do that?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Yan Zun agreed, to her surprise. ¡°My disciple, your master will teach you some powerful moves.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Gu Qingyu beamed. ¡°Thank you, Master!¡± The sun¡¯s rays entered the room through the windows, landing perfectly on Gu Qingyu¡¯s face. Gu Qingyu opened her bleary eyes, reflexsibly covered her eyes with her hands and sat up. The temporary blindness removed any trace of sleep. So she hopped off her bed, ironed out the wrinkles in her clothes, tidied her messy hair and opened the door. Gu Qingyu had been so scared of an assassin attacking her at night and exposing her identity, that she had been sleeping fully dressed in her traveling gear every night! Sigh, what a scaredy-cat! She ambled down the stairs. Just as expected! Everyone was happily eating breakfast! Gu Qingyu was about to explode! ¡°Brother Zhu.¡± Mo Bai saw her first. ¡°Come, let¡¯s eat together.¡± He smiled gently, in stark contrast to his demeanor yesterday. ¡°Um...¡± Gu Qingyu walked over awkwardly, rubbing her nose sheepishly. ¡°Um...¡±She stood there ruminating. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Brother Zhu?¡± Qi Yichen was curious. ¡°You got in some trouble?¡± ¡°Why? Do you want me to be in trouble?¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes, annoyed. ¡°Let me tell you, you¡¯re the first one I¡¯ll drag down at any sign of trouble.¡± ¡°Huh? How could you, Brother Zhu?!¡± ¡°You two are getting along well.¡± Jia Qizhe said bluntly. Chapter 28: The Weak and Helpless You? Chapter 28: The Weak and Helpless You? Translated by: iris.knight ¡°Um, after we¡¯ve all eaten, let¡¯s pack our bags. We¡¯re meeting a friend.¡± Gu Qingyu chewed on her meat bun slowly. Qi Yichen blinked curiously. ¡°Friend? Brother Zhu, last night, the weak and helpless you actually went out alone?¡± ¡°No, Mo Bai was there.¡± ¡°Oh...¡± Strangely, Jia Qizhe kept quiet all this while. What really happened to him last night? Looks like I really need to find the time to ask him. ¡°Oh, also,¡± Gu Qingyu took a gulp of water but she choked on the water. ¡°Cough! Cough!¡± ¡°Brother Zhu, eat slower.¡± Mo Bai patted Gu Qingyu¡¯s back softly. ¡°Swallow your food first.¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes and swallowed her food with some difficulty. "And Murong Zuoyu is now called Leng Yuxuan.¡± ¡°Oh...:¡± Qi Yichen nodded, as if pondering something. ¡°Brother Leng changed his name too, just like Brother Zhu...¡± ¡°Brother Zhu?¡± The alert Murong Zuoyu seemed to have discovered something. ¡°Qi Yichen!¡± Gu Qingyu glared at Qi Yichen at his slip-up, Qi Yichen knew that he needed to stop right then. Murong Zuoyu¡¯s cold eyes seemed hurt. ¡°Brother Zhu, you don¡¯t trust me?¡± ¡°No, Brother Leng, I just have some unspeakable woes...¡± ¡°No matter, you can tell me when you want to.¡± Murong Zuoyu waved his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Jia Qizhe stood up. ¡°Since we have a plan, let¡¯s not waste any more time.¡± ¡°Yeap!¡± Everyone nodded. The party packed their bags and went to the streets. On that note, they were the ¡®center of attention¡¯ wherever they go. ¡°Ah! That blue-robed man is so handsome!¡± A middle-aged woman clasped her hands. Obviously, she was talking about Jia Qizhe. ¡°Yes, the one in white robes is handsome too! Looks so gentle and powerful!¡± ¡°And the one in purple robes...¡± Gu Qingyu thought they were talking about her and subconsciously turned to smile, but realized they were talking about Murong Zuoyu... They finally reached the promised location and Gu Qingyu saw Qi Wan from some distance. ¡°Qi Wan!¡± Gu Qingyu walked up happily. ¡°You must be waiting for very long?¡± For some reason, Gu Qingyu felt the name ¡®Qi Wan¡¯ was very nice. ¡°I¡¯ve just arrived!¡± Qi Wan smiled, eagerly looked behind Gu Qingyu, ¡°These are your friends?¡± He shuddered when he laid eyes on Mo Bai again. Yesterday...That was a bit much... ¡°Yep!¡± Gu Qingyu honestly shrugged, turned to the rest and said, ¡°This is Qi Wan, our new friend...¡± ¡°Hi!¡¯ Qi Wan greeted everyone, in response to the introduction. ¡°What sort of friend?¡± Jia Qizhe crossed his arms as if he was challenging both of them to a fight. ¡°Good friends.¡± Qi Wan shrugged, looked at Gu Qingyu with pleading eyes. ¡°Your friend seems quite hostile to me.¡± ¡°Brother Zhu, how can you let him join us so easily!¡± Qi Yichen interjected before Gu Qingyu could explain, looking very unhappy. Baby Qi is unhappy and whenever Baby Qi is unhappy, something bad will happen! ¡°Um...¡± Gu Qingyu was about to explain but was interrupted again. ¡°Xiao...Xiao Fan must have his reasons...¡± Xiao Qi was still uncomfortable with calling Gu Qingyu ¡®Xiao Fan¡¯, but she still tried to correct herself, at least it was better than ¡®Brother Zhu¡¯. It looked like Xiao Qi was still on Gu Qingyu¡¯s side. ¡°Um...haha, don¡¯t be like this, we will all be friends from now on!¡± Seeing Jia Qizhe was about to ¡®get violent¡¯, Gu Qingyu stepped between them. Jia Qizhe was very close to Qi Wan and Qi Wan covered his face. ¡°Haha, don¡¯t be like this, I¡¯ll be embarrassed!¡± Jia Qizhe¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°Ha! Haha!¡± Gu Qingyu laughed dryly and said to Jia Qizhe, ¡°Qi Wan might be a bit... Shy! Yes, shy! Haha!¡± She laughed dryly again. It might have been better if she did not laugh. Now the atmosphere was really awkward. Jia Qizhe raised his eyebrows, arms still crossed, and stood proudly before them. ¡°Shy? What kind of shyness is this?¡± ¡°Um...¡± Gu Qingyu was speechless again. ¡°Okok, let¡¯s all go!¡± Qi Yichen stood out in a rare moment of solidarity. ¡°Tch.¡± Jia Qizhe sneered at Qi Wan and walked on alone. ¡°Qi Wan, don¡¯t take it to heart!¡± Gu Qingyu tapped Qi Wan¡¯s shoulders, comforting him. Qi Wan shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if I care about such little things, I wouldn¡¯t call myself ¡®Seven Thousand¡¯.¡± ¡°Huh? Then what would you call yourself?¡± Gu Qingyu asked curiously. ¡°Yi Mao, or ¡®One Cent¡¯.¡± ¡°...Hahaha!¡± After a one-second delay, Gu Qingyu burst out in laughter. Qi Wan rolled his eyes. ¡°Big Sis, you¡¯re too slow.¡± ¡°Big Sis?¡± The smart Murong Zuoyu reacted quickly. Gu Qingyu glared at Qi Wan, then adjusted herself. ¡°Ahem, it¡¯s my childhood name...¡± ¡°How would he know your childhood name?¡± Jia Qizhe teased. This guy definitely did it on purpose! ¡°Um... We... Actually... Um...¡± Gu Qingyu thought for a while and decided to make up a story. ¡°Actually, we have known each other for a long long time!¡± Qi Yichen curiously blinked, ¡°Huh? Really?¡± Sigh, I thought Qi Yichen is the cold type that keeps to himself, the kind of scholar that never went after any worldly desires, who could have known? The real Qi Yichen is nothing like the image I had! Gu Qingyu¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°Well?¡± ¡°Brother Zhu, actually, I think...¡± Qi Yichen innocently spoke out. ¡°Qi Yichen, that¡¯s enough!¡± ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± ¡°No!¡¯ Bam! Finally, Gu Qingyu could not hold it anymore and punched Qi Yichen, who shut up with teary eyes. ¡°Really, you forced the kind and gentle me to violence, you really need to learn how to read the room.¡± Gu Qingyu spoke harshly. ¡°Kind and gentle?¡± Qi Wan laughed till he bent over, he pointed at Gu Qingyu as if to check again. ¡°Kind and gentle?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Gu Qingyu was boastful. ¡°A kind and generous gentleman like myself would be hard to find even if you ask for it! Right, Xiao Qi?¡± She gave Xiao Qi a wink that she thought was beautiful, but it scared Xiao Qi instead. Xiao Qi almost fainted. ¡°My charm is really exceptional!¡± Gu Qingyu concluded and walked off on her own, leaving the team rolling their eyes at her. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Gu Qingyu stopped again, ¡°Where are we going again?¡± The team was about to collapse from that question. As the team later walked through a wide forest trail, suddenly, black shadows emerged. ¡°Hand over the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny and we¡¯ll spare your life!¡± ¡°Sigh...¡± Gu Qingyu looked up at the sky. ¡°Oh dear, you¡¯re like the seventh batch, don¡¯t you get tired?¡± Indeed, since a while ago, many groups of black assassins had attacked them for the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny, but no one expected the experts around her to be so strong... Gu Qingyu sighed in defeat as she tapped Qi Wan on the shoulder. ¡°Jesus, I thought having you around would hide the scent of the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny.¡± ¡°They had been following us for very long. If it were not for Qi Wan, there would be more.¡± Jia Qizhe spoke out of the blue, his hands flashing a light mixed with blue and green, forming a sword. Gu Qingyu¡¯s lips twitched, then turned away quietly. ¡°Alright, go ahead.¡± As she finished those words, Jia Qizhe replied, ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± ¡°Huh? That¡¯s quick.¡± Gu Qingyu turned back and discovered all the black assassins lying on the floor, a deep cut of red in all their necks. Jia Qizhe then meticulously wiped his sword which was still emitting a blue-green air. Gu Qingyu walked forward quietly. Their objective was the Xieli Castle because according to Yan Zun, they need to gather the Eight-colour Spirit gem to fully release him. But... ¡°Why do I need to release you?¡± Gu Qingyu was puzzled. Yan Zun¡¯s eyes were mesmerizing. ¡°When your Master gets out, I would tell you why you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°That doesn''t make it worthwhile...¡± ¡°And I¡¯ll bring you back to your world.¡± ¡°Even if you say so...¡± ¡°Along with your friends.¡± ¡°But...¡± ¡°And a few, what you people call, villas.¡± ¡°Deal!¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s eyes sparkled in excitement, she¡¯ll be rich when she gets back! Yan Zun was speechless. Thus, it led to this situation. ¡°Then again, Brother Zhu, why are we going to the Xieli Castle?¡± Qi Yichen was confused. ¡°Um...¡± Gu Qingyu gave a dry chuckle. ¡°Haha, Qi Yichen, you know about the Eight-colour Spirit gems?¡± ¡°I do,¡± The gentle Mo Bai spoke. ¡°The Eight-colour Spirit gems, as implied from their name, are eight gems. They are scattered across the world. Legend says that if you gather all of them, you could amass great magic power.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Gu Qingyu curiously asked. ¡°Then they can release some power after being gathered?¡± ¡°Obviously.¡± Murong Zuoyu took over the conversation. ¡°Oh...¡± That¡¯s why Yan Zun said so... ¡°Brother Zhu, you still didn¡¯t say why we need the Eight-colour Spirit gems.¡± Qi Yichen blinked, as he stared at Gu Qingyu with his large handsome eyes. ¡°Why are you asking so many questions!¡± Gu Qingyu ignored him but then felt since they were friends and said. ¡°If we gather the Eight-colour Spirit gems, we can release the powers within the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny.¡± ¡°I have heard of that before,¡± Mo Bai pondered. ¡°But, Brother Zhu, what do you want with releasing the power of the Lifeblood Jewel?¡± ¡°That is to become stronger! And...¡± Gu Qingyu blinked as she paused. ¡°Once that happens, Iwill bring you all to a very beautiful place.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Qi Wan asked too. ¡°Where?¡± Gu Qingyu gave Qi Wan a mysterious smile. ¡°Home.¡± ¡°You found a way?¡± Qi Wan was getting excited. ¡°Yeap, gather the Eight-colour Spirit gems.¡± Gu Qingyu nodded and spoke to Jia Qizhe, ¡°After gathering the Eight-colour Spirit gems, I¡¯ll bring you all to my real home...¡± ¡°Yes, I believe you.¡± Jia Qizhe smiled. So beautiful... Gu Qingyu nodded and smiled. ¡°Yes!¡± On the way, Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai walked in front, Qi Yichen and Murong Zuoyu walked in the middle, Xiao Qi was a little behind them. And at a distance from the party, Gu Qingyu and Qi Wan walked together at the back. Chapter 29: I am Her Husband Chapter 29: I am Her Husband Translated by: iris.knight Qi Wan followed suit. ¡°Say it, bro, what?¡± ¡°How did you get here?¡± ¡°Um...¡± Qi Wan shook his head in embarrassment. ¡°It was just an accident.¡± ¡°Oh come on, spit it out!¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s suppressed love for gossip finally had a chance to shine. ¡°Hahaha...¡± Qi Wan laughed in a low voice. ¡°You first.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± Gu Qingyu thought for a bit. ¡°Alright. I was a psychiatrist, and I work at a hospital. That night, there was a really bad storm, and I was about to go home. I was chased by someone in a black robe, then I ran to the morgue and was killed before I could react... You?¡± ¡°Oof, that sounds terrifying!¡± Qi Wan nodded in approval, almost mockingly. ¡°As for me, I was having dinner at home, then a black-robed man broke in with a knife! That gave me such a shock that I choked to death on my own dinner!¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s eyes widened, then peals of laughter escaped her lips. ¡°Pff, hahaha! Qi Wan, you choked yourself before they could even kill you!¡± Qi Wan glared at Gu Qingyu in regret and hastened his steps. Gu Qingyu also quickened and caught up with the others. Gu Qingyu caught up to the Jia Qizhe in the front. ¡°Hey! Brother Jia!¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± Jia Qizhe looked at Gu Qingyu. ¡°Hehehehehe!¡± Gu Qingyu laughed sheepishly. ¡°Brother Jia, you look so powerful!¡± ¡°¡®Look¡¯? do you want to have a try for yourself?¡± Jia Qizhe¡¯s tone was flat, he seemed unconcerned but there was a hint of playfulness. ¡°Sure!¡± Gu Qingyu seemed excited as if that was what she was waiting for! Jia Qizhe was taken aback, he never thought she would reply to him in such a manner. ¡°Sure?¡± Jia Qizhe raised his eyebrows. ¡°Yep! When?¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s face was full of anticipation. Jia Qizhe flatly said, ¡°In your dreams.¡± ¡°A good answer!¡± Gu Qingyu yelled, then said weakly. ¡°What a wet blanket...¡± ¡°Brother Zhu, don¡¯t worry.¡± Qi Yichen walked over, waving his fan, he affectionately tapped Gu Qingyu¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We all know how powerful Brother Jia is, he must be scared of hurting you!¡± ¡°Hurt?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Yichen as if he was a fool. ¡°Qi Yichen, can you have Mo Bai take a look at you?¡± ¡°Huh? Why?¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Gu Qingyu looked at Mo Bai and ignored Qi Yichen. ¡°Mo Bai, do you know how to cure stupidity?¡± ¡°...Brother Zhu, I don¡¯t know.¡± Mo Bai stated. ¡°Sometimes, it will get better if you hit the head a few times.¡± (This is fictional, do not try this at home.) Mo Bai¡¯s gentle words concealed a smile, but it made Qi Yichen shudder and quietly retreated to one side. They all laughed and chatted happily along the way. ¡°When will we get there?¡± Gu Qingyu said breathlessly. Her stamina could not keep up! ¡°It¡¯ll take one more day.¡± Murong Zuoyu looked at Gu Qingyu. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m so tired...¡± ¡°Are you even a man?¡± Qi Wan said mockingly, ¡°Even the only girl did not complain of being tired!¡± He accentuated the word ¡®only¡¯. Gu Qingyu gritted her teeth. ¡°You knew full well that I don¡¯t count as a man!¡± ¡°Hahaha...¡± Qi Wan felt his head giving cold sweat. Jia Qizhe looked at the tavern in the distance. ¡°Let¡¯s stop here for today.¡± Gu Qingyu looked up at the sky. ¡°It¡¯s evening already, I didn¡¯t even notice.¡± A sign was hung above the tavern, saying ¡®Prosperity Tavern¡¯ Um, do shops in ancient times have such...direct names? I was thinking, probably there is ¡®Woeful Tavern¡¯ not far from here? Gu Qingyu nodded. ¡°Actually...why aren¡¯t we flying?¡± Qi Yichen looked at her as if she lost her marbles. ¡°We¡¯re conserving our energy today, we¡¯re flying tomorrow.¡± Gu Qingyu widened her eyes. ¡°Tomorrow? Really? Oh no...¡± In the tavern, Qi Wan filled the table with dishes. ¡°Qi Wan, you seem quite rich...¡± Gu Qingyu propped up her chin with both hands and looked at Qi Wan. Qi Wan sniggered. ¡°Well, what can I say. Money is all I¡¯ve got!¡± ¡°Huh, is that so?¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°We¡¯re rich, I¡¯m rich! Ah, how could I take this!¡± Is he the legendary hyper rich kid? Ahem. Qi Wan had a couple of dry coughs. ¡°Brother Zhu, it¡¯s technically my money. Are you not concerned?¡± Gu Qingyu immediately shuffled over to Qi Wan, placed her hand on his shoulder and asked seriously, ¡°We¡¯re good friends, right?¡± Qi Wan nodded dumbly. ¡°So...¡± Gu Qingyu took a huge breath. ¡°What¡¯s yours is mine, what¡¯s mine is still mine!¡± Qi Wan gawked. How could someone like this exist! The answer was closer than you think. Gu Qingyu was satisfied and dug into the food. ¡°Then it¡¯s decided! Yay! ¡± Qi Wan sulked. How was that a cause for celebration? He never agreed to anything! Everyone else simply watched the events unfold. See! Who told you to be so cocky! After a scrumptious meal. ¡°Dear customers. ¡° The waiter said respectfully. ¡°Unfortunately, we only have three rooms left for tonight.¡± ¡°Are there other taverns nearby?¡± Jia Qizhe slightly furrowed his eyebrows. The waiter shook his head sincerely. Three rooms for seven people. Gu Qingyu, Jia Qizhe, Qi Yichen, Mo Bai, Murong Zuoyu and Qi Wan. Xiao Qi is the ¡®only¡¯ girl here so she would get her own room. Gu Qingyu felt desperate. Do I want to say that I¡¯m a girl too! It seems only Murong Zuoyu doesn''t know! Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyu, gloating in her plight. Saboteur sabotaged! Gu Qingyu coughed. ¡°Ahem! As the de facto leader, I have decided! Tonight, Xiao Qi sleeps in one room, I sleep in another, the five of you share a room!¡± De facto leader? When did she become the de facto leader? Ok, that was not the point, the point was that she wanted a room to herself! ¡°Why, why?¡¯ Qi Yichen stomped his feet. ¡°That¡¯s unfair, Brother Zhu!¡± Unfair? He clearly knows that I am a girl! Jia Qizhe frowned slightly too. ¡°Indeed.¡± Indeed? Really, indeed? Even Jia Qizhe is going against me! But she thought of an idea. ¡°Fine, the five of you can split two rooms amongst yourselves! I¡¯ll share a room with Xiao Qi!¡± ¡°What?¡± Murong Zuoyu¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°You two?¡± ¡°Yes!¡¯ Gu Qingyu was bold. ¡°I am her husband!¡± At that line, Jia Qizhe¡¯s fingers twitched, Mo Bai¡¯s smile froze, Qi Yichen spat out his tea. Qi Wan lowered his head and shrugged, Murong Zuoyu¡¯s jaw dropped and Xiao Qi turned away looked up to the sky, her face flushed red. Murong Zuoyu saw Xiao Qi¡¯s red face and believed that she was embarrassed! Actually, her face was red from all the giggles she was holding! ¡°Is that right, Xiao Qi?¡± Gu Qingyu boldly walked to Xiao Qi¡¯s side, approached her in a flirtatious manner. Ah, never knew Xiao Qi can be used like this! Xiao Qi coughed, ¡°Xiao Fan should stop joking with me.¡± This looks like denial. Gu Qingyu¡¯s face changed and said in feigned disappointment, ¡°My beloved wife! Is that how you treat your husband?¡± She clenched her chest in grief.¡°Ah! My heart! This pain would rip it apart!¡± A sickening chill went down everyone''s¡¯ spines, they could spit out their dinner! Xiao Qi helplessly shook her head. ¡°I...¡± At that moment, she felt a very different aura! She turned and saw the other three men, except Murong Zuoyu, almost pleading with her with their eyes... ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my dear!¡± Xiao Qi spoke out, defeated. Could she deny it? Could she? The answer was no. Definitely not.The surprise on Murong Zuoyu¡¯s face was apparent, his mouth was almost in the shape of an ¡®O¡¯. ¡°Please close your mouth.¡± Qi Wan commented. ¡°...What¡¯s next is even more horrifying!¡¯ Murong Zuoyu looked at Qi Wan coldly and Qi Wan sheepishly shrugged her shoulders. Gu Qingyu laughed deviously. ¡°Hahaha, it is good to know when you¡¯re wrong! I forgive you!¡± Forgive? Xiao Qi was speechless. Forgive? Why did she need to be forgiven? Who was supposed to forgive who! ¡°My dear, let¡¯s go!¡± Gu Qingyu patted Xiao Qi¡¯s head ¡®lovingly¡¯, holding her waist. Xiao Qi lowered her head in defeat again. Murong Zuoyu¡¯s jaw dropped again. Oh my! Why! Why was he acting more and more abnormal after meeting this ¡®Zhu Fan¡¯? Where was his old cool and noble self?! As he lamented, he began to miss the boring palace. Qi Wan and the rest looked at Xiao Qi sympathetically and mourned her fate in their hearts. Sorry! We will remember you forever! Gu Qingyu and Xiao Qi finally went upstairs. ¡°I will take a room with Mo Bai, Qi Yichen, you¡¯re with Murong Zuoyu.¡± Jia Qizhe spoke flatly. The ignored Qi Wan was annoyed. ¡°What about me?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a stable in the backyard.¡± Murong Zuoyu said coldly. Honestly, none of them liked Qi Wan! Just then, an excited voice rang out. ¡°Come, Qi Wan! You can join us tonight!¡± The others were flabbergasted. Gu Qingyu added a line internally. Tonight we will discuss your money in much detail! Nightfall. Gu Qingyu sat beside the window and looked outside. ¡°Xiao...Xiao Yu...¡± Xiao Qi spoke weakly. Gu Qingyu replied flatly, ¡°Yeah?¡± Xiao Qi gulped. ¡°Xiao Yu, what are you doing...¡± ¡°I am admiring the view!¡± Gu Qingyu replied. Xiao Qi was about to cry. Young Miss! If you were just admiring the view then just do so! Don¡¯t make it like you¡¯re really ¡®sad¡¯! Besides...Besides, you said you¡¯re admiring the view...But that window is closed! ¡°Xiao Yu, that window is closed...¡± Xiao Qi weakly gulped again. Gu Qingyu nodded. ¡°It is warm in here.¡± Warm? Then why is the window still closed? Xiao Qi could not comprehend what was going on! ¡°Xiao Yu, then why don¡¯t you open the window...¡± Gu Qingyu turned her head, giving her a sad look. ¡°I can¡¯t open it!¡± Chapter 30: Is that how You Treat Your Husband? Chapter 30: Is that how You Treat Your Husband? Translated by: iris.knight ¡°Do you know how I was waiting for you to say that?¡± Gu Qingyu was really about to cry! Xiao Qi said nothing and opened the window, a gust of fresh air blew into the room, Gu Qingyu took a deep breath. ¡°Ah! It feels great to breathe again!¡± Xiao Qi still said nothing. Gu Qingyu looked out the window. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m going out for a walk!¡± ¡°A walk? Xiao Yu, it¡¯s already so late...¡± Xiao Qi seemed worried. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine!¡± Leaving behind those words, Gu Qingyu boldly jumped out the window... Bam! Xiao Qi¡¯s eyes widened as she ran over and leaned out from the window. But it was too dark. ¡°Xiao Yu, this is a three-storey tavern...¡± Meanwhile, onto what happened to our MC. ¡°Wah!¡± The scream of a woman rang out. Bam! Then it was the sound of a collision. ¡°Ah!¡¯ A man groaned in pain. Gu Qingyu rubbed her eyes and looked at the poor man that cushioned her fall. ¡°Sir, are you alright?¡± ¡°Yes...¡± The man under her winked at her with his beautiful eyes. Oh, another devilishly handsome dude. Gu Qingyu stood up and stretched out her hand. ¡°Need me to help pull you up?¡± ¡°Thank you.¡¯ The man did not refuse and took her outstretched hand. His eyes were the colour of wisterias. Gu Qingyu could not pull her eyes away from him. ¡°Sir, what¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°I am...Qian Cheng.¡± Qian Cheng? Huh, for some reason Gu Qingyu thought of a thousand cities. ¡°Hello, I am Zhu Fan.¡± Gu Qingyu said quickly. Huh, when had she gotten so used to using this name? Maybe one day, the world would lose a girl named Gu Qingyu and gain a man named Zhu Fan? How sad! ¡°Hello.¡± Qian Cheng waved his fan, smiling. Um...Why do I feel that something''s off about this guy? But undeniably, he is very handsome... His wisteria eyes are different from Murong Zuoyu¡¯s violet eyes. Murong Zuoyu¡¯s eyes always give off a cold and cruel, yet majestic aura, while Qian Cheng gave off an attractive, almost frivolous vibe. ¡°Brother Zhu, are you practicing magic this late at night?¡± Qian Cheng seemed like a friendly person. He looked up at the sky and seemed curious. ¡°Um...Yes...¡± Gu Qingyu nodded stiffly. ¡°You?¡± ¡°I was just looking around!¡± Qian Cheng waved his fan again. ¡°You¡¯re practicing flying magic?¡± Gu Qingyu tried her best to seem natural. ¡°Um...Yes...¡± ¡°So have you learned how to fly?¡± ¡°Not yet...¡± Isn¡¯t this obvious? Would I drop from the sky if I had learned how to fly?! Qian Cheng gave a dashing smile. ¡°You know, I can teach you how to fly.¡± ¡°Um...Sure!¡± Gu Qingyu thought to herself that since she could not fly and with this long and treacherous road ahead, not being able to fly would drag the others down. It would be good to learn it for herself. Though actually, Gu Qingyu was more inclined to not get hung in the air again! The experience last time was ¡®unforgettable¡¯! Qian Cheng pulled Gu Qingyu and gently leaped into the air, his purple wings spreading out behind him. ¡°Wow! Cool!¡± Gu Qingyu saw that Qian Cheng¡¯s wings were split into three different shades of purple, with a white underside. His wings have a colour gradient! I want one too. Qian Cheng pulled Gu Qingyu¡¯s limbs and flew up. Gu Qingyu watched the tavern below shrink in the distance. ¡°Wah!¡± ¡°You¡¯re afraid of heights?¡± Qian Cheng¡¯s deep chuckles came from above her. ¡°Ah, nono,¡± Gu Qingyu denied. ¡°I was merely afraid that you¡¯re too fat to support both of us with your wings!¡± Qian Cheng was speechless. Why is he the one that¡¯s too fat? If they really couldn¡¯t stay in the air, then shouldn¡¯t she be the one that is too fat? The prankster Qian Cheng had a stuffy feeling in his chest. In the air, Qian Cheng gave a devious laugh. ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°Aye aye Captain!¡± Gu Qingyu shouted. Huh? Why did I shout such a stupid line? It''s not like I''m in Spongebob? ¡°I can¡¯t hear you!¡± Qian Cheng strangely said. ¡°Aye aye Captain!¡± Gu Qingyu shouted again. The exchange left her with a weird satisfaction... Am I changing to be a bit weird after role-playing as a guy for so long?! ¡°Then...¡± Qian Cheng released his hands and Gu Qingyu instantly fell through the air. ¡°Damn! Qian Cheng, you jerk!¡± I knew I shouldn¡¯t have agreed so easily! Damn it! He actually let go! Doesn¡¯t he know that I hate the feeling of diving down while strapped to a rollercoaster?! Um...Actually, he really doesn¡¯t know that...Wait! Now''s not the time to worry about that! ¡°Focus your thoughts and imagine yourself soaring through the air!¡± Qian Cheng¡¯s words rang in her ears. Focus my thoughts, imagine I¡¯m soaring through the air... Focus my thoughts... Soaring through the air... ¡°Aahh! I can¡¯t do this!¡¯ Gu Qingyu broke down. Who could focus their thoughts while falling? And imagine myself soaring through the air? Jesus, it would be easier to just kill me! Seeing the ground coming closer to her and Qian Cheng has vanished, he clearly did not care about her life. What to do?! I don¡¯t want to die in less than a month of travelling here! Even after a month, I don¡¯t want to die either! Unwilling to give up so easily, Gu Qingyu called out her cat powers. She wanted to leap off from the momentum. The odds were low as she may not be able to move fast enough. It was a gamble. Bam! Just as Gu Qingyu was about to panic again, a man gently caught her and Gu Qingyu felt that she was flying up once more. Qian Cheng? Gu Qingyu opened her eyes and a devious and arrogant face with light-green eyes appeared before her. ¡°What do you think? Are you pleased to see me? Was I like prince charming? Prince Qi Wan? Hahaha!¡± ¡°Qi Wan?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at the olive-green wings flapping behind, bewildered, her brain filtered through his irrelevant comments and said, ¡°Even you know how to fly?¡± ¡°What do you mean by ¡®even¡¯!¡± Qi Wan was angered, his wings flapping, his face was still arrogant. ¡°I am very powerful, ok?¡± ¡°Oh...¡± Gu Qingyu nodded, as if in thought, then gave a ¡®kind¡¯ smile. ¡°Can I come down now?¡± Qi Wan was carrying her bridal style in the air. ¡°Sure, but before that, you should keep your ears and tail.¡± Qi Wan said with a grin. Ah, I almost forgot. The moment they land, Gu Qingyu hopped off Qi Wan''s arms and stormed off in the dark. Her face was as dark as coal. What was that? Qian Cheng actually dropped her! Luckily Qi Wan arrived in time, or I might have died! But, I actually let Qi Wan see me turning into a cat demon! This is not something embarrassing, but I don¡¯t want so many people to know! Qi Wan followed behind Gu Qingyu, crying out after her, ¡°Boss! I didn¡¯t see anything! Please simmer down!¡± Gu Qingyu grunted and kept walking. She gently leaped onto the roof. She could not fly but she still had the abilities of a cat. That includes great balance, walking on walls and roofs, Feather Feet, Night Vision. Qi Wan followed her. ¡°Are you still angry?¡± Qi Wan looked troubled. Gu Qingyu shook her head. ¡°No, but do you have booze? ¡± ¡°Yeap.¡± Qi Wan waved his hand and two jars of wine and a plate of Beggar¡¯s Chicken appeared in his hand. ¡°Thanks.¡± Gu Qingyu took a jar and chugged down its contents. Qi Wan took a few sips. ¡°No problem.¡± Gu Qingyu then started to cough badly. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Qi Wan immediately set down his own jar of wine. ¡°If you can¡¯t hold your drink, then don¡¯t drown your sorrows with wine like the ancient people!¡± ¡°Ancient people?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at him with a teasing smile in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m already one now!¡± Cough, cough... Qi Wan seemed to choke on the wine as well. A jar of wine was soon emptied and Gu Qingyu only felt the wine acting in her. She stood up, wobbly. ¡°Hey, Big Sis, what are you doing?¡± Qi Wan was more than surprised by the look he was giving her. ¡°Are you...¡± Before he finished his words, Gu Qingyu sniggered to Qi Wan and burped. ¡°Qi Wan, I want to sing, will you join me?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Qi Wan stood up too, ¡°What shall we sing?¡± Gu Qingyu took a few deep breaths, then sang loudly, ¡°Party rockers in the house tonight! Everybody just have a good time!¡± Qi Wan was taken aback and looked at Gu Qingyu in disbelief, and then he followed along. ¡°And we gon'' make you lose your mind! Everybody just have a good time!¡± ¡°Party rockers in the house tonight! Everybody just have a good time!¡± Gu Qingyu repeated at the top of her voice. Qi Wan just continued to shout, ¡°And we gon'' make you lose your mind! Everybody just have a good time!¡± Qian Cheng, who was standing behind them, was clearly frightened by this! He wanted to apologise but all he could do was the idiotic duo with an unbelievable shock... Quite a few tenants of the tavern were woken up by the noise. They ran out of the tavern and saw... ¡°Party rockers in the house tonight! Everybody just have a good time!¡± ¡°And we gon'' make you lose your mind! Everybody just have a good time!¡± Jia Qizhe, Mo Bai and the rest were below, their faces full of shock... Chapter 31: Drop the Beat! Go Wild! Chapter 31: Drop the Beat! Go Wild! Translated by: iris.knight Emboldened by the alcohol, Gu Qingyu sang, ¡°Get up, get down. Put your hands up to the sound!¡± Qi Wan followed along, ¡°Get up, get down. Put your hands up to the sound!¡± The onlookers shuddered. ¡°Get up! Get up! Get up! Get up! Put your hands up to the sound!¡± Gu Qingyu kept going. For some reason, everyone¡¯s heads started bobbing along with the singing. "Put your hands up to the sound! Put your hands up! Put your hands up! Put your hands up!¡± Qi Wan continued the song. Just when everyone thought Gu Qingyu was going to stop... She tilted her head towards the sky as she suddenly yelled at double of her original volume, ¡°Party rockers in the house tonight! Everybody just have a good time!¡± Qi Wan amplified his voice too. ¡°And we gon'' make you lose your mind! Everybody just have a good time!¡± ¡°Party rockers in the house tonight! Everybody just have a good time!¡± Eventually, Gu Qingyu finally closed the song. ¡°And we gon'' make you lose your mind! We just wanna see you... Shake that!¡± After that, Gu Qingyu sobered up a little, partly from the cold wind, partly from the sheer catharsis of the song. She looked down, squinted a little, and finally saw the crowd that had gathered below. ¡°Eh? What¡¯s wrong with all of you?¡± She waved sheepishly and her body swayed with the momentum. Qi Wan reached out and grabbed her before she lost her balance. ¡°Was my singing so beautiful that your titanium eyes are blinded by it?¡± Gu Qingyu said as she covered her red face in ¡®embarrassment¡¯. Qi Wan said in a weak voice, ¡°Boss, you¡¯re drunk!¡± ¡°RUBBISH! You¡¯re drunk!¡± Gu Qingyu glared at him. ¡°Okokok, I¡¯m drunk, I¡¯m drunk. Just hurry up and go to sleep!¡± Qi Wan tried to half-bluff, half-coax Gu Qingyu to go back downstairs. Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes and snorted, a strong alcohol breath escaped her lips. ¡°Are you treating me like a kid?!¡± Right then, a gallant voice rang out, ¡°You can go to sleep. Leave her to me.¡± Light blue robes swayed in the wind, Jia Qizhe had joined them on the rooftop. Qi Wan first looked at Gu Qingyu, then at Jia Qizhe. He broke into a knowing smile. ¡°Brother Jia! Do whatever you want to do! I will support you forever! Fighting!¡± Jia Qizhe scanned him. ¡°I have a sudden desire to twist your head off your neck now, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Nonono, don¡¯t joke about things like that!¡± Qi Wan added before he leaped off the rooftop and back to solid ground. ¡°Cheer on, Brother Jia!¡± That comment infuriated Jia Qizhe, while Qian Cheng visibly cringed. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Gu Qingyu laughed, clearly still drunk. ¡°Have you had enough fun? If you did, then go back to sleep.¡± Jia Qizhe stared at Gu Qingyu. The crowd dispersed at Mo Bai, Qi Yichen, Murong Zuoyu, and Xiao Qi¡¯s directions. Qian Cheng also disappeared into the crowd. He thought Jia Qizhe and the rest of the party would go after him, so he made his escape. Now, Gu Qingyu and Jia Qizhe were alone on the rooftop. It was very quiet, they could even hear the softest breeze. Jia Qizhe watched her, his eyes turned to half-moons. ¡°So you had a sudden urge to drink tonight, huh?¡± Gu Qingyu nodded sincerely. For some reason, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up at his comment. ¡°And you dragged Qi Wan along?¡± Then, Jia Qizhe¡¯s voice turned very gentle. Very gentle. Strangely gentle. It was unsettling, his gentle voice concealed his cold, chilling nature. ¡°Hahahahaha...¡± Gu Qingyu was almost spooked back to sobriety. She laughed dryly and tried to smooth over the situation. ¡°Ah! Fine weather today, isn¡¯t it? The sun is shining so brightly!¡± ¡°It¡¯s midnight already.¡± Jia Qizhe gave a ¡®kind¡¯ reminder. ¡°Ah! The sky is clear and the stars are shining so brightly!¡± Gu Qingyu said again, waving her hand. Boom! Clap! Just as she finished, thunder roared through the air and needle-fine rain poured from the skies. Jia Qizhe laughed deviously under the moonlight, ¡°Brother Zhu, you went overboard today.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at Jia Qizhe, her vision still blurry from the alcohol. ¡°Hehehe.¡± Jia Qizhe laughed in a low voice, ¡°Brother Zhu, are you cold?¡± Gu Qingyu sobered up even more from his sudden question. She was standing on a rooftop on a chilly night, and her clothes were nowhere near being thick enough to keep her warm in a thunderstorm. She nodded slowly as an answer to Jia Qizhe¡¯s odd question. ¡°You still seem quite warm,¡± Jia Qizhe narrowed his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s good to take in more of this breeze.¡± ¡°Brother Jia, I should go now...¡± Gu Qingyu swallowed nervously. ¡°Bye, good night...¡± She turned around and in mid-stride, a scream tore from her lungs. ¡°Ah!¡± Jia Qizhe had grabbed her and hoisted her up into the air as he took flight on his dark blue wings. As Jia Qizhe flew higher and higher, Gu Qingyu was finally freed from the alcohol¡¯s influence. ¡°Wah! Jia Qizhe, let me go!¡¯ Gu Qingyu shivered in the cold wind. ¡°I¡¯m scared of heights...¡± ¡°Pff. Are you better now?¡± Jia Qizhe asked lazily above her. Oh no! That tone! He is really upset, really really upset! Gu Qingyu nodded profusely, her head bobbing non-stop. ¡°Yes! Yes! Yes!¡± ¡°Sober?¡± Another slow line from him. ¡°Sober! Sober!¡± Gu Qingyu shivered from the cold, she could hear the clatter of her own teeth. Ah, what an unforgettable night! Jia Qizhe gently lifted Gu Qingyu and pulled her into his arms. ¡°Good, you¡¯re finally awake.¡± ¡°Sob...¡± Gu Qingyu hugged Jia Qizhe tightly, all while sneezing and sniffling. ¡°Sigh.¡± Jia Qizhe lamented. ¡°What do I do with you?¡± As he said that, Gu Qingyu felt warm energy slowly melt into her body. Was it from...Jia Qizhe? In the night sky, his light blue robes and black long hair whipped in the wind. He was indescribably handsome. However, she was still cold. Gu Qingyu shuddered and slowly steadied herself. ¡°Are you better?¡± It was the same line and but care was mixed in his tone. ¡°Yes...¡± Gu Qingyu closed her eyes in a flutter, as she drifted off. When she opened her eyes again, a white wall was in front of her. Her arms were sore, she had been lying on a table. On the table were a few sheets of white paper, a stack of documents and folders. There was a ballpoint pen as well. Wait! A ballpoint pen! Gu Qingyu shot up from her seat. Only then did she realise that she was dressed in a doctor¡¯s standard white coat. Someone entered the room ¡°I¡¯m here, Doctor Gu.¡± ¡°You...¡± Gu Qingyu looked at him, bewildered. That person had a familiar face, he was her supervisor in the modern world. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Doctor Gu? Are you feeling unwell today?¡± The supervisor stood before Gu Qingyu. He waved in front of her eyes with a gentle smile. He looked to be in his twenties. For some reason, he looked identical to someone else, someone from a long time ago. A sudden sense of deja vu washed over Gu Qingyu. ¡°Nothing...¡± Gu Qingyu reacted quickly. ¡°I¡¯m good!¡± ¡°Good, then get to work.¡± The supervisor smiled. Gu Qingyu nodded and sat down. Huh, didn¡¯t I travel to the ancient world? Where are...Jia Qizhe, Qi Yichen, Mo Bai, Xiao Qi, Xie Zang, Murong Zuoyu and Yan Zun? I¡¯m... back in the modern world?! No! I have to go back! They¡¯re waiting for me! Gu Qingyu stood up. Just then, another man walked in. ¡°You¡¯re...¡± Gu Qingyu was shocked at the sight of his red robes and black shoulder-length hair. ¡°Yan Zun? Why are you here? How did I come back here?!¡± ¡°You did not come back here.¡± Yan Zun¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile. ¡°You merely dreamt of this place.¡± ¡°This is a dream?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at Yan Zun, puzzled. ¡°It¡¯s a recreation based on your memories,¡± Yan Zun shrugged nonchalantly. ¡°Enjoy. I created this for you, as a reward from helping me all this while.¡± Reward? This piece of rock actually knows how to give back. Gu Qingyu nodded. ¡°Then, you have my thanks! Cheers!¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome, mate.¡± Yan Zun sat down in one of the chairs with his arms crossed at his chest, relaxed and lackadaisical. ¡°Eh?¡± Gu Qingyu was taken aback. ¡°You know that too! But... are you really gonna sit here?¡± ¡°Naturally.¡± Yan Zun grinned. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they can¡¯t see me.¡± ¡°But I can!¡± Gu Qingyu widened her eyes. ¡°Dude, this is really awkward!¡± Suddenly, someone else entered the room. ¡°Doctor, something just happened...¡± A girl walked in and sat down directly across from Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu looked at Yan Zun, then glanced at the girl. She noticed the girl had not seen Yan Zun at all. Alright, looks like this rock was right. Since this is a dream, then let¡¯s savour it. ¡°What happened?¡± Gu Qingyu gave a professional, warm smile. The girl¡¯s face and lips were pale. ¡°Recently, my friend broke off our friendship. The last time we talked, she called me a freak.¡± Gu Qingyu flinched, she knew too many cases like this. Gu Qingyu began her work. ¡°Well, since she left you, then it is likely that she was never really true to you. Perhaps, she did enjoy your time together and that she was happy being friends with you. But now that she left because she couldn¡¯t accept you for who you are, maybe you should look for other friends.¡± She was reminded of herself. She was a cat demon. But Jia Qizhe, Qi Yichen, Mo Bai, Qi Wan, Xiao Qi...and even Yan Zun stayed by her. Shouldn¡¯t I feel lucky for having such a big group of good friends? The girl shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s useless. I don¡¯t have the courage to face anyone else anymore.¡± ¡°When you eventually find real friends, you would feel that what you¡¯ve faced in the past does not matter that much anymore.¡± Gu Qingyu shrugged. ¡°Try not to fear the uncertainties you feel right now. Instead, confront it with positivity. Be strong and find your true friends. There will be someone who will leave you with the most unforgettable and treasured memories.¡± ¡°Thank you, Doctor Gu!¡± The girl smiled earnestly and left the room. ¡°Not bad.¡± Yan Zun clapped from the side, smiling. Gu Qingyu returned his smile. ¡°Thank you, Yan Zun!¡± ¡°For what?¡± Yan Zun raised his eyebrows. Gu Qingyu tilted her head as she beamed at him. ¡°This is done by you, right? Did you arrange that girl too? Really, thank you, I know what you mean now!¡± Chapter 32: Yan Zun’s Reward Chapter 32: Yan Zun''s Reward Translated by: iris.knight ¡°You figured it out? Good then, this took quite a lot of time to put together.¡± Yan Zun raised his eyebrows. ¡°And it¡¯s about time, they¡¯re all waiting for you. Are you ready to see them?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Gu Qingyu nodded, her excitement evident in her voice. ¡°Remember, today is a gift. That¡¯s why it¡¯s called the present.¡± Yan Zun waved his red sleeve. Gu Qingyu opened her eyes and Jia Qizhe came into view. ¡°You¡¯re awake!¡± His eyes lit up as Gu Qingyu finally woke up. ¡°Mo Bai!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The gentle voice rang out and Gu Qingyu felt someone wrapped their fingers around her wrist. Ah, it was Mo Bai checking her pulse. ¡°How do you feel?¡± Mo Bai frowned slightly. Gu Qingyu sat up. ¡°Um...Not much...I¡¯m good...¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Gu Qingyu felt lightheaded and her throat itched, she coughed when she tried to clear her throat. It seemed that only Jia Qizhe, Mo Bai and she were in the room. Gu Qingyu instinctively touched her forehead, then touched Mo Bai¡¯s forehead... Oh no, it seemed to be a fever! Oh my! Mo Bai flushed at her touch. ¡°Brother Zhu, you¡¯re afflicted with the cold.¡± ¡°The cold?¡± Gu Qingyu blinked. ¡°This is a fever, right?¡± ¡°Fever?¡± Mo Bai tilted his head as he asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Um...Should be...Probably...Maybe...Possibly...Perhaps...Could be...a...cold?¡± Gu Qingyu said with hesitance. Mo Bai nodded. ¡°A few doses of medicine should cure it.¡± ¡°Ah? Medicine?¡± Gu Qingyu widened her eyes. ¡°Mo Bai, can I not drink that?¡± ¡°This...¡± Mo Bai looked at Gu Qingyu¡¯s pleading eyes, hesitated for a bit and said. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Sob...¡± Gu Qingyu turned and looked to Jia Qizhe for help. ¡°Jia...¡± ¡°Now you remember that I¡¯m here?¡± Jia Qizhe slightly raised his eyebrows as he cut off Gu Qingyu¡¯s sentence. Gu Qingyu said again, ¡°Jia...¡± ¡°Fire away.¡± Jia Qizhe said. Gu Qingyu dropped her jaw. Why does this guy keep interrupting me? Gu Qingyu said again, ¡°Jia...¡± ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± He interrupted her again. Gu Qingyu finally lost her patience. ¡°Damn you! Get out!¡± ¡°Finally back to normal?¡± Jia Qizhe lifted his eyebrows, his whole being almost seemed lazy. He added, ¡°I like you better when you¡¯re lively. Say whatever you want, I¡¯ll stop.¡± ¡°I...¡± Gu Qingyu instinctively flinched. What was I going to say? She could only growl in reply. ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± I had a problem but I can¡¯t remember it! ¡°Good that you¡¯re fine, now drink your medicine.¡± Jia Qizhe jutted his chin towards a bowl Mo Bai was holding. ¡°Wait, medicine? Mo Bai, when did you bring it over?¡± Gu Qingyu widened her eyes in fear, ¡°I...I won¡¯t drink it!¡± ¡°Let me handle this.¡± Jia Qizhe plucked the bowl from Mo Bai¡¯s hands. ¡°You can go.¡± A cold light briefly flashed in Mo Bai¡¯s eyes. He looked at Gu Qingyu, then left the room. Jia Qizhe smiled, unperturbed by Mo Bai. He waved his hand and the door closed. ¡°Where are the others?¡± Gu Qingyu spoke weakly. Jia Qizhe raised his eyebrows. ¡°You kept them up for the whole night, where do you think they are now?¡± ¡°Um...haha,¡± Gu Qingyu laughed awkwardly. ¡°Got it, haha...¡± ¡°Drink up.¡± Jia Qizhe held up the bowl of medicine. Gu Qingyu tried her best to turn her head away from the medicine. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to rest too?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not tired.¡± Jia Qizhe rubbed in between his brows. He looked very tired but he seemed handsomely chill. ¡°Are you drinking this or not?¡± ¡°I...¡± Gu Qingyu bit her lips, ¡°No...Ooh!¡± Jia Qizhe surprised her by pressing on the bowl against her lips, one hand pinched Gu Qingyu¡¯s nose, the other poured the medicine in her mouth. Gulp, gulp, gulp. Gu Qingyu squeezed her eyes shut, her brows furrowed as she finished the medicine. ¡°Pfft!¡± Surprisingly, the medicine was not bitter. It even had a sweet and tangy taste! ¡°How was it?¡± Jia Qizhe looked at her, almost smiling. Gu Qingyu exclaimed, ¡°It¡¯s delicious!¡± ¡°Would you like more?¡± Gu Qingyu nodded innocently. ¡°Yes!¡± He brought over another bowl of medicine. Without thinking twice, Gu Qingyu drank the medicine in a single gulp. ¡°Ooh...Ah! So bitter!¡± Gu Qingyu instinctively threw the bowl away but Jia Qizhe caught it with his fast reflexes. Gu Qingyu was sad to find that she had finished the medicine before she could spit it out. ¡°Be good! If there were other sweet things added in it, then the medicine would not have much effect.¡± With the flick of his wrist, Jia Qizhe tossed the bowl and it automatically ¡®flew¡¯ back on the table. Is this the legendary ¡®Bait and switch¡¯? Gu Qingyu glared at Jia Qizhe, ¡°Jia Qizhe! You jerk!¡± Jia Qizhe¡¯s face darkened. He stood up. ¡°Ha, oh well. I stayed here and kept watch for the whole night. Only to get scolded by you like that... Whatever, just get some rest.¡± With that, he turned to leave. ¡°Wait!¡± Gu Qingyu pulled onto Jia Qizhe¡¯s sleeve. ¡°What?¡± Jia Qizhe leaned closer, his eyes were extremely harsh and cold but there was a tinge of hurt and sadness that swirled within them. And Gu Qingyu saw it. Guilt washed over her and Gu Qingyu said, ¡°Sorry, I was wrong!¡± ¡°You¡¯re not wrong.¡± Jia Qizhe averted her gaze. He pulled his sleeve out of her hand and left the room. His tone was flat but his lips curled slightly at its ends, and a small smile could be seen in his eyes. Gu Qingyu missed that tiny smile. Gu Qingyu watched the closed door, a sinking feeling ate away her insides. To chase? Or not to chase? Urgh, Gu Qingyu, grow a backbone! Gu Qingyu gritted her teeth and hastily put on a robe. She jumped off her bed and chased after him. Gu Qingyu came to Jia Qizhe¡¯s door. She lifted her right leg to kick down the door, but she stopped. She sighed as she lowered her leg. Instead, she raised her hand and gently knocked on the door. The door opened, Jia Qizhe stood at the doorway, still dressed in his usual blue robe. He said flatly, ¡°Anything?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jia Qizhe!¡± Gu Qingyu apologised immediately, ¡°I should not have called you a jerk. I didn¡¯t even thank you.¡± Jia Qizhe¡¯s cool demeanor dissipated. He leaned against the door frame and gave off an indescribable air of dominance. ¡°So you''ve realised your mistake?¡± What is the situation now?! I was being played from the start?! To think I felt guilty for you! And that I was so troubled by it! ¡°Jia Qizhe!¡± Gu Qingyu yelled, ¡°Just die!¡± ¡°That depends on whether you can kill me,¡± Jia Qizhe teased. ¡°Ok, rest up. We¡¯ll continue our journey tomorrow.¡± Gu Qingyu relented. ¡°Yeah.¡± Initially, she wanted to leave in the afternoon. But she wanted to find Qian Cheng first and ask him a few questions. After all... she could not believe Qian Cheng would just drop her from the sky, even though they had only met once... But she still hated the feeling of being abandoned. Just like back then. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much about it.¡± Jia Qizhe patted her head. ¡°Go.¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes and left without turning back. Are you treating me like a child? Jia Qizhe watched Gu Qingyu return to her room with a small smile on his face. Just as Gu Qingyu returned to her room, there was a knock on her door. ¡°Who is it?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at the door with a slight frown ¡°Boss, it¡¯s me!¡± It was Qi Wan. ¡°Come in.¡± Gu Qingyu breathed a sigh of relief. Qi Wan opened the door, ¡°How are you feeling?¡± ¡°Just fine!¡± Gu Qingyu stuck out her tongue. ¡°Luckily we travelled to a world with magic. If it weren¡¯t for it, who knows what would happen to me? I remember the cold was very deadly in this era!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe that you¡¯re actually the kind that paid attention in history class.¡± Qi Wan¡¯s eyebrows rose. Gu Qingyu gave another eyeroll. ¡°Same to you, teacher¡¯s pet.¡± After Qi Wan left, Gu Qingyu looked at the darkening sky. It looked like it was going to rain. She decided to find Qian Cheng before it started pouring. She arrived at the place where she first met Qian Cheng. Gu Qingyu may not provoke others deliberately but she would bear grudges to anyone who did offend her. Thus, Qian Cheng really made her mad! She believed that Qian Cheng would come back! She knew it in her guts! Gu Qingyu copied the line of the ancient times, ¡°I will have my revenge!¡± It was strangely amusing to say that... ¡°Pff.¡± A chortle came from behind Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu turned, crossed her arms and asked, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here?¡± Qian Cheng gave a firm nod. ¡°Yes! I am here to answer for my crimes against you!¡± ¡°You seem self-aware.¡± Gu QIngyu raised her eyebrows. ¡°Since you¡¯re mentally prepared, then... Hehe!¡± Qian Cheng broke into a cold sweat as Gu Qingyu chuckled ominously. ¡°What do you want?¡± Qian Cheng seemed frightened, it was not clear if his fear was real or pretend, but probably...the latter? ¡°Oh, you really don¡¯t know what I want?¡± Gu Qingyu laughed again. ¡°Ah, I really don¡¯t know...¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± ¡°Ah, really. Please spare me...¡± ¡°Oh, spare you?¡± ¡°Um, maybe not...¡± ¡°Oh, you said so yourself?¡± ¡°Um, What I¡¯m saying is...¡± ¡°Boss!¡± Just then, Qi Wan hopped over. ¡°Why did you leave your room? Don¡¯t you have a fever...Um, a cold? And it¡¯s going to rain!¡± ¡°The cold?¡± Qian Cheng quickly caught on and looked at Gu Qingyu. ¡°Zhu Fan, you have a cold?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Gu Qingyu crossed both her arms across her chest. ¡°It¡¯s your fault, what are we gonna do about that?¡± Qian Cheng apologised immediately. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Zhu Fan. Since it came to this, I¡¯ll be honest with you. Actually, I¡¯ve been hunted down by someone all this time and I felt this murderous intent coming my way last night. I did not want to implicate you so I left...¡± ¡°Then how do you explain letting go of me in mid-air?¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s face softened a little. Chapter 33: A Loud and Clear Shout Chapter 33: A Loud and Clear Shout Translated by: iris.knight ¡°Say it!¡± Gu Qingyu commanded in a stern voice. All of a sudden, she felt like a mother scolding her disobedient child. ¡°Okay...¡± Qian Cheng seemed desperate. ¡°Actually I had long felt that green-robed man was coming!¡± He was referring to Qi Wan. Long felt? Gu Qingyu glared towards Qi Wan. ¡°What does he mean by ¡®long felt¡¯?¡± Qi Wan wiped the sweat off his brow and looked at the sky. ¡°Um, Boss, the weather is really nice today!¡± As he said that, a few streaks of lightning flashed in the sky, followed by rumbles of thunder. ¡°Yes, indeed, the weather is so good today.¡± Gu Qingyu was not laughing. ¡°Um...That...¡± Qi Wan¡¯s eyes darted left and right. ¡°Ah! My head! Why do I feel so dizzy?!¡± Gu Qingyu walked over and stretched out her hand, ¡°Come, let me rub it for you, sweetie.¡± ¡°Naaah!¡¯ Qi Wan¡¯s body shook. ¡°Boss, the moment you stretched out your hand, my waist stopped feeling sore, my legs feel fine and my head doesn¡¯t hurt anymore!¡± Gu Qingyu raised her eyebrows and rubbed in between her brows. ¡°Do I need to help you with stopping your heart as well?¡± ¡°Nonononono...¡± Qi Wan looked like sobbing, the devilishly handsome face was eager to placate her. ¡°Boss, please! Spare me!¡± Now, the roles had swapped between Qian Cheng and Qi Wan. ¡°It¡¯s going to rain, Zhu Fan.¡± Qian Cheng walked over and tugged on Gu Qingyu¡¯s sleeve. ¡°You have a cold. Let¡¯s all go in, the wind is strong outside.¡± ¡°Strong winds?¡± Gu Qingyu asked in mock surprise, ¡°You knew about the strong winds?¡± ¡°I...¡± Qian Cheng felt that no amount of explanation would save him. ¡°You¡¯re denying it?¡± Gu Qingyu glared. ¡°I¡¯m adding that to your list of crimes!¡± Denial? Alright, he will shut up. Qian Cheng stopped talking from then on. ¡°Hmm?¡± Gu Qingyu spoke again, ¡°Nothing to say? You¡¯re not explaining?! Silence means admittance, you know?!¡± Qian Cheng¡¯s mouth was agape.What should he say? Anything he said was considered as denial, but keeping his mouth shut meant confession?! Qian Cheng could cry. ¡°Pff.¡± Qi Wan could not hold in his giggles. ¡°Oh, my dear little Qi Wan...¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s voice was soft and smooth.¡°What are you laughing about?¡± ¡°Boss...¡± If Qi Wan heard correctly, his own voice was shaking. ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything! I didn¡¯t laugh either!¡± ¡°Oh, then there¡¯s something wrong with my hearing?¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s voice became even smoother. Qi Wan nodded furiously, then desperately shook his head. ¡°Nonono, I laughed!¡± ¡°Oh? You admit it?¡± Gu QIngyu smiled at the sad Qi Wan. ¡°My boy, you look so cute!¡± ¡°Ah, haha, is that so, Boss?¡± Qi Wan then realized what he just said and his body shook, ¡°Nonono, I¡¯m not as cute as you though, Boss!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Gu Qingyu raised her eyebrows slightly, clearly pleased with what he said, ¡°Hahaha! That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡± Qi Wan nodded immediately. ¡°Ah! My lovely, kind, beautiful, generous, handsome, bright and stunning Boss! Oh! Your beautiful face truly touches my heart!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Gu Qingyu nodded, enjoying all this. She did not have any punishment in mind for Qi Wan anyway, thus she decided to let him off. ¡°Cough!¡± Qian Cheng did a few fake coughs. ¡°Ah...The...The beautiful and lovely...¡± ¡°You shut up.¡± Gu Qingyu gave him a cold glare. Qian Cheng blinked, confused. He started the sentence like Qi Wan, why did she cut him off? Gu Qingyu critiqued with an expressionless face, ¡°Your words are not descriptive enough and the emotions behind your exclamation must be stronger! Again!¡± ¡°Ah! My beautiful and lovely...Um, kind and generous...¡± ¡°Stop!¡± Gu Qingyu waved again. ¡°Again!¡± ¡°Ah! My beautiful...¡± ¡°Again!¡± ¡°Ah! My...¡± ¡°Again!¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Qi Wan almost fell over with laughter as he watched this. He still preferred the modern sense of humour. Gu Qingyu laughed as well, but it was a malicious laugh that grew from teasing others. ¡°Ok, ok!¡± Gu Qingyu did a big clap. ¡°That will do!¡± ¡°Ah? Really?¡± Qian Cheng almost could not believe it, he was so happy that he could do a jig. ¡°No, it isn¡¯t.¡± Gu Qingyu caved and decided to stop teasing Qian Cheng. ¡°But since you¡¯re having such a tough time, we will do this later!¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Qian Cheng¡¯s screams echoed throughout the streets. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s really going to pour soon...¡± Qi Wan looked up at the sky, then he glanced at Qian Cheng who was still screaming at the top of his lungs. ¡°Actually, today is the Lantern Festival right?¡± Gu Qingyu sniffed, then obediently went towards her room. Qian Cheng remained at his spot, unsure if he should move. ¡°Yes, Boss.¡± Qi Wan shot Gu Qingyu with a beaming smile. ¡°Whatever you want, I¡¯ll buy it, Boss!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need, let everyone rest here for another day. I want to enjoy this for a bit more!¡± Gu Qingyu grinned at Qi Wan. Qi Wan stood at attention and saluted. ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± Gu Qingyu smiled, pleased. ¡°Yep, I¡¯ll rest for a bit in my room, call me at night!¡± ¡°Em...Boss, you sleep a lot!¡± Qi Wan touched his forehead. ¡°Ah? What did you say? Say it again?¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s eyebrows jumped. ¡°Ah! I¡¯m wrong, Boss!¡± Qi Wan immediately did a standard 90o bow. ¡°Boss, you¡¯re kind, beautiful, generous, generous and lovely! You must sleep well and maintain your beauty!¡± Gu Qingyu nodded in agreement. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right, my subject!¡± Qi Wan opened Gu Qingyu¡¯s door for her. ¡°Please, Boss!¡± Gu Qingyu then walked in with the flair of a noble lady. The door was then closed gently by Qi Wan. Gu Qingyu rubbed her temples. She laid on her bed, pulled the blanket over her eyes and entered the spirit world. Things looked different from before, Yan Zun did not lie in his usual fiery red lounge but was enjoying himself in a big hot spring, resting with his eyes closed. Gu Qingyu, at a loss for words, watched him. ¡°Master!¡± ¡°Yes, my disciple.¡± For some reason, Yan Zun seemed to be in an exceptional mood today. He smiled with an incredibly devious smile. ¡°Today is the Lantern Festival, right? You can go out and have fun first, then come back to me after that.¡± ¡°What? More things to do? What do you want this time?¡± Gu Qingyu was disappointed. This piece of rock! He only rewards me when he has favours to ask! ¡°Oh, just go for a walk.¡± Yan Zun stood up from the hot spring. His flaming red robes clung onto his skin, accentuated the muscles on his arms, his legs, his torso. His silky hair trickled down, his narrowed eyes were truly like the devil. Yan Zun looked at Gu Qingyu in disgust. ¡°Nosebleed.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Gu Qingyu covered her nose in a hurry. This piece of rock! When she opened her eyes again, it was nightfall. Gu Qingyu rubbed the sleep from her eyes and sat up. She climbed out of bed and opened the window. Indeed, there was a small drizzle. But warm bright lights scattered in the streets, their yellow and orange glow chased away the chill. The rain did not dampen the joyful energy of the festivities. Gu Qingyu yawned as she opened the door, and saw Qi Yichen whose hand hung awkwardly in the air. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re awake?¡± Qi Yichen gave a dashing smile. But his next line irritated Gu Qingyu. ¡°I thought you were buried in your blankets and would not wake up ever again!¡± ¡°Hahahaha.¡± Gu Qingyu gritted her teeth, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I would make sure you don¡¯t wake again before I do!¡± ¡°So fierce...¡± Baby Qi was annoyed. ¡°Brother Zhu, you scared me!¡± ¡°Are you ready? Let¡¯s go.¡± Murong Zuoyu stepped out of his room. ¡°Yeah,¡± Gu Qingyu saw Mo Bai and Xiao Qi walked towards them. ¡°Then again, where¡¯s Jia Qizhe and Qi Wan?¡± ¡°Jia Qizhe said he was not feeling well, so he¡¯s resting in his room.¡± Mo Bai took over the conversation. His tone was gentle and he gave a reassuring smile. ¡°I took a look, he¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°Ok...¡± Gu Qingyu nodded as if she were in thought. ¡°Qi Wan has already left, we don¡¯t know where he went though.¡± Xiao Qi licked her lips out of nervous habit as she walked next to Gu Qingyu. ¡°Then, let¡¯s go.¡± Gu Qingyu took a look at Jia Qizhe¡¯s closed door before they left the tavern. Outside the tavern, it was even busier than usual. Stalls had set up tents to avoid the rain, people filled the streets. Suddenly the crowd quieted down, they all made way and opened a path. Then, over a hundred ladies dressed in bright red walked as a parade. They raised the baton-like object in their hands towards the sky. Fireworks bloomed in the rainy sky. ¡®Boss, Happy Lantern Festival!¡¯ Gu Qingyu laughed and smiled in surprise. Qi Wan walked out from the parade of ladies. ¡°How¡¯s that? Are you very pleased with that?¡± Gu Qingyu nodded in a daze. Qi Wan smiled even wider. ¡°Are you excited?¡± Gu Qingyu continued to nod. Qi Wan laughed out loud. ¡°Do you want to marry me?¡± ¡°...Get lost!¡± Gu Qingyu caught herself in time. ¡°You damn playboy!¡± Mo Bai narrowed his eyes with great displeasure, as he shot daggers at Qi Wan with his eyes. His expression was very intimidating. Gu Qingyu did not see Mo Bai¡¯s expression but Murong Zuoyu did. He lowered his eyes to the ground as if sinking into his thoughts. ¡°Huh?¡± Qi Yichen blinked. Gu Qingyu smiled. ¡°You see. Playboy literally means that you are superb at games... and a man among men!¡± ¡°Huh, how could I accept such praise from Brother Zhu?¡± Qi Yichen covered his face in feigned embarrassment. ¡°But, Brother Zhu, why have I never heard of that before?¡± "It¡¯s a saying from my hometown!¡± Gu Qingyu nodded, pleased. Chapter 34: Lantern Festival Chapter 34: Lantern Festival Translated by: iris.knight Ending the conversation on ¡®playboys¡¯, the group strolled through the streets and solved lantern riddles along the way. Gu Qingyu got most of the riddles wrong, she did not have an interest in riddles and quizzes. Qi Wan, on the other hand, was spot-on everytime. And he received a small prize for each correct answer. ¡°I¡¯m suspecting you have Google on you.¡± Gu Qingyu glared at Qi Wan. ¡°Haha, me, the handsome Qi Wan, still needs Google?¡± Qi Wan made a pose he thought to be very handsome. ¡°You can get lost.¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes and saw another riddle. ¡°The answer can release the leaves for three autumns and open the flowers of February... Isn¡¯t this ¡®Wind¡¯?¡± ¡°Little girl, you¡¯re so good at this!¡± An old man walked over with a smile as he handed her a small lantern. ¡°This is the prize.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Gu Qingyu took it with a smile. ¡°Brother Zhu, let¡¯s make some wishes!¡± Qi Yichen was very successful in his own attempts at the riddles, he truly was a scholar! His hands were full of bags of loot. ¡°Huh? Sure!¡± That piqued Gu Qingyu¡¯s interest and she skipped ahead. ¡°Brother Zhu...¡± Murong Zuoyu raised his eyebrows. ¡°You¡¯re so lively.¡± ¡°Thank you for the compliment.¡± Gu Qingyu went to the wishing area. ¡°Wow! It¡¯s beautiful...¡± Lotus lamps of different sizes floated on the water, each of them carried the wish of someone else in the crowd. In a blink of an eye, Qi Wan returned with multiple lotus lamps in hand. ¡°Come, don¡¯t be shy! One for ten coins! While stock lasts!¡± Gu Qingyu took the lanterns from Qi Wan and gave them out to their team without any sense of shame. ¡°You¡¯re paying for them.¡± ¡°Ah, sad.¡± Qi Wan took a brush and started writing his wish on the only lotus lamp he had left. Gu Qingyu took a curious peek at his wish, ¡®May peace be with Boss, may we go home soon!¡¯ Um...I couldn¡¯t say anything against that wish... She looked at Qi Yichen¡¯s wish. ¡®Learn well and improve every day!¡± Alright, that was a lot more fun than Qi Wan¡¯s wish. Then Mo Bai¡¯s wish was ¡®May the herbs in the world be in my hands!¡± For some reason, it sounds really badass! What about Murong Zuoyu? ¡®World Peace!¡¯ I don¡¯t know what to say! Even your wishes are grander than the others! Xiao Qi¡¯s wish should be more normal. ¡®May Xiao Yu be happy, always happy.¡¯ Yeap, that hits my heart. Xiao Qi passed the brush to Gu Qingyu. She held the brush for a while, then she wrote, ¡®May everyone stay safe, may our journey be peaceful.¡¯ All those who have helped me and followed me; Jia Qizhe, Qi Yichen, Mo Bai, Murong Zuoyu, Qi Wan, Xiao Qi, Yan Zun, and even Xie Zang. I wonder how Jia Qizhe is doing... She then wrote two more words: ¡®Jia Qizhe¡¯. Let¡¯s wish for some blessings for him too. Suddenly a bolt of thunder streaked across the sky, followed by a clap of thunder. Gu Qingyu shuddered, ¡°The rain is getting heavier, let¡¯s go back!¡± ¡°Brother Zhu is scared of lightning?¡± Murong Zuoyu seemed curious. Gu Qingyu nodded immediately. More than scared! I travelled here in a thunderstorm like this! Mo Bai opened the umbrella he prepared earlier and brought it over Gu Qingyu¡¯s head. ¡°Brother Zhu, let¡¯s go.¡± Gu Qingyu took Mo Bai¡¯s hand with a smile. ¡°Thank you, Brother Mo!¡± Qi Wan scooted over as well. ¡°My dear Brother Mo...¡± Before he could finish his words, Mo Bai had left with Gu Qingyu. Qi Wan said, ¡°Have I lost my charisma?¡± Qi Yichen snorted in amusement as he watched Qi Wan before he broke into a small jog to catch up with Gu Qingyu. ¡°Brother Zhu!¡± Gu Qingyu and Mo Bai arrived back at the tavern. She watched as Mo Bai gently closed the umbrella. His black hair was mostly tied back together with a white ribbon, though parts framed his face. His face was gentle and gave an otherworldly air. The paper umbrella matched his white robes. He kept the umbrella in such a graceful manner. A line popped into Gu Qingyu¡¯s mind, although she was not sure where she had seen it from. He who was like an angel in painting, his smile would topple the world. But, it was perfect in describing Mo Bai. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Mo Bai gave a warm smile. Gu Qingyu quickly focused and replied, ¡°Nothing! Um...How¡¯s Jia Qizhe?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Mo Bai lifted his chin with a hand. ¡°Should I take a look?¡± ¡°It¡¯s ok, it¡¯s already late at night. I¡¯ll check on him instead! Go and get some rest, Mo Bai!¡± Gu Qingyu said in a hurry. ¡°It¡¯s just a shame that he missed out on a fun night like this.¡± ¡°Yu¡¯er, didn¡¯t you bring gifts for him?¡± Mo Bai pointed to the small lantern in Gu Qingyu¡¯s hand. ¡°Oh yes!¡± Gu Qingyu suddenly realized. ¡°Thank you, Mo Bai! I know what to do!¡± ¡°Yeap, then I will go and rest first.¡± Mo Bai turned, took a couple of steps, then turned back. He raised his hand, stretching out those manicured fingers and waved with a calm smile, ¡°Ciao.¡± ¡°Ciao!¡± Gu Qingyu waved back as she returned his smile. Being with Mo Bai was so reassuring. It was like even if the sky fell, he would still be there. After everyone returned to their rooms, Gu Qingyu came to Jia Qizhe¡¯s door. She plucked up her courage, reached out and knocked gently. The door was not locked, it creaked open at her first knock. Gu Qingyu called out in a hushed voice, ¡°Jia Qizhe? Brother Jia? Hero Jia? I¡¯ll just come in?¡± She entered the room and the door closed behind her. Gu Qingyu jumped in fright, luckily the small lantern she brought along gave off a faint light. ¡°Jia Qizhe?¡± She called out again. In the darkness, a silhouette responded with a grunt. ¡°Jia Qizhe!¡¯ Gu Qingyu jumped in fright and hurried to his side. ¡°What happened to you?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Gu Qingyu could barely make out his face in the faint light. ¡°He seems to be poisoned.¡± Yan Zun commented as he stroked his chin and examined Jia Qizhe curiously. He had appeared out of nowhere and had taken on a ghostly form. He floated about in the room as he continued to think. Gu Qingyu heard his voice and her heart almost jumped out of her mouth. She was about to snap back, but Yan Zun stopped her. ¡°Calm down, only you can see me. If you don¡¯t want him to think you¡¯ve gone mad, then collect yourself and pick up your jaw.¡± Gu Qingyu closed her mouth at his warning, then she turned to check on Jia Qizhe. His eyes were closed, and his brows were slightly knitted as if he was in pain. He did not notice Gu Qingyu¡¯s strange behaviour. ¡°What poison?¡± Gu Qingyu asked Yan Zun using their telepathic connection. Yan Zun hovered around Jia Qizhe and concluded, ¡°The Frost Poison. Anyone afflicted with this would be extremely cold, but they would feel as though they were on fire instead, with extreme itching in the bones. Even fainting would be luxurious relief. Some have gone crazy in this torture. It looks like he had this condition for a number of years. It¡¯s not easy to bear it, every attack must be agonising, I truly respect his determination.¡± He said it lightly, without an actual tinge of ¡®respect¡¯. ¡°Frost Poison?¡± Gu Qingyu repeated mentally. ¡°How can it be cured?¡± ¡°Cure?¡± Yan Zun sneered, ¡°You think this is the common cold? That it can be cured so easily? If it was so easy to fix, why would this Hero Jia suffer like this?¡± He paused. ¡°I do have a medicine that can temporarily ease the symptoms, do you want it?¡± ¡°Yes! Of course!¡± Gu Qingyu replied instantly. Yan Zun slowly pulled out a small white ceramic bottle from his sleeve, ¡°I have conditions though...¡± ¡°We can discuss that later!¡¯ Gu Qingyu grabbed the bottle, felt about for the pills and carefully poured them into Jia Qizhe¡¯s mouth. Jia Qizhe¡¯s tight frown finally relaxed. He opened his eyes soon after. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°No need to thank me.¡± Gu Qingyu waved and opened the windows to let in some fresh air. She then sat next to Jia Qizhe and poured a cup of water for him. ¡°Are you better? Do you want something to drink?¡± Jia Qizhe nodded, took the cup and drank it in a single gulp. ¡°Did you have fun?¡± Jia Qizhe smiled, the faint light from the small lantern shone on his pale but handsome face. Gu Qingyu nodded, ¡°Yeah, I did. Ah, this is actually a present for you! But sadly, with the rain and all, there won¡¯t be any moon viewing tonight.¡± She held up the small lantern. Jia Qizhe chuckled as he took the small lantern, ¡°It¡¯s cute.¡± He pushed himself up from the bed, ¡°You want to see the moon?¡± ¡°Well... it would be nice.¡± But it¡¯s not like we can see the moon now. Gu Qingyu complained internally. Jia Qizhe suddenly stretched his hand out, and moved his hands in the air, as if he became a mime who¡¯s wiping a window. Just then, a soft silver light came in through the window and shone on his smiling face and into his azure blue eyes. Gu Qingyu followed the light as she turned to look outside. It was the moon! The big full moon! ¡°Wow! Jia Qizhe, you have a couple of tricks up your sleeve!¡± Gu Qingyu praised Jia Qizhe. She did not notice that colour had drained slightly from Jia Qizhe¡¯s face. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, as long as you¡¯re happy.¡± Jia Qizhe looked out the window along with her. The moonlight was very beautiful. When Gu Qingyu opened her eyes again, it was dawn already. Wait, when did I fall asleep? I seemed to be too tired last night and slept in Jia Qizhe¡¯s room and I did not look for Yan Zun afterwards... She looked around her surroundings. Luckily, I¡¯m still in my room. She got up, turned to twist and stretch the creak in her neck, and... What in the world, Yan Zun is in my room! Snap! Yan Zun opened his eyes and yawned lazily. ¡°Huh? Did you twist your neck? I¡¯ve already told you not to be too surprised, let your master massage it for you.¡± ¡°Um...How did you get out?¡¯ Gu Qingyu twisted her neck stiffly. ¡°Also, how did I come back here?¡± ¡°As your master, I had enough strength to come out after absorbing part of your own.¡± Yan Zun was dressed in red robes and floated around in the air. If she woke up in the middle of the night, she would be scared to death. ¡°As for the second question, you better ask Jia Qizhe yourself.¡± ¡°Then forget it...¡± How is this rock so good at being a master? Ever since assuming that position, he has not shut up about his title. What if one day, he decides to designate himself as my father figure in this world and calls himself ¡®dad¡¯? Jesus, just thinking about that gives me the creeps! Gu Qingyu straightened her clothes and went downstairs. She was one of the early risers today, Qi Wan was already downstairs. ¡°Morning.¡± Gu Qingyu greeted him with a lazy smile. ¡°Morning.¡± Qi Wan smiled back at her. ¡°Did you sleep well?¡± ¡°Yeap, it was alright, quite good.¡± Gu Qingyu summarized briefly, sat down and bit into a meat bun. Qi Wan sat opposite her. ¡°Are we leaving already? Why don¡¯t we rest for a bit longer, maybe a few more days?¡± ¡°No, we¡¯ve already stayed far too long.¡± Gu Qingyu waved her hand. ¡°Besides, don¡¯t you want to go back ASAP?¡± Chapter 35: Youngsters these days Chapter 35: Youngsters these days Translated by: iris.knight ¡°Yeap, as long as we¡¯re happy.¡± Gu Qingyu nodded and finished the meat bun. ¡°Everyone else is still sleeping?¡± ¡°Yeap.¡± Qi Wan beamed at her. ¡°Please call me an early bird!¡± ¡°Yes, my little birdie,¡± Gu Qingyu stood up and stretched lazily. ¡°I¡¯ll go out for a walk, you go and wake the others up.¡± ¡°On your own?¡± Qi Wan pursed his lips. ¡°Alright, see you later.¡± Gu Qingyu walked out, smiling. Before long, a quivering Qian Cheng appeared before her. ¡°Zhu Fan...¡± Qian Cheng spoke weakly. His voice was slightly hoarse, it seemed to be caused by all the shouting yesterday, he sounded indescribably pitiful now. Gu Qingyu looked at him. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You¡¯re...leaving today?¡± Qian Cheng asked cautiously. Gu Qingyu nodded. ¡°Yes, let us part ways.¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s part ways...¡± Qian Cheng seemed a little crestfallen. He took out a small wooden token and handed it to Gu Qingyu. ¡°Erm, this is for you. Keep it, as part of my apology and as a souvenir.¡± Gu Qingyu accepted it generously. ¡°Thank you.¡± The wooden token looked like a plaque with carvings of dragons and phoenixes in flight, it seemed prized and treasured. Gu Qingyu slipped the token in her sleeve. She checked her pockets and took out a black hairband stitched with a pattern of white flowers, one of the prizes from the lanterns riddles last night. ¡°This is for you. I don¡¯t have anything valuable on me so this will have to do. Friendship is supposed to be priceless after all.¡± She added the last line for emphasis but it still sounded weird. Qian Cheng accepted the hairband with glee. ¡°Yeap, see you next time!¡± With those words, he vanished and left Gu Qingyu alone in the busy street. Next time? ¡°Ooooh! We all saw that, Brother Zhu!¡± Suddenly, an eerie voice rang out. Gu Qingyu turned back with a defeated look. ¡°What did you see? Qi Yichen!¡± Qi Yichen said softly, ¡°You both poured your hearts out, exchanged tokens of love and swore eternal love to each other! Don¡¯t think I didn¡¯t see it!¡± You actually described a friendly exchange of gifts that way! You are truly a genius. Qi Wan interjected, ¡°Brother Zhu, I never thought you¡¯re someone like this!¡± ¡°Enough,¡± Gu Qingyu slapped her forehead. ¡°There¡¯s nothing between us. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Oh? Really?¡± Qi Yichen raised his tone slightly. Gu Qingyu had a sudden change of thought and smiled. ¡°No. Actually he promised to love me forever so we exchanged tokens of eternal love. Qi Yichen...¡± She stretched out her hand and gently hooked Qi Yichen¡¯s chiseled chin with her index finger. ¡°You¡¯re quite handsome yourself, why don¡¯t you marry me too? What do you think?¡± The passer-bys all saw the commotion. They pointed fingers as they whispered and muttered under their breaths. ¡°Sigh, youngsters these days!¡± ¡°They are really too hot-blooded!¡± ¡°Doing such things in the streets...¡± Qi Yichen¡¯s breath hitched as he turned a deep shade of red. ¡°Ah haha, Brother Zhu, let¡¯s never make such jokes again...¡± Gu Qingyu released her hand, and with a stern face, commented, ¡°Look, you¡¯re blushing! And you say you¡¯re not in love with me?¡± ¡°Brother Zhu! Actually I''ve been in love with you for a very long time!¡± Qi Wan immediately raised his hand and confessed innocently. ¡°Scram,¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s just get moving.¡± Qi Wan looked hurt. ¡°I am a handsome man too, okay?¡± Indeed, Qi Wan was undeniably handsome too. He had a pair of captivating eyes. Streaks of white were mixed in his neatly-tied dark green hair, as his dark green robes swayed in the wind. ¡°A pity,¡± Gu Qingyu hugged Xiao Qi, ¡°I happen to be straight! Oh ho ho!¡± Are you even normal? Except Murong Zuoyu, the others asked the question internally in unison. Xiao Qi replied awkwardly, ¡°Um...Hubby...¡± ¡°My dear,¡± Gu Qingyu was smiling and looked at the baggage she was carrying, ¡°Is it heavy? Why don¡¯t your husband carry them for you?¡± Xiao Qi shook her head. She commented internally. Again, when did I become your wife! Hey! Suddenly, someone crashed into Qi Wan. Qi Wan instinctively supported the person and revealed that person¡¯s beautiful and feminine face. ¡°Young lady, are you alright?¡± Qi Wan smiled like a pimp. The girl nodded, ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± Butterflies fluttered in Gu Qingyu¡¯s stomach. That¡¯s my second sister! What¡¯s she doing here? Her second sister took a long look at Gu Qingyu, then bowed to Qi Wan. ¡°I am sorry to bother you, sir, do forgive me.¡± She was about to leave but someone stopped her. Gu Qingyu smiled at her sister. ¡°What, are you leaving after taking advantage of my brother?¡± A glint of murderous intent flashed in her sister¡¯s eyes, but she concealed it with a smile. ¡°What are you saying, sir? I was just a little careless...¡± ¡°Yes, I can understand this in the busy early morning marketplace. But it is already early afternoon now and the crowd has dispersed, so where¡¯s the pebble that tripped you?¡± Every word from Gu Qingyu was crystal clear and left no room for misinterpretation. Qi Wan curiously looked at Gu Qingyu. In his impression, Gu Qingyu was usually lively and generous and would never press someone like this. Yep, it looked like this girl had beef with her. The Second Young Miss still had a calm smile as she glanced over to Qi Wan. ¡°But, this young man did not even say anything...¡± As if on cue, Qi Wan fell to the floor. ¡°Ah! It hurts! Help! I think I¡¯ve been poisoned!¡± This caused the passer-bys to crowd around them. The smile on the Second Young Miss faded. She twisted her face into a pitiful expression as tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°Young sir, please don¡¯t make false accusations.¡± ¡°False accusations?¡± Gu Qingyu laughed coldly. ¡°You bumped into my brother just now and my brother fell down immediately. Are you saying you didn¡¯t do anything to him? Shall we take a walk to the magistrate?¡± Qi Yichen chimed in, ¡°Brother Zhu, calm down.¡± He paused. ¡°What¡¯s the need to quarrel with someone so insignificant? Hurry up and let this lady bring Brother QI Wan to a doctor. If the doctor could not cure him, then it won¡¯t be too late to bring her to the magistrate!¡± The hidden meaning was that this girl was going to be responsible for Qi Wan regardless. If Qi Wan kept pretending, then this situation could escalate easily. It all depended on Gu Qingyu¡¯s mood. Gu Qingyu seemed to be in serious thought. She then nodded and did not give the Second Young Miss a chance to speak, ¡°Yes, Brother Jia, Brother Mo, let¡¯s bring Qi Wan to the doctor!¡± The Second Young Miss was clearly in a precarious position. ¡°I am a Young Miss of the Gu residence!¡± At that, Qi Wan knew instantly. Gu Qingyu did mention she was the Third Young Miss of the Gu residence, no wonder she had beef with this girl. Classic TV Trope. Gu Qingyu seemed unperturbed and snapped her fingers calmly. ¡°Brother Murong, I¡¯ll leave the magistrate to you!¡± Murong Zuoyu was taken aback, but he nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Brother Murong? The Second Young Miss flinched. That was the name of the royal household. She then looked over to Murong Zuoyu. She had not noticed but upon closer inspection, she was stunned and knelt immediately. ¡°Your subject greets Duke Yu!¡± The others took notice as well Murong Zuoyu and knelt down. Murong Zuoyu nodded slightly and told the others, ¡°Please rise.¡± Gu Qingyu and the rest of the party got up. The Second Young Miss was about to get up as well, but Murong Zuoyu said with a piercing glare, ¡° Did I give you permission to rise?¡± The Second Young Miss trembled and knelt back down. Murong Zuoyu had a great reputation among the people so everyone started siding with Gu Qingyu. More and more people gathered around the commotion, whispers of different versions of the event filled the air as they all pointed and muttered amongst themselves. ¡°Look, that seemed to be the Second Young Miss of the Gu residence! She poisoned someone with Duke Yu! And now she was caught red-handed...¡± Gu Qingyu was touched. After all, Murong Zuoyu was the only person in the party that did not know her real identity and yet he still sided with her without question. Her sister¡¯s face turned red with anger. She thought her plan was flawless, who knew that this person would not let her go! Gu Qingyu smiled as she looked haughtily at her sister. ¡°Oh, Second Young Miss of the Gu family, what should we do about this?¡± The Second Young Miss smiled, but everyone could tell it was a slowly crumbling facade. ¡°Then let¡¯s send this young sir to the doctor. If we find anything, I am willing to take responsibility.¡± ¡°Rubbish!¡± Gu Qingyu sneered coldly, ¡°What do you know? Responsibility? Can you actually be held responsible? If anything happened to Qi Wan, killing you wouldn¡¯t be enough!¡± Qi Wan and the others looked at Gu Qingyu in surprise. Qi Wan himself was touched by her response. He knew Gu Qingyu travelled here, and that they will be going back home one day. She could choose to let things slide but she did not. It was really comforting to see her stand up for him like that. The Second Young Miss was shocked, her face turned to a fiery shade of embarrassment. Gu Qingyu laughed coldly in her heart, she just wanted to teach her a lesson. She then bent down, hooked her arms under Qi Wan¡¯s shoulders and legs and carried him. Qi Wan flinched but immediately followed along, he stopped pretending to be in pain and ¡®passed out¡¯. Mo Bai looked at this with great displeasure, his black eyes turned white again. Finally, he restrained his anger and gently closed his eyes. When they opened again, he was back to his sweet gentle demeanor. Jia Qizhe raised his eyebrows slightly and snorted. Qi Yichen¡¯s face slightly darkened and watched this with displeasure. Murong Zuoyu¡¯s eyes darkened slightly too. The Second Young Miss looked at Gu Qingyu in great surprise. Gu Qingyu gave her sister a smile, the smile did not reach her eyes. ¡°Be careful, Second Young Miss of the Gu family! Life is important, after all. But to you, it is only worth a few coins, right? Any obstacles in your way should be cleared away. But, everyone has to die someday. So, if you are unfortunate enough to get assassinated or something of the like, it would probably be an accident too, right?¡± She gave a light shrug and simply walked past the Second Young Miss. The rest of the party followed her. When Murong Zuoyu passed by the Second Young Miss, he spoke coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t be so hasty to get up, kneel for a few more hours.¡± The Second Young Miss¡¯s face darkened but she could not retort and thus obeyed. ¡°Yes, Duke Yu." Chapter 36: Butchers and Gangsters Chapter 36: Butchers and Gangsters Translated by: iris.knight After walking for a bit, Gu Qingyu put Qi Wan down. Qi Wan has a complex expression. ¡°Boss, did you...¡± ¡°Damn! How are you so heavy?¡± Gu Qingyu shook her arms to relieve her strained muscles.¡°Hurry up and give me a massage!¡± Qi Wan was taken aback, then went over obediently. ¡°Yes, boss!¡± His outstretched hand was grabbed by another hand, one that was as white and cold as ice itself. Qi Wan looked towards the man nervously. ¡°Hi... Brother Mo...¡± Mo Bai smiled. It was a warm smile, but his eyes were threatening and pierced Qi Wan. ¡°Leave Brother Zhu to me, I¡¯m the doctor here.¡± For the first time since their travels began, he emphasized that he¡¯s the ¡®doctor¡¯. Qi Wan nodded and withdrew his hand like the wind. ¡°Please!¡± Gu Qingyu was speechless. Mo Bai looked at Gu Qingyu, the threatening look in his eyes vanished and was never caught by Gu Qingyu. It was replaced by a soothing warmth. Gu Qingyu swallowed nervously. ¡°Mo, Mo Bai...¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Mo Bai smiled, stretched his hands out and gently lifted Gu Qingyu¡¯s arms. ¡°If Brother Zhu don¡¯t mind, is it ok if I help to massage you?¡± Gu Qingyu swallowed nervously again. ¡°Sure, sure, sure!¡± Xiao Qi watched their interaction, at a complete loss for words. Murong Zuoyu observed in shock. Doesn''t he have a wife? Why does his every action look like he is into men? Soon, they hit the road again. Quite a few people were chatting lively, thanks to Gu Qingyu and Qi Wan. However, Qi Yichen was surprisingly silent. ¡°Brother Qi, why do you look like you¡¯re distracted?¡± Qi Wan raised his eyebrows in curiosity. Qi Yichen focused himself, ¡°Ah? Did I?¡± Qi Wan and Gu Qingyu both nodded seriously, Qi Yichen smiled, ¡°I was just suddenly homesick after all.¡± Gu Qingyu complained internally. Do you have a home? Suddenly homesick? Yeah right! Then again, none of us are aware of each other¡¯s backstory. Yeah, I should ask that when there¡¯s time. Finally, when it was mid-afternoon, they got out of the town and entered a forest ¡°Boss...¡± Qi Wan suddenly held onto a tree for support, his legs looked weak and wobbly. ¡°Qi Wan? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Gu Qingyu immediately went over to support him, Qi Wan seemed to be in a daze, his eyes struggled to focus on her, then he posed. ¡°For some reason, I think I forgot my meds! I feel peachy!¡± As he finished, he collapsed weakly onto the ground. ¡°Qi Wan!¡± Gu Qingyu quickly hugged him. ¡°Mo Bai!¡± Mo Bai walked over, took Qi Wan into his arms and laid him on the floor, then started taking his pulse. He frowned slightly, ¡°No major problems, it seems like he was poisoned... I¡¯ll give him some medicine and he will wake up in a couple of days.¡± ¡°A couple of days? So serious?!¡± Gu Qingyu widened her eyes. ¡°What poison? How did he get it?¡± Mo Bai¡¯s expression was unchanged. ¡°This is a poison that makes the poisoned faint. If he doesn¡¯t take an antidote in three days, he would definitely die. I guess Qi Wan got it when he bumped into that woman.¡± ¡°That bitch!¡± Gu Qingyu gritted her teeth. ¡°If she keeps threatening what I hold dear, then why should I hold back?¡± ¡°What you hold dear is Qi Wan?¡± Jia Qizhe asked. That seemed to be the first line he spoke today. Gu Qingyu gave him a strange look, then shook her head with all sincerity, ¡°All of you are dear to me.¡± Each and every one of you are my friends. Jia Qizhe went silent. ¡°I knew that girl was up to no good,¡± Gu Qingyu snorted. ¡°Luckily Qi Wan is okay now, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°You¡¯re letting her go?¡± Qi Yichen then corrected himself, ¡°...Wait, no, you did something to her too?¡± Gu Qingyu nodded. ¡°Indeed, smart guess. It was something from Mo Bai, nothing much actually. Just something that will make the skin on the whole body, including the face, rot.¡± Xiao Qi silently shivered. Luckily Gu Qingyu is on their side! ¡°Actually if she didn¡¯t do anything to Qi Wan, then nothing will happen,¡± Gu Qingyu smiled in relief. ¡°I would have passed her the antidote via carrier pigeon. But now... looks like that won¡¯t be necessary.¡± ¡°Then she wouldn¡¯t have the antidote herself?¡± Xiao Qi asked. Gu Qingyu coolly snapped her fingers, then placed one hand on Mo Bai¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Mo Bai¡¯s medicine! Must be the best!¡± She looked like a salesman pitching her jingle. Mo Bai smiled. ¡°Brother Zhu, let us continue on our way. Don¡¯t worry, nobody but me had the antidote.¡± ¡°Yeap! I know!¡± Gu Qingyu waved. ¡°Qi Yichen! I know you have a crush on Qi Wan for a very long time!¡± Even with Qi Yichen¡¯s smarts, he could not fathom what Gu Qingyu was talking about, ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Yeap, I''m now giving you a chance to steal his heart!¡± Gu Qingyu looked to be in ¡®pain¡¯, she clenched her chest. ¡°Ah, my Qi Wan! To be married off at a young age!¡± She was looking like an old mother could not bear to see her daughter married off. If Qi Wan was awake, he would vomit out blood at her reaction. Qi Yichen looked at her in disbelief. ¡°Brother Zhu...¡± ¡°Yes, I know, I know.¡± Gu Qingyu nodded and pulled Jia Qizhe, Mo Bai, Murong Zuoyu and Xiao Qi away. ¡°Everyone, let¡¯s not disturb them and go!¡± The others looked at her, as if looking at a ghost. ¡°I¡¯m tired...¡± Gu Qingyu looked around. ¡°How are we¡¯re not out of the woods yet?¡± They had been walking in the forest since afternoon. If her estimations were correct, they had been walking in it for more than five hours! ¡°Brother Zhu, you have the nerve to complain...¡± A breathless voice came from behind. Gu Qingyu rubbed her nose sheepishly.¡°Qi Yichen...¡± ¡°What the heck do you want?¡± Qi Yichen glared at her, then put Qi Wan down and pushed up his sleeves. ...Isn¡¯t Qi Yichen a weak scholar? My preconceived notions are being overturned too quickly... Gu Qingyu laughed dryly, ¡°Nothing, please continue...¡± Qi Yichen rolled up his sleeves and picked up Qi Wan once more. Sir, does your family know what a brute you are... ¡°We¡¯re reaching soon.¡± Jia Qizhe calmly looked beyond. ¡°Huh?¡± Gu Qingyu didn¡¯t react to that for a moment. ¡°You dummy, we¡¯re walking out of the forest soon.¡± Jia Qizhe knocked her head. ¡°Oh...¡± Gu Qingyu rubbed her forehead and hopped to Murong Zuoyu¡¯s side, ¡°Brother Leng...¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Murong Zuoyu opened his eyes slightly, his eyes remained usually cold. ¡°Um, please don¡¯t be angry with the event just now... And, thank you.¡± Gu Qingyu stuttered. Maybe because Murong Zuoyu was the only one in the group that still did not know that Gu Qingyu¡¯s real gender and name, so Gu Qingyu always felt guilty towards him. In addition, he displayed such unconditional faith in her just now. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Murong Zuoyu said plainly and walked on. Huh? Something was not right. Is this guy angry? That¡¯s true, a cold handsome dude like Murong Zuoyu won¡¯t usually show much when he¡¯s angry. Oh well, I have to comfort and console later. Besides, it¡¯s not like I can¡¯t tell him I¡¯m a girl. ¡°Dammit! I¡¯m done!¡± Qi Yichen suddenly threw Qi Wan on the ground. With that throw... ¡°Cough! Cough!¡± Qi Wan coughed a few times. Gu Qingyu rushed over immediately. ¡°Qi Wan, how are you?¡± ¡°Boss...¡± Qi Wan coughed weakly. ¡°My head is spinning...¡± ¡°Mo Bai, didn¡¯t you say he only wakes up after a couple of days? It¡¯s not even half a day yet.¡± Gu Qingyu scratched her head. Mo Bai examined Qi Wan briefly. ¡°I guess he woke up because of the impact.¡± Gu Qingyu said, ¡°Excuse me?¡± Qi Wan used Gu Qingyu as support and sat up. ¡°I hit my head. That jerk threw me?¡± ¡°Yeah, I threw you, you punk!¡± Qi Yichen had one leg on a rock, looking like a hooligan. ¡°Oh, you''re tired of living, are you? Let me help you with that!¡± Qi Wan rolled up his dark green sleeves and spat into his own hands. ¡°Oh, you think I¡¯m scared of you?¡± Qi Yichen rolled up his white sleeves too. His original scholar image was gone. ...These two idiots...Who can tell her how two handsome dudes suddenly turned into butchers and gangsters?! Both of them are speaking so crudely?! ¡°Everyone calm down...¡± Xiao Qi rushed over to break up the fight. ¡°We still need to go on...¡± ¡°Humph, I¡¯ll let you off!¡± The two of them nearly said in tandem and turned away from each other. ¡°Let¡¯s go, idiots.¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t take me so lightly!¡± The two roared at Gu Qingyu. Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai, who were beside her, immediately turned back. Danger lurked in their eyes. ¡°Our bad...¡± Another line said simultaneously. Their show of strength vanished as soon as it happened.Gu Qingyu could not help but laughed out loud. Evening. They finally walked out of the forest and came to a small village. An old man was sitting at the entrance, somewhat spaced out. ¡°Mister?¡± Gu Qingyu gave a friendly smile. ¡°Huh?¡± The old man opened his eyes slightly. ¡°We¡¯re passing through here and would like to stay for the night.¡± Gu Qingyu looked towards the village. The old man shook his head, ¡°No, we never take in outsiders.¡± ¡°Grandpa Zhang, do you remember me?¡± A cold but friendly voice rang out, it was Murong Zuoyu. ¡°This is...Duke Yu?¡± The old man immediately stood up with his cane. ¡°Come with me.¡± This treatment... Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. ¡°Young sir, I didn¡¯t know you¡¯re Duke Yu¡¯s friend, sorry for my rudeness!¡± Even though I¡¯m annoyed, it looks like Murong Zuoyu is really popular among the people. That was obvious from the event earlier and now. ¡°It¡¯s alright, thank you.¡± Gu Qingyu immediately smiled. It¡¯s understandable, after all, we¡¯re neither the old man¡¯s acquaintances nor his relatives. Chapter 37: Another Assassination Chapter 37: Another Assassination Translated by: iris.knight Gu Qingyu nodded. ¡°I will be careful, you too.¡± After dinner, everyone returned to their rooms. Should I talk to Murong Zuoyu? Gu Qingyu was conflicted. Really, wasn¡¯t it just an apology? She made up her mind and bravely knocked on Murong Zuoyu¡¯s door. The door was open. Murong Zuoyu was still dressed in his purple robes, it seemed that he was not turning in for the night yet. ¡°Brother Murong...¡± Gu Qingyu had her signature wide smile. Murong Zuoyu coldly looked at her, with a tinge of shock. ¡°Is there something?¡± ¡°Nothing actually...¡± To avoid suspicion from the others, Gu Qingyu stepped into Murong Zuoyu¡¯s room. ¡°I just want to have a heart-to-heart talk with you!¡± ¡°Xiao Qi is next door.¡± Murong Zuoyu had a blank face, he clearly did not know what was going on. ¡°I know, I know,¡± Gu Qingyu nodded. ¡°Actually, I want to talk to you.¡± Murong Zuoyu pointed to a chair in the room, Gu Qingyu sat down. ¡°Brother Murong, you really don¡¯t want to ask why I had beef with the Second Young Miss?¡± ¡°I can guess why.¡± Murong Zuoyu replied honestly. So he did not want to ask because he already knew? Murong Zuoyu continued, ¡°I know you have your reasons for not telling me so what¡¯s there for me to ask?¡± Gu Qingyu felt extremely guilty about this. ¡°I was wrong! Brother Murong, actually I...¡± ¡°Watch out!¡± At that moment, Murong Zuoyu suddenly dragged Gu Qingyu away and striked out with his sword. Gu Qingyu staggered and straightened herself, she realised that the window had been broken. Multiple black-clothed men stood outside. ¡°What are they doing here?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at Murong Zuoyu, puzzled. ¡°Are they here to kill me?¡± ¡°Very likely.¡± Murong Zuoyu held his sword in his right hand, and ran his left index finger along the blade of his sword. Wherever his finger touched, the blade emitted a purple light. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s so cool,¡± Gu Qingyu exclaimed. Murong Zuoyu jumped out and started to fight off the assassins. ¡°Watch out!¡± Suddenly, a voice rang out and a white shadow dashed in front of Gu Qingyu. His fan swirled rapidly and blocked the incoming darts. ¡°I¡¯ve already said to watch out, Brother Zhu.¡± ¡°Qi Yichen!¡± Gu Qingyu looked at him, then glanced outside, Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai had joined the battle too. ¡°Yeap, we¡¯re all here to protect you, Boss!¡¯ Qi Wan walked in with a smile. ¡°Actually, Qi Wan, what¡¯s your weapon? I¡¯ve never actually seen it...¡± Gu Qingyu scratched her head. ¡°Eh, boss, you¡¯re interested? Then, I¡¯ll show you!¡± Qi Wan grinned and stretched out his hand. A dark green ribbon flew out from his hand, the ribbon wrapped around an assassin that came in and threw him out of the window. ¡°Wow...So violent.¡± Gu Qingyu commented, then saw another group of assassins enter the room. ¡°Go, Qi Wan!¡± ¡°Yes, my lord!¡± More ribbons flew out from Qi Wan. ¡°Qi Yichen, what can your fan do except defend?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Yichen curiously. Qi Yichen smiled. ¡°Kill.¡± Killing people with a paper fan? Even though I read it in books before, it still sounds so miraculous... ¡°What, you don¡¯t believe it?¡± Qi Yichen¡¯s fan suddenly flew out and hit a man, the fan lightly brushed against the man¡¯s neck, then flew back to Qi Yichen¡¯s hand. The man was stunned for a moment, then blood spewed out of his neck. Qi Yichen¡¯s paper fan had somehow turned into steel as a faint white light emitted from the fan. Qi Yichen closed the fan in his hands and rested his chin against it. ¡°In comparison... Brother Zhu, you¡¯re a bit weak.¡± How could I forget that this is a magical world! How can I forget this scholar¡¯s schemes and aggressiveness! Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes haughtily. ¡°I am handsome and kind, smart and cool, beautiful and cute. If I can fight too, then what¡¯s left for all of you guys to do?¡± I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re saying but it sounds like it makes sense! But Qi Wan understood her and burst out in laughter. An assassin tried to make use of his distraction and lunged towards Qi Wan. Gu Qingyu¡¯s shot an arrow with her crossbow sleeve, it pierced the assassin¡¯s neck, then continued its path through the air and hit another assassin. She said with wrinkles around her eyes, ¡°Be careful, Qi Wan!¡± ¡°Y-Y-Yes!¡± Qi Wan replied immediately with a shout. He then murmured softly under his breath, ¡°What kind of attack power is that...¡± Qi Yichen broke into a cold sweat as well, he could feel the stickiness along his back. ¡°Brother Zhu...¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Gu Qingyu replied absentmindedly as she scrutinised the crossbow sleeve, ¡°Looks like there¡¯s still not enough power, even though I¡¯ve made so many modifications...¡± ¡°...Brother Zhu, we can talk this out...¡± More and more black assassins appeared, the situation became similar to the time they were stuck halfway up the mountain on their journey to find Qi Yichen¡¯s master. ¡°Let me try something, Qi Wan.¡± Just as Gu Qingyu said those words, Qi Wan appeared by her side. He was panting slightly and seemed tired.The bodies of the black assassins was enough to fill up a room. ¡°Hmm...¡± Gu Qingyu closed her eyes and the air around her turned white. ¡°Absolute Freeze!¡± A layer of ice spread out beneath her feet and froze the incoming assassins. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m pretty good!¡± Gu Qingyu seemed pleased. ¡°Impressive!¡± Qi Wan exclaimed. ¡°This is not just good... Actually, where did you learn this, boss?¡± ¡°The Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny taught me.¡± Gu Qingyu nodded. The Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny granted magical powers so that explained where her magic comes from without revealing Yan Zun¡¯s existence. ¡°Impressive.¡± Qi Yichen commented wistfully. Xiao Qi tip-toed into the room from the doorway, ¡°This is terrifying...¡± ¡°But sadly, using spells does take quite a bit of my stamina,¡± Gu Qingyu fired more arrows from her crossbow sleeve and brought down the incoming wave of assassins. She yelled at Jia Qizhe, Murong Zuoyu, and Mo Bai, all of whom were still outside, ¡°There¡¯s too many of them, let¡¯s make a run for it!¡± She waved and Xiao Qi jogged to her side. ¡°You all go first, we¡¯ll stall for a while.¡± Jia Qizhe replied with a steady voice as he continued to fight. ¡°I need to protect the villagers here, go.¡± Indeed, he was a Duke that loved his people. Murong Zuoyu had a steady tone as well. ¡°Brother Zhu, protect yourself well.¡± Mo Bai tossed her a leaf when he had a moment to spare. ¡°Alright!¡¯ Gu Qingyu replied, then said to Qi Yichen, ¡°Since their target is me, then we¡¯ll split up, you bring Xiao Qi, I¡¯ll be with Qi Wan.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Qi Yichen frowned but nodded reluctantly, ¡°Fine! Go out from here and head straight north, we¡¯ll meet at the valley there!¡± Gu Qingyu nodded and ran out with Qi Wan. Those assassins wanted to pursue them but were blocked by the others, only a few caught up. That night was destined to be full of disturbance. Qi Wan was the only one around her. Only then did Gu Qingyu feel relaxed enough and turned into her cat demon form as they sprinted into the night. Qi Wan complained, ¡°I¡¯m tired, I hate running!¡± ¡°Exercise is good for your health!¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes, despite being exhausted too. Qi Wan suddenly spread his wings, grabbed Gu Qingyu in his arms and took to the skies. The assassins were stunned for a moment, then took flight as well. Gu Qingyu used her crossbow sleeve and shot down the assassins behind her one by one. ¡°Boss, be careful...¡± Qi Wan looked scared. ¡°Don¡¯t hit me...Stay calm...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, trust me.¡± Gu Qingyu let loose another arrow. Only one assassin left, Gu Qingyu¡¯s lips curled and released the last arrow. The assassin was hit but before he went down, he threw a dart with all his might. The dart multiplied into hundreds and flew towards them. Qi Wan hugged Gu Qingyu and held her against him as he avoided the darts as much as possible. However, he still took a few hits along his wings and his back. His entire body stiffened and they plummeted to the ground. ¡°Qi Wan!¡± Mid-fall, Gu Qingyu called out to him, ¡°Qi Wan, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Qi Wan smiled, blood bubbled out from his lips. Just before they crashed into a huge rock, the ribbon in his sleeve flew out and hooked itself onto a tree. He grabbed Gu Qingyu by the waist with one arm. They finally stopped falling and were suspended in the air. Beneath them was a steep cliff, the faint trickling of water echoed from below. ¡°Qi Wan? Are you alright?¡± Gu Qingyu asked anxiously, his face had turned ashen white. Qi Wan shook his head and bit down hard on his teeth.The ribbon curled and they zipped up. They finally made it back on flat ground. Gu Qingyu caught Qi Wan as he collapsed, ¡°Hang in there, I see a cave just up ahead.¡± Qi Wan nodded, it took him great effort to hold onto Gu Qingyu as they walked into the cave. Inside, Gu Qingyu slowly let Qi Wan lay down on the ground. She then gathered a bit of firewood, placed her hands on it and fire crackled to life. This was a spell Yan Zun taught her. With the light, Gu Qingyu could finally examine Qi Wan. He was still bleeding! Gu Qingyu took off her own robes and pressed it against his wounds to try and stop the bleeding. What¡¯s next?! That¡¯s right! Mo Bai¡¯s medicine! Gu Qingyu took the small leaf and gently placed it in Qi Wan¡¯s mouth. Qi Wan¡¯s face was still pale but colour was slowly returning to his face. Gu Qingyu then fed him some water. Qi Wan gently coughed a few times and slowly opened his eyes. He checked his surroundings, then a sigh of relief escaped his mouth. ¡°I was so scared! I thought I went back!¡± Gu Qingyu obviously knew what he meant by ¡®going back¡¯. ¡°Is it not good to go back?¡± Gu Qingyu retorted as she sat down across him. ¡°I have not gotten your phone number yet!¡± Qi Wan pouted. Gu Qingyu laughed incredulously, ¡°Why are you so determined?¡± Yes, he lost so much blood but he still held me so tightly and refused to let go. He used all of his strength, just to help me survive. Is it really simply because he just wanted to go back? Qi Wan shrugged. ¡°Yes, you can say so.¡± ¡°Is it because of someone you can¡¯t leave behind?¡± Gu Qingyu stared into the warm fire before them. Qi Wan smiled, shook his head, then nodded. ¡°Yes, and no.¡± This vague answer took Gu Qingyu by surprise, but she laughed too. Indeed, yes and no. Chapter 38: Not That Song! Chapter 38: Not That Song! Translated by: iris.knight ¡°Me?¡± Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyu wistfully. ¡°I was one of those that the adults always complained about. I stayed at home all day, doing nothing except maybe play a few games.¡± ¡°Then, why would you be approached by them?¡± Gu Qingyu propped up her chin with one hand as she pondered. ¡®Them¡¯ referred to the black-clothed men, obviously. "What about you?¡± Qi Wan returned the question. ¡°I was a psychiatrist.¡± Gu Qingyu answered. ¡°Oh, a psychiatrist?¡± Qi Wan raised his eyebrows. ¡°I couldn¡¯t really tell, boss!¡± ¡°This is called being deep and complex, what do you know.¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes and scoffed, ¡°I think we¡¯re already at the valley. Let¡¯s rest for a while and rendezvous with the rest tomorrow morning.¡± Qi Wan concurred. ¡°Yeah, Brother Mo¡¯s herbs are really useful.¡± ¡°He has always been a superb doctor.¡± Gu Qingyu glared at Qi Wan. ¡°That¡¯s right...Gu Qingyu,¡± Just as Gu Qingyu was about to fall asleep, Qi Wan asked softly, ¡°...Do you want to go back?¡± Gu Qingyu replied vaguely, ¡°I do...Bring you all along and...Go back.¡± Go back... together. Is that even possible? The next morning, Gu Qingyu opened her eyes. She turned to the cave entrance and realised the sun had just risen. She had not slept well, probably due to the location. She checked her surroundings, Qi Wan was no longer at his spot. Where did he go? Just as Gu Qingyu was about to stand up, Qi Wan walked in from the entrance. ¡°Yo, you¡¯re awake? Good morning, boss!¡± ¡°Yeah, good morning. What did you do?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at him as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Qi Wan waved the water bag in his hand. ¡°Looking around for water.¡± He passed the water bag to Gu Qingyu, ¡°Drink up. The water here is pure, there¡¯s no pollution whatsoever.¡± Gu Qingyu took the water bag. ¡°Hmm, you woke up very early.¡± ¡°Yeah, I became such an early riser ever since losing the alarm clock.¡± Qi Wan whined. ¡°Hurry up and drink, we have to go after a short break.¡± ¡°How are your wounds?¡± Gu Qingyu took a sip and set the water bag down. ¡°Recovering very well.¡± Qi Wan stretched his limbs. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Gu Qingyu stood up and stretched as well. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± They walked out of the cave and leaned over the cliff. ¡°How do we get down?¡± Gu Qingyu exclaimed. Qi Wan thought for a bit. ¡°Summon Wings.¡± ¡°...Huh?¡± Even though I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re saying, it sounds quite powerful! ¡°I remember that Qian Cheng did teach you? Sigh, boss, it¡¯s not that he didn¡¯t teach well but your intelligence is indeed worrying!¡± Qi Wan sighed. ¡°Urgh, screw you!¡± Gu Qingyu gave him a harsh glare, then asked impatiently. ¡°How do I summon them?¡± ¡°First, stretch out your small hands.¡± Qi Wan said in seriousness. Gu Qingyu was affected by the sudden change of his tone and followed his instructions diligently. ¡°Then, put them behind your head.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right, very good, then slowly squat down.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right, then get up, squat down again, and repeat.¡± Gu Qingyu repeated the actions, the sequence of movements became increasingly familiar. Where did she hear this before? Then, it hit her like a brick, she stood up immediately and clamped her hands together, cracking her knuckles. ¡°Boss...¡± Qi Wan knew something bad was happening. ¡°Um...we can talk this out...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you and I have nothing to say.¡± Gu Qingyu calmly pushed up her sleeves. ¡°I¡¯ll give you three seconds to remember the happy moments of your life.¡± ¡°Boss...¡± Qi Wan suddenly had an idea and pointed behind. ¡°Look! A shooting star!¡± Gu Qingyu flinched, then turned back gullibly. Before she figured out it was another trick, Qi Wan gave her a hard kick. Gu Qingyu lost her balance and fell down the cliff. ¡°What kind of shooting star shows in the bright daylight! If you want to hurt me, have some subtlety!¡± Gu Qingyu shouted but she saw Qi Wan jump down as well. Qi Wan was shouting too, but his voice was muffled by the wind, so it came in bits and pieces. ¡°Quick! Summon your wings! Focus and concentrate! Imagine you flying in the sky!¡± Gu Qingyu calmed down, she looked at Qi Wan, ¡°I¡¯ll try...¡± She paused before she gave up. ¡°Sometimes I feel like a little bird. I want to fly and fly, but could never fly high!¡± ¡°Not that song! How can you not fly high! Change it!¡± Qi Wan was quick to the chase. Are you for real? Gu Qingyu then sang, ¡°Spread my wings, soar and shine bright! At this moment, I¡¯ll fly freely! Never giving up is my hope, the torrent in my heart will now be released forevermore! Spread my wings, strong and brave...¡± ¡°Just like that!¡± Qi Wan encouraged her. Just as they were about to hit a branch, Gu Qingyu took off and flew high up into the sky. ¡°I summoned them!¡± Gu Qingyu was ecstatic. Then, Bam! That sound came from below. Oops! I got so excited that I forgot about Qi Wan! Gu Qingyu then stiffened her shoulders and landed softly. ¡°Qi Wan? Qi Wan?¡± A cough came from the bushes. Gu Qingyu immediately rushed over and indeed, there was little Qi Wan with twigs and leaves stuck in his hair. ¡°Damn! I helped you summon your wings to save myself! Not to fool around!¡± Qi Wan regrettably undid his silver hairband and released his dark green hair. ¡°Hey, hey, you¡¯re fine, aren¡¯t you?¡± Gu Qingyu laughed sheepishly. ¡°Then again, now I have my own wings, I can use them in a pinch...¡± Her words slowly came to a halt and she finally registered Qi Wan¡¯s surprise at whatever was behind her. She looked behind and was shocked too. It was not the wide bird-like wings like Jia Qizhe. Instead, she had light and clear wings, like a butterfly, the edge of her wings were lined in gold and shimmered in the sun. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful!¡± Qi Wan exclaimed. ¡°Yeah!¡± Gu Qingyu agreed. It was absolutely beautiful. Gu Qingyu kept her wings. They walked out along the small path, and right there, at the end of the valley was the rest of the party. ¡°Brother Zhu, are you alright?¡± Mo Bai looked in concern, his tone as gentle as always. ¡°Yeap!¡± Qi Wan replied on her behalf. He had tied his hair back, straightened his clothes and returned to his usual handsome and flamboyant persona. He walked over to Mo Bai and tapped his shoulder. ¡°Brother Mo! Your herbs are really good! Only one night and I recovered from all the wounds I got from yesterday¡¯s battle!¡± A murderous intent flashed in Mo Bai¡¯s eyes but he concealed it, Gu Qingyu was watching their exchange. Thus, Mo Bai smiled as he silently shifted Qi Wan¡¯s hand off his shoulder. ¡°Is it? Then I would prepare a few tonics in my spare time, Brother Qi must drink them all.¡± ¡°Ahaha, Brother Mo is too kind, it¡¯s okay!¡± Qi Wan knew when to stop and walked away. ¡°Hubby!¡± Xiao Qi pounced, ¡°I was so worried for you!¡± Oh God, when did she get used to such a strange name, hey! ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine. Everything¡¯s ok now!¡± Gu Qingyu patted Xiao Qi¡¯s head. ¡°Jia Qizhe, how are you all?¡± Jia Qizhe, who was singled out, replied with a smile, ¡°They will never come back.¡± What a humble yet badass reply... Hero Jia indeed... ¡°Oh dear, my master said that scholars should focus on studies, not violence.¡± Qi Yichen bemoaned like a widow. Scholar? You¡¯ll have to behave like one first! Murong Zuoyu gave his usual chilly response. ¡°Brother Zhu, since you¡¯re alright, then let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Yeah! Do you know where those people came from?¡± Gu Qingyu suddenly asked and exchanged looks with Qi Wan. Looks like we¡¯re on the same page. ¡°They had tight lips.¡± Murong Zuoyu shook his head. ¡°They end their own lives before interrogation.¡± Gu Qingyu sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Xieli Castle is just after this valley.¡± Jia Qizhe walked in front of Gu Qingyu. ¡°Stay behind me, everything will be fine.¡± Gu Qingyu did not refuse and agreed silently. Yan Zun appeared, floating in the air again. Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes and asked via telepathy, ¡°Why did you come out again?¡± ¡°Your master wants to chill.¡± Yan Zun was clearly in a good mood, he winked and looked at the bright sun. ¡°It¡¯s been so long since I bathed in this sunlight...¡± He looked like he was reminiscing about something. Reminiscing about what? It¡¯s not like he would tell me, neither am I interested. It¡¯s his decision, and I honestly don¡¯t care about that sort of gossip. Gu Qingyu followed his gaze and looked up at the sun too. She closed her eyes and bathed in the warmth of the sunlight. ¡°Brother Zhu, what are you doing?¡± Qi Yichen asked curiously. Gu Qingyu opened her eyes and looked at him lazily. ¡°I was going through photosynthesis!¡± ¡°Photosynthesis? What¡¯s that?¡± Murong Zuoyu interjected curiously. ¡°Photosynthesis, as its name implies, is an effect that happens after absorbing light, is my analysis right?¡± Qi Yichen analyzed, tilted his head. ¡°But, isn¡¯t that done in plants only?¡± Qi Yichen was indeed a smart scholar, Gu Qingyu nodded in respect. ¡°Yes!¡± Qi Wan nodded too. ¡°Brother Qi may not know, our Brother Zhu, as his name implies, came from bamboo, so he can absorb sunlight too, break down carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. He is a key player in our ecosystem, so...¡± Initially, Qi Wan was just playing along. But later he spilled more and more trivia on biology. Chapter 39: The Contract Chapter 39: The Contract Translated by: iris.knight Bro, does your family know that you¡¯re this moody? Meanwhile, Mo Bai smiled. ¡°What, Young brother Qi seems to know a lot about herbs?¡± Qi Wan rubbed his neck sheepishly. ¡°Haha, not really.¡± They walked on and reached a cliff. Gu Qingyu said, ¡°Looks like we have to fly up there.¡± She then spread her beautiful, golden, butterfly wings. Qi Yichen and the others were all in disbelief. ¡°What are those wings?¡± ¡°Sigh, are all of you short-sighted or something?¡± Gu Qingyu sighed, then flew circles around Jia Qizhe¡¯s head with her light wings. ¡°I suddenly have the urge to swat some files.¡± Jia Qizhe shot a cool look at her and Gu Qingyu caught his meaning and stopped. After that, Jia Qizhe, Qi Yichen, Mo Bai and Murong Zuoyu flew into the air too. But Xiao Qi and Qi Wan looked onto them, unable to fly themselves. Gu Qingyu immediately flew back, grabbed Xiao Qi and waved at Qi Wan. ¡°See you!¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Qi Wan rolled his tired eyes. ¡°I hurt my wings when I saved you!¡± Mo Bai flapped his pure white wings, he stopped near Qi Wan and stretched out his hand. ¡°Um...If it is Brother Mo, I would rather walk on my own...¡± Qi Wan was about to run away. Ignoring his objection, Mo Bai grabbed Qi Wan by the collar and pulled him to the skies. ¡°Aaaahhhh! Brother Zhu, save me!¡± Qi Wan started screaming like a pig in a slaughterhouse. Gu Qingyu nodded and smiled sweetly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it will be fine.¡± Qi Wan cursed internally. Soon, the whole team was soaring through the sky. Qi Wan¡¯s experience could be made into a horror film. ¡®The scream in the valley¡¯, perfect in teaching its audience to persevere and survive in the hardest adversities! Once in a while, Mo Bai would ¡®accidentally¡¯ knock Qi Wan into the cliff, or his hand would slip and Qi Wan would fall right before Mo Bai caught him again. Qi Wan was not harmed per se, he was mostly traumatised, he kept pleading for the sweet embrace of death instead! Gu Qingyu, who watched all these, laughing and tumbling along the way, the Xiao Qi in her arms still felt scared stiff and worried for her life, ¡°Hubby, be careful, please don¡¯t let go...¡± Finally, they flew past the valley. Once they reached back on the ground, Qi Wan laid on the floor as he lamented the woes of life and rearranged his extremely messed up hair. Xiao Qi congratulated herself for surviving the ordeal and silently swore to live on, no matter how hard life gets. All while Mo Bai, the culprit, smiled seemingly unaware of his transgressions. Culprit number two, Gu Qingyu, grinned ear to ear without a sign of guilt on her face. Someone really should have given her a good slap. Gu Qingyu looked at Mo Bai gleefully. ¡°Brother Mo, I actually think we¡¯re a good duo!¡± Mo Bai smiled warmly, seemingly in a great mood. ¡°I think so too.¡± Blood-soaked roses, water-like crystals, everyone said that the people in Xieli Castle are both kind and evil. In the legends, they slaughtered their enemies, saved the masses. In other tales and stories, they are free and unbound, neither good nor evil. Those words were from her conversations with Yan Zun. Gu Qingyu couldn¡¯t help but exclaimed, ¡°The legendary Xieli Castle is truly majestic.¡± ¡°Brother Zhu, you need to go out more.¡± Qi Yichen pouted. ¡°An otherworldly paradise is one more deserving of such praise.¡± ¡°To each their own, ok?¡± Gu Qingyu shook her head. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Jia Qizhe silently gathered blue air within his hand and led the walk into the castle. Gu Qingyu fell in step beside him. The others followed along. The castle town¡¯s interior was mostly burgundy in colour, sinister-looking scarlet flowers could be seen everywhere. They resembled the red spider lilies she saw in pictures before travelling here. Along the way, the surrounding people shot strange looks at them, and there were even more unfriendly glares. ¡°This path will lead straight to the main castle.¡± Jia Qizhe looked at Gu Qingyu, as if he was checking things with her. Gu Qingyu caught his eyes, ¡°How about we leave a few people in the castle town, while the rest head inside the castle?¡± Qi Yichen agreed first. ¡°Sure, but who?¡± At that, everyone¡¯s gazes converged on Gu Qingyu once more. Gu Qingyu spoke, albeit slightly awkwardly, ¡°Um...Actually Brother Jia is really powerful...¡± Come on, who is not powerful among everyone here? Even Xiao Qi had some powers! ¡°Um...Actually, Brother Jia...¡± Gu Qingyu said awkwardly again. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll go.¡± Jia Qizhe glanced at her and walked straight forward. Is that cocky attitude really good? Jeez, no wonder nobody else is friends with you! Gu Qingyu turned to Qi Wan and continued, ¡°You and the others find someplace to rest, leave a sign so we can find you!¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Qi Wan chewed his bottom lip, reluctance was evident in his voice. ¡°Make it quick, run as soon as you get the Spirit Jewel.¡± He added the last line worriedly. Run? Do you not trust my powers? Mo Bai stepped forward and reminded Gu Qingyu, ¡°If there¡¯s danger, blow the Hundred Spiral Leaf.¡± Gu Qingyu nodded. ¡°I will.¡± When she turned back, Jia Qizhe had already disappeared. Gu Qingyu stomped her foot, gritted her teeth and gave chase. ¡°Jia Qizhe!¡± A massive palace stood before them, what looked like red spider lilies covered the walls of the palace, layers of fiery-red glass crystal shingles formed the roof. Gu Qingyu exclaimed again, ¡°Wow! Xieli Castle indeed! Even the roof looks like it¡¯s made out of blood crystals.¡± Jia Qizhe rolled his eyes and stepped forward. Suddenly, the flowers on the castle walls came alive. Their vines reached out and wrapped around Jia Qizhe, trapping him. ¡°Jia Qizhe!¡± Gu Qingyu cried out and the flowers quickly trapped her too. If the vines tightened any further, she would be engulfed. The flowers had already blocked her vision completely. What to do? Just then, she heard a muffled crash. Then a strong hand grabbed Gu Qingyu¡¯s hand. ¡°Hold on.¡± It was Jia Qizhe. Gu Qingyu only felt a blue light enveloping her, then her whole body was sucked out of the vines by a powerful force. When she opened her eyes again, she was in mid-air and lying in Jia Qizhe¡¯s... arms? Jia Qizhe smiled and spoke with his charming voice, ¡°What, you thought you will never see me again?'''' Gu Qingyu went silent. Actually, in that instant, she really felt that she would suddenly lose something, or someone very important to her. Jia Qizhe flapped his wings and they landed. Crimson petals fluttered in the air as they rained on them. He looked as though he was a demon from hell and a fallen angel at the same time. Gu Qingyu hopped back on the ground using Jia Qizhe as support. She took a look at the castle gates, walked over and pushed it open. Creak. The old gates groaned from its age and lack of use. A voice echoed from within the castle. ¡°You dare break into Xieli Castle? You¡¯ve got guts...¡± The voice was gleeful but tinged with murderous intent. Gu Qingyu bolstered her courage but her voice still came out weaker than she expected, ¡°Um...You must be the Lord of Xieli Castle? We¡¯re here to borrow the Blood Spirit Gem, if we can do this peacefully, we¡¯ll leave once we get the Jewel.¡± ¡°And if I don¡¯t cooperate?¡± The misty voice rang out. Wait, why does that voice sound familiar? He sounds an awful lot like Xie Zang. Gu Qingyu¡¯s lips twitched, ¡°Then, we would take it by force!¡± The voice actually laughed in a low voice, ¡°I would like to see you all try!¡± The door behind them closed with a bang and a strong eerie smell wafted out. Jia Qizhe charged forward, the blue light in his hand solidifying into a sword. ¡°Hold your breath.¡± Gu Qingyu held her breath as told. It¡¯s frustrating that she had no weapon to call her own. You think it¡¯s easy for me! Jia Qizhe sliced open the mist with a few gusts of air that enveloped both him and Gu Qingyu then nodded towards Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu took a breath of relief but saw Jia Qizhe¡¯s face turn pale. ¡°Idiot! Who told you to breathe?!¡± ¡°You did...¡± Gu Qingyu immediately felt her body and head getting lighter. ¡°I was asking you to come over!¡± Jia Qizhe looked at her desperately, then flashed next to her and carried the sleepy her with one hand, the other hand summoned his sword, ¡°Ghost Howl!¡± So his blue sword was called Ghost Howl. Yan Zun floated in the air and sighed at Gu Qingyu, he seemed to be looking at the world¡¯s biggest idiot. ¡°Save me, Master...¡± Gu Qingyu whispered weakly via telepathy. Everything spun before her eyes, Jia Qizhe was moving at top speed as he carried her, but someone slowed him down. Yan Zun said hesitantly, ¡°This is the scent of the Xieli flower...You cannot overcome it with your current powers.¡± ¡°Then what?¡± Gu Qingyu was physically unconscious, but her mind was still conscious. Yan Zun yawned. He still looked cool and unconcerned, as if they were discussing the weather. ¡°I do have a way, but it depends whether you can afford it.¡± Afford it? What does that mean? Yan Zun continued, ¡°Give your body completely to me.¡± ...Hold it, why does it sound so weird? Gu Qingyu¡¯s face turned dark. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Not in the way that you¡¯re thinking of,¡± Yan Zun smiled teasingly. ¡°I¡¯m really out of time, just help me, Master!¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s attitude softened. Yan Zun stopped teasing her and said solemnly, ¡°You can form a contract with me.¡± ¡°A contract?¡± Gu Qingyu repeated. ¡°If you sign it, I can use your body for myself but you would gain my powerful strength.¡± Yan Zun toyed with his long hair, his fiery red robes danced in the air. ¡°Think hard about it well.¡± ¡°Sure, no problem.¡± Gu Qingyu answered without hesitation, ¡°Let¡¯s sign that contract, we¡¯ll discuss the details later!¡± Chapter 40: Digging for Wild Vegetables Chapter 40: Digging for Wild Vegetables Translated by: iris.knight Fire burned inside her, Gu Qingyu opened her eyes with a snap as she yelled. It was such a powerful yell that it cracked stones and shook the air. Like...a lion¡¯s roar. Her roar stunned Jia Qizhe and Xie Zang. Gu Qingyu slowly regained control, her hair was spread out, her hairband fell and burnt to ash, her usual black hair had fiery red tips and her eyes turned dark red. She looked at Jia Qizhe, made sure he was not hurt, then she turned to the man fighting him. ¡°Xie Zang? Is that really you?¡± Gu Qingyu was clearly taken aback. ¡°It is I.¡± Xie Zang laughed. ¡°Kitten, your friend is powerful... But it looks like you¡¯re not weak yourself.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Gu Qingyu laughed too, as she noticed the colour change in her hair. She felt the comfort spreading throughout her body, power flowed through her veins. ¡°I just want to ask, you guys really need the Blood Spirit Gem?¡± Xie Zang blinked with his pretty eyes. ¡°Why? Do you have some reason to keep it?¡± Gu Qingyu seemed to have noticed something and asked. Xie Zang flinched, his eyes filled with sadness, but it vanished quickly and turned into a smile. ¡°If I told you, would you still want it?¡± Gu Qingyu was completely stunned. Honestly, she had not thought this far ahead. ¡®If I told you, would you still want it?¡¯ He said it in such a soft and personal tone. Seeing that she went silent, Xie Zang did not ask further. He just shrugged his shoulders, seemingly unconcerned. ¡°You think too much, Kitten, I can give you the Blood Spirit Gem, but only on one condition.¡± ¡°What condition?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at Xie Zang. ¡°Let me follow you.¡± Xie Zang raised his head slightly, Gu Qingyu said in a hollow voice. ¡°You¡¯re the Lord of Xieli Castle, you don¡¯t have to worry about food or clothes, why waste your time and follow a nobody like me?¡± ¡°I like it that way.¡± Xie Zang said nonchalantly. Impressive! Badass! Unreasonable! Just like Xie Zang! ¡°Ahem, you need to think this through.¡± Gu Qingyu cleared her throat. ¡°You can ask Jia Qizhe, he has been following me around all this while. He has to dig for wild vegetables, pick wild fruits for food and drink only the morning dew every day! And if I¡¯m unhappy, I will beat him up like a slave!¡± Jia Qizhe¡¯s eyes darkened, danger lurked in them, as he directed his gaze on Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu felt a chill go down her neck. ¡°Um... I said it the wrong way... I have to dig for wild vegetables, pick wild fruits for food and drink only the morning dew everyday! And if they¡¯re unhappy, they will beat me up like a slave!¡± Jia Qizhe narrowed his eyes and looked at Gu Qingyu with great displeasure. Gu Qingyu did not know what else to say and looked at Xie Zang. ¡°Well, in other words, no good will come out of following me.¡± Then, Gu Qingyu realised a jewel appeared in her hand. The jewel was dark red, inside it was a petal of the Xieli flower. Yan Zun floated in the air as he stroked his chin. ¡°Yeah, this is the real Spirit Gem.¡± The red tips in Gu Qingyu¡¯s hair faded away and her eyes returned to their original colour. Jia Qizhe did not pry and just smiled faintly. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°...Ok.¡± Gu Qingyu replied. Thank you, Jia Qizhe. They followed Qi Wan¡¯s markings and arrived at a quiet inn. Qi Wan stood up immediately upon seeing Gu Qingyu. ¡°Boss, that¡¯s fast? I thought you¡¯re going to battle the demon lord for three days and nights! How was it, did you get the Spirit Gem?¡± ¡°Stop it.¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. ¡°Is there something I cannot do?¡± Qi Yichen looked incredulously. ¡°Brother Zhu, you got it?¡± Gu Qingyu happily showed the Spirit Gem. ¡°Look! Your daddy is so good!¡± ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re so good!¡± Qi Wan chimed after her. ¡°Nice, sweet daughter.¡± Gu Qingyu grinned and kept the Spirit Gem. Daddy? The others were puzzled. Even though they were not sure of the meaning, they have heard of ¡®Dad¡¯ before, it means the same as ¡®Father¡¯? Though, they had no trouble understanding ¡®daughter¡¯... ¡°Did the Lord of Xieli Castle state any conditions?¡± said Mo Ba with his gentle and soothing voice. Gu Qingyu¡¯s face darkened and replied with a huff. ¡°He wants to join us in the search of the Spirit Gem! He should be waiting at the castle gate!¡± Mo Bai nodded and silently took some herbs out, and began to walk towards the castle gate. ¡°If I¡¯m not wrong, that¡¯s poison.¡± The smart Qi Yichen spoke out. Gu Qingyu panicked. She ran over to Mo Bai and grabbed onto his sleeve with a vice-like grip. ¡°Brother Mo, don¡¯t be reckless, nothing good will end up behind recklessness!¡± ¡°Your brother is calm.¡± Mo Bai smiled and kept the poison slowly under Gu Qingyu¡¯s watchful eyes. Murong Zuoyu looked at Gu Qingyu and spoke coldly, ¡°Why is he following us?¡± ¡°How would I know!¡± Gu Qingyu threw her hands up in the air. ¡°Now it¡¯s great, we are already running short of money for food, perhaps we really have to dig for wild vegetables, pick wild fruits and drink the morning dew!¡± At that, everyone thought. Did something happen without us knowing? ¡°But, boss...¡± Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyu and passed her a ribbon. ¡°Why is your hair down? It''s so messy, like bed hair. Could it be... Brother Jia?¡± With those words, he did address some of the questions in people¡¯s minds. ¡°Scram.¡± Gu Qingyu snatched the ribbon and tied her hair up. As she replied, a handful of Qi Wan¡¯s hair fell to the ground. Jia Qizhe calmly sheathed his sword with a ¡®click¡¯. Qi Wan widened his eyes in fear and dared not to speak out of turn. Offending Mo Bai was risky, offending Jia Qizhe was life-threatening. Gu Qingyu tied up her hair and sighed in relief internally. Luckily, she did not use the ribbon Jia Qizhe gave her and instead kept it elsewhere, or it would have gone up in flames! On the other hand, Murong Zuoyu frowned. Why does Zhu Fan look like a girl when his hair is down? Nah, I¡¯m probably overthinking this. The party made their way to the castle gates. Indeed, Xie Zang was there, he leaned against a large tree as he waited for them. ¡°Kitten, you kept me waiting for a long time.¡± Xie Zang yawned, he looked more like a lazy cat than Gu Qingyu. ¡°Kitten?¡± Qi Wan repeated, looked at Gu Qingyu then gave a mysterious smile. Jia Qizhe shot him a chilling glare and Qi Wan immediately covered his mouth. Qi Wan had something to say but he cannot say them! ¡°What¡¯s our next stop? Qi Yichen asked. Gu Qingyu closed her eyes, after a while, then gave the answer Yan Zun told her. ¡°Beiying.¡± ¡°It''s a prosperous country located in the northern part of the continent.¡± Gu Qingyu added. ¡°For some weird reason,¡± Xiao Qi tapped her forehead. ¡°That place sounds very familiar... ¡± Familiar? ¡°Xiao Qi, did you grow up there?¡± Qi Wan asked curiously. ¡°How could that be!¡± Xiao Qi¡¯s brows furrowed, ¡°I grew up next to my hubby since young! I am his child bride!¡± ...Damn your child bride story! Gu Qingyu felt her veins pop in her annoyance. She then turned towards Xiao Qi and asked calmly, ¡°Xiao Qi, you¡¯re sure you''ve never been to Beiying before?¡± ¡°Hubby, you¡¯re doubting Xiao Qi?¡± Xiao Qi asked indignantly. She bit her lower lips and her eyes welled up. ¡°Silly girl.¡± Gu Qingyu hugged Xiao Qi. ¡°I would never doubt you.¡± Xiao Qi had been with the original Gu Qingyu since young. Even though Gu Qingyu had replaced the original, she could feel how sweet Xiao Qi was to her. So if she had to suspect anyone, she would not suspect her. Xiao Qi nodded and explained, ¡°I have been at Xiao Fan¡¯s side since I was a child. I did want to know my origins while growing up, but Madam kept hiding something...¡± Hiding? ¡°Then, let¡¯s check it out in Beiying, maybe we can find out about Xiao Qi¡¯s origins.¡± Qi Yichen shook his fan. ¡°Sure.¡± Gu Qingyu nodded in agreement, ¡°But...where are we now?¡± ¡°We are near Dongxuan, the domain of Xieli Castle.¡± Murong Zuoyu replied. ¡°...So, we¡¯re moving from the eastern end of the continent to the northern end?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± On the road. ¡°You pick up the mantle and I¡¯ll take the horse!¡± Gu Qingyu sang. ¡°What song is that...¡± Xiao Qi asked weakly. ¡°This monk came from the Land of Tang in the East and went to the West to pay respects to the Buddha and collect the blessed sutras!¡± Gu Qingyu declared as she turned to Qi Wan, ¡°Wukong!¡± ¡°Master!¡± Qi Wan replied. Xiao Qi thought to herself. Why do these two keep switching roles? Xie Zang finally spoke, ¡°Kitten, didn¡¯t you say you had a tough life?¡± Tough life? Everyone looked towards Gu Qingyu. ¡°This...¡± Gu Qingyu scratched her head. ¡°Didn¡¯t you drink only the morning dew every day?¡± Xie Zang asked curiously again. ¡°Um...¡± Gu Qingyu stuttered. ¡°Didn¡¯t you dig for wild vegetables and pick wild fruits every day?¡± Xie Zang seemed even more curious. ¡°I...¡± Gu Qingyu wanted to run up and shut his mouth. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say if these guys weren¡¯t pleased, they would beat you up?¡± Xie Zang looked at the rest. Everyone looked at Gu Qingyu. ¡°Um, I have my own troubles!¡± Gu Qingyu sobbed. ¡°Brother Zhu, we never thought we made you suffer so much!¡± Qi Yichen sighed. Gu Qingyu frantically waved her hands. ¡°Nono, definitely not!¡± ¡°Brother Zhu, we let you drink the morning dew?¡± Murong Zuoyu raised his eyebrows. ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Gu Qingyu shook her head desperately. ¡°Brother Zhu, we made you dig for wild vegetables and fruits?¡± Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyu too. ¡°How is that possible!¡± Gu Qingyu plastered a smile on her face. ¡°Brother Zhu, we beat you up when we¡¯re unhappy?¡± Mo Bai sighed as well. Chapter 41: What a Messy Party Chapter 41: What a Messy Party Translated by: iris.knight ¡°Oh? So I¡¯ve misheard this whole time.¡± Xie Zang gave a meaningful smile. ¡°Yes, indeed,¡± Gu Qingyu scooted close to Jia Qizhe for support. ¡°Is that right, Brother Jia?¡± Jia Qizhe stared at her briefly, then nodded with a smile. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And there you have it!¡± Gu Qingyu clapped. ¡°Kitten, at this rate we¡¯ll reach the sea soon,¡± Xie Zang smiled. ¡°Do you want to head out to sea today?¡± The sea? ¡°Actually we can fly there directly, right?¡± Gu Qingyu looked up at a cliff-like landing curiously, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be faster to fly?¡± ¡°But you¡¯re not a bird.¡± Qi Yichen sighed grimly. Is this guy implying that I don¡¯t have wings? Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes and took flight. She stopped right on top of Qi Yichen, and snapped back with a sneer, ¡°How¡¯s that, stupid bird!¡± What even is ¡®stupid bird¡¯? And... ¡°Do we have to travel by ship to go to Beiying?¡± Jia Qizhe nodded. ¡°We must.¡± If the wandering hero says so, it looks like we really have to find a ship! Gu Qingyu looked at the sky, the sun was slowly sinking below the horizon. ¡°Let¡¯s find a tavern first, we¡¯ll go out to sea tomorrow?¡± ¡°Tavern?¡± Qi Wan had a smug grin. ¡°I remember I own a tavern around here, you want to take a look, Brother Zhu?¡± Gu Qingyu was surprised. ¡°You have taverns all the way out here?¡± Qi Wan sniggered. ¡°Don¡¯t look so surprised, we can just check it out?¡± ¡°Wait... Are you sure it isn¡¯t a brothel?¡± Gu Qingyu enquired. Qi Wan stiffened, then he held out his hands in defeat. ¡°Fine then, we can just not go.¡± ¡°Who said I¡¯m not going! Let¡¯s go!¡± Gu Qingyu changed her stance instantly. She dragged Qi Wan by the arm. ¡°Lead the way!¡± ¡°Yes, boss!¡± Qi Wan walked forward enthusiastically. ¡°What a messy party.¡± Xie Zang commented. They soon reached an extravagant place. Music streamed out of the building, it was light as a veil, and not at all intoxicating, like brothels. The place was filled with a beauty that was untainted by the evils of the world. Gu Qingyu walked in, drawn in by the veiled musicians and dancers. When they saw Qi Wan, the musicians and dancers stopped and respectfully lowered their heads. ¡°Young Master.¡± ¡°Yeah, carry on, we¡¯re resting here just for one night.¡± Qi Wan imitated Qi Yichen¡¯s style. He even found a fan and waved as he directed the staff of the establishment. ¡°Yes, Young Master.¡± The women carried on with their work. ¡°Wow, I really can¡¯t tell that this is yours, Qi Wan!¡± Gu Qingyu smacked her lips. This is no brothel, it clearly is paradise on earth! What a difference to where I first met Qi Wan! ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s find rooms to rest first, someone will inform us when dinner¡¯s ready. The ships that I built are here too, just rest easy!¡± Qi Wan seemed really pleased with himself. Yeah, a super sweet man that takes care of all your needs, a must-have when travelling. Just as Gu Qingyu was lost in thought, a lady dressed in pink walked over with feather-light steps. ¡°Sir, allow me to lead the way.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Gu Qingyu nodded and followed her upstairs, all while stealing glances at that lady. Damn, we¡¯re both girls but why is there such a big difference! Qi Wan, who was with her, seemed to have read her mind and whispered quietly in her ear, ¡°If Boss is interested, I can have someone send a pretty dress over?¡± Gu Qingyu paused in her steps. It is not a bad idea, I do miss my dresses. Besides, I only dressed as a man to avoid being recognised... Gu Qingyu nodded. ¡°Good call. Let¡¯s do that.¡± ¡°Boss, for real?¡± Qi Wan looked at her in disbelief. ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m joking?¡± Gu Qingyu retorted. Qi Wan was efficient indeed. Just as they entered the room, the lady in pink brought in a set of clothes in a neat stack. Even though she was hiding it to her best efforts, Gu Qingyu still saw the brief discomfort on her face. Well, that¡¯s understandable. Gu Qingyu thanked her and the lady stepped out. Once she was left alone, Gu Qingyu walked over to the stack of clothes and laid out each piece. One of the dresses was in shades of baby blue, white embroidered flowers adorned the fabric. She would look beautiful in that dress. There¡¯s still some time before dinner, how about trying it out? Gu Qingyu was a decisive person and changed swiftly. She released her hair, then pulled it into a messy bun using the ribbon that Jia Qizhe gave her. Gu Qingyu did all this gleefully. She was about to check the overall look in front of the mirror, but the door opened suddenly. ¡°Zhu...¡± The person flinched, then blushed. He then quickly closed the door. ¡°Sorry miss, I got the wrong room.¡± Murong Zuoyu? Nope, you did not walk into the wrong room. Gu Qingyu sighed, she tried to tell him about ¡®the wardrobe situation¡¯ but they were interrupted by the last round of assassins! Murong Zuoyu seemed to have realised that something did not add up, and he doubled back and opened the door again. ¡°Brother Zhu?¡± ¡°Hey.¡± Gu Qingyu answered weakly, ¡°Brother Murong...¡± ¡°It is really you?¡± The shock was written all over Murong Zuoyu¡¯s face. Gu Qingyu gave a stiff nod. ¡°I wanted to tell you, but those assassins from before...¡± ¡°I know.¡± Murong Zuoyu¡¯s awkwardness was evident, even his ears had turned pink. ¡°Um...Actually, Brother Murong, I hope this doesn¡¯t change things.¡± Gu Qingyu added in a rush, ¡°My real identity is the Third Daughter of the Gu Family, Gu Qingyu. Of course, I am still Zhu Fan.¡± Murong Zuoyu nodded without a word. ¡°Then... If there¡¯s nothing, can you go back to wait for dinner?¡± Gu Qingyu asked tentatively. ¡°Alright.¡± Murong Zuoyu turned around stiffly and closed the door on his way out. Gu Qingyu breathed a sigh of relief, luckily, her real identity was ¡®exposed¡¯, so there was now one less thing to worry about. Just then, she heard the door open again. Gu Qingyu turned, ¡°Murong...Jia Qizhe? Why is it you?¡± ¡°Surprised to see me?¡± Jia Qizhe closed the door as he walked in. He took his seat in a chair, still looking somewhat arrogant. ¡°Nono...¡± Gu Qingyu sat down too. ¡°I was thinking if I can go back to dressing as a girl.¡± ¡°Of course you can if you want to.¡± Jia Qizhe raised his eyebrows as if he found the question odd. He quickly noticed the ribbon on Gu Qingyu¡¯s hair and his eyes widened, ¡°You kept it?¡± Gu Qingyu nodded sheepishly, ¡°Yeah, it was with me this whole time. I just didn¡¯t use it...¡± Jia Qizhe stood up and circled behind Gu Qingyu. ¡°Huh? What are you doing?¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Gu Qingyu felt her hair unravel. ¡°It was too ugly.¡± Jia Qizhe¡¯s tone was tinged with an unmistakable snigger. Ugly? ¡°Hmph.¡± Gu Qingyu was annoyed with the remark and spoke not a second word. After a while, Jia Qizhe clapped his hand as he looked at her. ¡°Done!¡± ¡°Impressive! Hero Jia, you really know how to tie a lady¡¯s hair!¡± Gu Qingyu smiled as she got up to find a mirror. ¡°Boss, I¡¯m here...¡± His words hung in mid-air. Gu Qingyu turned to Qi Wan, who had waltzed into the room, ¡°Hey, do I look good? I¡¯ve not checked yet.¡± Qi Wan nodded. ¡°You look absolutely gorgeous!¡± Gorgeous? Is that so? Qi Wan is practically surrounded by beautiful ladies, to think he actually called her gorgeous? Gu Qingyu rushed to the mirror and was shocked as well. ¡°It¡¯s brilliant!¡± Gu Qingyu gasped at the reflection of herself. The light blue dress fitted her like a glove, as it was tailored to her. The white flowers complemented her complexion. Her hair was held up and secured by an ornate wooden hairpin. ¡°A hairpin?¡± Gu Qingyu hesitated. Jia Qizhe¡¯s charming voice rang out. ¡°Don¡¯t you like these kinds of things?¡± I do but this is too scary! I could poke someone¡¯s eyes out with this! ¡°What I made is so much better than the kind they sell in the shops.¡± Jia Qizhe commented, his finger tapped on his sword out of habit, all while he stared at Qi Wan. Qi Wan felt something was wrong and stuttered, ¡°Ah! B-Boss! Your clothes are beautiful but your hair is even more beautiful!¡± "Oh, is that so?¡± Gu Qingyu nodded, she believed him. ¡°Sigh, you innocent child, you¡¯re too honest!¡± The ¡®honest¡¯ Qi Wan nodded. ¡°Yes! I think so too! We can go for dinner now, I came here to inform you all!¡± Then, he bolted out of the room. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m going to awe everyone out there!¡± Gu Qingyu made her way to the door. Right before she could wrap her hand around the door handle, Jia Qizhe pulled her back with a jerk. ¡°What?¡± Gu Qingyu was confused. Their eyes met. ¡°Change.¡± Jia Qizhe¡¯s tone was firm and unwavering. Change? ¡°Why?¡± Gu Qingyu asked indignantly. ¡°No questions.¡± Jia Qizhe¡¯s lips twitched, ¡°Or would you prefer if I helped?¡± ¡°Get out!¡± Gu Qingyu shouted as she glowered. ¡°Go, I¡¯ll change!¡± Jia Qizhe calmly walked out. ¡°Keep the hairpin, it will come in handy.¡± Gu Qingyu shot him a cold look, then let her hair down, then changed her clothes and hair, ¡°Jeez, didn¡¯t you just say that I can go back to my dresses whenever I want to? Men are really fickle creatures!¡± Jia Qizhe, who was waiting for her right outside, winced. Fickle creatures? Seriously... Chapter 42: Stupid Bird Chapter 42: Stupid Bird Translated by: iris.knight ¡°Not going down yet?¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s go.¡± Jia Qizhe seemed pleased with Gu Qingyu¡¯s obedience and went downstairs with a smug grin on his face. Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes again and followed him. The table was set, and the rest of the party had already taken their seats. It appeared that they had been waiting for the two of them. Qi Wan caught Jia Qizhe¡¯s grin and Gu Qingyu¡¯s grim expression. He figured out what happened after he left the room, but he knowingly kept quiet on the subject. Boss is important, but my life is even more so! If Gu Qingyu knew, she would vomit blood from rage. With Xie Zang¡¯s addition to the party, Qi Yichen and Qi Wan found a new partner to chat with. Who knew Xie Zang was so chatty! On the other hand, Murong Zuoyu had been quiet the whole time and refused to look at Gu Qingyu. Is it refusal or avoidance? Guilt ate away her guts. Nightfall. Gu Qingyu had changed into her pajamas and was about to crawl into bed. Then, there was some rustling from the trees outside her window. Normally it would be too faint to hear, but thanks to her cat demon powers, she has extra-sharp hearing at night. And her powers had grown immensely after the contract with Yan Zun. She quietly gathered energy in her hand and shaped it into a blade. As she approached the window, she caught a sweet smell in the air. It smelled like flowers, her heart tightened at that realisation. Damn! I did not see this move coming! My mistake! Gu Qingyu immediately held her breath, but her strength was being sucked away bit by bit, the glowing blade in her hand was slowly dissipating as well. Her knees gave out and she fell backward onto her bed. Someone opened the window and jumped in. Gu Qingyu forced her eyes open to see the intruder¡¯s face clearly. It was the lady in pink, the one who led her upstairs and brought her a dress?! Did she want to hurt me? Isn¡¯t she one of Qi Wan¡¯s people? ¡°Still hasn¡¯t collapsed? I¡¯ve underestimated you.¡± The lady laughed, the silver edge of the dagger in her hand gleamed under the moonlight. ¡°Gu Qingyu.¡± She knows my real identity?! Gu Qingyu put up a front and smiled. She was surrounded by martial arts experts, help would arrive soon enough, she just needed to buy time. ¡°Oh, I never thought I had such a widespread reputation.¡± ¡°Gu Qingyu, don¡¯t think about reinforcements.¡± The woman smiled in a sinister charm. ¡°This place is covered by my aura.¡± Aura? What does she mean? Yan Zun had appeared once again, he hovered near Gu Qingyu as he mumbled to himself, ¡°Hmm, this person does have an incredible aura, it looks like it would be hard to find us now.¡± Are you still my master?! Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. The pink lady thought Gu Qingyu was being cheeky. She walked over with feather-light steps. ¡°I did not plan to take matters into my own hands, but those idiots are too incompetent...¡± Those idiots? Does she mean the black assassins? ¡°You don¡¯t work for Qi Wan?¡± Gu Qingyu grimaced. The woman paused, then she laughed. ¡°Of course not, I belong to His Majesty. But because they were so useless, His Majesty had to let me out to kill you.¡± She gently placed her finger on her pink lips, her smile was as sweet as honey. But Gu Qingyu had no time to pay attention to that, she had to escape! ¡°Don¡¯t try running away. Do you even know why I bother to tell you so many secrets? That¡¯s because dead men tell no tales!¡± She lifted up her dagger. ¡°The Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny belongs to His Majesty! Rest in peace!¡± She wasted no more words and drove the dagger down. Slash! ¡°What? You¡¯re not continuing? Or, that¡¯s all you got?¡± Gu Qingyu retorted with a smile. She was still lying on her bed, but she stopped the dagger with a firm grip. The blade sliced open her palm, blood splattered everywhere. Unbeknownst to her, her eyes and her hair had turned crimson. Luckily, Yan Zun was around. That rock finally has its uses! The pink lady seemed afraid but she regained her composure and pushed down the dagger. Gu Qingyu refused to let go of the dagger, the blade inched closer and closer to her chest. Then the dagger stopped again. Gu Qingyu twisted her lips into a smile as she stood up and tossed the dagger away. The dagger flew across the room and jammed deeply into the wall. As Gu Qingyu admired Yan Zun¡¯s powers, she felt her own body weaken. Something was holding her up, allowing her to go on, but once that power fades, she would collapse. This must be the side-effects. Gu Qingyu looked at the lady with a chilling glare and enveloped her with a mysterious force, the lady was no longer able to move or speak. Gu Qingyu chuckled. ¡°One look at a stupid bird like you and I can tell that your master is as good as shit!¡± The woman could understand ¡®stupid bird¡¯ but... what even was ¡®shit¡¯? ¡°Don¡¯t understand? Do you find it interesting? I knew you wouldn¡¯t understand such high-level words! Then let me explain! Shit is also known as whatever that''s in the toilet! Now you understand?¡± Gu Qingyu explained as condescendingly as she could. The lady¡¯s face turned red and contorted with anger, it seemed that being unable to speak or fight back had aggravated her rage. ¡°Do you think my analogy was so apt that you want to clap and cheer, but could not find the words to describe my wisdom? Then, you got too excited and your face is all red? Or is it that I¡¯m too handsome, that you can¡¯t help falling in love?¡± Gu Qingyu raised her eyebrows. She has taken trash-talking to new heights! ¡°Gu Qingyu, you...¡± The woman bit her tongue as a bid to break free from Gu Qingyu¡¯s spell, but she was at a loss for words. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be so hasty, I understand, ok?¡± Gu Qingyu gave a meaningful smile while a streak of red light gathered in her hand. The pink woman closed her eyes. ¡°This is my incompetence! Gu Qingyu, kill me, destroy me, do whatever you want!¡± Gu Qingyu was about to lower her blade without hesitation, but suddenly the world spun before her eyes. The pink lady sensed that Gu Qingyu¡¯s spell had finally weakened, her eyes opened and she sent daggers of light into Gu Qingyu¡¯s chest. Gu Qingyu could only watch as the daggers of light flew towards her, she no longer had the strength to dodge them. She squeezed her eyes shut and braced for impact. The daggers made their mark, but it was neither deep nor light, as if something stopped the daggers. The pain caused her to open her eyes, a man stood in front of her. He was dressed in red robes, his black hair fanned out and blocked out everything else in her vision. Xie Zang? No, it¡¯s Yan Zun! Yan Zun gazed upon the pink lady with stone-cold eyes,, his pale and boney fingers had wrapped around the lady¡¯s arm, his nails dug into her skin. His vice-like grip had stopped her in her tracks. Then, a bright red light glowed from Yan Zun¡¯s hand, the woman howled and was tossed out of the window like trash, the sound of a crash downstairs followed. Yan Zun turned back to Gu Qingyu. ¡°How are you? Let me have a look.¡± He ordered her as he made Gu Qingyu lie back on her bed. His touch seemed to be real... and warm, like a real person. In an instant, whatever strength Gu Qingyu had left escaped her. ¡°Yu¡¯er!¡± Mo Bai barged in. ¡°You¡¯re finally here, isn¡¯t it a bit late?¡± Yan Zun commented with an icy stare, then his body slowly vaporised and he vanished. Maybe he left because the doctor is here? Actually, it is not even leaving. He¡¯s just going back to his spirit world. ¡°Gu Qingyu!¡± Panic was evident on Jia Qizhe¡¯s face, but he suppressed it. ¡°Downstairs...¡± Gu Qingyu whispered hoarsely, the throbbing pain in her hands and her chest had made speaking increasingly difficult. ¡°Qi Yichen and Qi Wan already went down... Damn!¡± Jia Qizhe leaped out of the window. ¡°Mo Bai, cure her! I owe you one!¡± ¡°I will even if you don¡¯t tell me.¡± Mo Bai closed the doors and windows. He took out a roll of cloth from his sleeve, needles of various sizes lined neatly in what appeared to be his needle roll. Kill me, please! Just the thought of those needles on my body feels like torture! Mo Bai gently smiled and stroked her forehead at the sight of worry and resistance in her eyes, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, believe in my skills, it won¡¯t hurt.¡± Can I not believe you? It¡¯s not like my belief in you would change anything! ¡°Really, it won¡¯t hurt.¡± Mo Bai gently slipped out a needle. Gu Qingyu finally gave in to the pain, her eyes rolled into her head and she passed out. After losing consciousness in the real world, Gu Qingyu arrived in the spirit world. And there he was, Yan Zun was in the hot spring. His eyes were closed, if she had not known better she would have thought that he was relaxing in the warm waters. But his shoulders were tense, his jaw was tight, there was a slight furrow between his brows. Yan Zun was far from relaxed, he was angry. ¡°Master...¡± Gu Qingyu started cautiously. Yan Zun gave a ¡®Hmph¡¯ and proceeded to ignore her. ¡°Master?¡± Gu Qingyu tried again, but he did not reply. So she scooted over and sat next to him, ¡°Hey, Master, don¡¯t be so upset! It looks like I owe you a few million dollars...¡± Her voice softened as she saw the anger in Yan Zun¡¯s eyes. She had never seen him like this, but for some reason, it felt familiar. ¡°Gu Qingyu!¡± Yan Zun finally snapped, ¡°Did you realise the danger you have landed yourself in today?¡± ¡°What happened today?¡± Gu Qingyu pondered. Nothing happened, aside from getting stabbed... ¡°You knew that form does not last long! And it will hurt you if you use it, and you still had the mood to goad that woman? In my eyes, you are the pile of shit!¡± He¡¯s even throwing insults like that, it looks like he is really angry... ¡°Had I not taken a stand and appeared in flesh, do you think you can still see me now?¡± Yan Zun stared into her eyes, anger still crackled in his eyes. Actually, she wanted to ask about the whole ¡®flesh¡¯ situation. ¡°Master, I...¡± Gu Qingyu began. Chapter 43: Beauty and the Ten Thousand year old Rock Demon Chapter 43: Beauty and the Ten Thousand year old Rock Demon Translated by: iris.knight Nearly a thousand years? That much?! ¡°Then, is there any way to get it back?¡± Gu Qingyu asked cautiously. She didn¡¯t think there would be a way to get all that power back, but she still felt obligated to try. ¡°You think it is easy for a soul to be in a corporeal form?¡± Yan Zun looked at her and threw back the question. ¡°I...¡± Gu Qingyu panicked. ¡°Master...¡± ¡°So, for the next few days, unless it is absolutely necessary, don¡¯t disturb me.¡± Yan Zun closed his eyes again. ¡°Huh? Does that mean things aren¡¯t too bad? Master, are you alright?¡± ¡°It was nothing anyway, I just needed to rest for a few days.¡± Yan Zun cracked open one eye while he replied. The furrow between his brows had disappeared, there was even a twinkle in his eye. ¡°Besides... It does not matter if I can¡¯t get it back, what does a thousand years of power count for? I still have tens of thousands of years.¡± He was just being arrogant! This piece of rock is actually an arrogant brat! ¡°Next time, be more careful, finish off the person then slowly ¡®educate¡¯ him.¡± Yan Zun¡¯s tone turned a serious note. ¡°Huh? Finish off the person then slowly ¡®educate¡¯ them?¡± ¡°Also, your skills at educating people are embarrassing. As your master, I¡¯ll have to teach you sometime.¡± Yan Zun stretched his hand out and suddenly grabbed Gu Qingyu¡¯s ankle. ¡°Huh? Master, what are you...Ah!¡± Before she finished, Gu Qingyu felt a tug on her leg and she fell into the hot spring. I cannot swim... ¡°Help! Murder! A ten-thousand-year-old rock demon is killing a smart, kind and pure beautiful girl!¡± Gu Qingyu flailed in the water as she screamed. Yan Zun looked at her in defeat, but there was a smirk on his face. Ten-thousand-year-old rock demon? Beautiful girl? Very good. Gu Qingyu continued to flail her arms, but something was not right. She calmed down and regained her footing at the bottom of the spring, the spring¡¯s water only reached up to her waist. Yan Zun watched as gears turned in Gu Qingyu¡¯s head, all while he toyed with his long hair. ¡°Ten-thousand-year-old rock demon?¡± ¡°Um...¡± This was embarrassing, did I say something bad? ¡°Beautiful girl?¡± Yan Zun¡¯s lips curled into a smile. ¡°Um...¡± I really want to nod! But would I be alive if I do? ¡°Master, I did not say anything just now!¡± Gu Qingyu immediately raised three fingers and swore to the heavens. Yan Zun smiled. In that instant, a streak of lightning crossed the blood-red sky, followed by a rumble of thunder. ¡°You would really be punished by the heavens.¡± How did I forget this place is owned by this rock! ¡°...Master, I¡¯m wrong! You are a generous man...¡± Gu Qingyu sobbed. ¡°You¡¯re wrong, I am a ten-thousand-year-old rock demon.¡± Yan Zun corrected in a serious tone. Gu Qingyu felt like giving herself a hard slap. ¡°No, you¡¯re not! I¡¯m absolutely horrible and pathetic...¡± ¡°You¡¯re wrong again, you¡¯re a smart, kind and pure beautiful girl.¡± Yan Zun corrected her again. ¡°Master!¡± Gu Qingyu was about to collapse. He¡¯s really not the kind of person you want to mess with! ¡°Master, I am wrong.¡± Gu Qingyu was about to climb back ashore, but Yan Zun held her in place. Yan Zun gently closed his eyes, seemingly tired. ¡°Hold it, the water here helps with your recovery.¡± Gu Qingyu studied his reaction, she finally stopped protesting and sat quietly in the water. ¡°Master, didn¡¯t you say that day that I can only soak in here after coming back from the marketplace?¡± Gu Qingyu asked curiously, ¡°Is there something there?¡± Yan Zun nodded. ¡°You remember that lantern?¡± Lantern? The one I gave Jia Qizhe? Gu Qingyu nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°There is a fragrance inside that freshens up the mind... Anyway, it¡¯s beneficial to both you and me.¡± Yan Zun¡¯s lips twitched and slapped himself on the forehead. ¡°I¡¯m getting infected by you.¡± You¡¯re blaming me? Gu Qingyu¡¯s lips twitched too. ¡°Thank you, Master, can I go now?¡¯ Yan Zun waved. ¡°Go, I need to rest too, if there is nothing important, then don¡¯t disturb me for the next few days.¡± ¡°Urgh...¡± Gu Qingyu opened her eyes, it felt as though she was splitting in half. Mo Bai was before her, his fingers wrapped around her wrist as he took her pulse. They made eye contact, Mo Bai gently leaned back and smiled. ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± Gu Qingyu nodded tersely. She shifted her elbows and tried to push herself up from the bed, but Mo Bai pressed her down. Then, the splitting pain returned to her chest. ¡°Don¡¯t rush to get up, you¡¯ve been unconscious for three days, drink some water first.¡± Mo Bai took the pot on the table and gently poured water in a little white ceramic cup. His slender fingers gently grasped the cup, he held it up and set it close to Gu Qingyu¡¯s lips. Gu Qingyu was taken aback. Blood rushed to her head. Something trickled out from her nose. Mo Bai¡¯s eyes widened, he whipped out a handkerchief and passed it to Gu Qingyu. Realisation hit Gu Qingyu and she covered her nose with the handkerchief. How embarrassing! I actually had a nosebleed in front of Prince Charming! She took the cup from Mo Bai¡¯s hands and took small, slow sips. Mo Bai nodded, satisfied. ¡°Yu¡¯er, you will fully recover after a few more days of rest.¡± ¡°A few days?¡± Gu Qingyu was surprised. ¡°Don¡¯t we have to go to Beiying?¡± ¡°No worries, we can go after Yu¡¯er recovered.¡± Mo Bai¡¯s tone was gentle as he took back the cup and set it on the table. ¡°Then... that woman?¡± Gu Qingyu hesitated but she had to ask. ¡°She wanted to kill herself but Jia Qizhe stopped her in time, but he could not get anything out of her.¡± Mo Bai sighed. ¡°The Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny is not something good, Yu¡¯er. It will bring you troubles and woes. This attack, that dagger was an inch away from your heart. You¡¯re lucky this time, but what about the next?¡± ¡°I know, Mo Bai.¡± Gu Qingyu looked at him with resolve. ¡°But I want to go on.¡± In the beginning, she did treat it all like a game. But after seeing Yan Zun¡¯s resolute back and angry eyes, she became determined to help him. Not for herself, or for Qi Wan. Even if she could not go back. She just wanted to help him. ¡°Yu¡¯er...¡± Mo Bai stopped mid-sentence. Gu Qingyu probed gently, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Who was that red man?¡± Mo Bai asked, his eyes filled with curiosity. Gu Qingyu did not mind his prying. ¡°A friend.¡± Yes, a friend. Regardless, Yan Zun¡¯s identity could not be revealed, it was a promise between them. ¡°Well, I get it.¡± Mo Bai nodded. ¡°Yu¡¯er, rest well, I won¡¯t disturb you any longer.¡± He got up from his seat and headed towards the door. ¡°...Sorry, Mo Bai.¡± Gu Qingyu stopped him in his tracks. ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t mean to hide this from you, but I really promised. It¡¯s not like I don¡¯t trust you, but I...¡± ¡°Yu¡¯er, that¡¯s enough, I¡¯ll support whatever you do.¡± Mo Bai turned back and gave a gentle smile. ¡°Yeap!¡± Gu Qingyu smiled too. ¡°Thank you.¡± Mo Bai pushed open the door and walked out. Questions plagued Gu Qingyu¡¯s mind. Who is that pink woman? What I do know is that someone really wants to kill me. Is it for the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny? Or for some other reason? Whoever it is, that person is really powerful, not just because of the assassination last night, but the fact that he could infiltrate a remote area like this. Alas, she did not know that this place was the ¡®Fragrance Hall¡¯, a location fairly famous in the martial arts world. A knock pulled Gu Qingyu out of her thoughts. Gu Qingyu lifted her head, ¡°Who is it? Come in.¡± The door was pushed open, it was Jia Qizhe. He closed the door, walked in and sat on the bedside. ¡°Are you alright...Yu¡¯er?¡± ¡°Cough, cough!¡± Gu Qingyu hacked, the coughing sent a sharp pain through her chest. ¡°Ouch!¡± Jia Qizhe panicked, ¡°What happened to you?¡± Gu Qingyu slowed her breathing and calmed down. ¡°Ah! I was just shocked by you!¡± Jia Qizhe replied, ¡°Was that weird?¡± Gu Qingyu immediately nodded frantically, like she had seen a ghost. Jia Qizhe¡¯s face darkened. ¡°What, Mo Bai can call you that and I can¡¯t?¡± ¡°No!¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m just not used to it. Besides coming from someone like you, it does sound a little weird...¡± ¡°What¡¯s weird? You¡¯ll get used to it in the future.¡± Jia Qizhe smirked. The future? Oh dear... ¡°That¡¯s right, the pink lady, she...¡± She double-checked. Jia Qizhe held his chin with his hand. ¡°Yeah, I kept her for you.¡± Kept her for me? Thank you for that, if I didn¡¯t know better, it could almost pass as a gift. Gu Qingyu waved weakly. ¡°I will take a look when I¡¯m better.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Jia Qizhe nodded. ¡°I¡¯m just here to check on you. If there¡¯s nothing else, then get some sleep, your wounds have not healed yet.¡± That was the first time he said so much in his gentle voice. ¡°...Okay.¡± Gu Qingyu gently closed her eyes. She felt someone tucked her in then the person walked out in soft steps, her heart was all warm and fuzzy. Jia Qizhe stepped out from Gu Qingyu¡¯s room, Mo Bai had been waiting outside. ¡°What?¡± Jia Qizhe smiled, but it was not fully genuine. ¡°Nothing.¡± Mo Bai shot Jia Qizhe an icy look, like a king looking down at a peasant. ¡°Stay away from her.¡± Darkness was written on his face Jia Qizhe was not to be trifled with too, he snorted. ¡°You...¡± ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± A smug voice rang out, Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai¡¯s face both darkened. Chapter 44: You’re not Someone so Simple Chapter 44: You''re not Someone so Simple Translated by: iris.knight Qi Wan sauntered to the pair. Yet, the moment he saw the murderous intent in Mo Bai¡¯s eyes, Qi Wan darted behind Jia Qizhe. ¡°Hero Jia! If something happens to me, then you must put yourself in the line and save me!¡± Jia Qizhe¡¯s lips twitched irritably. Mo Bai continued to stare at Qi Wan with a withering look. He finally closed his eyes and when he opened them again, he reverted back to his gentle demeanor. He smiled and walked away. It is not wise to argue here. Suddenly, Mo Bai heard Jia Qizhe¡¯s voice via telepathy. ¡°Don¡¯t think that I don¡¯t know who you are. I only put up with you because you¡¯re not much of a threat yet, Mo Bai.¡± He turned and saw Jia Qizhe giving him a cunning grin. Mo Bai narrowed his eyes, then lowered their gaze and he walked away. Qi Wan, on the other hand, was curious. ¡°Brother Jia, what did you say to him?¡± He could sense the use of telepathy, but what did Jia Qizhe that elicited such an expression from Mo Bai? Qi Wan was puzzled. Jia Qizhe walked away as well. ¡°Don¡¯t stick your nose where it doesn¡¯t belong, you¡¯re not someone so simple either.¡± Qi Wan thought. Does your family know you¡¯re such a tsundere? Then, he chewed on his lips as he stood guard at Gu Qingyu¡¯s door. A smile crept up his face. He¡¯s not wrong, with a party like this, how can there be anyone simple? Evening. Gu Qingyu woke up with a yawn. Even though her wounds still hurt, she felt a lot better. Someone outside heard Gu Qingyu¡¯s movements and gently knocked. ¡°Boss, are you awake?¡± ¡°Qi Wan?¡± Gu Qingyu did a double-take, ¡°Come in.¡± The door opened and Qi Wan walked in, in his hand were medicine and something that looked like white bandages. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s time to drink your medicine and change your dressing!¡± The caring handsome man smiled while he pulled a chair to Gu Qingyu¡¯s bed and sat down. ¡°Come, open your mouth, drink up! Aah!¡± ¡°Aah? What? You have a sore throat?¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes in annoyance as she sat up. ¡°Boss, be careful...¡± Qi Wan placed the medicine on the table haphazardly before he reached over and supported Gu Qingyu¡¯s back. ¡°Ah, boss, take it easy...¡± ¡°I know.¡± Gu Qingyu took the medicine off the table, then made a disgusted face at the dark liquid. ¡°It looks very bitter.¡± ¡°This is Doctor Mo¡¯s medicine. As they all say, bitter medicine is good for you!¡± Qi Wan coddled Gu Qingyu to drink the medicine, like a mother. Gu Qingyu looked at the medicine again, finally steeled her heart and drank the medicine in a single gulp. ¡°Wow! You¡¯re good!¡± Qi Wan immediately clapped. Gu Qingyu glared at him. ¡°Wow, how patronizing.¡± ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Qi Wan pointed three fingers to the sky and swore. Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes again. ¡°You think I¡¯ve never taken care of kids before?¡± ¡°Huh? You already have kids, boss?¡± Qi Wan¡¯s sparkled with curiosity. ¡°Boy or girl? How old are they? What does the father do? Is he even alive? If not, I can take care of them!¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Gu Qingyu shook her head. ¡°They¡¯re my friend¡¯s, I was just babysitting. Then again... Qi Wan, who was that woman? Did you know her?¡± On that subject, Qi Wan¡¯s face hardened. ¡°Sigh! Friendships can be sunk at any moment! I never knew Fen Yi¡¯s true background, she actually managed to mix in with the rest! She was one of my best assistants. Who could have thought! What a cold and harsh world!¡± ¡°Enough, stop acting like some angry widow.¡± Gu Qingyu could not help but laugh at Qi Wan¡¯s antics. Fen Yi, literally pink dress? What a matching name to that woman! ¡°Alright.¡± Qi Wan took Gu Qingyu¡¯s hand. ¡°Little Yu¡¯er, be good, we¡¯re changing your bandages now!¡± What in the world is ¡®Little Yu¡¯er¡¯? ¡°How can you change from an angry widow to a doting father instantly?¡± Gu Qingyu mumbled as she watched Qi Wan work. The bandages on her arms gradually unraveled, her palm had healed quite a bit but the initial gore was still visible. ¡°Oh dear, it hurts to even see it.¡± Qi Wan frowned, his fingers traced the edges of the wounds. It did not hurt but it was a little itchy. He took out something like an herb paste and evenly applied it over the gash. His eyes were serious as he tended to her wounds. Gu Qingyu suddenly lowered her head. ¡°Thank you, Qi Wan.¡± He took a piece of clean white cloth and wrapped them around Gu Qingyu¡¯s hand, then finished it with a beautiful butterfly knot. ¡°Huh? What did you say? I didn¡¯t hear you.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Gu Qingyu raised her voice, but it agitated the wound on her chest and she went into another coughing fit. ¡°My bad, my bad...¡± Qi Wan gently tapped Gu Qingyu¡¯s back. ¡°Little Yu¡¯er, actually you don¡¯t need to say thanks. This is for mutual benefit, I follow you and I can go home.¡± ¡°Really, you just want to go home?¡± Gu Qingyu steadied herself and looked at Qi Wan. Qi Wan smiled. ¡°To be honest, I''m starting to like the atmosphere here.¡± ¡°Like?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at him, puzzled. ¡°You like the life of being punched by Mo Bai and hunted by Jia Qizhe?¡± ¡°Cough cough!¡± Qi Wan suddenly choked. ¡°Boss, sometimes I really admire how your brain is wired!¡± ¡°Yeah, thank you, you¡¯re back to normal?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan with a smile. Little Yu¡¯er, that was too intimate. Qi Wan nodded and as he set down Gu Qingyu¡¯s hand. ¡°Then, boss, do you wanna take a nap first?¡± ¡°What nap? I just woke up! Your Queen wants to go to the toilet!¡± Gu Qingyu had a stern face. ¡°Cough cough!¡± Qi Wan stood up with a complex expression. ¡°Boss, you express us, the modern people¡¯s, brazen attitude without hesitation! I will get Xiao Qi!¡± Gu Qingyu nodded. ¡°Why yes, thank you, I¡¯ll carry on with our legacy.¡± Qi Wan took a wrong step and almost tripped. Soon, Xiao Qi walked in with puffy eyes and a red face. ¡°Xiao Yu...how do you feel?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m alright.¡± Gu Qingyu looked at her strangely. ¡°Were you crying?¡± ¡°I was so worried about you...¡± Xiao Qi rubbed her teary eyes. Gu Qingyu pulled Xiao Qi towards her and stroked her head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, silly girl, didn¡¯t everything work out in the end?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xiao Qi rubbed her eyes again, she chewed her lip as she looked at Gu Qingyu, a blush stained her cheeks. ¡°Xiao Yu, I hear you need the toilet...¡± ¡°Yeah, I have to trouble you for this period.¡± Gu Qingyu grinned at Xiao Qi. For a woman of ancient times to hear from another man that her lady needed the toilet, was not normally acceptable... Xiao Qi stopped her words, she arranged Gu Qingyu¡¯s clothes and supported Gu Qingyu. ¡°That¡¯s right, Xiao Yu, I¡¯ll change your bandages later.¡± ¡°Huh? Didn¡¯t Qi Wan change it already?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at her, confused. Xiao Qi was shocked. ¡°Really, Xiao Yu? You...Sigh, it¡¯s not that I want to chastise you, but you¡¯re a lady, what improper behaviour!¡± ¡°Um... just the bandages on one hand...¡± Gu Qingyu seemed to have realized something and explained. ¡°Then the ones on your chest?¡± Xiao Qi looked at her, skeptical. Gu Qingyu held Xiao Qi¡¯s hand. ¡°Of course I was waiting for my dear Xiao Qi!¡± Evening. The sky was turning from orange to purple, Gu Qingyu rubbed her belly. ¡°I¡¯m hungry, let¡¯s go down and eat!¡± Xiao Qi did not know why she suddenly felt being tasked with the honour of taking care of a brat... ¡°Then I¡¯ll ask for the food to be brought here?¡± Xiao Qi asked cautiously. Gu Qingyu shook her leg as she sat on her bed, her chest was hurting far less after they changed her dressing. Mo Bai is an amazing doctor, yeah, I should learn from him when I have the time. She said, ¡°I feel like I¡¯m going to rot in this room! I need some fresh air!¡± Xiao Qi supported Gu Qingyu by the arm. ¡°Slow down, Xiao Yu, we¡¯ll walk slowly.¡± When Gu Qingyu walked downstairs, a group of people directed their eyes to her. Mo Bai¡¯s eyebrows furrowed and he was about to speak, but Jia Qizhe was a step ahead of him. ¡°Why are you downstairs? Your wounds have healed?¡± Gu Qingyu nodded and gave a wide grin. ¡°Thanks to Mo Bai¡¯s medicine! I am almost well!¡± ¡°Brother Zhu, I have missed you!¡± Qi Yichen looked teary-eyed. Xie Zang ate his meal slowly. ¡°Come, Kitten, come over and eat.¡± Gu Qingyu walked over and sat in an empty seat between Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai. Xiao Qi sat down too and saw Qi Wan smiling at her, her face instantly blushed bright red. Sigh, the woman these days. Gu Qingyu sighed, shook her head and picked up her chopsticks for dinner. As she glanced up, her bowl was being filled up by the person next to her, there was almost a small mountain in her bowl. Jia Qizhe was seemingly unaware, his chopsticks continued to move. Gu Qingyu ground her teeth. ¡°Jia Qizhe, are you feeding a pig!¡± ¡°You¡¯re too thin, eat more.¡± Jia Qizhe sneered, ¡°I actually do want to feed you to be a pig.¡± ¡°Tch.¡± Gu Qingyu pursed her lips, annoyed. Mo Bai was slowly adding food to Go Qingyu''s bowl too. ¡°Um...Mo Bai, that¡¯s really enough.¡± She could not be fierce to Mo Bai and it was bad to flare up at a male idol. Mo Bai gave her a sweet smile. ¡°You have not healed completely, eat more.¡± ¡°Sigh, oh well.¡± Gu Qingyu sighed at the sight of the tiny mountain in her bowl. She readjusted her chopsticks to start eating, but Jia Qizhe¡¯s chopsticks kept moving in and out of her bowl. Gu Qingyu snapped as she slapped his chopsticks away, ¡°Enough!¡± Jia Qizhe then picked out the food Mo Bai gave her bit by bit before he ate his meal. Mo Bai watched Jia Qizhe with an icy look, but Jia Qizhe seemed to be unaware and enjoyed his meal. Chapter 45: I want to Drink Wine Chapter 45: I want to Drink Wine Translated by: iris.knight On the other hand, Xiezang was in a teasing mood. ¡°Come, Kitten, I have more here.¡± Gu Qingyu almost spat her food out. Qi Wan rubbed his forearms while he groaned. ¡°Ah! Goosebumps!¡± It was not easy to finish a meal amidst Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai¡¯s war, Xiezang¡¯s teasing and Qi Wan¡¯s goosebumps. Gu Qingyu wiped her mouth and stood up. ¡°Yeap, I¡¯m full.¡± Qi Wan looked at her in fear. ¡°Brother Zhu, you actually ate them all...¡± He really could not understand, how can someone be able to eat so much... and so gracefully? ¡°I have a good appetite, what?¡± Gu Qingyu looked ready to get into a fight. Xiao Qi shot a jealous look at Gu Qingyu. How does she eat so much and not get fat, she¡¯s an enemy of all women! Gu Qingyu, unaware of their reactions, stretched her limbs and slowly walked upstairs. ¡°I¡¯ll go up first, you all have fun!¡± She winked at Qi Wan, who was taken aback but gave her a look that he understood. Everyone else was incredulous. Have fun? To think she actually said that! Gu Qingyu walked into her room, sat next to her table and looked at the dark sky. If it is fine, we should set sail tomorrow. For some reason, I have the feeling that we can¡¯t delay this any longer. Gu Qingyu slowly breathed out, a pang of pain tore through her chest as she tried to expand her lungs. That Fen Yi has really hurt her deeply. Suddenly, a few knocks could be heard on the door. ¡°Come in.¡± Gu Qingyu knew who came in without looking. That rhythm was exclusive to Mo Bai, two soft raps, then a few seconds later, three soft raps. Mo Bai entered the room, medicine in hand. ¡°Yu¡¯er, it¡¯s time to drink your medicine.¡± Gu Qingyu took the bowl and drank it all with a gulp. Mo Bai¡¯s medicine was not bitter, it could even be said that it was deliciously sweet and tangy. She wasn¡¯t sure if the medicine was never bitter or Mo Bai had added some things in. Gu Qingyu licked her teeth, unsatisfied. ¡°I really hope to stay sick a little longer!¡± ¡°What, Yu¡¯er likes drinking medicine?¡± Mo Bai laughed. Gu Qingyu shook her head, but then she nodded. ¡°I only like drinking your medicine, it is delicious.¡± ¡°If there is a chance, Yu¡¯er should try my cooking.¡± Mo Bai¡¯s eyes were filled with kindness. Gu Qingyu looked at him in surprise. ¡°Huh? Mo Bai knows how to cook?¡± She looked like she discovered a new continent. Mo Bai nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Wow, I will try it when I get the chance!¡± Gu Qingyu winked at him. ¡°Actually, can we go out to sea tomorrow?¡± ¡°Tomorrow?¡± Mo Bai¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Anything urgent?¡± ¡°Nothing, I just feel that my body has been dragging everyone down, it¡¯s been so long...¡± She suddenly had an idea. ¡°Could it be...¡± Mo Bai tilted his head. ¡°Could it be what?¡± ¡°Could it be someone was deliberating slowing us down?¡± Gu Qingyu had a bold revelation. Indeed, from the initial assassination to the attacks at the mountains and the village, then ¡®Fen Yi¡¯s¡¯ strike on her, all these suggested someone wants me dead, and to perhaps stall us. Is it because someone wants the Spirit Gems too? But, how do they know that I want the Spirit Gems in the first place? What if... Mo Bai reached out and stroked Gu Qingyu¡¯s head tenderly. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Yu¡¯er, don¡¯t think so much. Have a good rest, we can go out to sea after another day. I will not disturb you any longer, rest well.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Gu Qingyu obediently nodded. Mere moments after Mo Bai left, Qi Wan opened the door and walked in. ¡°It¡¯s really late, boss...¡± Qi Wan yawned. ¡°Say it, what do you need me for?¡± That was right, that wink she gave him after dinner was a signal. ¡°Yeah, Qi Wan, I want to go see Fen Yi, can I?¡± Gu Qingyu said hesitantly. Qi Wan was taken aback but smiled. ¡°Of course, as long as you want to, let¡¯s go.¡± Of course, as long as you want to. Gu Qingyu smiled too. She stood up and Qi Wan rushed to her side and supported her by the elbow. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I am not the elderly or the disabled, take care of yourself to not trip again.¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes at him. ¡°Oh yeah, boss...¡± Qi Wan¡¯s face suddenly darkened. Gu Qingyu looked at him, perplexed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why does that look that suggests I owe you billions?¡± ¡°Boss, if one day, you discover that the person you see today, is not the real me, then... would you still trust me?¡± Qi Wan took a deep breath and spoke in a tight voice. Gu Qingyu smiled and patted Qi Wan¡¯s head. ¡°Silly kid, I don¡¯t care about your real appearance, I care about your heart.¡± She paused, but her smile remained. ¡°As long as your feelings towards me don''t change, then you are my Qi Wan, no matter who or what you are.¡± ¡°Thank you, boss.¡± Qi Wan smiled too and returned to his old self. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s move.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Gu Qingyu pushed open the door. ¡°Where¡¯s she?¡± ¡°Follow me.¡± Qi Wan led Gu Qingyu through the meandering and confusing hallways to a room. They gently opened the door to see Fen Yi lying on the floor, blood flowing out her chest. Both of them were stunned, Qi Wan instinctively reached over to cover Gu Qingyu¡¯s eyes, but she squatted down near the corpse for a closer inspection. ¡°Hey, boss, you...¡± He thought Gu Qingyu would be frightened, but who would have thought this woman had nerves of steel. That revelation scared Qi Wan more than the corpse before them. ¡°Don¡¯t push yourself...¡± Gu Qingyu dipped her finger in the blood, then sniffed it. ¡°...Yeap, it¡¯s fresh.¡± ¡°Fresh?¡± Qi Wan¡¯s eyes almost popped out. ¡°You want to drink it?¡± Gu Qingyu gazed at her red fingertips before she shook her head. ¡°Yeah, even though it¡¯s tempting. But I don¡¯t like the taste.¡± ¡°Then again... How do you know this is fresh? You had practice? You¡¯re a private investigator? Or a spy? Don¡¯t say! Let me guess...¡± Qi Wan seemed to ponder seriously. ¡°Dumbass, I¡¯m a cat demon.¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. Qi Wan realized and slapped his forehead. ¡°Oh yeah! Why didn¡¯t I think of that!¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re dumb.¡± Gu Qingyu shrugged and stood up. ¡°Fresh blood, very recent death. And this is not a small wound, she was pierced through her chest, a dagger wouldn¡¯t be enough to do this. Her eyes were peaceful, so it was someone she knew.¡± ¡°Wow, impressive...¡± Qi Wan clapped his hand on his own accord. ¡°Boss? Boss, what¡¯s wrong...¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s face had turned a shade white. Before he could finish his question, Gu Qingyu bent down and started vomiting violently. ¡°Boss...¡± Qi Wan immediately walked over to tap her back. ¡°I told you not to push yourself...Come, let us go out first, someone will clean this up.¡± Gu Qingyu nodded and left the room with Qi Wan¡¯s support. ¡°Let¡¯s g-go to the rooftops.¡± Gu Qingyu held her breath. Qi Wan quickly took Gu Qingyu in his arms, he leaped out the window and landed on the roof. Gu Qingyu breathed a sigh of relief and took large breaths of fresh air, ¡°For some reason...in that split second, I liked the gore. But nausea kicked in right after that.¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t smell it in the future.¡± Qi Wan sat on the roof alongside Gu Qingyu. ¡°Qi Wan...¡± Gu Qingyu weakly licked her lips. ¡°I want to...drink wine...¡± Mo Bai was amazing indeed, she had only taken her medicine a while ago and her chest had stopped aching. If it were Jia Qizhe, Mo Bai, Murong Zuoyu, Xiao Qi or even Qi Yichen, she would not make such an obstinate request. But it was Qi Wan, who was most tolerant and followed her along on her wild antics. Qi Wan did a double-take, then firmly shook his head, ¡°No, boss, your wounds had not healed, something as strong as wine would... Alright, wait for me.¡± Qi Wan could only give up in defeat at the sight of Gu Qingyu¡¯s imploring, doe-eyed look. He got up begrudgingly. ¡°Only a little.¡± After a while, Qi Wan returned with two jars of wine. ¡°Do you look like you are only letting me drink a little?¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. Qi Wan sat down then hugged a jar, alarmed. ¡°Who said these are for you? They¡¯re all mine!¡± He then pulled out a small wine cup from his sleeve and filled it halfway. ¡°Here, you can only drink this much.¡± Gu Qingyu silently placed one hand on the other and cracked her knuckles. Qi Wan begged, ¡°Ah, boss, you really cannot drink anymore!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t waste your breath, bring the wine over.¡± Gu Qingyu pouted. ¡°I¡¯m in a bad mood.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t hurt yourself even when you¡¯re in a bad mood!¡± Qi Wan sobbed but he could not resist Gu Qingyu¡¯s whining. ¡°Go.¡± A calm voice, mixed with evident anger, said from behind Qi Wan. ¡°Hmph, you ask me to go and I should go?¡± Something came over Qi Wan and he retorted with firm determination. It was Mo Bai? Gu Qingyu was surprised and ashamed. She lowered her head and gently tugged Qi Wan¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Go.¡± Qi Wan was stunned, then smiled and stood up. ¡°Since Boss said so, then I¡¯ll go to sleep, good night!¡± He disguised his loneliness and took his jars of wine, the clear liquid rippled in the wind and he walked away. ¡°Yeah, good night.¡± After Qi Wan left, Gu Qingyu was about to leave, but Mo Bai sat down beside her. ¡°Um...¡± Gu Qingyu raised her head and met Mo Bai¡¯s slightly angry eyes. ¡°Mo Bai, I can explain everything...¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not listening.¡± Mo Bai snorted. Chapter 46: Poison and Porridge Chapter 46: Poison and Porridge Translated by: iris.knight ¡°Mo Bai, you...¡± Gu Qingyu began her defense. Right then, Mo Bai actually pushed the jar of wine he was holding to Gu Qingyu. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to drink wine? Drink it! Even if you die from it, I will bring you back!¡± ¡°Mo Bai, I¡¯m sorry...¡± Gu Qingyu did not dare to take the jar. Mo Bai took the jar back and placed it on the ground with a huff. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say that your wounds have yet healed?¡± ¡°Yes...¡± Gu Qingyu nibbled on her lips. ¡°Then what do you take my words for?¡± Mo Bai¡¯s eyes flared. Seeing the Prince Charmingwas getting angrier by the minute, Gu Qingyu grew desperate and clung on Mo Bai¡¯s arm. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ll never do this again!¡± Mo Bai was stunned and went silent. ¡°Waa, I really learned my mistake!¡± Gu Qingyu wiped her nonexistent tears on Mo Bai¡¯s sleeve. ¡°I¡¯ll never do it again!¡± ¡°Really?¡± The anger in Mo Bai¡¯s eyes was fading away. Gu Qingyu nodded obediently. ¡°Fine.¡± Mo Bai stretched out his other hand and gently stroked Gu Qingyu¡¯s hair. ¡°Be careful next time.¡± He paused and sighed. ¡°Yu¡¯er, I¡¯m not angry that you didn¡¯t listen to me, I¡¯m angry because you don¡¯t take care of yourself, you know that right?¡± Gu Qingyu nodded, ¡°Yes, I know. There really won¡¯t be the next time.¡± Mo Bai nodded, then he chuckled. ¡°Yu¡¯er, are you that afraid of me?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Gu Qingyu was surprised and let go of his arm. ¡°What did you say? I can¡¯t hear you? The wind was too loud, speak louder!¡± Mo Bai thought. I should have known this would happen! After bidding Mo Bai goodnight, Gu Qingyu went back to her room. I can¡¯t look for Master, but maybe I can still practice magic on my own? She stood up straight, closed her eyes and let her internal power flow within her body. Slowly, if she broke through this blockade, her powers would be among the top masters of this land and she would easily defeat most of her attackers. Suddenly, she felt her chest tightened as blood rushed to her heart. ¡°Don¡¯t rush, adjust your breathing, take even breaths.¡± A familiar, charming voice spoke. Then a hand was pressed gently between her shoulder blades. A rush of air was pushed into Gu Qingyu¡¯s body, mixing with her chaotic internal powers, which calmed it down significantly. Is it Jia Qizhe? If he¡¯s helping me, then this would be so much easier. Gu Qingyu let herself loose, opened her heart and mind and began melding with the powers. Jia Qizhe spoke again, ¡°That¡¯s it, don¡¯t be too anxious.¡± Gu Qingyu controlled the power and was slowly breaking through the blockade she always encountered. Suddenly, the power from Jia Qizhe broke loose from her control and shattered the blockade, giving Gu Qingyu a fright. At least I still got a boost in power. This Jia Qizhe is really reckless. Gu Qingyu felt drowsy and fell asleep soon after. When she opened her eyes again and looked out of the windows, it was the crack of dawn. Gu Qingyu rubbed her eyes and sat up, steady energy coursed through her body. Is this how it feels to break your limits? Gu Qingyu stood up and stretched her limbs. The pain in her chest had subsided and she felt a lot more refreshed, so she decided to go for a walk. She opened her window with a light push and leaped out of the window. ¡°Ah!¡± Bam! Crash! Gu Qingyu rubbed her dizzy head. Which unlucky guy got crushed by me in the morning? Wait! It¡¯s... ¡°Qi Wan? What are you doing here?¡± Gu Qingyu sniffed and scrunched her nose. ¡°And with such a strong smell of alcohol?¡± Qi Wan was lying on the floor, two empty jars of wine cradled in his arms. ¡°Huh? Boss? Aren¡¯t you... chatting with Herb Boy?¡± This guy was really drunk, to even call Mo Bai ¡®Herb Boy¡¯? ¡°If I never came down, are you going to drink until you die?¡± Gu Qingyu bent down and tried to pull Qi Wan onto her back. Despite his intoxication, Qi Wan side-stepped and dodged it. ¡°I am in a bad mood! I want to sing!¡± ¡°Sure, sure, we can do whatever you want, but let¡¯s go back inside first.¡± Gu Qingyu piggybacked Qi Wan without a second word and walked towards the door. Qi Wan tossed the jars away and hooked his arms onto Gu Qingyu¡¯s neck, his lips close to her ears. ¡°Xiao Yu¡¯er, tell me your phone number...¡± Gu Qingyu mumbled a string of numbers and kicked open Qi Wan¡¯s door. They stopped near Qi Wan¡¯s bed. Gu Qingyu was about to toss him onto his bed, but Qi Wan clung onto her neck and refused to let go. ¡°Little Yu¡¯er, I want porridge!¡± ¡°Sure, let go of me and I¡¯ll get someone to cook it for you.¡± Gu Qingyu patiently chided. Qi Wan pouted. ¡°No! I want to eat your porridge!¡± ¡°Okay, let go, I¡¯ll whip up some porridge for you.¡± Gu Qingyu felt like she had a problem child on her back. It took ages to persuade Qi Wan, but she succeeded. Gu Qingyu went to the kitchen with a dark face, then scratched her head as she examined the setup. The only thing she has ever cooked was instant noodles. What can I do, I really don¡¯t have a choice! The old lady in the kitchen saw Gu Qingyu and approached her. ¡°Hey, why are you here personally!¡± The person was the special guest her boss told her about, it could be the future wife of her boss! Gu Qingyu¡¯s disguise could not fool Mother Zhang. Gu Qingyu¡¯s lips twitched, then explained in a serious tone, ¡°Your boss asked me to make him a poisoned porridge!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Mother Zhang was taken by surprise, then realised her boss wanted Gu Qingyu to make the porridge. It was unusual, but she best not mess with her potential owner. So she bowed. ¡°Sir, the kitchen is yours, the poison is at the third cupboard from the bottom-left of the stove! It has no colour or scent and guarantees to kill the person!¡± Are you for real? Gu Qingyu then held Mother Zhang¡¯s hands with teary eyes. ¡°Yes, no wonder I thought I saw a kindred spirit? Are you oppressed by that Qi Wan for a long time too? Don¡¯t worry! Today, since I¡¯m here, I will help you break free from your nightmare!¡± Mother Zhang froze as Gu Qingyu grabbed her hands. Is this lady for real? Seriously, if the boss found out she and this lady conspired to murder him, then how would she keep her life together? Besides, for someone as powerful as the boss, is it really that easy to poison him? Thus, she smiled awkwardly and guessed, ¡°Sir, you don¡¯t know how to cook porridge?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Gu Qingyu nodded sheepishly. She stuffed pieces of firewood into the stove and started a flame the old-fashioned way. She decided that using a spell would be too much of an overkill. Mother Zhang was surprised. ¡°Then you¡¯re still...¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t he want to eat it? There¡¯s a first in everything, if one time doesn¡¯t work, I¡¯ll just give him a second helping!¡± Gu Qingyu replied as she filled a pot with what seemed to be too much water. Mother Zhang made up her mind. ¡°Then, help yourself, sir, I will take my leave first...¡± She could not bear that person any longer! Is she really a girl? To think a young lady would have such horrifying ideas! ¡°Yeah, sure.¡± Gu Qingyu waved her goodbye as she grabbed a few handfuls of rice and tossed them into the water. Mother Zhang thought. What can I do, I don¡¯t have a choice either! After Mother Zhang left, Gu Qingyu placed the pot on the stove, then added more firewood in the stove below. Whoosh. A puff of smoke hit her in the face. Gu Qingyu coughed and hacked and tried to rub her stinging eyes. ¡°Cooking porridge?¡± Jia Qizhe¡¯s voice came from behind her, he walked to the stove and inspected the mysterious substance within the pot. ¡°For me?¡± ¡°Dream on.¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes while fanning the flame in the stove. She was not sure if she was doing things right, her only references were from period dramas. Jia Qizhe¡¯s face suddenly darkened. ¡°Then who? That pretty face Mo Bai?¡± ¡°Cough cough!¡± Gu Qingyu nearly choked. Pretty face? Jia Qizhe looked at Gu Qingyu and was about to continue, but he stopped and burst out laughing instead. ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes, annoyed. ¡°Your eyes.¡± Jia Qizhe struggled to find his words. ¡°Is especially white.¡± Huh? Gu Qingyu realized something and checked her reflection over a jug of clear water. ¡°That¡¯s me?¡± She pointed at the reflection and asked Jia Qizhe innocently. Jia Qizhe finally stopped laughing and dipped a handkerchief into the clear water, then carefully wiped her face. Gu Qingyu blushed hard as her eyes darted from left to right, she did not know where to look. After a while, Jia Qizhe kept his handkerchief. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s done.¡± That handkerchief had turned from white to black. Gu Qingyu chewed her lips. Well, that was embarrassing! ¡°Wait, the porridge is gonna burn!¡± At that moment, Gu Qingyu grabbed a tea towel and moved the pot onto a table, then rushed to extinguish the fire. Jia Qizhe looked at the porridge with a grimace. ¡°Yu¡¯er, your porridge... um, looks great.¡± ¡°Can you be less ironic?¡± Gu Qingyu walked over and rolled her eyes yet again. Just as she expected, the rice had coagulated to a mess with black flakes on top, clearly it had been burnt. Jia Qizhe found a spoon and took a spoonful. ¡°Hey...¡± Gu Qingyu wanted to stop him but was too late, Jia Qizhe had already placed the ¡®mysterious substance¡¯ in his mouth and was slowly chewing it with his eyes closed. Jia Qizhe critiqued. ¡°Yeah, it tastes alright.¡± ¡°Really¡± Gu Qingyu looked at him skeptically and wanted to try a spoonful herself, but was stopped by Jia Qizhe. ¡°Who is this for?¡± Jia Qizhe asked, taking another spoonful. Gu Qingyu looked at him incredulously, she could not wrap her head around how he had enjoyed that white pile of the mysterious substance. ¡°Qi Wan.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s him.¡± Jia Qizhe nodded, his tone as if describing a dead man. ¡°Um, what do you want...¡± Gu Qingyu trailed off as she watched Jia Qizhe filled a bowl of ¡®porridge¡¯ ¡°I¡¯ll help you bring it to him.¡± Jia Qizhe grinned. Chapter 47: Let the Love Rivals Fight it out Chapter 47: Let the Love Rivals Fight it out Translated by: iris.knight ¡°It¡¯s fine, let me do it...¡± ¡°You have done enough as it is, you need to rest, Little Yu¡¯er.¡± Jia Qizhe¡¯s tone became much more gentle and tender than usual. This took Gu Qingyu by surprise, her eyes widened as she questioned, ¡°Why are you acting weird too?¡± ¡°Too? Is there anyone else?¡± Jia Qizhe raised his eyebrows, his tone was soft, but a faint blue light glowed from his palms. ¡°No, no, how could there be anyone!¡± Mister Jia, as long as you¡¯re happy! Jia Qizhe was silent for a while, then held Gu Qingyu¡¯s hand. ¡°Fine, you can come too.¡± Huh? Gu Qingyu blanked in her confusion, Jia Qizhe pulled her along and they went to Qi Wan¡¯s room. Qi Wan got up the moment they opened the door. ¡°Boss... Huh, why are you here?¡± Jia Qizhe wriggled his brows, a wide, unnerving grin was plastered on his face. He walked over, sat down beside Qi Wan, and held a spoonful of ¡®porridge¡¯ against Qi Wan¡¯s mouth. ¡°This is personally cooked by Little Yu¡¯er, eat it while it¡¯s hot.¡± ¡°You, you...¡± Qi Wan shuffled away while clutching his blanket. ¡°What are you planning?¡± ¡°Please, don¡¯t be so dramatic.¡± Gu Qingyu shook her head with a sigh. She crossed her arms and leaned against the door. ¡°I did make this. Don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t kill you.¡± After her clarification, Qi Wan doubtfully took the spoon and popped it in his mouth. He immediately widened his eyes and looked at Jia Qizhe in disbelief. ¡°How was it?¡± Jia Qizhe smiled with a murderous glint in his eyes. ¡°Um...It¡¯s good!¡± Qi Wan painfully swallowed the ¡®porridge¡¯. ¡°It¡¯s really good! Boss, are you sure you made this? ¡± ¡°Yes, I did!¡± Gu Qingyu was unaware of Qi Wan¡¯s pained expression. ¡°How was it? It¡¯s really good, right?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Qi Wan nodded frantically, his eyes watered. ¡°Then eat more.¡± Jia Qizhe shoved the bowl to Qi Wan. ¡°Little Yu¡¯er is watching.¡± Qi Wan thought as he took the bowl. Why does Hero Jia have a side like this? Indeed, having a love rival can change a person completely... Wait, what love rival! He took a few more bites and exclaimed each time. ¡°Ah! How delicious!¡± ¡°Truly magnificent!¡± But who could tell me why this bowl of porridge tastes especially salty? With a tinge of burnt flavour and bitterness? And there¡¯s a sweetness among the bitterness? Gu Qingyu nodded in satisfaction and looked towards Jia Qizhe. ¡°Ah! A novice cook like me is actually so talented! It must be so embarrassing for those masterful chefs! Looks like I¡¯ll have to cook lunch later too!¡± ¡°Um...¡± Jia Qizhe cleared his throat. ¡°Little Yu¡¯er, you¡¯re really talented, it would be a waste to cook a common meal. I think we should save it for a better occasion.¡± Qi Wan¡¯s eyes almost popped out. To think Jia Yingxiong¡¯s love for his boss has reached such heights? I can never say such words against my heart... ¡°Boss, from this bowl, we can see your masterful cooking already! You are the number one chef in the world! This porridge is irresistible! I must have more if there is a chance!¡± Then, Qi Wan sold his soul to the devil. ¡°Ah ha ha ha, is that so?¡± Gu Qingyu covered her face bashfully. ¡°Hey, you two are embarrassing me with your excellent tastes!¡± Jia Qizhe and Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyu blankly. After breakfast, Gu Qingyu sought clearance from their resident doctor. ¡°Mo Bai, can we go?¡± A faint smile graced his lips. ¡°How do you feel?¡± ¡°I feel great! It¡¯s a speedy recovery!¡± Gu Qingyu replied in an instant. Mo Bai nodded. ¡°Very well, then we can leave in the afternoon. But first, we must find a sturdy ship...¡± ¡°Huh? Are you asking about a ship?¡± Qi Wan leaned over. ¡°I¡¯ve already had it built over the past few days!¡± ¡°Then everything is ready!¡± Gu Qingyu clapped gleefully. ¡°Brother Zhu!¡± Qi Yichen walked over while waving his fan. ¡°Did you miss your Brother Qi!¡± ¡°No.¡± Gu Qingyu said flatly. ¡°We¡¯ll leave this afternoon.¡± ¡°Afternoon?¡± Murong Zuoyu looked up, his face had turned slightly pale. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Gu Qingyu tilted her head and asked, ¡°Brother Murong, you seem off. Are you ok?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing...¡± Murong Zuoyu returned to his room and closed the door. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Brother Murong?¡± Gu Qingyu was still lost in thought when Xie Zang walked over with a smile. ¡°Hey, Kitten, how¡¯s your recovery?¡± ¡°It went really well.¡± Gu Qingyu returned his smile. ¡°Actually, Mister Xie Zang, can you change that weird nickname of yours?¡± ¡°Nickname? There¡¯s nothing wrong with this nickname, Kitten!¡± Xie Zang walked to Gu Qingyu¡¯s side and patted her on the head. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s leave this afternoon.¡± I was not asking for your opinion, thank you! Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. ¡°Then you can go and prepare...¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t bring anything anyway.¡± Xie Zang shrugged nonchalantly. ¡°Kitten, shall we go for a walk together?¡± ¡°No.¡± Gu Qingyu declined without hesitation. ¡°Brother Zhu, let¡¯s go for a walk!¡± Qi Yichen interjected. ¡°There seem to be many rare herbs here.¡± Mo Bai turned his head slightly and looked at Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu grimaced. ¡°Um... Since you all say so...¡± ¡°Who said we¡¯re bringing them along?¡± Xie Zang snorted. ¡°Little Kitten, I am not bringing them along.¡± He paused and gave Mo Bai and Qi Yichen unfriendly looks. ¡°If you guys insist, then I just might have to kill all of you!¡± ¡°Go ahead and try.¡± Mo Bai curled his lips, a ball of light with green and black swirls glowed from his hand. Qi Yichen waved his fan. ¡°To be frank, I hate killing. But if you really want to die, then consider your wish granted!¡± Qi Yichen always could flip things on their side like that. Even though he was wrong, he could talk down to the other person. This ability was very similar to Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu rested her hand under her chin. ¡°Sure, then you guys can go together to fight! Remember to come back before lunch!¡± Xie Zang, Mo Bai, and Qi Yichen glared at each other and walked out of the tavern. ¡°Come back soon!¡± Gu Qingyu waved at them as they left. ¡°Hey, Little Yu¡¯er.¡± Jia Qizhe leaned against a pillar with a devilish smirk. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Go?¡± Gu Qingyu asked in surprise. ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°Those annoying people are finally gone, I¡¯ve been waiting here for a long time.¡± Jia Qizhe rubbed his temples. ¡°My legs were getting sore, but finally the files are gone.¡± Waiting for a long time? You truly had it tough, they are going to fight and you¡¯re just gonna stay here and watch? ¡°Then, what about Qi Wan?¡± Gu Qingyu checked her surroundings and realized Qi Wan had been absent for a while. ¡°Ah, he seemed to be stuck in the toilet.¡± Jia Qizhe held his forehead with a pensive look in his eyes. ¡°He seemed to be having diarrhea from some strange food!¡± Even my toes could tell it was that bowl of porridge! Gu Qingyu shrugged in defeat. ¡°Then, where are you going?...Hey, what are you doing, wait, put me down first!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you like that pretty face, Mo Bai?¡± Jia Qizhe held Gu Qingyu in his arms as they zipped through the skies. ¡°Um...even if you say so...¡± Gu Qingyu scratched her head. That''s Prince Charming, he¡¯s handsome and kind. It would be weird to not like him! ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll let you take a look at that pretty face¡¯s true nature. And kill off any intentions you had about that stubborn brat, Qi Yichen.¡± Jia Qizhe¡¯s lips curled, it was not hard to tell that he was in a really good mood. Pretty face? Brat? Dude, can you even stretch it further? Actually, he could. Jia Qizhe seemed to have thought of something and looked up slightly. ¡°That¡¯s right, and that sissy Xie Zang too.¡± How is he a sissy? How did he offend you? Soon they stopped behind a rock. Gu Qingyu hopped down, there were sounds of explosions in the area, she followed the noise and peered over the rock to get a better look. Mo Bai¡¯s whole body was covered in a green and black glow. He was suspended in the air, the attacks in his hand flew towards Xie Zang and Qi Yichen. Xie Zang smirked. He too was floating in the air with two fireballs burning in his hands. ¡°I actually had not played like this in a long time...¡± Qi Yichen certainly was never going to ally himself with Mo Bai, he joined them in the air and they formed a triangle. Qi Yichen glowed with white light, his steel fan was a shining silver in the sun, his white robes billowing behind him, like a pure sage. He watched Mo Bai with a faint smile as he fanned himself. He was actually quite surprised, he knew Mo Bai was no ordinary man but Mo Bai¡¯s strength has exceeded his expectations. Xie Zang narrowed his eyes and threw the two fireballs, aiming for both Mo Bai and Qi Yichen. Mo Bai stretched out his hand and released a ball of black light. It collided with and defused Xie Zang¡¯s flames. Qi Yichen gently pushed his fan, it spun in the air and blocked the attack. Then, with a wave of his hand, he summoned a mysterious tornado and sent it hurtling towards Xie Zang and Mo Bai. Xie Zang sent out another fireball to block the tornado, while Mo Bai simply dodged it with a side-step. Chapter 48: Whiny Brats Chapter 48: Whiny Brats Translated by: iris.knight Mo Bai was stunned, he realised something was off and that angered him greatly. He quickly withdrew the magic in the area and landed in a nearby lawn, the grimdark air around him vanished and he returned to his usual kind and gentle state. Xie Zang landed too, withdrawing the magic around him. Qi Yichen scoffed, he bounced off from a tree and flew back the way they arrived. Mo Bai took off too, leaving Xie Zang behind. Jia Qizhe cradled Gu Qingyu and flew back to the tavern as well. Xie Zang watched Jia Qizhe and Gu Qingyu take their leave with a thin smile. ¡°Ah, it looks like the Kitten has discovered something. And there¡¯s a troublemaker too...¡± Jia Qizhe took Gu Qingyu back to her room before Qi Yichen and the others returned. ¡°You¡¯re scared of them?¡± Gu Qingyu laughed. Jia Qizhe shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of them. But it would be quite a pain if all three of them were to gang up on me.¡± This guy is subtly reminding her that he is as powerful and special as they are? I should have guessed. Powers like his do not belong to your average joe. Just as Gu Qingyu opened her mouth to continue, a knock on the door interrupted them ¡°Come in.¡± Gu Qingyu opened the door. Qi Yichen was there, panting, he clearly came back in a rush. ¡°What?¡± Jia Qizhe pretended to be puzzled, disguising his pleasure at their plight. For someone as smart as Qi Yichen, he could read behind Jia Qizhe¡¯s expressions. Luckily, he did not rush to reveal his entire hand. In comparison, Mo Bai had... Wait! He is Mo Bai, there was no way that he did not think this through! Does that mean the power he displayed earlier was only a fraction of his true strength? Qi Yichen turned pale as he arrived at that conclusion. ¡°Qi Yichen?¡± Gu Qingyu probed carefully. Qi Yichen recovered his focus and waved his fan nonchalantly. ¡°I am clearly fine, thank you for your concern, Brother Zhu.¡± Um... Even though your tone finally sounds like a scholar... But what¡¯s going on with this sudden change in speech? ¡°Qi Yichen, have you had your medicine today?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Yichen, bewildered. Qi Yichen kept his fan and bowed slightly. ¡°I am not ill with anything, thank you for your concern. If there¡¯s nothing, I shall take my leave.¡± Gu Qingyu chuckled with her hands over her mouth. ¡°Nothing? No, Brother Qi, it¡¯s lunchtime.¡± ¡°Lunchtime?¡± Qi Yichen was taken aback, then opened his fan with a flick of his wrist. ¡°Come, Brother Zhu, hurry up and go!¡± Dude, do you have a split personality? Gu Qingyu pouted as she made her way downstairs with Qi Yichen. Jia Qizhe followed them, smiling as he had accomplished his goal. Mo Bai was already at the table when they arrived downstairs. He looked up at Gu Qingyu and said.¡± I have waited quite a while for you, Brother Zhu.¡± ¡°Oh really?¡± Jia Qizhe cut off Gu Qingyu¡¯s reply. ¡°How nice of you.¡± Mo Bai lowered his eyes, he ignored Jia Qizhe and focused on Gu Qingyu. ¡°Come, Yu¡¯er, sit here.¡± He chose to address Gu Qingyu as ¡®Yu¡¯er¡¯, as opposed to ¡®Brother Zhu¡¯ as if he was showing off to Jia Qizhe. Jia Qizhe grunted and pulled Gu Qingyu to sit across Mo Bai, with himself seated on Gu Qingyu¡¯s right. As it was a round table, there was some distance between Mo Bai and Gu Qingyu. Mo Bai kept his cool and gave Gu Qingyu his trademark gentle smile. ¡°Yu¡¯er, I know you don¡¯t like being forced.¡± ¡°Have I forced you to do anything?¡± Jia Qizhe gave Gu Qingyu an incredulous look. After she processed Jia Qizhe¡¯s innocent expression but threatening eyes, Gu Qingyu obediently lowered her head. ¡°No.¡± As if. To think Jia Qizhe is not above using such manipulation. I don¡¯t mind Mo Bai and the others¡¯ real strength. No matter who, be it Jia Qizhe, Mo Bai, Qi Wan or Qi Yichen, they are all my friends. Jia Qizhe nodded in satisfaction and dug into the spread on the table. The seat left of Gu Qingyu was still open, Qi Yichen was about to take his seat there but a red shadow intercepted him. ¡°When did you come back?¡± Qi Yichen did a double-take, then took out a fan from somewhere and started fanning himself. ¡°Wait, didn¡¯t you lose the fan just now?¡± Gu Qingyu almost dropped her jaw to the floor. Jia Qizhe stretched out his hand and closed that jaw for her. ¡°This is his personal weapon, he can call upon it with his will.¡± Alright, too bad for the weapon to have a master like him. ¡°I actually came back before you.¡± Xie Zang grabbed Gu Qingyu by the arm. ¡°Kitten, you¡¯re too much, you didn¡¯t tell me that it¡¯s lunchtime!¡± ¡°Um... I need to remind you when to eat?¡± Gu Qingyu felt she was surrounded by whiny brats. ¡°Hmph.¡± Xie Zang snorted and turned away This kid is even more of a whiny brat than a whiny brat! ¡°Yes, baby Xie Zang, it¡¯s lunchtime now, okay?¡± Gu Qingyu chided. We need to set sail later, why are you throwing a tantrum now! ¡°No.¡± Xie Zang snorted again. Jia Qizhe piled food in Gu Qingyu¡¯s bowl. ¡°Little Yu¡¯er, it¡¯s time to eat. He will not starve to death by missing a meal, isn¡¯t that right?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true...¡± Gu Qingyu took her chopsticks and took Xie Zang¡¯s bowl. ¡°If you don¡¯t, then I shall...¡± At that precise moment, Xie Zang turned back and snatched his bowl back. Sigh, such a whiny brat. Gu Qingyu sighed while shaking her head, then she picked up her chopsticks and dug in. They finished lunch in such an atmosphere. At the beach Strolling along the coastline, Gu Qingyu exclaimed at the glistening sight before her. ¡°Ah! The sea! Your horizons never end! You¡¯re a towering sight!¡± ¡°Brother Zhu, isn¡¯t ¡®towering¡¯ used to describe mountains?¡± Qi Yichen was still gracefully waving his fan. ¡°Huh? Is that so?¡± Gu Qingyu blinked. ¡°Ok, one more time. Ah! The sea! Your horizons never end! You¡¯re as blue as the sea!¡± Qi Yichen looked at Gu Qingyu with a flat look. Qi Wan tilted his head to the sky, his shoulders shook as he held in his laughter. Nope! I absolutely cannot laugh right now! He sauntered to the pier and stopped beside something covered by a huge cloth. That object was floating on the surface of the water, it was easy to see that the mysterious object was massive. Qi Wan sniggered and yanked off the cloth, revealing a majestic ship. ¡°Everyone, pay attention! This is our ship for this trip! Please call it the ¡®The biggest, best, most handsome HMS Qi Wan!... Huh? Where¡¯s everyone? Hey, wait for me!¡± After Qi Wan finally boarded the ship with much difficulty, he looked at Gu Qingyu in annoyance. ¡°Boss, this is your fault. You should have boarded the ship after I introduced it!¡± ¡°No, Qi Wan, this is your fault.¡± Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan seriously. ¡°Why must you ask me to look at someone, who was neither more handsome nor cooler than me, act cool?¡± What a powerful argument... I actually can¡¯t counter it... Qi Wan walked away, slightly downcast. On the deck. After a while, Gu Qingyu realised why Murong Zuoyu had turned pale when he found out about the plan to set sail. ¡°Mu...Brother Murong...¡± Gu Qingyu watched Murong Zuoyu with worry. ¡°You¡¯re prone to seasickness?¡± Murong Zuoyu, who had just thrown up into the sea, gracefully dabbed the corners of his mouth. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± Gu Qingyu winced. But it is no solution to have you keep vomiting! It¡¯s not even two hours since we boarded the ship and you have already thrown up three times! A seasoned sailor handed Murong Zuoyu a glass. ¡°Duke, this is mixed with medicine to ease seasickness, if you don¡¯t mind, please drink it!¡± He heard the legendary Duke Murong Zuoyu was good with politics and martial arts. He was a role model for men all over the country. He was perfect enough to be worshipped as an idol! But reality informed the sailor that even the best of the best can get seasick. ¡°Many thanks.¡± Murong Zuoyu took the cup and finished it in a single breath. ¡°Then I shall go back to work.¡± The sailor bowed and took his leave. Meanwhile, Gu Qingyu scrutinised Murong Zuoyu from top to bottom, then she walked to his side and tapped him on the shoulder. ¡°Brother Murong! Everyone has some bad times like this!¡± Murong Zuoyu looked at her, speechless. Everyone had some bad times like this? ¡°Also, it is just seasickness, you¡¯ll be better after vomiting a few more times!¡± Gu Qingyu waved confidently. ¡°Cough!¡± Murong Zuoyu almost choked on his own saliva. You¡¯ll be better after vomiting a few more times? ¡°Hey, in the end, don¡¯t feel bad about it, if you really cannot take it, I will get some medicine from Mo Bai!¡± Gu Qingyu walked away, then whipped back. ¡°What did I say again?¡± ¡°Get some medicine from Mo Bai.¡± Murong Zuoyu repeated with an icy chill. Gu Qingyu¡¯s face brightened from realisation. ¡°Yes! Why didn¡¯t I think of that?!¡± Murong Zuoyu¡¯s expression was blank. He nodded. ¡°Many thanks, Brother Zhu. It¡¯s fine, I¡¯m much better now.¡± ¡°It¡¯s ok, we¡¯re friends!¡± Gu Qingyu smiled. Murong Zuoyu turned away. ¡°I would like to rest now.¡± ¡°Huh? Oh, okay, then I won¡¯t keep you.¡± Gu Qingyu nodded. ¡°Wait, Brother Murong, why is your face so red?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Hours later. ¡°Qi Wan, on which year and day would your ship finally reach Beiying.¡± Gu Qingyu whined as she laid flat on the deck and watched the sky darken. Qi Wan chewed on a stray foxtail as he too laid on the deck, his arms folded behind his head. ¡°No idea, the captain said at least five more days. Be content, boss, I cannot invent something like the motor.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Gu Qingyu twiddled her fingers, clearly bored. ¡°It¡¯s so boring. What can we do on the sea? No phones, no computers, no Internet, no Wi-Fi!¡± ¡°This had nothing to do with being on the sea or not...¡± Qi Wan watched Gu Qingyu, then suddenly, he spat out his foxtail and sat up. ¡°Wait, boss, what did you just say?¡± Chapter 49: Actually, Fish are Herbivores Chapter 49: Actually, Fish are Herbivores Translated by: iris.knight ¡°The line before that!¡± ¡°What can we do on the sea?¡± ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± Qi Wan clapped. ¡°Fishing! It will be fun! Then we can have a barbecue tonight after fishing up enough fish!¡± ¡°How did I not think of that!¡± Gu Qingyu sat up too. ¡°Good idea!¡± Two hours later... ¡°Qi Wan, this is what you mean by ¡®fun¡¯?¡± Gu Qingyu held her fishing rod, her head bobbed as she tried hard not to doze off. Qi Wan bobbed along as well. ¡°How would I know? We did things exactly like those fishing shows. Once the bait goes down, the fish would come up.¡± Gu Qingyu held up her rod and lifted the hook out of the water with a flat look. ¡°Are you sure fishes eat foxtails?¡± ¡°Um... didn¡¯t I tell you we don¡¯t have proper bait?¡± Qi Wan scratched his head. ¡°Then who said that the fish needs a change of taste?¡± Gu Qingyu raised her eyebrows. ¡°Um...¡± ¡°Also, who said that fish are actually herbivores?¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s eyebrows went higher. ¡°Boss, hear me out...¡± Qi Wan licked his lips weakly. Laughter bellowed from behind them, Gu Qingyu turned back and watched that person laugh his head off. ¡°Just die from laughing already.¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes with a huff. Jia Qizhe walked up and rubbed her head affectionately. ¡°Stupid girl, so gullible, you even believe things like fish eating foxtails?¡± ¡°Humph, that is because I am innocent and cute!¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. ¡°Yes, yes, innocent and cute.¡± Jia Qizhe smiled. He lifted Gu Qingyu off the deck and tossed her overboard. Gu Qingyu¡¯s mind went blank, the water surface was rushing up towards her. She had forgotten how to spread her wings. ¡°Are you trying to kill me!¡± Suddenly, she landed steadily in someone¡¯s arms. Jia Qizhe looked at her, his lips curled in a beautiful arc. ¡°How was it? Is this fun?¡± ¡°Fun?! You nearly killed me!¡± Gu Qingyu complained. Wait, his wings are not out. Why are they still dry? She looked down and saw the schools of fish swimming in the sea below her and Jia Qizhe¡¯s boots are right above the surface. ¡°Amazing!¡± Gu Qingyu gawked. ¡°How do you do that?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll teach you.¡± Jia Qizhe held onto her gently as he slowly let her down. ¡°Come, step on the surface first.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t sink?¡± Fear was evident in Gu Qingyu¡¯s eyes. ¡°Trust me.¡± Jia Qizhe nodded reassuringly. Gu Qingyu bit her lips and took a step. Once her boots made contact with the water, it was protected by a light blue aura. Gu Qingyu felt something had supported her weight as if there was a pair of hands holding her up. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Jia Qizhe encouraged her. Qi Wan watched from the deck, flabbergasted. With his powers, he can stand on the sea surface too, but he did not have the power to support another person. And to think Jia Qizhe could accomplish all this without artifacts... Mo Bai stood at the other side of the deck and watched the pair with furrowed brows. In his hands were freshly made bait, made from a herb that does attract fish. ¡°I was late...¡± Mo Bai grimaced, the herb in his hands turned into ash and disappeared into the wind. Qi Yichen appeared behind Mo Bai, his voice slightly cold. ¡°Mo Bai, if my guess is right, with your real strength and background, you don¡¯t have to stay here, you¡¯re not without your responsibilities too... So, why stay?¡± ¡°Mind your own business.¡± Mo Bai sent Qi Yichen a withering look. ¡°I don¡¯t want to kill in front of Yu¡¯er. You said it yourself, with my real power and background, I can take her away any day I want.¡± Qi Yichen ground his teeth and went silent. Meanwhile, Gu Qingyu was having the time of her life. Soon enough, she was running on the water surface and grabbed fish without hesitation. On the deck, Qi Wan was already standing next to a wide variety of fish. Qi Wan counted the fish silently while Jia Qizhe started a cookfire. ¡°Enough, Boss. We can¡¯t eat all of this. It¡¯s too...¡± Qi Wan trailed off at the sight of Jia Qizhe¡¯s warning gaze. ¡°You¡¯re right!¡± Gu Qingyu wiped the sweat on her brow. ¡°Qi Wan, call the rest to get ready for the meal! Call the sailors too!¡± ¡°Why me?¡± Qi Wan complained. But he stood up with vigor after a threatening look from Jia Qizhe. ¡°You got it, boss! I¡¯m going now!¡± Gu Qingyu was completely unaware of Qi Wan¡¯s sudden change in attitude. She walked to the ship¡¯s side and grabbed onto the rails. Just as she was about to leap over the rails and return to the ship¡¯s deck, the light blue aura held her up and gently lifted back onto the ship, then it slowly melted into her shoes. Her feet instantly felt a lot lighter. ¡°It will help you immensely in the future.¡± Jia Qizhe had started to grill the fish. He yawned and they took stock. ¡°What an idiot, you only caught this little after so long.¡± ¡°This little?¡± Gu Qingyu waved as she gestured at the fish all over the deck. ¡°This little?¡± ¡°Shh.¡± Jia Qizhe stood up and gently flew above the sea, his robes brushed against Gu Qingyu''s cheek, she caught a whiff of his cologne. Jia Qizhe landed above the sea, the tips of his feet gently touched the surface. At that moment, his blue silk robes flapped and fished landed onto the deck one after another, each of them encased in a light blue bubble. ¡°Wow.¡± Gu Qingyu bent down for a closer look, the bubbles had been bubbles of water. Each fish kept swimming in the bubble, unaware that they had been removed from their home. He is powerful indeed! Till the point that he can do whatever he likes! ¡°I can¡¯t eat this much...¡± Gu Qingyu pouted. As she finished, the bubbles flew back up and the fishes were returned to the sea. Jia Qizhe hopped back to the ship. The sailors dropped their jaws in collective surprise. This was nothing like what they have seen. Jia Qizhe paid no attention to them. He grabbed one of Gu Qingyu¡¯s grilled fish and took a bite, ¡°Hmm, not bad.¡± ¡°Hey! That¡¯s mine!¡± Gu Qingyu protested. Qi Wan jogged to Gu Qingyu¡¯s side and sat down. ¡°Praise me! See how fast I got things done!¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯re the best.¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes as she held another fish over the flame. Qi Wan then took out a small bottle from his sleeve, like performing a magic trick. He passed it to Gu Qingyu. ¡°Here!¡± ¡°This is?¡± Gu Qingyu opened the bottle and sniffed. ¡°This smell... Spices?¡± ¡°Yeah, I made it myself! It may not be as good as what you had before, but it is better than nothing!¡± Qi Wan shrugged. ¡°Thank you!¡± Gu Qingyu finished grilling the fish and sprinkled a dash of Qi Wan¡¯s secret spice mix, then she took a bite. ¡°Yes! Not bad! They always say that you must find a husband that cooks well...¡± Husband? The sailors stared at Gu Qingyu. To think this sir is into men? He does look quite beautiful. Mo Bai walked over, sat across Gu Qingyu and held a fish over the cookfire. Before long, two freshly grilled fish was shoved in front of Gu Qingyu¡¯s face. ¡°Qi Yichen? Xie Zang? Just enjoy your own meal, why are you fooling around?¡± Gu Qingyu chastised them both. Qi Yichen spoke first. ¡°Try this, Brother Zhu. I am actually a good cook, others may not even have the chance to enjoy it.¡± What do I think only the last line is true? ¡°Kitten, my cooking is much better than the rest.¡± Xie Zang held up a fish too. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, just take a bite.¡± ¡°Yours still smell fishy.¡± Jia Qizhe took an indifferent look at Qi Yichen¡¯s fish, then he turned up his nose at Xie Zang¡¯s fish. ¡°And yours is still raw.¡± He took his own fish off the flame and held it against Gu Qingyu¡¯s mouth. ¡°Open up.¡± ¡°Um...¡± Gu Qingyu glanced between the three fishes of her. ¡°Jia Qizhe, you... Ooh!¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Jia Qizhe forced his fish into Gu Qingyu¡¯s mouth. She instinctively took a bite and wanted to scold him, but discovered... ¡°It¡¯s so delicious!¡± Gu Qingyu snatched the fish out of Jia Qizhe¡¯s hand. ¡°How mean! With cooking skills like this, you should have displayed them sooner!¡± ¡°Yeap.¡± Jia Qizhe smiled. ¡°But don¡¯t force it on me like that...¡± Gu Qingyu complained between bites. The Jia Qizhe now could never imagine how Gu Qingyu would get her ¡®revenge¡¯. Murong Zuoyu joined them, stoic as always. Gu Qingyu turned to Murong Zuoyu. ¡°Brother Murong, are you feeling better?¡± Murong Zuoyu was surprised but he nodded as he replied. ¡°Much better, thank you for your concern.¡± Suddenly, a sailor ran over. ¡°Captain!¡± A man just over his forties responded. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°A large vessel is heading towards us, about fifty metres away!¡± He had caught everyone¡¯s attention with that announcement. They all stood up, the party was on high alert. Gu Qingyu squinted and activated her cat eyes. With her heightened senses, she could see a man in yellow robes on the incoming ship. That man had a few black-clothed men behind him. These days are filled with so much trouble... Gu Qingyu sighed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jia Qizhe noticed Gu Qingyu¡¯s reaction. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m here, don¡¯t think so much.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Gu Qingyu nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡± The ships were about to collide, one of the black-clothed men shouted, ¡°The ship opposite! Get out of the way!...Aaahh!¡± Before he finished, he was shoved aside by the yellow man. The man slammed into the deck, the wood cracked from the impact. It was a hard fall indeed. With that, the yellow man leaped into the air and floated above the sea. He waved his arms, a wave swelled from the ocean and swept towards the party. Chapter 50: A Living Myth Chapter 50: A Living Myth Translated by: iris.knight The stranger observed as Jia Qizhe countered his attack, somewhat impressed and amazed. That amazement soon twisted into a mocking grin. ¡°Interesting.¡± He gently waved his hand and wiped away the blue light as it was about to hit him. Jia Qizhe smirked, as if unperturbed by this. He only used twenty percent of his strength, it was just a test. The ship suddenly stopped, then the stranger leaped onto the deck of Qi Wan¡¯s ship. Gu Qingyu studied the stranger. His black long hair was tied in a high knot, his eyes are narrow and thin, his lips are slightly curled. That stranger was pretty good-looking but as much as she liked handsome men, it was a different story with handsome men that attacked her. ¡°Who are you?¡± Gu Qingyu demanded. ¡°Huh?¡± The yellow-robed man turned slightly towards Gu Qingyu. ¡°Who are you then?¡± ¡°Who cares about who I am.¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes, annoyed. ¡°Go, Qi Wan! Bite him!¡± ¡°Yes, boss!¡± Qi Wan stopped right before he dashed forward. ¡°Wait, I¡¯m not a dog!¡± Gu Qingyu rubbed her neck as she flushed. ¡°Um, take 2. Go, Qi Wan!¡± ¡°Yes, boss!¡± Qi Wan dashed forward, his ribbon flew towards the stranger. That man stepped back and retreated back to the sea. He quickly countered Qi Wan¡¯s attack. They exchanged blows, each hit was enough to set waves splashing onto the deck. ¡°Oh my, even Qi Wan is so powerful...¡± Gu Qingyu widened her eyes as she watched, they were evenly matched. ¡°That is because you have a lot of potential that you have yet to discover.¡± Jia Qizhe had landed beside her, he caressed the top of her head as he replied. His words were not some random patronizing comment, he actually had a faint feeling that Gu Qingyu indeed had immense potential. From the moment the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny chose her, to the roar she made in Xieli Castle and the unrecognizable form she transformed into. ¡°Thanks.¡± Gu Qingyu misread his intentions and stuck out her tongue. ¡°Actually, should we help Qi Wan?¡± ¡°No need, it would be better if he died in the fight.¡± Jia Qizhe said indifferently. Um... Qi Wan heard Jia Qizhe¡¯s comment. He secured a ribbon around the rails of the ship, then yanked it and flew back onto the deck using the recoil. ¡°Since you¡¯re so good, you do it!¡± Meanwhile, Murong Zuoyu watched the yellow-robed man as he too landed on their ship. His lips twitched irritably. ¡°Long time no see, elder brother.¡± Elder Brother? Murong Qize smiled. ¡°In my memory, you have always been resolute and disciplined, my younger brother. What makes you decide to mix with a group of kids?¡± A group of kids? Now, Gu Qingyu could agree with that. Before Murong Zuoyu could reply, Gu Qingyu interjected. ¡°What are you?¡± ¡°Um...¡± Murong Qize looked at Gu Qingyu, puzzled. They had to forgive him for not understanding her. ¡°You don¡¯t understand? With your intelligence, you can¡¯t even go out to the world.¡± Gu Qingyu tilted her head slightly. ¡°Qi Wan, translate!¡± ¡°Yes, boss!¡± Qi Wan stepped forward and jabbed a finger in Murong Qize¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯re an idiot!¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s lips twitched, ¡°You can go on BB!¡± ¡°If you actually can, then continue talking!¡± That sounded a little disjointed, Qi Wan turned back to Gu Qingyu. ¡°Oh? Was it for me? Ok.¡± His focus returned to Murong Qize. ¡°You¡¯re pollution to the air and a waste for the earth! Your looks make all the clown laugh, your intelligence needs a national funeral of three years!¡± ...I heard the first line before, but what in the world are the ones that followed it? Murong Qize retorted, ¡°Who are you?¡± He pointed at Gu Qingyu. ¡°I am limpeh!¡± Gu Qingyu punctuated her words with a wave. Qi Wan copied her action. ¡°I am your daddy!¡± Murong Qize¡¯s face turned blank. Daddy? Even though he had never heard of ¡®Daddy¡¯, he did know ¡®Father¡¯. They should have the same meaning. But his father was the Emperor? Murong Qize realised he was being made a fool and flew into a rage. ¡°How dare you!¡± ¡°Thank you, I will go on.¡± Gu Qingyu bowed, unflinching at his rage. ¡°Thank you for your compliment, there¡¯s more where it came from.¡± Qi Wan bowed too, emboldened by his response. Qi Yichen could not hold his laughter any longer and sniggered. Murong Qize wanted to take action but Gu Qingyu stopped him with a raised hand. ¡°This kid, are you sure you want to fight us? Someone could complain about us bullying children!¡± Murong Zuoyu kept a stoic face, but there was a twinkle in his eyes. Clearly, he and Murong Qize was not on good terms. But they did share a father, so Gu Qingyu and Qi Wan¡¯s goading still rubbed him the wrong way. Murong Qize sneered. ¡°Your eyes look familiar.¡± ¡°Oh? Is that so? Who could have beautiful eyes like mine?¡± Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. Murong Qize approached her and leaned close to her ear, his voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°The third daughter of the Gu residence.¡± A chill went down Gu Qingyu¡¯s spine, but before she could react, Qi Wan had ensnared Murong Qize in his ribbons and tossed him into the sea. Murong Qize somersaulted backwards, broke free from the ribbon and barely regained his footing on the sea surface. It was clear that he was tired. Murong Qize looked at Qi Wan in disbelief. Their strength was on par, but now... ¡°Stay away from her.¡± Qi Wan¡¯s eyes shot cold daggers at him. Suddenly, a blue gale swept towards Murong Qize. Jia Qizhe floated in mid-air, his eyes shining in a light blue. ¡°Wow! He''s even more pissed off than me!¡± Qi Wan¡¯s eyes were about to pop out. Indeed heroes are not to be trifled with! Murong Qize was shocked and immediately protected himself with a barrier, but waves swept up by the gale broke through his defenses. He dodged, looking more and more disheveled. Gu Qingyu was taken aback at first, then started laughing, ¡°That¡¯s what you get for acting all high and mighty! I thought someone noteworthy has actually shown up! But you¡¯re actually such a fool!¡± Whee! ¡°Nice one, Jia Qizhe!¡± Qi Wan whistled and cheered along. Meanwhile, Mo Bai sprinkled some powder into the sea. Jia Qizhe landed from above and asked Gu Qingyu, ¡°Are you hurt? Should I end this?¡± ¡°No need, thank you all!¡± Gu Qingyu winked. ¡°We should all get along together!¡± The waves splattered and hit Murong Qize. He then stumbled backward and coughed up some black blood. One of the waves had carried Mo Bai¡¯s poison to him, though that could have also been caused by his rage or Gu Qingyu¡¯s words of ¡®getting along¡¯? He flew onto his ship¡¯s deck and gestured to his minions. ¡°Go!¡± The ship turned around and went past Qi Wan¡¯s ship. ¡°Well done, you all!¡± Gu Qingyu grinned as she watched them retreat. ¡°Don¡¯t forget me!¡± Xie Zang lifted his arms into the air, his red sleeve flapped in the wind, revealing a giant fireball in his hands. Followed by... Bam! ¡°Um...¡± Gu Qingyu looked at the sea, seeing Murong Qize¡¯s ship disappeared without a trace, ¡°You¡¯ve sunk his ship?¡± ¡°Yeap.¡± Xie Zang looked at Gu Qingyu grinning, like a good kid waiting for his compliment. ¡°Will he die?¡± Gu Qingyu looked at Xie Zang. Xie Zang shook his head, ¡°Don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°He won¡¯t.¡± Murong Zuoyu said calmly, ¡°He is Murong Qize, powerful in both the martial arts and the mind. His powers are practically a living myth at this point.¡± Gu Qingyu gulped, ¡°So you mean, we ganged up and beat up a living myth?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Qi Yichen replied. ¡°Incredible...¡± Gu Qingyu¡¯s face turned from shock to jubilation, ¡°Ah hahaha! To think I would have such a day!¡± Everyone thought. We never thought you would get such a day too. Soon the storms had ceased and the waves had calmed. Gu Qingyu breathed a sigh of relief, she glanced towards their unfinished, half-destroyed meal and walked back to her room. Before long, someone knocked on the door. ¡°Come in.¡± Gu Qingyu laid on her bed with her eyes closed and her arms folded behind her head. She nibbled on the foxtail she got from Qi Wan, it looked like she was taking a nap. Xie Zang walked in, ¡°Hey, Kitten.¡± ¡°Hi.¡± Gu Qingyu did not even open her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t be so cold.¡± Xie Zang pouted. He sat down in a chair and leaned back, balancing it on two legs. ¡°What? Are you unhappy? What are you thinking?¡± ¡°I was thinking,¡± Gu Qingyu spat out the foxtail. ¡°This is our first day at sea and we already met such a big problem, then in the future...¡± ¡°In the future, no matter how many troublesome figures, we will fight them all.¡± Xie Zang finished her sentence for her. ¡°You see, even that living myth would think twice before attacking us again. Little Kitten, we¡¯re all here, don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Gu Qingyu sat up, ¡°Honestly, I wonder why you would follow us.¡± ¡°Not ¡®us¡¯, but ¡®you.¡± Xie Zang¡¯s lips curled into a grin, ¡°Who would not want the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny! Also, following you can lead to the seven Spirit Gems.¡± He paused, then teased, ¡°Little Kitten, everyone here actually has thoughts like mine. We just never said them. Don¡¯t trust anyone so easily.¡± ¡°But all of you have protected me this whole time.¡± Gu Qingyu shrugged. ¡°You are all my friends, this can¡¯t be helped. If such a day would come...¡± ¡°Okay, okay.¡± Xie Zang stood up, waved and gave a smile, ¡°It¡¯s getting late, I¡¯ll go back first. If that day comes, you should think about what you¡¯re going to do first.¡± Gu Qingyu was dumbstruck and watched him slowly leaving the room, ¡°If that day comes...¡± If there is really such a day that all of you want to kill me, want to get the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny, want the Spirit Gems, and start killing each other. Then, what shall I do? Chapter 51: Sunrise Chapter 51: Sunrise Translated by: iris.knight ¡°Who? So early in the morning...¡± Gu Qingyu rubbed her eyes and dragged herself out of bed. "Boss, Boss!" Qiwan''s excited voice came. "Can I come in?" Gu Qingyu got dressed and answered with a yawn. "Yeah, sure. Why are you here? It¡¯s so early..." "Hey." Qi Wan opened the door. "Boss, let''s watch the sunrise together!" "Sunrise?" Gu Qingyu stroked her chin. "That actually sounds pretty good." "Let''s go!" Qi Wan tilted his head and pointed at the door with his chin. "Okay!" Gu Qingyu jumped from her bed and ran towards the deck with light steps. As soon as she went out, the biting cold sea breeze blew head-on. Gu Qingyu broke into a shiver, and before she could react, a warm sensation washed over her. "You don''t even know that you need to wear more clothes." Qi Wan draped his robe over Gu Qingyu''s shoulders. "Um, aren''t you cold?" Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan. Then, bit by bit, a line of snot dribbled from Qi Wan¡¯s nose. "I''m so cold, I''m so cold!" Qi Wan sniffled. "Let''s go!" "Are you sure?" Gu Qingyu wrapped his robe tightly around her and eyed Qi Wan with suspicion. In a single look, she told him, ¡°''You gave me this robe, don''t you dare try to go back on your own words and take it back.¡± Qi Wan reluctantly walked to the deck. "No problem, someone as strong as me... Hachoo!" He sneezed before he could finish his sentence. Qi Wan slinked back to grab a coat. After half an hour. A white orb slowly rose up from the distant horizon. Then, everywhere around them looked brighter and brighter. It was as if at that moment the wings of a holy angel slowly unfolded, like the blooming flowers of the rising sun. Gu Qingyu did not know how to describe the beautiful scenery in front of her, she just continued to watch and take in the beauty of life that surrounded her. "It¡¯s beautiful, isn''t it?" Qi Wan gazed upon the horizon and golden light filled his pale green eyes. Gu Qingyu nodded. "It''s beautiful! Thank you, Qi Wan." "No need to thank me." Qi Wan laid on the deck as he closed his eyes gently. "Actually, it would be quite nice if we just stayed here." "Yeah, yeah." Gu Qingyu responded and laid down. "It''s really good." "By the way, boss," Qi Wan turned towards her with a jerk. "Aside from the sleeve arrow, you don''t have any other decent weapons, do you?" "Well, that''s true. But you don''t have to be so straightforward about it." Gu Qingyu drew her lips into a thin line. "I own a weapon arsenal in Beiying." Qi Wan smiled. "Why don''t we stop by there and take a look?" "Sure, might as well!" Gu Qingyu snapped back to her usual demeanor. "I can just take anything I want, right?" "No." Qi Wan blurted out. Before Gu Qingyu could scowl, he continued. "Weapons have their own will, and they can be picky. if it is willing to follow you, then you can take it away. If it doesn''t want to follow you, then it won''t follow you even if it destroys itself. " "Ah? There are things like that?" Gu Qingyu nodded. "Well! This setting is actually pretty good, it''s challenging!" "Hm...." A dark green ribbon slipped out from Qi Wan''s sleeve, he stroked the ribbon fondly. "Yeah, it took me a lot of work to convince this guy..." Gu Qingyu looked at the ribbon. "They seem quite useful!" "Yeah," Qi Wan nodded. "That''s why it''s harder to persuade them." "What about my crossbow sleeve?" Gu Qingyu shifted her gaze to Qi Wan. "It should belong to Jia Qizhe, right?" "Yes. But technically, that crossbow sleeve is not a weapon, at most it''s a piece of equipment." "That is to say, the equipment does not have its own will, but the weapons do?" Gu Qingyu summarised. Qi Wan confirmed her theory with a smile. After watching the sunrise, Gu Qingyu and Qi Wan went to the dining hall. Jia Qizhe had already taken his seat at the table, there was no one else in the hall. It looked like he was the first to arrive. He watched as the pair walked in and asked Gu Qingyu with a cold voice, "Where have you been?" Uh... Why does he sound like he caught me and my lover red-handed? Gu Qingyu swallowed. "We were on the deck..." "Oh?" Jia Qizhe pressed further. "So, what have you done?" "We..." Gu Qingyu swallowed nervously again. "We were checking when''s breakfast!" Qi Wan''s voice boomed behind her. This is the first time I met someone who could tell such a ridiculous lie without a single tell... "Waiting for breakfast?" Jia Qizhe turned to Gu Qingyu. "Uh..." Gu Qingyu paled. What can she say? Jia Yizhe would certainly not believe her if she sided with Qi Wan, and she might even be killed. But if she does not Qi Wan, he would be killed instead. "No!" After long consideration, Gu Qingyu replied in complete self-preservation. Qi Wan immediately stared at her with wide eyes. "We were..." Gu Qingyu licked her lips and said weakly, "Waiting for you to eat." This lie is even more ridiculous. "Oh! Waiting for me!" Jia Qizhe nodded and patted the seat next to him. "Then, sit down." Um... This went in a completely different direction than I imagined. "Come on, Little Yu''er, let''s eat!" Jia Qizhe pushed the bowl in front of him to Gu Qingyu. The bowl had already been filled to the brim. "Hero Jia..." Qi Wan also said weakly. "What about me?" "Just eat outside." Jia Qizhe replied mercilessly. "Hero Jia!" Qi Wan wailed and tragically walked out of the hall. "Well, poor thing." Gu Qingyu shook her head and dug in. Xie Zang strolled into the dining hall while rubbing his eyes. "Good morning, kitten." "Morning." Gu Qingyu ate her meal. Mo Bai entered the hall as well, dressed head to toe in white. "Good Morning, Yu''er." "Morning." Gu Qingyu peered behind Mo Bai. "Morning to you as well, Qi Yichen. Hm... Where''s Brother Murong?" "He''s been vomiting again since last night." Qi Yichen shook his head with a sigh. "Oh, poor him!" Gu Qingyu turned to Mo Bai who sat down beside her. "Do you have some medicine for that?" Mo Bai nodded and took out a small paper sachet from his sleeve. "Thanks, Mo Bai!" Gu Qingyu took the small paper sachet immediately. "Thank goodness you''re around, otherwise Murong Zuoyu would be puking his guts out for the next five days." Puke his guts out. That''s a graphic description. "You''re welcome." Mo Bai gently picked up the chopsticks in front of him. They soon finished breakfast, and Gu Qingyu came to Murong Zuoyu''s room with the medicine. Murong Zuoyu was lying on his bed, his face drained of colour. "Brother Murong?" Gu Qingyu entered the room and closed the door gently. "Are you okay?" "I''ll be fine." Murong Zuoyu waved her away. "Five days will soon pass." "No, there''s still another five days when we come back." Gu Qingyu stated with a straight face. She took out the small paper sachet, then poured a cup of water. She opened the sachet and dissolved the medicine in the water. Finally, she brought the medicine to Murong Zuoyu. "Brother Murong, Mo Bai made this especially for you. You should feel better after taking this." "Cough, Cough!" Murong Zuoyu took the bowl. "Thank you. " It must surprise many to see that the cold, stone-faced prince be reduced to a seasick child. However, it is precisely because of this side of him that makes it all the more precious. Even if they look perfect on the surface, every one of us is only human, with flaws and weaknesses. Gu Qingyu left Murong Zuoyu''s room and went to visit Xiao Qi. As soon as Xiao Qi laid eyes on Gu Qingyu, tears poured down her cheeks. "Xiao Yu! You''ve left me all alone ever since you had this group of handsome guys!" Why does she sound like a forgotten housewife? "Okay, okay, I love you too~" Gu Qing gently hugged Xiao Qi. "You''re my wife after all!" Xiao Qi instantly blushed, she turned away and stomped. "You meanie!" Gu Qingyu looked at Xiao Qi with horror. What is that reaction? Xiao Qi then sighed and shook her head. "Xiao Yu, why did you attack Duke Ze?" "Duke Ze?" Gu Qingyu paused, then she understood that Xiao Qi was referring to Murong Qize. "Why? What''s wrong?" She wondered. "What''s wrong? What do you mean what''s wrong?" Xiao Qi seemed more confused than her. "Xiao Yu, don''t you remember?" "Should I remember anything?" Gu Qingyu blinked as she replied. "You''re betrothed to Duke Ze! He''s your fiance!" Xiao Qi explained exasperatedly. In that second, Gu Qingyu froze. "So my fiance is a handsome and legendarily powerful being but I beat him up with a group of handsome martial arts experts?" Gu Qingyu swallowed stiffly. Guess I''m pretty impressive after all. "Yes." Xiao Qi replied in a tight, clipped voice. Up till that point, she did not understand how someone as powerful as Duke Ze could be defeated. But she did not know that Qi Wan, Mo Bai, along with the rest of the party, were all renowned experts amongst martial artists. "Oh! What a shame. He''s quite good-looking." Gu Qing sighed and shook her head. Not a shred of remorse could be seen. Xiao Qi blinked incomprehensibly. "Xiao Yu, he is your fiance! Don''t talk about him like he''s only an object." "Fiance? Is there any use for that kind of thing?" Gu Qing raised her eyebrows. "Look, we''ve got Jia Qizhe, Mo Bai, Qi Yichen, Qi Wan, Murong Zuoyu, Xie Zang and... uh... With so many handsome guys, why do I even need a fiance? " Xiao Qi looked at Gu Qing with a look of surprise, but she couldn''t help but admit that she has a point. With so many handsome guys around, there really isn¡¯t a need for a fiance. "Well, Xiao Qi!" Gu Qingyu patted Xiaoqi''s shoulder with a sad face. "Although I love you very much, I''m still straight. And I''m pretty sure you are too. Why don''t you take your pick and let me see if I can help you with that?" "Um... well, I do have one." Xiao Qi''s face turned pink as she answered with much struggle. "Well? Who?" That greatly piqued Gu Qingyu''s interest. Xiao Qi chewed her lips. "I... um... well..." "Aiyo, it''s just you and me here! There''s no one else!" Gu Qingyu prompted her further. Xiao Qi took a deep breath and then slowly confessed. "Qi Wan..." "Qi Wan? Not a bad choice!" Gu Qingyu bobbed her head. Although she didn''t know why Qi Wan would be liked by Xiao Qi, she still supported her. "Go for it, sweetheart! Pursue your love!" Before she finished her sentence, a pillow smacked her in the face. Chapter 52: Xiao Qi’s Crush Chapter 52: Xiao Qi''s Crush Translated by: iris.knight "That''s right!" An idea popped into Gu Qingyu''s head. "You can get up early tomorrow and ask Qi Wan to catch the sunrise with you!" I caught the sunrise with him this morning and it was pretty good. If it''s Xiao Qi and Qi Wan, then it must be very romantic! "I-Is that ok?" Xiao Qi became a little excited. "Of course! And, if the mood feels right, you can confess and ask him out!" Gu Qingyu patted Xiao Qi''s back. "I''ll stand by you!" "Thank you, Xiao Yu" Xiao Qi smiled slightly. "Don''t thank me! Who are we, we''re friends!" Gu Qingyu smiled. After coming here, I seem to have everything I wanted. Close friends, friends, family. Well, for family, I guess it would be the mother who loves me? Gu Qingyu nodded. "Then I''ll go first?" "Okay." Xiao Qi was still immersed in a daydream. "Goodness." Gu Qingyu shook her head, opened the door and went out. Is this the legendary butterflies and rose-tinted glasses? Why don''t I feel a thing? "Sigh!" She shook her head again. For once, nothing happened in the afternoon. Gu Qingyu decided tonight would be a good time to visit Yan Zun and check his recovery. In the evening, Gu Qingyu ate early and returned to her room. She dived under the blankets and entered the spiritual world. The sky and the earth were scorched red. Yan Zun stood in that wide, open, empty world, he gently closed his eyes. Pale red light surrounded him like a halo as he condensed red energy in his palms. The red light baptised him from inside out. Gu Qingyu watched him from a distance, the scene in front of her was incredible. The heavens and earth seemed to shift as his mood changed. Looking at it from afar, she felt that his light could eclipse the spectacle of the world around them. It was as if he was Lucifer himself, right before he was banished from the heavens, never to return. With light steps, Gu Qingyu approached Yan Zun. Yan Zun released the air hanging around him and slowly opened his long and narrow eyes. "What? Something''s wrong?" He exhaled slowly. "Nothing''s wrong, I just came to visit you... Sorry, have I disturbed you, Master?" Gu Qingyu asked cautiously. Yan Zun stood up, and a large bed soon appeared behind him. Gu Qingyu looked around and found that she was now in a gilded palace. You egotistical rock. Yan Zun shook his head and leaned halfway on the bed. "No, you''re just about a hundred years late." ...about a hundred years late? Gu Qingyu shook her head and dismissed her retort. "Master, I want to ask you to teach me more magic!" "Aren''t you quite powerful now?" Yan Zun''s eyes were full of curiosity when he looked at Gu Qingyu. "And, if things really get difficult, I''m still here. And I''m always around." "Well, yeah, but that''s not my true strength, is it?" Gu Qingyu frowned, worried. "Everyone around me is so strong, and every day I feel further and further away from them." Yan Zun reached out and ruffled her hair. "Stupid apprentice, your master is here. With me around, do you still have to worry about not being able to improve?" "Thank you, Master!" Gu Qingyu smiled. "Master, what will you teach me next?" "Come." Yan Zun stood up and steadied himself. The illusion around them faded, and the red world was revealed. "Look closely, I will only do this once." He suddenly extended his hand forward, and then, the air in front of him twisted and turned. A red lotus slowly bloomed in his hand. At the same time, a deafening explosion echoed from a distance. "Yo, dude." Gu Qingyu stared blankly at the red lotus in Yan Zun''s hand. Yan Zun smiled. "Master, not dude." "Master!" Gu Qingyu yelled immediately. "Well done." Yan Zun nodded with satisfaction. "Want to try?" "Of course!" Gu Qingyu nodded eagerly. Yan Zun slowly walked to Gu Qingyu and held out the red lotus. "Hold it." "What?" Gu Qingyu didn''t respond. Yan Zun narrowed his eyes slightly. Boy, did he look good doing that. "Hold it, it''s yours now." "Mine?" Gu Qingyu hesitated. After a while, she reached out and gently picked up the red lotus, cupping it in her hands. The moment the red lotus touched her hand, it burst into flames and burned her. "You can hold it, or if you can''t stand the pain, you can discard it. " Yan Zun''s voice drifted into her mind. "This is one of my weapons, Devouring Lotus. If you want to summon it, Then you have to endure such pain every time. " Pain? If you want to become strong, you must endure such pain? Gu Qingyu gritted her teeth and clung to the red lotus. "I won''t give up!" A wave of heat swept over her and she closed her eyes. Who''s whispering? Why does it sound so sad? "Brother Yan, why are there small drops of water in their eyes?" "Because they are sad." "Brother Yan, can you play the Guqin for me?" "Okay." "Brother Yan, let''s go home..." "Alright." "Brother Yan, look, how beautiful the red lotus is! Let it accompany us forever and burn in our hearts for all eternity. Wouldn''t that be lovely!" ¡°......¡± Gu Qingyu opened her eyes. The red lotus in her hands no longer burned. At this moment, it bloomed quietly in her palm. "It seems that you tamed it." Yan Zun clicked his tongue as he deduced, then he realised that Gu Qingyu had remained quiet. "What''s wrong?" It looks like he doesn''t know that I heard that conversation. I guess I''ll bring it up another time then. Who''s Brother Yan? "Nothing." Gu Qingyu shook her head. "So, now I can do what you just did? The explosion?" "In essence, yes, but you still have to practice slowly." Yan Zun patted Gu Qingyu''s head. "Now, you can change how Devouring Lotus looks." "Change its looks? Is it for convenience?" Gu Qingyu looked at the red lotus, "So like a mobile phone? Keys? Wallet?" "Are those the only things you could think of?" Yan Zun shook his head silently and took the red lotus. As soon as Yan Zun''s fingers brushed against its petals, the lotus flower immediately turned into a red necklace with a small red lotus pendant. Yan Zun walked behind Gu Qingyu, gently pushed her hair away and placed the necklace on Gu Qingyu¡¯s neck. "Thank you." Gu Qingyu looked at the pendant, the flower had turned into a crystal. Gu Qingyu opened her eyes, it was already late in the morning. It ¡¯s so peaceful to sleep on the days when there is no Qi Wan around to disturb me. I wonder how things have gone with Xiao Qi... Gu Qingyu got dressed and went to Xiao Qi''s room with a skip in her steps. She gently knocked on the door, it opened with a light push. Xiao Qi was sitting with her back facing the door. "Xiao Qi?" Gu Qingyu came in with a smile and closed the door. "How did it go?" Xiao Qi did not respond. "Ah, don''t keep me in.... Xiao Qi? What''s wrong?" Xiao Qi had turned around and her face was covered in tears. "Xiao Yu..." Xiao Qi dabbed her tears with her sleeve. Gu Qingyu immediately panicked. "What''s wrong? Did that guy Qi Wan bully you? I''ll settle it, don''t cry!" "Don''t!" Xiao Qi grabbed Gu Qingyu by the sleeve and shook her head frantically. "He told me that he already has someone in his heart..." "He has someone else?" Gu Qingyu scoffed angrily. "Let me go take a look at just who that person is!" "Uh... Xiao Yu, that person is... Nevermind, telling you won''t change things." Xiao Qi shook her head. "So you''re just gonna give up?" Gu Qingyu flipped. "Come here, let''s discuss a countermeasure! I''ll go to Mo Bai to get a few bottles of poison, and we''ll send that person to an early grave!" Xiao Qi stiffened instantly. "What''s wrong?" Gu Qingyu looked at her in confusion. "This kind of thing... I can''t do it... And I promise you can''t do it either, Xiao Yu." Xiao Qi looked conflicted, she seemed to be keeping something to herself. "Argh, fine." Gu Qingyu slowly took out the sleeve arrow from his sleeve. "Worse comes to worst, I''ll ask Qi Wan myself." "Don''t do it! Calm down!" Xiao Qi tightened her grip on Gu Qingyu. "Xiao Yu, we still have our lives ahead of us! T-there''s still other fish in the sea! Just let it go!" How did she end up comforting me instead? Gu Qingyu pursed her lips, then nodded. "Yeah, let him go!" Xiao Qi wiped away her tears and wrapped her fingers around Gu Qingyu''s hand. "Xiao Yu, let''s go eat, I''m so hungry!" "Okay, let''s go!" Gu Qingyu held Xiao Qi''s hand in the same way, tears welled up in her eyes. "Xiao Qi, oh, poor you!" They arrived at the dining hall, and found that everyone had already settled in their seats. "Brother Zhu, thank you for your medicine." Murong Zuoyu nodded slightly. "Don''t thank me, thank Mo Bai!" Gu Qingyu smiled. Mo Bai slightly raised his lips. Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyu and greeted her casually. "Morning, boss~" "Well, morning." Gu Qingyu was at least courteous, she greeted Qi Wan while holding onto Xiao Qi''s hand. Gu Qingyu and Xiao Qi sat down together. Gu Qingyu picked up a pair of chopsticks and her rice bowl was piled with food as usual... Gu Qingyu smiled at Jia Qizhe and nodded. "Thank you!" "You''re welcome." Jia Qizhe ate his meal as if there was nothing out of the ordinary. Xiao Qi ate in silence. The atmosphere at the dinner table soon turned awkward. Finally, Qi Yichen said. "Brother Zhu, what''s that flower on your neck? Can you tell us?" Flower? Gu Qingyu was shocked and looked down at her neck, only to realise that this was what Yan Zun gave her last night. "Oh, this is my weapon." Gu Qingyu swallowed her food and answered vaguely. Jia Qizhe looked at her doubtfully. "Weapon?" "From the Lifeblood Jewel." Gu Qingyu explained, without giving too many details. "In short, it should be pretty powerful." On the third and fourth day, nothing unexpected happened. Finally, the ship docked at noon on the fifth day. Gu Qingyu stepped onto the shore, and the ground almost felt too solid. All of a sudden, her legs gave out and she nearly tripped. Murong Zuoyu caught her. "Be careful." "Thank you." Gu Qingzu held onto him and regained her balance. Then she looked at him in surprise. "Brother Murong, I thought you would be the one to collapse instead!" Chapter 53: Disappearance Chapter 53: Disappearance Translated by: iris.knight "Um." Gu Qingyu gazed into the distance. "I don''t think we can make camp around here." "There is a forest," Mo Bai nodded. "You can go and see." "We''ll officially arrive in Beiying once we go through the forest right?" Qi Wan mused. "Soul Gems should be on the level of imperial treasures. Boss, what do you think? Would the Emperor of Beiying be easy for us?" "Oh sweetheart, you''re so simpleminded!" Gu Qingyu sighed helplessly. "What is our slogan?" "What is it?" Qi Wan flinched. "Stir up trouble!" Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan in annoyance. "Yeah!" Qi Wan suddenly realized. "Why didn''t I think of it?" The rest of the party stared at them with a look normally reserved for lunatics. Can anyone tell me what the two of them are talking about? "Alas, it''s difficult to stir up trouble these days." Gu Qingyu sighed as she shook her head. She held her hands behind her back and walked into the forest. "Yeah, it''s hard. So hard." Qi Wan shook his head as well. He copied Gu Qingyu''s actions and walked into the forest with a sigh. Everyone else was speechless. "Mo Bai, can this be eaten?" Gu Qingyu picked a red fruit from the surrounding trees and showed it to him. Mo Bai took a closer look and nodded. "It can be eaten, but..." Chomp. Gu Qingyu took a big bite. "But..." Mo Bai looked at Gu Qingyu with an incredible look. "Yu''er, you..." "Oh!" Gu Qingyu spat out the fruit immediately. "It''s sour! It''s bitter! Oh god, it''s horrible!" "Yu''er, I was about to..." Mo Bai gazed at Gu Qingyu with defeat. He took out his water bag and passed it to her. "Thank you!" Gu Qingyu reached out for the water bag, it slowly drifted away and into Jia Qizhe''s hands. "Drink this." Jia Qizhe threw his water bag to Gu Qingyu, then tossed Mo Bai''s water bag unceremoniously into the thicket. Mo Bai was slightly angered, his eyes started to turn dark as he glanced at Jia Qizhe. Mo Bai closed his eyes gently, and when he opened them again, his clean eyes were spotless again. He turned to Gu Qingyu. "Yu''er..." His voice was tender, but also aggrieved. "Jia Qizhe!" Gu Qingyu also got mad. "Why did you throw away Mo Bai''s water bag?" "Speak for yourself." Jia Qizhe looked at Gu Qingyu with disdain. "Idiot." What? Did he just call me an idiot? Gu Qingyu pouted. "Jia Qizhe, go to..." Before she could finish that sentence, a powerful force grabbed her and threw her against a tree. "Oof!" Gu Qingyu slammed into the trunk. "Little Yu''er!" Jia Qizhe''s eyes suddenly changed colour, and his sword appeared in his hand as he flew towards Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu waved her hand. "I''m fine." Jia Qizhe was seconds away from reaching her when a strange force held her up and she was engulfed in darkness. "Boss!" Qi Wan extended his ribbon, he wanted to pull Gu Qingyu out from the ball of dark energy that had swallowed her. But his ribbon snapped when it came into contact with the dark gas. "Damn!" Qi Wan cursed and flew to that black ball. "Dark gas?" Mo Bai immediately took out the flute affixed to his waist and played it gently. He dispelled the dark energy, but Gu Qingyu was nowhere to be seen. "Where''s Xiao Yu?" Xiao Qi watched in panic. "She''s gone..." Qi Yichen fixed his eyes on where Gu Qingyu had been and scanned the location. The people present were not idiots, they were all experts in martial arts. Yet Gu Qingyu had disappeared right in front of their eyes with such ease. What does this show? Someone out there outranked them greatly. A drop of blood dripped to the ground. Jia Qizhe looked at his arm and said nothing. "Let''s go look around first, they couldn''t have gone far." Qi Wan looked at the distance. This was the only thing they can do right now. "Also," He continued. "If everyone present really cares about her, then you don''t have to hide it anymore, you can use all your strengths." For the first time, someone had addressed the elephant in the room. Qi Wan had mercilessly ripped off their disguises with bare hands. "Needless for you to say." Jia Qizhe answered, and he spread his wings. "One day. That''s the time limit. Whether or not you''ve found anything, come back here and regroup." "OK." For once, Mo Bai agreed with him. Soon, they all took off in different directions. Meanwhile, Gu Qingyu opened her eyes after the darkness. The sudden flash of light dazzled her, stars appeared in front of her. She squeezed her eyes shut and blinked a few more times to see past the stars. She looked around, she seemed to be in a room and lying on a table. ...Can''t move... "Oh, you''re awake?" A familiar voice came. Gu Qingyu pursed her lips."So you''re still alive... Murong... Qize..." "Oh." Murong Qize smiled and gently held the hand of Gu Qingyu. "Really, don''t talk nonsense if you can''t move." There was a sudden, piercing pain from her hand. "So she had woken." Another voice, Gu Qingyu wanted to turn her head towards that mysterious voice, but she could not even turn her head. She could barely speak. Murong Qize let go of her hand, and a man slowly appeared in front of Gu Qingyu''s eyes. A black brocade, embroidered with silver and white patterns. Jet black hair scattered over his shoulders and a pair of dark eyes exuded a sense of majesty. What is... this feeling... Why... the moment I see him... I feel like kneeling and surrendering to him... The man looked at Gu Qingyu and said nothing. Gu Qingyu could see her pathetic state reflected in that man''s eyes. "Who... are you?" Gu Qingyu kept her eyes on that man while she strained her voice and asked. "I am Xuan Di." He replied, his gaze shifted to Gu Qingyu''s hand. Xuan Di? Emperor Xuan? That¡¯s such a regal-sounding name, why does that strange name remind her of Xie Zang and Yan Zun? Yan Zun? Master, help me... Suddenly, Yan Zun possessed her body. Her blood-red eyes opened and she leaped up and struck Xuan Di. Xuan Di extended his hand without hesitation, his palm wrapped around Gu Qingyu''s fist. He tightened his grip and Gu Qingyu heard the sound of bone cracking. Gu Qingyu gasped, and a flame appeared in her other hand. She attacked Xian Di again, but he grabbed her other hand by the wrist. "You have surprised me." Xuan Di looked at her. "For a second, your eyes reminded me of an old friend. It''s a shame, he died with such resentment." There was not a hint of amusement in his eyes. "It''s a pity, I''m not your friend." Gu Qingyu gave Xuan Di a hard kick and propelled herself into the air. She wanted to escape. Xuan Di let go of her hand, and Gu Qingyu took the chance and ran towards the door. However, as soon as she touched the door, she pulled her hand back as she had been electrocuted. Her legs gave out in the shock, she collapsed and spasmed on the floor. "This place is encased in my barrier." Xuan Di looked at Gu Qingyu, his eyes were full of pity. It was a pity that the strong showed to the weak. "Don''t look at me like that..." Gu Qingyu pushed herself up from the floor. "Since it''s your barrier, then all I have to do is kick your ass." "You wish to defeat me?" Xuan Di curled his lips slightly. "Try then. You know, if you did not have the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny, you would be dead by now." "I know." Gu Qingyu looked at Xuan Di calmly. "I know. So, you''re after the Lifeblood Jewel as well?" "Yes." Xuan Di admitted. Gu Qingyu gritted his teeth. "You are so powerful. Just one question, why would you need it?" "Hmm, well..." Xuan Di thought for a moment and said, "I want to destroy it." Destroy? Gu Qingyu was confused. "It''s fine to tell you. If you are the owner of the Lifeblood Jewel, then you should know the existence of Yan Zun." Xuan Di''s eyes were full of inquiry and intolerance for lies. Gu Qingyu flinched and decided to feign ignorance instead. "Yan Zun? Who is Yan Zun? Is there something I don''t know?" In the spiritual world, Yan Zun sighed with his hand on his forehead. Few could lie so smoothly and with such conviction. Her remark coupled with her doe-eyed, innocent look and confused expression, Xuan Di believed it and waved impatiently. "Give me the jewel. I never kill women, don''t force me to break my rules." Woman? He knew I¡¯m a woman. Gu Qingyu snapped back. "Break it then! if you kill me, you will never find the jewel. Might as well! It won''t affect you in any way and I can break that rule for you! Come on! Hurry up! Do it!" She was like a sly fox taunting a suspicious lion. "Hurry up and eat me!" Xuan Di looked at Gu Qingyu, his eyes did not waver in the slightest. Instead, he turned away slightly. "Yes." Murong Qize approached her. He was elegantly dressed in a yellow robe, and he carried a sword that seemed too large for his frame. "Farewell, my fiance." "Yep, farewell." Gu Qingyu smiled, but she panicked internally. I''m not even sure my plan would work against this living myth. Even if it works, there is a more mythical existence behind him! Am I really going to be buried here today? Gu Qingyu gritted her teeth and yanked off the necklace around her neck. At that moment, the red lotus appeared in her hand. "Bloom, Devouring Lotus!" Gu Qingyu placed her hand on the red lotus. Murong Qize froze, then immediately shielded himself against the attack. "A very good weapon." He smirked. "It''s just a pity that you don''t know how to use it." "Really?" Gu Qingyu was not in a hurry, she returned his smile. A hole suddenly cracked under Murong Qize''s feet. "Shit!" Murong Qize cursed, spread his wings and took to the skies. Gu Qingyu smirked. It seems that I guessed right, there is no barrier below us. That means, there isn''t a barrier above, right? Boom! Gu Qingyu blasted a hole in the ceiling, then spread her wings and flew out. "Trying to run away?" At the same time, Xuan Di licked his lips. Gu Qingyu was stuck in the air, like a fly against an electrical net. No matter how hard she tried, she could not move even a muscle. Chapter 54: Rescued Chapter 54: Rescued Translated by: iris.knight "Urgh..." Gu Qingyu remained motionless, her eyes squeezed shut. Blood trickled out from the corners of her mouth. Finally, she let go and dropped to the ground with a silent thud. "No...." Gu Qingyu watched as the sky grew further and further away. She reached towards the sky, hoping that maybe if she stretched just a bit more, she could reach it and escape. Snap! Someone grabbed her hand and then she was pulled into an embrace. There was a warm, familiar smell of cologne. "Jia Qizhe..." Gu Qingyu whispered his name. "I''m here." Jia Qizhe''s calming voice brushed against her ear, along with bits of rage that had escaped. Gu Qingyu smiled and closed her eyes gently. Jia Qizhe flapped his wings and hovered in the air. He held Gu Qingyu with one hand and conjured his sword in the other. Unlike in the past, his sword is fully blue. "Ghost Howl?" Xuan Di smiled, he was amused. "After all this time, I can finally find someone who can truly rival me." "Oh yeah?" Jia Qizhe scoffed. "It''s just a pity that I don''t intend to fight you." He wrapped his arm tightly around Gu Qingyu. A flute whistled through the air, and a crack appeared in Xuan Di''s barrier. "I will come for your head." Jia Qizhe used his sword to widen the rift in the barrier, and he flew out. Xuan Di stood rooted to the ground as he watched Jia Qizhe''s departure. "I will be waiting." Jia Qizhe landed as soon as he got out of the barrier and arrived at that forest. Mo Bai slowly put away his flute. "I''ll leave her in your hands." Jia Qizhe, with Gu Qingyu in his arms, approached Mo Bai. "Thank you for your help today." "I would help her even without you." Mo Bai''s voice was as gentle as before, but with a touch of coldness, it was a little unreal. He took Gu Qingyu and placed her on a stone. Then pale green energy surrounded him, herbs bobbed and floated amidst the green energy. The gas-like energy gradually melted into Gu Qingyu, and the blood on the corners of her lips gradually faded. Gu Qingyu coughed slightly, she was finally out of danger. Gu Qingyu opened her eyes with a flutter. Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai were standing in front of her, their eyes full of worry. "It''s okay." Gu Qingyu gave them a faint smile. "All in all, I''m still too weak." "It''s not your fault." Jia Qizhe suddenly leaned down and gently hugged Gu Qingyu. "It''s mine, I failed to protect you." Gu Qingyu patted Jia Qizhe on the back, then she turned to Mo Bai. "Thank you. And sorry. All of you must be so worried." "What a silly thing to say." Mo Bai smiled slightly, his smile filled with the warm glow of the sun. "Go and gather with everyone, otherwise everyone would panic soon." Panic? What the hell. As long as she is not alone with Jia Qizhe. "Um." Gu Qingyu nodded and looked up at the dwindling daylight. "How long has it been?" "A day." Jia Qizhe picked up Gu Qingyu and ran. The sun was setting. Mo Bai closed his eyes gently and followed. Soon, they arrived at the rendezvous point. Qi Yichen and others had been waiting there for a long time. Their eyes lit up when they saw Gu Qingyu. "Xiao Yu!" Xiao Qi rushed over first and wrapped Gu Qingyu in a tight hug. "I was so worried!" "I''m fine now, aren''t I? Don''t worry." Gu Qingyu patted Xiao Qi''s head. "Boss..." Qi Wan showed up with tear streaks on his face and a string of snot, he cried into Gu Qingyu''s sleeve. "I thought I would never see you again..." Both Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai gave Qi Wan a threatening look. Yet, Gu Qingyu hugged Qi Wan gently, and slowly patted his back. "It''s alright, I''m back." Because aside from the exaggerated expression, she saw how Qi Wan''s hand trembled. He was trying to ease the atmosphere and avoid putting stress on her. Qi Wan took a moment, then closed his eyes gently, and wiped his tears. "Yep!" Qi Yichen also rushed over. "Brother Zhu~" "Not you." Gu Qingyu slapped him without mercy. "We''re both people, why did I get a slap instead?" Qi Yichen shuffled towards Qi Wan with tears in his eyes. "Please, Young Brother Qi, tell me your secrets..." "We should be rid of shame! It''s simple, you''re not shameless enough." Qi Wan shook his head in disgust. Gu Qingyu also shook her head in defeat. With Qi Wan around, Qi Yichen will definitely become more and more shameless. Oh, he was such a good scholar, where did his original elegant temperament go? What in the world happened to it? "We should resume our journey. Although, it would be wise to make camp soon." Murong Zuoyu glanced at the surrounding trees. "Many monsters and demons prowl the forest at night." "You''re right," Gu Qingyu turned to Murong Zuoyu. "Brother Murong, you are the best among us. So, I suggest we try to negotiate with the Emperor of Beiying first, would you do the honour?" "...Very well." Murong Zuoyu hesitated, then agreed. The best? What she doesn''t know is that none of these people around her are worse than Murong Zuoyu. Suddenly, a rustle came from behind them. "Monsters?" Qi Wan looked behind, and saw a pair of scarlet eyes stared back at him "Um... our luck is really not that good..." "Yeah, yeah." Jia Qizhe responded idly and a blue light shot out from his hand. At the same time, green light flickered in Mo Bai''s hand. That pair of eyes went out instantly. "Come, tonight''s dinner is a barbeque." Xie Zang walked towards the grass with a look of excitement. A flame was burning on his hand. I guess this is what it''s like to have an overpowered party... Soon, they found a place to make camp. The bonfire was lit, and the barbeque began. The monsters and demons around the area seemed to have caught the smell of grilled meat and headed towards them. However, Qi Yichen was not joking about his barrier. So they spent a normally-horrifying evening in peace and quiet. The next day Drip. A cold drop of morning dew woke Gu Qingyu. She turned over and tried to roll back to sleep. Hold on, the bed was stiffer than she remembered. Oh yeah, she was sleeping on a tree. Wait, a tree! "Ah!" Boom! Thud! Jia Qizhe, who was sitting under the tree, jerked awake. He stared whoever that had fallen onto him with bleary eyes. "I-I-I''m sorry!" Gu Qingyu got up immediately, but her legs had fallen asleep while she curled up on the tree, and she fell over again. "Idiot" Jia Qizhe supported Gu Qingyu. He slowly got up, and let her regain her balance. "Are you hurt?" "No..." Gu Qingyu looked at Jia Qizhe. Shouldn''t this be the other way around? The commotion had woken the rest of the party. Gu Qingyu looked at everyone apologetically. "Since we''re all up, let''s eat something..." "These fruits are good." Xiao Qi took out some light green fruits from her cloth bag. "We can have these for breakfast." After Mo Bai confirmed that it was not poisonous, everyone divided the fruits and ate. "Well, this one tastes good!" Gu Qingyu nodded as she ate with relish. She would even smack her lips every now and then. Qi Yichen looked at Gu Qingyu in shock and finally turned and asked Qi Wan, who was next to him. "Isn''t she the third lady in the Gu Family? Why does it seem like she''s never had anything like this before?" Qi Wan shrugged. "I don''t know, poor thing." This sigh made Qi Yichen tug his lips. Poor thing? After breakfast, the party resumed their journey. "Are we going directly to the palace?" Gu Qingyu asked curiously. "I''m afraid to find a place to settle first." Qi Yichen thought for a moment. "If the Emperor of Beiying refuses, we must think of an escape and plan ahead. Moreover, we just arrived in Beiying and we must find a way to reach the Imperial City. Let''s go to the nearest city first to take a break and buy a horse. It''s not going to work if we just keep walking." "Wow, that''s a good idea!" Gu Qingyu applauded. Because Qi Yichen''s proposal was affirmed by Gu Qingyu, everyone went together to the nearby city. Finally, before noon, they arrived at the border city of Beiying. The party entered the city gates and everyone was curiously watching this group of foreigners. "Let''s have a meal and buy a few horses first." Gu Qingyu suggested eagerly. "Well, that''s fine." Qi Wan nodded. "Come with me." "Hold on," Gu Qingyu paused, then opened her mouth in shock. "Don''t tell me you have a place here too!" "Of course." Qi Wan battered his eyes at Gu Qingyu, his voice was more charming than ever. "Have you found that you have fallen in love with me deeply and uncontrollably?" "Hah? Are you in heat?" Gu Qingyu swung her fist towards Qi Wan. Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai were ahead of her. Qi Wan has been KO-ed. Qi Yichen glanced sympathetically at Qi Wan. This was the reason he carefully chose not to try to provoke Gu Qingyu. Xie Zang, on the other hand, was not intimidated at all. "Kitten, who kidnapped you?" This sentence actually asked many people''s questions. They avoided it yesterday as they did not want to trigger any potential trauma, but she seemed fine right then. And frankly, she would not be Gu Qingyu if she was frightened. "Murong... Qize." Gu Qingyu thought for a moment, and said, "And someone else who was really powerful." Murong Zuoyu''s eyes immediately turned into bone-chilling cold. Murong Qize? Very good, it seems that he has been kind for too long recently. "Someone else who was really powerful?" Xie Zang probed. "Well, I don''t know who he is." Gu Qingyu chose to conceal the Emperor''s identity. "He only said that he wanted to destroy the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny." Chapter 55: My Daisy! Chapter 55: My Daisy! Translated by: iris.knight "Oh my god! Qi Wan, how do you do this!" Gu Qingyu was completely floored. Qi Wan gloated. "How''s it? Do you really admire me? Marry me and you¡¯ll have nothing to worry about. You can even spend your money freely~ Hey, hey, what are you two doing? Ah! ah! Help!!!!" Qi Wan''s sorrowful voice faded into the distance as Gu Qingyu waved at Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai while holding her laughter. "Okay, let''s eat." "Okay." Mo Bai closed his hand, his sleeves were as white as snow, and his robes were spotless. He looked completely different from the violent man just now. Jia Qizhe glared at Qi Wan as he stood next to Gu Qingyu. "Watch out." Why does this tone sound familiar... Qi Wan silently rubbed his nose and slowly sat down in his seat. People nowadays... "Qi Wan," Gu Qingyu turned to him with a twinkle of mischief in her eyes. "Since you are so influential, do you have a racecourse or something like that?" Racecourse? Is such an idea conceivable by ordinary people? Qi Wan shook his head sincerely. "I don''t really have that kind of thing." "Tch." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes as if she had been offended. Qi Wan was speechless. Boss, does your family know you have such ridiculous standards! He pursed his lips. "But I have a friend who runs a stable. It''s near here, we can go and take a look." "Well, okay." Gu Qingyu took her time and ate her meal. The party followed Qi Wan to the stable after lunch. "Qi Wan," Gu Qingyu walked into the stable and noticed the handsome guy in front of her. "Are you sure this is a horse stable? That person... is the owner?" "Yeah, yeah." Qi Wan nodded. "Is he as handsome as me?" "No, he''s more handsome than you." Gu Qingyu stated without a moment of hesitation. I thought stables are just filled with horses? It should be all grey and dusty, with a horrible stench. And the owner should be a big and burly man, who held a horsewhip as he dug his nose... What is happening right now? This stable was bright and colourful. Horses are lined up neatly one after another, and there''s a faint fragrance in the air. Plus, there''s a super cute guy dressed in brown in front of her! Most importantly, why does all this look so harmonious and balanced? "Hello." The handsome man smiled slightly. "My name is Luo Zhi." Luo Zhi? Strange name. "Hello." Gu Qingyu smiled sweetly. "We want to buy some horses." "You''re a friend of Mister Qi. Please, pick whichever you like." Luo Zhi nodded to her before he turned to Qi Wan. "How have you been, Mister Qi?" "I have been well." Qi Wan nodded solemnly. Huh, why is he putting on airs all of a sudden? Gu Qingyu looked at the horses of varying coats and colours, she was stunned. Oh dear, what to do? I have never ridden a horse before... Jia Qizhe walked over with a dark horse. "Yu''er, this is for you." "Ah, ah! My prized thousand-mile steed!" Luo Zhi suddenly covered his face. "How did you find it?" Well, that''s an obvious and sudden change. Gu Qingyu sighed slightly. "Since you seem reluctant, why don''t we..." "We''ll thank you in advance." Jia Qizhe finished her sentence as he smiled at Luo Zhi. "My prized thousand-mile steed..." Luo Zhi flattened his lips and stared at Jia Qizhe bitterly. Jia Qizhe sighed slightly and shook his head. "Let''s go, Yu''er." A white horse had somehow appeared next to them. "Ahhh! My prized steed''s brother!" Luo Zhi''s cries grew even more distressed. "You told us to take our pick." Qi Yichen smiled slightly, and a white horse was in his hand. "Buttercup!" Luo Zhi was heartbroken, he almost started to cry. ...Buttercup? Gu Qingyu watched Luo Zhi sympathetically. He really had rotten luck, it was not fun to come across this party. Worse still, all of them were martial arts experts... She sighed and shook her head, holding the dark horse. "Come, Daisy. Let''s go." Everyone else thought, Daisy? Is there any difference between you and Luo Zhi? "What, Daisy?" Luo Zhi glared at Gu Qingyu. "Her name is Sage!¡± "Your eyeballs look good." Jia Qizhe wriggled his finger. "If you don''t mind, you can look at her a few more times, so I can dig them out together." Luo Zhi closed his mouth and his face suddenly changed into the stiff smile of customer service. "We welcome your next visit!" He turned and glared at Qi Wan, the same smile still plastered on his face. " We are finished, my friend. " Qi Wan¡¯s inner monologue: Do you know you would be struck by lighting if you take your anger out on other people? "Friend, don''t do this..." Qi Wan immediately clung to Luo Zhi. Later The eight of them traveled through the street on horseback, it almost seemed like a parade. Qi Wan sulked and sighed the whole time. "What''s the matter?" It was clear that Qi Wan was in a foul mood, Gu Qingyu turned slightly and checked on him. She dared not shift too much, since she''s not familiar with horse-riding. Fortunately, she is accompanied by two equestrian veterans, Jia Qizhe and Murong Zuoyu. "I lost a friend." Qi Wan sniffled as he wiped a tear. "Oh why, why did this happen!" "...Luo Zhi?" Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan with surprise. Qi Wan nodded, with regret and sorrow written on his face. "Oh!" Gu Qingyu sighed and shook her head. "Oh, I''m so sorry. I didn''t realise you two were so close..." "...Uhhh?" That was an odd response. Qi Wan could feel that something was afoot. "I know it pains you to leave him!" Another sigh. "Boss, you misunderstood, listen to me..." Qi Wan opened his mouth. "Yes, yes, we all misunderstood you!" Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan with an understanding look, full of support and encouragement. "Don''t worry, I have gone through the same pain before as well. It''s hard to let go! But if you really can''t forget about him, then go! Chase after your heart!" "Don''t!" Qi Wan cried. "Master!" "Go!" Sighed Gu Qingyu. "No! I won''t go! Master!" Everyone else watched as they bickered. Just what in the world are you two doing? "Now that you''ve made up your mind, let''s make haste." Gu Qingyu smiled and speeded up without looking back. "Well... This is wobbly... Help! Brother Murong! Jia Qizhe! Ah ah- " Murong Zuoyu silently rubbed his temples, then gave chase. After a distance, Gu Qingyu finally stopped the horse with the help of Hero Jia and Duke Yu. "Life is so difficult these days!" Gu Qingyu said with tears in her eyes. "Oh, I could cry just thinking about it!" "Yu''er, Hurry up,¡± Mo Bai looked at the dim sky. "It seems that we still have to spend the night outside today." Ever since she revealed her true identity to Murong Zuoyu, everyone''s monikers for her had returned to normal. But that has caused her an even greater headache. Gu Qingyu nodded. "Okay, there is a river ahead, let''s go there and settle down." "Still craving for grilled fish?" Xie Zang smiled and looked at Gu Qingyu. "You''re really a kitten~" Gu Qingyu chose to give him an eye roll as he trotted over. At Camp Soon, with the help of a few experts, the grilled fish were ready. Gu Qingyu chewed on her fish as she analysed the map Qi Wan had taken from somewhere. After a while, she said, "The imperial city is still a long way from here. We''ll have to ride non-stop tomorrow, and if needed, cover the remaining distance by flight. So the earliest we''ll arrive would be tomorrow night." She paused. "So there''s no need to hurry, or we''ll burn out before we even reach the imperial city. " Qi Yichen listened to Gu Qingyu with admiration. "So, what''s the plan, Brother Zhu?" "Tomorrow, we''ll go to Luocheng, the city next to the imperial city, to rest up. We¡¯ll proceed with the negotiations on the next day. Then, if that doesn''t work out, we''ll storm the castle!" Gu Qingyu snapped her fingers. "Perfect!" "It is indeed a good plan." Qi Yichen nodded. "It would be too dangerous if Brother Murong confronted the Emperor of Beiying alone." His words surprised Murong Zuoyu. "Hey, that''s a good idea!" Gu Qingyu nodded. "Brother Qi, you can go with him! Two people can take care of it!" Qi Yichen wished he had not opened his mouth. He could not even argue that it was just a suggestion? That would never work against Gu Qingyu. The next morning Eight people and eight horses trotted through the grassy plains as they headed towards Luocheng. Since they have been riding for a while, Gu Qingyu was more comfortable and let her horse move freely. Besides, she could still count on the experts with her. On the other hand, Xiao Qi has not had any trouble. She was very comfortable with horse-riding. "Oh Xiao Qi, I couldn''t tell!" Gu Qingyu teased. "Come on, come on, keep this up and you could be a heroine in the future!" Heroine? The rest of the party turned and looked at Xiao Qi. Her weak arms and thin frame made her ladylike demeanor very clear. She replied, even her voice was soft and sweet. "Xiao Yu, don''t make fun of me..." We dare to ask Gu Qingyu the Heroine, how does this remind her of a heroine? Gu Qingyu coughed. "Well, let''s hurry." They increased their pace and finally arrived in Luocheng at night. Qi Wan winked at Gu Qingyu as they settled down in an inn. "Boss, I said I''ll take you to the arsenal, it''s near here." "Okay." Gu Qingyu instinctively turned the red lotus pendant in her fingers. After all, it ¡¯s Yan Zun''s weapon. I still need to get my own weapon. "Then everyone would rest in the inn while Qi Wan takes me to the arsenal?" Gu Qingyu asked tentatively. "I wanted to go with you..." Jia Qizhe looked out the window. "But I have some important things to do, sorry." "It''s okay." Gu Qingyu smiled. "I''ll go too." Mo Bai looked faintly at Jia Qizhe. Jia Qizhe froze, then looked at Mo Bai with crossed arms. "Why does it concern you?" Mo Bai remained silent. "Okay, okay, don''t fight. Let''s go. Qi Wan?" Gu Qingyu looked back at Qi Wan. "Yes, milord!" Qi Wan saluted and led the way. Chapter 56: Weapons Unlocked Chapter 56: Weapons Unlocked Translated by: iris.knight "How many?" Qi Wan did not know if he should laugh or cry. "Boss, using just one weapon costs tons of energy, best to just stick to one." "Oh, okay." Gu Qingyu nodded sadly. Yan Zun is so powerful, you can tell at a glance that he has countless weapons. That must be why he was willing to give me that red lotus? Just imagine, if I could become as strong as him, how great would that be? Suddenly, she paused. Her eyes focused on a particular spot. Qi Wan followed her gaze and stopped dead in his tracks. "Boss, are you... interested in this kind of stuff?" "That''s right." Gu Qingyu nodded. "I didn''t expect you to be such a Boss!" Qi Wan stared with wide eyes at the giant sword that was bigger than Gu Qingyu. "What are you thinking..." Gu Qingyu held her forehead in defeat as she walked over. "I''m looking at this" She pointed at the thing next to the giant sword. "Ah, baby got spooked!" Qi Wan clutched his heart. "So this is what you were referring to..." Next to the giant sword were several nail-like objects. Unlike ordinary nails, they have purple patterns on them and are locked together by several chains. "These are actually two weapons, but they were born as one." Qi Wan introduced, "The Soul Nails and the Soul Chain, sounds cool right? But they have been here for a long time. There were so many people who wanted to take them away, but in the end, they are unsuccessful. Well, if you''re interested Boss. No harm giving it a shot. " Gu Qingyu walked up to the weapons, her finger lightly brushed against the glass of the Soul Nail and the Soul Chain''s display cabinet. Suddenly, it was dark. The world has darkened. Who turned off the lights? Gu Qingyu checked her surroundings, darkness extended beyond her vision. But why is she still awake? There seems to be something guiding her forward. Master, are you there? This... I''m a little scared... Suddenly, a flame appeared, warm and bright. "Stupid apprentice." Yan Zun''s diabolically-charming face was illuminated by the warm glow. "Did I not say that wherever you go, your master will be with you, eh?" Gu Qingyu nodded while staring at the ball of fire in his hand, the flame cast harsh shadows on his face, almost twisting his features to that of a demon. "Where are we?" "This place..." Yan Zun calmly explained. "It''s set up by the weapon you chose. A test, or to guide. Go ahead." The heavy darkness seemed to part at the flame as they proceeded. Finally, a light at the end of the tunnel. The bright light opened up to a large white space. A lady stood in front of Gu Qingyu. She looked at Gu Qingyu, with sadness and surprise in her eyes. Her hair was spun gold, and her dress was bright gold as well, like sunshine. But her eyes were violet in color. A thin white veil covered the rest of her face. "Hello." She said softly. "I''m the Soul Chain. Your weapon." My weapon? "Well... what about the Soul Nails?" Gu Qingyu wondered. "He hasn''t awoken yet." She sighed. "This may not be a good thing." "Sorry, I don''t understand." Gu Qingyu shook her head frankly. "You will understand it later." That lady lightly rested her forehead against Gu Qingyu''s forehead. "Now, accept us." Gu Qingyu stretched out her hand, the lady turned into a light and melted into her palm. Gu Qingyu slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was Qi Wan''s worried face. "Boss, are you awake?" As soon as he saw Gu Qingyu woke up, a smile spread across Qi Wan''s face. "How do you feel?" "Well." Gu Qingyu pushed herself up. "I''m ok. At least I managed to tame the weapons." "I knew Boss could do it!" Qi Wan laughed. "Then let''s go back!" "Go back?" Gu Qingyu looked around, she was in a small room. "What is this place?" "We''re in a small room in the arsenal." Qi Wan helped Gu Qingyu get out of bed. "I brought you here because taming weapons would also consume a lot of energy." "How long have I been out?" Gu Qingyu battered her eyes. To be honest, Jia Qizhe''s absence had surprised her. "Approximately two hours." Qi Wan picked up Gu Qingyu and cradled her in his arms. "I''ve already sent a message back. You''ve overexerted yourself already, I''ll carry you back! " His smile was so bright and sincere. "Okay, thank you." Gu Qingyu relented and closed her eyes, she was completely drained. "You''re so light, Boss..." Qi Wan flew through the air. "You should eat more." "Am I not eating enough?" Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan in wonder. Qi Wan thought for a moment. "Yeah, you''re eating enough." Soon, they returned to the inn. Xiao Qi jogged over to greet them, her expression froze the moment she saw that Qi Wan was holding Gu Qingyu in his arms. "She used up a lot of energy to tame the weapons, and she had just fallen asleep. I''ll take her to rest first." Qi Wan just wanted to go upstairs but was stopped by Xiao Qi. "I''ll do it." She took Gu Qingyu silently from him. "Thank you, for sending Xiao Yu back." "It was the right thing to do." Qi Wan yawned and retreated to his own room. Xiao Qi lowered her eyes to the ground. After a while, she walked upstairs with Gu Qingyu in her arms. Gu Qingyu woke up when Xiao Qi opened the door to her room, she looked up at Xiao Qi with bleary eyes. "Eh? Xiao Qi?" "Yes, it''s me." Xiao Qi placed Gu Qingyu on the bed. "Xiao Yu, are you all right?" "I''m ok, sorry that I made you worry again." Gu Qingyu smiled. "Well, that''s good... I''m going to bed then." Xiao Qi got up, but her hand was grabbed by Gu Qingyu. "What''s wrong?" She turned slightly. "Xiao Qi, is there something on your mind? You looked like something''s troubling you." Gu Qingyu stared into Xiao Qi¡¯s eyes. Xiao Qi shook her head. "It''s okay, sleep well." She gently turned her wrist and freed her hand, then walked out the door. So, Gu Qingyu closed her eyes. Speaking of which, I have find time to try my new weapons... In the spirit world, Yan Zun rubbed his head impatiently, it looked like he had been waiting for a long time. "Slowpoke apprentice, took you long enough. You''ve kept your master waiting for so long. " Gu Qingyu drew her lips. Stupid apprentice, slowpoke apprentice, do you have anything else? "Why are you not talking? Come on, dumb apprentice." Yan Zun waved his hand impatiently. Gu Qingyu resisted her urge to snap back and walked over to Yan Zun. "Now, try to summon your new weapon." Yan Zun watched her with arms crossed in front of his chest. "The weapon is useless if you can''t even summon it." "How do I do that?" Gu Qingyu was lost. When Jia Qizhe summons his weapon, it seems that whenever he stretches out his hand, blue light would converge and form his sword. Qi Yichen carries his fan and uses it to defend at any time or he¡¯ll transform it into an iron fan. Mo Bai usually uses his herbs directly, even though there is a flute tied to his waist. Murong Zuoyu keeps his sword with him at all times. I don''t think I''ve seen Xie Zang use a weapon yet. As for Qi Wan, the ribbons seem to fly out from him directly. "What should we do?" Yan Zun stared at her as he pondered. "For a beginner like you." Gu Qingyu glared at him. "Excuse me? Are you saying you don¡¯t know how to summon a weapon?" "No, my method would be too difficult for you, that''s all." When he said this, his eyes were full of sincerity. "Thank you very much for your kind understanding..." Gu Qingyu shook her head. "Some weapons can be temporarily turned into air or gas around the host as they wait to be summoned. Some are directly held by the host; others usually live in ordinary objects." Yan Zun continued his train of thought. "Come." Suddenly he had a brain wave. "Hold your hand out and imagine them appearing in your hands. This shouldn''t be too difficult right?" Gu Qingyu followed his instructions, she held out her hand and closed her eyes. She could feel something weigh against her palm, it felt cool against her skin. "Not bad." Yan Zun turned to Gu Qingyu with a glint of approval in his eyes. Gu Qingyu opened her eyes with a flutter and in her hands was a chain, and locked on the links of the chain were nails. The Soul Nails and the Soul Chain. "It seems that you have tamed something interesting," Yan Zun smiled slightly. "But only one has awakened." Awakened... "Yeah, I think only the Soul Chain has awakened. Master, do you know more about them?" Gu Qingyu looked at Yan Zun. He nodded. "A little. The Soul Nails and Soul Chain were originally two weapons, but because of some kind of bond, they are now a single weapon. The Soul Chain can be used for attack and defense, while the Soul Nails..." He paused. "The Soul Nails are a taboo weapon. Like the name, it can nail one''s soul in place. Once the Soul Chain''s powers are fully activated, it would also work as its name. With these two working in tandem, their owner would be able to chain souls and nail souls." "Even souls can be controlled? So overpowered? Wouldn''t that mean that I''ll be invincible soon?" Gu Qingyu grew ecstatic at that revelation. "Don''t count your eggs before they''ve hatched." Yan Zun''s lazy voice continued. "Activating weapons consumes your energy. If you fully activate the Soul Nails and the Soul Chain together, then..." "Got it." Gu Qingyu nodded. "Don''t use it unless you have to. But I can still use the Soul Chain right?" Yan Zun affirmed her idea with a nod. "From the looks of it, it would just be an ordinary chain without the Soul Nails. I''ll remove the Soul Nails for you." "Okay." Gu Qingyu passed the chain to Yan Zun. "Thank you, Master." She watched as the nails fell easily from the chain under Yan Zun''s touch. "Take it." Yan Zun placed the nails in a bag and handed it to Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu kept the Soul Nails and took the chain back. "So, what I did just now, I can just do that to summon the chains in the future?" "Yes." Yan Zun said. Chapter 57: We Just Kicked His Ass Chapter 57: We Just Kicked His Ass Translated by: iris.knight No wonder... She closed her eyes as she patted her chest and exhaled. "Baby got spooked." When she opened her eyes again, someone was in front of her, someone dressed in red robes. "Wah!" She let out a scream and that person rushed to cover her mouth. "Why, still not used to it?" Yan Zun smiled and looked at Gu Qingyu. The hand that he used to cover Gu Qingyu''s mouth shifted, and he caressed her cheek instead. She pushed away his hand and laid down. "Okay, Master, go to bed quickly. We still need to get up early tomorrow." "Okay." Yan Zun smiled and laid down beside Gu Qingyu. "Uh... Master... I know you''re just a soul, I''m still not used to it..." Gu Qingyu stared at the person next to her. "It''s okay, sooner or later, you have to get used to it." Yan Zun said in his usual lazy tone and yawned. ...... Sooner or later you have to get used to it? Gu Qingyu no longer paid attention to him and tried to fall back to sleep. The sound of rain outside the window grated against her ears, and claps of thunder came and went. Her brows were tightly knitted as she covered her ears with a pillow. Yan Zun furrowed his brows, then he gently waved his hand. For a moment, the sound of the thunderstorm was muffled by something then it disappeared completely. "...Thank you, Master." Gu Qingyu broke the silence. "Yes, go to sleep." Yan Zun supported his head with one hand as he laid on the bed, his tone was extremely gentle. Sleep tight. When she woke up again, Gu Qingyu found that it had rained through the night. She slowly got up and straightened her clothes, while Yan Zun stretched as he floated about in her room. She sighed, left the room and went downstairs. Jia Qizhe was already there, alone. A jar of wine was on the table. He sipped from a glass silently. He watched thousands of troops and horses march into battle, seeking valiant glory at all cost. He drank alone, drunk not on wine but the sorrows of the world. Gu Qingyu watched him as she stood on the steps, for some reason, a sense of loneliness welled up within her. Sensing her presence, Jia Qizhe raised his head slightly and gave her a faint smile. "Morning." "Good morning." She walked over and sat next to him. "Why are you drinking alone?" "I wanted to." Jia Qizhe lowered his glass and turned to her. "Why, worry about me?" "Tch." She rolled her eyes. "What were you and Mo Bai up to last night?" "Nothing." Jia Qizhe cleared his throat. "No one would hurt you now." He reached out and rubbed Gu Qingyu''s head. "Why... What?" Clever as she was, Gu Qingyu quickly deduced the hidden meaning in that remark. "You guys... went to find Xuan Di and kicked his ass?" ? Cough, Cough, Cough! Jia Qizhe choked on his wine. Forgive him for really not accepting the phrase "kick his ass"! "No." His voice was very calm. "We didn''t find him, my men are still looking. We fought Murong Qize instead." Cough, Cough, Cough! It was Gu Qingyu''s turn. "You went to beat up that legendary being again? Wait, why should I say ''again?'' ¡± Mo Bai slowly made his way downstairs as she exclaimed. He seemed to be dyed in the clear, spotless morning dew. A short sigh escaped from his lips. "He had been disappointing." "What?" Gu Qingyu blinked at the mythical, ethereally beautiful, doctor in front of her. Did I mishear that? "Yeah, he''s too weak even for a simple group fight." Jia Qizhe also sighed and shook his head. Gu Qingyu¡¯s gaze flitted between the two men. One was as devilish as the king of Hell and the other was as pure as the gods in Heaven. Both of them lamented that their opponent, someone who was known as a legendary being, was too weak after they had beaten him up. She could only gawk at the two men in front of her. It''s not that she could not handle something like this, but this revelation was just too overwhelming for her. "Come, let''s eat." Mo Bai sat down beside Gu Qingyu. "Yu''er, you''re going to dislocate your jaw soon." "Oh!" Gu Qingyu quickly closed her mouth and started to eat. Soon, everyone arrived and they had breakfast together. After everyone had their fill, Gu Qingyu said to Murong Zuoyu and Qi Yichen solemnly, "This is a difficult and arduous journey, and it must go through numerous trials and tribulations! The winds may be chilly, the waters may be freezing, but we must proceed. Go henceforth, my brave warriors!" Murong Zuoyu and Qi Yichen were silent. Finally, Murong Zuoyu nodded solemnly. "We will return safely." Qi Yichen gave him a look and said without moving his lips.¡°Dude, are you being serious right now?¡± Qi Yichen waved his fan weakly. "We will return safely!" "Then I can rest assured!" Gu Qingyu nodded. "Goodbye! Farewell!" Farewell? Qi Yichen turned his head silently. "Brother Murong! Let''s go!... Hey? Brother Murong? Where did he go? Hello, Brother Murong, wait for me!" Gu Qingyu pulled out a small handkerchief from god-knows-where and waved it in the air. "Have a safe trip!" After Murong Zuoyu and Qi Yichen left, Gu Qingyu kept the handkerchief and dabbed away her tears. "Children, I hope you will return soon!" Everyone else was speechless. Children? "Boss, it''s time for you to take your medicine!" Qi Wan took out a bottle of medicine. Gu Qingyu grabbed it without a second look. She opened it, poured it into her mouth and chewed it carefully. "Well, it tastes good." Qi Wan was stunned. Did she really just eat that? "What is this?" Gu Qingyu looked at the bottle curiously. "Things that can help you after taming weapons." Qi Wan wiggled his finger. "Guaranteed to have only benefits and no harm!" "Little Yu''er, what is your weapon?" Jia Qizhe turned to Gu Qingyu with a curious look. "Would you like to try it out? Spar with me!" Gu Qingyu looked at Jia Qizhe with puppy eyes. "Just for a bit!" She had hoped to test her strength against Jia Qizhe for a long while and see how she has grown since their journey began. Jia Qizhe hesitated before he accepted her proposal. "Okay." Very soon, they came to the yard of the tavern. Mo Bai, Qi Wan and Xie Zang used their powers to create a barrier and enclosed Jia Qizhe and Gu Qingyu within it. With their help, the two of them could fight to their heart''s content without worrying about affecting anyone outside. Blue light gathered in Jia Qizhe''s hand and it slowly formed a sword. "Ghost Howl." He summoned with a low voice. Blue light glowed from the formed blade. Gu Qingyu stretched out her hand, and instantly felt on summoning presence alone, Jia Qizhe was still miles ahead of her. A chain appeared on her hand. That surprised Jia Qizhe. "A chain?" Not a whip or a sword, nor a flute or any instrument, but a chain? His Yu''er was truly extraordinary. That had surprised Mo Bai as well. On the other hand, a smile appeared from the corner of Xie Zang''s mouth. His kitten was about to show off her true potential. Jia Qizhe gently curled his hand and prompted Gu Qingyu to take the lead. She wasted no time and threw out the chain, sending it swinging towards Jia Qizhe. Jia Qizhe merely held out his empty left hand, grabbed the chain and yanked it. This speed! This strength! Gu Qingyu was also a smart cat, and she cleverly chose to release the chain instead. When he held the chain, Jia Qizhe was slightly stunned. It feels like... Is it the Soul Chain? He stared at Gu Qingyu in surprise, but his expression remained blank. Gu Qingyu regarded his expression as contempt and provocation. She extended her right hand, her index and middle fingers were raised, her thumbs, ring finger, and little finger were gently buckled and placed next to her mouth. There was a golden glow at her fingertips. The chain shook in the air, broke away from Jia Qizhe''s grasp and hit him instead. "Very good." Jia Qizhe focused and entered a stance with his sword. "It seems that I need to get more serious." "No need to be more serious!" cried Gu Qingyu. Jia Qizhe''s sword flew towards the chain. When the chain came in contact with Ghost Howl, it lost its magic power and landed on the ground with a bang. The winner had been decided. Gu Qingyu sighed slightly and walked over to pick up the chain: "It''s amazing, Jia Qizhe." "You are not bad." Jia Qizhe smiled slightly, his sword turned into blue gas, and slowly dissipated in the air. The barrier faded, Qi Wan skipped over to Gu Qingyu. "Oh, Boss has worked hard!" "Not at all, you guys were the ones that put in the hard work." Gu Qingyu waved her hand. Mo Bai laughed. "Yu''er, you have made great progress, keep it up. " "Yep, I will!" Gu Qingyu nodded. Jia Qizhe tilted his head slightly. "Ah, yes. Qi Wan, come with me, I want to talk to you about something." "Oh!" Qi Wan hopped to Jia Qizhe''s side. Gu Qingyu and Mo Bai watched them leave the yard, then she looked curiously at the flute in his hand. "Say, Mo Bai, is this your weapon?" "Ah, yeah." Mo Bai glanced at the flute in his hand and nodded slightly. "So cool, so weapons can take the form of instruments as well..." Although I''ve seen it in novels before, it''s really different to see it with my own eyes. "Yes, they can." Mo Bai stroked his jade-green flute as if to wipe away non-existent dust. "The melody it plays can evoke deep fatigue inside." "Deep fatigue... from within... " Gu Qingyu zoned out a little. "It plays quite well, even without activating it. Yu''er, would you like to listen?" Mo Bai asked softly. Unexpectedly, Gu Qingyu nodded. Mo Bai stood under the tree, and he placed the flute against his lips, the jade flute glistened in the sunlight. He exhaled softly from his mouth, and a beautiful whistle resonated from the flute. Mo Bai continued to play, the song was so gentle. The song seemed to draw her in and she was submerged in its soothing melody. She could go to hell and back to hear this again. She could sacrifice everything. All so that they could be here forever, just her listening to him play for all eternity. Chapter 58: The Emperor of Beiying Chapter 58: The Emperor of Beiying Translated by: iris.knight "So did Yu''er enjoy it?" Mo Bai smiled slightly, his face was extremely beautiful in the sun. "I enjoyed it! Of course I did!" Gu Qingyu nodded immediately. A beautiful man playing the flute for you every day? Just the thought alone is pleasing! "That''s good." Mo Bai put away the flute. "Yu''er, I still need to harvest some medicine, so I''ll be heading out now." "Okay, okay, come back soon." Gu Qingyu waved her handkerchief as she watched Mo Bai''s back longingly. Mo Bai turned back slightly and waved. The warm sunlight lit up the soft smile on his face. Gu Qingyu only felt that something thick trickled out of her nose. "Not good!" She immediately covered her nose with the handkerchief. "Why does this nosebleed show at the worst timings! I''m really too heaty these days!" There was a chuckle in the shadows. "Xie Zang?" Gu Qingyu cleaned her nose quickly. "Why are you here?" "Why? Can''t I be here?" Xie Zang stepped out of the shadows. "Kitten~" His smile seemed charming. "Yes, yes, yes!" Gu Qingyu rushed to try to stop the river that was pouring out of her nose. "Kitten," Xie Zang watched Gu Qingyu. "You''ve lost so much blood, are you alright?" "What?" Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Wait, can you not call me like that?" His was the weirdest amongst her many nicknames. "You have a point." Xie Zang nodded as he commented. "Somewhere along the way, my kitten became a ferocious tiger." "What do you mean?" Gu Qingyu managed to tell he had a different meaning in that statement. Xie Zang smiled. "What do you mean? Don''t you know, Kitten?" He leaned in slightly, his hair tumbled like waves in a waterfall. "Kitty, you can evoke people''s curiosity, and...Possessiveness." "You''re crazy." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes and walked away. Xie Zang trailed behind her. "By the way, just a piece of advice. Try not to use the Soul Chain too much, it''s not a good thing after all..." Gu Qingyu was shocked. He knew that just by looking at it? He''s truly the owner of Xieli Castle. She gave him a faint smile. "Thank you for your input." "Don''t be so cold." Xie Zang still followed her. "Oh yeah, Xie Zang." Gu Qingyu stopped suddenly, and Xie Zang almost bumped into her. "I want to check on Murong Zuoyu and Qi Yichen, I''m still worried about them." "Eh? So you want me to take you there?" Xie Zang curled the corner of his lips. "If you don''t want to, then forget it." Gu Qingyu resumed her pace. "Don''t! Don''t! Don''t! I''ll bring you there! Let''s go!" Xie Zang immediately followed. "Kitten, wait for me!" The trip was shortened greatly with Xie Zang''s help. Soon, they arrived at the Imperial City of Beiying. "Wow, so much delicious food!" Gu Qingyu looked around as she walked down the street. She reached in her pockets, and could not find anything. After all, I just wanted to take a look at it on a whim, I did not expect Xie Zang to actually bring me here. "Xie Zang..." Gu Qingyu had to look pitifully at Mr. Xie Zang Xie Zang looked at Gu Qingyu, his eyebrows were raised as if he had expected her reaction. "Why, kitten, you''re hungry but you forgot to bring money?" That''s true, but you don''t have to be direct about it... "Yes." Gu Qingyu''s voice was reduced to a whisper. "Want me to buy it?" Xie Zang''s voice became softer. "Yes." Her voice grew even softer. Xie Zang laughed. "Okay, call me Zang." "Zang." Gu Qingyu repeated subconsciously, the word rolled weirdly against her tongue. "Well, good girl." Xie Zang seemed to be really happy that he laughed heartily. He pulled Gu Qingyu to a pile of delicious food. "Just pick whatever you want." You like this kind of stuff? Why is this the same routine as Yan Zun? Well, beggars can''t be choosers, Gu Qingyu immediately grabbed the snacks at an insane speed. Xie Zang was stunned slightly, probably because he did not expect Gu Qingyu to behave in such a direct manner. But he gave his word, so he coughed gently, walked in front of the shopkeeper and threw a money bag on the table. "We''ll take everything." The shopkeeper froze, he did not expect such a well-paying customer. He weighed the money bag with his hand and left. Gu Qingyu was completely focused as she grabbed handfuls of snacks. Finally, she turned to Xie Zang. "Let''s go! Now for the main event!" So you remembered what we''re here for? Xie Zang''s lips twitched. "Let''s go." They walked towards the palace grounds. Along the way, Gu Qingyu stopped to take in the view of the golden, majestic buildings. It looks pretty badass! "Why, do you like this?" Xie Zang tilted his head as he watched her. ? Gu Qingyu shook her head. "Can we get in?" Xie Zang gave her a look of disdain. "Who do you think the person standing in front of you is?" He wrapped his arm around Gu Qingyu''s waist and jumped up to the palace. Gu Qingyu only felt the wind rushing past her ears, and then her feet found solid ground, right on top of the main hall. "Amazing..." Gu Qingyu gasped. "Are there no hidden guards here?" "All taken care of," Xie Zang smiled. "Just now." You''re terrific, I give up. Gu Qingyu leaned down and gently uncovered the tiles. A handsome man in a dragon robe was just below them. She could not make out his face, but it''s clear that he sat opposite of Murong Zuoyu, while Qi Yichen was standing at the side. So, he is the Emperor of Beiying? Gu Qingyu nodded secretly in her heart. Pretty good, pretty handsome guy. The Emperor of Beiying shook his head. "This is our national treasure, I cannot give it to you." This emperor''s voice is so familiar? "Why..." Qi Yichen looked sorrowful and patted Murong Zuoyu''s shoulder. "So, let''s exchange it! You give us the Spirit Gem and I will leave Brother Murong to accompany you!" Murong Zuoyu turned down his idea as he pushed Qi Yichen''s hand away. "Do not jest." What''s going on with this casual bickering? The Emperor of Beiying was at a loss for words. Suddenly, he looked up slightly. "Who?" At the same time, light from his hand struck up. "Be careful!" Xie Zang jumped up immediately, and just when he wanted to catch Gu Qingyu, a rift opened at the foot of Gu Qingyu, and she fell down. "Hey! Handsome! The one below! Hurry up and catch me!" Gu Qingyu screamed at the handsome man in the yellow robe. The handsome guy was really obedient. He reached out his hand slightly, and steadily caught Gu Qingyu in his arms. "Baby got spooked!" Gu Qing exhaled. "Baby thought she was a goner!" "Baby?" The man heard it, but looked at her belly. "Ah hahaha, that''s just how I address myself! " Gu Qingyu touched her head, then looked at the person, "Well, you are..." She recalled and gasped. "Qian Cheng?! " "So delighted to see me?" Qian Cheng''s voice filled with smiles. I wondered why Qi Yichen dared to speak so... informally. Gu Qingyu nodded, remembering that she still had things to do. "Qian Cheng, are you actually the Emperor of Beiying?" "I apologise, Brother Zhu. I did not intend to conceal my identity." Qian Cheng blinked his good-looking eyes. "but, will you continue to sit in the arms of an Emperor?" "Ah, sorry!" Gu Qingyu jumped up immediately. "I didn''t mean it!" "Not that I mind, even if it was intentional." Qian Cheng''s eyes twinkled. "By the way, Qian Cheng, I wanted... to ask you for a Spirit Gem." Gu Qingyu was embarrassed when she said this. She hadn''t known Qian Cheng for a long time, they weren''t really familiar, at least not to the point that she could make such a request. So she was not sure if he would agree. Because she didn''t want to fight Qian Cheng. Somewhere along the way, she had seen him as a friend. Qian Cheng nodded. "I can. But, I have a condition." He agreed! Did I hear right? Gu Qingyu nodded immediately. "What is it?" He stretched out three fingers, and his slender fingers waved in front of Gu Qingyu. "Three days." "What?" Gu Qingyu said for a moment. "Stay with me for three days." Qian Cheng raised the corners of his lips, revealing his devious plan. Gu Qingyu paused, then looked out the window. "No problem, there are two days left." Qian Cheng flinched, Gu Qingyu had countered him so effortlessly. But he knew better than to argue with her, so he dropped it. Qian Cheng waved at Murong Zuoyu and Qi Yichen. "Both of you can go." Qi Yichen''s eyes almost popped out. "Brother Zhu, you..." "I have made up my mind!" Gu Qingyu waved her hands. "No, I want to say, Brother Zhu, your snacks have fallen to the ground." Qi Yichen returned to peace. "Huh?" Gu Qingyu looked down and immediately squatted down. "Remind me sooner!" Qian Cheng and Qi Yichen were both speechless as they all watched Gu Qingyu gather her snacks. "In that case," Murong Zuoyu stood up. "Brother Zhu, we will take our leave." He looked expressionless. "Ok, just wait for me at the usual spot!" Gu Qingyu nodded solemnly. After they left, only Gu Qingyu and Qian Cheng remained in the hall. "By the way, Qian Cheng, what''s your real name?" Gu Qingyu ate as she took a seat. "Bei Cheng." Qian Cheng raised his eyebrows slightly. "Cheng for sincerity." "Oh." Gu Qingyu nodded, and frankly, "My name is Gu Qingyu." "Gu Qingyu?" Beicheng flashed in front of his eyes. "As in the famous Third Miss of the Gu Family in Dongxuan? The one that enjoys martial arts?¡± So I''m famous... For real? Gu Qingyu nodded awkwardly. "Well, rumour has it. Just rumours." "Brother Zhu! And here I was thinking how could there be such a weak dude!" Bei Cheng shook his head. Weak? His language became more relaxed in private. Chapter 59: Off with Her Head Chapter 59: Off with Her Head Translated by: iris.knight As soon as she got out of bed, someone knocked on the door. "Come in." Gu Qingyu picked out her clothes and was about to get dressed. The maid walked in with steady steps as soon as she opened the door and gently took the clothes from Gu Qingyu''s hands. "Sir, your servant is here to help you with the baths." "Uh... No-no need!" Gu Qingyu snatched her clothes back and tucked it under her arm. "Thank you, can you please go out and wait?" "But," the maid blinked and blinked, her eyes twinkled a little in the light. "The emperor asked me to come and serve you." "Bei Cheng?" Gu Qingyu looked at the maid. "Okay, I will explain it slowly with him later, you can go out first." Perhaps it was after seeing the emperor''s noble guest speak his majesty''s name without any scruples and even said something like ''slowly explain'', plus Gu Qingyu''s own insistence, the maidservant could not say anything more. She bowed. "Your servant''s name is Momo. Should there be anything, do call for your servant." "Okay." Gu Qingyu nodded slightly. "Can you help me get some water?" "Yes, sir." Momo bowed slightly, and walked towards the door. "Thank you, Momo." Gu Qingyu whispered without extra thought but her words made Momo stop. This sir has just thanked her. "What''s wrong?" Gu Qingyu''s confused voice came. "No." Momo sped up and stepped out of the room. Soon, Gu Qingyu got dressed and a bucket of water was brought up. After finishing washing up, Gu Qingyu decided to tour the palace grounds. "Momo, can you accompany me for a walk?" Gu Qingyu looked at Momo. "Of course, your servant would lead the way." Momo bowed again, stepped outside and opened an umbrella. Gu Qingyu slowly followed up. "By the way, Momo, does the emperor have a concubine?" That felt like a given, and the emperor does have concubines, she should avoid meeting them. Momo nodded. "Yes." She didn''t dare to speak too much about the emperor''s affairs. Everyone knew that the emperor was brutal by nature. His majesty may wear a smile, but those who cross him would not even know what killed them. So she only dared to answer Gu Qingyu''s words and answer them carefully. Gu Qingyu nodded. "How about the empress?" "No... Never." Momo stammered. Gu Qing saw how Momo was so cautious, so she didn''t press further. "Where are we going?" "Sir, we are heading to the Imperial Garden." Momo lowered her head and increased her pace. The legendary Imperial Garden! I can see it today! A twinkle of glee was in Gu Qingyu''s eyes. Gu Qingyu, oh Gu Qingyu, to think a day like this would arrive! Past the heavy guards, they quickly came to the Imperial Garden. A light fragrance drifted through the air, Gu Qingyu carefully sniffed the air before she walked into the garden. Who would have thought, as soon as she entered, she ran into a problem. "Oh, so this is the male pet brought back by the emperor yesterday?" A woman in a red dress smiled mockingly, her lips barely concealed by her raised hand. Gu Qingyu just wanted to speak, but Momo stepped forward. "We greet Noble Consort Hua. This is the distinguished guest invited by the emperor yesterday. Your servant has been told to show great hospitality, we implore Your Highness to assist your servant." ... What''s going on with this full sense of palace fighting? If I guess right, next... Noble Consort Hua looked at Momo disdainfully. "Who are you to even stand in my path? Someone, slap her!" Yep, just as expected... Momo immediately knelt down, but a fire continued to burn in her eyes. "Your servant has no complaints, she is willing to take any punishment. But if the emperor knows that this noble guest is wronged, then your servant can''t guarantee what will happen." This is a naked threat... Noble Consort Hua scoffed. "Fine! I would love to see that! Someone, punish that noble behind this servant as well!" Gu Qingyu winced. It feels as though Qian Cheng has no deterrent power in this palace. What she didn''t know was that the Noble Consort Hua in front of her was the highest-ranking concubine. She was also childhood friends with the emperor. With so much authority to her name, it''s no wonder that she wields power with ease. The two men around Noble Consort Hua would come up and grab Gu Qingyu soon, and Momo was already held down by Noble Consort Hua''s other servants. Gu Qingyu supported her head as she racked her brains for a solution. Run? But Momo was still there, I can''t leave her alone. Fight? This is the Imperial Palace! Besides, this Noble Consort Hua''s arrogance can also be thanks to Qian Cheng just letting her do whatever. And if something actually happens, maybe Qian Cheng would still side with his wife. Things could go so badly that it would implicate the others, and we could lose the Spirit Gem. Suddenly she had an idea. Gu Qingyu took out the token that Bei Cheng had given herself before and waved it in front of Noble Consort Hua. "Do you know what this is?" Truth be told, she had no idea what that thing was, she just wanted to scare Noble Consort Hua a little. Maybe whatever that Bei Cheng gave her could have some use right? Noble Consort Hua froze for a moment, then looked at Gu Qingyu in complete shock. "The Phoenix Token! How do you have it?" ...I really didn''t mean to do this. Gu Qingyu silently withdrew the Phoenix Token and had to say, "The only way to get it: from your emperor!" Her loud voice emphasised her point further. Noble Consort Hua huffed. "That''s impossible!" "Why is it impossible?" Gu Qingyu replied with a question. "Because..." Noble Consort Hua''s eyes suddenly dimmed. "He would never crown an Empress." She paused and looked at Gu Qingyu in the eye. "You must have stolen the emperor''s Phoenix Token! Come! Seize this thief at once!" Gu Qingyu would not have dreamed that this token is actually the Phoenix Token! She squeezed her eyes shut as she reached out to grab Momo. If she moved fast enough, they just might be able to get away. But a stern voice boomed from behind her. "Who dares to lay a hand on my people!" It was Bei Cheng. "Long live the emperor!" Gu Qingyu watched as the people around her dropped to their knees immediately. She was about to kneel down as well, but Bei Cheng held her by the arm and stopped her. "Eh?" Gu Qingyu looked at Bei Cheng. Bei Cheng looked at Gu Qingyu with eyes full of concern. "Are you hurt?" "No." Gu Qingyu said sincerely. She turned back to Noble Consort Hua, the most beautiful and brutal woman she has ever seen, kneeling on the ground at this moment, bowing to Bei Cheng. Bei Cheng then said the most classic line in all TV series. "Men, take her away. I want her head off her shoulders." Noble Consort Hua looked at Bei Cheng as if her ears had deceived her. "Eh, no no no, don''t do it!" Gu Qingyu immediately stopped Bei Cheng. "Calm down, calm down." "They tried to hurt you." Bei Cheng turned to Gu Qingyu, his eyes full of doubts. He did not understand why Gu Qingyu had stopped him. "But they didn''t kill me, nor did they actually hurt me, right?" Gu Qingyu blinked. "Can you let them go?" "...Very well." Bei Cheng nodded. "Brother Zhu, I don''t want you to talk to me in such a restrained manner. If you can, I hope you can speak in your usual tone." As soon as this remark came out, Gu Qingyu gave him a side-eye. "Are you a masochist?" "No, I''m not." Bei Cheng answered honestly. "That''s good, baby got spooked!" Gu Qingyu patted her chest. "Can I call you Qian Cheng instead? It feels more familiar." "Of course." Bei Cheng nodded. Gu Qingyu said to the group of people with their knees on the ground, "Get up! You don''t have to kneel like this anymore." They all glanced at each other instead. "Rise." Bei Cheng declared and they got up slowly. Momo was surprised, this sir and the emperor has a truly... unusual relationship. Meanwhile Noble Consort Hua kept a straight face, but hidden under her sleeves, her nails had already pierced her palms. Gu Qingyu sighed. Why bother? Gu Qingyu turned and walked out of the Imperial Garden. Bei Cheng followed her, umbrella in hand. "Brother Zhu, are you in a bad mood?" "Well, I''m ok." Gu Qingyu nodded and suddenly remembered the token. She turned to look at Bei Cheng. "That Phoenix Token... " She took it out of her sleeve and handed it to Bei Cheng. "What does this mean?" Bei Cheng raised his eyebrows slightly. "How can I take back a gift?" "Ah? Can''t you accept it?" Gu Qingyu narrowed her eyes and looked at Bei Cheng. Bei Cheng panicked. "Um, well, Brother Zhu, I..." "Forget it." Gu Qingyu withdrew the token. "After all, it''s just a gift." Bei Cheng nodded with a breath of relief. "But, Qian Cheng," Gu Qingyu paused. "Me staying here...what does it mean to you? Is it really worth the Spirit Gem?" Although she had agreed to the terms of the condition, she still wanted to know his reason. "If I can, I would love to join you on your quest." Bei Cheng sighed. ¡®If I can¡¯, he acknowledged his responsibility to his country and his people. "Did you know? I thought your group would be filled with so much conflict and bloodshed. So many people in your team did not see eye to eye, but because of you, they have changed. They became warm and upstanding individuals, and all of you are now united as an undefeated team." Bei Cheng gazed at the blue sky. "But... I can never give up everything like they did." They? Who''s ''they''? Give up everything? Perhaps Bei Cheng realised that he said too much, he gave her a faint smile. "Sorry, I just wanted some company, even if it''s just for three days." Just wanted some warmth. "You are welcome to join at any time, if you are tired of being an emperor one day." Gu Qingyu said with a smile. "Thank you." Bei Cheng resumed their walk. "Let''s have lunch. Come with me." "Sure." Gu Qingyu did not refuse and the pair walked to his palace. The rain did not stop, it seemed that it would get even heavier as the day went on. She accompanied Bei Cheng as they walked around in the palace grounds all day. Bei Cheng seemed very happy, but for some reason, everyone else in the palace stared at Bei Cheng with astonished looks. Soon, it was evening and Gu Qingyu returned to her palace of residence. She bathed and changed her clothes, ready to go to bed. Momo still stayed by her side and served her dutifully. Though she grew more and more surprised as the day progressed, even the way she looked at Gu Qingyu had changed. "Okay, okay, stop staring, your eyes are going to fall out." Gu Qingyu looked at Momo''s surprised face and smiled. Momo blushed. "Your servant will be outside." "Yep, you may take your leave." Gu Qingyu slipped under the covers and laid down, the sound of the rain lured her to a deep sleep. It rained heavily. Chapter 60: Xie Zang’s Tenderness Chapter 60: Xie Zang''s Tenderness Translated by: iris.knight No. Don''t do this... She was drowning in the torrential rain. Every way she looked, there was no escape. Every method she tried could not free her. It was as if she was caught in a spider''s web, the more she struggled, the more she was entangled. There seemed to be a voice murmuring beside her head. "Since the game has started, it cannot be stopped." "It will take you into the land of eternal destruction." "Until you die." Suddenly, a familiar scent wrapped her up. It was the smell of flowers. There was strength in that floral fragrance. "You seem to be in trouble, Kitten." A man whispered gently in her ear. He nibbled on her earlobe and spoke with a soft voice. "Don''t listen to your inner demons, wake up." A thunder clap, and Gu Qingyu opened her eyes in shock. She was still surrounded by darkness, but she could hear the rain outside and soft breathing next to her ears. Someone had wrapped their arms around her and held her in a tight embrace. "Xie Zang?" Gu Qingyu could feel her body still trembling in horror. "Yes, I''m here." Xie Zang spoke, his voice mixed with the sound of rain. "It''s nothing, just a dream. None of us would want to leave you. A gloomy thunderstorm like this can awaken people''s inner demons. Just don''t think about it too much." "Alright." Gu Qingyu closed her eyes. Then, muffled by the rain, was the sound of broken glass. Was it from Bei Cheng''s chambers? "Are you going to check it out?" Xie Zang asked, his voice charmed her as always. Gu Qingyu nodded, put on her clothes and shoes, and looked at Xie Zang. He shrugged. "Guess I don''t have a choice, Kitten. Who asked me to be such a kind person?" He grabbed Gu Qingyu, took an umbrella, and flew out. Soon, they arrived outside Bei Cheng''s palace. "I''ll take a look first." Gu Qingyu smiled at Xie Zang, although her face was slightly pale. Xie Zang nodded. "Be careful." She walked to the door, and the guards at the door knelt down immediately after seeing her. "Sir, please, persuade your majesty!" Gu Qingyu nodded, pushed open the door and went in. Bei Cheng sat alone in the center of the hall with glassy eyes, as if he had been in a daze. "What''s the matter?" Gu Qingyu looked at Bei Cheng tentatively. "Brother Zhu..." His eyes gradually focused on her. "Sorry, I lost control of myself for a while." For a while? "Does this always happen on stormy nights?" Gu Qingyu watched him as he sat back on his seat. Bei Cheng nodded. "So what happened? I can just listen to you, if you don''t mind telling me." Gu Qingyu also sat down and looked to Bei Cheng expectantly. Bei Cheng gave a slow nod under her watchful gaze. "I was the first prince of Beiying and the next-in-line for the throne. My parents have expected great things from me since childhood. I have a half-sister, but her mother, Concubine Xun passed away during childbirth. Father granted Concubine Xun''s last wish and allowed my younger sister to share her surname. That became my sister''s name, Xun Qi, who was then raised by my mother, the Empress. But soon after she was born, a fire broke out in the palace. That year, I was five, she was only two. Father sent me to a secret room, but he himself did not manage to escape. He died that day. After the fire, we tried to find my sister, but she was nowhere to be seen. We know she was not caught in the fire, so she must have been kidnapped. From then on, Mother washed her face with tears, she closed herself into her chamber, ate nothing but vegetables and prayed to Budhha day and night. She lived like that for years. I was enthroned the day after Father died. I knew that the fire was no accident, and I knew that I had to be strong before I could find the murderer who killed my father and took away my sister. I became an emperor who smiles but kills without a blink, and I made sure that our country was prosperous and people were happy. Everyone admires me, and everyone fears me. Great, this is exactly what I want, isn''t it? But every night, I would hear my sister''s cries in that horrible fire and the screams of those who had died by my orders, whose blood stained my hands. I hate to hurt anyone, I loathe everything that I''ve done, but I don''t have a choice. I like the name Qian Cheng, it reminds me of what I wanted to do, to protect my sister like a thousand cities." After Bei Cheng finished speaking, he exhaled slowly. "Are you disappointed, Brother Zhu? Now that you''ve found out just what kind of person I am." Gu Qingyu shook her head. "Of course not! You''re just you! It''s like you said, you didn''t have a choice. Why would I blame you for something outside of your control? You''re my friend, regardless of who you are." She suddenly thought of Xiao Qi. Xiao Qi seemed to have mentioned that her real name is Xun Qi. Gu Qingyu looked at Beicheng tentatively and chose her words carefully. "Qian Cheng, just asking... Are you still looking for your sister? Or, do you want to find your sister?" "Of course." Bei Cheng nodded. "That''s good." Gu Qing said with a breath of relief. "I have a friend, Xiao Qi. She was my personal maidservant back in the Gu Family. And she happens to share your sister''s name, her surname is also Xun." "Great! Can I see her?" Bei Cheng''s eyes looked at Gu Qingyu with excitement and hope. "Yes." Gu Qing nodded. "Then I will let her come to the palace tomorrow?" "Tomorrow is the third day..." Bei Cheng¡¯s eyes drifted to the floor. "Relax, I promised you, if you want, you can come find me at any time and join us." Gu Qingyu had a comforting smile on her face as she stood up."Go get some sleep, you still have the morning meeting tomorrow." "Uh-huh." Bei Cheng laid down, then in a whisper, he said, "Thank you, Qingyu." "Don''t mention it." Gu Qingyu smiled and walked out. It was still raining outside, and Xie Zang had been waiting outside. The moment he laid eyes on her, Xia Zang placed a robe over her shoulders and held up an umbrella. Xie Zang couldn''t help but complain. "Kitten, I feel so aggrieved. To think the Lord of Xieli Castle has been reduced to a servant by you. "Yeah, right." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes at him as they walked back to her palace. "Xie Zang, can you let Xiao Qi come over tomorrow?" Xie Zang is so powerful, he must have heard everything Bei Cheng said. Xie Zang stared into Gu Qingyu''s eyes, he was in complete disbelief. "Are you willing to let me go?" "...I have to." Gu Qingyu gritted her teeth. "Go, I''ll miss you." "Hmph." Xie Zang flattened his mouth. "Meanie." Gu Qingyu was speechless. What can I do, I don''t have a choice! She had to patiently coax him. "Pretty please? Little Zang?" Goosebumps crawled along her skin as she listened to her own sickeningly sweet voice. Xie Zang''s eyes sparkled. "Okay, fine. I''ll help." ......It''s that easy? They returned to her room and Gu Qingyu gave him a small nod. "Thank you." She looked out the window. "The rain''s still so heavy, stay and wait it out first." "Aww, you''re so kind, kitten." Xie Zang sat down. "Don''t stay down." Gu Qingyu laid back on the bed. "Thank you so much today, Xie Zang." "Oh, don''t thank me." A flash of lightning illuminated Xie Zang''s face. Gu Qingyu watched her with clear eyes. Xie Zang, Lord of Xieli Castle, a man feared all across the land because of his demonic charm and strength. That man smiled warmly at her. If the devil could be redeemed. The next day, morning. Gu Qingyu stood up and looked out the window, the rain seemed to have stopped. When did she fall asleep? Xie Zang was already gone. Gu Qingyu got dressed, and stretched her back with a satisfying pop before she opened the door. Momo bowed when she saw Gu Qingyu. "Good morning Sir. " "Good morning to you as well," Gu Qingyu smiled slightly. "Momo." Momo immediately blushed. "Sir, the emperor invites you to have breakfast together." "Ok, thank you." Gu Qingyu nodded and followed Momo. They ran into Noble Consort Hua again outside the door leading to Bei Cheng''s chambers. She was holding a bowl of porridge. "Oh, to think this sir is in such a good mood to visit our emperor so early in the morning?" Noble Consort Hua gave her a disdainful look, viciousness was also hidden deeply in her eyes. "Yeah, after all, the emperor invited me to eat with him. There''s no way I can turn down his gracious offer." Gu Qingyu glanced at Noble Consort Hua. People like her are just asking for it! Noble Consort Hua was shocked. "What are you talking about?" "Alas, such things come with age, you can¡¯t even hear properly." Gu Qingyu shook her head with a sigh, then she pushed the door open and went in. Bei Cheng, who was inside, waved his hand when he saw Gu Qingyu. "Brother Zhu, you''re here!" "Yeah, have you been waiting for a long time?" Gu Qingyu nodded and sat down in front of Bei Cheng. Noble Consort Hua knelt down with a gloomy face. "We greet the Emperor. Long live the emperor!" "Rise." Bei Cheng''s mood was pretty good. "Emperor, your concubine heard that your health has been worrying as of late. So I cooked a bowl of porridge." Noble Consort Hua served the porridge. "Please have a taste." "Leave it there." Bei Cheng nodded. Right then, Gu Qingyu picked up a spoon and scooped a spoonful of porridge into her mouth, and smacked her lips. "Noble Consort Hua''s culinary skills still need improvement. You ought to work hard and practice more!" Noble Consort Hua''s face instantly turned a pale shade of green while Bei Cheng chuckled and laughed. "Then your concubine will take her leave." Noble Consort Hua bowed and walked out. "Brother Zhu, thank you for last night." Bei Cheng said suddenly. "I''ve already said don''t mention it." Gu Qingyu picked up more food. "Xiao Qi will come this afternoon. Before that, Qian Cheng, can you promise me something?" "Anything." Bei Cheng immediately agreed. "If Xiao Qi is really your sister, can you... respect her wishes? If she wants to stay, please let her be a carefree princess. If she wants to follow me instead, then I too will treat her well, and ensure that she''s happy. "Gu Qingyu smiled." After all, I am her husband. " "Yes, this is what I want for her too." Bei Cheng nodded. "...Husband?" "Ahahaha, ignore that..." Chapter 61: Let’s go, Children! Chapter 61: Let''s go, Children! Translated by: iris.knight "Boss~ Not seeing you for a day feels like 3 autumns have gone by. I''ve not seen you for 2 days, that means I''ve not seen you for 6 autumns!" Qi Wan said with tears in his eyes. "Okay, okay." Gu Qingyu was about to pry off his hands, then she saw the blue light gathering in Jia Qizhe''s hand. Qi Wan released her immediately. I''ve only been away for two days, but they''ve already missed me so much. Gu Qingyu rubbed her eyes and turned to Xiao Qi. "We should get ready, Xiao Qi. Someone would like to meet you." She paused. "The rest of you can wait for me here. " "Okay." Xiao Qi walked over and took Gu Qingyu''s hand weakly. "Xiao Yu, what''s happening?" "Nothing, you''ll be delighted once you meet that person." Gu Qingyu rubbed Xiao Qi''s head and they walked to Bei Cheng¡¯s palace. The guards and maids on the way saluted to Gu Qingyu, which surprised Xiao Qi a little. Momo, who led the way, stopped at the doors leading to the main hall. She bowed slightly, "Sir, Miss, please." Gu Qingyu and Xiao Qi walked in. Bei Cheng sat on the golden and brilliant chair, and at the sight of Gu Qingyu, his eyes lit up immediately. "This is Xiao Qi." Gu Qingyu pointed to Xiao Qi. The way Gu Qingyu introduced her, it almost made Xiao Qi feel that she was going to sell her away. Beicheng smiled at Xiao Qi slightly. "Is your full name Xun Qi?" "Yes." Xiao Qi was less fearful, she remembered that Gu Qingyu was right next to her. "Do you have... two red moles on your shoulder?" Bei Cheng said hesitantly. After all, the person before him was a girl that he had never met, and he was not sure if she was his sister. It would be quite rude to ask such a question. Who knows, Xiao Qi nodded immediately. "Yes!" "Xiao Qi." Bei Cheng choked on his words a little. "I''m your older brother." "Brother..." Xiao Qi looked at Bei Cheng doubtfully. Gu Qingyu knowingly stepped out from the main hall. Before she closed the doors, she winked at Bei Cheng. ''Come on! Take the chance!'' Beicheng saw her, but proceeded to ignore her message. Gu Qingyu then walked back to her palace. "Brother Zhu, how is it?" Qi Yichen was the first to speak when Gu Qingyu returned. "Brother Xie has told us, how did it go?" "It should be, the rest depends on Qian Cheng." Gu Qingyu nodded and then flipped her hair. "It''s been two days, my boys. Have you missed me?" "Yes!" Qi Wan shouted. Two large bumps were quickly added to his forehead, and Jia Qizhe slowly rubbed his hands as he calmly sauntered to Gu Qingyu''s side. "Little Yu''er, did you miss me?" "Yes!" Gu Qingyu shouted immediately. "Well, good." He ran his fingers along her hair. "Did you get the Spirit Gem?" "Well, he would probably give it to us after meeting Xiao Qi... " Gu Qingyu rubbed her nose, it was clear that she felt guilty for not getting the Spirit Gem yet. "Hm..." Jia Qizhe nodded as he glanced out of the window. "After three days, the rain finally stopped." "Yeah." Gu Qingyu answered, she too was looking out the window. "Boss, is it fun here?" Qi Wan asked. "Fun?" Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Just a look is enough for me, I''m still not suited for the palace, with all the politics and everything." Her statement has caused several of them to look away. "Someone bullied you?" Murong Zuoyu said, his tone bone-chillingly cold. "Ah, it''s not..." Gu Qingyu started. "Isn''t it? Someone wanted to slap my kitten." Xie Zang cut her off and sighed. "My kitten had it tough these days." "Eh eh, actually, nothing really happened... Huh? Where''s Jia Qizhe? And Mo Bai too? Even Murong Zuoyu... they were all here just now!" "Alas, I was just rambling about it, I didn''t expect them to be so serious." Xie Zang sighed and shook his head. "But that did happen, right?" "Well, it did..." Gu Qingyu nodded. "Wait! You still have to stop them! Otherwise, there''ll be a big mess in the palace!" Gu Qingyu, Xie Zang, Qi Yichen, and Qi Wan ran out and saw Jia Qizhe, Mo Bai, and Murong Zuoyu walking back towards them. "Ah?" Gu Qingyu has yet to connect the dots. Murong Zuoyu said coldly. "Left side, five assassins. All dead." Mo Bai gave her a gentle smile. "Right side, eight assassins. All dead." Jia Qizhe had a cunning grin instead. "Above, ten assassins. All dead." Excuse Me? Did something interesting happen just now? "Really, it takes you just two days to get into trouble." Jia Qizhe looked at the gate of Beicheng''s palace. "They''re out." Gu Qingyu followed his gaze. Sure enough, Bei Cheng walked in front with a wide smile on his face. Xiao Qi was bashful but clearly happy. She fell in step behind Bei Cheng. Gu Qingyu clapped her hands. ''Yes! Job well done!" The way she rejoiced at the news gave off the impression of an old matchmaker celebrating another successful case. "How would Xiao Qi choose..." Gu Qingyu blinked, looking at the direction of Bei Cheng and Xiao Qi leaving. Continue their journey with her? Or, stay here? The latter seems more likely... "I think she will choose you." Qi Yichen waved his fan and smiled. "After all, Brother Zhu, you are so heroic... Wait, does that make you the brother-in-law of the Emperor of Beiying?" Gu Qingyu was stunned for a while. "I think so!" She is Xiao Qi''s ''husband'', so if Xiao Qi became a princess, wouldn''t I be a prince consort? I get excited just thinking about it! Qi Yichen nodded. "Let''s wait a minute, we will know the answer in the afternoon." Gu Qingyu agreed. "Before that, let¡¯s grab lunch." "Boss, just what are you made of? You could eat so much and still not gain weight." Qi Wan eyed her suspiciously. "Me? I''m still growing." Gu Qingyu answered with a straight face. "Qi Wan, there should be one of your restaurants around here right?" Qi Wan nodded. "Yeah, but boss, what do you want to do..." Gu Qingyu smiled mysteriously. "Boss, that kind of smile from you really worries me, you know that?" Qi Wan swallowed weakly. "That¡¯s your only clue, figure it out yourself. " Gu Qingyu smiled mysteriously again. "Let''s go!" Qi Wan soon realized what Gu Qingyu meant. He sulked as he looked at the glorious spread at their table, he could only feel the burning hole in his pocket. "Yum! Qi Wan, the restaurant you opened is really good!" Gu Qingyu nodded with food between her chopsticks. "Thank you so much!" "Not at all! Everything for our Boss! "Qi Wan said between sniffles, his tear streaks were so wide, they looked like two strips of noodles. "Boss, as long as you¡¯re happy! " "Well." Gu Qingyu said between bites. "After this, we will go back to the palace. It''ll be afternoon by then. And we''ll take the Spirit Gem. If Xiao Qi wants to stay here, no one is allowed to stop her. " "That wouldn''t be the case." Xie Zang curled his lips. "But if you, kitten, want to stay here, a group of people would rush into the palace. Of course, including myself." Gu Qingyu didn''t want to say much, so she concentrated on eating. Their table was soon cleared, all the food on their table entered Gu Qingyu''s stomach. Everyone stared at her with wide eyes, they did not expect that this woman to eat so much. Gu Qingyu swallowed her last bite and gracefully dabbed the corners of her mouth with a napkin. "Well, about 70%, good enough." 70%? Qi Wan stared at her, completely frozen. Without moving, he said to Qi Yichen, "Brother Qi, give me a slap, I need to wake up." "Okay, no problem." Qi Yichen was also stunned, and he slapped himself instead. "Does it hurt?" "No, it''s really a dream..." "Hey, dumb and dumber." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes and got up. "Let''s go, children!" Children? Everyone present at the scene turned to her. "What are you staring at? Child... eh, Hero Jia, we can always talk things out... " Gu Qingyu saw Jia Qizhe''s stern face and immediately caved. After returning to the palace, Gu Qingyu nursed the two large bumps on her head as she walked to Bei Cheng''s palace. As soon as the door was opened, a woman dressed in pale yellow clothes stood at the door, golden hair pins covered in gemstones adorned her hair. She turned around. "Xiao Yu!" "Xiao Qi?" Gu Qingyu stunned for a moment, then a wide smile stretched across her face. "You look gorgeous!" "R-really?" Xiao Qi smiled shyly. "Emperor... Elder brother crowned me the princess of the country." "Wow, that''s really amazing!" Gu Qingyu patted Xiao Qi''s head. "Then Xiao Qi, do you want to stay here?" "Xiao Qi don''t want it! Xiao Qi is going to follow Xiao Yu!" Xiao Qi held onto Gu Qingyu¡¯s sleeve anxiously. "Okay, silly girl." Gu Qingyu stroked Xiao Qi''s head. "As long as you want to follow me. Why would I leave you...Qian Cheng?" She tilted her head to look at Bei Cheng sitting next to them. Bei Cheng nodded and smiled gently at Xiao Qi. "Sister, go. You can come home whenever you feel tired. And you will always be my princess." He then turned to Gu Qingyu. "You''re always welcomed as well... Qingyu." "Thank you, Qian Cheng." Gu Qingyu smiled and watched Bei Cheng pull out a glass gem from his sleeve. "This is the Water Spirit Gem that I promised to give you." Beicheng handed the Spirit Gem to Gu Qingyu. "Keep it well." "Okay." Gu Qingyu took the Water Spirit Gem and carefully tucked it away. "Qingyu, I don''t know what you need to do with the Spirit Gems... But I know that your quest, your mission is very difficult. Come back and see me, once you have completed it." Bei Cheng squeezed out a smile, his face pale. "I hope the token can help you. With the token, you will have unimpeded access in all of Beiying and you can represent me in other countries. " "I will come to see you. But I won''t use the token, because that is a souvenir from you." Gu Qingyu smiled and smacked firmly on Beicheng''s shoulder. "Goodbye, Qian Cheng." She turned and walked out of the Imperial Palace of Beiying, Xiao Qi followed behind her. We''ll meet again, Qian Cheng. Chapter 62: Cross-Country Marathon Chapter 62: Cross-Country Marathon Translated by: iris.knight After leaving the palace, the party took a break at Qi Wan¡¯s inn. Qi Wan asked Gu Qingyu. "Boss, where is the next stop?" "Wait, let me see..." Gu Qingyu held the Spirit Gem in her hand and closed her eyes gently. Yan Zun floated in the air and carefully sensed the Spirit Gem through Gu Qingyu. His intoxicating voice rang beside her ear. "Xiqian." "Yeah, Xiqian...wait, what did I just say?" Gu Qingyu surprised herself. "Xiqian?" "The Xiqian Kingdom is one of the four kingdoms here." Qi Yichen explained while fanning himself. It was already winter, but he did not seem to mind. With his fan and his white robes, his scholar persona was immaculate. "We just came from the east and now we''re heading to the west?" Gu Qingyu threw her hands in the air, her sleeve flapped in the air. "Ah! My life is practically a cross-country marathon! I have been crossing actual countries!" Qi Wan looked dazed. "What are you talking about, why haven''t I heard anything like it before?" "Hmph, there''s more where that came from." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Golden one-liners produced by Zhu Fan! Yeah!" "Then shall we set off as soon as possible?" Murong Zuoyu finally lost his patience and jumped into the conversation. "Yeah, let''s go, right now!" Gu Qingyu glanced at the horses outside. "Are they all well fed?" "One bite of whatever Qi Wan eats would be enough for them." Jia Qizhe sat down casually. Qi Wan thought for a long while before he realised what Jia Qizhe had meant. Yet just when he was about to defend himself, Gu Qingyu dashed out like a gust of wind. "Daisy! Darling! I have missed you! Come, give me a hug!" The dark horse immediately fizzled, as if it had been frightened. "You missed me too, right? I know I know, I miss you too~" Gu Qingyu hugged Daisy, "Don''t move, let me hold you~ Oh my little Daisy, you are so thin!" Qi Wan had a sullen look. "Boss, I''ve lost weight too!" "Let''s go, Daisy!" Gu Qingyu unfastened Daisy, got on the saddle and shouted at the rest of the party. "What are you all staring at? Let''s go already!" The party snapped out of their confusion and went to their own horses. En-route Gu Qingyu snacked as they walked down the street on horseback. "Why, are you still hungry?" Jia Qizhe watched her with a slight tug on his lips. Gu Qingyu shook her head. "No, I''m just bored." That''s a good enough reason. "If we go on like this, how many days will it take to get there?" Gu Qingyu turned around to look at Jia Qizhe and handed a small bag of snacks over. Jia Qizhe took the snacks and slowly took out a piece of it into his mouth. The level of elegance was so different from Gu Qingyu. "On a quick horse, plus a few of us are experts. About ten days. " "Well, that''s quick." Gu Qingyu nodded. She could see the city gates in the distance, so she bought more snacks and tossed that whole bag to Qi Wan. "Hold on to it for me, no eating." Qi Wan nodded helplessly. "Ok, I won''t." Gu Qingyu hmph-ed and went on. At sunset, they came to the foot of a mountain. Gu Qingyu leaned back as she tried to make out the mountain peak that reached into the clouds. "Are you sure it''s ten days, not ten years?" "That''s why I said, on a fast horse, with experts, ten days." Jia Qizhe glanced at Gu Qingyu, his voice was charming as always. "Well, it''s getting dark, let''s spend the night at the foot of the mountain! "Gu Qingyu looked around. "So, set up a grass shed? Or a tent?" Jia Qizhe rolled his eyes silently. "Little Yu''er, you know, a master like me, I can go up and back down this mountain in two hours. So what need is there for a grass tent?" Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Fine! Since you''re so good, then it''s not too late after all. Let''s go!" "Really?" Qi Wan whined. They released the horses back to nature, and soon, halfway up the mountain, several people had to stop to catch their breath and wipe down their sweat. Well, only Gu Qingyu, Qi Wan, Qi Yichen, and Xiao Qi. "There are a lot of demons at night." Jia Qizhe sighed. "That''s why I suggested not to come up here so early, Little Yu''er. We should have waited till tomorrow morning." "Did you really say that?" Gu Qingyu has repeatedly confirmed. "I''m pooped!" The Soul Chain in her hands activated automatically. It circled around her and protected her. But whenever the demons attacked her, Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai would strike first, she could not get a chance to defend herself at all. "Boss, your chain is quite powerful." Qi Wan stared at the Soul Chain curiously. "Of course." Gu Qingyu answered with a huff. "It''s just a pity, I don''t have a chance to use it." "You don''t need to use weapons, you know? The point is to look badass!" Qi Wan replied with a straight face. "Look at my weapons, I don''t get much use of them either." Suddenly, the bushes in front of them rustled loudly, and a demon jumped out with a loud roar. "This is the biggest demon I''ve ever seen!" Gu Qingyu was startled. But she did not know that the demon before her was still considered as fairly small. Jia Qizhe silently summoned his sword, and Mo Bai slowly pulled out the flute from his waist. "Stop, stop, stop! Just let me try this time!" Gu Qingyu immediately stopped Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai. "You two, give me a little room to grow! OK?" "Fine." Jia Qizhe sheathed his sword. "Good luck, Yu''er." Mo Bai smiled warmly and slipped his flute back to its holster on his waist. Gu Qingyu''s Soul Chain launched and attacked the demon. The demon roared and tried to knock down the chain, but the chain countered the demon by winding tightly around it. Gu Qingyu kept the assault and removed the lotus around her neck. In her hand, the Devouring Lotus bloomed in a blinding red light. The light expanded and engulfed everything. Boom! Thud! The red light dissipated, and the Soul Chain returned to Gu Qingyu''s hands, winding around her left hand. The red lotus, in full bloom, sat quietly on her right hand. "Boss..." Qi Wan stared blankly at her. She didn''t realise it, but in that moment, red light glowed from her right hand while blue light covered her left hand. Three pairs of wings were spread out behind her, all of them were pure white and covered in feathers. It reminded Qi Wan of the myths he read before his transmigration, the myth of the six-winged Seraph of Holy Light. That was the last fallen holy angel, who possessed incomparably powerful magic. But Gu Qingyu''s wings only opened for a moment, and soon the snowy white halo that surrounded her disappeared, and those wings slowly dissipated in the air. The weapon in her hand calmed. "What''s wrong? Why are you looking at me like this?" Gu Qingyu looked at everyone doubtfully, then a knowing smile split across her face. "Oh~ I know~ Do you think I''m so heroic, with a wild sense of rationality. Just like a man full of gusto, so all of you have been deeply convinced, filled with admiration and you all want to learn from me?" "Brother Zhu, you can shut up." Qi Yichen regained his senses. He waved his fan first then sneezed. "Ah! The cold wind of this night makes this scholar''s heart shiver." Gu Qingyu looked at him sympathetically. "Beware! Your liver might shiver too. Would you like me to fan you a few more times, and help you with that?" "Cough cough! This scholar thanked Brother Zhu for his kindness, no need." Qi Yichen closed his fan with a sullen mood. "Yu''er," Mo Bai examined the demon carcass on the ground. "Are you hungry?" "Of course I''m hungry!" Gu Qingyu nodded vigorously. She pulled out a snack from her pocket and stuffed it in her mouth. Mo Bai was not at all surprised at her reaction. "This type of demons are called Lin. It tastes delicious. Want to give it a try?" "I want!" Gu Qingyu nodded immediately. Mo Bai walked towards the demon carcass with a ball of fire in his hand. The flame warmed Gu Qingyu. "Why, cold?" Jia Qizhe glanced at her, took off his coat and covered her with it. "I told you not to come up and you didn''t listen." "Let me reiterate, you did not say anything like that!" Gu Qingyu glared at Jia Qizhe, she pulled his coat around her and walked to Mo Bai''s side, kissing the fragrant aroma of barbequed meat. "Don''t worry, it''ll be done soon." Mo Bai had a meat skewer in his hand. He got up and handed it to Gu Qingyu. "Try it first, there''s still more." "Thank you Mo Bai!" Gu Qingyu took it happily and took a bite. In an instant, the flavour of meat spread rapidly through her mouth. "Yep! It''s as delicious as I thought!" "Brother Mo, I want some too." Qi Wan looked at him with pleading eyes. Mo Bai glanced at Qi Wan lightly, and with the jade flute in his hand, pointed at what''s left. Then, he walked to Gu Qingyu''s side with a faint smile. "Did you like it, Yu''er?" "Of course, I love it!" Gu Qingyu nodded immediately. "Whoever marries Mo Bai will die happily!" Mo Bai''s smile did not change, he nodded slightly. Jia Qizhe joined them with freshly-grilled skewers. "Little Yu''er, try mine." "Jia Qizhe!" Gu Qingyu immediately took the one in his hand happily and took a bite. "Your cooking is the best!" She still remembered the grilled fish he made last time. A devious smirk spread across Jia Qizhe''s face, directed at Mo Bai. Mo Bai narrowed his eyes slightly as he returned Jia Qizhe¡¯s look. There were traces of darkness in his eyes and a bottomless abyss. Jia Qizhe turned away, he reached out and touched Gu Qingyu''s head. "As long as you like it, Little Yu''er." Gu Qingyu led the party with a skewer in hand. The sizzling barbecued meat, together with Jia Qizhe''s warm coat, chased the cold away. She shared the barbecue with Xiao Qi, but she gently refused her offer. Having just left the palace, she too was dressed in warm clothes. It was the same imperial robes but without the extravagant hairpins. On the other hand, Qi Yichen and Qi Wan shivered, they were not dressed for the snowy hike. Finally, Qi Yichen asked Qi Wan, "Brother Qi Wan, can you help me grill some?" "My hands are already frozen stiff. Brother Qi, please help me instead?" Chapter 63: My Name is Wukong Chapter 63: My Name is Wukong Translated by: iris.knight "Say it, what''s behind that mountain?" Gu Qingyu threw a piercing glare at Jia Qizhe. "I''m ready! Is it a volcano or Mount Everest?" What is Mount Everest? Jia Qizhe blinked puzzledly. "Climb over that mountain and we''ll reach Xiqian. What are you thinking about, Little Yu''er?" We''ll reach Xiqian once we climb over that mountain? Gu Qingyu waved her hand weakly. "Is there any other way?" "Yes." Jia Qizhe nodded sincerely. Before Gu Qingyu could rejoice at that news, he continued in a devious tone. "If we bypass the snowy mountain, and climb over a volcano instead." "I''ll take the snow mountain." A sense of powerlessness washed over her. "This is the greatest geographical advantage of Xiqian." Mo Bai explained, "it is easy to defend and difficult to attack, and rich in resources." "Well, good for them." Gu Qingyu nodded and looked towards the foot of the mountain. "Now, how do we go down the mountain?" "Little Yu''er, let me give you a demonstration. This is the method, watch." Jia Qizhe smiled slightly and kicked the trembling Qi Wan down the cliff. He was so shocked that he barely reacted. When he finally realised his ¡®predicament¡¯, the ribbon in his robes stretched out, wrapped around a nearby tree, and slowed down his fall. Then another ribbon flew out, wrapped around another tree, and Qi Wan swung to that tree. Rinse and repeat that a few more times and Qi Wan arrived at the foot of the mountain safely. As soon as Qi Wan had a solid footing, he yelled and screamed from the foot of the mountain. "Jia Qizhe! I x you xx! I, Qi Wan and you are officially enemies! Xxxx!" His resounding voice reached the clouds and echoed through the mountain range. Gu Qingyu looked at Jia Qizhe in disbelief, her lips twitched uncontrollably. "This is your method?" Jia Qizhe nodded. "Your weapon is similar to his, no? It''s worth a shot!" Gu Qingyu didn''t swear like Qi Wan, she glared at Jia Qizhe. "Qi Wan has been using it for a long time! He''s familiar with the thing, enough that he did this on pure reflex! Me, you kick me down this cliff, I guess I''ll be taking a trip to heaven instead!" "Ok, fine, Little Yu''er, you leave me no choice." Jia Qizhe shrugged. Then suddenly, he grabbed Gu Qingyu, held her in his arms princess-style and leaped off the cliff. Gu Qingyu held on to his arm tightly, her legs had turned into jelly. "Hero Jia! Great Hero Jia! I beg you, do not let go." "No." Jia Qizhe laughed and landed steadily. "Does that mean my demonstration was done in vain?" Qi Wan looked at Jia Qizhe incredulously. Qi Yichen''s fan grew bigger, carrying him and Xiao Qi down. Murong Zuoyu demonstrated the art of sword control, he stood on his sword and landed steadily. Xie Zang jumped down directly. The leaves beside Mo Bai surrounded him and supported him as he drifted down. Gu Qingyu and Qi Wan were dumbfounded. "Jia Qizhe, you did this on purpose!" Qi Wan turned to Jia Qizhe in exasperation. "You just corrupted my image!" What''s going on with this sense of a wife reprimanding her husband? "Actually, you were quite handsome when you landed." Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan sincerely. "Eh? Really?" Qi Wan turned angry immediately, "Oh, that''s a given from someone as handsome and generous as me, I look cool all the time." "Qi Wan''s floor-standing style, with both your head and your bottom. I have no idea how you could pull off such a difficult maneuver." Jia Qizhe added slowly. Qi Wan went silent at his addition. The north wind buffeted their faces. The mountain range was wrapped in silver and white. However, for the group that has been frozen solid, they were in no mood to appreciate the breathtaking scenery. They trekked arduously along the snowy mountain. Gu Qingyu swallowed thickly, even her lips were about to be frozen stuck. She gently pried them open. "Why can''t we just fly..." "It''s too cold, the wings would freeze. And we would plummet to the ground." Jia Qizhe shrugged helplessly. "Plus we haven''t slept all day and night, it''s dangerous, Little Yu''er." "And whose fault was that..." Gu Qingyu said with a sullen look, she tried to shoot another glare at Jia Qizhe, but she did not even have the strength to do that. Mo Bai looked at Gu Qingyu with worry. "Yu''er, are you ok?" "I''ll be fine, I can still make it." Gu Qingyu said with a tightened jaw. "Take it as training." Jia Qizhe patted Gu Qingyu''s head. "If you can''t take something like this, how can you grow stronger?" Oh, so that''s why... He''s helping me train... Gu Qingyu nodded. "Roger that." Thank you, Jia Qizhe. Halfway through their descent, the sight before them opened up to a vast land. At the foot of the mountain, spring was in full swing. Some people were planting something, they were tiling the field. Several swallows hovered above their heads. Three or two cabins were scattered in front of the fields, and through the curtains, some were working the loom, weaving fabric. All these people worked with happy smiles on their faces, and the sight of such peace struck Gu Qingyu. "This should be a very prosperous country. The emperor here must have managed it very well." Xiao Qi watched the people with wistful eyes, it was clear that she looked forward to life like this. "Yeah," Gu Qingyu nodded. "It''s a beautiful place." "Quite the opposite, actually." Jia Qizhe narrowed his eyes slightly. "The emperor here is rumored to be incompetent. It''s the prime minister that has been taking care of the affairs on behalf of the emperor." "But, that''s just a rumor." Qi Yichen fanned lightly. Mo Bai''s hand gently rubbed his jade flute. "Yeah, the truth is still only known to the emperor and the prime minister." His words seemed to have hinted at something. "Stop it with the cryptic stuff, let''s go." Gu Qingyu yawned. She looked up at the sky, it was already afternoon. "I''m exhausted. Let''s find a place to rest." Qi Yichen nodded. He closed his fan, walked up and greeted a burly man with a smile. "Sir, My name is Qi Yichen. This scholar and others passed by here, but the journey was long and difficult, some of us can''t take it already." He looked back, and Gu Qingyu immediately understood it and collapsed in Jia Qizhe''s arms. Jia Qizhe immediately wrapped his arms around Gu Qingyu, and shouted in coordination. "Little Yu''er! What happened?" Among them, several people recognised Jia Qizhe, who was known across the lands, and they cringed. To them, it looked like Hero Jia had lost his marbles. But the sight of this beautiful man holding another delicate and beautiful man and shouting "Little Yu''er" was really not a visual and auditory impact that normal people can bear... "So," Qi Yichen smiled slightly at the burly man. "Can this kind sir please assist us...¡± "Please come in quickly! Hero Jia, bring this little brother in!" The big man had already walked past Qi Yichen and yelled at Jia Qizhe. Without another word, Jia Qizhe went straight to the house with Gu Qingyu in his arms, while Qi Yichen stood rooted to the ground, in shock. Gu Qingyu, who finally got some rest, fell into a deep sleep. Jia Qizhe placed her on the bed, tucked her in, then closed the door to her room and went out. The burly man was seated at the table with everyone, and the person that seemed to be his wife was cooking in the kitchen, a warm meal for these foreigners. "Where did you come from?" The burly man looked at them curiously. "Just to get the ball rolling, I''m Wukong!" "Pff!" Qi Wan laughed out of nowhere, but realized that it seemed impolite, and immediately apologized, "I''m sorry! My name is Qi Wan. Is your surname Sun?" "No, my surname is Sha." Sha Wukong said honestly. "Pigsy, lunch is ready!" His wife in the kitchen shouted. He rubbed his head sheepishly. "My nickname is Bajie, and only my parents and my wife call me like that." Qi Wan''s eyes were as wide as saucers. "Brother Wukong, do you have a master or teacher?" "No, why do you say that?" Sha Wukong looked at Qi Wan in doubt. Qi Wan breathed a sigh of relief. "Although I don''t have a master, my adoptive father''s surname is Tang." Sha Wukong nodded. Qi Wan turned pale, he thought, My Boss, where are you! All I did was leave you for one hour and my worldview had completely collapsed! Help! And then, he fainted. "Don''t mind him, he has an indirect illness." Qi Yichen pointed to his own brain. Sha Wukong nodded as if he understood. "Speaking of it, my ancestor has a remedy for this (he pointed at his brain). Would Brother Qi Wan like to try?" "No, no more..." Qi Wan waved weakly. "I just want to rest..." "What are you arguing about?" Gu Qingyu shuffled out of the room with bleary eyes. "Ah! Boss! You are finally here! Please bear this weight with me!" Qi Wan immediately rushed up at the sight of Gu Qingyu. "This man''s name is Sha Wukong, his nickname is Pigsy and his adoptive father is called Tang! Hahaha! " "..." Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan, her eyes were blank, and after a long pause, she said three words very slowly. "...Are you crazy?" "Brother Qi Wan seems to have taken quite an interest in me?" Sha Wukong looked at Qi Wan with a puzzled expression. Gu Qingyu patted Qi Wan''s head and smiled calmly at Sha Wukong. "My name is Zhu Fan, pff, hello, Sha... ahahahahahaha!!" She held onto Qi Wan and burst into a fit of laughter. "Please ignore them, she has a problem here too. Indirectly." Qi Yichen pointed to his brain again. Sha Wukong smiled. His wife greeted Gu Qingyu and Qi Wan. "Come, it''s time to eat, guests!" "Good! Thank you!" Gu Qingyu finally stopped laughing and took her seat. "We are on the border of the Xiqian Kingdom," Sha Wukong introduced. "Guests, where did you come from?" "Beiying." Gu Qingyu answered as she ate. "Beiying? That''s far, beyond the mountain range." Sha Wukong''s wife filled her husband''s bowl. "But since you are here, not to mention from such a faraway place, I do hope you would enjoy your time here." "Thank you." Gu Qingyu nodded with a smile. Chapter 64: Both of You were so Noisy Last Night Chapter 64: Both of You were so Noisy Last Night Translated by: iris.knight Everyone had fallen asleep. Gu Qingyu and Xiao Qi shared a room, while the boys all shared another room. Sha Wukong and his wife were really kind to them. "Xiao Yu, are you still awake?" Xiao Qi broke the silence softly. ? Gu Qingyu''s voice soon followed. "Yes, what''s the matter?" She was not really sleepy, as she had gotten used to the exhaustion of the journey, and took a long nap in the afternoon. "Xiao Yu, I..." Xiao Qi paused for a long time. She seemed to be thinking about something, Gu Qingyu waited for her patiently. Finally, Xiao Qi''s voice came again. "Xiao Yu, you will always be with me, right?" "Of course, silly! What are you thinking about?" Gu Qingyu blurted out. "I always thought it would be impossible for me to know my past." Xiao Qi spoke in a low voice. "But Xiao Yu, you know, the moment you took me to the Imperial Palace in Beiying... No, To be precise, it should be the beginning of my adventure when I followed you. I never thought that my brother was actually the Emperor of Beiying, and I would not know that I was a princess. Thank you, Xiao Yu, for letting me have an elder brother who loves me, and you who are so good." "Silly girl." Gu Qingyu rolled over to look at Xiao Qi. But what Xiao Qi said next stunned her. "But, are you really my Miss?" She said "Miss", not "Xiao Yu" "In the past, you''ve always needed someone to look out for you, to watch your back, to protect you. And you never listened to what anyone said, you''ve always done things your way. Then everything changed that day." Xiao Qi''s voice paused. "But you look the same, you sound the same, so who are you?" Yeah, for someone as sensitive as Xiao Qi, she must have realised that the person with her was not the real Gu Qingyu. In the entire group, Xiao Qi was the one that truly knew the original "Gu Qingyu". I merely transmigrated over with my soul, so "Gu Qingyu" is still "Gu Qingyu", cat demon and all. So Xiao Qi had to treat her as "Gu Qingyu". And now, she has finally asked what has been on her mind. "I am Gu Qingyu." That was true. Whether it was in modern times or ancient times, her name was always Gu Qingyu. "Xiao Yu..." Xiao Qi chewed her lips, as though she wanted to ask something else. "Go on." Xiao Qi slowly asked, "Qi Wan, what is his relationship with you?" Qi Wan... I can''t exactly say that I came from another world, in which thousands of years from now, I was murdered and he choked to death, then both of us transmigrated over together after we died. "A friend." Gu Qingyu thought for a while and finally decided not to scare her. "Really?" Xiao Qi was understandably doubtful. "Silly girl, it doesn''t matter who I am. Just know I''m Xiao Yu, ok?" Gu Qingyu took a deep breath. "Um. Xiao Yu." Xiao Qi repeated obediently. Then, there was silence. Gu Qingyu listened to Xiao Qi''s breathing gradually slow and smoothen, and she released a breath she did not know she was holding. The relationship between Xiao Qi and Gu Qingyu should be quite good, right? Therefore, in this world, it''s not surprising that only she would care about the true "Gu Qingyu". Jia Qizhe or Mo Bai, Qi Wan is even less so, they all know her now... Gu Qingyu let out a soft sigh, closed her eyes, and entered the spiritual world. Yan Zun sat on a chaise longue as he played with a few nails in his hands. Gu Qingyu soon recognized that it was the Soul Nails. "Master?" Gu Qingyu called softly, and Yan Zun raised his head slightly. "I was looking to see if I can unlock its seal." Yan Zun shrugged indifferently. "But it''s just a look." "That''s very laid-back of you. " Gu Qingyu sat down beside him. After spending time with Yan Zun for a while, she found that Yan Zun is not as scary as she thought, as is Xie Zang, Jia Qizhe, and Murong Zuoyu. They also laugh, and they also get angry. "Speak for yourself? Aren''t you quite laid-back yourself?" Yan Zun glanced at her. Gu Qingyu smiled sheepishly, and he continued. "Want to know the real power of the Soul Nails and the Soul Chain?" She nodded. Yan Zun explained as he twirled the nails between his fingers. "They are two souls bound together. The Soul Chain and the Soul Nails, only when they are used together can their true power be awakened. If the dark power of the Soul Chain was awakened, it can ensnare souls and drag them into a bottomless abyss. While the Soul Nails can nail people''s souls, they would go through excruciating pain, as though they were being burnt alive, but they will not be able to break free.¡± "Dark Powers?" She stared at the Soul Nails in his hands. "Yeah, they are all weapons of sin, so they were sealed up long ago." He nodded. Gu Qingyu is even more puzzled. "Why is there such a thing in that arsenal? Shouldn''t all weapons like this be hidden in a coffin then buried in the ground until the chosen one comes by to free it?" "Did you read too many novels?" She cringed at his question. "You read them too?" "Ah, it helps to kill time," he answered, "I believe someone found them and brought them to the arsenal. After all, few people know the true nature of these two weapons. Maybe they were treated as ordinary weapons. " She nodded, that was a sound theory. "Well, maybe. But can I not use them completely? Or, how can I try not to touch their dark power as much as possible?" "You won''t tap into their dark powers if you don''t want to." He said with curled lips. "As long as they don''t let them fall into the hands of people with ulterior motives. And, as long as you don''t reveal your inner darkness to them, or else you will be consumed and controlled by them instead." "Got it." Gu Qingyu nodded solemnly. She was reminded of that rainy night at the mention of inner darkness. "That..." "Do you want to ask, why you had that nightmare that night?" He looked as though he read her mind. "Actually, that''s what you have been worried about? You act as if everything is fine, but the moment you turn your back, you''re afraid that they would be at each other''s throats. You knew they would never be true friends, but you still wanted to try." His words were spot on, Gu Qingyu gave a slow nod. "Don''t be so eager that you wear it on your sleeve. Your inner demons can take advantage of that." Yan Zun sighed and put his hand on the top of her head. "I doubt they would fight amongst themselves anytime soon, even if it''s over you." "I see!" Gu Qingyu said with a smile, "Thank you, Master!" "Do you still want to go back to your world?" Yan Zun dropped his hand and asked suddenly. "It doesn''t seem that important anymore." Gu Qingyu shook her head. "Helping Master is the first goal. It''s just... Master, can you tell me why you want to come out? This sounds like a stupid question, it''s obvious that everyone would want to stand at the top of the pyramid. But I don''t think Master is someone that is power-hungry. So why are you so desperate to get out?" "Why?" Tiny wrinkles appeared at the corner of his long, narrow eyes as he recalled something from his distant memory. "For revenge." His voice was lonely and forlorn, with reluctance and sorrow. Yet, there was a sense of resolve in that declaration. "Revenge?" Gu Qingyu never expected his answer. She simply could not wrap her head around the level of hatred that was carved onto his soul, that he would resent it for tens of thousands, or even millions of years. "Want to learn more?" Yan Zun smiled. Gu Qingyu nodded immediately. "Dream on." The words spat out of Yan Zun''s thin lips without hesitation. He leaned back on the chaise longue. "I''m tired. You should get some rest too." Since Yan Zun said so, she did not press further. She silently withdrew from the spiritual world. When she opened her eyes, it was dark. Xiao Qi''s even breathing was still in her ear. Gu Qingyu tossed and turned but she couldn''t sleep. Yan Zun''s forlorn but resolute ''revenge'' echoed in her ears. What could possibly cause him to become so hateful? Gu Qingyu blinked suddenly, she suddenly felt really drowsy. Did Yan Zun read my mind? Is that why he''s sending me to sleep? Gu Qingyu closed her eyes and fell asleep. Morning. Gu Qingyu woke early. Xiao Qi was still fast asleep, so she decided to let her sleep in. She slipped out of bed, put on her shoes, and walked out of the door. As soon as she arrived in the living room, she saw Sha Wukong''s wife cooking in the kitchen. Gu Qingyu stepped into the kitchen. "Huh? Brother Zhufan, why are you here?" His wife flinched when she saw her, but she smiled. "Take a seat outside, breakfast will be ready soon!" "I''ll help you!" Gu Qingyu smiled politely. "No need! These are what I, a woman, should do, what a nosy boy you are! Go, go!" She gently pushed her out of the kitchen. Gu Qingyu relented. Jia Qizhe came in from the front door. "Morning." "Jia Qizhe? Did you go for a morning run?" Gu Qingyu looked at Jia Qizhe with a confused expression. Jia Qizhe shook his head. "No, what''s wrong?" "Then why did you come in from outside?" "I slept outside last night." Jia Qizhe sighed. "Ah, Little Yu''er, you have no idea how loud Mo Bai snores. And..." Jia Qizhe''s current mission: Do everything possible to ruin Little Yu''er''s image of that pretty face Mo Bai! "What?" Dress proudly in full white, Mo Bai approached the pair from outside. "Mo Bai? Why did you come in from the outside too?" Gu Qingyu was even more confused. "Did you two go out again?" "What are you thinking, Yu''er?" Mo Bai touched Gu Qingyu''s head and smiled softly. "What a surprise, Hero Jia, to think that you have fungal feet." Mo Bai''s current mission: Do everything possible to defame this asshole in front of Yu''er! "Pff!" She did not believe for a moment that Mo Bai snores and Jia Qizhe has fungal feet, but it was hard to not laugh when two beautiful men said this to each other. "Morning, Boss." Qi Wan walked in, waving Qi Yichen''s fan. He glanced at Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai with an innocent look, "Brother Jia, Brother Mo, both of you were so noisy last night! I could barely sleep!" Gu Qingyu went from confused to shocked. Her eyes darted between the three men before her. Jia Qizhe''s face was frozen, Mo Bai''s warm smile stiffened. They gritted their teeth and said, "You and Brother Qi were quite active last night as well." Gu Qingyu inhaled sharply. There is no way...right? "Get off my back!" Qi Yichen came out of the room and snatched his fan back from Qi Wan. "The three of you can go enjoy yourselves. Don''t think I don''t know what you three were doing last night!" Gu Qingyu stared at them in horror, her hand covered her mouth as she fought the smile tugging at her lips. The two men who were not caught up in the defamation circle, Murong Zuoyu and Xie Zang, slowly walked out of their room. Qi Wan greeted them with an innocent look. "Ah, the two of you are finally here!" Chapter 65: I did not expect you to be like This, Master Chapter 65: I did not expect you to be like This, Master Translated by: iris.knight "You''re welcome, hurry, and eat!" The lady of the house gave her a friendly smile. The others also sat down, one after another. Gu Qingyu beamed at Sha Wukong and his wife. "Thank you for your hospitality! We will resume our journey after breakfast." "Okay." The woman nodded and smiled gently. After their meal, the couple personally sent Gu Qingyu and others to the village entrance. "Have a safe trip!" Sha Wukong waved at them. Gu Qingyu stepped forward and tried to stuff some money into Sha Wukong''s hand. Sha Wukong immediately stepped back. "I can''t take it! I can''t take it!" "Why not? Brother Sha, I don''t mean anything else, but I can''t accept your kindness for nothing!" Gu Qingyu frowned. "We''re really grateful for your help, this is the least that I can do to give back." "We don''t need the money. Just remember," Sha Wukong smiled. "Remember how others have helped you, and then carry it forward and help other people. This is all taught by the Prime Minister! " "The Prime Minister?" Gu Qingyu blinked, and she became more curious about this Prime Minister. "Yeah, let''s go." The lady gave Gu Qingyu a smile. "Come by again some time!" "We will!" Gu Qingyu nodded. They bid farewell to the village and continued their journey. "There''s no way we will be as lucky as last time!" Gu Qingyu nibbled on a foxtail with slight frustration. "Say, will the King of Xiqian give us the Spirit Gem so easily?" "Maybe," Qi Wan also held a foxtail in his mouth. "The Prime Minister sounds kind and generous, and obviously the king listens to everything the Prime Minister says, so as long as we could crack the Prime Minister..." "Hm... Well said!" Gu Qingyu nodded approvingly. Qi Yichen waved his fan. "This Prime Minister is rumored to be like an immortal sage, no known interests or desires. Just how do you plan to crack him?" "Now that, is where you are wrong." Gu Qingyu gave him a side-eye. "He is also human, everyone has weaknesses. Even if he doesn''t indulge in the seven sins, there must be some vice we could leverage on. There''s always more than meets the eye, Qi Yichen. The more virtuous they appear, the harder they fall." "Eh? Really?" Qi Yichen blinked and closed his fan awkwardly. Qi Wan nodded with a look of agreement and admiration. "That''s right! Boss, you can always see the heart of the problem at a glance!" Qi Yichen thought to himself, ¡°you don''t have to be so obvious with the flattery.¡± Gu Qingyu grinned as she pointed at Qi Wan. "And you can see my heart at a glance." Jia Qizhe scoffed. "I can too." "What?" Gu Qingyu flinched, then shook her head. "It seems that I''m old, I can''t even hear well!" "No, in fact, you are kind and beautiful," Jia Qizhe said against his conscience. Gu Qingyu immediately covered her face. "Aww~~" Her response sent a tingle along Mo Bai''s scalp. "Yu''er, you are beautiful, you just don''t realise it. "Oh, stop it!" Gu Qingyu stomped. "All of you are so sweet and honest today!" Everyone collectively decided to drop the subject. They arrived at a city as the sky darkened. "Where is this?" Gu Qingyu looked at the map on her hand, "City of Pears?" She looked at Jia Qizhe curiously, "Hero Jia, you''re quite well-traveled, is there a City of Apples?" Jia Qizhe thought for a while and then nodded. "There should be one in Nanyou." ? Gu Qingyu continued as she tried to hold in her laughter. "What about the Grape City, Peach City, or even Watermelon City?" "Grape City is in Dongxuan, Peach City is in Beiying. I haven''t heard of Watermelon City." Jia Qizhe looked serious. "Little Yu''er, since you''re so well-read, where is Watermelon City?" Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Ah! It lives in my heart forever!" "Urgh, just keep walking." Xie Zang walked into the city, it seemed that he had lost his patience. Gu Qingyu trailed behind him. "Yo, Uncle Xie Zang, what''s going on today?" "I don''t know why, but I always get goosebumps when I''m around you guys." Xie Zang smiled. "Kitten, would you help me scratch it?" "N-no need, walk slowly, don''t fall..." Gu Qingyu nodded and kept walking. "This is the City of Pears, it is also a military outpost. We''ll follow the usual routine, acquire horses and head straight to the Imperial City, okay?" "No problem!" Qi Wan agreed first. "Oh! Qi Wan, do you have any friends running a racecourse here?" Gu Qingyu asked. Qi Wan was stunned, he immediately shook his head. Of course not, there is no way he''s losing a friend again! "How about a restaurant?" Gu Qingyu asked again. Qi Wan shook his head again. Of course not, bankrupting one restaurant is enough. How many restaurants do you want me to go bankrupt? "Do you still want to live?" Gu Qingyu asked as she nodded. Qi Wan shook his head habitually. Of course not... "I want to live!" He looked up immediately. Gu Qingyu smiled with satisfaction. "Well, it''s good to know that you cherish your life." Qi Wan thought on his feet and pointed at an inn in front of them. "It''s getting late today, let''s go to this inn to take a break!" "Good idea!" Gu Qingyu nodded and stepped in. There, an innkeeper welcomed them as soon as he saw Qi Wan. "Good to see you, boss! Business has been good today. Huh, why do you keep blinking your eyes? Did you get sand stuck in your eyes? You look really uncomfortable right now." "Eh ha ha ha, you''re the owner?" Gu Qingyu chuckled coldly and she slowly turned to Qi Wan. A shiver went down his spine, Qi Wan met her eyes and swallowed thickly. "Boss, I can explain..." "You have one chance, is four words is enough for you to explain?" Gu Qingyu¡¯s eyes were unflinching. Qi Wan choked. "I offer my life!" "Offer accepted!" Gu Qingyu clapped. "Jia Qizhe, Mo Bai, go!" Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai looked at Gu Qinyu in unison, one of them had a playful look and the other had a look of astonishment. "Uh, sorry, I seem to be used to it." Gu Qingyu scratched her head sheepishly. "I''ll do it myself!" She rolled up her sleeves. "Ehhhhhhh! Boss! Chill, chill! You just rest up today! Tomorrow, everything will be ready for you. Not a single cent!" Qi Wan immediately shielded his face." But if you really want to beat me up, please just avoid my handsome and handsome face! Although it is only the second handsome, it is never as handsome as yours, Boss! " "Well," Gu Qingyu nodded with satisfaction and withdrew her hand. "Excellent! Then I shall head to bed?" "Yes, please!" Or else, Qi Wan would be waving a white flag. "Come on, remember to call me for dinner!" Gu Qingyu smiled, waved and went upstairs. As soon as she went upstairs, Gu Qingyu looked at her dusty appearance and planned to take a bath first. She told someone to bring a set of clothes and towels, prepared a bucket of hot water, and took off her clothes and slipped into the bath. Yan Zun slowly floated into the room. Gu Qingyu panicked at the sight of his red robes and immediately buried herself in the water. The hot water made her take a sharp breath. "Master! It''s not funny! Go back! " "Do you think I won''t be able to see anything from the inside?" Yan Zun took out a small bottle from his sleeve, then opened the bottle slowly, and poured a strange liquid into the wooden bathtub. The bath water turned red in an instant. Gu Qing stunned, looking at Yan Zun puzzledly. "Master, what are you doing?" "This is Duan Gu, or Bone Breaker. It can make people reborn... In short, it can make your body movement more flexible, soften up your joints." "That''s really a good thing!" Gu Qingyu watched the red liquid slowly dissolve. "Master, can you go now?" "Don''t be in such a hurry, this medicine has a hypnotic effect. I''m staying to keep watch, or you''ll fall asleep in the bath and drown yourself." Yan Zun was calm and calm. "Master!" Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "You don''t have to look at it that way? You can go to the spiritual world..." "Since you have said it in good faith, then I''ll take my leave." Yan Zun was also very cooperative, nodded, and disappeared, leaving one last advice. "Be careful. Even in the spiritual world, I can see it too..." "I didn''t expect you to be like that, Master." Gu Qingyu pouted, looking at the red water, but really felt an unspeakable feeling all over her body. I feel that my bones are slowly getting lighter, and was I always this sleepy? "Stupid apprentice," Yan Zun''s words came from the spiritual world, "Didn''t I tell you to be careful?" Be careful... Gu Qingyu let out a dry laugh as she began to channel her energy and let the water into her body. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. "Xiao Yu''er, it''s me." Xiao Qi''s weak voice came. "Wait a moment, I''m taking a bath." Gu Qingyu hid behind the screen and said. Xiao Qi nodded. "Okay, I''ll help you guard the door." In this way, Gu Qingyu felt relieved and focused. Bone Breaker was really helpful, it didn¡¯t take long for the exhaustion from the few days on the road to leave her body. Her body felt light and tension had left all of her joints. After bathing, she changed into her new clothes, emptied the bath, and opened the door. Xiao Qi was at the door, her hand was raised, as if she was just about to call her. "What''s wrong?" Gu Qingyu asked. "Is there anything urgent?" "Eh? Why do you mean? Xiao Yu, I just came up here. Dinner is ready." Xiao Qi was also confused, but her confusion was clearly genuine. Gu Qingyu then realised, Xiao Yu''er, Xiao Yu. Chapter 66: Mo Bai and the Leader of Ye Chapter 66: Mo Bai and the Leader of Ye Translated by: iris.knight "Although the clothes are beautiful, they are not suitable for Yu''er." Mo Bai nodded, his hand rubbing the jade flute, "Yu''er, in my humble opinion, you look better in white." "Eh? Yeah, white is pretty good too!" Gu Qingyu nodded in agreement. "Your original purple dress is more suitable for you." Murong Zuoyu said coldly. "What, dark green is good-looking!" Qi Wan said disapprovingly, "Boss, I''ll make you a set in green, it''ll even come with a hat!" "Go away, wear it yourself." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Red is a little flamboyant, suitable for feisty kittens~" Xie Zang added. He leaned back on his chair, and as always, his lips were curled into a smirk. Yan Zun nodded in agreement as he floated through the air. "Yes, red is the best." "Had enough fun?" Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes again. At her current level of exasperation, she might even strain her muscles from rolling her eyes too much. She ended the discussion while rubbing her eyes. "Let''s eat." They all took their seat and started dinner. "Speaking of, Qi Wan, try to get the horses by tonight and go straight to the Imperial City. Brother Murong and Qi Yichen, figure out the shortest route. Xiao Qi, I''ll leave you to prepare our supplies for tomorrow. Xie Zang, just sleep. Who''s left? I need someone to come with me to learn more about the King of Xiqian and the Prime Minister." Gu Qingyu delegated the tasks as she ate. Xie Zang was perplexed that he was simply told to sleep, but he decided to drop the subject. "I''ll go with you." Jia Qizhe spoke first. "I''m going too." Mo Bai joined in with a smooth voice. "I heard that one of the largest intelligence and assassination organisation is currently in this city. Although it is only a small subdivision of the group, they still have eyes and ears everywhere. And their information is often true and reliable. " "Eh? Then we can go and check it out, but we''ll need something to exchange for that information, right?" Gu Qingyu blinked curiously. "That would depend on the leader of that organisation." Xie Zang smiled playfully. "Yes." Mo Bai nodded in agreement, "The leader has requested for a beautiful man when he is happy, and a finger when he is in a foul mood. " That''s wild! And very unpredictable! Gu Qingyu looked at Mo Bai in horror: "Is the leader a woman?" "According to the rumours, that leader is neither male nor female." Mo Bai dropped his eyes slightly, "A mysterious existence, truly." "Speaking of... why do I get the feeling that you have some issues with that leader? You almost sound angry..." Gu Qingyu looked at Mo Bai suspiciously. I don''t think Mo Bai has been this upset with anyone, aside from Jia Qizhe. Mo Bai probably found that he spoke too much, he coughed slightly and gave her a faint smile. "I was just talking about some rumours I heard." "Rumours are not credible." Jia Qizhe knocked on the table with chopsticks. "I didn''t expect Brother Mo to be so interested in this leader." Mo Bai shook his head, his faint smile remained. "I''m just curious." "Curious..." Jia Qizhe returned with a knowing smile. Gu Qingyu glanced between the two men. "What''s wrong with both of you? Hurry up and eat!" After the meal, Gu Qingyu and Mo Bai and Jia Qizhe walked out of the inn. "Mo Bai, do you know where that organisation is?" Gu Qingyu blinked. "That organization is called Ye, as in the night. It''s not far from here." Mo Bai replied. "Ye?" That name felt oddly familiar to Gu Qingyu, as if she heard it some time ago. "Well, let''s go." Jia Qizhe nodded. "Brother Mo may have to cover his face, or you''ll be staying with Ye''s leader tonight." "Eh?" Gu Qingyu looked at Jia Qizhe curiously. "Why don''t you have to cover your face?" "Me?" Jia Qizhe smiled, "Am I handsome?" Gu Qingyu nodded before she could stop herself. "Is he pretty?" Jia Qizhe pointed at Mo Bai. Gu Qingyu nodded again. Jia Qizhe smiled. "Exactly, Ye''s leader likes pretty, not handsome." "Oh, that makes sense!" Gu Qingyu suddenly realized. Mo Bai''s mouth twitched. "Yu''er, he..." "Mo Bai! Be sure to cover your face!" Gu Qingyu immediately looked at Mo Bai''s face and swallowed madly. "It''s impertinent that you cover it well! Otherwise, a beautiful man like you will definitely be taken away by that leader!" " Mo Bai thought to himself, "Although I am very happy that you like me so much, it still takes a while to digest ''pretty''..." They stopped outside a plain-looking building. "It''s here!" Gu Qingyu looked at a wooden door plate engraved with the word ''Ye''. "They''re really bold..." Gu Qingyu scratched her head. "So we just walked in like this?" "Or what?" Jia Qizhe gave Gu Qingyu a side-eye and kicked open the door. "Anyone? I need to ask about something!" "That''s badass." Gu Qingyu was floored and impressed. The way Jia Qizhe did things was as badass and ridiculous as asking someone for a favour, then making that person slap themself. The door opened to a small courtyard, Jia Qizhe walked in, Gu Qingyu followed him, and Mo Bai followed her. A man in black robes and a black, smiling mask stepped out from the shadows. "Who dares to cause such a ruckus on my territory?" For some reason, his voice was a little strange. It was old and rugged, but unnatural as if he changed his voice. Gu Qingyu smiled sweetly, she was simply going to chat with the ''old man'' first. But Jia Qizhe stopped her with a stern look and said to the man, "We are looking for information about the King of Xiqian and the Prime Minister." He pointed at Mo Bai. "This is for you, you''ll like him." Gu Qingyu froze in her steps. Why does he sound like a human trafficker? Mo Bai stared at Jia Qizhe for a long time before he addressed the old man while pointing at Jia Qizhe. "You must have had dozens of beautiful men, a change in taste is always good. And I assure you, he is like no one that you''ve ever had." The ''old man'' was befuddled, it was clear that he had no idea what they were hinting at. "You know what, ignore those two. They''re both idiots." Gu Qingyu took two steps forward and bowed. "We want to ask you about the King of Xiqian and the Prime Minister, especially about their interests and preferences." The ''old man'' nodded vigorously, he finally found someone that made sense. "I will tell you if you can get those two to leave." Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai were both speechless. Gu Qingyu smiled and waved at Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai. "Go, go!" Jia Qizhe clicked his tongue while Mo Bai hmph-ed. But for the sake of the overall situation, they both turned and walked out. Gu Qingyu and the ''old man'' cringed as they watched the two men leave. After Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai left, the ''old man'' waved his sleeve. "Take a seat." Gu Qingyu had just opened her mouth to ask a question, then something stiff rested against the back of her knees. She turned around, it was a chair. Gu Qingyu sat down, and at the same time, the ''old man'' took a seat across her. "Introduce yourself." The ''old man'' gestured for her to begin, his palm faced up. There was nothing in his hands. Gu Qingyu understood that in order to get the truth from the other party, she must first be honest with him. So she relented. "Gu Qingyu, the third miss of the Gu Family in Dongxuan." "Oh~ So you are the legendary Miss Gu~" The ''old man'' seemed to have hinted at something. Wow, I am infamous at this point. Gu Qingyu asked impatiently, "Yes. Can you tell me what I want to know, oh great leader?" "Oh, I am not the leader." The ''old man'' shrugged. "I merely work for him, you can call me Crow." "Well, then Uncle Crow..." Gu Qingyu tried to appear very respectful of the elderly. "Cough!" For some reason, he coughed unnaturally. "You want information? You''ll have to agree to a condition." "Say it, I''ll try my best to meet it." Gu Qingyu cut straight to the point. "I will give you the information you seek, then you can fulfill the condition in the future. Don''t worry, I will only ask for what is within your capabilities" Crow nodded. Gu Qingyu nodded. "Okay!" Crow continued. "Cough. Well, listen closely. In the eyes of everyone, the King of Xiqian is an incompetent monarch, drunk on wine and beauty. There''s three thousand beauties at his harem, more than any other monarch in the world. He would visit his concubines, yet afterwards, he would give them medicine for abortion. I speculate it was all to keep up appearances, it''s all a ruse to appease his subjects. And it is rumoured that all state affairs are handled by the Prime Minister instead. We have found that claim to be factual, the King seeks the Prime Minister''s opinion for all matters. Sometimes, the Prime Minister''s opinion is more valuable than the King''s own ideas." "Then what is their relationship?" Gu Qingyu couldn''t help asking. "Good question, that is what we have been trying to find out." Crow nodded, "I don''t know why, but it''s clearly well-concealed." "So that is to say, as long as the Prime Minister agrees to anything, it doesn''t matter if the King disagrees?" Gu Qingyu blinked. "That is one way to look at it. But the Prime Minister is said to not indulge in neither vice nor virtue. It would be quite difficult to persuade him." Crow shook his head. "The only thing I know is that the Prime Minister has a collection of paper fans." "Fans?" Gu Qingyu was surprised and suddenly the image of Qi Yichen waving his fan regardless of the situation entered her mind. "Yes, I believe this would assist Miss Gu." Crow hunched his back and stood up slowly. "Miss Gu, this is all the help I can give. Don''t forget our agreement, I''m afraid I will not be able to see you out myself." "Okay, thank you." Gu Qingyu nodded and also stood up. "Goodbye, Uncle Crow!" "Cough! Actually... I am not that old!" Chapter 67: I am Unparalleled! Chapter 67: I am Unparalleled! Translated by: iris.knight "Where did they go?" Gu Qingyu stared at the empty street in front of her. "Xiao Yu''er, here." Jia Qizhe walked over from a distance, his blue robe billowed in the wind, and intertwined with the white robe behind him. Gu Qingyu glared. "Where have you been?" "I bought something delicious for you, Yu''er." Mo Bai held a bundle of candied hawthorns in his hand and handed it to Gu Qingyu. Jia Qizhe also had sweets in his hand. "Eh? Thank you!" Gu Qingyu took the sweet with surprise. "I am very happy, but Jia Qizhe, why is your hand covering your nose? And Mo Bai, why are you covering your forehead?" Jia Qizhe rubbed the bruises on his nose, Gu Qingyu didn''t see it. "Nothing, my nose is a little itchy." Mo Bai also gently massaged the bluish, purple bruise on his forehead. "I... I was just bitten by a mosquito. It''s nothing, Yu''er, don''t worry about it. " Yeah, right! Only an idiot would believe that! Gu Qingyu nodded, seemingly convinced by their excuses. She gave Jia Qizhe half of the snacks, he held it with one hand. Then, she gave Mo Bai the other half of the snacks, he too held it with one hand. "Well, if you want to cover it, cover it, don''t ever let me see it!" She turned around and walked back quickly. "Xiao Yu''er!" Jia Qizhe quickly followed. "Wait for me!" "Yu''er, don''t walk so fast!" Mo Bai also hurried to keep up. Gu Qingyu suddenly stopped, whipped around, and grabbed their hands. She yanked their hands away from their face before they could stop her. "Xiao Yu''er?" Jia Qizhe was startled. "Yu''er?" Mo Bai was startled. The bruises on Jia Qizhe''s nose and on Mo Bai''s forehand were clear as day. There was a look of horror and shock in her eyes. "Someone beat you two up?" They glanced at each other and nodded. Then, Gu Qingyu lost it. "@#$%^&*! How dare they mess with my people!" Who would be so powerful to beat up both Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai? And not with powers, a pure physical beatdown? Before Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai reacted, Gu Qingyu immediately looked at Jia Qizhe with concern. "Xiao Zhezhe, who was the little bitch that beat you up?" She looked at Mo Bai again, even more concerned. "Xiao Bai Bai, who should I kill for beating you?" Jia Qizhe pursed his lips and pointed at Mo Bai. He sounded so aggrieved. "This is the little bitch! " At the same time, Mo Bai also pointed at Jia Qizhe. He sounded so wronged. "This is the person you should kill!" The two men had accused each other. Gu Qingyu was speechless. After a while, she regained her senses and looked at them in disbelief. "You two fought?" The two nodded. Blood rushed to her head, for a moment, her vision blacked out. "You two are absolutely absurd!" "I''m sorry, Yu''er." Mo Bai confessed, "We didn''t use spells." No spells? You two would have killed each other if you used spells! Jia Qizhe cleverly distracted her. His devious voice picked up in the wind. "Xiao Yu''er, the wind is strong here, let''s go back first, okay? When you come back to the inn, you can scold us to your heart''s content." She nodded and began to walk back to the inn, "Hmph! Don¡¯t bother buttering me up like that, it won''t work! I want no more trouble once we get back. Both of you are to go to bed immediately!" Isn''t it working? Jia Qizhe draped his coat across Gu Qingyu''s shoulders. A smirk split across his face, directed at Mo Bai. I bought a coat, did you bring yours? Mo Bai remained silent as he looked at his own thin robes. He followed Gu Qingyu silently. I should have dressed warmer. Back at the inn Gu Qingyu looked at Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai and nodded. "Well, I''m going to bed. If your private conflicts have not been resolved, do sort them out. The night is still young, after all." Jia Qizhe''s mouth twitched. "No need, I have to rest too. Xiao Yu''er, go to bed." "Yu''er, good night." Mo Bai smiled slightly. "Yeah, good night." Gu Qingyu waved as she walked upstairs. She was greeted by the sight of Yan Zun floating through the air when she entered her room. "Master?" Gu Qingyu blinked. "What''s wrong?" Yan Zun'' gave her a smirk. "How do you feel?" "Eh?" She doesn''t feel tired at all, and her whole body feels light. The lack of exhaustion and tension had persisted after her bath. "I feel great!" She replied subconsciously. Yan Zun rolled his eyes. "Come on, sleep now." Just an eyeroll? Gu Qingyu nodded. "Is there no training today?" "It ¡¯s best to have a good rest after using Bone Breaker." Yan Zun smiled. "Unless, you would like to find out how it feels to train after using that medicine?" It must not be a good feeling! Gu Qingyu pursed her lips. "Good night then, Master." "Good night, my dear apprentice." Yan Zun twisted and turned as he drifted through the air. Gu Qingyu brought the covers over her head, and mumbled under her breath. "He¡¯s just a soul, just a soul, just a soul." She repeated that line as though it was a mantra as she tried to hypnotise herself to sleep. The self-hypnosis worked. She soon fell into a deep sleep. The next day. Gu Qingyu was awakened by a knock on the door. It is Qi Wan. His cheerful voice rang across the room. "Boss~ Wake up! The sun''s already up. I''m gonna come in and drag you out of bed if you don''t wake up soon! Waaah, Hero Jia! Ah! Ow Ow Ow! " His voice began to break up, and it disappeared along with the last ''ow''. Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes at the ceiling. What''s with this vaguely supernatural horror film vibe? She dragged herself out of bed, got dressed, and stepped out of her room just in time to see Qi Wan, with bumps all over his head, being dragged down the stairs by Jia Qizhe. Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan with pity in her eyes, she gave him a "good luck" face, then ambled down the stairs behind them. Murong Zuoyu was the first to approach her. He nodded slightly and greeted her. "Brother Zhu, good morning." "Morning, Brother Murong!" Gu Qingyu beamed. "Have you found the shortest route to the Imperial City?" Murong Zuoyu nodded, he took out a hand-drawn map from his sleeve and handed it to Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu took it and analysed the map, her head bobbed as she examined it closely. "Nice! Just as I expected, Brother Murong!" Qi Yichen joined them with a lazy yawn. "Hey, Brother Zhu, I helped too!" "Yep, yep, well done." Gu Qingyu replied and sat down to eat. Pleased, Qi Yichen sat down and picked up his chopsticks gleefully. Gu Qingyu smiled at his reaction. She waited for everyone to gather before digging in. "So, kitten, any new leads from last night?" Xie Zang tilted his head as he asked. "Oh, there are new leads alright!" Gu Qingyu looked at Xie Zang with a glint of mischief in her eyes. "There seems to be something interesting going on between the King and the Prime Minister..." "Cough cough cough!" Qi Yichen coughed and hacked, he choked on a sip of water. "Brother Zhu, that''s..." That was the least ladylike behaviour I have seen from her. "I''m talking about facts." Gu Qingyu blinked. "Facts, just facts." Qi Yichen did a perfect spit take. After breakfast They tore through the streets on horseback. "Qi Wan, this is a really good horse!" Gu Qingyu said. In a short amount of time, her horse-riding skills have improved greatly. "Boss, your skills are not bad!" Qi Wan praised her. "Oh, yeah~" Gu Qingyu covered her face, "I just love hearing you say the truth-Woah!" Her grip on the reins was too loose, her horse tugged at the reins and she jerked forward. Luckily, Murong Zuoyu, who was beside her, grabbed the reins and calmed the horse before she fell off. "Careful, Brother Zhu." "Thank you, Brother Murong!" Gu Qingyu was not worried about falling, because there were so many people around her. She took the reins from Murong Zuoyu''s hands and held onto it. "Xiao Yu''er, next time you let go, I don''t mind pulling you to ride with me." Jia Qizhe''s tone was laced with threats. "No need!" Gu Qingyu immediately tightened her grip on the reins and focused. After they left the city, Gu Qingyu gave directions. She checked the map with one hand and held onto the reins with the other. "Go straight west, about a day''s ride.¡± "It''s not too late, let''s hurry." Jia Qizhe nodded, sent his horse into a gallop, and rode off. "Brother Jia~ Wait for me~~" Gu Qingyu did the same, the rest followed her. With Jia Qizhe as the vanguard, the ride was basically unimpeded. They arrived at the Imperial City of Xiqian at sunset, a few hours ahead of schedule. People bustled through the streets as vendors called out from their stalls. Children darted between the crowds as they played. Laughter filled the air. Gu Qingyu watched the peaceful scene before her and grew more and more impressed with the Prime Minister. They found an inn for the night. Suddenly, Gu Qingyu stared at Qi Yichen, more precisely, the fan in his hand. An idea popped into her mind. "What''s the matter, Brother Zhu?" Qi Yichen continued to wave his fan, completely unaware. "Why? Have I become more handsome?" "Yes!" Gu Qingyu nodded as she walked up to him, then she held his hands in warm sincerity, her hands wrapped tightly around his. "Brother Qi!" "What are you doing?" Qi Yichen''s face stiffened. "Please, just say it, you don''t have to do this, Brother Zhu. This scholar is also an innocent person, and a man and woman do have differences..." "Relax, I have never seen you as a man!" Gu Qingyu nodded sincerely. "Brother Qi! Actually, I think you are handsome, just without this!" Her hands shifted and grabbed Qi Yichen''s fan. Qi Yichen''s face stiffened again. "Brother Zhu, this is not funny!" "To be honest, the Prime Minister of Xiqian really likes fans. I think your fan looks really nice, I wanna borrow it." Qi Yichen freaked out. "Borrow? Are you sure you will return it to me?" "Of course!" Gu Qingyu held up her hand to the heavens. "I sware." She messed up the pronunciation on purpose. "Okay." Qi Yichen held out the fan reluctantly. "Okay." Gu Qingyu tried to pull the fan out of his hand. Surprisingly, Qi Yichen has quite a strong grip. "Xiao Chenchen, be nice. Let go." With a final yank, she pulled the fan out of Qi Yichen''s hands. "And isn''t this your weapon? If it really ends up in the Prime Minister''s hands, you can just call it back." "Well, you have a point.¡± Qi Yichen nodded, then his face turned sullen again. "But I can''t live without it!" "Brother Qi, what do you think of this one?" Qi Wan passed a fan to him, it was also a white fan. Qi Yichen stared at the fan in disdain, and just when he relented and reached to take the fan, Qi Wan retracted his hand, opened it, and fanned himself. "How can I give you such a beautiful fan? You''re so naive, Brother Qi!" There were three large words written on the fan in block letters: I AM UNPARALLELED! Chapter 68: The Prime Minister of Xiqian Chapter 68: The Prime Minister of Xiqian Translated by: iris.knight Gu Qingyu and Jia Qizhe infiltrated the palace to get a sense of the layout. "You know, this place is huge." Gu Qingyu scanned the palace from the rooftops. "Guess it''s really a palace." There are four countries in this continent, and she has been to three of them already, and visited each of their palaces? Not bad, Gu Qingyu, not bad. "Yeah." Jia Qizhe nodded as he watched her with a half-smile. "It''s so big." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Envious?" "No, I have nothing to be envious of." Jia Qizhe actually said the truth, "You will know the reason later." "Why? Are you an Emperor in some country as well?" Gu Qingyu teased him. "No, I''m not." Jia Qizhe shook his head. "But I''m not sure about the rest, especially that pretty face." I know you don''t like him, you don''t have to be so obvious about it. Gu Qingyu drew her lips into a tight line. "Ok, whatever. Let''s finish what we came here for, we''ll split up." "Okay." Jia Qizhe tilted his head slightly. "Then..." Gu Qingyu looked to her side, but Jia Qizhe had already gone off. Wow, talk about moving like a shadow. Me, on the other hand... Gu Qingyu let out a soft sigh, called out her cat demon ears and tail, then jumped down from the roof. She kept to the shadows and avoided the patrolling soldiers, her heart pounded against her chest as she explored the palace. Then, a daring idea came into her mind, she might as well visit the King and the Prime Minister''s private chambers. With silent steps, Gu Qingyu arrived at the most heavily-guarded chamber in the palace. She leaped up to the roof and laid flat against the tiles. And then with bated breath, she lifted up a single tile and looked down. The room below her was covered in the gold. A man in a dragon robe sat in the center of the room, his whole body sank into the cushy chair. In his arms was someone dressed in white. Based on the silhouette, it was clear that the person in white was a man. Something about that man felt familiar to her, but she could not see his face. That man had buried his face in the King''s chest. Wow, I had actually guessed right. The King of Xiqian and the Prime Minister are lovers. Qi Yichen will be speechless once he finds out. She watched as the Prime Minister slowly raised his head. Her mind went blank when she finally saw that man''s face. That''s Qi Yichen! Does that mean that the Prime Minister of Xiqian, who was rumored to be super upstanding and extra mysterious, practically an immortal sage, is Qi Yichen? That is nothing like the Qi Yichen I know! The Qi Yichen I know is careless, gruff, spends way too much time pretending to be cool. She was still reeling in shock when Qi Yichen flashed a smile at her as he wrapped his arms around the King''s neck. That smile was different from his usual cheerfulness. Instead, it was sinister and wicked. It was difficult to imagine a person like Qi Yichen would ever have that kind of expression. In that moment, he looked like a fox that, after a long chase, had finally caught its prey. The world in front of her eyes faded to black, her strength left her body and she fainted. The last thing she saw was that unsettling grin on Qi Yichen''s face. When she opened her eyes again, she was in some dark and damp place. Iron bars were in front of her, she seemed to be locked somewhere. She could hear rats squeaking and scurrying about in the walls. A moldy stench filled the air. She suddenly recalled what she saw before she fainted. Qi Yichen, in the arms of the King of Xiqian, smiled at her. No one would have thought that Qi Yichen would be the Prime Minister of Xiqian. So, Qi Yichen, who is the most harmless-looking in the entire team, who could only hold up a shield in the beginning, is the legendary Prime Minister of Xiqian? She knew that everyone must have some interesting backstory or influential identities and that they were all after the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny and the Spirit Gems. But the sudden betrayal still stung badly. Although, it would not be a betrayal if they were never on her side. Her arms dangled above her head, everything felt heavy and stiff. She tried to move her arms a little, a rattling filled the air instead. It was the sound of chains. She was bound in chains. Gu Qingyu stared at the empty corridor outside her cell. Jia Qizhe, where are you... The sound of steady footsteps drew close. Qi Yichen''s face appeared in front of her, and beyond the iron bars, he smiled and waved his fan as usual. "Are you comfortable, Brother Zhu?" Gu Qingyu returned with a smile. "No, I''m not comfortable. It would help if you loosened my chains a little." Qi Yichen raised his eyebrows and waved his fan. The chain on her body disappeared without a trace. But there was a feeling of powerlessness on her body. And without the support of the chains, she slid down the wall and slumped to the floor. "Thanks." Gu Qingyu gave a strained smile as she gently rolled her stiff shoulders. She froze when she was about to call Yan Zun. To make matters worse, she found that the Spirit Gems on her were missing, along with the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny. "What are you looking for?" Qi Yichen closed the fan. "Brother Zhu, if you promise that from now on, you will not seek the Spirit Gems and the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny. Then, on the account of our past friendship, I might let you go, " Gu Qingyu chuckled. "Sure." "You''re such a clever person, Brother Zhu. Even I have trouble reading you sometimes." The smile on Qi Yichen''s face gradually disappeared. "So, it''s better to cut the problem at its roots." His fan flew out of his hands and headed straight towards Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu''s Soul Chain came to life automatically and defended its owner with a swift flick. Qi Yichen''s fan was easily deflected. The fan kept flying, it circled around Gu Qingyu before it returned to Qi Yichen''s hand. "You still have strength to defend..." Qi Yichen narrowed his eyes slightly. Gu Qingyu smiled and slowly but surely, she stood up under his gaze. He stared at her incredulously. "How could it be..." He had locked her body by her acupoints, and his energy should have drained her of all her strength, how could she still stand? Gu Qingyu only felt that her eyes were a little sore. She closed her eyes slightly, and the Soul Chain broke through her cell and attacked Qi Yichen. Qi Yichen jumped and dodged the attack, but right after he dodged it, the Soul Chain whipped back and lunged towards him. Qi Yichen was shocked and avoided the chains by bending down. But when he opened his fan looked up at Gu Qingyu, a red mark sliced across his cheek. "I have underestimated you, Brother Zhu." Qi Yichen wiped his cheek without a care, and in an instant, his white robe was stained with crimson. Gu Qingyu didn''t know why the Soul Chain was so powerful. She didn''t control it, neither did she have the strength to do that. She turned her head slightly, a dark green ribbon supported her back. Qi Wan and the rest are here. Suddenly, Qi Yichen smiled. "Qingyu, have you heard of parasites?" Gu Qingyu flinched as she sieved through her memory, she had read about it somewhere. "Parasites can reside in the human body, and can control the host according to its owner''s intentions." Qi Yichen clapped his hands and pain shot through her body. Qi Yichen''s low laughter brushed against her ears as her consciousness faded. Gu Qingyu was awakened by a burst of pain, she found herself lying on a furry carpet. The fur tickled against her nape. She looked up slightly, two pairs of boots were in front of her. A pair was yellow, the other pair was white. She strained her neck and looked up further. The yellow boots belonged to the King of Xiqian, and the white boots belonged to Qi Yichen, who also happened to be seated in the King''s lap. "Wei, I brought her back." Qi Yichen''s tone was so soft and gentle. The King of Xiqian nodded. "Chen, well done, my Prime Minister." I may be a fujoshi, but this is not the time! She was going to pretend that she was unconscious but Qi Yichen commanded in a cold voice. "Come, bring a bucket of water and wake her up. Make sure it''s boiling hot. " I can still take it if it''s ice water, but how am I supposed to handle hot water? Gu Qingyu immediately raised her hand and waved it slightly. "No need, I''m awake!" "I figured" The King smiled. "The master of the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny, and the person who wishes to collect all of the Spirit Gems, Zhu Fan." Zhu Fan? Gu Qingyu wondered, her eyes met the King''s suspicious gaze. It seems that Qi Yichen did not reveal her real identity to the King. The King continued to stare at her, expecting a reply. She nodded gingerly. "Hehe..." He chuckled "My name is Zhi Wei." Gu Qingyu thought for a moment, then quickly raised her head. "Hello, my name is Er Kang." "Not Zhu Fan?" Zhi Wei froze. Gu Qingyu shook her head. "Yeah, Er Kang is my real name!" "Really?" Zhi Wei nodded seriously, "Very well, Er Kang." Gu Qingyu then said, "Ziwei, we are born from the same root, why are we hurting each other." "Who''s born from the same root as you." Zhi Wei rolled his eyes. "I am the King." "Yeah, yeah, I know." Gu Qingyu said and nodded. "You already have the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny and the Spirit Gems, why don''t you just let me go?" "Er Kang, do you know what ''peace of mind'' means?" A cunning smile spread across Zhi Wei''s face. "No idea." Gu Qingyu smiled innocently. "Then I''ll teach you." Zhi Wei smiled slightly, his hand gently brushed against Qi Yichen''s cheek. "Chen, thank you." "Wei, I would go through hell and back for you, you don''t need to thank me." Qi Yichen also smiled. Suddenly, Gu Qingyu jumped up, letting Qi Wan''s ribbon control her body as she sent the Soul Chain towards Zhi Wei. Zhi Wei froze, while Qi Yichen''s fan flew out from his sleeve and formed a shield in front of Zhi Wei. "Wei, be careful!" He jumped up and manipulated his fan masterfully, countering Gu Qingyu''s attack with one of his own. There was a chance for Gu Qingyu to attack him when Qi Yichen changed from defense to offense. But she faltered when she saw that determined look on his face. "No one can hurt Wei!" Qi Yichen''s attacks grew erratic, yet every blow, every strike was carefully calculated. The fan sliced open Gu Qingyu''s arm, it startled her. Just when she was about to retaliate, the powerlessness swept over her again and she collapsed. Qi Yichen withdrew his fan. "Give up, Brother Zhu." Zhi Wei grabbed Qi Yichen and pulled him back into his arms. "What a shame." Zhi Wei shook his head, "Remember what I just said?" "Peace of mind?" Gu Qingyu answered tentatively. Zhi Wei nodded as he unsheathed a dagger. Qi Yichen stared at Zhi Wei with loving, dreamy eyes and a permanent soft smile. Suddenly, his smile stiffened and his pupils narrowed. Gu Qingyu watched with clear eyes as a dagger disappeared into Qi Yichen''s back. The tip of the blade re-appeared through his chest. Red, shocking red blood covered the blade. Chapter 69: Stumbling Block Chapter 69: Stumbling Block Translated by: iris.knight "Chen, you know me. Since you love me so much, then please, my only stumbling block, die for me." Zhi Wei still had a smile on his face, but it was horrifying and chilling. Qi Yichen laughed, as though he had come to terms with his impending death. His laugh reminded her of wilting spider lilies, they would bloom splendidly, even if it killed them. "Don''t blame me." Zhi Wei''s eyes gradually became cold and indifferent. "You have to die, Chen, it was just a matter of time." "Wei," Qi Yichen smiled, blood trickled out of his lips as he replied. "I never blamed you." He said "blamed", which means he already knew. Qi Yichen, you''re really a tactician. "And, like this, we will always be together..." Zhi Wei held Qi Yichen''s face softly, his thumb brushed against his cheek. Qi Yichen''s hand trembled as he reached up and covered Zhi Wei''s hand. "Wei, after your only stumbling block is dead, can you let Zhu Fan go?" Gu Qingyu could hear her heart pounding in her ears. "Of course, it''s your last wish after all." Zhiwei nodded, "Chen, I have to say, you are a very smart person. It''s just a pity that you lost to love." "You don''t say..." Qi Yichen chuckled lightly. "Now then, farewell, Chen." Zhi Wei was about to pull out the dagger, but he could not move his hand. A dark green ribbon wrapped around his hand. "Dammit!" Zhi Wei cursed, he tugged against the ribbon, but it would not budge. Qi Yichen still lost too much blood and passed out. His white robe was now stained red as he laid in Zhi Wei''s arms, completely silent. Gu Qingyu pushed herself up from the floor, flew forward, and grabbed Qi Yichen. She transferred whatever power she had to him, it was just enough to maintain his pulse. "Hang in there, Qi Yichen." Gu Qingyu wrapped her arms around Qi Yichen''s limp body. Several people appeared in front of her in an instant, Jia Qizhe, Mo Bai and the rest of the team were finally here. "Mo Bai! Come and help!" Gu Qingyu shouted at Mo Bai, "I can''t keep this up anymore..." Mo Bai rushed to them. He looked at Gu Qingyu, there was some uncertainty in his voice. "Yu''er, do you want to save him?" "Yes, Qi Yichen is my friend!" Her voice was firm. "Mo Bai, please." Mo Bai sighed slightly as he placed his hand on her head. "I can never say no to you, Yu''er." His fingertips brushed against the gash on her arm and instantly, a cold sensation washed over the wound, and the pain dulled. He took Qi Yichen and stepped out. "He and I will wait for you at the inn." Does that mean he agreed? Gu Qingyu cried tears of joy as she nodded towards Mo Bai. She then straightened her face, and turned to Zhi Wei, still seated in his throne. Zhi Wei looked at Gu Qingyu and let out a bark of laughter. "Why, Zhu Fan, are you in love too?" "Bullshit." Qi Wan snapped back before Gu Qingyu could say anything. Gu Qingyu pointed to Qi Wan, and addressed Zhi Wei in a flat tone. "Relax, Zhi Wei. This guy is just Qi Yichen''s ex." "What ex!" Qi Wan snorted, "Zhi Wei? Then I''ll be Er Kang." "Are you also called Er Kang?" Zhi Wei looked at Qi Wan in horror. "Yeah," Qi Wan looked at Zhiwei with a half-smile. "What about it?" Step by step, he approached Zhi Wei. Zhi Wei stood up and backed away. Jia Qizhe walked to Gu Qingyu''s side. "Yu''er, are you ok?" He suddenly saw Gu Qingyu''s blood-stained sleeve, and his soft gaze chilled. A sword appeared in his right hand. "Yu''er, don''t worry, I''ll cut off one of his arms right this moment." "Don''t." Gu Qingyu shook her head. "Make that two." Jia Qizhe was stunned, then a bloodthirsty grin spread across his face. "Two it is." "What about his legs?" Xie Zang chimed in. Gu Qingyu thought for a while and gave a serious nod. "Yes. Where''s Brother Murong and Xiao Qi?" "They stayed in the inn. It''s not suitable for Xiao Qi to come here, Brother Murong stayed to protect her." Qi Wan turned back, then his ribbon flew out and wrapped tightly around Zhi Wei. Zhi Wei glared at them. "How do you plan to answer your crime, to plot murder against a king!" Gu Qingyu smiled and walked up to him, Qi Wan and Jia Qizhe stepped aside and opened the path. "How about, the incompetent King of Xiqian had killed the Prime Minister in a drunken fit, and when he sobered up, he was overwhelmed with guilt and killed himself. Would that be a sufficient answer?" She gently stroked the Soul Chain as it circled them. Zhi Wei shivered as though he had fallen into an icy ravine. The person in front of him was like Death, who had come from Hell to retrieve his soul. "You..." He burst into a whistle. "What are you doing?" Gu Qingyu looked at him suspiciously. Zhi Wei stopped and stared at Gu Qingyu with horror. "You... why aren''t the parasites working..." Can whistling also control the parasites? Gu Qingyu blinked and suddenly remembered the moment Qi Yichen''s fan sliced open her arm. He was helping her get rid of the parasites. Zhi Wei looked at her arm and made the connection. His eyes glazed over. "To think Qi Yichen actually betrayed me..." "You never sided with him, how could he betray you?" Gu Qingyu smiled. Zhi Wei suddenly shouted frantically. "Chen! Chen! Come and save me!" "You lost him the moment you drove that dagger into him." Gu Qingyu looked at him without sympathy or pity. "Zhi Wei, you are nothing without Qi Yichen." Zhi Wei froze for a moment, then smiled in sorrow. "You''re right! Without him, I am nothing! Everything that I have to have, it was all given by him. But I treated him as a stumbling block, a stone in my path!" He said, there seemed to be tears at the corners of his eyes. "Chen, where are you?" Tears slid down and dripped to the floor. Gu Qingyu merely watched as the man in front of her cried tears of regret. Just moments ago, that man was a King who had the world in his arms. And now that man had lost everything. Yet, there was a cold indifference in her eyes. "For Qi Yichen''s sake, I think it''s better that you no longer exist in this world." Gu Qingyu smiled, but the smile did not reach her eyes. "From now on, the King of Xiqian is no more, along with the Prime Minister of Xiqian. Qi Yichen will be Qi Yichen, he will just be himself." "You forgive him, even though he betrayed you?" Shock was written all over Zhi Wei''s face. "He never betrayed me." Gu Qingyu''s voice was calm, neither cold nor warm. "You betrayed him." She whipped around. "I''m going back to the inn to see how Qi Yichen is doing. Jia Qizhe, Xie Zang, I''ll leave him in your hands. Qi Wan, remember to help me bring back the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny and the Spirit Gems." The trio nodded, Gu Qingyu pushed open the door and left the palace. Back at the inn Mo Bai, in pristine white robes, sipped his tea as he waited for Gu Qingyu on the first floor. "Mo Bai!" Gu Qingyu ran up to him. "Qi Yichen, is he..." "He''s alive." Mo Bai took a small sip. "But he lost a lot of blood. He''ll wake up after about two or three days of rest." "Thank you Mo Bai!" Gu Qingyu nodded. "Yu''er, sometimes I really don''t understand you." He set down the teacup with one hand and ran his other hand along his jade flute. "You don''t need to understand." Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Yichen''s room on the second floor. "I would do the same if it had been any one of you." "I don''t know if I should call you gracious or stupid." Mo Bai shook his head with a smile. "You know, in the future, every one of us may be like Qi Yichen today and reveal ourselves to be just using you to get to the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny and the Spirit Gems. " "I know." Gu Qingyu sighed softly. "I''m ready for that." "You''re prepared..." Mo Bai lowered his eyes slightly. Suddenly, he raised the corners of his lips and reached out to touch Gu Qingyu''s head. "Yu''er, just remember, I will never leave you." Gu Qingyu smiled and nodded. "I know, thank you Mo Bai." Murong Zuoyu, who came out of the room, saw Gu Qingyu and greeted, "Brother Zhu." "Everything went well." Gu Qingyu nodded and walked upstairs. Back in her own room, she reached out to Yan Zun out of habit. Then she remembered that the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny was stolen. She blinked a few times, then the sound of footsteps came from downstairs. Are they back? Gu Qingyu opened the door and saw Qi Wan walking up the stairs. "Everyone''s back?" Gu Qingyu smiled. Qi Wan nodded and extended his hand. In his palm was a small bundle of cloth. He opened the bundle, and it was the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny and the Spirit Gems. There is one more Spirit Gem than they originally had. Gu Qingyu took the small bundle."Thank you, Qi Wan!" "Oh Boss, it''s an honour to work for you!" Qi Wan clapped his hands. "Boss, did you know that this Zhi Wei hid them super well? It''s actually hidden in a book, and the book was hidden in a giant library! If it weren''t for my sharp wit... " Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes, dragged Qi Wan downstairs and rejoined the team. She smiled at the crowd. "Thank you for your work today, everyone. Do get some rest soon. And... no one is to ever mention Xiqian, or its King in front of Qi Yichen. From today onwards, there is no Prime Minister of Xiqian. Qi Yichen is just Qi Yichen." Everyone nodded. Gu Qingyu walked back to her room and took out the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny. A familiar voice came. "Stupid apprentice, finally found your master?" Gu Qingyu smiled. "Sorry Master, I let them take you away." "Huh, don''t apologise. Do you think those ants stood a chance if I didn''t want to be captured?" Yan Zun let out a huff. He was relaxed, not a slight bit of worry or fear was in his voice. Gu Qingyu was confused. "Then you...?" "Don''t you forget that I am also a ghost now?" Yan Zun curled his lips as he leaned back on Gu Qingyu''s bed. "This was the perfect opportunity to uncover a few secrets in Xiqian. And this time, I found quite a few interesting things in their grand library!" Chapter 70: Sightseeing Chapter 70: Sightseeing Translated by: iris.knight Yan Zun was about to elaborate, but they were interrupted by a knock on the door. "Come in." Gu Qingyu put away the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny and the Spirit Gems. The door was pushed open, it was Jia Qizhe. "What is it? Why are you still awake at this hour?" Gu Qingyu scrutinised him as she motioned for him to come in. He walked in, the corners of his lips were slightly raised. "Xiao Yu''er, this is who you really are." "What do you mean?" Gu Qingyu looked at Jia Qizhe suspiciously. "Calm and decisive," He raised his eyebrow. "And shows no mercy to your enemies." "Yeah." She smiled. "Jia Qizhe, you are the only one who supported my decision." "Indeed, might controls everything. Without strength, you can''t even protect the people you love." He looked into her eyes and smiled. Then, he gently wrapped his arms around her. "I''m sorry, Xiao Yu''er. I didn''t reach you in time, it must have been horrible in those cells." "It''s alright. If you managed to bust me out of jail, then we would not be able to save Qi Yichen, and we would have lost the Spirit Gems." She returned his hug and patted him on the back. "Xiao Yu''er, sometimes I wonder if you are the original Gu Qingyu." She could not see his expression, he had buried his face in the crook of her neck. "You are very different from when I first met you. "Well, I am, and I''m not." She looked into the distance instead. "Jia Qizhe, when the timing is right and after I''ve sorted everything out in my head, I''ll tell you everything, ok?" "Okay, I''ll wait for you." "Right, go to sleep." She patted his back again, he nodded and went out. Yan Zun floated in the air. "Interesting~ He seemed to have sensed something." "What did he sense?" Gu Qingyu asked, she made the connection instantly. "I believe, he knows that not only that you were not the original Gu Qingyu, but he''s aware that I''m here." Despite being exposed, Yan Zun''s voice was calm, without any worry. Gu Qingyu frowned. "Maybe, but if it is Jia Qizhe, it should be fine..." "Oh? Really? Do you trust him that much?" A ghost of a smile swept across his face. Gu Qingyu nodded, she did not even attempt to skirt the issue. "Yes." Yan Zun sighed and shook his head. "Stupid apprentice, you have to remember, you are not someone who belongs to this world. So, whatever feelings you have-" "No, I am." Gu Qingyu cut him off. "I have been, from the beginning, otherwise I won''t be able to come over." "Stupid apprentice." Yan Zun flew to the window. "Suit yourself, your master is still around." "Thank you Master." Gu Qingyu nodded and laid down on her bed. Her head barely touched her pillow when Mo Bai''s voice came from outside. "Yu''er, are you asleep?" "No, what''s wrong?" Gu Qingyu got up. "Can I come in?" Mo Bai''s voice appeared soft in the quiet night. "Please, come in." Mo Bai stepped in, and he looked at Gu Qingyu with slight judgement. "Yu''er, you would get an infection if you don''t clean your wounds." She only remembered the gash on her arm at his reminder and smiled sheepishly. "Wasn''t it all done at the palace?" "How can it be so fast?" Small green light glowed from his hand. "Yu''er, give me your arm." "Okay." Gu Qingyu extended her arm obediently. "Your sleeve." The tip of Mo Bai''s ears were slightly pink. She pulled up her sleeve nonchalantly and revealed the horrifying gash on her arm. Damn, Qi Yichen did not hold back at all... Gu Qingyu scratched her head as she glanced at Mo Bai timidly. There was a flame of anger in his eyes. "Erm, Mo Bai, you... just calm down, relax." Gu Qingyu tried to appease him but it did not work. Then she covered her arm and cried, "Ow! It hurts!" Mo Bai immediately panicked. "Yu''er, are you ok? Don''t move, let me take a look." His slender fingers gently ran up and down her arm, the sensation was almost enough to cause a nosebleed. "It''s good that I at least eased the wound a little then." Under the soft green light from Mo Bai''s hands, the gash gradually closed and healed over. Gu Qingyu was just floored. Just as expected from the miracle doctor. He''s just amazing! She lifted her eyes from the gash to his face. He worked quietly, the focused look on his face was softened in the moonlight. His white robes swayed and drifted as a soft breeze came through the window. There was a tenderness in his eyes, one normally reserved for their one and only love. And yet, there was a tinge of sorrow, a longing for an anchor in a world of ruin. He will bear all your pains without hesitation, and he will do everything possible to fulfill all your wishes. He had always worn his heart on his sleeve, it was just as pure as that white robe in the silvery moonlight. Mo Bai left after he healed her arm. Gu Qingyu laid on her bed as she silently watched Yan Zun drift through the air. "Master." she said softly, "where is the next stop?" "Sleep first." Yan Zun leaned down and touched Gong Gu''s forehead gently. His silken hair poured down and swept across her cheeks, it tickled her. Gu Qingyu closed her eyes and seemed to hear Yan Zun''s sigh coming from a distance. "Stupid apprentice." The next morning Gu Qingyu was awakened by a nightmare. In her dream, Qi Yichen was covered with blood, the blood seeped through his white robes. Even his hands were sticky with that crimson liquid, but he smiled at her so happily. "Save me, Qingyu." "Thank you, Qingyu." He smiled so sweetly, completely not bothered by the dagger stuck in his chest, while Zhi Wei laughed like a mad man. "Chen, you have always been with me." "--So, stay with me, die with me, Chen." Gu Qingyu shot up from her bed, hastily crammed her feet into her shoes and dashed out. She sprinted straight to Qi Yichen''s room and opened the door with a slam. Qi Yichen was still lying on the bed, his lips were pale but it at least had a little more colour than yesterday. His chest rose and fell in a gentle rhythm. Gu Qingyu watched him with glazed eyes as she sighed in relief. "What''s wrong, Yu''er?" Mo Bai appeared behind her. Gu Qingyu shook her head and turned to face him. "Mo Bai, I''ll leave Qi Yichen in your care." "Relax, Yu''er, I''m a doctor." Mo Bai touched Gu Qingyu''s head and walked into the room. "I''ll never break any promise to you." "Thank you." Gu Qingyu walked out. "Then I won''t disturb you. Remember to come down for breakfast." Mo Bai gave her a tender smile and nodded slightly. Gu Qingyu closed the door and walked downstairs. Qi Wan immediately stood upright and saluted when he saw her. "Good morning, Boss!" "Good morning, soldier!" Gu Qingyu nodded and sat down at the dining table. "Slept well?" "Well, I had a beautiful dream." Qi Wan nodded and leaned in. "You know, I dreamy of Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai last night... Ahahaha! " He suddenly burst into a full-bellied laugh. Gu Qingyu understood and laughed too. "Oh~ I see." "Huh? Xiao Yu''er, what are you talking about." Jia Qizhe walked downstairs with a wicked smile. "Cough!" Qi Wan coughed and continued before Gu Qingyu could get a word in. "Boss, it''s cold today. Wear fewer clothes!" Gu Qingyu looked out the window, the sun hung high in the sky. Qi Wan swallowed nervously. "Boss, erm, let''s dig in. It would be bad if you missed mealtime and ended up with a stomach ache." He looked at the table and found that the bowls and plates were empty. Qi Wan froze. "Come on! When did you finish it, Boss?" "Just when I was talking to you." Gu Qingyu was even more confused than him. "Were you not looking?" She looked at Qi Wan as though she had seen a ghost. Qi Wan''s expression mirrored hers. "Nope." "Okay," Xie Zang, who had been waiting at the side, shifted on his feet as he asked, "Kitten, where are we headed next?" "Eh? I don''t know yet..." Gu Qingyu blinked and blinked, "Shall we do a bit of sightseeing around the area?" "Did the Lifeblood Jewel not say anything?" Murong Zuoyu''s tone dipped slightly. This was his usual tone. Gu Qingyu nodded, "Erm... Well.... maybe being stolen scared it, and it needs a few days to recover?" They were not supposed to know about Yan Zun after all, so she had to make something up on the spot. "...It''s spooked?" Qi Wan was astonished. "That''s weird, but cool!" Jia Qizhe joined them at the table and rubbed Gu Qingyu''s head. "Okay, then we''ll just stay in the area for a while. We''ve been travelling non-stop to find the Spirit Gem anyway, it must be tough on you, Xiao Yu''er." "No, it''s fine." Gu Qingyu shook her head. "Hero, Jia, you must have visited many places. Why don''t you show us around?" "Of course." Jia Qizhe nodded and smiled, "But I only want to show Xiao Yu''er around." "Brother Jia, you should be more generous~," Qi Wan said without fear. Jia Qizhe looked up at Qi Wan. "Brother Qi, what did you just say?" "No, no, I didn''t say anything!" Qi Wan caved in an instant. Jia Qizhe smiled with satisfaction. "What kind of place does Xiao Yu''er like?" "Scenic places!" Gu Qingyu blurted out. Jia Qizhe: "..." "Scenic places? I know a good place~" Xie Zang smiled. "Eh?" Gu Qingyu raised her head to look at Xie Zang. "Where?" "The bamboo cottage in a quaint bamboo forest, with clear streams and moonlight. " Xie Zang mused. "Kitten, do you like what I just described?" "The image feels familiar..." Gu Qingyu suddenly froze. It fits Qi Yichen''s hometown perfectly! "Xiao Yu''er, do you think of that place too?" Jia Qizhe stared at her, a smile hidden in the curve of his lips. Qi Wan asked curiously, "Where is it?" At that time, only Gu Qingyu, Jia Qizhe, Mo Bai, and Qi Yichen were there. And maybe Xie Zang, if he had been following them since then. Gu Qingyu looked to Xie Zang, confusion was written all over his face as well. That means he doesn''t know right? "Qi Yichen''s hometown." Gu Qingyu explained. "Xie Zang, what was the place that you were referring to? " "Along the border between Beiying and Dongxuan." Xie Zang answered. "Then let''s check it out." Gu Qingyu nodded, it might really be his hometown. "After Qi Yichen wakes up." Jia Qizhe nodded obediently. "Alright." Chapter 71: I will help you beat him! Chapter 71: I will help you beat him! Translated by: iris.knight "Does this have anything to do with us?" Gu Qingyu smiled easily. "We''re just visitors, tourists from another country. After Qi Yichen wakes up, let''s go back to the village at the border and visit Wukong." "Okay, Master!" Qi Wan bowed with his palms held together. Xiao Qi, who had just walked downstairs, cringed at that sight. Sure enough, as Murong Zuoyu predicted, news of the murder of the King of Xiqian had spread through the city. For better or worse, it was what everyone had talked about all day. That was how Gu Qingyu heard about actually. She was shopping with Jia Qizhe and Qi Wan when they heard the news. Although, to be precise, Jia Qizhe and Qi Wan were shopping with her. Gu Qingyu just finished eating a stick of candied hawthorns, she held out her hand to Qi Wan and Qi Wan immediately handed another stick of candied hawthorns. He carried a straw bundle on his shoulders, sticks of candied hawthorns were stuck into the straw bundle like porcupine spines. Qi Wan wanted to cry without tears. "Boss, isn''t it too sweet?" I really don''t get girls, even badass girls like you. "Of course it''s too sweet." Gu Qingyu held out her hand to Jia Qizhe. Jia Qizhe handed out a piece of salted rice cake and put it in Gu Qingyu''s hand. She popped the whole cake into her mouth and replied with a slightly muffled voice, "See? Not too sweet anymore." Qi Wan waved his hand weakly. "I take back what I just said..." What little girl? What badass girl? She''s just a badass, nothing else. "Oh," Gu Qingyu turned to Jia Qizhe. "Xiao Zhezhe!" Jia Qizhe seemed to enjoy this nickname very much. "What is it, Xiao Yu''er?" Gu Qingyu batted her eyelashes as she stared at him with wide, innocent eyes. "Look at the girls! All of them look pretty and beautiful! Can I..." "No." Jia Qizhe shot her down before she could even finish her sentence. "Dammit!" Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes, recomposed herself and tried again, dragging out each word this time. "Xiaozhezhe~ Zhezhe~ Zhe~" "Okay, you can buy it." Jia Qizhe relented with a wave. Yes, success! "Thank you Xiao Zhezhe!" Gu Qingyu smiled and pulled Jia Qizhe and Qi Wan to a clothing store. Qi Wan looked at the goosebumps on his arms, then he looked at Jia Qizhe''s threatening expression. He swallowed thickly and kept all of his complaints. At the clothing store Jia Qizhe shoved Gu Qingyu directly to the shopkeeper, who was a middle-aged lady. "Please, make a set of dresses for her." As he spoke, he handed her a piece of gold. The shopkeeper hurried to take it, and then made a very classic action-she nibbled on the gold. Then she nodded with a beaming smile. "Very well, sir! The clothes in this shop will definitely please you!" She was very excited, the shopkeeper looked at Gu Qingyu as though she was a goose who would lay golden eggs. Gu Qingyu winced as she sighed. "Jia Qizhe, seriously?... Hey, don''t drag me-ow! Qi Wan, help!" She trailed off as the passionate shopkeeper pulled her into a room. Qi Wan dabbed his forehead as the two men watched Gu Qingyu disappear into the room. The shopkeeper shut the door as soon as Gu Qingyu entered the room. She stared at her with a slight flush and stomped twice. "Sir, I will now begin to take your measurements." "Call me Miss, thank you." Gu Qingyu corrected calmly as she looked at the shopkeeper. Sure enough, the shopkeeper was stunned, her eyes scanned Gu Qingyu from the top of her head to the tip of her toes. "Will you please hurry up?" Gu Qingyu smiled. "Of course, no problem, Miss."! "The shopkeeper took out a measuring tape. "What colour would you prefer, miss?" "Huh..." Gu Qingyu pondered. "Pink." Yes, of course, bright colours are always nice. And pink is quite feminine, and it would not match with any of their colours, so that would minimise conflict as well... Gu Qingyu sighed. She has to be careful, even if it was just picking out something to wear. The shopkeeper concurred. "Yes, good color!" She took Gu Qingyu''s measurements, and soon she was free to walk out. The shopkeeper followed her out and nodded to Jia Qizhe. "Everything''s done, sir! Come by and pick up the dresses tomorrow!" "So fast?" Gu Qingyu turned to the shopkeeper with a questioning look. The shopkeeper nodded immediately. "Of course! Why would there be any delay for an esteemed guest as you!" ......This is really a capitalistic society. Gu Qingyu sighed and waved weakly. "Off you go then!" "What''s wrong, Boss? Are you not happy about the clothes?" Qi Wan asked. "No, I''m very happy." Gu Qingyu nodded, yet she had a melancholic look. "I just thought of some things..." "Boss, don''t give up hope!" Qi Wan mirrored her expression. "You must know that there are so many see through today, and there are many more you have not seen through waiting for you to see through!" "You can stop now." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes and resumed her snacking of candied hawthorns and salted rice cakes. After returning to the inn, Gu Qingyu went straight to Mo Bai''s room. He smiled when he saw her. "If nothing goes awry, I guess he would wake up tonight." "Thank you Mo Bai! You''re really an amazing doctor!" Gu Qingyu praised. That moment when the dagger pierced Qi Yichen''s chest, Gu Qingyu really thought he was going to die. I really didn''t expect Mo Bai to be so powerful... Well, after all, he is a "healer", his skill in healing spells was astonishing, it would not be a stretch to call it "resurrection". Not even modern medicine could do that. Mo Bai shook his head. "It''s just that there can be no more stimulation. He would be quite weak for a while, and he would no longer be able to use magic." "Well, as long as he''s alive." Gu Qingyu nodded. "Mo Bai, let''s go eat." "How does your arm feel?" Mo Bai changed the topic as he glanced at her arm. "Huh? I can''t feel the pain anymore..." Gu Qingyu blinked. "It''s amazing!" And yet, he frowned lightly. "Can''t feel pain?" "Yes, what''s wrong?" His brows were furrowed, it confused her. "It should not be this soon. It would be normal for you to feel a slight pain in the morning, but not completely.¡° Mo Bai looked into her eyes.¡±Did they poison you?" "Well, parasites actually, according to Qi Yichen and Zhi Wei." Gu Qingyu continued her explanation. "But it should have been removed when Qi Yichen cut my arm..." Otherwise, why would Zhi Wei fail that time? That surprised Mo Bai. "Yu''er, give me your arm, now!" He sounded anxious, but still gentle. His voice sent a warm fuzzy feeling straight to her chest. "What''s wrong?" She held out her hand obediently, pulled up her sleeve and rested it on Mo Bai''s palm. Mo Bai took out a leaf. "Yu''er, this might hurt a little." "It''s okay." Gu Qingyu looked at the leaf, but smiled. Mo Bai''s hand flicked past her arm quickly. Her arm seemed fine, but slowly, a thin line of black blood oozed out from her arm. Woah! Gu Qingyu cried, tears sprang out from her eyes as she panicked. "Ah! I''m bleeding!" "Yu''er?" Mo Bai was frightened. "It should not hurt." "Yeah! But it''s still scary!" Gu Qingyu cried even more fiercely as she watched the black blood that kept flowing out of her arm. "Don''t cry." Mo Bai gently stroked her forehead. "Are you scared?" Gu Qingyu nodded. "Of course I''m scared!" "Don''t worry, I''m here, it''s okay." Mo Bai smiled softly, his sleeve gently wiped away her tears that she squeezed from dramatic effect. Gu Qingyu grabbed his sleeves and was about to rub it all over her face. But he was still watching, so she let go of his sleeve instead and wiped her face with the back of her hand. "I''m fine now." Are all girls like that, tears come and go like pages in a book? "Alright. Although the parasites have been removed, the poison from the parasites has not yet dissipated. If we did not discover it early, I''m afraid that the poison would have spread further. Yu''er, pay more attention next time." There was a little anger mixed in his words, but there was still a trace of tenderness. It was such a contrasting tone that Gu Qingyu chuckled softly. "You can still laugh at this?" He seemed worried. She gradually stopped her laughing. "Okay, okay, I know!" The black blood had finally stopped, Mo Bai gently lifted her hand to check. He nodded after a close inspection. "It looks much better now." His hand lightly touched the wound, and the wound closed without a scar. Mo Bai pulled down Gu Qingyu''s sleeve. Right then, someone pushed open the door. Qi Wan broke in with a look of excitement, his mouth was open, as if he wanted to say something. But he stopped when he saw Gu Qingyu''s slightly red and puffy eyes, and Mo Bai gently holding her sleeve. "Boss!" Qi Wan immediately ran up, slapped away Mo Bai''s hand and pulled Gu Qingyu into his arms. "Jesus! What did he do to you! Don''t be afraid, I''m here, I''ll help you beat...!" He trailed off, Mo Bai''s eyes suddenly turned white. Qi Wan swallowed and spat out what was left of his sentence with difficulty but without fear. "Him up!" Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes and shoved Qi Wan away. "My God, what were you thinking?" She turned to Mo Bai, and his eyes had returned to normal. He smiled softly at her. "Yu''er, since you are fine, then I will go out first." He got up, his white robe spun around him as he walked out of the room. Gu Qingyu turned to Qi Wan and shot him a glare. "He''s angry now! It''s all your fault!" "What did I do?" Qi Wan glared back, his face full of shock. "Boss, are you blaming me for spoiling the mood?" "Rubbish." Gu Qingyu slowly lowered his sleeve. "You know, I was poisoned. If Mo Bai hadn''t discovered it in time, I would have died within the next few hours. Well, Mo Bai''s still around, so death might be a stretch. But still!" "My bad, Boss..." Qi Wan swallowed weakly. "As long as you are willing to correct your mistakes." Gu Qingyu nodded, "So, what did you do wrong?" "I should have knocked, and I should have waited until you''ve finished your business... Boss, calm down and listen to me explain... um... don''t come over... Why are you rolling up your sleeves? The weather''s really cold too... Can we have a nice little chat instead? Maybe you can put down whatever you are holdin-ah! Aaah!" Chapter 72: I Just Want You To Be Yourself Chapter 72: I Just Want You To Be Yourself Translated by: iris.knight "Boss... Why are you so protective of him..." Qi Wan burst into strips of tears. "Help!... I''ll go apologise to him, ok?" Gu Qingyu nodded. "Go, I''m waiting for you in my room. There''s something I need your help with." "Yes, my lord!" Qi Wan whipped around and walked down the hallway. "Brother~ Mo~" "Go away." A cold voice replied in the distance. Gu Qingyu laughed with her hand over her mouth as she went upstairs and back to her room. "My dear apprentice." Yan Zun floated slowly through the room. "You haven''t listened to what your master has to say." "Eh? Is it about Xiqian''s grand library?" Gu Qingyu looked at Yan Zun curiously and closed the window. Yan Zun nodded, half reclining on Gu Qingyu''s bed and played with his hair, twisting and coiling locks of hair around his finger. "Yes, Xiqian has many untold secrets." "Well, start talking, Master!" Curiosity lit up in her eyes. "It must be interesting!" "Yeah, it is very interesting." Yan Zun nodded as he smiled enchantingly. "That scholar''s fan in particular. It''s hiding some things even the scholar himself doesn''t know about. And, that scholar owes his life to that fan. Without it, god knows how things would have played out that night." "Huh?" Gu Qingyu leaned in. "What do you mean?" "Do you have his fan?" Yan Zun gave her a cunning smile. "Oh, there is a person in his fan~" "Person?" Gu Qingyu looked at Yan Zun in doubt. "You mean a soul? Like you?" "Don''t lump us together." Yan Zun huffed disdainfully. "I am actually capable of protecting you in danger." "Yes, thank you, Master!" Gu Qingyu nodded with minimal appreciation. "What about that person?" "The soul dissipated, maybe from overusing its power." Yan Zun sounded indifferent, as if he had been talking about the weather, "After all, it is still too weak. Only about a hundred years of training." "Hm... So Qi Yichen doesn''t know about her?" Gu Qingyu felt sorry for the unnamed soul. Yan Zun shook his head. "He is different from you, and that person is also different from me. I chose you, and I have the power to actually let you see me." "Huh." Gu Qingyu pursed her lips. "Master, can you save her?" Yan Zun shrugged and released the locks of hair. "You may be able to exist in a different form after death. But if the soul itself disappears, there is nothing that can be done." "I know, thank you Master." Gu Qingyu nodded slowly as she digested that information. "So that''s the big secret in Xiqian''s grand library?" "No, hardly." Yan Zun raised an eyebrow. "There''s still..." "Boss!" Qi Wan broke into the room. "I''m here!" Yan Zun disappeared in that second. Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Dammit!" Again, really? "What''s wrong with you Boss?" Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyu with a puzzled expression. "Didn''t you ask me to come here?" "Yeah." Gu Qingyu nodded with a sigh. Qi Wan saluted. "I have apologised to Brother Mo! How else can I be of service?" "Spar with me." Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan sincerely. "I don''t think you will refuse such a tiny request!" "Of course not!" Qi Wan said immediately. "Let''s go, right now. To an empty spot?" "Well, okay, do you know where that would be?" Gu Qingyu questioned. Qi Wan nodded. "Of course! Come with me!" He jumped out of the window. Gu Qingyu was in a daze as she watched Qi Wan jump down without a shred of hesitation. A loud ''thud'' came from below. She finally said, "Jesus, wow, this may be the second floor but it''s still much taller than the tree outside..." She decided to take the stairs instead. As expected, Qi Wan waited for her downstairs with a sullen expression, something was stuck to his messy hair. "Let''s go!" Gu Qingyu while stifling a laugh. Qi Wan nodded and went out sulking. They arrived at an empty lot. Gu Qingyu''s Soul Chain slowly appeared and circled her. "I always feel that your weapon is a bit scary, Boss..." Qi Wan hugged himself. "Every time I see it, I feel cold, like there''s a sudden gust or something..." "Oh." Gu Qingyu shrugged indifferently. "It''s probably not a big deal. Let''s get started, Qi Wan. " He nodded, and a ribbon flew out of his sleeve. She was still careful, even if the opponent was Qi Wan. She held the chain with one hand and striked. He jumped up immediately, and his ribbons flew out one after another. He dropped gracefully and stood on top of the Soul Chain as the ribbons were sent flying towards her. She immediately bent over, the ribbon brushed over her head, but not without a slight graze. The other end of the chain flew out and hit Qi Wan. He twirled in the air, then stood on his ribbon. The spinning momentum caused the other end of the ribbon to coil and wrap around Gu Qingyu and pulled her towards him. Every one of them is so powerful... Gu Qingyu made a last stand. She extended her sleeve arrow and released a bolt at the ribbon that pulled her towards Qi Wan. However, the ribbon simply dodged the bolt. Then, it wrapped around her crossbow sleeve, making it impossible for her to fire another bolt. Right then, Qi Wan came to Gu Qingyu''s side and held her by the waist with a wide grin on his face. "How was it, beautiful?" Gu Qingyu slapped away his hand and kept her chains. Qi Wan''s ribbon also returned to his sleeves. "What''s the matter? Boss, are you unhappy?" Qi Wan smiled cheekily. "Why don''t we continue, I''ll let you win this time?" "Get off." Gu Qingyu walked away. "You are also very powerful, it seems that I really need to practice more." "I''m more than glad to spar with you again!" Qi Wan nodded obediently. "Whenever, wherever. You can always find me if you want more practice." "Yeah." Gu Qingyu looked into the distance. "The sightseeing was a good idea, we can finally take a proper break." "Yes, let''s just all have fun, Boss!" Qi Wan saluted. Without realising, they had walked back to the inn. By the time they returned, it was already evening. Mo Bai stood by the entrance of the inn. He smiled gently when he saw Gu Qingyu. What is the feeling of a wife waiting for her husband to return home... Mo Bai walked up to Gu Qingyu and Qi Wan. "Yu''er, he''s about to wake up." "Really?" Gu Qingyu nodded in surprise. "Can I see him?" After getting Mo Bai''s permission, Gu Qingyu immediately ran upstairs to Qi Yichen''s room. His eyes were still closed, but his fingers twitched a little. Without hurry, Gu Qingyu found a stool and sat near his bed. Before long, he slowly opened his eyes. Qi Yichen''s eyes were glazed for a while, then it gradually focused. He looked at Gu Qingyu, there was a strain in the way he tugged the corners of his lips. "Qingyu." "Yeah." Gu Qingyu answered. For some reason, tears were starting to well up in her eyes. For someone so just and uncorrupt, he would have no trouble assuming the throne. He would have made a fine king, actually. And yet, he willingly gave everything for that man, without asking for anything in return. And the person in his fan... also ended in tragedy. "What''s wrong?" Qi Yichen suddenly laughed. He lifted his hand and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Qingyu, I''m sorry." "You don''t have to apologise. You don''t have to say anything, Qi Yichen." She placed her hand on top of his. "I saved you, not for you to do anything more reckless. Qi Yichen, I just want you to be yourself." Although her words were a bit confusing, she believed that with Qi Yichen''s intelligence, he would understand her. He nodded. "Didn''t the Prime Minister of Xiqian die that night?" He was referring to when Zhi Wei stabbed him. "Yeah." Gu Qingyu laughed at his reply, her laughter was mixed with a sigh of relief. Does this mean that he''s moving on? Or, should I say, moving forward? Qi Yichen lowered his hand, still smiling. "Where is the next stop?" "Sightseeing." Gu Qingyu took out his fan from her sleeve. "Don''t forget this, and remember to use it." Qi Yichen took the fan. "Okay." "Here, have some porridge first." Gu Qingyu lifted the bowl of porridge from the table, scooped a spoonful and held the spoon against his lips. Right now Qi Yichen was like a newly born child, dazed, lost and a little ignorant. He was going to need some guidance. Qi Yichen opened his mouth very obediently and ate the porridge. Gu Qingyu nodded in satisfaction and as she brought another scoop. Soon, Qi Yichen finished the bowl of porridge. Gu Qingyu was surprised by his good appetite. "Rest well. Tomorrow we''ll visit a couple of scenic locations. It will also make your body recover faster. Don''t worry, me and Mo Bai are here. Nothing would go wrong." She gave him another faint smile. "Good night." She left his room with the empty bowl and closed the door gently. As the door closed, she heard him whisper, "Good night." "Boss," Qi wan came up to her as soon as she left Qi Yichen''s room. "Actually, I was injured." "What happened to you this time?" Gu Qingyu stared at him impatiently. "It hurts here!" He placed his hand over his heart. "I want you to feed me porridge too!" "Go away." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes and shoved the bowl into his hand. "Go wash it." "I have to wash this too?" Qi Wan looked at Gu Qing incredulously, "Boss, I''m Qi Wan, are you sure you didn''t mix me up for someone else?" "No, seven thousand, seventy hundred, Qi Wan, not wrong!" Gu Qingyu nodded. "I''m going to bed first, just get it done!" "But...." Qi Wan bemoaned and walked out silently with the bowl. Gu Qingyu waved at him, satisfied, and walked upstairs. Qi Wan sulked as he did the dishes. "Oh, what kind of world is this? The handsome Qi Wan has do the dishes, what else is possible?" "This!" A big man next to him showed him a pair of swollen lips. "I just took a sip of water and this happened!" Qi Wan winced as he nodded and gave the man a thumbs up. "Cool!" Meanwhile, with Qi Wan out of her hair, and Qi Yichen all safe and sound, Gu Qingyu could finally continue her conversation with Yan Zun, about the secrets and mysteries hidden in Xiqian. Chapter 73: His reaction is enough for me to laugh for a year! Chapter 73: His reaction is enough for me to laugh for a year! Translated by: iris.knight Gu Qingyu sat at the table and poured herself a cup of tea, intending to savour the conversation. Yan Zun narrowed his eyes slightly, and began, "In fact, there is more than one Spirit Gem in Xiqian. " "Huh?" Gu Qingyu was stunned, "Two?" "There are no detailed records." Yan Zun also poured himself a cup of tea, and took a sip lightly. "Xiqian has over thousands of years of history. According to their records, a great battle broke out here. I¡¯ve been wondering, but I didn¡¯t expect it to be here." "What battle?" Gu Qingyu asked curiously. Yan Zun''s fingers rubbed the cup carefully. "It was between tens of thousands of soldiers and one man. " "That''s amazing!" Gu Qingyu exclaimed. "Who won in the end?" "No one. The man died, and the army was annihilated." Yan Zun picked up the cup and finished the tea in one gulp. "That''s a tragic ending..." Gu Qingyu scratched her head. "Who is that person?" Yan Zun curled his lips. "I don''t know." That was disappointing to hear. "You don''t know?" "Few even know this big battle, let alone the names of the people involved." Yan Zun nodded, slowly floated up from his seat. "Okay, go to sleep quickly. You still have your clothes to pick up tomorrow." That doesn''t seem to have anything to do with you ... Gu Qingyu pursed her lips and nodded. "Then enjoy your floating, I''ll go to bed first." Yan Zun smiled and continued to drift in the air. Gu Qingyu slipped into the covers and soon fell asleep. A dreamless night. Early Morning She woke up on time, dressed and went to the kitchen to get a bowl of porridge and came to Qi Yichen''s room. Qi Yichen had also just woke up. He seemed a bit lost when he saw her, but then he smiled and greeted her with a nod. "Morning, Qingyu." "Morning, let''s eat." Gu Qingyu held up the bowl of porridge. The Qi Yichen now seems to be a man who has lost something extremely precious, and yet he also looks as though he finally found something he had lost for years. It''s heartbreaking to watch him be like this. Gu Yichen finished feeding Qi Yichen and put away the bowl. Qi Yichen clicked his tongue and laughed. "Ah! This scholar is currently enjoying the treatment that many people outside could only dream of!" "Save it." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Rest well." She closed the door on her way out. She felt Jia Qizhe, Qitan, and everyone''s resentful gaze before she even turned around. Gu Qingyu laughed dryly. "What are you all doing? Go get breakfast, and do whatever you need to do." She went to the kitchen and placed the bowl in the sink, and went to the dining hall for breakfast. Jia Qizhe opened his mouth, he was just about to say something, but Qi Wan cut him off as he hopped over to Gu Qingyu. "Boss, let''s go pick up the clothes!" "Sure!" Gu Qingyu stood up. "Jia Qizhe, what were you going to say?" "No, it''s nothing." Jia Qizhe glanced at Qi Wan, the threatening look in his eyes contradicted his words. Qi Wan swallowed nervously, but he fearlessly tugged on Gu Qingyu''s sleeve. "Boss, hurry up!" "Well, okay." Gu Qingyu nodded. "Jia Qizhe, are you coming?" "You two go ahead, I have something to take care of." Jia Qizhe said with a clenched jaw.. "Have fun." "Yep!" Qi Wan smiled and walked out the door with Gu Qingyu. For some reason, there had been a chilly sensation along his spine. It unsettled him. At the shop, the shopkeeper greeted her as soon as she saw Gu Qingyu. "You came just at the right time, miss! Come and try your clothes!" "Okay." When she saw the clothes, Gu Qingyu''s mood naturally changed. As the saying goes, girls, we all love pretty things! She walked into a small room, and her eyes laid on the dress that was laid out on the table. A light, silver chiffon gently enveloped the pink long skirt. The natural waistline made it look casual, but the flare of the skirt emphasised her hips. A single peach blossom was embroidered on the sleeve. Bold and beautiful, the dress really suited her. Gu Qingyu was nodding with admiration as she slipped into the dress. The dress fitted her like a glove, she checked her reflection in a bronze mirror and was even happier with the dress. Gu Qingyu untied her hair and changed her hairstyle, one that used the wooden hairpin Jia Qizhe gave her. She adjusted her dress. Then, an idea for a prank popped into her mind. She pulled out a handkerchief from her sleeve and walked out. Qi Wan was still talking and laughing with the shopkeeper. When he saw Gu Qingyu, he froze for a moment, and his eyes grew so wide they almost popped out. Gu Qingyu copied the people in period dramas, gently covered her lips with the handkerchief, and smiled shyly. Qi Wan''s face turned from shock to horror, as though he had seen a ghost. The shopkeeper also stared at her with an unflinching, horrified gaze. Gu Qingyu ''smiled shyly'' again. "Mister, what''s wrong with you?" "Miss, please return my Boss to me..." Qi Wan swallowed thickly, the image in front of him was just too much for him. Gu Qingyu replied with a flick of a wrist and waved the handkerchief. "But, I am your Boss. Does this mister doubt such a young lady?" "Miss..." Qi Wan suddenly wanted to blind himself. "You are so beautiful, would you like to get coffee sometime?" "No." Gu Qingyu smiled sheepishly and bowed slightly to the shopkeeper. "This young lady thanks you for the wonderful dress." "Oh, no, no, no, Miss." The shopkeeper immediately stopped her. Gu Qingyu left the shop with feather light steps, as though she was walking on clouds. Qi Wan immediately kept up with her. "Boss wait for me!" After walking for a while, Gu Qingyu turned to Qi Wan. "Mister, this young lady wants to have some sweets." Qi Wan immediately handed over the candied hawthorns he had bought. "Boss please!" Gu Qingyu smiled gently, took the stick, and nibbled on the fruit. "Hm, so sweet." "Boss, I beg you to change back soon..." Qi Wan slapped himself, the cognitive dissonance was just too much for him. "What do you mean, mister?" Gu Qingyu leaned into him. A granny, who was passing by, sighed. "The girls today are so bold!" Qi Wan''s face was as red as a tomato. "Boss, I still think that men''s clothing is more suitable for you..." "Is it." Gu Qingyu smiled softly, and suddenly shouted. "F*** men''s fashion! The only reason I wore it in the first place was to avoid my family. And now that''s settled, you won''t even let me change back! Do you think this is easy for me? Huh?" Qi Wan covered his face and cried out. "Boss! You are finally back! Just now an alien has occupied your body! I was so scared!" "F***!" Gu Qingyu turned away and took a huge bite from the candied hawthorns before she sauntered off. Qi Wan wiped away his non-existent tears and followed. "Boss, listen to me, you can still do this to the rest... Erm, except for Qi Yichen, that might be too much of a shock for him." "Hm, good idea." Gu Qingyu munched away, the sugar shell of the candied hawthorns crackled in her mouth, the sound scared Qi Wan. He dabbed his forehead nervously. "Boss, your dress is really beautiful... I just haven''t gotten used to it yet." With those words, he managed to somewhat salvage Gu Qingyu''s pride. They returned to the inn. As they walked through the main entrance, Gu Qingyu saw Murong Zuoyu drinking tea in the main hall. Murong Zuoyu saw Gu Qingyu in that pink dress and froze completely. Gu Qingyu bowed and tossed her handkerchief. "It''s good to see you, Mister Murong." Cough cough! He immediately spat out the tea. Well, it''s hard to imagine Murong Zuoyu breaking his poise, until now. Gu Qingyu smiled shyly at Murong Zuoyu. "Mister, do be careful when drinking tea~" Murong Zuoyu entered a coughing fit. Gu Qingyu walked past Murong Zuoyu and went on. Qi Wan glanced at Murong Zuoyu sympathetically. His reaction was worse than Qi Wan''s reaction. He jogged for two steps and kept up with Gu Qingyu. Xia Zang was in the backyard, playing with birds. A small yellow bird hopped about on his arm. "Mister Xie~" Gu Qingyu approached him with a swing in her steps. Xie Zang was stunned for the first time. He loosened his hand and the bird flew away. "Kitten, what''s going on here today?" Xie Zang was remarkable, he snapped back to his senses much faster than the others. Gu Qingyu smiled sweetly. "This young lady just wanted to change her style~" "Well, this is very good. Pink and red match well." Xie Zang nodded with a satisfied look. Huh? This makes Gu Qingyu react. I thought pink matches with blue... Her prank on Xie Zang did not work out as intended, she decided to prank Mo Bai instead. She strolled in front, Qi Wan followed behind her and kept laughing. Gu Qingyu turned back impatiently. "What''s wrong?" "Hahahaha, you didn''t see Brother Murong''s reaction... it¡¯s enough for me to laugh for a year, hahaha..." Qi Wan held his stomach and laughed. They happened to walk past the firewood storeroom. Gu Qingyu glanced at that room, grabbed Qi Wan by the collar, yanked open the door, and threw Qi Wan into the storeroom before he could react. She finished the sequence of actions by locking the door. One of the staff of the tavern passed by them. Why is that girl so familiar... if not I''m not mistaken, then that man is our boss... Should I go up to save the boss... Suddenly, he saw the girl turned around and smiled glamorously at him. Ah, what a pretty girl, I suddenly remembered that I have not washed the dishes yet. Sorry boss, I''ll burn some paper money for you every year... The staff member walked away in a hurry. Gu Qingyu smiled with satisfaction and walked upstairs to Mo Bai''s room. Mo Bai had his back towards her, he seemed to be studying something. Gu Qingyu leaned closer, it was a couple of leaves. Mo Bai seemed to have sensed her presence and raised his head. The moment he looked up, he paused. His whole body turned rigid, as if he had been petrified. "Yu...er?" Mo Bai blinked, as if he could not recognise her. "Yes?" Gu Qingyu whispered sweetly. Mo Bai was obviously surprised, but it was Mo Bai, and he quickly calmed down. "Yu''er, did you change your clothes?" "Yeah, I did." Gu Qingyu nodded. The tips of his ears had turned pink, as pink as her dress. "Well, it''s beautiful. It''s perfect for you." Chapter 74: Your Logic or Your Wife? Chapter 74: Your Logic or Your Wife? Translated by: iris.knight She pouted as she picked up lunch and came to Qi Yichen''s room. She knocked on the door first, and pushed open the door after hearing Qi Yichen''s "Please come in". At the moment, Qi Yichen was reading the book that Gu Qingyu bought him when she was shopping yesterday, while snacking on sunflower seeds. Knowing that it was Gu Qingyu, he opened his mouth without looking up from the book. "Ah-" He''s so pampered that he barely registered her, and expects everything to be handed to him on a silver platter. Well, at least he''s recovering well. Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes angrily and plopped down at the edge of his bed. She held up the bowl of rice. "Here, eat up, Mister!" Qi Yichen finally seemed to have realised something was wrong in his periphery, he looked up and froze immediately. Then, he shuffled and shrank to the corner of the bed, wrapped up in his blanket, he looked absolutely terrified. But he said next was what really made Gu Qingyu want to vomit up blood. "Begone, demon!" Gu Qingyu put the bowl down angrily, and was about to explain things, but her eyes met with Qi Yichen''s anxious gaze. "What happened to you, Qingyu? Are you being possessed by some demon?" "You''re the one that''s possessed!" Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes again angrily, "I just want to change back to my normal clothes! Each of you treats me like a monster instead, you might as well burn me on a stake!" "No," Qi Yichen blinked and blinked. "Qingyu, it''s really beautiful. I believe it''s just that I haven''t gotten used to it." Gu Qingyu hmphed as she picked up the bowl again. "Finish your food!" "Yes!" Qi Yichen smiled with the spoon in his mouth. "How do you feel?" Gu Qingyu watched him eat. He looked fine, nothing that indicated psychological issues. Even if there is an issue, I should be able to help... I am a psychiatrist! In other transmigration stories, there are killers and geniuses, a little weaker would be at least a doctor or healer. We do have a doctor now, why am I just a psychiatrist! Gu Qingyu complained internally. "Well, I feel much better!" Qi Yichen nodded while eating. "You can go sightseeing now!" The second line should be the main point... Gu Qingyu nodded. "Alright, take a short break, we will set off in the afternoon and stop by Wukong''s village before we leave this place." "Okay." Qi Yichen finished his last bite, closed the book, and pointed to the ground. "I''ll leave this to you, Qingyu!" She followed his finger and looked to the floor, only then did she notice the sunflower seed husks that littered the floor. "Qi Yichen, don''t push your luck!" Gu Qingyu gritted her teeth and squatted down to sweep the shell. "Hahaha!" Qi Yichen laughed heartily, he opened his fan and fanned. Gu Qingyu was startled by the sight of his fan. Qi Yichen still doesn''t know that he can no longer use his powers right? He gave her a cheeky grin. "What''s wrong? Do you think it is too difficult? I''m sorry, I can''t help you. After all, I''m injured." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes, picked up the sunflower seed husks, and nodded at Qi Yichen. "Rest first, I''ll let you know when we''re ready to leave." "Okay!" Qi Yichen was clearly excited "See you!" Gu Qingyu ran head-on to Jia Qizhe when she stepped out of Qi Yichen''s room. She immediately turned to hide in a corner, adjusted her clothes, and took out the handkerchief. When Jia Qizhe got closer, she came out of the corner and beamed at him with her signature smile. "Hero Jia!" Clearly, Jia Qizhe had only seen her at that moment. He was slightly surprised, but then he smiled. "Xiao Yu''er, very good!" Gu Qingyu covered her lips with the handkerchief and smiled without showing her teeth. "Thank you for the compliment!" "You''re welcomed." Jia Qizhe asked her with a little excitement, "Am I the first to see you like this?" "Dream on." She rolled her eyes. "On the contrary, you are the last one to see this." Jia Qizhe''s face darkened for a moment, and he walked forward, right past her. Gu Qingyu was pretty sure that he was angry, she immediately followed him and grabbed him by the sleeve. "Don''t be angry, Xiao Zhezhe~ Xiao Zhezhe, calm down...." Jia Qizhe merely hmphed, yanked out his sleeve from her hand, and continued to walk to his room. Just as Jia Qizhe was about to close the door, Gu Qingyu immediately stuck out her arm and blocked the door. But Jia Qizhe opened the door completely, pulled Gu Qingyu in, and then shut the door firmly. In Jia Qizhe''s room Gu Qingyu panicked for a moment, and then she summoned all of her bravery and began her speech with a resounding sense of justice. "Well, tell me what I should do? You have no right to get mad at me when you weren''t even there to collect the clothes with me. Obviously it was the clothes that you customized for me, but in the end it was Qi Wan who went to get it! Do you know that I... "She paused suddenly. "What? What about you?" Jia Qizhe''s anger slowly disappeared with her words, "Go on." "I, I..." Gu Qingyu stuttered. Finally, she stopped that train of thought and yelled with her eyes shut tight. "In short, it is your fault!" "Use some logic." Jia Qizhe sat down at the table and picked up a teacup. The way he demanded logic pulled out something from the recesses of her memory and she shouted without thinking, "Do you want your logic or your wife?" She wanted to take back those words the moment they left her lips. "Erm, I, well..." "I want my wife." Jia Qizhe slowly put down the teacup and calmly replied, his eyes stared directly into her soul. Are you bloody serious? Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "I mispoke!" "Spoken words are like spilled water. It is difficult to take them back, Xiao Yu''er." Jia Qizhe raised his eyebrows and gave her a knowing smile. Gu Qingyu bemoaned. "Can I lick it back?" "No." Jia Qizhe is also very simple. "I have absorbed it. You can never recover it." Gu Qingyu had no comeback. Do you need to be so serious? "Okay, the dress is very beautiful, but your hair, it''s a little messy." Jia Qizhe sat her down in front of a bronze mirror and gently pulled out the wooden hairpin. Her hair tumbled down like a waterfall. "Very beautiful hair." Jia Qizhe took out a comb from somewhere and slowly combed her hair. Gu Qingyu''s heart raced. Combing my hair? Oh please just let me go! You know, in ancient times, men combing woman''s hair was an act of extreme love, and he''s combing my hair, right now? "What''s the matter, Xiao Yu''er?" Jia Qizhe smiled. "Or should I say, my dear?" "Go away." Gu Qingyu smacked her burning cheeks as she quietly waited for Jia Qizhe to comb her hair. There was silence between them, but the atmosphere was not awkward, instead it was soft and warm. Jia Qizhe fiddled with Gu Qingyu''s hair. "All done." Gu Qingyu looked up at herself in the mirror¡ª "Wow! This looks amazing! Teach me how to do this, Jia Qizhe!" Gu Qingyu immediately fell in love with her reflection. Jia Qizhe hmphed, "You still want to learn how to do this when I''m around?" "Yeah!" Gu Qingyu said immediately and then muttered under her breath, "It''s not like you can do my hair for me every day..." "I can. If you like it, I will do your hair for you every morning." Jia Qizhe casually leaned back on his bed, his hair was a little loose and scattered around the pillow. His robe was also a little loose, it folded and pooled against him. Suddenly, there was tension in the air. Gu Qingyu blushed and she immediately turned away. "If you are tired, go to sleep, and if you are not tired, get ready. We''re leaving in the afternoon to visit Wukong." "Sure, okay." Jia Qizhe''s voice was extremely devious. After walking out of Jia Qizhe''s room, Gu Qingyu felt a little idle. Her footsteps gradually stopped¡ªQi Wan! Qi Wan is still locked in the storeroom! I completely forgot! She immediately turned around and ran to the small firewood storeroom in the backyard. The door was still a door and the lock was still a lock. Gu Qingyu twisted and pulled, she broke the lock by hand. (Actually, this was just a random lock). Qi Wan was lying on a pile of hay in despair. He stared out of the door with empty eyes. His gaze was completely unfocused. "Qi Wan?" Gu Qingyu called tentatively. No response, he''s still in a daze. Could it be... Gu Qingyu feared the worst and dashed to Qi Wan''s side. She squatted down, grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him as hard as she could. "Qi Wan! Qi Wan!" Still no response. "Qi Wan!" Gu Qingyu cried as she hugged him tightly. After she wrapped her arms around him, she could feel a slight warmth from him. His body was still warm. She blinked profusely and looked at Qi Wan in wonder. Qi Wan also blinked. "Boss, you have locked me here for three hours..." Uncontrollable tears poured from her eyes, she squeezed her lips into a tight line, and could not say a thing. The tears startled Qi Wan, and immediately hugged her back. His hand reached up and wiped away the tears for her in a hurry. "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, don''t cry, boss. It''s my fault, you can beat me, don''t cry... "He hugged Gu Qingyu tenderly. Gu Qingyu thought that her heart was going to stop, she simply did not know what to do. Eventually, she stopped her tears. She grabbed Qi Wan''s sleeves and wiped her face, only to realise that her tears had created a huge puddle on his chest. "Boss, you''re a real crier." Qi Wan pulled his clothes helplessly. "It seems that I''m gonna have to change." "Yeah." Gu Qingyu nodded, her voice still sounded nasal. Qi Wan lowered his head. "I''m sorry, boss, I shouldn''t be like this." "You can still say that?" Gu Qingyu stared at him fiercely with red, puffy eyes, "I did not cry here, not today!" "Yes, yes, you didn''t cry~ Well done~" Qi Wan rubbed Gu Qingyu''s head. Chapter 75: He Stole My Clothes! Chapter 75: He Stole My Clothes! Translated by: iris.knight "What''s wrong?" Gu Qingyu asked Qi Yichen. He shrugged. "Qingyu, I''ve not had a proper bath in a long time." "Oh yeah..." Gu Qingyu nodded, her voice trailed off as she pondered for a while. Suddenly, she glanced at Qi Wan. There was a sinister glint in her eyes. Qi Wan met her eyes and all of the fine hairs along his nape stood up. "What is it, Boss?" "Qi Wan, didn''t you mention that you wanted to visit the baths?" Gu Qingyu smiled and stared into his eyes. Qi Wan felt that his mouth had turned dry. "Ahahaha, suddenly I don''t want to take a bath..." "Ah? What? I can''t hear you." Gu Qingyu tilted her head left and right, a ''crack'' sound popped from her neck. "Are you going to bathe?" "Yeah! Yeah, I will!" Qi Wan replied with a wince. Gu Qingyu nodded in satisfaction. "Very well, I''ll leave Qi Yichen to you." "What?" "With him?" Two wails sounded at once, Gu Qingyu patted Qi Wan''s shoulder before she leaned in and whispered in his ear. "Brother, take good care of him! Seize the opportunity! Ah ha ha ha ha!" She suddenly laughed maniacally, as if she just thought of something. "Boss, you laughing like that unsettles me." Qi Wan turned weakly. "Come on, Brother Qi! I''m ready!" "Alright, Younger Brother Qi." Qi Yichen also walked downstairs reluctantly. Gu Qingyu tailed them. Qi Wan turned around and beamed at Gu Qingyu. "My dear, do you want to bathe together?" "Eh? If you don''t mind, of course I..." She caught Jia Qizhe in her peripheral vision, he had just stepped out from his room upstairs, and immediately changed her words. "Of course I would not be joining you two! Go, quickly!" Qi Wan and Qi Yichen rolled their eyes again. Qi Wan and Qi Yichen walked away, and Jia Qizhe ambled down the stairs. Gu Qingyu looked nervously at Jia Qizhe. "Hero Jia, I think you can increase the pressurizing vibe around you!" "Oh? Really?" Jia Qizhe raised an eyebrow. "I''ll try my best, Xiao Yu''er." I''ll try my best...... Gu Qingyu swallowed nervously. "Jia Qizhe, is there anything wrong?" "Nothing." Jia Qizhe smiled, "I think Xiao Zhezhe sounds better." "Fine, fine, Xiao Zhezhe..." Gu Qingyu went along with his flirting. "I still need to pack, I''ll be heading up first?" Jia Qizhe simply nodded. "Sure." Gu Qingyu escaped to her room. Actually, she had already packed her luggage, but the pressure surrounding Jia Qizhe was just too much... It was enough to make her cry. After a while, the room became stuffy, so she went out. Fortunately, Jia Qizhe was gone. Gu Qingyu''s heart leaped with elation, but she was more and more curious about Qi Wan and Qi Yichen. She tip-toed out from her room, and as soon as she closed the door, someone tapped her shoulder. She yelped and turned behind. It was Xie Zang, she patted her chest. "That scared me!" Xie Zang smiled with amusement. "Why, what did you do, Kitten?" "No, nothing." Gu Qingyu immediately held up her hand. "Really." "Okay, Kitten, are you going to ''check on'' those two?" Xie Zang''s smile became more ambiguous. Gu Qingyu nodded honestly. "Yes!" "They''re already out." Xie Zang jutted out his chin and pointed to behind her. His words sent a sinking feeling to her stomach, she looked back and was shocked. "What the hell...?" Qi Wan walked towards them, dressed in a white robe, and with a paper fan in hand. Qi Wan may be all sunshine and full of jokes usually, and his sunny personality was heightened by his usual dark green robe. But his entire vibe changed when he wore white. He did not look like Mo Bai''s gentle, ethereal beauty, or Qi Yichen''s clean, pristine grace. He looked like a god, the most sinister and devious in the pantheon, who put on white robes to hide his true form, but yet revealed more of his rebellious arrogance. "My God!" Gu Qingyu stared at him blankly. Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyu for a while and then took out a handkerchief from his sleeve, which was also white. With a friendly smile, he said to Gu Qingyu, "Boss, your nose is bleeding, please wipe it!" Gu Qingyu snapped back to her senses and rolled her eyes at Qi Wan. "Why are you wearing Qi Yichen''s clothes?" Qi Wan looked at her with astonishment. "Goodness me, Boss! You can tell these are his clothes? Are you sure you didn''t peek?" Xie Zang looked at her with astonishment as well. "So you had already checked on them, Kitten! It seems that I underestimated you!" I swear to the heavens on my conscience, I was really just joking about peeking. Qi Wan leaned into her face and opened his fan to cover his mouth. But his eyes and his voice betrayed his intention to tease her. "You didn''t see anything you should not have seen, right?" Gu Qingyu felt the corner of her lips twitch. She was just about to snap back at him, but a dark green robe in her periphery drew her attention. It was Qi Yichen. His clean face exuded anger, but the dark green robe changed his vibe as well. He looked like nothing like a scholar, more like a handsome young master from a noble household. "Wow! I did not expect that your relationship has reached this level!" Gu Qingyu clicked her tongue and glanced between the two of them. Qi Yichen became even more angry. "What am I to do? This little twerp stole my clothes!" "It''s a grab. I grabbed them, twat." Qi Wan straightened his back and replied righteously. "Hm... I did not expect you to have this kind of hobby..." Gu Qingyu shook her head in defeat. "Forget it, if you want to, you two can keep wearing whatever you''re wearing, we have to go!" Finally, it''s the afternoon. Gu Qingyu brought her luggage to the entrance of the inn. Everyone was ready. Qi Yichen and Qi Wan were both visibly upset, but they had changed back their clothes. Gu Qingu shook her head as her tongue clicked again. Her eyes hovered on Qi Yichen and Qi Wan, and finally shook his head again with a sigh. "Say something, Boss!" Qi Wan almost cried. "Did I ever say that you not saying anything scares me the most!" Gu Qingyu smiled knowingly. "Yes." "Also, please don''t smile like this..." Qi Wan tried to appear as affable as possible, "Yes, open your mouth a bit wider..." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Wow, hahahaha!" "Forget you, don''t talk, just whatever. Forget it." Qi Wan covered his eyes weakly. Gu Qingyu gave Qi Yichen and Qi Wan another long look. They left the city on horseback and arrived at Sha Wukong''s house at dusk. "Brother Wukong! We are here to visit you!" Qi Wan called out excitedly. Sha Wukong rushed out and welcomed them. "Hey! It''s you lot!" He looked around. "Huh? What about Brother Zhu Fan?" His wife, who was next to him, looked at Gu Qingyu curiously. "This girl looks familiar...?" "I''m Brother Zhu Fan!" Gu Qingyu admitted to them, at least they recognised her voice. The lady smiled in surprise. "It''s really Brother Zhu Fan! No, how should we call you now, young lady?" "... Gu Qingyu." She struggled for a while before revealing her name. Let''s hope that I at least have a less infamous reputation here. To her surprise, the lady nodded approvingly. "That''s a good name." Good name? Gu Qingyu softly released her breath. Oh, that''s good! "Well, don''t just stand there! Come inside!" Sha Wukong gestured at the front gate. "Then we''ll accept your kind offer." Qi Yichen greeted the lovely couple. As soon as they entered the house, a sense of warmth enveloped them. "We have a small fire going, now that it''s winter." Sha Wukong scratched his head sheepishly. "You can all stay here overnight. So, have you finished what you came to do?" He asked Gu Qingyu. She nodded. "Yes. Thank you for your help." "Oh, it''s nothing. I''m just glad that I didn''t cause you all more trouble." Sha Wukong immediately waved his hand. Gu Qingyu shook her head: "No, no, really, thank you for housing us!" "Ah, enough with the thanks, we''re all friends!" Sha Wukong looked out the window. "It''s getting late, haven''t you had dinner yet? It''ll be ready soon!" "Erm, I''ll help!" Gu Qingyu stood up. Xiao Qi also stood up with a shy look. "I, I, I¡¯ll go too..." Sha Wukong merely waved and turned them down. "Please, sit down, these are what the hosts should do! You''re guests, just sit tight." But Gu Qingyu insisted and walked towards the kitchen, Xiao Qi followed her hesitantly. When they entered the kitchen, the woman smiled heartily at Gu Qingyu. "Came to help?" Gu Qingyu nodded. "Sure, no problem!" The lady embraced their help and Gu Qingyu and Xiao Q were quickly assigned tasks. The three worked together and before long, dinner was ready. Gu Qingyu and Xiao Qi brought out all the dishes, the lady filled each bowl with rice. Just like that, dinner was served. The group sat at the round table, their meal was a beautiful and joyous occasion. After dinner, Gu Qingyan said to Sha Wukong, "Brother Wukong, we are here to say goodbye to you. I don''t know when we can meet again. We will come back to see you when we have time!" "We welcome you anytime." Sha Wukong''s wife smiled. "It''s getting late, go to sleep first. You can set off tomorrow morning!" "Ok, thank you!" Gu Qingyu also nodded with a smile, and walked into the room. That night, she chatted with Xiao Qi till late at night. When Xiao Qi finally dozed off, she went to the spiritual realm and trained with Yan Zun. I just want to protect my happiness. I don''t want to be so weak and powerless anymore. The feeling of watching the people I want to protect be in pain, and yet not even able to lift a finger to help, I never want to go through that again. I never want to see anything like what happened to Qi Yichen again. I want to be strong. I want to be stronger. Chapter 76: A Bamboo House Chapter 76: A Bamboo House Translated by: iris.knight I didn''t get any rest at all... Gu Qingyu stood up and stretched. She got dressed and walked out of her room. Dawn had always been chilly, but when she looked out the window, everything was covered in snow. Snowflakes fell from the sky and landed on the branches of the tree in the yard. It''s snowing. The snow drew her out of the house. She held out her hand, a snowflake fell gently on the palm of her hand, then slowly turned into a puddle of water, and ran down her palm. The melting snow in her hand was disappointing. They are so fragile, everything would be melted away as soon as the rays of the morning sun hit them. Jia Qizhe walked over from a distance. "What are you looking at, Xiao Yu''er? You''re all dazed." She looked up at the sound of his voice. Jia Qizhe walked through the snowy field, his blue robe swished and swayed with each step. Strangely, there was not a single snowflake on him. Enchanting as a devil, yet beautiful. Enough to bring down kingdoms. She chuckled to herself at the choice of vocabulary, her eyes returned to Jia Qizhe and she shook her head. Jia Qizhe stopped in front of her, he slowly lifted his hand, and plucked a single snowflake from her black hair. Gu Qingyu blushed and looked at Jia Qizhe curiously. "Did you spend the night outside with Mo Bai again?" "No, not ''again'', and not with him." Jia Qizhe smiled slightly, "Xiao Yu''er, did you sleep well last night?" Her mind went to the devilish training she had last night and nodded. "It was better than usual!" "Really, then I''m relieved." Jia Qizhe gently stroked her head, his smile was teasing but also satisfied. "I have a good night''s sleep, what do you have to be relieved about?" Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes, only to see Mo Bai walk towards them from the other direction. His white clothes did not blend in with the colour of the snow. Instead, it showed his elegance and fineness so quietly. The pure white snow seemed to be used to complement his silent gentleness. He held the jade flute gently in his hand and his white robe swished and swayed behind, but his black hair remained in place. Their eyes met, Mo Bai smiled softly as he walked towards her. "Good morning, Yu''er." Gu Qingyu swallowed her saliva, and before she responded, something hit her on the head. "It hurts! Jia Qizhe, what did you hit me suddenly!" Gu Qingyu massaged that spot on her head and secretly vowed that she would make him pay for this. I will have my revenge! Jia Qizhe flicked her forehead. "Idiot, stupid." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes: "You might as well use the full thesaurus for stupid on me." "But those are not enough to describe you." Jia Qizhe nodded. Gu Qingyu''s face was going to turn white from anger. This bastard! "I guess you are cursing me in your heart." Jia Qizhe smiled calmly. "You know me so well." Gu Qingyu pouted. Mo Bai turned to the house. "Yu''er, it''s time for breakfast." "Okay!" Gu Qingyu nodded immediately. Jia Qizhe followed her with a disdainful expression. "Hmph, this pretty face..." "Ah? What did you say?" She really didn''t hear him and turned around when they got to the door. Jia Qizhe smiled. "It''s nothing. Go in." After breakfast, Gu Qingyu and others said goodbye to Wukong and his wife. "Come back and visit us again!" Sha Wukong waved. "Yes, certainly!" Horseshoe prints were etched in the soft snow as several people rode through the snowy field. Snowflakes continued to drift down from above, Gu Qingyu looked at the sky and said with some melancholy. "The new year will probably be here soon..." I can''t believe I''ve been here for so long. Qi Wan looked at the sky with her. "Yeah." "Ah!" Gu Qingyu sighed, "It''s so fast!" "Yeah!" Qi Wan nodded and sighed too, "It''s so fast!" The others looked at them with an inexplicable look. Isn''t it just a new year? Do they have to be so emotional about it? Gu Qingyu shook her head and looked at Qi Yichen. "Qi Yichen, is this the right way to your old home?" Today, Xie Zang was in the lead. What Xie Zang described that day was very similar to Qi Yichen''s old home, the one that he shared with his master. Qi Yichen paused for a moment, then shook his head. "No, why do you ask?" "Nothing..." Gu Qingyu pulled out a handful of sunflower seeds from her sleeve and handed it to Qi Yichen. She then pulled out another handful for herself. "You want some?" "Yes!" Qi Yichen took it with lightning speed. Qi Wan sped up to keep up with Gu Qingyu, trotting side by side with her. "I want some too!" "Split it with him." Gu Qingyu pointed at Qi Yichen. Qi Yichen froze for a moment, then hid the seeds in his sleeve, and shouted at Qi Wan. "Don''t even think about it! Let me tell you, these are all mine. All mine!" Qi Wan resisted the impulse to curse and looked pitifully at Gu Qingyu. "My dear, he will not share!" Gu Qingyu sighed, picked out a single sunflower seed from her own handful, and gave it to him. "Take it! Don''t thank me too much!" "No, I must thank you." Qi Wan stared at that sunflower seed and suddenly felt that life was truly difficult. She was the first person who made him feel that... Gu Qingyu nodded. "Since you are so sincere, then I can''t refuse it politely, if you want to thank me, then show your gratitude well!" Qi Wan was speechless. When Qi Wan didn''t reply, Gu Qingyu''s face darkened. "Why, do you not want to thank me?" Qi Wan could not find the right words to say. "You!" Gu Qingyu pointed to him, her finger shook as she told him off. "You want to thank me when I don''t want it. It took me so much to agree to let you thank me and this is what you do with it! You''re such a pain sometimes!" Who''s the real pain here? Qi Wan rolled his eyes and slumped over as if he had fainted, but it was clear that he was pretending. "It''s no use fainting! Remember to thank me!" Gu Qingyu sped up and left Qi Wan behind. Qi Wan could almost see the herd of snow white horses that dashed across him, they raced through the snowy field, and the name of those horses were- Grass mud horse! Qi Yichen looked at Qi Wan with sympathetic eyes, popped a sunflower seed into his mouth, and spat out the husk. After much hesitation, he too picked out a single sunflower seed from his handful and gave it to him. Qi Wan grabbed the seed and swallowed it whole. Qi Yichen''s eyes widened, and he handed out all the seeds in his hand. "Try again with this much!" Qi Wan rolled his eyes and sped up, leaving Qi Yichen behind him. Qi Yichen withdrew his sunflower seeds innocently and muttered, "Fine. You can just say that you don''t want it. Why do you have to be so fierce...?¡± Dusk They were currently in a barren forest along the border between Dongxuan and Xiqian. Gu Qingyu looked at the barren land before them and asked Xie Zang incredulously, "This is the place you mentioned? In the middle of bloody nowhere?" Xie Zang nodded. "Yeah." Gu Qingyu could feel the despair in her stomach. "The bamboo cottage in a quaint bamboo forest, with clear streams and moonlight?" "Yeah, yeah." Xie Zang nodded again. "Do you like it?" Gu Qingyu nodded reluctantly. "Well, I like it very much." There are a few bamboo scattered around. The moon was not out yet, but with the density of this "bamboo forest", it would be very bright. She noticed that there was a stream within ten meters of herself. The stream was indeed clear, but... "Why is it so thin!" Gu Qingyu commented as her gaze shifted to the "bamboo house" in the distance. The roof was made of grass, held up by mere bamboo poles. It looked rickety and unstable. "We are staying here...tonight?" Gu Qingyu swallowed and squeezed out those words. "Yeah, yeah." Xie Zang repeated as he walked towards the "bamboo house". When a gust of wind blew, the "bamboo house" finally fell to the ground. Inside was a shabby table and several wooden chairs that had been cobwebbed and corroded by insects. The table was still squeaking in the wind, which made people worry about whether they would fall apart in the next second. It was soon proved that this table is a little stronger than the "bamboo house". It shook for a few times before it too collapsed like the house. Gu Qingyu wiped a tear sadly. "Come on, where else are we going to stay tonight?" No, we don''t have a choice. Xie Zang glanced apologetically at Gu Qingyu. "Kitten, I didn''t expect this to happen, I haven''t been here in a long time.¡± "Eh, hehehe, I haven''t been here in a long time..." Gu Qingyu wiped her forehead free of sweat. "Come on, let''s just make do with what we have." Qi Wan nodded with much difficulty. The sun was slowly setting, they were all more than disappointed with their circumstances, except for Xie Zang. Suddenly, the howling of wolves came from the distance. Some of the horses panicked and pulled against the reins. "Xie Zang," Gu Qingyu gritted her teeth and spat out the foxtail she had found somewhere, got up from the tree that she had originally leaned on, and got onto her horse. "I can''t stay at a place like this!" "So you don''t want wolf barbecue?" Xie Zang blinked calmly, got up, and got onto his horse. "Then let''s go." "What?" Gu Qingyu was stunned for a moment as XIe Zang rode away. Gu Qingyu tugged on the reins and followed. The others got onto their horses as well. Qi Wan whined as they followed Gu Qingyu and Xie Zang. "God!" Qi Yichen closed his eyes. "Heavens!" "Stop whinging, shut up." Jia Qizhe passed between them impatiently. His blue robe swept through the air as he rushed to Gu Qingyu''s side. His voice picked up next to her, with an added tinge of teasing. "That''s why I said we should not have come here, Xiao Yu''er." Gu Qingyu''s lips twitched and twisted. "Did you ever say that? Even if you did, I regret not listening." "Kitten, save that line for later, if you can." Xie Zang smiled. He looked enchanting in the night, like a blooming, blood red spider lily. Beautiful and charming, but with a deadly poison. Mo Bai followed slowly behind them, his white robe danced in the wind. Chapter 77: Another Fight Chapter 77: Another Fight Translated by: iris.knight "So, do you regret it?" Xie Zang smiled slightly. The bamboo forest around the cottage was dense, and there was a small clearing beside the bamboo cottage. The giant, bright moon hung above the small estate. The stream ran in the backyard. Ding, ding, dong, dong. That sounded like a bamboo water wheel behind the building. Gu Qingyu shook her head immediately. "No regrets, not one bit!" "I just wanted to treat you to dinner first, Kitten. Demon wolf meat is exquisite, barbecued or steamed." Xie Zang sighed, "But Kitten, you clearly did not want to stay there for even a moment, so I had to bring you here directly." I regret it now! Can I please take back my words? Of course not, that''s impossible. Gu Qingyu had an urge to stab herself. "I was wrong." "Well, as long as you can change over to a new leaf." Xie Zang stroked the top of her head. Right then, she caught a whiff of something in the air. It is the smell of barbecued meat. Her eyes lit up. "There''s food?" Xie Zang chuckled, the sound was deep, she could hear it rumble in his chest. "You''re really a kitten." He patted her head, indicating that she could go in. Gu Qingyu immediately ran into the cottage. As soon as she opened the door, a scrumptious spread unveiled before her. The smell and the sight made her salivate. "Oh my god!" "Oh!" Qi Wan, who followed her in, stared at all this with a daze. "My!" Qi Yichen''s fan almost fell to the ground when he entered after Qi Wan. "God." Xie Zang finished their sentence with a smile. Gu Qingyu immediately rushed to the table with Qi Wan and both of them tore into the spread. Initially, Qi Yichen still tried to maintain the image of "the graceful scholar". But his resolve faltered as he watched Gu Qingyu and Qi Wan. Finally, he threw away his fan in a perfect arch and joined in the fray. Jia Qizhe watched them as he slowly crossed his arms across his chest. "The starving ghost is reborn." Mo Bai simply smiled. "You can join them if you want to, pretty face." Jia Qizhe smirked as he whispered to him. Mo Bai laughed, he gently rubbed the jade flute in his hand, and whispered back, "I believe you''re the one that wishes to join them, bitch." "Ah? You wanna fight?" Jia Qizhe looked at Mo Bai with contempt. Mo Bai merely smiled and walked outside. Jia Qizhe hmphed as he followed him out. Gu Qingyu ate as she watched the two men, one in blue and one in white, disappear into the forest. "What are they up to?" "Don''t ask questions you''re not prepared to know the answers to." Qi Wan replied in between bites. Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes and returned to her plate. Finally, Xiao Qi caved and joined them at the table. All that was left was a smiling Xie Zang and a paralysed Murong Zuoyu, both of them stood at the side and watched them. Soon, almost all the plates and bowls have emptied out. "I didn''t think you two would be such big eaters." Gu Qingyu rubbed her belly and commented. "Who are you talking about..." Qi Yichen rolled his eyes and stretched out his hand. The fan flew back into his hand. Qi Yichen opened it with a flick, sank into a nearby chair and fanned himself. Gu Qingyu pouted, drank the last bowl of soup in one breath, and sank into the chair beside him. "Nice!" Qi Yichen was dumbfounded. Murong Zuoyu was dumbfounded. On the other hand, Qi Wan and Xie Zang smiled rather calmly and glanced knowingly at each other. Xiao Qi looked at Gu Qingyu and Qi Yichen with admiration. The bamboo cottage may look small on the outside, but it was quite spacious inside, there were even enough rooms for each of them. Gu Qingyu nodded gratefully at Xie Zang. "Thank you, Lord of Xieli Castle." "You don''t have to be so polite, Kitten." Xie Zang gave her a faint smile. "Go to sleep, there''s more fun for you tomorrow~" That statement piqued her interest. "Where are we going next?" Xie Zang did not answer. Instead, he placed his index finger in front of his mouth as the corners of his lips curled upwards. "Okay, okay, I don''t want to know!" Gu Qingyu nodded vigorously, turned around, and walked back to her room. Where''s Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai? I should just prepare two bottles of medicinal oil first. Gu Qingyu closed the door as she entered her room. Then, she walked across the room and opened the window. The silver moonlight poured down from the sky and shined on the stream. The ripples along the stream caught the light and the stream was adorned with silvery-white scales. "It''s so beautiful!" Gu Qingyu was about to exclaim, but someone by the window had stolen her line. She jumped at the voice, there was no one else inside. She leaned out the window and checked. "Qi Wan?" Qi Wan was outside, he leaned against the wall right next to her window. His green robe swayed in the moonlight. Somehow, even though she had long gotten used to his presence, the moonlight and the soft shadows changed his features. The sight of him stole her breath away. There was only a window between them. One was in the house, alone; the other was outside, alone. His face had a devilish charm against the silvery moon, and as he turned, the light gleamed brightly in his green pupils. Like a lake on a warm spring day, accompanied by the fragrance of flowers, but also by the ripples from a sunshower. There was silence for a long time. Finally, Gu Qingyu broke the spell. She turned away and asked, "What''s up, Qi Wan?" He laughed a little. "No, it''s nothing. I just came out for a walk and I saw you opened the window." She stared at the moon and murmured, "Maybe, only this moonlight will remain unchanged for thousands of years..." "Yeah." He heard her. Maybe it''s because of their shared experience in transmigration, she always felt particularly close to Qi Wan, he was the only one that truly understood how she felt. Gu Qingyu held the windowsill with one hand and jumped up. Then she lowered herself and perched on the windowsill. When she had settled into her seat, Qi Wan slowly said, "Gu Qingyu, you don''t really recognize me?" "Eh?" His question caught her off guard. "You are..." "Well, you have so many patients, how can you remember which one I was." Qi Wan smiled self-deprecatingly. That revelation surprised her. "You were one of my patients?" He nodded. "Yeah, sort of." "Then why don''t I remember you...?" She immediately began to sieve through her memory. "My appearance and my name have completely changed after I transmigrated. It''s normal for you to not recognise me." Qi Wan shrugged nonchalantly. She looked at him curiously. "What is your real name?" He returned her curious gaze with a mysterious smile. "I''m not telling." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes at his response. "Fine, keep it to yourself. It''s not like I wanted to know or anything..." A knowing grin then split across her face. "So you have a psychological disorder, Qi Wan. I couldn''t tell at all. Why? Were you worried that the moment you told me, I would give you a second diagnosis?" She dragged out her last sentence, pausing after each syllable. Qi Wan jumped up immediately and spat. "Rubbish, you''re the one that has a disorder! I''m perfectly healthy, don''t lump me with you!" "You''re perfectly healthy? I''m a psychiatrist. Why were you one of my patients if you did not have any mental health issues? What, did you see me for gynecology?" Gu Qingyu eyed him suspiciously. Qi Wan spat again. "Nonsense! Also, can you even treat gynecological diseases?" "I can try. I did go to Med school." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "I didn''t expect you to be like this, Qi Wan." "I didn''t expect you to be like this either, Boss." Qi Wan suddenly cursed. "Oh shit!" "What''s wrong?" Gu Qingyu turned around and looked at him. "Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai are back from their fight! They must never see me with you, otherwise, I''m dead!" Qi Wan whined, "Why does this look like you''re cheating with me, or that I''m stealing you away?" "There''s no cheating or stealing going on." Gu Qingyu shooed him away. "Get going, I don''t have any more medicinal oil. " Qi Wan was speechless. Gu Qingyu vaulted back into her room and opened the door. Jia Qizhe was walking in from outside the house, and Mo Bai was behind him. This time, there were no bruises on their faces. She walked over with a little curiosity, but before she got too close, she heard Mo Bai mutter as he lightly glanced at Jia Qizhe. "You''re good, bitch." "You''re not a slouch yourself, pretty face." Jia Qizhe scoffed. "Although, your men are horrible at group fights." Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai! I didn''t expect you two to be like this! But she quickly caught the keyword. Group fights? I already knew that they weren''t ordinary people, but they didn''t seriously drag out each others'' lackeys for a group fight, right? That being said, who won? Judging from their conversation, it was Jia Qizhe? "Your men are not very good either." Mo Bai turned around, he was about to head back to his room, but his eyes met with Gu Qingyu''s curious gaze. Gu Qingyu waved awkwardly. "Erm... I just arrived... I didn''t hear anything..." Doesn''t this sound like I actually heard something? "Ah, no, actually I was here from the start..." The start of what? This is not helping either! "I......" Gu Qingyu''s hand continued to gesticulate in the air, Mo Bai showed her a gentle smile. "Yu''er, it''s so late, why are you still up?" "Well..." Gu Qingyu swallowed thickly and looked at Jia Qizhe. "I actually..." What? Waiting to see which one of you won? An idea popped into her head. "Oh, I was about to sleep, but neither of you were back, and it''s so late. So I came out to check, ahahaha..." "Xiao Yu''er, were you worried about me?" A smile spread across Jia Qizhe''s face. "Go to sleep, staying up late is bad for your health." He took Gu Qingyu''s hand and escorted her to her room. He even closed the door behind her. After he came out, he saw Mo Bai''s gloomy eyes and smiled, "Why, haven''t you had enough?" The jade flute on Mo Bai''s hand suddenly flew towards Jia Qizhe, Jia Qizhe dodged. But Mo Bai had thrown the jade flute with so much momentum that it kept flying, and it broke through Gu Qingyu''s door. She was about to take off her clothes and go to bed. The jade flute had flown right across her face and gave her a fright. In order to not to let it damage Xie Zang''s cottage any further, she held out her hand and grabbed it. The jade flute stopped after leaving a red, bloody mark on her palm. Chaptet 78: I’m Here Chaptet 78: I''m Here Translated by: iris.knight "...Yu''er." He called softly. Gu Qingyu raised her head and handed him the jade flute. "Mo Bai, this should be yours, right?" Mo Bai reached over and took it. "Yes, sorry, I didn''t control the strength just now, I don''t know why it suddenly took off." His voice was apologetic and tender. "It''s okay, just be careful next time." Gu Qingyu spread her hands as she dropped the subject. When Mo Bai took the jade flute, he saw the bloody cut on Gu Qingyu''s palm. "Yu''er, you have a scratch." It was a statement. "It''s just a small cut, it doesn''t matter..." She clapped her hands nonchalantly to illustrate her point. But before she could even finish her sentence, Mo Bai grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him. His slender fingers lightly touched the cut. The cut gradually closed without a trace. "It''s amazing." She praised him sincerely. Mo Bai held onto her hand until the cut closed completely. "Go to bed." Mo Bai stroked Gu Qingyu''s head and smiled lovingly. The glowing moon seemed to complement his gentleness, the light showered over him, and his hair shined with a silvery glow. She only came back to her senses when Mo Bai coughed slightly. She looked away, her cheeks had a light pink blush. "Yeah, I''m going to sleep, see you." After Mo Bai left, Gu Qingyu had an intense urge to slap herself. I know he''s really dreamy, but he was right in front of me! I was swooning over him right in front of his face! She sat on her bed with a ''plop'', and looked up out of habit. Yan Zun was floating in the air, as usual. I have really gotten used to his ghost-like behaviour. This is really a terrible habit. She pouted as she slipped under the covers, pulled the blanket over her head, and soon fell asleep. The next morning The sunlight happened to hit her right in the face. The bright light stung her eyes, and she squeezed her eyes shut again. She sat up, sorted out her clothes, and looked at herself in the mirror¡ª My face is okay, and my clothes are clean. But there goes my hairstyle, after just one night of sleep. She fiddled and pulled her hair in all possible directions, but she could not style her hair in the same way that Jia Qizhe had done for her yesterday. Suddenly, there was a knock on her door. Gu Qingyu answered without thinking, she shouted as her hands covered her hair, "Who is it?" That person opened the door and entered her room. A blue robe, it was Jia Qizhe. She half-tumbled and half-darted to her bed and covered her head with the blanket. "What do you want?" "I''m here to brush out your hair." Jia Qizhe laughed and walked over, his hand reached out and was about to pull away the blanket. She grabbed onto the blanket with her life. "Go away! Just go! I can do it myself!" Miraculously, Jia Qizhe did not get upset. Instead, he grinned at Gu Qingyu. That smile distracted her. And in that moment, Jia Qizhe yanked away her blanket. Before she realised, she was already seated in front of a mirror. Jia Qizhe held a wooden comb in his hand and was slowly brushing out the knots and kinks in her hair. Gu Qingyu watched him blankly through the mirror, the sight made her heart pound against her ribcage. The devious, proud, and incredible Hero Jia is brushing her hair! Her heart was about to stop. Once he was done styling her hair, Jia Qizhe looked at her reflection with satisfaction and nodded. "Hm, not bad. Time to get breakfast." Gu Qingyu got up and followed Jia Qizhe to the door. When she opened the door, she saw Mo Bai''s hand was suspended in midair. Her hands turned clammy in an instant and she looked at Jia Qizhe, hoping he could offer some explanation. However, she underestimated Hero Jia. He did not explain anything. He shot her a flirtatious smirk instead, and stroked her head. "Let''s go, breakfast is waiting." Gu Qingyu was shocked. Mo Bai froze, his hands slowly lowered. "Yu''er, breakfast is ready." He didn''t say much, nor did he let Gu Qingyu explain. He was never someone that would seek out trouble anyway. Gu Qingyu nodded and fled out of her room, leaving Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai behind. Half an hour later, Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai entered the dining room together. Jia Qizhe rubbed his elbow while Mo Bai massaged a spot on his head. Gu Qingyu could tell that they fought, but she nodded. At least they did not go for the face this time. She approached the duo and handed each of them a bottle of medicinal oil. Qi Wan and Qi Yichen looked at them with a surprised look. On the other hand, Xie Zang waved and beckoned Gu Qingyu. "Come here and eat, Kitten, or the food will go cold soon." "Alright!" She stuffed the medicinal oil into their hands, gave them a look of ''I understand'', and sat back into her seat. Jia Qizhe readily accepted the medicinal oil and tucked it into his sleeve. Mo Bai slipped the bottle into his sleeve as well. They resumed their journey after that meal. Gu Qingyu kept a relaxing pace and asked, "Xie Zang, where are we going?" "Scenic locations." Xie Zang smiled, his vague answer heightened the suspense. "So how long do we have to go?" Gu Qingyu asked curiously again. "At this pace, about an hour more." Xie Zang replied as he nodded, he seemed to have his mind elsewhere. Gu Qingyu also nodded and took out a handful of sunflower seeds from her sleeve. Everyone was speechless, even though they had somewhat gotten used to her snacking habits. An hour later Gu Qingyu grew skeptical at the sight of the wasteland before her. But when she thought about the events that happened yesterday, she was convinced that things were not as they looked on the surface. Xie Zang watched as the gears in Gu Qingyu''s head turned, he couldn''t help but smile and nod. "Just as expected, clever Kitten." "What? what?" Qi Wan was beside Gu Qingyu, he leaned in to join the conversation. Gu Qingyu ignored Qi Wan and leaned into Xie Zang''s side. "Where''s the switch?" Xie Zang laughed heartily at her question. "Who told you that there was a switch?" "Huh? There''s no switch?" Gu Qingyu could not believe her ears. Xie Zang scoffed, "Switches are far too simple and low-class for my liking." He raised his hand, clapped twice and the ground beneath them began to shake. "Earthquake? Or..." Gu Qingyu immediately held onto Qi Wan and spoke with self-preservation as her top priority. "Qi Wan, my friend! I think if anything happens later, you should endeavor to save me at all costs! " "Then what about me...?" Qi Wan swallowed weakly, and a giant hole opened up right below them. In an instant, Qi Wan threw out his ribbon, wrapped Gu Qingyu in a tight bundle and pulled her towards him. He held onto her tightly and both of them fell into the hole. They kept falling, and falling, and falling through the air, they had fallen into an abyss. Gu Qingyu squeezed her eyes shut as the wind rushed past them. In the darkness, Qi Wan whispered gently into her ear, "Boss, I''m here." I know you''re here, I know you would never leave me. When she opened her eyes again, Gu Qingyu realised that she was lying on something. Above them was a white and clean sky. The grass plains around them extended past the horizon. A castle stood in the middle of the plains, flowers and vines covered its walls. Gu Qingyu froze at the sudden change in scenery. She looked around her, everyone was gone. Something was moving behind her... She screamed and jumped up, that thing turned out to be Qi Wan. Qi Wan pushed himself up with one hand and rubbed his head with the other hand. "Dammit, that hurts." "Well, thank you, knight in shining armour." She stretched out her hand. He grabbed her hand and pulled himself up, while muttering under his breath, "Knight in shining armour? More like a human cushion... Well, it takes someone extraordinary to protect you." He turned around and exclaimed when he saw the castle in the distance, "This is the final destination for our sightseeing trip? Boss, do you know what''s going on? Where''s everyone else?" Gu Qingyu smiled bitterly. "I don''t know, I just woke up too." "Let''s go to the castle first!" Qi Wan removed the ribbons that tethered Gu Qingyu to him and smiled. "It''s really solid." "Yeah, I think we should remain tethered actually, or you won''t even realise when you get lost." Gu Qingyu pulled the ribbon and began their walk. Qi Wan almost stumbled. "Boss, slow down! You think you''re walking a dog?" "So you figured it out?" Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan in surprise, "That''s clever." Qi Wan kept his mouth shut. I have nothing to say at this point. "Okay, let''s go!" Gu Qingyu pulled the ribbon again and walked forward. Qi Wan struggled to keep up. "Slow down, slow down!" Halfway to the castle, the ground beneath them shook again. "Is it going to collapse again?" Gu Qingyu grabbed the ribbon nervously. "This doesn''t feel like the frequency just now..." The two of them huddled together. "It seems that there is something coming up..." As he finished his sentence, a huge flower burst out of the ground. Its petals opened, grabbed Qi Wan and threw him into the air. Qi Wan immediately pulled out a sword and sliced the ribbon between the two of them, allowing Gu Qingyu to escape. "Piranha plants?" Gu Qingyu yelled as she stared at the sentient plant. At full height, it stood close to 6 meters tall. "Qi Wan! Are you ok?" "Run, Boss! To the castle!" Qi Wan''s voice was muffled and broken up, he sounded strained. "Bullshit! How can I leave you!" Gu Qingyu immediately waved her hand, and the Soul Chain appeared, circling her. "Soul Nails!" Gu Qingyu clenched her teeth and summoned that weapon. A few nails appeared in her hand. Gu Qingyu tossed the Soul Chain, and the chain stabbed into one of the Piranha plants'' vines. Without hesitation, she stepped on the chain and ran all the way up. Using her cat demon powers, she avoided any attack from the man-eating flower. When she got closer, Yan Zun possessed her body, she leaped up and landed on the flower. She chanted a spell and the Soul Chain quickly ensnared the piranha plant. She threw the Soul Nails into the flower, and at the moment, a huge, dark purple hexagram pattern appeared at the foot of the piranha plant. Gu Qingyu''s fiery red robe danced around her as the spell activated. A few big black hands appeared in the six-pointed star, it grabbed and dragged the piranha plant straight to hell. The piranha plant wailed and spat out Qi Wan. Qi Wan watched in a complete daze and was about to be trapped by the spell as well. "Stop watching! You''re going to die!" Gu Qingyu yelled angrily, the chain in her hand stretched out, wrapped around Qi Wan, and helped him land safely to the ground. Chapter 79: Wonderland Chapter 79: Wonderland Translated by: iris.knight Qi Wan was dumbfounded. "Boss, what kind of monster are you..." "I also want to know what kind of monster I am." Gu Qingyu shrugged with a dry laugh. The red in her hair disappeared and her eyes have returned to their normal colour. Qi Wan patted Gu Qingyu on the shoulder. "Thank goodness you''re here, Boss. Or I might be leaving the team early today." "Nonsense." Gu Qingyu glanced at Qi Wan angrily. "You think I don''t know that you are better than me." "You can''t say that." Qi Wan scratched his head. "Your power reached a whole new level today. I don''t think I or anyone else would be able to single-handedly take down that piranha plant." He paused. "Wait, maybe except for Jia Qizhe..." "Don''t remind me of him!" Gu Qingyu said with a sad face. "At his level, he could just finish that monster within a blink of any eye!" "True that..." Qi Wan had a sad face as well. The both of them resumed their walk to the castle. Fortunately, except for the piranha plant, they did not face any other major threats. Finally, they arrived at the castle gates. Qi Wan looked at the gate guarded by the flower vines and shook his head helplessly. "What do we do now?" Gu Qingyu simply rolled her shoulders and cracked her knuckles. "What else, smash it open!" Qi Wan glanced at Gu Qingyu, and then at himself. "Boss, that''s a great idea!" "Yeah, sure." Gu Qingyu gave a half-hearted smile and sprinted towards the gate. She was about to try to break down the gate. However, before she reached the gate, someone opened it. The gate opened outwards. It was too late for her to apply the brakes and she slammed face-first into the gate. The person was also very surprised to see Gu Qingyu. "Xiao Yu''er! I''m just going to find you!" "Eh? Jia Qizhe?" Gu Qingyu looked at him suspiciously. "Why are you here?" "We were here as soon as we landed, but you, where did you go?" Jia Qizhe knocked on her forehead with dissatisfaction. "You''re finally here, Kitten. Someone was just about to tear this place apart." Xie Zang smiled as he leaned on a large pillar in the castle with his hands crossed in front of his chest. Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes and said with a huff, "That''s because someone forgot about me and left the beautiful me out in the wilderness while all of you were chilling in this castle!" Xie Zang spread his hands and shrugged. "It''s not my fault. The designated landing spot was this castle, but for some reason the two of you were stuck together. There was no way to separate the two of you and tear you two apart, and that exceeded the weight limit. So of course, there was some deviation from the proposed flight plan." "No way to separate the two of you and tear you two apart?" Gu Qingyu glared ai XIe Zang with a tight jaw. "What do you mean?" "It doesn''t mean anything." Xie Zang kindly pointed behind her. "You see if you look at it yourself." Gu Qingyu reflexively turned and saw Jia Qizhe walking towards Qi Wan step by step, and Qi Wane step by step... walked into disaster. Xie Zang''s voice came from behind. "That man right there was in a complete frenzy when he could not find you, he even tried to skin me. Finally, he calmed down and was about to head out to find you, only for you and Qi Wan to return together." "What is this place, anyway?" Gu Qingyu knew that Jia Qizhe would not actually do anything terrible to Qi Wan. At most, he beat him black and blue, or even broke a limb or two. So she turned her focus back to Xie Zang. On the surface, it looked like an endless grassland, peaceful and beautiful. But actually, there were hidden booby traps and monsters everywhere. That piranha plant alone was enough evidence. And, once they entered the castle, she could even smell a light whiff of floral fragrance in the air. Because Gu Qingyu was a cat demon, she had a more sensitive sense of smell than ordinary people, but even she could only catch a faint trace, so she was still not certain. "This is just a place where you can play." Xie Zang shrugged, he had a conniving smile on his face. Gu Qingyu''s eyes sank. "I hope I can have a good time." "This castle is very big, you have as much fun as you want. Just stay clear of switches." Xie Zang stroked her head gently. "Of course, don''t go to the room where you shouldn''t go." "How do I know where I should avoid?" Gu Qingyu didn''t remove his hand. Xie Zang merely gave her a faint smile, and without a word, walked forward. "Please, this way." Qi Wan crawled to Gu Qingyu. "Boss, save me..." Gu Qingyu helped Qi Wan to his feet and looked at Jia Qizhe with a sullen expression. "Hero Jia, calm down..." "You''re still protecting him?" Jia Qizhe was very unhappy. There will be dire consequences when Hero Jia gets unhappy. Gu Qingyu glanced at the pitiful Qi Wan, and then looked at the fuming Jia Qizhe. She steeled her nerves and shielded Qi Wan. "Come on, Xiao Zhezhe, Qi Wan saved me, don''t be so upset with him~" Jia Qizhe scoffed. "Save?" He looked like he wanted to continue, but Mo Bai''s presence stopped him. "Yu''er, let''s go have a look around." Jia Qizhe suppressed his rage, grabbed her hand, and walked away. She was dragged away before she could even get a word in. "Hey, hello, Jia Qizhe, slow down!" She turned her head and blinked at Xiao Qi, then signaled at Qi Wan with her eyes, then winked at her. Good luck! Xiao Qi blinked back. Copy that! Gu Qingyu was pulled away by Jia Qizhe, and Mo Bai seemed to want to keep up. Gu Qingyu feared that these two would start another fight, she immediately shooed him away. "Mo Bai, go play! I will find you later!" Mo Bai retreated unwillingly. Jia Qizhe smiled with satisfaction, then gave Mo Bai a knowing smirk. Mo Bai''s eyes sank and he went silent. "Don''t get so cocky." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes once they were far away from everyone. "I think we should leave as soon as possible." "Wherever we are, it''s below the ground." Jia Qizhe laughed lightly. "Why, what''s wrong?" "No, nothing''s wrong." Gu Qingyu sniffed the air. There was a smell in the castle that she particularly disliked, but she was also curious about what it entailed. "It''s normal, just too normal, so I''m..." Suspicious. He interrupted her before she could finish her sentence. His palm was placed on the top of her head, and he gently stroked her head. "Good then. Everything will be fine, I''m here, what do you have to be afraid of?" "Yeah..." His confidence brought a smile to her face. Yeah, Hero Jia is standing right next to me, the man who''s feared by everyone, who''s the best in our team and maybe even the whole world. What''s there to be afraid of? Gu Qingyu held Jia Qizhe''s hand instead and walked up the stairs. "I... want to find whatever Xie Zang is hiding in this place. Although it may not be good to know too much, I don¡¯t want to put everyone in danger... " "I will go with you." Jia Qizhe held her hand tightly. Gu Qingyu came to the first room they found and opened the door with a light push. She was ready for a fight. And yet, the room before her was full of snacks instead. "Wow, this is too good to be true..." Gu Qingyu stared for a while, she was still trying to process the image. Someone knocked on her skull and Jia Qizhe frowned. "This is all that it takes to change your mind? Close your mouth and swallow your saliva." Gu Qingyu swallowed back hard, glared at Jia Qizhe with dissatisfaction, and shut the door with an angry ''snap'' before she stormed off. Jia Qizhe looked at a random corner, smiled, and turned to follow her. Meanwhile "We''ve walked around this place for so long, and I''ve not even seen a single scenic spot!" Qi Wan took out his own water bag angrily, unscrewed it, and took a large gulp. Qi Yichen stood next to him and waved his fan. "No, no! The art of sightseeing is not just about visiting scenic locations, it''s about visiting the scenic location in the mind. If you limit yourself to just the physical, you can never transcend into the metaphysical. You might even be imprisoned by it." "What in the world are you talking about?" Qi Wan looked at Qi Yichen suspiciously. Qi Yichen closed the fan and began to translate, "I am thirsty, give me your water bag!" Qi Wan rolled his eyes. "I rather let you die of thirst." He reluctantly threw the water bag over and murmured, "I don''t know what happened to Boss..." Xiao Qi, who was with them, tried to join in the conversation. But she caught Qi Wan''s last sentence and swallowed her words. She closed her mouth slowly. Qi Wan gave her a strange look. "Alas, Brother Murong, Brother Mo and Brother Xie are all gone. It''s really boring..." Qi Yichen rested his head on his hands. "Let''s have another look around, maybe we''ll find Brother Zhu." "Good idea!" Qi Wan''s eyes lit up. Qi Yichen stared at Qi Wan for a while, and finally swallowed the cynical comment that came to his mouth. After all, there''s still someone else with them, who would be hurt by those words. On the other hand Gu Qingyu kicked down door after door, but it was either a snack or a big meal, or all kinds of makeup, headdresses, and jewelry. "What does all of this mean?" She slammed the door closed, it was another dud. "He''s just messing with us!" "You know too." Jia Qizhe looked at her with an elusive smile. She rolled her eyes, and suddenly, her nose caught something strange "What''s wrong?" Jia Qizhe stared at her curiously. She sniffed around. "Why is the smell here different from the rest...?" "Clever one." Jia Qizhe said with a smile. A sword quickly formed in his hand and he threw it into the nearby wall. The sword flew right across her face, she was about to protest, but she noticed where the sword was inserted had slowly cracked. The crack in the wall widened until a tunnel opened. "Awesome!" Gu Qingyu celebrated, and at the same time, she lamented the giant power gap between them. Was Jia Qizhe just waiting for her to discover something? "Let''s go." Jia Qizhe rubbed her head, then squeezed her hand. Gu Qingyu nodded and entered the tunnel. Chapter 80: Xie Li Chapter 80: Xie Li Translated by: iris.knight This is the same fragrance I smelled when I first entered the castle... She held her breath, but Jia Qizhe flicked her forehead. "No need, it''s not poisonous." Gu Qingyu released her breath and patted her chest. "You should have said that sooner!" Jia Qizhe rolled his eyes and the sword in his hand formed again. "Could this room be the place that Xie Zang told us to avoid?" She asked as she rubbed the sore spot on her forehead. "Yeah." Jia Qizhe assumed vanguard as always and led the pair further into the tunnel. Eventually, the tunnel opened up to a room. Suddenly, Gu Qingyu smelled a trace of blood. The sound of coughing followed and bounced across the walls around them. Immediately afterwards, a child-like voice said, "Who are you?" Gu Qingyu followed the voice. It was a little girl. The little girl sat on a bed with blood-red sheets, her legs were covered by a quilt, and her hair draped over her shoulders. Her eyes were clear and inquisitive, and she looked at two strangers who suddenly broke in like an ignorant deer. Her legs were not long enough to reach the floor, she dangled them over the edge of the bed as she stared at them. "Sorry, we walked in by accident." Gu Qingyu replied. She could at least handle children. After all, she was a psychiatrist, and she used to babysit for her friend. She took two steps and took out a piece of candy. "Here, for you. What''s your name?" The little girl stared at the candy in Gu Qingyu''s hands curiously, her hand remained at her side. "My name is Li. What is this? It''s so pretty..." Gu Qingyu was shocked. She doesn''t know what this is? She was about to explain, but a strong aura came from the tunnel. It was targeted at her and Jia Qizhe, none of the aura reached the girl. Xie Zang? Gu Qingyu turned around and saw that Xie Zang zipped through the tunnel. He walked straight to the little girl, then turned to look at Gu Qingyu, his eyes were extremely cold. "You have crossed the line, Kitten." Her heart stopped for a second, she knew she had stepped on his landmine, so she frantically looked towards Jia Qizhe. Jia Qizhe was calm and collected, and he sent out an aura as well. It encapsulated him and Gu Qingyu, completely blocking the pressurising aura from Xie Zang. At this moment, Li broke the standstill. "Older Brother, what are you doing with this lady?" Older Brother? At that moment, Xie Zang removed his aura. He knelt down and the siblings'' eyes met. His hands rubbed Li''s head lovingly. "Your brother is just playing with this lady, Li should rest well." "Li also wants to play..." Xie Li''s bright, watery eyes blinked and blinked, she looked adorable. "Be good and rest well Li. Once you get better, I''ll bring you out to play, ok?" Xie Zang''s voice was very gentle. Xie Li nodded. "Okay!" She lay down obediently, her tiny body slipped under the covers. Xie Zang gently tucked her in. He leaned down slightly, and lightly placed his thin lips on her forehead, like a dragonfly on water. "Good night, Li." Xie Li''s eyelashes quivered slightly as she closed her eyes. "Good night, brother." Xie Zang turned around, Gu Qingyu consciously pulled Jia Qizhe along and they left the room through the tunnel. It did not take long for Xie Zang to meet up with them, and the tunnel behind him closed automatically. "Kitten, you are truly vexing." He rubbed his forehead and looked at Gu Qingyu with a smile, but the smile did not reach his eyes. Gu Qingyu knew that she really overstepped this time. Everyone has their own limits. Everything would be fine as long as you leave it alone, but if you break those boundaries, then god knows how things would end up. Li is Xie Zang''s younger sister, her name should be Xie Li. Xie Zang''s castle was called Xieli Castle, and the city is also full of flowers called Xieli flowers. It is very clear that Xie Zang holds Li dearly in his heart. "I''m sorry." Gu Qingyu apologised immediately. "I didn''t mean to intrude, I just wanted to take a look." Based on her knowledge of Xie Zang''s personality, he would have scoffed at her, or even mock her. Unexpectedly, Xie Zang just sighed softly. "She is six years old this year." "Ah?" Gu Qingyu was stunned for a moment, and did not respond to what he was saying. "She is sick. Her illness keeps her in the dark, she can''t be exposed to any sunlight. And she only has a year left." Sorrow was evident in his eyes. There is only one year left... That is to say, that girl, who barely had any time in this world, would die in the next year? "Is there anything I can do to help?" Gu Qingyu offered. She knew that Xie Zang must have shared this with her precisely because there should be something that she can do. She rather provides assistance immediately than let him to bend his pride and ask her for help. Xie Zang nodded. "The Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny can cure her." Gu Qingyu never expected that answer. Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny? That is to say, Xie Zang is also after the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny? Is that why he brought us here? He did not bring us here, he kidnapped us! But... "What, can''t bear to part with it?" Xie Zang smiled, that smile was full of sarcasm and a little bit desolate. Gu Qingyu shook her head. "I want to ask the Lifeblood Jewel about this matter. Will you give me half an hour and a room?" Xie Zang nodded and waved his hand, the door on his side opened automatically. Gu Qingyu gripped Jia Qizhe''s hand to reassure him, and then walked into the room alone. She sat on the ground and entered the spiritual world. Yan Zun stood in a fiery red landscape, she could see the horizon behind him. Nothing else was along the landscape, the world around them was just an endless red. "I heard everything." Yan Zun looked at Gu Qingyu. "Master, is this true?" "If it is true, will you hand me over?" Yan Zun smiled. Gu Qingyu nodded and shook her head again: "Only if you consent to it. I''m not going to hand you over if you don''t want it." Although she wanted to save Xie Li, Yan Zun was more important. Even if she likes Xue Li, Yan Zun is inseparable to her. She was no longer the person at the beginning. Someone who was full of innocence and thought she could protect everyone alone. As time went on, she knew she had to decide what to give up. There is no such thing as the best of both worlds, you can''t have your cake and eat it. Therefore, Yan Zun is more important than Xie Li. Yan Zun seemed to understand Gu Qingyu''s thoughts, smiled softly, and came over and pressed Gu Qingyu into a tight hug. "It''s true. If you want, I can save her." A fresh fragrance enveloped her. It is a scent unique to Yan Zun. It smelled like falling into a field of flowers on a cool summer evening. "Master..." She could feel that tears had started to build up in her eyes. Is Yan Zun leaving her? Then what does that leave her? She was looking for the Spirit Gems for Yan Zun, and everyone gathered together because of the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny. If Yan Zun leaves, wouldn''t that mean everything would fall apart? "Silly girl." Yan Zun suddenly released her. "Can''t bear to see me leave?" Gu Qingyu nodded immediately. ? "Then wait for me to come back and cherish me." Yan Zun replied calmly, leaving Gu Qingyu astonished. "Come. Back?" Gu Qingyu looked at Yan Zun in disbelief, suddenly she realised that she had been played like a fiddle. "Yes," Yan Zun smiled lightly. "Do you think I would just sacrifice myself without a second thought? Moreover, there are really only a few things in this world that would be able to cause me to sacrifice myself... Why are your eyes red? " "You know why!" Gu Qingyu rubbed her eyes indignantly. This guy definitely did this on purpose! After walking out of the room, Gu Qingyu nodded at Xie Zang. Xie Zang froze. "Why?" "What why?" Gu Qingyu smiled. "Open the door quickly, I don''t want a sweet girl like her to suffer." Xie Zang nodded, and the wall cracked. A tunnel opened. "I should go alone," Gu Qingyu nodded to Xie Zang, "Trust me." He relented and moved aside. Gu Qingyu walked in, the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny was in her clenched fist. The jewel let out tiny sparks of light, Yan Zun floated in the air as he followed Gu Qingyu into Xie Li''s room. Xie Li obviously didn''t fall asleep. She got up and looked at Gu Qingyu with watery, doe eyes. "Miss..." "Don''t be afraid," Gu Qingyu walked over and squatted down to her eye level, just like Xie Zang, and gently touched her head. "I''m here to treat you." "Treat my illness? Can it be cured?" Xie Li was ecstatic. Gu Qingyu nodded and turned to Yan Zun, who was beside her. Yan Zun did not speak, but Gu Qingyu saw a strange, profound look in his eyes. It was endless longing and endless hatred. "Don''t be afraid, close your eyes first. It''s just like going to sleep." Gu Qingyu touched Xie Li''s head, and Xie Li nodded obediently. She laid down and pulled up the blanket. Gu Qingyu helped to tuck her in. After that, she got up and called softly in her mind. "Master?" Yan Zun responded with a smile, "After that, I will be asleep for ten days. Don''t wake me up." "Ten days?" Gu Qingyu frowned. She knew that it would cost him a lot of energy, but the duration worried her. Still, she agreed. "Okay." Yan Zun slowly walked to Xie Li, his robes billowed, and a bloody mist wrapped around him. Xie Li kept her eyes closed, her long eyelashes quivered. It was clear that she was anxious. Gu Qingyu gently held Xie Li''s hand, and she gradually calmed down. The fog slowly melted into Xie Li''s body. She frowned at the beginning, but as time went on, the tension between her brows disappeared. Gu Qingyu was relieved when she saw this and she slowly let go of Xie Li''s hand. Finally, the blood mist dissipated, it had completely melted in Xie Li''s body. Gu Qingyu breathed a sigh of relief, and turned to Yan Zun. His face had turned pale. Their eyes met and he said, "I''m going to sleep now, remember what I said. If there is any danger, swallow this." He held out his hand, a white sphere-shaped medicine rested on his palm. Gu Qingyu took it and bowed to Yan Zun. "Thank you, Master!" Yan Zun floated and disappeared into Gu Qingyu''s body, then she left the room. When Gu Qingyu stepped out of the tunnel, the first thing she saw was the frantic Xie Zang and Jia Qizhe, who was resting his eyes. Xie Zang opened his mouth to say something. She interrupted him and said with a nod, "Everything''s ok now." Xie Zang smiled. "Thank you, Kitten." He walked into the secret tunnel. Chapter 81: To Wound Someone You Really Care for and to do it so Unconsciously Chapter 81: To Wound Someone You Really Care for and to do it so Unconsciously Translated by: iris.knight She nodded. "Yeah." "Let''s go." He got up and walked away, he didn''t ask about any details. She frowned and did not follow him. "Don''t you have anything to ask?" He stopped and turned around, a devious smirk was on his face. "You''ll tell me whatever you want to tell me when it''s time. And whatever you don''t want to tell me, you won''t say it even if I asked. Isn''t it, Xiao Yu''er? " He was right. She nodded and followed him. He continued to walk forward. "Now we can finally relax and have some fun. Xiao Yu''er, do you want to go to that room to eat something?" "Eh? Is it okay?" She was overjoyed. Is it really ok to embrace this sudden happiness? Jia Qizhe nodded. In the "Snack house" Gu Qingyu stared at the trio in the room with blank eyes as she pointed dumbly at the empty, clean, spotless room. "Where''s all the food?" Qi Wan mirrored her expression. "Duh, we ate it." "Ate?" Gu Qing said with a very angry smile, "You spit it out! If you can''t spit it out, dig it out for me!" "I thought you''ve already eaten, Boss..." Qi Wan looked scared. "Well, you were wrong!" As always, Qi Wan''s explanations were rejected by her. Qi Wan got up and slowly shuffled to her. He stopped in front of her, shook his sleeves, and snacks rained from his sleeves. Gu Qingyu''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Boss, these are the ones I kept for you specially..." Qi Wan blinked pitifully at Gu Qingyu. "That''s true." Qi Yichen testified as he sat a chair at the side and fanned himself slowly. "Eh? Really?" Gu Qingyu immediately picked up the snacks and patted Qi Wan on the shoulder. "Good boy, you didn''t forget your roots!" "Roots...?" Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyu incredulously. "Hey!" Gu Qingyu said gleefully. "Atta boy!" Qi Wan was bewildered at her replies. Gu Qingyu noticed Xiao Qi was sitting at the side, and was completely silent. She immediately walked up to her. "Xiao Qi, what''s wrong? Is someone mean to you?" Xiao Qi shook her head immediately, looked at Gu Qingyu and smiled. "I''m fine, Xiao Yu. I just want to think about something." Gu Qingyu relented since she said that, and nodded. "Then let''s look for the exit. I don''t know why, but staying here makes me feel anxious." "Boss! This is medicine!" Qi Wan immediately took a pill from his sleeve. "Please take it regularly!" "What the hell is this!" Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Twenty years of history for treating heart disease! Qi Wan produced, fine indeed! " Qi Wan made a handsome pose. Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes again. "You''re lucky Mo Bai is not here, otherwise you will be beaten again." "Yu''er, did you call for me?" A gentle voice came from behind them. Gu Qingyu was stunned, and she almost heard Qi Wan''s heart pause. She turned around and smiled. "What a coincidence? Hahaha, Mo Bai, Qi Wan has a medicine for heart disease and wants to show you~" Gu Qingyu can feel the eyes of despair on her back. "Oh? Really." Mo Bai smiled and walked up. "This castle is really big." "Yeah," Gu Qingyu nodded. "I think we should leave here soon." " Qi Yichen agreed with her. "This scholar has a bad hunch..." "Don''t jinx it!" Qi Wan stuffed a handful of snacks into Qi Yichen''s mouth bitterly. Qi Yichen chewed and swallowed happily. "It''s good, do you have more?" Qi Wan looked at him incredulously. They saw Xie Zang after they walked out of the room, he actually bowed slightly to Gu Qingyu. "Thank you." "It''s nothing." Gu Qingyu nodded, "Is she okay?" "She''s much better." Xie Zang looked very happy. "I''m going to ring her and leave this place for a while. I''ll be back." "For a while?" Gu Qingyu blinked doubtfully Xie Zang continued. "I''ll take my leave. You can come and go anywhere in this place. If you want to leave, just go to the top of the castle." "Thank you. We''ll wait for you to come back, remember to catch up with us." Gu Qingyu smiled. Xie Zang nodded and went out. Gu Qingyu exhaled and showed a comfortable smile. Qi Wan watched Xie Zang as he left with confusion. He turned to ask Gu Qingyu, who was beside him. "What are you two talking about?" Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan and smiled. "All you need to know, is that we can relax now." "Really?" Qi Wan was as excited as a puppy. Gu Qingyu nodded. "Of course...not. Psyche." Qi Wan''s face collapsed "Have a good day''s rest today, and we will resume the adventure tomorrow morning." Gu Qingyu gazed at the endless grassland outside the window. "Sounds good, but where are we going?" Xiao Qi asked. Her question caused Gu Qingyu to take in a sharp breath. Oh, that''s what I forgot. I forgot to ask Yan Zun where the next Spirit Gem is! "Hm, more sightseeing." Gu Qingyu took Qi Yichen''s fan to fan herself as Qi Yichen tried to snatch the fan back. Gu Qingyu dodged his hands by moving the fan away from him. "Don''t fight me on this! How are we going to relax and play if you keep acting like this!" "I don''t want to play with you!" Qi Yichen pouted. Gu Qingyu sighed and returned the fan to him. Murong Zuoyu jumped down from the second floor and looked at the crowd with a puzzled expression. "Did I miss something?" "No, no." Qi Wan blinked. "Xie Zang seemed to have left. We can play at ease now." His explanation confused Murong Zuoyu further instead. Gu Qingyu also nodded. "Play at ease, and we''ll leave early tomorrow morning." She took Xiao Qi''s hand and waved at the others. "Gather at the top of the castle tomorrow morning?" "Wait a minute." Jia Qizhe suddenly grabbed her hand and he looked at Gu Qingyu with a smile. "Xiao Yu''er, don''t you think this is a great opportunity to train?" "Actually, yes!" The giant castle and the endless grassland outside, it''s the best location for sparring! Gu Qingyu immediately gathered everyone excitedly. "Come, let''s have a martial arts competition!" "How are we competing?" Murong Zuoye showed a rare display of curiosity. "Well, we could split into teams." Gu Qingyu mused, "Because one-on-one would just be too exhausting. But how are we going to split?" "Boss, I wanna pair up with you!" Qi Wan''s hand shot into the air. "Look at yourself." Qi Yichen glanced at Qi Wan with disdain, and then immediately ran to Gu Qingyu. "Brother Zhu, pair up with me!" Her heart sank at his enthusiasm. Soon, Qi Yichen will find out his powers are gone Mo Bai stepped in and said to Qi Yichen: "Your injury has not healed completely, it''s not good to fight now." "Eh? Don''t be such a wet blanket..." Qi Yichen was dismayed at Mo Bai''s advice. "Hahaha, we''ll let you join next time, ok?" Gu Qingyu finally managed to get Qi Yichen to sit down, albeit reluctantly. She stuffed a handful of sunflower seeds into his hand and flashed a grateful smile at Mo Bai. He returned her with a gentle smile. "Then Boss is mine!" Qi Wan smiled happily. "Dream on." Jia Qizhe yanked Gu Qingyu to his side. "Pick someone else." "We should still ask her what she thinks." Mo Bai''s soft eyes looked at Gu Qingyu expectantly. Xiao Qi also tightened her grip, she had made her choice as well. Even Murong Zuoyu looked at Gu Qingyu with some kind of expectation. Gu Qingyu instantly felt that she was a kindergarten teacher, surrounded by her students, who were all fighting for her attention. After a long silence, she spread her hands. "We''ll draw lots! Two people in a group!" Jia Qizhe groaned in dissatisfaction, waved his sleeve, and soon, six picks appeared in the air. "Six sticks..." Gu Qingyu muttered, "If Qi Yichen is here, then someone would on their own." Qi Wan nodded. "It''s a pity that Xie Zang is not there, or we would fit two tables of mahjong." Gu Qingyu sighed and shook her head, then she grabbed a stick. The stick slowly changed its color, it turned red. The other also took their sticks one after another. Jia Qizhe took the last stick and held it at the center of his palm. "Who is... red?" Gu Qingyu carefully looked around. "Of course it''s me, Xiao Yu''er." Jia Qizhe had a cunning smirk. "..." Do you dare to say that you didn''t sabotage this? Mo Bai looked at her with a blank expression. "Yu''er, I am also red." Mo Bai¡¯s inner monologue. ¡°Huh, you think you''re the only one who can sabotage the results?¡± Something tugged at the corners of her lips, and she broke into a beaming grin. "Oh, that''s great, then you two are in one group!" "Xiao Yu''er, what about you?" Jia Qizhe was stunned. Mo Bai didn''t expect that Gu Qingyu would react like this, so he was startled as well. "Me," Gu Qingyu let out an evil chuckle. "Mine is black." The colour of the stick in her hand changed with a spell. Huh, you think you''re the only one who can sabotage the results? Jia Qizhe''s complexion changed, and Mo Bai''s complexion also changed, but neither of them could go back on their word. "What a coincidence." Murong Zuoyu looked up from his stick. "Me too, Brother Zhu." "Yeah, it''s a coincidence~" Gu Qingyu laughed. But she suddenly realised--If Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai are in one group, and she and Murong Zuoyu are in another, won''t that leave Xiao Qi and Qi Wan together? She glanced over immediately. But Xiao Qi was not as happy as she thought, while Qi Wan shook his head and sighed, "What can I say?" Chapter 82: The Martial Arts Competition Chapter 82: The Martial Arts Competition Translated by: iris.knight Gu Qingyu immediately took Murong Zuoyu'' hand and bolted upstairs frantically, as though they were chased by a ghost. She regretted the groupings as soon as the games started. Putting Jia Qizhe and Mo Bai in one team, isn''t that just digging my own grave? Oh no, it''s more than digging my grave. It''s like digging my own grave then filling it myself! Gu Qingyu could cry at her bad decision. The pair sprinted all the way to the third floor, Gu Qingyu dragged the two of them into a supply closet. After the door closed, she let go of Murong Zuoyu''s hand and stopped to catch her breath. His hands are so cold! Murong Zuoyu looked at Gu Qingyu with a slight flush across his cheeks, it may or may not have been caused by the running. "Actually, we don''t need to run." "Eh?" Gu Qingyu looked at Murong Zuoyu, her eyes full of doubts. He cleared his throat and looked at Gu Qingyu seriously. "I am quite strong." "...What?" Gu Qingyu seriously thought that something happened to her hearing, or that her brain had shorted. Why would someone as cool and cold as Murong Zuoyu would say anything like Qi Wan? "I''m serious." He repeated himself, as Gu Qingyu still had disbelief written all over her face. His face was still flushed. "So, don''t be afraid of them, I can protect them. Oh, so that''s what he meant! She nodded. "Thank you!" Just then, someone kicked down the door. Qi Wan''s punch-worthy face soon appeared. "Hand over my Boss! And I just might let you live!" Murong Zuoyu silently shifted his hand to the sword hanging on his waist, his hand rested on the hilt of the sword. Qi Wan was not intimidated at all, he shouted again, "Come at me, bro! I''ll fight you fair and square!" Murong Zuoyu pulled out the sword, and his other hand quickly swept over the blade. As his hand swept over the blade, it emitted a purple glow. Qi Wan did not back down either. He waved his hand and a ribbon flew out from his sleeve. Boom! Something banged and smashed. Qi Wan swayed on his feet, then collapsed to the ground. His ribbon also dropped to the floor with a flop. "Qi Wan!" Gu Qingyu let out a scream. She rushed over his side and checked, he had simply fainted. She breathed a sigh of relief. As Qi Wan fell to the floor, Jia Qizhe was revealed to be standing behind him, with a bat in his hand. "Um... Not bad..." Gu Qingyu could feel cold sweat pooling on her back. "Watch and learn, Xiao Yu''er. This is called an ambush." Jia Qizhe grinned, the corners of his eyes crinkled. "Are you sure? Cause it just looks like a sneak attack." Gu Qingyu looked at Jia Qizhe with great suspicion. Qi Wan rolled over. "Boss, save me..." "Still alive?" Jia Qizhe raised an eyebrow. Gu Qingyu immediately ran up to stop Jia Qizhe. "Lower your bat, oh great hero! Look, he''s already in such a pitiful state... We should carry forward the spirit of love and pass on this love forever" Jia Qizhe looked at Qi Wan and smiled. "I have no love for this man." I have to say, Hero Jia, you''ve spoken your thoughts aloud. Gu Qingyu grimaced "Xiao Zhezhe, we should all get along peacefully and harmoniously!" "The games are still going on." Behind her, Murong Zuoyu gave them a cold reminder. The sword in his hand flew out, bypassing Gu Qingyu and striking directly at Jia Qizhe. Jia Qizhe smiled contemptuously and jumped up. His hand gently grabbed the hilt and threw back the sword. The sword flew back, straight towards Murong Zuoyu. He immediately tilted his body and avoided the flying blade. It brushed past him and stabbed into the wall. If he did not dodge that attack, then the sword would have stabbed his heart. Murong Zuoyu''s face darkened, he drew his sword and chanted a spell. The tension in the air was evident, Gu Qingyu knew that Murong Zuoyu and Jia Qizhe were about to fight seriously. She grabbed Qi Wan by the collar and dragged him along as she sprinted downstairs. Jia Qizhe didn''t care about Gu Qingyu, he smiled slightly at her instead. "Xiao Yu''er, I''ll go find you after I finish this guy." "Tch, big talk." Murong Zuoyu was already running up to him, sword in hand. Gu Qingyu dragged Qi Wan to the second floor and stopped to catch her breath as she listened to the sound of banging and metal clashing from the floor above. She glanced at the ceiling with concern. I hope it does not collapse. "Thank you, Boss." Qi Wan immediately got up and gave her a 90 degree bow. "I, Qi Wan, will never forget your great grace and mercy! Please let Qi Wan serve you for all of eternity!" "Have you lost your marbles?" Gu Qingyu looked at him suspiciously. "We''re still competing," she reminded him with a sigh. "Oh, right." Qi Wan nodded, and he laid down on the floor again. "Ah! I lost! Boss is truly the strongest!" "...Do you have to be so exaggerated?" Gu Qingyu cringed and then looked at Qi Wan seriously. "I think you should actually put up a good act, like with a serious ''I have been defeated!''. Then lie on the floor and writhe in pain for a while before making a permanent exit." Qi Wan''s face paled at her proposition. Boss this is just a competition! A competition! Not an actual fight to the death! Gu Qingyu nodded. "This encounter tells us that we should exercise more, and don''t provoke those who look handsome and badass!" Qi Wan waved weakly and got up. "I''m going to find Qi Yichen. Good luck, Boss..." "Good, Qi Yichen really lonely, all by himself." Gu Qingyu said and nodded self-assuringly. She then patted Qi Wan''s shoulder knowingly. "Good luck, bro! I will always support you. Just do it!" I just want to kill you now. Just that, nothing else. Qi Wan''s face had just gone through rigor mortis. After Qi Wan left, Gu Qingyu walked out of the door and saw Mo Bai, who was walking over from a distance. In his hand was that jade flute. Gu Qingyu immediately darted back inside to hide, but she heard Mo Bai call from outside with a tired voice. "Yu''er, I saw you." Impeccable tenderness, unique to Mo Bai. Gu Qingyu originally wanted to feign ignorance and hide for a while, but after looking at Mo Bai''s beautiful face, she finally closed her eyes and walked out. "Yu''er, what''s wrong?" Seeing Gu Qingyu''s determined look, Mo Bai blinked curiously. "Let''s compete!" Gu Qingyu felt like he was digging her own grave even further. What other choice do I have? Sometimes life''s a bitch and then you keep living. Mo Bai looked at Gu Qingyu and nodded solemnly. "Okay." "It''s too small here." Gu Qingyu jumped out of the window. "Come out." After she landed smoothly on the ground, Mo Bai followed. His boots landed on the ground steadily, and the orange glow of the setting sun spattered on his white robe. He looked like he came out from a painting. The jade flute on Mo Bai''s hand was raised slightly, it glowed strangely against the setting sun. Mo Bai smiled softly. "Yu''er, let''s get started." Gu Qingyu nodded, but she didn''t dare to underestimate her opponent. The Soul Chain gradually appeared around her. There is no way I¡¯m using the Soul Nails against Mo Bai. That kind of weapon is reserved for powerful enemies. The key word is not powerful, but enemy. Gu Qingyu controlled the Soul Chain with her mind, and the Soul Chain flew to Mo Bai. Mo Bai tilted sideways, but the Soul Chain turned around in the air and struck Mo Bai directly. Mo Bai jumped up, his white robe danced through the air, and Soul Chain missed him by centimeters. Then, he landed gracefully on his feet. He seemed almost bored, as though he had simply broken a porcelain cup by accident. But that was impossible. He sent the jade flute flying towards Gu Qingyu. She was cautious and grabbed the jade flute with the chain as opposed to dodging that attack. The jade flute was entangled by the Soul Chain and could not move, but Mo Bai seemed unfazed. His white sleeve waved gently, as if he wanted to wipe off the dust on something. The jade flute immediately turned into a pool of water, and dripped softly from the chain to the ground. The water quickly disappeared into the grass. Gu Qingyu looked at Mo Bai in surprise. He extended his hand again, and a water droplet slowly rose from the ground near his feet. The second and the third droplet appeared, the water converged at the palm of his hand. Eventually, the water formed the shape of a flute, he closed his hand, and the flute turned solid, it was the same jade flute. "Woah, that looks amazing!" Gu Qingyu sighed in admiration. "Yu''er, now is not the time to praise." Mo Bai smiled slightly, "Be careful." She refocused after his kind reminder. Then, the ground beneath her feet shook, and a wave swelled from the ground and swept towards her. That''s right, it was a wave! Her mind blanked, and instinctively, she used the Soul Chain to form a make-shift wave breaker. The waves smashed against the wave breaker and it rattled heavily at the impact. But that at least stopped the wave. Mo Bai is actually this powerful... Gu Qingyu instantly realised she had profoundly understood the true meaning of the meme "No Zuo No Die" through her own personal experience. However, in hindsight, I should not have cried then. It was too early, far too early. Gu Qingyu turned around and found that while she was occupied, a giant tsunami had formed behind her. It towered above her and was about to come crashing down. She turned around to escape, but the wave breaker that she had made with the Soul Chain had blocked her path. She squeezed her eyes shut and braced for impact. ...... Unlike what she imagined, it did not hurt, nor did she find it hard to breathe. She was not underwater at all, something warm was wrapped around her instead. There was a light fragrance of medicinal herbs, it was Mo Bai. "Yu''er, be careful." Mo Bai sighed softly as he stroked her head. Gu Qingyu nodded, her hands winded around him and she patted him on the back. "Thank you Mo Bai! I really learned a lot today!" Mo Bai released her and showed her another tender smile. "Let''s head inside." Gu Qingyu smiled and walked into the castle with Mo Bai. Qi Wan and Qi Yichen were snacking on sunflower seeds at the lobby. Qi Wan spat out a pair of husks when Gu Qingyu and Mo Bai walked in. "Welcome, join the dead." "Thank you." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes and held out her hand. As if on autopilot, Qi Wan grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds from Qi Yichen''s sleeve and put them in Gu Qingyu''s hands. Gu Qingyu nodded with satisfaction, while Qi Yichen glared at Qi Wan. "Right, where''s Xiao Qi?" Gu Qingyu suddenly realised that she had not seen Xiao Qi anywhere. Xiao Qi is missing! Chapter 83: Goodbye Wonderland Chapter 83: Goodbye Wonderland Translated by: iris.knight Jia Qizhe shook his head. "Why, isn''t she in a group with Qi Wan?" "After the competition started, she walked off on her own." Qi Wan was also puzzled. "Should we look around?" "Yeah, let''s. Xie Zang is gone, there should not be any major threat, but there might still be weird switches and traps." Gu Qingyu walked towards the stairs anxiously. Jia Qizhe kept his pace behind Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu carefully sniffed the air, trying to catch Xiao Qi''s scent. The trail continued up the stairs, which meant that Xiao Qi had gone through here. Gu Qingyu followed the scent trail and arrived at the roof. Xiao Qi was there. She had her back turned towards Gu Qingyu, her hair fanned out and fluttered in the wind. "Xiao Qi?" Gu Qingyu called tentatively. Xiao Qi''s back stiffened, and she turned around slowly. "Xiao Yu..." Xiao Qi smiled brightly at her. "Where are you doing? Come here." Gu Qingyu said with a wave. On the surface, it looked like they were just chatting, but inside, Gu Qingyu could feel her heart pounding against her ribcage. For some reason, she was afraid. Xiao Qi nodded and walked to Gu Qingyu''s side obediently. She took Gu Qingyu''s hand, her hand was cold. "Let''s go, Xiao Yu." Gu Qingyu nodded, and they walked downstairs together. Everyone was relieved once they saw the ladies walk down the stairs together. "It''s getting late, please go and have a rest. There are a lot of rooms, and we will gather directly on the top floor tomorrow morning." Jia Qizhe''s voice echoed through the lobby as he walked upstairs. "I''ll go first, Xiao Yu''er." Gu Qingyu nodded and pulled Xiao Qi along. "Let''s go too." Xiao Qi gripped her hand firmly and nodded. "Okay." "Good night everyone!" Gu Qingyu waved at everyone, opened a door casually, and walked in with Xiao Qi. Closing the door, Gu Qingyu stared at Xiao Qi and squeezed her hand gently. "What happened? It feels... Xiao Qi, you''re a little..." "I''m fine." Xiao Qi lowered her head. "Thank you, Xiao Yu." "No need to thank me, silly girl." Gu Qingyu rubbed Xiao Qi''s head and tucked her in before lying down herself. In the dead of night Gu Qingyu tossed and turned, but she was just unable to fall asleep. After struggling against insomnia for a while, she stopped and listened closely. Xiao Qi''s breathing was smooth and calm. She then slipped out from the covers, walked out of the room with light steps and closed the door with a small ''click''. She walked straight to the roof. As she came up the stairs, she realised she was not alone tonight. Jia Qizhe was there as well. "Why, can''t sleep too?" Gu Qingyu smiled as she approached him, and stood right next to him. "Have you resolved whatever that''s bothering her?" Jia Qizhe turned to her and asked. Gu Qingyu sighed and shook her head. "No. Xiao Qi won''t tell me a thing. I just hope it''s nothing serious." "Qi Wan." Jia Qizhe stated. Although it was only two words, it made Gu Qingyu''s dark eyes light up, as though she had just awoken from a dream. Yeah, Qi Wan! I knew it was him! "In other words, the issue that''s bothering Xiao Qi has to be related to Qi Wan!" Gu Qingyu nodded as she thought aloud. "Okay," He chuckled lightly. "Xiao Yu''er, you are so smart, you must have figured it out." She nodded. "I had an inkling, but I didn''t want to think that way." "Hm." Jia Qizhe reached out and rubbed her head, "Xiao Yu''er, after we leave this castle, I will take you to a good place." "Huh?" She batted her eyelashes. "Where?" He gave her a mysterious smile. "It''s a secret." "Fine, keep it to yourself." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes and turned around, "I''m going downstairs, good night." Suddenly, a warm embrace pressed against her back. Jia Qizhe''s arms were wrapped around her arms and his chin rested gently on her shoulder. "Good night." She blushed and fled immediately, Jia Qizhe''s full-bellied laugh followed her. She returned to her room, laid down on her bed and out of habit, was about to visit the spirit world. But she suddenly remembered that Yan Zun was still resting, she gave up the idea and closed her eyes in frustration. I had already gotten used to that ghost floating around. The next morning Gu Qingyu opened her eyes, turned around, and found that Xiao Qi was standing in front of her bed. "Xiao Qi? What''s wrong?" The sight of Xiao Qi in front of her bed had alarmed her and she jumped out of bed immediately. Xiao Qi smiled: "I just wanted to wake you up." "Oh." Gu Qingyu adjusted her clothes and took Xiao Qi''s hand. "Let''s go." "Okay." Xiao Qi nodded and went out with Gu Qingyu. The pair made their way to the roof, but only Qi Wan was there, shivering in the wind. Qi Wan smiled and waved when he saw Gu Qingyu. "Good morning, Boss." He saw Gu Qingyu blinking and also nodded slightly at Xiao Qi. "Morning." Xiao Qi immediately blushed "G-Good morning." Looking at Xiao Qi, Gu Qingyu sighed secretly in her heart. I really have to find time to talk to Qi Wan. The sound of footsteps came from behind, she turned around and there was Jia Qizhe, Mo Bai, Qi Yichen, and Murong Zuoyu. "Good morning, we''ll head out after a meal." Gu Qingyu smiled at everyone, opened a nearby door. A table of delicious food appeared in everyone''s eyes. This was what Xie Zang told Gu Qingyu before he left. If it were not for Xie Zang, Gu Qingyu thought that she would never have visited such an "ideal" castle in her lifetime. Qi Wan''s jaw dropped to the floor. "Wow! So much food! It''s almost..." With a snap, the fan in Qi Yichen''s hand dropped as well. "Qi Wan, Qi Yichen, please close your chin. Pay attention to your image in public... ahem." Gu Qingyu reminded them. "Oh really, Boss. Then you should swallow all that drool..." Qi Wan pouted. Qi Yichen nodded approvingly. "There''s even some on your clothes, Brother Zhu." "There is?" Gu Qingyu wiped her chin immediately. "Hey, there''s nothing!" Qi Wan and Qi Yichen laughed together. Boom! Gu Qingyu pulled everyone into the room, leaving only Qi Yichen and Qi Wan at the door, and slammed the door in their faces. Qi Wan narrowed his eyes slightly. "Brother Qi, what should we do..." "At this moment of distress, I believe that we should unite in our shared suffering." Qi Yichen swallowed. Qi Wan nodded and took Qi Yichen''s hand with sparkling eyes. "Brother, you are right!" Qi Yichen: "...?" At this moment, the door opened with a tiny crack. Gu Qingyu stuck her head out and threw out a drumstick. "Finders keepers, sort it out between yourselves." She then shut the door again. Qi Wan and Qi Yichen looked at each other and immediately went after each other''s throats. "Nice one, Xiao Yu''er." Jia Qizhe smiled gracefully. "Those two were such eyesores, I''ve wanted to do this to those two for a long time." "I don''t mind throwing you out too." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Actually, you are an eyesore as well, Jia Qizhe." "Oh? Feel free to try." Jia Qizhe was completely unfazed. "If you can." "I really want to." Gu Qingyu filled her bowl lazily, then she asked out of curiosity, "Yes, Jia Qizhe and Brother Murong, who won yesterday?" "Do you still need to ask?" Jia Qizhe smirked. Gu Qingyu sighed. As expected, it was Jia Qizhe. However, his next sentence struck her like a bolt out of the blue. "Of course it was Mister Murong~" Gu Qingyu almost did a spit-take. Murong Zuoyu''s face darkened at her surprised reaction. "Why, Brother Zhu does not believe in my ability?" "No, no, I definitely don''t mean that!" Gu Qingyu swallowed the food immediately. "Brother Murong, you are awesome!" "Yeah, he''s powerful and daring." Jia Qizhe almost sounded like he was laughing. Gu Qingyu laughed dryly a few times. "Oh, what''s happened?" "Nothing." Murong Zuoyu looked at Jia Qizhe with a stone-cold face. Jia Qizhe also smiled, kept silent, and continued to eat. Without Qi Wan and Qi Yichen, their meal was much quieter. The sudden silence was foreign and uncomfortable to Gu Qingyu, and for some reason, Murong Zuoyu seemed off. After eating, Gu Qingyu took the lead and walked out first. Qi Wan and Qi Yichen were still at each other''s necks. She slowly picked up the forgotten drumstick. It was still warm, she gently blew away the dust and took a bite. "Hm, delicious!" Qi Wan and Qi Yichen immediately stopped and looked at Gu Qingyu in disbelief together. Gu Qingyu took another bite and Qi Wan immediately burst into tears. "Boss, stop eating!" "Yeah, it''s all dirty! It''s going to give you a stomachache!" Qi Yichen also cried, "Brother Zhu, throw it away!" Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Look at you both, poor things. Go inside, there''s still some left." "What?" Qi Wan and Qi Yichen were both overjoyed, and immediately ran into the room. "It breaks my heart to see them like that!" Gu Qingyu covered her face. "And yet, who was the one that pushed them outside." Jia Qizhe smiled. "Yeah, who is it?" Gu Qingyu feigned ignorance. "There''s a switch here. Quick, help me find it." She ran her hands along the wall. "Switch? Didn''t Xie Zang tell you, Yu''er?" Mo Bai''s gentle voice raised, but with a little doubt. "I forgot!" Gu Qingyu sounded as though she was about to cry. Mo Bai could only sigh at her reply. Chapter 84: Endurance Chapter 84: Endurance Translated by: iris.knight "It doesn''t hurt." Qi Yichen was also stunned. "Brother Zhu, what are you doing?" "We are looking for a switch." Jia Qizhe answered on her behalf. "She is trying to pick up the smell from the outside world, don''t disturb her." "The smell of the outside world?" Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyu with an amazed look. "Are you sure that this dog scouting technique is not for detecting landmines?" "Landmine? What do you mean?" Qi Yichen looked at Qi Wan with a puzzled expression. Qi Wan coughed. "It''s a very powerful weapon! If set off, it can blow humans into bits." "So it''s similar to Brother Zhu." Qi Yichen mused as he nodded. Qi Wan agreed with him. "Brother Qi! You''re smart!" "Finally found it." Gu Qingyu, who had been lying on the ground for a long time, looked up coldly. "You two, down. Now." "Ah?" Qi Wan froze. Gu Qingyu slowly stood up, she patted the dust on her body. "Hurry up!" "Don''t you find it? What do you want us to do?" Qi Yichen said for a moment. Gu Qingyu showed a perfect smile. "Have you heard of ''push-ups''?" Qi Yichen shook his head. Meanwhile, beads of cold sweat had formed on Qi Wan''s forehead. "Boss, have mercy!" "Mercy is a waste on the two of you." Gu Qingyu replied lazily. She then explained to Qi Yichen, "Push-ups are actually a very good exercise! It can train your body and your mind. Simply put, it is to exercise your physical and psychological endurance~ " "Brother Zhu, m-my injuries had just healed..." Qi Yichen stammered as he watched Gu Qingyu. "Can you..." "No way." Gu Qingyu said with a hmph. Then she sighed seriously. "Brother Qi, it''s because of your injury that you need to exercise more! A kind, clever, beautiful, thoughtful person once said, exercise is beneficial to physical and mental health!" Qi Yichen was not a bit convinced by her flawed logic. "Brother Qi, let''s get started." Qi Wan patted Qi Yichen''s back with sympathy. Qi Yichen shot him a glare. Watch out, I will remember this! Gu Qingyu nodded. "Qi Wan, demonstration!" "Alright!" Qi Wan immediately lay down with his hands on the ground and did a handstand instead. Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan in surprise. "One!" Qi Wan''s hand crumpled, and he fell flat against the ground. Gu Qingyu laughed. "I thought you were so powerful!" Qi Yichen''s face turned a pale shade, and he looked at Gu Qingyu and said. "B-brother Zhu, do I have to do that?" Gu Qingyu shook her head and looked at Qi Wan sympathetically. It was clear that he tried to prank Qi Yichen, but it backfired. "Push-ups, as the name suggests, is to lie on your belly and push up from the floor." Gu Qingyu smiled and Qi Yichen immediately followed suit. "As for Qi Wan, just repeat whatever you did ten times. And don''t fall, or you''ll restart." Gu Qingyu said with a smirk. Qi Wan had a face of despair, his prank had backfired horribly. Gu Qingyu pressed a brick on the floor, and the ground beneath them shook. Qi Wan leaned against the wall breathlessly, Qi Yichen fanning the wind beside him, looking at Qi Wan sympathetically. Then he laughed, "Hehehe, that would teach you!" Qi Wan just glanced at Qi Yichen, he did not even have the strength to glare at the scholar. Gu Qingyu felt that the ground that they were standing on was slowly rising. She raised her head and looked up at the clear blue sky, the sun was warm against her skin, and her eyes fluttered closed as she basked in the sun. Someone stood next to her, his large hand was wrapped around hers. Everything faded to white. Gu Qingyu opened her eyes. They were in a bamboo forest, although it felt oddly familiar. Upon closer inspection, Gu Qingyu realised that they were at the entrance to the castle, the wasteland they initially saw was just an illusion. She looked around, everyone stood around her, no one was missing. "Let''s go, let''s get out of this forest first." She closed her eyes as she tried to plan their next step. Yan Zun can''t give me any hints about the next Spirit Gem, so I''ll have to try myself. Maybe I''ll sense something once we get out, if not we would just wait till Yan Zun wakes up. The others nodded, and at this moment, Jia Qizhe pulled Gu Qingyu into his arms! At the same time, a sharp sword flew from the place where Gu Qingyu originally stood, and inserted straight into a tree and left a deep mark. Gu Qingyu was shocked. She looked up to Jia Qizhe, he was looking at something deep in the woods. "Incoming hostiles." Murong Zuoyu pulled out his sword, a purple glow enveloped the blade as his hand swept over it. Jia Qizhe also gathered blue light in his hands, forming his sword. Gu Qingyu''s Soul Chain appeared around her and Mo Bai pulled out the jade flute around his waist. Gu Qingyu turned his head to look at Qi Yichen and found that he slowly put away the fan in his hand. Gu Qingyu froze at that sight. It turns out Qi Yichen had known for a long time. Of course, he''s so sharp, there was no way they could have kept it from him. Qi Yichen smiled at Gu Qingyu, the smile was a comforting albeit apologetic smile. "Brother Zhu, I''m fine, I have the ability to protect myself. Just, sorry, I can''t help you this time." "Qi Wan." Gu Qingyu''s eyes sank. "You are responsible for protecting Qi Yichen and Xiao Qi, take them away first." "Xiao Yu..." Xiao Qi bit her lip, "I can..." "No, I won''t let you get hurt." Gu Qingyu had already made up her mind. A dart flew past her, right before her eyes. The chain around her activated, it grabbed the dart and sent it back. "This scholar would not leave." Qi Yichen opened his fan. "I may not have enough power to attack, but I can still defend. Let me protect Miss Xiao Qi." "... Forget it, protect yourself." Gu Qingyu watched several assassins sprint towards them. Her chains came to life and went after those men. All of them were soon engaged in battle. Jia Qizhe was surrounded by a group of assassins. Blue light shot out from his blade as he cut down the enemies one by one. Meanwhile, the purple light on Murong Zuoyu''s sword lit up his cold features, blood spilled on the ground after each strike. Mo Bai waved his flute gracefully and with great precision. Wherever his flute reached, the assassins would clutch to their necks in pain and fall to the ground. A green light surrounded him and medicinal herbs swirled in the light. Qi Wan''s ribbon flew across the battlefield and zipped through the assassins. His ribbons impaled those assassins mercilessly. Qi Yichen formed a shield with his fan, but all he could was sustain the shield. On the other hand, Xiao Qi fended off a small group with her own powers. Gu Qingyu had been contemplating on using the Soul Nails. Activating the Soul Nails alone consumed a large portion of her power. The last time she used it, against the piranha plant, it had completely drained her. So she stuck to the Soul Chain. The number of assassins gradually dwindled, she heaved a sigh of relief internally. Mo Bai took out a few small porcelain vials from his sleeve and threw them to Gu Qingyu. "Yu''er, take these. It would restore your strength and give your powers a boost." "Thank you!" Gu Qingyu caught the vials gleefully. "Are there any more?" Mo Bai saw the expectant look in her eyes, he reluctantly took out a few more vials from his sleeves and threw them to everyone. In this case, we would be fine if the enemies turn this into an endurance match! The battle finally ended when Jia Qizhe ruthlessly drove his sword into the last assassin and pierced his chest. Gu Qingyu caught her breath as she wiped away the blood on her face. The morning sun sprinkled through the sparse leaves, and in front of Gu Qingyu, she saw Jia Qizhe slowly turned around to face her. There was a smile on his face, bloodthirsty and cruel. Corpses piled around him, and yet, not a single drop of blood was on his face, his robes, or even his sword. Gu Qingyu couldn''t help but tremble at the sight, but she saw Jia Qizhe frowned. "Xiao Yu''er, are you afraid of me?" Gu Qingyu shook her head immediately "No, I can''t explain it. I just, I have a bad feeling." "Boss, don''t talk nonsense." Qi Wan walked over from the distance with a pout, the hem of his clothes stained bright red with blood, but his ribbon was still dark green. Gu Qingyu then turned around to check on Qi Yichen and Xiao Qi, both of them were safe and sound. Suddenly, her ear picked a noise from deep within the woods. She warned everyone with a hushed voice. "The enemy is still there." "More?" Qi Yichen frowned, and the fan in his hand activated again. Gu Qingyu gave Qi Yichen and Xiao Qi her portion of the vials, she had not found time to take them. "Be careful." Qi Yichen unfolded his fan and smiled. "Miss Xiao Qi is more skillful that she appears, I am honoured to have her protection." Xiao Qi flushed at the compliment and looked at Qi Wan. When she noticed that Qi Wan had been looking at her with a smile, she immediately lowered her head. Meanwhile, Gu Qingyu stared at the shadows of the woods with a heavy heart. Qi Yichen lost his powers, Yan Zun is still asleep, and Xie Zang is still not back yet. The attack is too well-timed, it can''t be just a coincidence. All of this seemed arranged, someone has specifically chosen this moment, our most vulnerable moment, to give us a fatal blow. Either they had been following us, tracing each step we took. Or that, the enemy had intel on their every move. No, this can''t be. There''s no way... But she had run out of time. Assassins appeared from the woods again. They were amazingly fast. Chapter 85: The Spider Queen Chapter 85: The Spider Queen Translated by: iris.knight Qi Yichen widened his eyes in shock and took a step back. He followed where the Soul Nails came from and stared at Gu Qingyu. But Gu Qingyu did not have time to dwell on his reaction and continued her fight against the assassins. Now, they could go toe-to-toe against her. Suddenly, the earth trembled and Gu Qingyu flinched. All of the assassins had retreated into the shadows. "What''s going on?" Gu Qingyu frowned as she scanned the surroundings. "We probably have a nasty one joining us." Jia Qizhe slightly squinted as he tried to make out the thing approaching them in the woods. "What?" Gu Qingyu looked in his direction. A giant demon slowly emerged from the shadows. It towered over them and blocked out the sky. The team was engulfed by darkness. It seemed that there was a person standing on the demon''s shoulder. Because of the backlighting, the silhouette was not clear. But based on the physique, it should be a woman. Gu Qingyu raised her arm and was about to start fighting again, but Jia Qizhe stopped her. "Why, what is the big fuss that even the Spider Queen would show up in person?" The woman replied in a sweet voice. "As expected from the great Hero Jia, such good eyesight. But, the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny, that should warrant a big fuss, no?" As soon as she finished her sentence, Gu Qingyu was certain that they had been following them for a long time. But...Spider Queen? Judging from Jia Qizhe''s tone, it should be very powerful, right? "For the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny alone?" Before Jia Qizhe could reply, Murong Zuoyu''s cold voice came. "Is that all that you are after?" When the woman heard his question, she giggled and replied,. "Yeah, in addition to the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny, the Spirit Gems are also coveted treasures, not to mention, three of them. Wouldn''t you agree, Duke Murong?" Gu Qingyu was taken aback by that response, she did not expect that woman to have such detailed intel. "Spider Queen, I always thought you were a smart person." Jia Qizhe narrowed his eyes slightly. "What a shame, I''m afraid I''ll have to disappoint you, Jia Qizhe." The Spider Queen jumped from the giant demon and landed steadily. Her eyes looked at Gu Qingyu enchantingly, "Young lady, hand over the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny and I will spare all of you. What do you think? " "You sound quite confident." Gu Qingyu forced her lips into a grin. "Why, are you all ready?" "Yes, I believe." The Spider Queen tucked her bangs behind her ear teasingly. Qi Wan hmphed. "Auntie, you look so ugly." "You..." The Spider Queen frowned, but the frown quickly morphed into a smile. "My beauty has nothing to do with you lot, because you all can''t live past today." The battle began at the end of her sentence. The giant demon roared and stormed towards the team. "Be careful, Xiao Yu''er." Blue light overflowed from Jia Qizhe''s hand. "This guy is a little dangerous." "Okay." Gu Qing nodded and gripped the chain in her hands. The chain shone coldly under the sunlight. "Qi Wan, protect Qi Yichen and Xiao Qi." "Yes, my lord!" Qi Wan immediately retreated to Qi Yichen''s side. Qi Yichen didn''t voice any objections. Murong Zuoyu sliced open his palm with his sword, blood spattered. As the sword turned red, he raised the blade and flew to Warcraft. "Be careful!" Gu Qingyu screamed a warning as she controlled the chains and shielded Murong Zuoyu. Mo Bai glanced at the Spider Queen and the jade flute in his hand quickly flew from his hand, aiming at her vitals. She jumped up and flipped in mid-air. The jade flute narrowly missed her, it chopped off the tree behind her instead. She stared at Mo Bai and revealed a charming smile. "Why should the Divine Doctor intervene? I can still let you go, if you would choose to use your divine healing on another. " "No need." Mo Bai pursed his lips, held out his hand, and caught the jade flute. That move was just to test her capabilities. He had already detected her unusual powers from that short exchange. Roar! The giant demon roared and slapped Murong Zuoyu. Gu Qingyu''s chain immediately wrapped around Murong Zuoyu''s waist and yanked him out of the way. His sword sliced through the air and left a cut on the demon¡¯s palm. Green-coloured blood scattered through the air, it sizzled against the chain. The Soul Chain was corroded! She immediately looked up and checked Murong Zuoyu. Although he had shielded himself with the aura from his sword, he was still hit by the acid blood. Several spots on his body sizzled and tiny wisps of smoke appeared. He merely grunted in response. She immediately pulled him back, but the Spider Queen extended her hand, and Gu Qingyu''s body stopped against her will. "Spider silk." Qi Wan''s eyes turned cold and the ribbon in his hand flew out. He flashed and came behind the Spider Queen. The Spider Queen seemed to have expected it and whipped around. One of her hands was fixed, and the other hand was turned rapidly. Under the sunlight, Gu Qingyu could see a net falling towards Qi Wan. "Qi Wan!" Gu Qingyu said in surprise, Jia Qizhe also quickly turned the sword in his hand and sliced the air, then flew to the Spider Queen. Whatever that bound Gu Qingyu was gone, she immediately pulled the chain and forced Murong Zuoyu, who had been struggling with the monster, to regroup. Murong Zuoyu knelt on the ground as soon as he landed. Blood bubbled from his lips, and his sword was battered and chipped, corroded by the acid. Mo Bai noticed him and rushed over to heal him. However, the monster did not intend to give them such a chance. It roared and flew towards Qi Yichen and Xiao Qi. Gu Qingyu wanted to use the Soul Nails again, but Mo Bai grabbed her hand and stopped her. "I''m going." His white wings spread open, and the jade flute in his hand shone with a pale green light. "Right." Gu Qingyu immediately leaned down, "Brother Murong, are you ok? Take a breather." Murong Zuoyu met her eyes and did not speak. There was still a fire in his eyes. At this moment, from the corner of her eye, Gu Qingyu spotted the assassins. They were on the move again! At the same time, Jia Qizhe quickly returned to Gu Qingyu''s side, he was holding onto Qi Wan, who was bleeding from his shoulder and legs. "Why? How did this happen?" Gu Qingyu frowned, looking up at the Spider Queen, she was still smiling, with no trace of injury. The assassins came like a tide, and Gu Qingyu immediately brought Qi Wan and Murong Zuoyu to a spot. The chains on her hands came to life and surrounded them. Mo Bai''s jade flute pierced through the giant demon, right through its chest. Blood spewed and gushed from the demon. The fan in Qi Yichen''s hands immediately spun rapidly to shield against the acid blood, but it was eroding Qi Yichen''s shield! Blood trickled from his lips, but Qi Yichen gritted his teeth and held up the shield. The monster roared and finally, slowly collapsed. Qi Yichen sighed with relief, and suddenly a sharp blade penetrated his shield and pierced his shoulder! Xiao Qi immediately stepped forward and sent out a ball of magic, but the assassin flashed lightly and easily avoided it. Mo Bai''s eyes sank, the jade flute in his hand flew out and right through the assassin. Before the Jade Flute flew back, the assassin grabbed the Jade Flute with one hand, and then fell to the ground. Mo Bai frowned quietly. As more assassins flew towards him, he waved his sleeve and blades of leaves appeared in his hand. "Hang in there!" Gu Qingyu''s voice was hoarse, and she gritted her teeth. She and Jia Qizhe were separated from the rest of the team by the assassins. However, there was no response from that direction, only the sound of mutilated flesh. The Spider Queen walked towards Gu Qingyu elegantly. Gu Qingyu could tell that things were about to get worse and suddenly remembered the pill that Yan Zun gave her before he fell asleep. No longer hesitating, she took out the pill from her sleeve. The Spider Queen had noticed that she was up to something. With a wave of her hand, Gu Qingyu''s hand was released uncontrollably, and the pill was thrown to the ground. The Spider Queen walked over and stepped on the pill. She ground her heel into the ground as she sneered, "Don''t bother, you will never win." Jia Qizhe snorted coldly, the sword in his hand flew out, and blocked the Spider Queen''s path. "If you take another step forward, I will not be polite." The Spider Queen remained in her spot, she giggled instead. "Hero Jia, why? Why go to such lengths?" Jia Qizhe didn''t speak, he pulled Gu Qingyu into his arms and glared at the Spider Queen with furrowed brows. Gu Qingyu looked at the Spider Queen''s feet. The pill had been ground to a powder. "Go." The spider lady tilted her head, and the assassins immediately swarmed them. Jia Qizhe gritted his teeth, and the sword flew back into his hand. He stood in front of Gu Qingyu and fought the assassins. They could not even get close to Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu was about to join in the fight, but Jia Qizhe stopped her. "Xiao Yu''er, just stay behind me." "You..." Gu Qingyu frowned, looked back at Murong Zuoyu and Qi Wan, both of them had lost consciousness. After clenching her teeth, the chain in her hands rattled and it circled around the assassins and attacked the Spider Queen. The Spider Queen seemed to have expected that she would do this. She smiled slightly and squinted her eyes, her long fingers interlaced. A spider web blocked Gu Qingyu''s attack, then the silk turned into swords and flew towards Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu was shocked and closed her eyes. The squelching of pierced flesh came and something sticky splashed on her face. Gu Qingyu opened her eyes. Someone stood in front of her and shielded her with his body. Blood was splattered all over his pristine blue robes. Jia Qizhe stood in front of her. "Jia... Jia Qizhe..." Gu Qingyu''s pupils shrank from horror, and at the same time, the giant demon who had fallen to the ground actually stood up! It was as though her heart was hollowed out, she stood there staring blankly, as Jia Qizhe collapsed before her. Her eyes were dry, there were no tears. Why would you feel sad, if you had lost your heart itself? She suddenly saw something floating in the air. Those crystal-like things turned into a pool of water, and Gu Qingyu couldn''t help but stretched out her hand to catch it. Those crystals things continued to fly up from the ground near the Spider Queen''s feet. It was... the pill? Gu Qingyu no longer hesitated and poured the liquid into her mouth. The moment the liquid trickled down her throat, her head was going to split apart, and her body was tearing and twisting. Pain was on her skin, in her bones, racing through her blood. Gu Qingyu closed his eyes and covered his head, her body felt as though it was going to explode. The pain erupted, and in a moment, the air stilled. The only thing she heard was the pounding in her ears. Boom! Bang! A surge of energy swelled from within and burst through her. In the chaos, the giant demon smacked towards the unconscious Jia Qizhe. The tips of the Spider Queen''s lips were slightly raised, showing a triumphant smile. Gu Qingyu couldn''t care so much, and immediately stood in front of Jia Qizhe! Dust swept up into the sky. Boom! Chapter 86: The White Tiger Chapter 86: The White Tiger Translated by: iris.knight "It seems so." Mo Bai looked at the white tiger, he too was surprised. The demon was enraged, it snarled and charged to the white tiger. The white tiger opened its mouth and roared. The skies and the earth shook, and the demon stepped back and surrendered. ...... Gu Qingyu opened her eyes and found herself far away from the ground. "I grew taller?" Gu Qingyu thought aloud, but instead of her own voice, a low rumble came out from her mouth. What''s that sound? Gu Qingyu was puzzled and raised her hand, but found that it was a white... paw? No, it¡¯s not a cat¡¯s paw, it''s bigger... Add the roar just now to the equation... Am I a tiger now?! The only thought on her mind was a crushing sense of anxiety. I''ve just exposed myself! But wasn''t I a Cat Demon? Why am I a tiger now? She looked down and saw Qi Yichen looking up at her in horror, while the demon was rushing towards her. Xiao Qi and Qi Yichen were beside her. She couldn''t care so much, she immediately stretched out her paws and picked up everyone, her tail swept off the spider silk that had wrapped around Jia Qizhe. The demon was irritated, it roared and flew towards her. You think you''re the only one that knows how to roar? What, you want to compare who has a louder voice?She opened its mouth and roared back. Lo and behold, the demon was really scared! It took two steps back and lowered its head. "Great!" Gu Qingyu grew impressed with herself, but all Mo Bai and Xiao Qi heard was a loud purring from the white tiger. "Is that... Xiao Yu?" Xiao Qi asked carefully. Gu Qingyu lowered her head, looked at Xiao Qi on her palm. She then turned around, put them next to Qi Wan and Murong Zuoyu with a nod. Xiao Qi ran up to her immediately, she looked a little excited and wrapped her arms around one of her "Xiao Yu! So you''re not a cat!" "Yes! I think so too!" Gu Qingyu was also very excited, but her excitement translated to a growl, which messed up Xiao Qi''s hairstyle... "Brother Zhu, I know you are excited," Qi Yichen stroked the fur on her paw. "Be calm, Brother Jia is still in the demon''s hands..." When Gu Qingyu thought of Jia Qizhe, she immediately looked angrily at the demon, and it took two steps back again. Suddenly, a blue light flashed, and then a figure jumped up from behind the demon! It''s Jia Qizhe! Gu Qingyu was elated to see him and she roared again. Qi Yichen, who was standing at her foot, was buffeted by the sudden gust of wind and spit. He wiped his face with his sleeves: "Brother, pay attention to your image, you sprayed some saliva on me..." The white tiger rumbled unhappily, Qi Yichen stroked her paw again. "Relax, Hero Jia is fine, you can be excited now..." Before he finished his sentence, the paw next to him shifted. Gu Qingyu pressed Qi Yichen to the ground, leaned into his face and then gave an earth-shattering roar¡ªQi Yichen was completely dazed. "Has she finally transformed?" Jia Qizhe still had the sword in his hand, and his expression was indifferent. Blood still dribbled from the wound in his chest and his face was pale. The blue light overflowed from his hand as he slashed and attacked the demon. The assassins appeared again, and Jia Qizhe patted Gu Qingyu''s paw. "Good. Let''s see what you can do." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes in disdain. In fact, she also wanted to see how powerful she really was, so she walked towards those assassins. However, the sight of this white tiger rolling its eyes has completely changed from disdain to cute and moe in the eyes of Jia Qizhe and others... Qi Yichen rearranged his hairstyle helplessly and gently smacked his ears, they were still ringing from the roar. "We''re both handsome guys, why is there such a double standard?" "Because Xiao Yu''er likes me." Jia Qizhe raised an eyebrow. Although he was answering Qi Yichen''s question, he was looking at Mo Bai. Mo Bai glanced at him lightly, holding the jade flute in his hand without saying a word. His eyes returned to Gu Qingyu Gu Qingyu was giving her all. When she saw a bunch of assassins flying towards her, she smacked them directly with a paw and brought them all down. No matter how skilled these assassins were, they were still greatly outclassed by the behemoth creature before them. One of the assassins had lost his patience. He held a sword in his hand, stepped on the shoulder of his companion and flew up, shouting "Die!" Gu Qingyu stretched out another paw and swiped at him gently, the assassin was pinned to the ground by her paw. And then, she roared at that assassin, right in his face. The assassin''s eyes rolled into his skull and he passed out. Other assassins all took a step back as they watched their compatriot. They were not afraid of dying from being swiped at. Although it was not the most glorious to die, it still meant that they contributed, right? But, based on what happened to their compatriot, will the tiger before them give them such torture should it get more upset? Qi Yichen watched Gu Qingyu as he sweated bullets. Brother Zhu, I love you! I finally know how kind you are to me! This small incident told us that should you encounter something unsatisfactory or difficult and frustrating, don''t be discouraged and don''t give up. Compared with those more unfortunate people, you will suddenly feel a ray of bright sunshine shining into your life. (Note: Please refer to Qi Yichen''s experience for more details.) At the same time, Mo Bai flew towards the Spider Queen, his hand twisted and turned in the air. The Spider Queen immediately backed away, her fingers interlaced and she weaved web after web. Xiao Qi walked quickly to Qi Wan, and poured her bottle of medicine into his mouth. Qi Wan coughed and slowly opened his eyes. "Boss..." Qi Wan croaked as he looked up. Xiao Qi wiped her eyes. "She''s fine." She gritted her teeth and took out another bottle of medicine. She turned around and gave the medicine Murong Zuoyu. Murong Zuoyu frowned slightly and regained consciousness. Meanwhile Black gas suddenly burst from Mo Bai''s hands as he strangled the Spider Queen fiercely, the black gas surrounded her and threatened to swallow her. The Spider Queen was startled. She realised that she was about to be captured alive and tried to end her own life, but she could not move a single muscle. The anger in Mo Bai''s eyes dissipated, and he released his grip. Thick black chains shackled the Spider Queen. Mo Bai turned his head to look at Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu was having the time of her life, her paws slapped around as she looked at the assassins under her paws like ants. She held back her strength, most of the assassins were knocked out from the impact, she was more focused on disrupting and distracting the assassins instead. "Retreat!" Shouted a man who looked like the leader, and the others fled at his command. As the assassins retreated, Gu Qingyu turned around and yawned lazily. She looked at Qi Yichen. There was another rumbling from the back of her throat. "You know so much, Qi Yichen, how do I change back?" Qi Yichen watched her with a frown, but Jia Qizhe miraculously understood her. "You should automatically turn back when you are tired." "Grrrr..." But I am tired! "Then use your mind, like summoning a weapon." Jia Qizhe nodded. "Grrrr..." I tried, it doesn''t work! Jia Qizhe finally couldn''t bear it. He stepped on his sword, flew up and stared at her at eye level. His hand knocked her head again and again. "Change back! Focus on changing back! Don''t get distracted! Change, change, and change back quickly!" He knocked on her head after each word. It irritated her and she growled, and before she finished growling, she felt dizzy. As she lowered her head, the ground seemed to be getting closer and closer to her... Am I turning back? Before she could react, Gu Qingyu found herself ridiculously to the ground. "Grrrr..." What''s going on? Why didn''t I turn back? Jia Qizhe landed and stretched out his hand to Gu Qingyu. Since when is Jia Qizhe so big? Gu Qingyu looked at him cautiously, and immediately backed away. My hand, it''s still a paw? Jia Qizhe easily picked her up. He patted Gu Qingyu''s head and waved his sleeves. A mirror appeared in the air immediately. In the mirror was a handsome man in a blue robe holding a cat. No, a mini white tiger. Gu Qingyu looked at herself in the mirror with surprise, her eyes became as wide as saucers. Such wide-eyed looks were undoubtedly absolutely adorable. Qi Wan got up, although his face was pale but he was out of danger. He looked at Gu Qingyu with a wretched look. "Boss, karma is truly a cycle! I didn''t expect you to become like this!" Gu Qingyu glared at Qi Wan fiercely, but there was no deterrent. Qi Wan tied his hair. "Okay, stop acting cute. Although you are really cute now, there is no intimidation power whatsoever..." Before he finished his sentence, Gu Qingyu broke free from Jia Qizhe''s arm. She lunged at Qi Wan and bit his nose. Qi Wan wailed, but seeing that Gu Qingyu was about to fall. He immediately extended his hand to catch her while he covered his face with the other hand. "Boss, you''re so mean! My nose! I almost died just now, you know?" "Haven''t you heard the phrase ''the smaller they are, the more vicious they get''?" Qi Yichen fanned himself and looked at Qi Wan with sympathy. "What?" Qi Wan''s face was incredulous. "To think that there will be a day where my handsome face would be ruined!" Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. She felt sore all over, probably because she had overexerted herself. So she closed her eyes and fell asleep. "Oh my god, you ruined my face and now you dare to sleep?" Qi Wan stared at the mini white tiger in his hand. Everyone looked at him with a pitiful look. Jia Qizhe came over and took Gu Qingyu from Qi Wan. "I''ll carry her. Take heed, things that are lost can no longer be recovered. My condolences." Qi Wan spat back. "My face can still heal!" "Oh, by the way." Xiao Qi pointed at the Spider Queen, "What are we going to do about her?" Murong Zuoyu sat up and looked at the mini white tiger with some awe. Chapter 87: Palmtop Tiger Chapter 87: Palmtop Tiger Translated by: iris.knight Ancient beast? Qi Wan was startled by her explanation. Didn''t Gu Qingyu come from the same era as him? Her backstory just got much more complicated if things like ancient beasts are involved. "Yeah, the White Tiger." Jia Qizhe continued to pamper the mini white tiger in his arms. He did not seem displeased that the Spider Queen had avoided his question yet again. "Should this information be released, it would attract even more attention than the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny..." Blue light appeared behind him. "Dead men tell no tales. So, are you going to silence me for good?" The Spider Queen followed his chain of thought. Yet Jia Qizhe smiled, his smile was very beautiful and cunning, but what he said surprised the Spider Queen. "No, things would still get out, even if I kill you." An army of a thousand men appeared before them, all kneeling in front of Jia Qizhe. "King!" "Huh." Jia Qizhe nodded with satisfaction, and walked forward with Gu Qingyu in his arms. The men tied up the Spider Queen and took her away. The others were all apprehensive as they watched Jia Qizhe. Jia Qizhe ignored them. Qi Wan and Qi Yichen glanced at each other. Qi Wan covered his chest and followed with a slight limp. Xiao Qi followed Qi Wan, and Murong Zuoyu followed Qi Yichen. Only Mo Bai stayed in place. He glanced at the direction where the men left with the Spider Queen before following the rest of the team. Gu Qingyu, who was asleep, had no idea what transpired. She laid quietly in Jia Qizhe''s arms. In front of her was a vast, pale white world. Who am I? Where do I come from? Where... will I finally belong? The scene before, which is real? Who can I trust? In the white world, a man in a white robe stood quietly in front of her. He had his back towards her. Even though he did not say anything, he felt oddly familiar to her. "Who are you?" Gu Qingyu spoke softly, but was startled by her own voice. She looked down and found that she had become a person. The man turned around slowly, with a little embarrassment between his clean eyes. ...Yan Zun? Gu Qingyu felt that her eyes were about to pop out of her skull. "Master?" Their eyes met and his lips gradually opened and formed a toothy grin. It was nothing like she had seen from him before. It was neither sinister or cunning, but a truly pure smile, bright with sunshine, and a little bashful. He looked young too, about as old as a teenager. "Are you really Master...?" She asked carefully. The teenager nodded with a smile. "It''s me." Gu Qingyu looked at the teenager doubtfully. He continued, as though he had read her mind, "I came from tens of millions of years ago." "Ah?" Gu Qingyu¡¯s eyes widened. That is to say, the teenager in front of her was the Yan Zun in her youth? The young man was quite shy. "My name is Yan Ruhuo. Yan as in colour." "Oh..." Gu Qingyu nodded, barely accepting the fact that the young man in front of her was Yan Zun. Yan Ruhuo? So not Yan Zun? After all, Yan Zun¡¯s Yan was flame, not colour. But based on what he said before, it seems that he has experienced something, and that thing left him with endless hatred... What kind of thing can make such a pure teenager become the bloodthirsty, vengeful Yan Zun? "You are now awakened. Your real form is the White Tiger." Yan Ruhuo smiled softly. "I came here to tell you that a new Spirit Gem will follow you after you wake up, it will help you turn back." "Since you said you came from the ancient times, how do you know what happens in the present?" Gu Qingyu blinked. "I have predicted that a short time later, there will be a catastrophe, and I will be hiding in the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny, and tens of millions of years later, the reincarnation of the Divine Beast will release me." He answered with a smile. "Incarnation of the Divine Beast?" Gu Qingyu let out a small laugh. "Are you talking about me?" Yan Ruhuo nodded. "This spiritual message was released when you awakened as a Divine Beast. I predicted that this would happen, so I left this message." "Today? Am I becoming a beast?" She looked at him doubtfully. "What is your real purpose?" "Purpose?" Yan Ruhuo shook his head. "Maybe it is to help you, but it would also help me." "Why did you help me?" Gu Qingyu was even more puzzled, even though she did know what he meant, helping her would allow her to gather all of the Spirit Gems and she would be able to release Yan Zun. Yan Ruhuo looked away. "You will know soon." Gu Qingyu blinked at his cryptic response. "Okay, but how long do you plan to go on like this? My real "Master" should be waking up soon, what if he finds you?" "I will disappear soon." Yan Ruhuo sighed softly, but soon showed a bright smile. "The Spirit Gem I gave you allows you to transform at will. Cherish it. We will meet again. "His body began to gradually become transparent and began to disappear. "We will meet again?" Reflexively, she stepped forward and tried to catch him. "Hey..." "I will be waiting for you ten million years in the future." Yan Ruhuo''s smiling face with a little shyness disappeared, "Goodbye." His words echoed through the empty space. Gu Qingyu stood in the middle of a white world, alone, she stared at the place where Yan Ruhuo originally stood. Sunny, warm, dressed in white robes. Unlike the gentleness of Mo Bai and the elegance of Qi Yichen, it is the kind of truly innocent white, without a trace of dirt, and even the eyes are so clean and pure, with the warmth of sunshine. Is that really... Yan Zun? Yan Ruhuo? "...Goodbye." She said, with a short laugh. Maybe we will meet again, there must be some meaning behind his final words. I will be waiting for you in the future, goodbye. Gu Qingyu opened her eyes and found herself lying in an embrace with a light fragrance. This smell, Jia Qizhe? Gu Qingyu raised her head and found that she was indeed lying in Jia Qizhe''s arms. There was a slight shaking, they seemed to be walking somewhere. Looking around, they were no longer in a forest. She does not recognise where they were. Gu Qingyu couldn''t help but wonder. "Meow?" Where are we? Gu Qingyu startled herself with that meow. Why haven''t I changed back? And I thought I was a white tiger? What am I so small now? "Oh, you''re awake?" Jia Qizhe ran his fingers along her back and smoothened out her fur. "Relax, we''re almost there." Relax? Gu Qingyu tilted her head in dissatisfaction and sank her teeth into the fabric of his sleeve. "Meow!" If you don''t explain it to me, I won''t let go! "You can keep biting on it if you want to." Jia Qizhe patted her head and kept walking. Gu Qingyu gave up with a huff. She decided to check their surroundings instead. Qi Wan and others were walking behind Jia Qizhe. They all looked like they were worried. Gu Qingyu stuck out her head, rested her paws on Jia Qizhe''s arm as she tried to look at Qi Wan. "Meow?" Qi Wan? What happened to you? Qi Wan raised his head and looked at Gu Qingyu. He gave her a relaxed smile, but his smile was strained and there was a somber look in his eyes. She turned her head to look at Qi Yichen, his fan was open and he was fanning himself as usual, but he looked less carefree than usual. Mo Bai seemed to be the most calm, his fingers gently rubbed the jade flute, and he smiled softly at Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu''s two paws immediately covered her nose, and she had already been pressed by Jia Qizhe into his arms before she could react. Jia Qizhe''s voice drifted slowly from above. "Xiao Yu''er, you''ve overexerted yourself, you need to rest more." "Meow..." Not really. I have rested enough. I want to walk on my own. "No." Jia Qizhe stroked her back. "We''re almost there. I''ll get you something to eat once we arrive." "Meow..." Since you promised food, I''ll let this slide once. Hmph, just wait till I turn back. Even though there''s not much that I can do... She felt something against her stomach and looked down. This is the Spirit Gem? Gu Qingyu wrestled and wriggled, and finally pulled out the Spirit Gem from under her, only for Jia Qizhe to pluck it right from her paws. He examined it under the sunlight. "Where did this come from, Xiao Yu?" This guy just doesn''t take me seriously! Gu Qingyu could explode from indignance. She reached out to take back the Spirit Gem, but Jia Qizhe put it back into her arms again. "Okay, don''t make trouble, hold on tight, we''re here." Gu Qingyu sulked. I don''t know why, but I really want to punch someone! She continued to turn the Spirit Gem over with her paws. Didn¡¯t Yan Ruhuo say that this can help me change back to a human? How I want to change back right now! "So white tigers like to play with these kinds of things too?" Jia Qizhe blinked in confusion, then smiled clearly. "Alright, I''ll get you a ball of yarn later." He stopped in front of a tower. Ball of yarn? Forget about it. Gu Qingyu looked at the tower in doubt. She had trouble counting the exact number of storeys, but it was tall and large. "Meow?" What is this place? "This is the headquarters of Ye." Jia Qizhe rubbed Gu Qingyu''s head. The door opened automatically and he stepped over the threshold and entered the tower. "Welcome to Ye." He announced as he turned and smiled at the group behind him. Chapter 88: Ye Jin Chapter 88: Ye Jin Translated by: iris.knight Jia Qizhe instructed as they walked in. "Take care of these people, they are guests." Someone immediately flew out of nowhere, stood in front of Qi Wan and others, and bowed. "All of you, please come with me." Gu Qingyu laid quietly in Jia Qizhe''s arms, but she was panicking inside. I didn''t expect Jia Qizhe to be the leader of Ye. Sure, I was prepared for the idea that Jia Qizhe is definitely not your average joe, but this! I did not see this coming. Jia Qizhe rubbed Gu Qingyu''s head and walked up the stairs, all the way to the top floor. They did not see another person on the way. However, she clearly sensed they were not alone, many people were watching them from the shadows. Her senses were much more sensitive than usual because of her current form. The scrutiny, almost surveillance from the unknown unsettled her and she arched her back, all of the hair on her back stood up. Sensing the uneasiness of the little white tiger in his arms, Jia Qizhe comforted her and smoothened her fur and spoke, "You can all leave." In an instant, Gu Qingyu immediately felt that the stares had vanished and only Jia Qizhe''s footsteps echoed in the stairwell. "Don''t be afraid, they''re all my men." His voice were gentle. His steps before a door, Jia Qizhe reached out and gently pushed the door open and walked in. The door closed automatically behind him. Gu Qingyu raised her head and looked at Jia Qizhe. "Meow?" What are you doing? Jia Qizhe placed a blanket on the table, and then set the little white tiger on the blanket. Then, took out a ball of yarn from nowhere, and placed it near the little white tiger''s paw. "Here, do you like it?" Finally, he sat down near the table. Gu Qingyu was dumbfounded: "... Meow?" Yeah right! But looking at the ball of blue yarn, it does seem quite enticing... In the end, under Jia Qizhe''s watchful gaze, Gu Qingyu rested her paws on the ball of yarn and gave it a small push. Eh? It''s really fun! She curiously used both of her paws, pushed and pulled the ball of yarn. The yarn unraveled as she played and rolled all over the blanket. Jia Qizhe burst out laughing as he watched her. "I''m glad you like it, Xiao Yu''er." He rubbed Gu Qingyu''s head and got up. "Xiao Yu''er, you''ll have to play on your own for a while. I''ll be back soon." Gu Qingyu barely minded his absence, she was immersed in the world of yarn balls. "Meow." Bye, see you. Jia Qizhe smiled, went out and closed the door.Gu Qingyu continued to roll the ball of yarn... Snap! The door was opened again, but Gu Qingyu did not notice who it was. She was too occupied with the ball of yarn. "Meow?" Jia Qizhe, are you here again? Come and help me! The visitor only saw a cat on the table. Its whole body was wrapped in blue wool. The cat laid on the blanket on the table, and it seemed to be entangled in wool. And yet, it seemed to be absolute bliss. The visitor laughed at the sight. "Boss, to think you will be like this one day!" "Meow?" Qi Wan? Gu Qingyu stopped at his voice, raised her head, and just as expected, a dark green robe greeted her eyes. Qi Wan walked over, clearly holding in his laughter. "Wow, I never thought you would have so much fun with just a ball of yarn..." "Meow!" You''re not a cat, how would you understand this? "So do you want me to untie you?" Qi Wan watched her. Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Meow!" Of course, hurry up! Qi Wan held in his laughter and slowly unraveled the yarn. "I have to say, boss, it''s quite impressive that you could do this to yourself." "Meow!" Hurry up! Or I''ll bite you! "Okay, okay..." Qi Wan gradually removed the yarn around her, taking care to not hurt her. "Did it hurt?" Gu Qingyu shook her head, moved her body, and stared at the Spirit Gem at the edge of the table. "Meow!" Whether or not I can change back depends on that thing! "This Spirit Gem can help you turn back?" Qi Wan was surprised and passed the Spirit Gem to her. "Boss, you''re saved!" "Meow..." Don''t say it as if I was chronically ill or something! But how do you use this thing? "Try holding it in your mouth?" Qi Wan stuffed the gem into her mouth. Gu Qingyu jumped away immediately, and bit Qi Wan''s finger instead. "Meow" You asked for this! "Ow, ow, ow..." Qi Wan let go immediately and checked his hand. There was already a tiny teeth mark. "Boss, you are so mean..." "Meow." Thank you for the compliment. Suddenly, Gu Qingyu''s ears shook. There were footsteps in the corridor. She glanced at Qi Wan. "Meow!" Hide! Jia Qizhe is back! Her paw pointed to the window. "Then..." Qi Wan looked at the Spirit Gem in his hand. Gu Qingyu quickly held the Spirit Gem with her mouth, and kept it inside with one paw while pointing and waving at the window. "Meow!" Qi Wan nodded with confidence and jumped from the window. As soon as he disappeared, Jia Qizhe opened the door. Gu Qingyu''s heart suddenly jumped. If I remember correctly, we are on the thirteenth floor? Good luck, Qi Wan. "What''s wrong?" Jia Qizhe looked so pleased and cheerful that she almost had trouble recognising him. Gu Qingyu couldn''t reply because of the Spirit Gem, so she stared at Jia Qizhe with wide eyes instead. This cute look made Jia Qizhe stretch out his hand and rub her head. He looked at the window. "This..." Gu Qingyu was shocked. However, Jia Qizhe continued, "This window is not closed, you''re going to catch a cold like this." Gu Qingyu breathed a sigh of relief, but Jia Qizhe kept talking. "Xiaoyu''er, I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to hide this from you for so long." Hide? Is it about his true identity? Gu Qingyu blinked and blinked as she watched Jia Qizhe return to his seat at the table. "I..." Jia Qizhe stared at the patterns on the blanket and avoided her gaze. "Xiao Yu''er, listen well, my real name is Ye Jin." Ye Jin? That''s a beautiful-sounding name! Gu Qingyu continued to stare at him, imploring him to continue. "Yes, I am Ye Jin, the leader of Ye." Jia Qizhe pursed his lips and lowered his head. "Sorry Xiao Yu''er. I really didn''t mean to keep this from you..." Gu Qingyu saw the guilt in his eyes and in an instant, she was feeling the same guilt as well. Jia Qizhe... I''m sorry, I''ve also kept many things from you. If I can, I would tell you. I would personally tell you everything, right now. Gu Qingyu suddenly felt a sense of dizziness, and then she saw the white fur on her paws fade bit by bit. Jia Qizhe raised his head and saw Gu Qingyu in her pink dress. Gu Qingyu smiled and slowly spoke. "Jia Qizhe, thank you for telling me this. Now, I also have something to tell you." Ye Jin nodded. "There is a world, this world is thousands of years from the world we are in, or it''s another world entirely. Either way, in that world, there was no magic or martial arts. That world was governed by science. Is that too confusing?¡± Gu Qingyu tilted her head as she continued her explanation. ¡°Everyone is equal in this world, everyone helps each other, there is no distinction between nobility or peasantry. The buildings there are all high-rise buildings, that is, very tall houses. There are cars...well, a car is this mode of transport that has four wheels and small windows... I, In short, I come from that world." She paused. "That''s the real reason why the third Miss of the Gu family changed." "Huh." Ye Jin smiled. "And Qi Wan came from the same world as you?" Gu Qingyu nodded. Ye Jin was slient for a while, he thought to himself. In fact, this is very obvious. I figured it out after your explanation. Qi Wan shares a common language with you, the two of you have inside jokes, and only terms and phrases that the two of you understood. Admittedly, sometimes I get jealous of him. "Ok, I understand." Ye Jin got up and pressed Gu Qingyu into his arms. "Xiao Yu''er, thank you." "Yeah." Gu Qingyu smiled. "Jia...Ye Jin, how''s Qi Wan and the rest?" "Xiao Yu''er, if you feel uncomfortable, you can continue to call me Jia Qizhe." Ye Jin gently ran his fingers through her hair, "They are all safe and well. I have already arranged for them to be well taken care of. " "Ok." Gu Qingyu nodded. "Alright. This time everyone spent a lot of energy, it is time to take a good rest." "There are many interesting places in this area, Xiao Yu''er. Can I show you around?" Ye Jin tilted his head and looked at Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu turned down his offer. "Let''s go together after we collect all of the Spirit Gems. " "Very well." Ye Jin''s lips curled. "Xiao Yu''er, you can anywhere in this place. I have something to deal with, it''s estimated to take two or three days, but I''ll finish it as soon as possible. By the way, if you miss me, just ask someone here to come and get me." "You think too much." Gu Qingyu waved her hand as pink settled on her cheeks. "Go, get going." Ye Jin smiled, ruffled her hair and walked out. Gu Qingyu watched him go down the stairs before approaching the window and opening it. Where is Qi Wan? There is only an empty river... Oh! There''s a river! And here I was wondering why there wasn''t any sound. She was about to leave and head downstairs to check, but she heard a weak voice. "Boss, I''m here..." Gu Qingyu immediately looked down and found that Qi Wan was hanging onto the window sill! "How did you do that?" Gu Qingyu said as she tugged on his clothes and pulled him up. "Boss, be more gentle! Ah, you caught my neck... Ugh..." After Qi Wan came up, he fell into a daze. Gu Qingyu did not waste any time, a few slaps woke him up. "Hey!" Qi Wan regained his senses, but he was still confused. "Where is this? Boss, you''re so mean, you actually hit my handsome face..." Chapter 89: Spy Headquarters Chapter 89: Spy Headquarters Translated by: iris.knight Qi Wan looked surprised "Boss, how did you swallow such a big gem?" "I don''t know!" Gu Qingyu cried out, "I swallowed it! Now the key is how do I spit it out!" Qi Wan stared at her sympathetically. "Good luck, Boss. Maybe when you will spit it out eventually again?" "Go away." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "I''m going to see Xiao Qi and the others, bring me there." "Alright!" Qi Wan kicked the door open excitedly. "Let''s go!" Gu Qingyu kept up with Qi Wan, and after twists and turns, they arrived at an area in the tower. "It''s here." Qi Wan pointed to a row of rooms. "Everyone lives here." "Huh." Gu Qingyu picked a random door, held out her hand, and knocked gently. The door opened, Xiao Qi''s face greeted her. "Xiao Qi!" Gu Qingyu immediately pounced on her, "How are you?" "I''m fine." Xiao Qi hugged her back, glanced at Qi Wan who stood at the side and stepped back to open up a path, "Come in." "Sure!" Gu Qingyu walked in and sat down at the table in the centre of the room. She was very relaxed and at home, there was only Xiao Qi and Qi Wan around. "Oh yeah, what happened when I fell asleep?" This was what she always wanted to ask, because since waking up, the atmosphere between Jia Qizhe and everyone seemed strange. Qi Wan didn''t say anything, while Xiao Qi filled her in. "A group of people came out and took the Spider Queen away. They called Hero Jia... Sire. Then, we came here." Gu Qingyu nodded. "I see, we''ll take a break and stay here for a few days. And, about what happened, I''m sorry for scaring you, Xiao Qi." She looked at Xiao Qi apologetically. Xiao Qi held her hand and gave it a squeeze. "No, I actually want to thank you, Xiao Yu. If you hadn''t stepped in, then I''m afraid I would have died in the hands of that giant demon." "Yeah!" Gu Qingyu also squeezed Xiao Qi''s hand, "I really didn''t expect that I was a tiger, and a White Tiger on top of that?" She nodded. "Well, I always thought I was just a cat, I didn¡¯t expect the tiger to really show its power! " "Yeah." Xiao Qi also looked very emotional. "It''s really surprising!" Qi Wan cringed a little, but he remained quiet. "This story tells us that we can''t just look at the surface in all things, but in the long run~ maybe someone you offended today will kill you fiercely tomorrow!" She turned and gave Qi Wan a knowing look. Qi Wan felt a shiver go down his spine. "Boss, we can talk things out, I really didn''t provoke you..." He suddenly remembered the moment Qi Yichen was pressed under her paw, and his face turned white instantly. Gu Qingyu smiled and patted Xiao Qi on the shoulder. "I''m gonna head next door and talk to the others." Xiao Qi nodded. Gu Qingyu went out without forgetting to wink at Xiao Qi, and closed the door. She walked out then knocked on the room on the left. "Who!" The door was opened impatiently, "Do you know that I am..." His sentence was suddenly held in stasis. Gu Qingyu saw a beautiful and elegant man with messy hair staring at her with wide eyes. "Qi Yichen?" Gu Qingyu narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the person in front of her. "What happened to you? Why is your hair a mess? And your clothes are in disarray!" His collar was open, revealing smooth skin and his sculpted collarbone. Gu Qingyu immediately covered her nose and looked into the room, and found that Mo Bai was walking towards her. "I''m sorry! I came at a bad time! Please, continue!" The words tumbled out of her mouth and she shut the door immediately. Inside the room, Qi Yichen covered his nose as blood trickled down his nose, the door had smacked him in the face. "Brother Zhu, you..." Gu Qingyu said excitedly, shouting from outside. "Carry on! Hurry!" Although I knew Qi Yichen is... but it''s surprising to see Mo Bai. Oh well, I will miss Mo Bai, but it showed that Qi Yichen has moved forward, right? Just as her imagination was running wild, the door opened again, and Mo Bai''s anxious face appeared. "Yu''er, listen to me..." "Hey, you don''t have to." Gu Qingyu said with a smile, "It''s really my fault, I shouldn''t have..." "Yu''er!" Mo Bai cut her off with a shout. "I was changing his bandages." "Oh~ You were just changing his bandages~" Gu Qingyu nodded slowly. "It''s ok, carry on, don''t mind me!" "I''m already done." Mo Bai rubbed his eyebrows. "Yu''er, wipe away your nosebleed first." "Huh?" Gu Qingyu was stunned, her hand rushed to her face and she wiped away the blood with her handkerchief. At the same time, Qi Yichen stepped out from the room. He had already sorted out his clothes and hair. "Alas, what a wet blanket." Gu Qingyu sighed quietly as she stared into Qi Yichen''s eyes as if looking at a misguided teenager. Qi Yichen felt his lips twitch in annoyance, but he ignored her words. "Ah!" Gu Qingyu sighed again, "Well, I''m relieved to see you so lively." In fact, she was always worried for Qi Yichen. His injuries had not healed, and they were all caught in a dangerous battle, so Gu Qingyu was very worried about whether Qi Yichen''s body could withstand it. According to what they just said, Mo Bai helped Qi Yichen change his bandages. Then it meant that Qi Yichen should be fine. "By the way, do you know where the Spider Queen is held?" Gu Qingyu suddenly asked. Mo Bai shook his head. "Ye Jin was handling the matter. If Yu''er wants to know where she''s kept, I can accompany you to find it." "Okay." Gu Qingyu said and nodded. "Thank you... Mo Bai, wait a minute, I''ll go and see Brother Murong." Gu Qingyu knocked on the door next to it. Murong Zuoyu still had a cold face. When he opened the door and saw Gu Qingyu, his stony face turned to one of surprise. "Brother Zhu?" "Huh!" Gu Qingyu nodded. Although she has shed her disguise, Qi Yichen and Murong Zuoyu still preferred to call her "Brother Zhu". Surprisingly, she did not have any qualms with it. "You are all right." Murong Zuoyu seemed relieved. Gu Qingyu smiled: "Yeah, I''m fine. Thank you, Brother Murong, without you we would not have been able to capture the Spider Queen!" Murong Zuoyu shook his head. "It''s hardly worth mentioning. I''m just glad that Brother Zhu is well." "I''m going to find the Spider Queen first to see if there are any clues." Gu Qingyu ''s eyes sank, "I always feel that this attack was not so simple." "Agreed." Murong Zuoyu nodded. "Do you want me to come with you?" "No, it''s ok, Brother Murong." Gu Qingyu smiled and she went out. "See you around!" Murong Zuoyu gave her a nod. Gu Qingyu and Mo Bai had just walked up the stairs when three people approached them. The one in the middle wore a black smiley face mask and was dressed in a black robe. "Uncle...Uncle Crow?" Gu Qingyu tilted her head and asked. Crow coughed and nodded unnaturally. "It''s me." His voice was still hoarse. "It''s good to see you, Uncle Crow." Gu Qingyu immediately greeted him respectfully. Laughter escaped from the two people behind Crow. They did not wear masks, but only wore black clothes, so their faces were easily seen. They were two men, probably in their thirties. "What''s so funny?" Crow glanced back at the two of them with dissatisfaction. The two immediately closed their mouths, but it was not hard to see that they were still fighting a smile. "Uncle Crow, where are you guys off to?" Gu Qingyu looked at Crow curiously. "I was waiting for you, for your orders, as instructed by our leader." Crow bowed his head slightly. Gu Qingyu nodded. "Thank you. Your leader said that I can do whatever I want. Can you take me to wherever I want?" Well, let me set things up. "Uh... yes." Crow nodded, even though he was unsure why Gu Qingyu would ask such a question. "Well, I want to see the Spider Queen" Gu Qingyu smiled. Crow seemed hesitant. "Miss Gu, this..." "But you said I can go wherever I want, and you''ll bring me there." Gu Qingyu raised her eyebrows. Crow finally relented. "Miss Gu, please come with me." Gu Qingyu followed Crow, Mo Bai fell in step behind her. But Crow stopped and said to Mo Bai. "Sir, please stay." "Can''t I go?" Mo Bai''s smile was polite, but Crow clearly felt a sense of pressure from the person in front of him. Crow replied calmly. "Only Miss Gu has the leader''s permission to go as she pleases. Please, you will have to stay here, Mister Mo." "Forget it, Mo Bai," Gu Qingyu tugged on his sleeve. "I''ll go alone, thank you." Mo Bai agreed with a defeated nod. "Yu''er, be careful." She assured him. "It''s alright, they''re all Jia Qizhe''s men anyway..." "Ye is incredibly honoured to have Miss Gu''s deep trust in us and our leader." Crow bowed again. The leader did tell them to get in the way of "that guy called Mo" as much as they can. Gu Qingyu shrugged. "Let''s go." Mo Bai looked away and kept quiet. Gu Qingyu followed Crow and the two other people up the stairs. Along the way, Gu Qingyu watched Crow curiously. "Ahem, may I ask Miss Gu, what''s the matter?" Crow cleared his throat awkwardly. "Uncle Crow, your mask is so beautiful!" Gu Qingyu sighed in admiration. "Uh..." "Actually, you look better when you take off the mask!" Gu Qingyu said sincerely, but immediately realised she might have gone out of line. People who wear masks in novels or TV series usually have a sad backstory. Like a huge scar, some form of disfigurement? A la, the Phantom? She changed her mind from the sudden swell of guilt. "Of course, if Uncle Crow is used to wearing a mask, you don''t need to take it off." "I don''t mind..." Crow cleared his throat yet again. "It''s just that the leader told me that I can''t take off my mask." Chapter 90: Interrogation Chapter 90: Interrogation Translated by: iris.knight "Truth be told, I do have a sad backstory." Crow looked down at the ground, and then looked up at the sky. Will I get smited for saying something like this? The other two people behind him were obviously trying to hold their laughter. Crow turned around, and they schooled their faces to a serious expression. Gu Qingyu blinked. "Well, Uncle Crow, are we going to reach there soon?" "Yes." Crow glanced ahead. "Miss Gu, do prepare yourself." "For what?" Gu Qingyu said, tilting her head. "What did you guys do to her?" To be honest, the Spider Queen was here to kill me, and there is absolutely no room for mercy. So no matter how Jia Qizhe handles the Spider Queen, I would not think that he crossed the line. I''m no saint. Plead pretentiously for some random person who tried to kill me? Let someone else do that! As they talked, the group stopped outside a door. Crow stepped aside and bowed. "Miss Gu, please." Gu Qingyu nodded. "Thank you." She pushed open the door and walked in. A faint scent greeted her as soon as she opened the door. Gu Qingyu was puzzled, but she continued to walk in. Crow followed her, walked to a cabinet and pushed it gently. The cabinet opened with ease, and revealed a set of hidden stairs that lead down. With Crow''s prompting, Gu Qingyu walked down the stairs and saw the Spider Queen, dressed in full black. The Spider Queen sat cross-legged on the floor, her hands and feet were not tied, but she looked very tired, and she did not look like she was about to jump onto Gu QIngyu and throw a web over her. The Spider Queen merely looked up from the sound. Seeing the Spider Queen like this, Gu Qingyu did not feel anything. Actually, sometimes she has found herself cruel. But passivity was not going to save anyone, and she doesn''t think there was anything wrong with it. "You..." Gu Qingyu moved her lips, and finally looked at the Spider Queen with a cold face. "Why do you want to kill me?" The Spider Queen raised her head, her hair clung to her face and she did not bother to push it aside. The charming, enchanting glint in her eyes had disappeared. "Someone requested it." So cooperative? Gu Qingyu questioned her sudden openness, but her cold face remained unchanged. "Who?" The Spider Queen answered with a faint breath. "From...." Before she finished her sentence, her neck jerked and twisted to an angle beyond anything possible in human anatomy. Gu Qingyu was shocked. She went up immediately and placed her hand against the Spider Queen''s neck. Nothing. There was no longer a pulse. "What..." Gu Qingyu frowned, then stepped out immediately with furrowed brows. As soon as she went out, she saw that Crow was standing at the door. Crow was confused when he saw her. "What''s wrong, Miss Gu?" "The Spider Queen was killed." Gu Qingyu''s face was calm. Crow did not notice anyone else, which meant that whoever killed the Spider Queen was much stronger and more skilled than Crow, enough to completely hide his own presence. And clearly, for someone who has been at Jia Qizhe''s side for a long time, Crow was quite skilled. "What?" The person in the smiley face mask was obviously surprised, and immediately ran into the chamber. The other two people stood at the door shared worrying looks. But Gu Qingyu looked worse than all of them. After all, she and the Spider Queen were the only ones in that room, and the Spider Queen obviously had no power to fight back. Therefore, in their eyes, it was only reasonable for them to suspect that she killed the Spider Queen. Not just reasonable, it was very likely. After Crow came out from that room, he bowed to Gu Qingyu. "I apologise, Miss Gu." "Eh?" Gu Qingyu froze, "Why are you apologising?" "I did not notice and let the Spider Queen be killed." Crow paused. "Fortunately, Miss Gu is safe, otherwise I''m afraid I would not be able to redeem myself, even if I give up my life." "Don''t say that..." Gu Qingyu waved immediately. "Are you not suspicious that I might have killed her?" "And why would that matter?" A man beside Crow hmphed disdainfully. "The leader said that everything you do is absolutely correct! There is no other perfect move!" Another man answered, "Even if you kill us, it would not change anything." I very much believe that this is Jia Qizhe''s original words! She rolled her eyes: "Come on, we should still report this to...Ye Jin." "Okay, then I will take my leave. If anything happens, Lighting and Thunder are at your disposal." Crow bowed and left the room. "Yeah." Gu Qingyu smiled and turned to look at Lighting and Thunder. "I''ll go back and see Mo Bai, you two are free to do as you please." Lighting and Thunder nodded in unison. "We will escort you back." "Sure." Gu Qingyu accepted their offer and left the room. It didn''t take long for her to return to her original place. Xiao Qi was standing at the doorway, and there was no one beside her. "Xiao Qi?" Gu Qingyu immediately walked over, "What''s wrong? Why areyou here all by yourself?" Xiao Qi looked at Gu Qingyu, shook her head, and opened her door. "Xiao Yu, come in." "Okay." Gu Qingyu walked in. "Qi... What about Qi Wan?" "He said he went to find you." There was no light in her eyes. "An, he''s just off galavanting or something, don''t think about it." Gu Qingyu rubbed Xiao Qi''s head. "Don''t think too much, I''ll bring him back. You get some rest, ok?" Xiao Qi nodded. "Okay." Gu Qingyu got up, pushed open the door and went out. Qi Wan, this guy just keeps finding new things to make me worry... Gu Qingyu couldn''t help but sigh, looked up, and saw a white robe. "Mo Bai?" Gu Qingyu blinked, then smiled. "Have you seen Qi Wan?" Mo Bai nodded and glanced at the stairs. "I think he went down." "Ok, I''ll go find him." Gu Qingyu ran downstairs, not paying attention to Mo Bai''s expression. Mo Bai smiled gently, just like usual. Gu Qingyu went down the stairs, as expected, she saw Qi Wan with a worried face. As soon as he saw her, he practically jumped on her. "Boss! Where have you been! I missed you!" "Okay, okay." Gu Qingyu slapped away his hands. "Qi Wan, I need to talk to you." "What is it?" Qi Wan listened intently. "Ahem, what do you think about Xiao Qi?" "What do I think?" Qi Wan blinked, puzzled. "She''s a nice girl." "Hm..." Gu Qingyu was silent, she was suddenly at a loss for words. Qi Wan was even more confused. "Boss, this is not your style, what''s the matter? Just speak your mind!" "Then I will address the elephant in the room." Gu Qingyu began. "Xiao Qi likes you, ok? "I''m aware..." Qi Wan nodded. "I hope you can find some time to talk to her." Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan seriously. "You are also a big boy. Xiao Qi is a good girl. If you do like her, don''t waste each other''s time." Qi Wan froze for a while, then raised an eyebrow mockingly. "I''m a big boy? That doesn''t mean that I want to be tied down!" "Tch, Stop pretending, do you think I don''t know what you are thinking?" Qi Wan was stunned, and then his face showed obvious embarrassment and unease. "You already knew?" "Yeah." She smirked. "Uh, boss, actually I..." Qi Wan scratched his head, "I..." "There''s a limit to playing hard to get! You can''t just keep stringing her along and keeping her hopes up like this!" Gu Qingyu said, staring at Qi Wan with contempt. Qi Wan"Boss, what are you talking about?" He heard it right? "Yeah," The contempt in her eyes changed to care. "It''s not that I want to intervene. But there is a limit, if you grind away all of her patience, then you''re really a goner!" Qi Wan could barely keep up with her argument."Not like this! Boss, I can explain!" "Well, go ahead, I''m listening." Gu Qingyu waited. "No, I think it''s better if I don''t say it." Qi Wan swallowed his words. "I will talk to her when I have time." "That''s good to hear!" Gu Qingyu gave his shoulder a bro-like smack. Ye Jin showed up when she got back to Xiao Qi''s room. "I just got back, Xiao Yu''er. Did you miss me?" Ye Jin gave a devilish smile. Gu Qingyu pouted. "Yes." She was just trying to bluff him. Yet, Ye Jin smiled gleefully at her response. "I miss you too!" Lighting and Thunder, who stood at the side, watched Ye Jin incredulously. The leader smiled? And he smiled so gleefully? And he even said something so goosebump-inducing? "The Spider Queen is dead..." Gu Qingyu frowned. "You..." "I already know who did it." Ye Jin came over and rested his hand on her head. "Why, Xiao Yu''er wants to know?" Gu Qingyu was shocked. "You know? Who is it?" "Well, I think Xiao Yu''er will find out very soon." Ye Jin raised his eyebrows. "Are you scared, Xiao Yu''er?" "No," Gu Qingyu stuck out her tongue. "It''s okay." It¡¯s not that I never watched a horror movie, but the real version is still a bit intense. "Xiao Yu''er, there are a lot of interesting places in this place." Ye Jin seemed to be in a good mood. "You can let Crow show you around, and if you want, he can teach you more about combat." "Eh? Is that okay?" That piqued her interest. Crow replied humbly. "I am not good at teaching." "Uncle Crow, then spar with me when you are free!" Gu Qingyu looked excited. "Whenever you want, Miss Gu. I will make time." Crow raised his head. Ye Jin stroked her head again."I haven''t finished my business yet, Crow will keep you company. You can also play with Lighting and Thunder. Crow, Lighting and Thunder, take care of the madame." "Yes, sir!" Crow, Lighting and Thunder immediately stood ramrod straight and answered with a loud yell. You don''t have to be so serious! Really! Chapter 91: Big Brother! Chapter 91: Big Brother! Translated by: iris.knight "Naturally, I have time." Crow accepted her request. "Miss Gu... Madam, please come with me." This is really a fast change in monikers, but... "Don''t call me that, just call me Miss Gu or Gu Qingyu." Gu Qingyu blinked. Crow shook his head. "Madam, the leader has already instructed us, the subordinates to take care of you, please come with me." Does hospitality have anything to do with my name? And you''ve even started addressing yourself as ''subordinate'', hey! Gu Qingyu sighed helplessly and patted Qi Wan''s shoulder next to her. "Go, Xiao Qi is in that room. I''ll go for some practice first." "Okay, Boss, be careful." Qi Wan nodded as he watched Gu Qingyu leave. Gu Qingyu followed Crow down the stairs and came to a hall. There is a black flame pattern on the central floor of the hall, which piqued her curiosity. Crow noticed that she was staring at the pattern and explained. "This is the symbol of Ye." "Symbol..." Gu Qingyu nodded. "So, let''s start?" "Okay." Crow looked at the Lighting and Thunder, and they immediately stood beside him and set up a barrier. The Soul Chain gradually appeared around Gu Qingyu, black patterns glistened and glowed along the chain. Crow stiffened at the sight of her weapon, and then he waved his hand, suddenly a scythe appeared in his hand. A cloaked man with the black smiley mask was holding a scythe. Crow looked like the grinning grim reaper, whose smile remains unchanged as he harvests your soul. Gu Qingyu shuddered. His weapon looks even more ruthless than mine! "Please." The crow waved the scythe, and the tip of the blade sliced through the air with a crack. Gu Qingyu steadied herself and nodded. She was about to strike when a jingling, bell-like laughter came from behind.She stopped and turned back subconsciously. Crow sighed and the scythe disappeared in a burst of smoke. "The Young Miss is back." "Young Miss?" Gu Qingyu repeated as she put away her weapon. Crow clarified "The Young Miss is Ye Ya, she is the leader''s young sister." "Eh? He has a sister?" That surprised Gu Qingyu. "Yes." Crow nodded, without much explanation. "Brother Crow!" A crisp voice came from behind Gu Qingyu''s voice. Before Gu Qingyu responded, she felt a gust of wind sweep over her, and then there was another person on Crow. A girl wearing a light blue dress had wrapped her hands around Crow. Her hair was a pair of twin plaits, the braids were long enough to reach the ground and she had bell bracelets on her wrists and her ankles, so the jingling sound of bells surrounded her. But... if Gu Qingyu is not wrong... Brother Crow? Crow looked a little bit at a loss. "Young Miss, your subordinate thinks that you still need more rest when you just came back." Ye Ya pouted unhappily. "Really, Brother Crow. You didn''t even come to fetch me when I came back. But I heard that there are a few outsiders here?" Outsiders? That sounds a little sharp and thorny... Gu Qingyu sighed slightly. Crow shook his head. "No, the Leader had brought back Madam." Ye Ya looked very upset: "Madam? Isn''t Madam me? Big Brother Ye Jin likes me the most, ever since we were kids!" Gu Qingyu instantly felt the very uncomfortable emotion spreading across her body. Fine, continue to ignore me, I''ll let it slide because you are a kid! I''ll even let go of the ''outsider'' comment. But... Big Brother Ye Jin? likes you? Gu Qingyu hmphed as she whipped around and walked away. As if I would pick a fight with her directly! The best way to handle this is to talk to Ye Jin face to face. A cunning glint flashed in Ye Ya''s eyes, but it was quickly concealed. She turned around and hopped to Gu Qingyu. "Big Sister!" Her voice was sweet, it was hard not to like her voice. But Gu Qingyu was disgusted when she heard it. She raised her eyebrows. "What''s wrong?" "I heard that you came from somewhere far away. You are our distinguished guests. Since you guys are already here, then as a good host, I need to take good care of you!" Ye Ya smiled and tugged on Gu Qingyu''s hand intimately. Crow watched the interaction between Gu Qingyu and Ye Ya. Unbeknownst to either of them, he had a deep, worried frown on his face. The Young Miss was about to start working the Madam. Even since the Young Miss was old enough, she would demonstrate her power and prank and bully every woman that dared to step inside Ye. Even the only female member of the top four executives of Ye, Nightingale, would avoid Ye Ya like a ghost. The leader has always been very indulgent of the Young Miss. So who was more important to him now, the Young Miss or the Madam? Crow was also curious to find out. But he has had a good impression of Madam, he couldn''t just wait for things to happen... Crow gave Lighting a small nod, he immediately understood and quietly left the hall. Ye Ya saw Lighting leave the hall, and she smiled. Exactly, isn''t it better to let Brother Ye Jin show up? He has always liked her the best, isn''t it? Gu Qingyu also noticed how Lighting slipped out of the training hall, and she was not bothered by it. To be honest, she was also curious about what Jia Qizhe will do. Ye Ya is really good at this game. She has hidden her sarcasm and mockery in subtlety, Gu Qingyu is a "guest", but she is a "host". Gu Qingyu smiled indifferently. "Xiao Zhezhe has never treated me as a guest~" "Xiao Zhezhe?" Ye Ya froze for a moment, then smiled happily. "You mean Brother Ye Jin''s alias? He hasn''t told you his real name?" "No, he said he prefers me calling him Xiao Zhezhe." Gu Qingyu also narrowed her eyes and smiled. "Are you his sister? Well, it''s nice to have a younger sister." She emphasized the word "sister" and reminded her of her identity. As soon as Ye Ya heard it, her eyes darkened. The spiciness in her eyes was well concealed. She turned away and smiled sweetly at Crow. "Brother Crow, can you please go outside for a while with Thunder? I just want to spar a little with my big sister, and I don''t want you two to get caught up in it." "This..." Crow hesitated. "Go, go." Gu Qingyu waved her hand and smiled at him, her smile was relaxed and not strained at all. Crow was aware that Madam is not the kind that would allow herself to be steamrolled, and the leader should be coming soon. So he agreed. "Well, your subordinate and Thunder would be waiting outside. Do call on us if you need anything, Madam." As soon as Ye Ya heard the words "Madam," she immediately looked at Gu Qingyu, and then she smiled again. "Okay." Which means she answered it as the Madam of Ye. "Is this little girl unable to see who Crow is talking to?" Gu Qingyu blinked and blinked, "Obviously, he was talking to me!" Ye Ya didn''t expect that Gu Qingyu would be so straightforward, she froze and was at a loss for words for a while. Gu Qingyu continued. "If you can''t even tell that he was talking to me, you can ask a teacher to come by and teach you for a few more decades before you play with your big sister." Crow heard her and stopped at the door, in that moment he was convinced that the Madam was more than capable of handling the situation on her own. "Alright, you can head outside." Gu Qingyu smiled at Crow. "By the way, tell my husband to come by the training hall soon." "Yes, Madam!" Crow retreated immediately, he was also relieved. He knew that Gu Qingyu was using her actions to reassure him. After Crow went out, Ye Ya watched Gu Qingyu, her eyes showed contempt. Gu Qingyu looked back into her eyes with an unflinching gaze, her eyes full of sympathy, as if looking at a teenager who had gone astray. "Why are you looking at me like that!" Ye Ya''s demeanor had changed completely, the sweetness and cuteness disappeared in a second. Gu Qingyu blinked. "Can''t tell? It seems that you, little sister, also have problems with your vision! In addition to hearing problems." According to Gu Qingyu''s observations, Ye Ya was about a year or two younger than her, but she dressed cutely, as though she was a teenage girl. Ye Ya glared at Gu Qingyu. She hmphed. "The woman who is clinging onto Big Brother Ye Jin better to get out of here soon! Because I, Ye Ya, is the real Madam of Ye!" Gu Qingyu looked at Ye Ya with a more sympathetic look, as though she was out of touch with reality. "Ah!" Then she sighed before Ye Ya could speak. "Little sister, there must be a limit for self-deception!" Ye Ya snorted. "Who is the one that¡¯s deceiving themselves?" "I don''t know if you have ever heard a song?" Gu Qingyu''s eyes swept around Ye Ya''s blank face, and then sang affectionately, "What a beautiful white lotus flower~ What a beautiful white lotus flower~" "What do you mean?" Ye Ya obviously couldn''t keep up with her. "Do you know what a white lotus looks like? It''s very beautiful and perfectly apt to describe you! It''s just as beautiful and as kind as you!" Gu Qingyu looked at Ye Ya sincerely. Ye Ya looked at Gu Qingyu suspiciously. "Then why did you burst into song? Are you afraid of me?" "Such mental gymnastics, I could barely keep up with you." Gu Qing sighed and shook her head. "You!" Ye Ya frowned and decided to get on with the fight. She raised her hand and was about to slap Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu grabbed her wrist and stopped her. "Oh, it''s not good to hit people at a young age. Or else, you might offend the wrong kind of people soon." Ye Ya looked at her in surprise. "You dare to fight back?" "Or what, just let you slap me?" Gu Qingyu looked at Ye Ya with even more astonishment. There was a sinister glint in Ye Ya''s eyes, and then she raised her hand and slapped herself. The sound echoed through the hall. Gu Qingyu watched her with a mixed sense of admiration. "Is your face itchy?" Ye Ya''s lips twitched, and then she pulled Gu Qingyu''s hand. Her eyes welled up with tears instantaneously. "Big Sister, it''s Ya''er''s fault. Ya''er should have treated her sister better, but Big Sister, why did you hit Ya''er?" When Gu Qingyu watched Ye Ya¡¯s performance, she immediately knew who just walked through the door and she felt an unnamed sense of pressure behind her. Gu Qingyu no longer held back, she immediately raised her hands and slapped Ye Ya again and again, with her palm and the back of her hand. With tears in her eyes, Ye Ya looked at Gu Qingyu inexplicably. She only stopped when Ye Jin stormed over and grabbed her by the wrist, forcing her to stop. His eyes chilled her to the bone, while Ye Ya had a victorious smile on her face. Chapter 92: A Decision was Made Chapter 92: A Decision was Made Translated by: iris.knight "Of course I feel bad! Does your hands not hurt?" Ye Jin''s eyes were full of anger. Gu Qingyu saw Ye Ya hiding behind Ye Jin with a sly grin. "It hurts!" Gu Qingyu nodded and looked at Ye Jin. Ye Jin snorted coldly. "You don''t even know how to take care of yourself when I''m away! Don''t you know that this worries me?" "...Ga?" Gu Qingyu¡¯s thoughts grinded to a halt. Ye Jin closed his eyes, and when he opened it again, it was already calm. He covered her hands with his own, "Xiao Yu''er, next time, just let someone do this on behalf of you. Why do you have to be so angry and hurt yourself?" His voice is soft. Ye Ya''s face was full of incredulous expressions. Gu Qingyu''s face is also full of incredulous expressions. "What are you saying?" "Your hand must be very painful." Ye Jin rubbed Gu Qingyu''s hands. "Why won''t you take care of yourself? I really hate it when you injure yourself like that." Injure myself? I didn''t mishear right, I slapped someone and he calls it injuring myself? Gu Qingyu smiled awkwardly. "I''m fine." "Xiao Yu''er, I''m sorry I''m late." Ye Jin pressed Gu Qingyu into his arms, "Tell me, how did she bully you?" Ye Ya''s eyes widened ¡°Why? Why? Big Brother Ye Jin!¡± Gu Qingyu was even more embarrassed. She looked at Ye Ya, whose face had turned stingingly red. It looked more like she bullied Ye Ya. Even though she was awkward and embarrassed, Gu Qingyu grimaced and relaxed into Ye Jin''s arms. "Xiao Zhezhe! She said that the person you always loved was her!" "Oh? Why don''t I know?" Ye Jin squinted slightly, he didn''t look at Ye Ya, "Men." Crow walked in immediately, and his smiley mask made his thoughts unreadable. Ye Jin tilted his head slightly, and Crow stepped forward and grabbed Ye Ya. "Big Brother Ye Jin! Big Brother Ye Jin!" Ye Ya immediately cried out, "Why! Why do you treat Ya''er like this!" "Xiao Yu''er, how do you want to deal with her?" Ye Jin looked at Gu Qingyu and smiled with charm. Gu Qingyu thought for a while. "Well..." It seems quite difficult to make a decision. "I don''t want to see her again." Ye Jin looked at Gu Qingyu with a serious expression. "And I don''t want to see you angry again." As soon as his words fell, Crow immediately covered Ye Ya''s mouth and dragged her away. Her muffled cries followed them. Gu Qingyu released the breath she was holding as she watched Ye Ya disappear though the door. "What''s the matter, Xiao Yu''er? Why do you look so sullen?" Ye Jin rubbed Gu Qingyu''s head. Gu Qingyu pursed her lips. "To be honest, I was really scared at that time." She was gambling on Ye Jin''s heart. If Ye Jin didn''t believe her, he would definitely side with Ye Ya; if Ye Jin believed her, he would naturally teach Ye Ya a lesson. Therefore, when Ye Jin''s face was cold and there was a little anger in his eyes, Gu Qingyu felt that she had fallen into a frozen fjord. "Don''t be afraid, Xiao Yu''er." Ye Jin touched Gu Qingyu''s head, "I will never leave you, nor will I let you leave me." He paused for a while, then placed his hand on her cheek and stared into her eyes. Ye Jin''s eyes were full of seriousness and affection: "Xiao Yu''er, I love you." Love, not ''like''. Gu Qingyu stared back at him and finally, her lips curled slightly. "Yeah! I...I love you too." Ye Jin''s smile was as bright as the sun. Ye Jin took an obsidian whistle out of his sleeve and gently hung it in her neck."Blow it when you miss me. It''s too much of a hassle to find someone to come get me." "Sure." Gu Qingyu nodded, stared at the obsidian whistle and smiled. "I''ll try to get things done tomorrow. But just call me whenever you miss me." Ye Jin stretched out his long fingers and gently flicked her forehead. She blinked and nodded. Ye Jin left the training hall. Gu Qingyu left soon after, Qi Wan was there as soon as she stepped out. "Boss, I just heard one of Ye''s people say that Ye Jin''s sister is back. Have you been bullied by her?" Qi Wan was worried. Gu Qingyu shook her head. "No, Ye Jin has helped me bully her." "Huh, I''m scared to death!" Qi Wan exhaled. "Boss, you''re so simple and innocent, you don''t know when you are bullied!" Gu Qingyu eyed him suspiciously. Am I simple and innocent? Why don''t I know it myself? "Ah, it seems that I am really simple!" Gu Qingyu shook her head. "I wonder if the slaps I gave her just now were too light?" "Huh?" Qi Wan froze, "You slapped her?" "Huh." Gu Qingyu said with a sigh. "Like the tropes in novels, that white lotus slapped herself as soon as Ye Jin showed up. So, I thought she could use more help to elicit more sympathy, so I lent her my hands and slapped her a few times. " "So... what about Jia Qizhe?" Qi Wan swallowed weakly. "I was still worried, but he barely looked at Ye Ya." Gu Qingyu thought. "What exactly is his relationship with Ye Ya?" "Siblings?" Qi Wan was thinking too. "That can''t be right, he shouldn''t be so cold if they are actually siblings. When I saw Jia Qizhe walking here all worried and angry, I thought you would have gotten in so much trouble, so I rushed over." He paused. "If Jia Qizhe really sided with Ye Ya, then I''ll take you away and blow up this place on the way out!" "Thank you, Qi Wan!" Gu Qingyu smiled. Thank you for being here with me. To have someone who will stick with you through all sorts of shenanigans. He¡¯s not your lover nor your elder brother. Whenever he has anything, you''re the first person that comes to mind. Even if you do something wrong, he will stick by you through thick and thin. And when the two of you fall into a bottomless abyss and thought that you two were going to die, he would hold onto you as tight as he can through the whole fall. He will do everything to make you smile. Compared to you, everything is just a grain of sand. He will do everything he can to get everything you want and bend over and backwards for you. If there is such a boy beside you, please cherish it. By the way, tell him "Thank you". Thank you for being this strong shield that allows me to do whatever I want to do. Because with you around, the sky will not fall. Thank you, you may not be my lover, but only you can see my most vulnerable side. We understand each other, and we can know what the other is thinking with a look. I am really grateful to have you. Qi Wan also grinned slowly. "You don''t have to thank me, Boss!" "Well!" Gu Qingyu nodded. "Let''s go! The scenery looks really nice, we could check it out." "Okay~ It''s a great honour, your majesty!" Qi Wan''s eyes turned into half-moons. After speaking with Crow, Gu Qingyu and Qi Wan walked out of the tower and came to the nearby woods. "There doesn''t seem to be anything interesting here, aside from the scenery. If only I have a camera!" Gu Qingyu sighed. Qi Wan watched Gu Qingyu, frowned, and seemed to be thinking about something. Suddenly, his eyes lit up and walked to a tree. "Boss!" "Huh?" Gu Qingyu raised her head and looked at Qi Wan. "Do you want to hear the voice of nature?" Qi Wan looked very happy. "Yeah, speak English." Gu Qingyu leaned against a tree. Qi Wan pouted. "Urgh, mood-killer. Well, do you know how to blow leaves?" "No." Gu Qingyu shook her head and raised an eyebrow at the same time, "Do you?" "Uh-huh!" Qi Wan nodded, jumped up, and settled on one of the branches. There was a green leaf in his hand, he placed it on his lips and blew gently. The melodious sound followed the wind through the foliage, through the forest, through the river. Gu Qingyu followed the music and looked up at Qi Wan. His dark green robe was picked up by the wind, the robe danced in the air, and the sleeve swayed. His long hair was pulled up, and it also rose and fell with the wind. His eyes were slightly closed, and his hair brushed his cheeks repeatedly, and he seemed to be immersed in the moment. Gu Qingyu used to think that Qi Wan belonged to the kind of "flamboyant fancy prince" type, but she didn''t expect there to be such an elegant side... At the end of the song, Qi Wan lowered the leaf and opened his eyes. His eyes were full of smiles, and he fixed his eyes on Gu Qingyu. "Well, Xiao Yu''er, have you finally fallen for me?" Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes "There must be a limit to your narcissism." Qi Wan laughed and hopped down. "So, Boss, do you want to learn how to do this?" "Hell yeah!" Gu Qingyu nodded immediately. "Cool." Qi Wan took another leaf from the branch again, wiped it with his sleeve, and handed it to Gu Qingyu, "Yes, put it on your mouth first, and try to copy what I''m doing." "... Sure." Gu Qingyu took the leaves. Evening Gu Qingyu sighed. A whole afternoon had passed. She glanced annoyedly at Qi Wan, who was rolling on the floor beside her. "Had enough to laugh?" "Gahahaha... Boss gahaha...I can¡¯t breathe from all that laughing... Not that I''m really judging you... gahahaha... after an afternoon... the tunes you blow out are getting more and more nice gahaha..." Qi Wan quacked as he rolled on the ground, like a penguin who is about to starve to death. Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes and kicked Qi Wan. "Oh, get up. Let''s go back for dinner." "Gaga, what should I do if I can''t get up..." Qi Wan is still rolling, and there seemed to be a trend that he would laugh until dawn. "Okay, then don''t." Gu Qingyu walked back, "Just die from all that laughing, I heard that there will be a lot of demons at night, don''t stop." "Nonono!" Qi Wan jumped up immediately, catching up while holding his stomach. "Boss, wait for me, gahaha..." Chapter 93: Tension Chapter 93: Tension Translated by: iris.knight Crow slightly bowed to Gu Qingyu. "I have come to pick you up." "Thank you." Gu Qingyu smiled generously. "Please, the Leader is already waiting for you." Crow turned around and gave way to Gu Qingyu. "Thank you." Gu Qingyu nodded slightly, motioning for Qi Wan to keep up. Qi Wan slowly followed her. Crow turned around and glanced at Qi Wan, but he did not say anything. Crow led them to a large door in the tower. The door opened to the dining room. The dining table was covered with all kinds of delicious food, all of which looked like home-cooked dishes, but all looked like they were rich in fragrance and flavour. Ye Jin, Mo Bai, Xiao Qi, Qi Yichen and Murong Zuoyu all sat around the table. Ye Jin''s lips curled when he saw Gu Qingyu. "Xiao Yu''er, come, sit." He pointed to the chair beside him. Gu Qingyu was no longer discreet and took her seat without hesitation. Qi Wan sat down next to her, so Gu Qingyu was sandwiched between Ye Jin and Qi Wan. "Wow, it looks delicious!" Gu Qingyu looked at the dish and swallowed her saliva. "Then dig in." Ye Jin chuckled as he filled her bowl. "Alright!" Gu Qingyu nodded and began to eat. Everyone else also picked up their chopsticks and started on dinner. "Ah, I didn''t expect the food here to be so good!" Qi Wan sighed as he ate, "Maybe I should join this organisation too! Brother Jia, are meals covered here?" Ye Jin''s lips twitched. "Yes, they''re covered." Qi Wan was elated. "Great! Is there an application form? Brother Jia, can you help to expedite the application process too?" Ye Jin was speechless, that was the first time that anyone wanted to join Ye because of the food... He didn¡¯t know if he should laugh or cry. "Me too!" Gu Qingyu raised her hand, and her mouth was still stuffed, so her words slurred as she exclaimed. "Xiao Zhezhe, give me an application form too! The food here is too good!" Ye Jin winced once again. Application form? It should be something from their world, but the name was quite self-explanatory. "Alright, fine." Ye Jin held his head helplessly with his hand. "Xiao Yu''er, please, your food is gonna fall out." "Hm?" She paused for a moment, immediately covered her mouth, and glared fiercely at Ye Jin, "Meanie!" Ye Jin stroked her head. "Okay, okay." Mo Bai suddenly lowered his chopsticks with a snap. "Eh? What happened to Mo Bai?" Gu Qingyu raised her head and looked at Mo Bai in surprise. "I just feel a little unwell." Mo Bai glanced at Ye Jin lightly, then gave Gu Qingyu a faint smile. Gu Qingyu frowned. "Then you shouldn''t force yourself! Go and rest up if you don''t feel well. Give yourself some medicine, don''t suffer in silence. You ought to treat it as soon as possible, what if it''s something serious?" "Yeah." Mo Bai nodded, got up, smiled softly at Gu Qingyu again, then pushed open the door and went out. "Alas, I guess even the divine doctor can fall sick!" Ye Jin sighed just when Mo Bai reached the door. Mo Bai''s fingers tightened, then he smiled lightly and closed the door. After Mo Bai left, Gu Qingyu glanced at Ye Jin. "What''s so strange? Even the Divine Doctor is only human. " "Yeah." Ye Jin smiled meaningfully. "Of course, the Divine Doctor is only human." Gu Qingyu was even more puzzled, but she stopped worrying about what Ye Jin had said and continued to eat. She also made a mental note to bring some porridge to Mo Bai later. And soon, the dishes that covered the table were all cleared. "With so many foodies, you never have to worry about wasting food again!" Qi Wan shook his head while rubbing his stomach. Burp! Burp! Gu Qingyu also rubbed her belly, "Qi Wan, how heavy are you, why do I always think you are so thin... burp! I didn''t expect you... to be able to eat so much...burp!" Qi Yichen opened the fan and fanned himself "Hiccup! I''m so full... Brother Zhu, you don''t know... burp! Actually, Qi Wan is really heavy...burp!" "Burp! Speak for yourself? Burp!" Qi Wan glared at Qi Yichen. Murong Zuoyu reluctantly propped up his head with his hand. To be honest, because the three of them were such big and quick eaters, he, Xiao Qi and Ye Jin all ate much less. "Xiao Yu''er, are you full?" Ye Jin''s left hand propped his head to the right, his charming eyes stayed on Gu Qingyu''s face, and the corner of his mouth had a radiant charm. Gu Qingyu nodded as another burp escaped her lips. This was undoubtedly the best response... "Okay, then I''ll go first." Ye Jin ruffled her hair, then got up and left the dining room. Gu Qingyu sat on the chair with a blank face, and it took a long time for her to finally realise, Jia Qizhe barely ate, he only stayed in the dining room to keep her company. "Well, okay, it''s getting late, everybody should go to bed." Gu Qingyu got up. "What about you, Brother Zhu?" Murong Zuoyu raised his head slightly. "Mo Bai is unwell, right? He barely ate too. I''m going to bring him a bowl of porridge." Gu Qingyu nodded as she said. "Good idea~" Qi Wan leaned into Gu Qingyu''s side, "I''ll do it for you!" "Save it." Gu Qingyu slapped away his hand and walked out. Qi Yichen looked at Qi Wan with a face of schadenfreude then also got up and trotted to Gu Qingyu''s side "Brother Zhu, Brother Zhu! I..." "You can stay with Qi Wan." Gu Qingyu nodded, looked at Qi Yichen with a forgiving expression, and patted him on the shoulder. Qi Yichen stared at her blankly, Brother Zhu, was it really ok for you to behave like this? Gu Qingyu walked out, and Qi Wan was about to follow her but someone tugged on his sleeve and stopped him. He turned around in surprise and saw Xiao Qi. "Please wait!" Xiao Qi lowered her head, her hands tightly clutching Qi Wan''s sleeve. Her face was flushed and even the hand on her side was shaking. "What''s wrong?" Qi Wan tilted his head. "I..." Xiao Qi nibbled on her bottom lip. "Mister Qi, may I invite you to take a walk together?" Qi Wan frowned, deep in thought. But Xiao Qi clenched Qi Wan''s sleeve tightly, she kept her head down and she didn''t seem to plan to let go. Qi Yichen was surprised. After all, Xiao Qi was not as audacious like Gu Qingyu. Therefore, for such a girl, inviting a man to take a walk together should be a difficult thing to say. And after all, Xiao Qi also put a lot of courage into it, it would be rude to turn her down without giving her a chance. The most important thing was that if he refused, it will also cause trouble for Boss... "Okay." Qi Wan smiled slightly, and at the same time opened the door, he bowed very gracefully. "It''s an honor to walk with Miss Xiao Qi, please." Xiao Qi raised her head and looked at Qi Wan in disbelief. She was a little bewildered when she saw his smile, but soon a warm smile tugged on her own lips. "Yes!" Thus, Xiao Qi and Qi Wan went out together. But Qi Yichen sighed as he watched them leave the room. This time, Qi Wan would inevitably explain things to her. Qi Wan¡¯s heart was also very clear, but based on Xiao Qi and Gu Qingyu''s relationship... So Xiao Qi''s choice is also very important. If, Xiao Qi she... Seemingly reading Qi Yichen''s mind, Murong Zuoyu got up. "We should believe the people around her like she believes us, don''t we?" After all, they are all people around her. Qi Yichen froze for a moment, then smiled calmly. "Yes." Just like how she believed in us, we too should trust the people around her, and believe in the faith she placed in people. Crow led Gu Qingyu to the main kitchen in Ye. Well, even the kitchen was super luxurious, it was stocked with all kinds of ingredients. "Madam, please use this space as you please." Crow bowed. "Okay, thank you!" Gu Qingyu started to wash the rice. Speaking of which, this is her second time cooking in person? "Forgive your subordinate for speaking out of line, but the Madam wants to cook porridge for Mister Mo?" Crow looked at Gu Qingyu''s clumsy technique. "Ahahaha yes..." Gu Qingyu laughed sheepishly. Crow pointed to the counter. "The leader has already instructed the cooks to prepare the porridge." "Eh? Are you cooked?" Gu Qingyu leaned over to the counter in surprise. Sure enough, there was a small bowl of delicious-looking rice porridge. Crow nodded. "Yes. This bowl of porridge is very nutritious and has many nutritious things. The leader is very attentive and kind." The last sentence... shouldn''t it be a lie? Won''t you be struck by lightning? "Yeah." Gu Qingyu tugged on her lips and dropped the subject. She just picked up the bowl of porridge directly. "Then I will go first. Uncle Crow, rest well. You have been following me around all day, you must be exhausted. It''s not easy for someone of your age to run around so much." "Cough cough cough cough!" Crow could barely breathe. Gu Qingyu didn''t ask why Ye Ya called him "Brother Crow". She walked to the door and turned back with a big smile. "Thank you for today, Uncle Crow." Crow nodded. Gu Qingyu left the kitchen and went straight to Mo Bai''s room. She knocked gently on the door, and after hearing a soft "please come in", opened the door with a light push. "Yu''er, what''s the matter?" Seeing the person was Gu Qingyu, Mo Bai showed a gentle smile. She nodded. "Well, are you feeling better?" "Much better." His eyes rested on the bowl in her hands. "Is this...?" "You didn''t eat anything tonight, so I bought a bowl of porridge. It''s not much, but it''s something." She walked up to Mo Bai and handed the bowl to him. His eyes lit up. "Yu''er, did you make it yourself?" "I wanted to do it myself... But I''m not really good at cooking, plus Ye Jin had already done it, so no, I didn''t cook it myself." She clarified with a shrug. "I see." Mo Bai still smiled slightly, without showing much of his emotions. He picked up the bowl with one hand and picked up a spoon with the other hand, and began to eat the porridge. As he ate the porridge, Gu Qingyu silently turned away and covered her nose with her hand. Chapter 94: Nightingale Chapter 94: Nightingale Translated by: iris.knight He nodded and showed her a gentle smile. "Yu''er, good night." "Huh!" She returned his smile and exited his room. Gu Qingyu glanced at the row of rooms and decided to visit Xiao Qi. She walked to the door of Xiao Qi''s room and tapped gently, but no one answered. "Brother Zhu?" Qi Yichen walked out of his room and stretched lazily. "Stop knocking, Qi Wan and she went for a walk." "Walk?" Gu Qingyu stunned for a moment, and then nodded secretly in her heart. Yes, yes, this kid finally came around! "Yeah," Qi Yichen raised his eyebrows and opened his fan. "Why, like this, Brother Zhu, don''t you believe me?" "No!" Gu Qingyu shook her head immediately, "I just feel happy for Qi Wan''s awareness." Qi Yichen frowned at her clarification. Awareness? He laughed dryly. "Brother Zhu, it''s not too early, hurry and get some sleep!" "Yeah!" Gu Qingyu said with a smile, and hurried down the stairs. Rest? Of course I''m going to check how Xiao Qi and Qi Wan are doing! Gu Qingyu walked briskly to the front door of the tower. She was walking so fast that she nearly ran into someone at a turn. That person didn''t hesitate to grab Gu Qingyu''s hand and tossed her over their back. When Gu Qingyu reacted, she was already flying through the air and her wrist was still grasped by the person, and she was about to fall flat to the floor. She focused and grasped the person''s shoulder with her backhand, supporting her body and helping her land safely.After landing, the person turned around. Only then did Gu Qingyu see who that person was. That person was a very beautiful woman, but there was a chill and murderous intent in her eyes "Who are you?" The woman looked at Gu Qingyu coldly, her hands falling on the whip hanging off her waist. Gu Qingyu understood that this person was someone from Ye, and she waved her hands and smiled "I''m with Ye too!" "Oh? Really?" The woman sneered. "Name?" It seems that she likes to command people too. Gu Qingyu sighed, and the woman was about to swing her whip, but a voice¡ª"Nightingale, stop!" Nightingale withdrew her whip and turned to follow the voice. "Crow?" Gu Qingyu turned around, although the crow still wore a smiling mask, which still seemed a little scary, but her eyes lit up, her savior was here. "Uncle Crow!" Hearing this moniker again, Crow coughed. "Madam." He knelt on one knee. Gu Qingyu was stunned, she did not expect Crow to kneel and immediately went up to help him to his feet. "Get up!" "Nightingale, are you not going to greet the Madam?" Crow did not get up, but looked up at Nightingale. Nightingale was stunned for a while, and then knelt down on one knee. "Madam, your subordinate has offended you. Please forgive your subordinate." "Get up." Gu Qingyu frowned, "You all don''t need to greet me and kneel like this. Just call me Gu Qingyu or Qingyu..." Crow stood up and nodded. "Yes." "Eh? Did you just agree to this?" Gu Qingyu looked at Crow in surprise. "The leader just said," Crow paused. "If his order contradicts yours, then yours shall prevail." Nightingale also stood up. Her expression was still cold, but Gu Qingyu still could see the hidden surprise in her eyes. "Ma... cough, Qingyu, it''s so late, where are you going?" Crow''s smiling face mask looked a little creepy against the candlelight. "Qi Wan and Xiao Qi seem to be walking outside, and I want to find them." Gu Qingyu looked out of the small window, revealing a little worry in her eyebrows. "Your subordinate will go with you. There are many demons around here at night, and there is also a fog right now. It is easy to get lost." Crow nodded at Nightingale. "Yes." Nightingale went upstairs. Gu Qingyu looked at Nightingale, then at Crow, and also nodded. "Uncle Crow, let''s go." In the Forest Gu Qingyu and Crow trekked carefully. A ball of flame burned brightly in his hand, lighting up his smiley mask. The white fog surrounded them, and she could not help but lean into his side to avoid getting lost. He turned around to look at her, and finally, stretched out his hand. "Be careful, Qingyu, demons can also hide in the fog." Gu Qingyu reached out and gently held Crow''s outstretched hand, thanking him with a smile. His hands were icy cold. "Can you shout here?" Gu Qingyu asked tentatively. Crow nodded. "Yes." With his clarification, Gu Qingyu called out into the fog. "Qi Wan! Xiao Qi!"There wass no response. I trust in Qi Wan''s fighting ability, Xiao Qi''s skills are not bad either, so they should be able to handle the demons in the area. But why aren''t they back yet? "Qingyu, careful." Suddenly, a scythe appeared in Crow''s hand and it whistled as it sliced through the fog. Gu Qingyu''s night vision function turned on automatically, and she saw a giant demon in front of them. Crow moved forward calmly and the scythe spun around him. She couldn''t see his expression under that mask. The demon pounced on Crow, and Crow waved the scythe. The demon was cleaved cleanly in half. Blood came down on the both of them like rain, and Crow stretched out the scythe to shelter himself and Gu Qingyu. "Awesome, Uncle Crow!" Gu Qingyu said with heartfelt admiration. "Is it." Crow didn''t mind and looked at the left. "I sensed someone there, let''s go take a look." "Good!" Gu Qingyu nodded and followed Crow. Just halfway through, she saw Qi Wan and Xiao Qi. "Boss, why are you here?" Qi Wan was shocked when he saw Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes angrily. "You still need to ask? Both of you were out for so long! So where did you bring Xiao Qi? Spit it out!" "I just took a walk with Xiao Qi, and we just kept walking. Eventually, I realised that we were lost..." Qi Wan scratched his head embarrassedly. "Well, Xiao Qi, are you okay?" Gu Qingyu walked to Xiao Qi''s side and placed her hand on her head. Xiao Qi nodded. "Yes, I''m fine!" Gu Qingyu smiled and patted Xiao Qi. "Let''s go, thank you Uncle Crow this time!" "No need to say thanks." A flame ignited in Crow''s hand and walked forward. Gu Qingyu followed Crow, and beside her were Qi Wan and Xiao Qi. "Hey, dude! to be honest, you can be more passionate and enthusiastic!" Qi Wan jumped to Crow''s side and slapped him on the shoulder. Crow glanced at Qi Wan, his smiling mask glowing coldly. "Ok, I''m gonna back off now..." Qi Wan immediately turned back to Gu Qingyu''s side. Gu Qingyu glanced at Qi Wan sympathetically, without speaking. Back in the tower, after sending Xiao Qi upstairs, Qi Wan waved at Gu Qingyu. "Go to bed early, I''ll go to bed first. Boss good night~" "Good night." Gu Qingyu smiled and watched Qi Wan walk into his room. "Please follow me." Crow bowed and gestured down the hallway. Gu Qingyu nodded and followed Crow. "Your room is at the end of this hallway." Crow bowed again and all the lighting in the hallway lit up, it still seemed cramped in the dark. "Okay, you should go and rest as soon as possible." Gu Qingyu nodded and walked into the room. As soon as Gu Qingyu entered the room, she could explode. What sort of situation is this! The light blue walls make the room look dreamy and elegant, and the large light blue bed looks soft and comfy. Any ornament and decoration is blue, and the candles on the table glowed with a pale blue light, but it made the room seem more ethereal. "This..." Gu Qingyu just wanted to turn around to check again with Crow, but when she opened the door, Crow was already gone. She sighed, shook her head, and laid down on the bed. I haven¡¯t seen Master for a long time and said, I¡¯m really not used to his absence... She took out the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny from her sleeve and turned it over in her hand. Her fingers gently ran along with the facets of the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny, the jewel glowed under her touch. Without it, would I not be here now? If there is no Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny, then I would never need to form a team, and I would never meet everyone. Sure, a lot of them were after the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny in the beginning, but I''m still grateful for them. Without their company, this journey would have been much more difficult. Because someone will automatically take on your hardships, and your shoulders are no longer sore. And we would all carry each other¡¯s load, until we reach that place where dawn breaks. No one would be left behind. She smiled briefly, tucked the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny back inside her sleeves, and turned over. "I wonder when Yan Zun will..." "Ah!" Gu Qingyu yelled softly when she saw Yan Zun lying beside her. "Stupid apprentice, it took you so long to notice your master." Yan Zun propped up his head with one hand, and his hair spread down his chest, with a charming light in his eyes. Gu Qingyu swallowed. "Yes... Master, how long have you been here?" "Your master has been lying here for a long time," Yan Zun raised an eyebrow. "Then I saw someone turning my original body over and over in her hands." "Urgh, enough, Master..." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Have you recovered?" "Yes," Yan Zun laughed, "So, had my divine beast successfully transformed?" "Yeah, the transformation was a success." Gu Qingyu looked at Yan Zun, "Actually, you already knew this would happen?" "I was not absolutely certain." Yan Zun shrugged. "It''s just a precaution." Gu Qingyu was speechless. This stupid rock! Chapter 95: Ghostly Encounter Chapter 95: Ghostly Encounter Translated by: iris.knight "What''s wrong?" Yan Zun noticed her unease. "It''s okay, I''m just sleepy." Gu Qingyu brushed it off and closed her eyes. Although Yan Zun was puzzled, he dropped the subject after he saw just how sleepy Gu Qingyu was. Soon, Gu Qingyu fell asleep. Yan Zun pressed Gu Qingyu''s sleeping points, then stood up with a smile. "Why, would you like me to throw you out myself?" A figure came out of the shadows, and he had a faint smirk as well. "Yan Zun." "Ye Jin." Yan Zun greeted him. The two devilishly charming gentlemen watched at each other. If Gu Qingyu was awake, no one would be surprised at her bleeding nose. "You should have noticed me for a long time?" Yan Zun raised an eyebrow. Ye Jin nodded: "Yes. Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny, how can you not pay attention?" "So, did you follow her for the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny as well?" Yan Zun grinned. "At first, but now, it''s not anymore." Ye Jin smiled calmly. Yan Zun nodded "So, in the beginning you were after the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny and now you are after me?" "Yes." Ye Jin did not deny his deduction. "Yen Zun, you know, your existence is too dangerous. You let Xiao Yu''er enter a life that was not meant for her and put her through danger time and time again." "So, are you going to destroy me?" Yan Zun smiled playfully, he looked at Ye Jin as though he was a child playing house. "I''m not certain of my true strength." Ye Jin shrugged. "Maybe I could try." "Very good." Yan Zun raised his head and narrowed his eyes slightly. He left the bed and walked across the room, his long red robes dragged on the floor. "Ye Jin, I have to say, you are strong, but you are only human. "Human..." Ye Jin''s eyes did not fluctuate, "Perhaps." "And I am her master. So if I died, what do you think, wouldn¡¯t she be devastated?" Yan Zun turned back and looked at the sleeping Gu Qingyu. The faint blue flame casted soft shadows on her features, she looked beautiful under the blue light. Ye Jin seemed unimpressed. "But, if you were alive instead, wouldn¡¯t it bring her greater calamity?" A devious smirk spread across his lips. "Perhaps." Yan Zun copied Ye Jin''s tone and answered vaguely. Suddenly, an overwhelming, sinister, dark aura appeared. "It seems that before dealing with me, you still have a big problem that has not been solved." Yan Zun sneered, turned into smoke, and dissipated in the air. Ye Jin tch-ed. His eyes settled on Gu Qingyu¡¯s peaceful face, a small smile graced his features and he walked out. He slowly made his way to the lobby at the ground floor. In the center of the room, above the symbol of black flame, stood a man. Those white robes belonged in a painting. "Why, has the Divine Doctor finally lost his patience?" Ye Jin raised his eyebrows. Mo Bai glanced at Ye Jin lightly, his right hand rubbed the jade flute in his hand carefully. "It''s not like Hero Jia is famous for his patience either. Ye Jin smiled frankly: "At least Xiao Yu''er didn''t reject me, did she? Divine Doctor Mo ought to study that more. " "I don''t need your reminder." Mo Bai raised his head slightly, his pupils were normal. "She will learn the truth, eventually. " There was no one else with them to guess what remained unspoken, both of them knew what the other was talking about. "Very well then." Ye Jin shrugged indifferently, still with a smile of evil spirits, he turned around and walked away in large strides. "Don''t challenge me, or the consequences would be more than you can bear." Mo Bai''s hand touched the jade flute tightly, and after a long while, he gradually loosened his hand. The next day, when Gu Qingyu woke up, she found Yan Zun floating in the air without any surprise. She stretched out her hand and grabbed the hem of Yan Zun''s robes. "Master, stop floating. Don''t you feel tired floating all night?" "How did you know that your master had been floating for a night?" Yan Zun slowly sat down beside Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu shook his head: "According to your child-ahem, normal behaviour." She adjusted her clothes. "Okay, I''m going to eat." Yan Zun narrowed his eyes slightly and slowly disappeared into the air. Gu Qingyu pushed open the door and walked out, Ye Jin was heading in her direction. "Good morning, Xiao Zhezhe!" Gu Qingyu grinned. "Good morning, Xiao Yu''er." Ye Jin also yawned, his eyes narrowed like a lazy cat. "Did you sleep well last night?" Gu Qingyu immediately covered her nose, feeling that her nosebleed was about to start again. Will I die because of excessive blood loss? I must be the first person in the world to die because of hemorrhage loss due to excessive viewing of beautiful men! Ye Jin leaned onto Gu Qingyu. "Yeah, I''m so tired, so much for me to clean up." Gu Qingyu immediately blushed. "Oh, get up, Jia Qizhe! Let''s go eat!" "Why, Xiaoyu''er is shy?" Ye Jin laughed, straightened himself and took Gu Qingyu''s hand. "Let''s go." "Um..." Gu Qing nodded and gave his hand a comforting grip. Ye Jin smiled happily. Led by Ye Jin, Gu Qingyu came to a small dining room. There are two bowls of millet porridge and some side dishes on the table. "Xiao Yu''er, you can''t eat too much in the morning, you need to eat something nutritious." After seeing Gu Qingyu''s frustrated expression, Ye Jin looked at Gu Qingyu seriously, "Good, finish everything and I bring you out for lunch." "Okay." Gu Qingyu sat down and looked around. There were only enough settings for two. "What about the others?" She asked curiously. "Maybe they are still asleep. I have sent someone to bring them breakfast." Ye Jin looked at Gu Qingyu expectantly. "Xiao Yu''er, would you like to try my cooking?" "You made all this?" Gu Qingyu couldn''t help but pick up the spoon in surprise, scoop a spoonful of porridge, and put it in her mouth. The light taste spread across her tongue. Ye Jin picked up the chopsticks, picked up a slice of meat and held it near her mouth. She opened her mouth and took a bite. The thin slice of meat was supple, the thin layer of fat melted against her tongue and deepened the flavour. "Xiao Zhezhe, I didn''t expect your skills to be so good!" Gu Qingyu exclaimed, "Whoever that marries you, that person is in luck!" "You''re right." Ye Jin smiled, and supported his head with one hand, watching Gu Qingyu sip her porridge. "What''s wrong?" Gu Qingyu raised her head from the bowl. "Why don''t you eat?" "It''s enough to watch you eat." Ye Jin smiled slightly, full of soft warmth. Gu Qingyu''s face turned red again, and she was at a loss in the face of a romantic Jia Qizhe. "Don''t be so mushy, let''s eat." "Okay." Ye Jin picked up his spoon and began to eat. Breakfast soon ended, Ye Jin reached out his hand and stroked Gu Qingyu''s face. "What, what?" Gu Qingyu''s face was red again. She wasn''t disgusted, but she was too shy... Gu Qingyu might be ostentatious and brazen, but she was still a girl after all. As the saying goes, heroes fall before beauty. Ye Jin''s index finger gently wiped off a grain of rice at Gu Qingyu''s mouth, then he placed his finger against his lips, his tongue slipped out from those lips and it slowly licked away the grain of rice... And right then, she shot up from her seat. "Ahahaha Xiao Zhezhe, don''t you still have something to do? Hurry up and come back early hahaha..." "Yeah." Ye Jin smiled enchantedly. "I can finish it within today. You must wait for me, Xiao Yu''er~" "G-good!" Gu Qingyu stuttered. Ye Jin suddenly bent down, leaned into her and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "See you soon." His fingertips swept gently over her cheek as he turned and left the room. Gu Qingyu was rooted in place, obviously shellshocked. After a long time, someone knocked on her door. "Who?" Gu Qingyu immediately recovered. "Boss! It''s me!" Qi Wan''s voice came from outside the door. Gu Qingyu opened the door, as expected, and saw Qi Wan''s smile. "Good morning! Boss!" Qi Wan grinned. Gu Qingyu nodded. "Good morning. Have you eaten?" "The leader of Ye had someone to deliver it! Breakfast was very good!" Qi Wan also nodded. "Boss, are you going to stay here all the time?" "That''s the question..." Gu Qingyu held her chin with one hand, "Xiao Zhezhe said that he can finish things within today, then we will simply play for another day and resume our journey tomorrow!" "Okay!" Qi Wan blinked and blinked. "Boss, you take me to play!" "Well, okay." Gu Qingyu walked out of the room and suddenly turned to look at Qi Wan. "Yes, how did things go between you and Xiao Qi yesterday?" "What do you mean?" Qi Wan also looked at Gu Qingyu in wonder. "Didn''t you talk?" Gu Qingyu gestured vaguely. "You know, about..." "What?" Qi Wan looked even more puzzled. "Oh! Don''t pretend that you don''t know!" Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Didn''t you talk to her? What''s the result?" "Oh! That''s what you''re talking about!" Qi Wan''s face suddenly realised. "You should have said so sooner!" Gu Qingyu stared at him blankly. Didn''t I say it at first? "Well," Qi Wan seemed to be thinking, and paused. "I told her, we are both still young, there''s still a whole life ahead of us. We should focus more on ourselves, study hard and stay on the right path!" "What?" Gu Qingyu almost shrieked. "You really said that?" "Yeah," Qi Wan smiled, "Isn''t it really good? Really inspiring?" "Oh, you idiot!" Chapter 96: Divine Tune Chapter 96: Divine Tune Translated by: iris.knight "You forgot to read the terms and conditions. Idiots like you do not need my mercy." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Qi Wan, it''s not that I like doing this, but it''s not like you have all the time in the world!" "No!" Qi Wan was firm and determined. "I love studying! Studying loves me!" "What do you have to study for!" Half an hour later Qi Wan rubbed the four red bumps on his head. "Boss! You are so cruel! I still have lots of time! I''m not even 25!" "Are you sure?" Gu Qingyu raised her eyebrows. "Okay, something still bugs me, Xiao Qi is so nice, why are you... Ah, I can''t even." "Let me ask you, Boss, when you already have a person in your heart, can you accommodate another person?" Qi Wan looked at her seriously, without a hint of amusement. This surprised Gu Qingyu. "What? Who do you like?" Qi Wan didn''t say a word, he just stared at her intently. She sighed, reached out and patted Qi Wan''s head. "Oh, Qi Wan, if you really don''t like Xiao Qi! Just tell me, which girl do you like? I''ll be your wingman, I''ll even help to kidnap her! " Ahem! Qi Wan coughed unnaturally. "That... um... we should do things one at a time!" "Okay, let''s plan that out first!" She nodded. "You tell me who she is, I will ask her out, and then we... hehehe..." "Boss, please put away your wretched smile, thank you." Qi Wan rolled his eyes. "And, put away your wretched thoughts." "Okay, okay," Gu Qingyu patted his shoulder and continued walking. "You know, I''m serious..." Qi Wan rolled his eyes. "You can shut up now." "On a different note, this is a really nice place..." Gu Qingyu looked around and nodded. "Not bad." "Eh? Boss, do you like these kinds of places?" Qi Wan blinked, quite surprised. "Yeah." She nodded, "It''s quiet, calming, really serene." "Hm! I like it too!" Qi Wan grinned. "Boss! If there is a chance, I will take you to a really awesome place!" "Here? In this world?" Gu Qingyu turned to look at him. "Yes, here!" Qi Wan nodded. "You will like it." "Sounds good. I think somewhere along the way, I have fallen in love with this world." Gu Qingyu showed a helpless smile. "Then stay here!" "What?" Gu Qingyu stopped and turned to look at Qi Wan, her expression all surprised. "Stay here?" Qi Wan frowned. "What''s wrong?" "If I remember correctly, you stuck with me to be able to go back to our world..." Gu Qingyu gestured suspiciously. Qi Wan sighed. "Well, Boss, do you want to stay?" "Yeah." Gu Qingyu nodded. "Then why did you start your journey?" "To... go back." "That''s right," Qi Wan laughed, "People always talk about how you should remember why you start things, but sometimes, things change and that heart, that fire that you started with might be better off as memories. What if the decision you made right now is the best for you?" "Yes!" Gu Qingyu also nodded, and then smiled, "Thanks, Qi Wan!" "Don''t thank me." Qi Wan raised an eyebrow. "Boss, it''s almost time. We should probably wrap up the morning walk~¡± "Yeah." Gu Qingyu turned around and walked back. Back at Ye¡¯s Tower Gu Qingyu saw Nightingale again. Nightingale didn''t seem to expect to see Gu Qingyu, she was stunned for a while, and then her gaze soon settled on Qi Wan. "Miss Gu!" Nightingale lowered her head slightly, her voice was still cold, but it was clearly a greeting. "Good morning." Gu Qingyu also nodded with a smile and seemed to have forgotten the unpleasantness of the night before. "Boss, you know quite a lot of people around here!" Qi Wan sighed and looked at Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu smiled back at Qi Wan, then continued to walk forward. Qi Wan glanced at Nightingale, then kept pace with Gu Qingyu. "Where are you going next, Boss?" He watched Gu Qingyu curiously. Gu Qingyu thought for a while. "I want to see Xiao Zhezhe!" "Okay, I will go with you!" "Wait a minute." Just then, that cold voice rang again. Gu Qingyu turned back and locked eyes with Nightingale. "What''s wrong?" "The leader is busy with important matters at the moment, it would be best if Miss Gu avoids visiting the leader." Nightingale lowered her head slightly, but she was very determined and resolute. "Important matters?" For a strange reason, Gu Qingyu always felt that Nightingale was looking for trouble. "What sort of important matters?" "Sorry Miss Gu, but I cannot tell you." Nightingale''s face was still stone cold. "Can''t tell me?" Before Gu Qingyu spoke, Qi Wan hmphed, "I remember what your leader told Qingyu that he would show up at her request, anytime, anywhere." "That''s what the leader had promised. However, my job is to not let unnecessary individuals disrupt the leader." Nightingale sneered. "Also, Miss Gu, the leader is currently away. And yet you went on a stroll with other men, he even addresses you so casually, don''t you think that you''re being too friendly?" "Hey, you..." Qi Wan started, but Gu Qingyu raised her hand slightly and beckoned him to stop. "Nightingale? Do you think I am an unnecessary individual?" Gu Qingyu slightly smiled. It was clear to her that Nightingale has something to pick with her. Gu Qingyu didn¡¯t give Nightingale a chance, and continued. ¡°Also, do you think that I am too intimate with other men? Ha ha, who are you to even comment on this? Even if it¡¯s too intimate, you still have to wait for Xiao Zhezhe to decide for himself. Your leader has not said a single thing, so on whose authority did you assume judge, jury, and executioner? It looks like you are also a person with a cold appearance and a hot heart!" Nightingale opened her mouth, yet not a word came out. "Hmm, have you heard of the neighborhood committee?" Gu Qingyu stared at Nightingale''s blank face with kindness. "That is also an organisation, I think you are very suitable for that sort of organisation, given that you enjoy gossip and policing other people¡¯s behaviour! The people inside are all proficient in martial arts, it''s perfect for you!" "Pff!" Qi Wan didn''t hold back for a while, and let out a short laugh. Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes at him. "Why did you laugh? Was that bad?" "No!" Qi Wan nodded seriously, "This is really the most profound and philosophical word I have ever heard in my life!" "Great minds think alike!" She spoke with reverence and almost shouted "brother" while holding Qi Wan''s hand. Nightingale frowned. "Miss Gu, are you making me betray Ye?" Gu Qingyu was stunned for a moment, she never expected Nightingale to twist her words that way! "Not a bad comeback." She rolled her eyes. "But when did I make you betray Ye? Have I ever said something like this?" "No!" Qi Wan was also puzzled. "Why would you even say anything like that, Boss?" "Okay, okay, my time is very precious!" Gu Qingyu waved her hand. "So, Nightingale, or whatever, if you feel comfortable standing there, then stay there. I still have to find Xiao Zhezhe, if you would like to seek more of my advice, consultation fees are at a bag of gold per hour." Nightingale''s face darkened. "No need!" "Oh, fine then. Qi Wan, let''s go~" Gu Qingyu turned away, looking like she was about to bypass Nightingale and go upstairs. Nightingale pulled out the whip around her waist. "Nightingale will not let you go to disturb the leader!" Her face was rigid. "Oh yeah, try and stop me! I will bring her up no matter what!" Qi Wan''s ribbons flew out from his sleeves and entered a stance. Gu Qingyu held Qi Wan''s hand and sneered. "Who said I''m going up?" "Boss?" Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyu confusingly. Gu Qingyu gave him a comforting smile, then reached down her neck and pulled out the obsidian whistle from her clothes. Nightingale was startled as she and Qi Wan both watched Gu Qingyu bring the obsidian whistle to her lips and blew it. Silence. Yet, it made Nightingale''s eyes widen in horror. "This whistle is broken?" Gu Qingyu shook the whistle. "That guy dared to give me a broken whistle to blow whenever I''m looking for him!" "Yeah! What the hell!" Qi Wan nodded angrily. He knew that the obsidian whistle was the famous Divine Tune. Divine Tune and Ghost Howl were another pair of weapons bound to each other. If one of them sends any signal, the other will immediately receive it. But there was no way that he would pass up such an opportune moment to fan the flames! At this moment, a voice rang from the top of the stairs. "Why, Xiao Yu''er, miss me?" Gu Qingyu followed the voice and saw Ye Jin falling from the upper floor in a striking dark blue robe. Nightingale immediately knelt on one knee. "Leader Ye!" "Don''t call me the leader in the future." Ye Jin answered in a chill tone. "Xiao Zhezhe ~" Gu Qingyu happily pounced on him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Xiao Yu''er, you miss me that much?" Ye Jin caught her with a laugh. Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyu''s smiling face and turned away silently. All this was seen by Nightingale, and her eyes sank. "Yeah!" Gu Qingyu nodded and pointed to Nightingale, "She won''t let me go up to find you!" "Oh?" Ye Jin''s eyes didn''t look at the Nightingale all the time, but looked at Gu Qingyu indulgently, "Is that so, then how does Xiao Yu''er want to deal with her?" "Um..." After seeing Ye Jin''s eyes of absolute trust, Gu Qingyu hesitated and shook her head. She was not a scourge, nor does she want Ye Jin to amass an infamous reputation. She could already see the headlines in the tabloids, ''Leader of Top Intelligence Organisation, Ye Jin, Kills Sister and Fires Subordinates for Beauty" Chapter 97: I Choose My Wife Chapter 97: I Choose My Wife Translated by: iris.knight "Can''t think of it?" Ye Jin gently touched Gu Qingyu''s head, "killed?" Nightingale could feel the cold sweat coming out of her back. The leader''s methods often made people long for death. And she also understood the difference in value between her and the woman in front of her. Compared to this woman, she couldn''t even count as a grain of sand. "I don''t mean that, Xiao Zhezhe." Gu Qingyu also touched Ye Jin''s face. Huh? Why does it feel so good? Seeing Ye Jin didn''t seem to be angry, Gu Qingyu simply took advantage of the opportunity and caressed his face a few more times. "After all, it is your men. You do have the power to dispose of her, but it is a bit too much. "Well, okay, I know." Ye Jin reached up and covered her hand with his own, and his voice cooled down in the next second, "Nightingale, from now on, you shall not appear before me." Gu Qingyu glanced at Nightingale, and suddenly felt that Ye Jin was too kind, too trusting to her. "Yes." Nightingale''s face was pale, and she retreated. "Xiao Zhezhe..." Gu Qingyu looked at him with some guilt, "Why do you do this" "What''s wrong?" Ye Jin looked at her tenderly, not aware of what she was referring to. "I... why do you... indiscriminately or even unreasonably side with me?" Gu Qingyu lowered her head. Although she was very happy and did not feel bad in this way, she would not say "Don''t be so good to me" like pitiful characters on television, but Ye Jin really... no matter whether it is Ye Ya or Nightingale, he was completely biased towards her "Because, between logic and my wife, I can only choose one." Ye Jin smiled with a smile on his face, "Xiao Yu''er, you asked me that yourself." Gu Qingyu''s face reddened. I did, but! Ye Jin laughed at her flushed face. "You are so cute, Xiao Yu''er. Stop worrying about it, come up with me." "But... is it okay?" Gu Qingyu raised her head. Nightingale said Ye Jin was working on something highly confidential. But his tone was relaxed and calm... "If it''s you, of course you can join me." A faint smile graced his lips as he gently lifted a strand of hair in front of Gu Qingyu''s forehead with her hands, and tucked it behind her ear. And as he grew satisfied with the sight of her burning, red face, he chuckled and walked forward. Gu Qingyu smacked her face angrily before she kept up with Ye Jin. They went up the stairs, and stopped at a door. Ye Jin pushed the door open, and leaned back, making way for Gu Qingyu to enter. Gu Qingyu also smiled at Ye Jin and walked in. As soon as they entered the room, she saw a pile of papers lying on Ye Jin''s table. Gu Qingyu blinked curiously, and then looked back at Ye Jin who had entered the door, and sat on the chair beside him. As she looked up, she saw a person sitting opposite her, with a beautiful face and dark hair. The man nodded at her, and Gu Qingyu immediately sat up straight. "You don''t have to be so restrained, Xiao Yu''er." Ye Jin smiled. "Things might get boring for a while, but I have a library here. If you are interested, you can check it out." "Ah? Oh, good..." Gu Qingyu looked at the man opposite with curiosity. He looked at Ye Jin, as if he had something to say. Gu Qingyu stood up, Ye Jin tapped on the table gently, and at the same time, Gu Qingyu heard a snap and a door opened behind her. "Go, I''ll be right here." Ye Jin leaned on the chair and flashed his trademark, charming smile. Gu Qingyu immediately covered her nose and ducked into the library. As soon as Gu Qingyu entered the library, she was shocked by the sight in front of her. Rows after rows of neatly-arranged books, the smell of paper and ink permeated the air. It was a real library! Gu Qingyu looked curiously from left to right, picked up a book and flipped through it gently. She looked up and saw Yan Zun floating in the air. Yan Zun leaned down, his chin settled on the crook of her neck. "Well, this book is very rare. I did not expect that it would be here." "What?" Gu Qingyu murmured and found that the book was about the Frost Poison. Yan Zun floated around the library, and finally returned to Gu Qingyu''s side: "Apprentice, your teacher found that there are some long-lost books here~ And, " he paused, "And, most of them are on the most hidden secrets in Ye." "That dramatic?" Gu Qingyu''s eyes widened. No wonder the man outside looked like he wanted to say something. "Well, it is quite exhilarating." Yan Zun narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Have a flip through, it would help you a lot~" "Em... Does Ye Jin... trust me too much?" Gu Qingyu hesitated and continued to read the book about Frost Poison. "You deserve his trust, don''t you?" Yan Zun rubbed Gu Qingyu''s head. "That''s right..." Gu Qingyu suddenly turned the page and read out a passage. "The Frost Poison can only be cured by the Frost Lotus that blooms on the Frozen Mountain?" "Yeah," Yan Zun nodded. "But this lotus is very rare. Like the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny, there are countless people who want to take it, but they have not found it. Instead, they all found the Frozen Mountain to be their final resting place." "Hm." Gu Qingyu closed the book gently and put it back to its original position. "Do you want to find it?" He read her thoughts. "Yeah." Gu Qingyu nodded, "I... ow!" Before her words were finished, Yan Zun had flicked her forehead. "Don¡¯t think about what ¡¯s not there, that ¡¯s not what you should think about. Do you think you can do it by yourself? Do you know how much people Ye has invested in the Frozen Mountain in recent years? None of them came back." Yan Zun looked at Gu Qingyu with a stern, berating glare. Gu Qingyu blinked. "But that''s their business, it has nothing to do with me, is it?" "But Ye Jin''s matters involve you?" Yan Zun raised an eyebrow. "You know, Ye Jin is not an ordinary person." "I''m not an ordinary person." Gu Qingyu muttered. "You know that''s not what your master meant." Yan Zun sighed and rubbed her head. "Are you sure that this is all the great leader of Ye is? Just the head of an intelligence organisation?" His sentence set off a lightbulb in her head, and her eyes sank. Under Yan Zun''s unwavering gaze, Gu Qingyu''s expression showed a smile. "Perhaps." "How? Have you figured it out?" Yan Zun smiled. "Well," Gu Qingyu nodded and shook his head again, "If he wants to, he would tell me eventually." Yan Zun sighed softly and disappeared in the air. Gu Qingyu turned around and saw Ye Jin standing behind her. How much did he hear? The sudden realisation that he had been there had left an awkward atmosphere between them. "Jia Qizhe, when did you get here?" "Just now." Ye Jin smiled and came over, pressing Gu Qingyu''s arms in her arms, just like usual. "That, I..." Gu Qingyu stammered, she was not sure if Ye Jin had heard it. Ye Jin stroked her head. "I heard everything." He heard it! He heard everything! Gu Qingyu instantly wanted to smack her head against the bookcase, but considering the durability of the bookcase, she wisely chose to lower her head and avoid Ye Jin''s eyes. ? "Look at me, Xiao Yu''er." Ye Jin held up her face gently and stared into her eyes. "Xiao Yu''er, listen carefully. Everything I am about to say comes from the bottom of my heart. Yes. I want you to know everything about me. " "Uh-Huh." Gu Qingyu also nodded and met his gaze. He said he wanted to let her know everything about him. "I, the martial arts hero Jia Qizhe, the leader Ye Jin and the Shadow of the monarchs, Ye Jin" He gently caressed her cheek. "The Shadow of the Monarchs?" Gu Qingyu blinked her eyes in doubt. "Yes." Ye Jin hooked his lips, revealing a charming smile, "It can be said that the whole world is in my hands." "It''s so exciting?" Gu Qingyu''s eyes widened. "Wouldn''t that mean that I have a chance to wreak havoc?" "If you want, I can give you the world." His thumb brushed over her cheekbones. Gu Qingyu''s face quickly became red again. That would not be necessary, I won''t be able to bear such grievous crimes." Ye Jin laughed. "Xiao Yu''er, I''m right here, who would dare to even accuse you?" "You have a point..." She pursed her lips. "But, going back, what does the Shadow of the monarchs mean?" "Every country''s heirs must show absolute obedience to the Shadown. The Shadow is not the emperor, but his authority is greater than kings and emperors." Ye Jin slowly lowered his hand and shifted to hold her hand instead. "And you, Xiao Yu''er, have authority over the Shadow. Even I must absolutely obey you." Gu Qingyu smiled embarrassedly. "Xiao Zhezhe, how did you become such a romantic overnight?" "Why, you don''t like it?" Ye Jin leaned into her face. "No, not..." Gu Qingyu shook her head immediately. "I..." "So you like it?" Ye Jin laughed loudly. Gu Qingyu glared at him and stormed out with a huff. Ye Jin followed behind her, still grinning from ear to ear. Back in Ye Jin¡¯s office, Gu Qingyu heard a knock on the door. "Come in," Ye Jin said, pulling out a chair for Gu Qingyu. "Xiao Yu''er, here." Wind, Lightning and Thunder, who just entered the room, had eyes as wide as saucers. Gu Qingyu was also not discreet, and sat down on the chair. "Xiao Yu''er, are you angry?" Ye Jin looked at Gu Qingyu with a bit of curiosity. Gu Qingyu blushed, and turned away. Wind, Lightning and Thunder were all confused. What in the world happened to their leader? Chapter 98: Tempers Flare Chapter 98: Tempers Flare Translated by: iris.knight The three of them gawked at the sight. Leader, can you please let us leave! Seeing such weak-willed behaviour from the Leader, will we be silenced and killed? Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes and said nothing. "Xiao Yu''er!" Ye Jin finally understood that his wife could only take so much teasing. Now that he has successfully angered her, then he would have to coax her back even if he was going to die. "Be good, don''t be angry, I''m wrong." He switched tactics and went with a softer, sweeter voice. "Xiao Yu''er~" The sweet voice made the three other individuals wish to gouge out their eyeballs (?). Leader! We really can''t hear anything, and we can''t see anything! Gu Qingyu turned towards him and finally realised that Ye Jin is a big softie on the inside. "So you''re aware of your mistake?" "Yes!" Ye Jin nodded obediently. Gu Qingyu took the cup of hot tea from Ye Jin, then she turned around and remembered that there were three other people in the room with them. Because the three of them were well trained, they had been concealing their presence as they waited for Ye Jin. Ye Jin straightened up and glanced at Wind, Lighting and Thunder. "When did the three of you come in?" Wind and Thunder are about to cry. Weren''t you the one that let us in, Leader? Lightning on the other hand, was more clever. "Leader Ye, the three of us only came in just now." "Huh." Ye Jin nodded in satisfaction, "Speak, what''s the matter?" "Your subordinate has just finished the task, we are here to report on our findings. " Feng knelt on one knee. "The first prince of Dongxian has been assassinated." "The first prince of Dong Xuan?" Gu Qingyu looked at Ye Jin with doubt. "Yes, it''s Murong Qize." Ye Jin reached out and stroked Gu Qingyu''s head. "Xiao Yu''er, whoever that dares to bully you would never end well. Gu Qingyu beamed at him. "Thank you Xiao Zhezhe!" Wind cringed at that sight. Leader! Madam! Can you shower such affection at another time? The subordinates are still watching! "How about you?" Ye Jin looked at Lightning and Thunder. "Nightingale insists on seeing you, but she was stopped, as per your orders." Lightning frowned. As one of the four executives, Lightning has felt sympathy for Nightingale, but Madam is still here! "Drag her away." Ye Jin didn''t even frown. "She¡¯s exiled." "Yes!" Lightning lowered his head. To be honest, the punishment of the Leader is really too... It was likely that he spared Nightingale due to her past loyalty. But for people like them, they are nothing without Ye. "Leave." Ye Jin glanced at the three. "Yes! Your subordinates will take their leave, Leader, Madam." The three of them spoke in unison. "Wait." Ye Jin gently picked up a cup of tea and took a sip. "From now on, call her Queen." "......Yes!" Gu Qingyu glared at Ye Jin, snatched over his cup and drank from it instead. "Xiao Yu''er, you¡¯re thirsty?" Ye Jin looked at her in a puzzled manner. After Gu Qingyu finished drinking, Ye Jin immediately picked up the teapot and poured another cup for her. Gu Qingyu almost spewed blood. "No! Thank you!" "Alright then. Xiao Yu''er, it''s time to have lunch." Ye Jin looked out the window, the weather was beautifully warm. "Okay!" Gu Qingyu whispered and walked out with Ye Jin As they headed downstairs, Gu Qingyu saw several people surrounding Qi Wan. "What are you doing? What''s wrong?" Gu Qingyu walked over and stood in front of Qi Wan, shielding him. A few people saw Gu Qingyu, first stunned, then quickly knelt on one knee. "Madam!" Ye Jin was standing behind them and concealed his presence, so they didn''t notice him. "Well, get up." Gu Qingyu turned around and looked at Qi Wan, "What happened, Qi Wan?" "Boss, they bullied me!" Qi Wan stared at her with watery eyes. "Bullying?" Gu Qingyu frowned, "It¡¯ll be enough if you don''t bully others!" Although she said so, Gu Qingyu turned to look at the crowd. "What happened?" "He was trying to mess with Sister Nightingale!" A man stood up, staring at Qi Wan. "Oh, is that right?" Gu Qingyu didn''t go to see Qi Wan, but waited for the man without showing any weakness. "Well, your Sister Nightingale tried to mess with me!" The man froze for a moment, revealing a clear disbelief, but he stopped because the other person was Madam. "Do you know, because she is going to change jobs, and I feel very bad so I wanted to send her off. But I didn''t expect to be beaten by her!" Gu Qingyu sighed, "Ah! Hell hath no fury as a woman scorned!" The man eyed her suspiciously. Hell hath no fury as a woman scorned indeed. "This thing tells us that your well-intentions may not be well-received. An old witch might misjudge your intentions!" Gu Qingyu nodded strongly at her own words. "So! We need to prevent fire, prevent theft and prevent witches!" That man was stunned, did Madam just call Sister Nightingale a witch? "Ah!" Gu Qingyu sighed again, knowing that Nightingale was highly respected by this group of people. No matter what she said, it would be difficult to change their impression of her bullying Nightingale. At this moment, Crow joined them. The group saw Crow and immediately lowered their heads and bowed. "Crow!" "Yes." Crow still wears a smiley mask, making it impossible for him to see his expression. "Madam was tolerant and kind, but Nightingale violated the regulations of the organisation on her own accord, so she was exiled." "Is this true?" Obviously, Crow held more respect among these people, but one of them still questioned. He was doubtful, but his eyes showed the disappointment he had already believed. "Are you doubting me?" Crow glanced at the man lightly. The man immediately knelt on one knee. "Dare not!" Crow ¡°hummed¡±, and then walked to the front of Gu Qingyu, kneeling on one knee: ¡°Madam.¡± Crow showed absolute subservience to her, which also made those present unavoidably respect Gu Qingyu more. At this moment, Ye Jin came slowly, and everyone immediately knelt down when they saw Ye Jin "Leader." At the same time, they were all anxiously sweating. God! How much did the Leader hear? They are all familiar with the Leader''s love for Madam, they heard that the Leader actually put his sister into the dungeon for Madam! And what about them? Would they meet the same fate as Miss Ye Ya? Even if they had nine lives, it would never be enough! Ye Jin ignored them, walked straight to Gu Qingyu. "What''s the matter, Xiao Yu''er?" Gu Qingyu glanced at everyone, and then smiled at Ye Jin. "It''s fine." "Let''s go." Ye Jin gently took Gu Qingyu''s hand. "... Sure." Gu Qingyu said She gave his hand a slight squeeze and walked forward. Once the pair had gotten far away enough, the people in the crowd glanced at each other and sighed with relief. Qi Wan¡¯s eyes lowered to the ground, a hint of loneliness escaped from his careful concealment before he kept up with Gu Qingyu. The pair arrived at the dining room, Gu Qingyu was surprised to see the excellent meals. She rushed to her seat, while Qi Wan exclaimed in surprise as he entered the room "What about the others?" Gu Qingyu looked around and found that she, Ye Jin and Qi Wan were the only three. "Xiao Yu." Xiao Qi''s voice came. Gu Qingyu turned around and saw Xiao Qi and Murong Zuoyu sitting by the door, she waved back and beckoned them with a smile. "Come, take a seat, we will resume the journey tomorrow." "Tomorrow?" Murong Zuoyu frowned. "And the destination?" "... Nanyou." Gu Qingyu smiled slightly, "The next Spirit Gem is there." "Well." Murong Zuoyu nodded slightly. "Very good. We would soon have travelled all over this entire continent." "Yes!" Gu Qingyu was also rather impressed. "We actually visited every single country here! It''s not easy! Oh, where are the roads less travelled, they are right there beneath your feet!" Murong Zuoyu was perplexed by her statement. "To think that I would one day have seen the world." Qi Wan opened the white fan in his hand and fanned himself. "It''s truly a feat!" Why are you lamenting about life all of a sudden? Also, where did your fan come from? The door was kicked open again, and Qi Yichen stormed in with a huff. "Qi Wan xx you xx! X! Give me back my fan!" "Only an xx will return it to you!" Qi Wan rolled his eyes. "Do you really take me as a xxx?" "I x! Is it fun for the two of you to xxxx swear back and forth like this?" Gu Qingyu also rolled her eyes, "Hurry to eat, or both of you will not get a single morsel!" Right then, Qi Wan immediately threw the fan on the chair, grabbed his chopsticks and began to shove food into his mouth. His speed could match a starved ghost. And right as Qi Wan threw away the fan, it fell into Qi Yichen''s hand. Qi Yichen also tossed it aside, took his seat next to Qi Wan and shoved food into his mouth. He even found the time to steal from Qi Wan''s bowl. Qi Wan stared at Qi Yichen with his eyes wide, his mouth was stuffed to the brim. With just a look in his eyes, he told Qi Yichen, "Try me, I dare you. I''ll spit this entire mouthful of rice on your face!" Qi Yichen glared back at him without showing any weakness. ¡°You''re not the only one who can flare up! I also have a temper! Don''t think you''re the only one who knows how to spit rice! Come! Go ahead! Do you think I''m scared of you?¡± Gu Qingyu squinted at the two of them, and unceremoniously rewarded them with a red bump each. "Are you two not tired? Do you even have to flirt during mealtimes?" Qi Wan and Qi Yichen looked at Gu Qinyu in unison. "And just how did you see that the two of us were flirting?" "Okay, okay, don''t stare at me with such wide eyes just because I saw through the both of you. It''s not like you two were being discreet about your interest in each other." Gu Qingyu mumbled as she returned to her food. Qi Wan and Qi Yichen no longer dared to glare at each other anymore, they both lowered their heads and concentrated on eating. "Oh, where''s Mo Bai? Why isn''t he here?" Gu Qingyu looked around and frowned. "Oh, him." Ye Jin slowly filled her bowl. "He said he doesn''t feel well." "He¡¯s still unwell?" She blinked doubtfully. "Yes, Doctor Mo''s body may be quite weak." Ye Jin shook his head with a sigh. Chapter 99: The Qi Brothers Chapter 99: The Qi Brothers Translated by: iris.knight "Then I should go..." Gu Qingyu mumbled. She was about to set down her chopsticks when Ye Jin''s devious voice came. "Xiao Yu''er, relax, I''ve sent someone to deliver lunch to him. It''s very nourishing, so I don''t have to trouble you anymore." "Huh?" She eyed him suspiciously and wanted to ask if he was really that kind, but she changed her words after considering the gap in strength between the two of them. ¡°That¡¯s nice of you.¡± "Xiao Yu''er, if only you saw how grateful he was!" Ye Jin smiled enchantingly. "Really." A faint voice came from the door, and Mo Bai watched Ye Jin with a smile on his face. "Why don''t I recall?" Gu Qingyu immediately wanted to jump up and ask Ye Jin if his face hurts, but taking into account the power gap between the two of them yet again, she silently gave up. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Qi Wan trying to hold his laughter. Obviously, he wanted to ask the same thing as Gu Qingyu. But he arrived at the same conclusion, neither of them was strong enough to challenge Ye Jin. "Oh? Do you feel better?" Ye Jin didn''t seem to have any embarrassment, looked at Mo Bai, and smiled evilly. "Thanks to Leader Ye, no, not at all." Mo Bai smiled and sat across from Gu Qingyu. "Yu''er, did you sleep well last night?" "Huh?" She raised her head from the tiny mountain in her bowl and looked at Mo Bai inexplicably. "Yeah, I slept well. What''s wrong?" "Oh, nothing." Mo Bai turned to Ye Jin and asked, "I don''t know if Leader Ye could accommodate one more at the table." "Of course," Ye Jin paused, and then showed a fascinating smile. "I wouldn''t mind at all." He clapped his hands, and someone immediately brought a set of table settings for Mo Bai. "Hurry up and eat." She smiled at Mo Bai and said, "Rest up tonight, and we will begin the journey to Nanyou tomorrow." Mo Bai nodded and picked up the chopsticks without a pause. "Is that where the next Spirit Gem is?" "Yes." Gu Qingyu nodded and continued to eat. Only a few words were exchanged at the table. Qi Wan and Qi Yichen both focused on eating diligently, afraid that Gu Qingyu would say that they were ''flirting'' again. After lunch Gu Qingyu returned to her room, the rest had dispersed as well. Watching Ye Jin work bored her, and she couldn''t keep up with what he was working on. The books in his library were interesting, but she felt guilty reading them. The sky was still blue, Gu Qingyu sighed as she watched Yan Zun float through the air. "Master, I remember you said that there are two Spirit Gems in Xiqian. Why are we heading to Nanyou now?" "I don''t know where the second Spirit Gem is in Xiqian, I can''t sense it at all." Yan Zun shook his head. "The only clue I have left is the one in Nanyou." "Oh, alright." Gu Qingyu sighed. At this moment, someone knocked on her door. Mo Bai''s gentle voice followed the knock. "Yu''er." Gu Qingyu immediately opened the door. "Please, come in!" Mo Bai nodded and walked in. "Yu''er, what are your thoughts about the next Spirit Gem?" His tone was rather worried. "The Spirit Gem should be something like a national treasure again? It¡¯s obvious that we have to bargain with the Emperor of Nanyou. I just hope that he will be cooperative..." She let out another sigh. "But I don''t have high hopes." "Well," Mo Bai nodded. "You can settle down in Nanyou first, and then play by ear, adapt accordingly." "That''s right!" Gu Qingyu also nodded and smiled at Mo Bai. "Aren''t you feeling unwell? Hurry up and get some rest." "Okay." Mo Bai gave her a faint smile, turned around and opened the door. As soon as the door opened, she saw Qi Wan standing at the door with a white fan in his hand. "Qi Wan? What''s wrong with you?" Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan in doubt, waving her hand and saying goodbye to Mo Bai. After Mo Bai left, Qi Wan immediately ran into her room and closed the door with a snap. "What are you doing? Why do you look like you''re being chased by a ghost?" Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan with more doubt. Qi Wan leaned against the door and gasped: "It''s not a ghost! It''s Qi Yichen! That guy is much scarier than a ghost!" She gave him a stink-eye then rolled her eyes. "You stole his fan again?" "Am I like that kind of person?" Qi Wan rolled his eyes and turned on the fan. There were six characters on the fan, I am Unparalleled! "Fine, whatever." Gu Qingyu strained her ears, there was some shuffling of footsteps outside. "Then why are you hiding from him?" "Ah! It''s a really long story..." Qi Wan shook his head and sighed. Right then, someone knocked on the door. Qi Wan glanced about frantically and immediately ducked into her closet, but he dropped the fan in a hurry. "Er... please come in." Gu Qingyu still opened the door. As expected, it was a fuming Qi Yichen. "Brother Zhu! Did you see that clothes thief, Qi Wan?" Qi Yichen looked at Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu also looked at Qi Yichen frankly, with an understanding look. "Yes! Did he steal your clothes again?" "No, no." Qi Yichen''s eyes saw the fan on the ground and immediately picked up: "Ah! Flora!" "...Flora?" Gu Qingyu turned around unexpectedly. "Yes!" Qi Yichen nodded and held the fan against his chest. "Ah! How many springs, autumns, winters and summers has it accompanied me!" "Isn''t this Qi Wan''s?" Gu Qingyu blinked doubtfully. "There''s something written on it..." "Oh, he''s dead! He actually dared to write on my fan!" Qi Yichen sounded wretched and Gu Qingyu couldn''t bear it anymore. "Okay, let''s see if we can remove the ink." Gu Qingyu touched Yichen''s head, "Don''t be too sad..." "But it looks quite nice." Qi Yichen suddenly examined the fan carefully. Gu Qingyu. "..." I take back what I just said! If I can''t take it back, I¡¯ll lick it back! "Then... are you still looking for Qi Wan?" Gu Qingyu raised an eyebrow and looked at Qi Yichen. "Of course! He asked me for a fight, then grabbed my fan when I arrived at the venue and locked me up!" Qi Yichen gritted his teeth and snarled. "Locked? Where? And how did you come out?" Gu Qingyu glanced doubtfully at the wardrobe. Qi Yichen''s expression seemed to be crying and crying. "In the chicken coop! I only managed to get out after the screaming chickens attracted the attention of an old lady." "..." Gu Qingyu nodded sympathetically and pointed to the closet. "He''s..." Before Gu Qingyu could finish her sentence, Qi Wan tumbled out of the closet and fell flat against the floor. "What in the world are you talking about!" Qi Yichen was stunned for a while, and then sighed. "You actually went to such lengths to beg for forgiveness. Very well, in light of such sincerity, this scholar will forgive you! However, you can stay like that for a while longer." "X!" Qi Wan immediately jumped from the ground, pointing at Qi Yichen, ¡°Hey you, listen up!" "Oh I¡¯m listening, go on." Leave it to Qi Yichen to come up with a comeback that leaves Qi Wan speechless! Qi Wan coughed. "First of all! Your fan is so plain! It¡¯s just white! So I decided to help you, out of compassion!" "So you lured me to the chicken coop under the pretense for a fight?" Qi Yichen looked at Qi Wan with a smile. "Rubbish! I asked an old lady where the most spacious, most lively, and the best place to fight in this building. Then she showed me a room, how would I have known that it was a chicken coop!" "Tch!" Qi Yichen rolled his eyes. "That''s why you locked me in?" "I didn''t think about locking the door at the time, I just grabbed the fan and bolted out. But the chickens were all flying and jumping, I was afraid that the chickens would run out and cause trouble. Then I saw the stool next to the door, so I blocked the door with it." Qi Wan''s words tumbled out. Qi Yichen seemed to be stunned, staring at Qi Wan with wide eyes, presumably he had never seen anyone shameless than him. Gu Qingyu glanced at Qi Yichen sympathetically, then walked to Qi Yichen''s side, raised his hand, and groped in his sleeve. Qi Yichen blushed, and just wanting to say something, Gu Qingyu slowly took out a handful of sunflower seeds, brought over a chair, sat down and munched away. ¡°Sorry for the interruption. Continue!" Qi Yichen was speechless. Qi Wan rolled his eyes. ¡°You didn¡¯t even thank me! And you pinned everything on me instead! That¡¯s not right, it¡¯s immoral!" "Morals? Do you think I need that kind of thing?" Qi Yichen looked at Qi Wan with sympathetic eyes instead. "Where is your IQ?" "How would I have known? It just took off one day." Qi Wan also unkindly reached out and grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds from Qi Yichen''s sleeve. "Your sense of shame?" Qi Yichen flicked his sleeve. "What about your ethics?" "That kind of thing should be locked in a safe, how dangerous is it to carry it with you!" Qi Wan sighed as he popped the seeds into his mouth. "That kind of thing is fragile and not much. It should be kept well, otherwise, it will break.! " Gu Qingyu once again looked at Qi Yichen sympathetically and ate her own stash of sunflower seeds. "You..." Qi Yichen calmed down, finally opened the fan, his face indifferent "This scholar has been reading the stars, and I have seen that you will face great perils today! If you wish to resolve this danger, you must come with me!" "And I flipped a coin last night, your morals and ethics would shatter today! If you want to resolve this danger, you must call me ''Old man''!" Qi Wan also looked at Qi Yichen very indifferently. Qi Yichen smiled slightly, then threw away his fan and lunged at Qi Wan, grabbing his neck. "I x you, ¡®Old man¡¯! I told you that your great peril is right here! I will show you what great perils look like, don¡¯t think you can survive past this day!¡± "You think I¡¯m afraid of you!" Qi Wan is also on the ground with Qi Yichen. "Come on! Who is afraid of who! Let me come and teach you just what ¡®longing for a beautiful life¡¯ feels like!¡± Chapter 100: Abduction and Betrayal Chapter 100: Abduction and Betrayal Translated by: iris.knight "Boss! This is something between us, don''t intervene!" Qi Wan¡¯s voice came in bits and pieces as he was choked by Qi Yichen. But his fingers were also wrapped tightly around Qi Yichen¡¯s neck. "It¡¯s more than something, it¡¯s a grudge!" Qi Yichen rolled his eyes. "Your word choice is nowhere near appropriate." "I¡¯m warning you, you better let go right now!" Qi Wan glared at the scholar as he tried to stand while holding onto Qi Yichen¡¯s neck. "We¡¯ll let go together!" Qi Yichen also gradually stood up, his hands still around Qi Wan¡¯s neck. "Okay! I counted three times..." Qi Wan stood up cautiously, "Three!" And they grabbed each other''s necks again and fell to the floor. "You cheater! I knew you were never going to play fair!" Qi Wan gritted his teeth. Qi Yichen showed no signs of weakness. "You lunged first!" Gu Qingyu watched Qi Wan and Qi Yichen wrestle each other with an excited glint in her eyes. This is a once-in-a-hundred-year opportunity! If only I had a tiny red flag to cheer them on! At this moment, someone pushed open the door. It was Xiao Qi. Qi Yichen and Qi Wan stopped and turned their heads together, looking at Xiao Qi in a daze. The scene that Xiao Qi saw was Qi Wan straddling Qi Yichen¡¯s hips, his hands tugging at the scholar¡¯s collar. The base of Qi Yichen¡¯s neck and his collarbone was bare, as he fisted Qi Wan¡¯s clothes and tried to push Qi Wan away. And in the background, Gu Qingyu was pointing excitedly at the bed near her. "Um, Xiao Qi, it''s not what you think..." Gu Qingyu swallowed weakly. "W-would you believe me if I said that they''re fighting?" "Of course I believe you, why wouldn''t I?" Xiao Qi closed the door immediately, walked to Gu Qingyu''s side, and looked at Qi Wan and Qi Yichen with expectant eyes. "I might have a crush on you, but I''m still going to support you on things like this!" Qi Wan¡¯s jaw dropped. "Yeah! She''s already made things clear. Carry on, both of you!" Gu Qingyu draped her arm across Xiao Qi''s shoulder and grinned deviously. With Gu Qingyu and Xiao Qi watching them with such excitement, neither of them could carry on the fight and they each stood up and patted the dust off their clothes. "Why are you guys stopping?" Xiao Qi looked disappointed and turned to Gu Qingyu. "Is the floor too hard for you?" Gu Qingyu blinked in confusion. Then the two girls stepped aside, and gestured towards the bed. "Go away!" Qi Wan rolled his eyes and straightened his clothes. "Let me tell you! It''s not over yet!" Qi Yichen also straightened his clothes. "You think I''m afraid of you?" Qi Wan hmphed. "Same place!" "Okay!" Qi Yichen went out angrily, Qi Wan followed, leaving only a confused Xiao Qi and a sighing Gu Qingyu. Xiao Qi blinked in disbelief. "Xiao Yu, old place... where is it?" Gu Qingyu narrowed her eyes and smiled at Xiao Qi. "I think it''s a chicken coop." They looked at each other, each revealed a mysterious smile. But, 3, 2, 1... "Not good!" The two suddenly changed their faces at the same time, and immediately ran out of the door. When they arrived at the chicken coop, they didn''t see either Qi Wan or Qi Yichen. The chickens were still pacing about leisurely, and an old lady was sitting at the door. She should be that old lady that told Qi Wan about this place and released Qi Yichen when he got locked in. Gu Qingyu walked over and smiled politely. "Hello, have you seen two men pass by this place?" "Oh! Yes!" The old lady pointed to a place. "Oh, they headed that way, and on the way, they were rubbing each other''s necks. Ah, youngsters these days!" Gu Qingyu cleared her throat awkwardly while Xiao Qi grew anxious. "Xiao Yu, hurry! Things are gonna get bad if we don''t get there soon!" "That''s right! Thank you!" Gu Qingyu immediately recovered, bowed deeply to the old lady, and pulled Xiao Qi along. It didn''t take long for them to hear noise coming from a room. "Where is this place?" Gu Qingyu looked at the door suspiciously. "It''s the pig pen." Gu Qingyu jumped as the old lady''s voice came from behind her. "Oh man, this is too much!" Gu Qingyu immediately opened the door, but the room was empty. "This is..." Gu Qingyu frowned. She tried to turn back and ask the old lady, but her head suddenly felt incredibly heavy. The world spun before her eyes, and everything faded to black. When she opened her eyes again, she was in a dark place. Where am I? Her night vision activated, and the space before her opened up to a small room. She just wanted to move her limbs, but nothing would budge. She was bound tightly by rope, and the rope seemed to be enchanted. Where''s Xiao Qi? She looked around, Xiao Qi was nowhere to be seen. A red dress unfolded in front of her eyes, and Yan Zun slowly floated out of the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny. "It seems that you placed your trust in the wrong person." Yan Zun narrowed his eyes slightly and turned to look at the locked door. Is it... Xiao Qi? Gu Qingyu didn''t dare to speak, she gently said in her heart. "Master, where am I?" "We''re still at Ye, but this place is quite well hidden." Yan Zun wandered around. "It seems that the person dug it themselves." "That person? You mean Nightingale? Then that means Ye Jin won''t know of this place at all." Gu Qingyu was startled. "That''s hard to say." Yan Zun looked at her. "Your master is still here, what do you have to be afraid of?" "Yeah, but..." She sighed, but the door opened and cut short her conversation with Yan Zun. Rays of light came from the open door and blinded her. She squinted her eyes, trying to adjust to the bright light. Right then, something swept across her face and left a stinging pain on her cheeks. Slap! The crisp sound bounced from the walls. Gu Qingyu raised her head and saw Ye Ya''s twisted face. "Oh, you''re still alive." Gu Qingyu raised her eyebrows lightly and looked at Ye Ya with a flat look. "Huh, do you think Brother Ye Jin will actually kill me? Don''t be stupid! All he wants is your Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny!" Ye Ya sneered, standing behind her was Nightingale. "Oh? Does that mean that a piece of rock is worth more than the two of you added together?" Gu Qingyu scoffed. "You--" That remark agitated Ye Ya. She raised her hand, but Nightingale grabbed her wrist and stopped her. Ye Ya looked at Nightingale with hostile eyes. "What are you doing?" "Miss," Nightingale drew her lips into a line. "We should focus on the main goal." Ye Ya freed herself with a huff. "No need to remind me." Meanwhile, Yan Zun watched as he sat on the floor. "So, do you want your master to help?" "No need." Gu Qingyu said softly in her heart. "What are you thinking about? Are you waiting for Big Brother Ye Jin to come to rescue you again?" Ye Ya sneered. Gu Qingyu looked at Ye Ya, and there was a mocking smile in the corner of her mouth. "If I can''t even solve this little thing myself, how can I stand beside him?" "You want to stand by his side?" Ye Ya''s body shook with laughter and her voice resounded like a silver bell. "Your best friend sold you out and now you are trapped here! Not a single one of your precious friends even noticed that you''re missing!" "Really." Gu Qingyu turned and glanced at Yan Zun, a hint of a smile graced the corners of her lips. They can''t see Yan Zun, so of course they did not count him. But, is Yan Zun a friend? "Miss, please resolve this as soon as possible." Nightingale''s ruthless voice came from behind Ye Ya. She was patiently waiting, but her patience is growing thin. "I know, I know." Ye Ya frowned, clearly dissatisfied with Nightingale, then looked at Gu Qingyu, and smiled again. "So, are you ready to accept death?" "I''m curious, what will Ye Jin do if I die? The first person he would think of are you two." Gu Qingyu tilted her head. "Sure, you can take the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny and try to barter for your lives, but as people who have known him for so many years, you should know that the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny is not the only thing he''s after. So, when I die, which one of you is going to be the scapegoat and take the fall?" Both of their faces turned pale. Nightingale stared closely at Gu Qingyu. "Miss, please don''t listen to the babble of this demon girl. She wants to cause us to fight amongst ourselves, your subordinate believes that..." "No." Ye Ya raised her hand and motioned the former executive to shut up. "She''s right." The girl in pigtails slowly turned around and looked at Nightingale. "You''re much better at disguises, yet I''m the one that wore the disguise and lured her here as an old lady. Why is my magic applied to this rope? Why are you standing behind me? And all you did was keep telling me to finish the job. Nightingale, you were never the kind of person that just went along with my whims. The second my tone shifted, you would vanish. Why are you so...tolerate today?" Nightingale gritted her teeth. "Miss, she is our common enemy." "But we are not allies either." Ye Ya stared at her unflinchingly. Nightingale''s hand pressed gently on the whip around her waist. "Does that mean that you are going to get rid of me first?" "I''m not that stupid." Ye Ya chuckled. When she turned back, there was a glinting dagger in her hand and she approached Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu simply watched her. Both Ye Ya and Nightingale were smart people, they would not be so easily swayed. She narrowed her eyes slightly, and tried to summon her Soul Chain. Ye Ya hmphed at her efforts. "Don''t bother, your weapon has been locked by my seal. The Soul Chain, right? It''s a good weapon, but it''s a shame that it won''t save you." She stopped in front of Gu Qingyu and raised the dagger. All Gu Qingyu heard was Yan Zun''s soft sigh as he stood up slowly. Gu Qingyu looked at Ye Ya and Nightingale with pity. If Yan Zun steps in, neither of them would survive this. And it''s not like she was cornered. This level of seals no longer posed any trouble to her after she had awakened as the White Tiger. "It''s that look again? Save it!" Ye Ya sneered and she drove the dagger down. Chapter 101: Friendship Forged in Flame Chapter 101: Friendship Forged in Flame Translated by: iris.knight It was Ye Jin. She raised her head and saw Ye Jin in his striking blue robe. His left hand was wrapped around her, and his right hand gripped the dagger and stopped it. Pitter-patter, Pitter-patter. Blood dribbled from his hand, and dripped to the ground. "Big Brother Ye Jin..." Ye Ya immediately let go and the dagger dropped to the floor with a clatter. "Xiao Zhezhe, why are you here?" Gu Qingyu said, startled. She stroked his right hand then took out her handkerchief and wrapped it around his palm, trying to stop the blood. "Are you not happy to see me, Xiao Yu''er." Ye Jin smirked, his smile was charming as always. Gu Qingyu resisted the blood rushing to her nose. "Xiao Zhezhe, not now!" "Is that so? Then we''ll talk about it once we get back." Ye Jin stroked her hair with his left hand, his fingers weaved through her tresses as he watched her tie the handkerchief with dreamy eyes. Suddenly, he turned his eyes and looked at Ye Ya. His eyes were filled with coldness and bloodthirst. His sleeve flicked through the air, and a sudden gust swept towards Ye Ya. She collapsed onto her knees, as blood spat out from her lips. "Big Brother...Ye Jin..." This blow has made his anger clear, yet he suddenly turned back and looked softly at Gu Qingyu. "Xiao Yu''er, let''s go." "Huh? Where''s Nightingale?" Gu Qingyu knew that Nightingale had slipped away. But she glanced about deliberately, in order to aggravate Ye Ya more. Sure enough, after hearing this, Ye Ya suddenly raised her head. "What do you say? That...bitch!" Gu Qingyu sighed. "Ah! Karma!" Ye Ya''s face had turned red with rage, but she could not articulate it due to her wounds. "She... she..." "Let''s go, Xiao Yu''er." Ye Jin smiled and gathered her into his arms. "But... Your hand..." Her worry caused her to squirm and struggle. "Don''t move, Xiao Yu''er." Ye Jin had a teasing look in his eyes. "Or my hand would hurt." She stopped the second he said that. "Then... put me down... I can walk on my own..." Her face turned pink. But he kept walking. "Xiao Yu''er, how can I let you down?" "...Meanie." Gu Qingyu lowered her head and covered her burning face with her hands. He let out a full-bellied laugh at the sight of her embarrassment. As soon as they stepped out, a few people hurried to the scene and knelt down when they saw Ye Jin. "King! Queen!" "Yes, Crow, I''ll leave this matter to you. Find Nightingale before the sun sets." Ye Jin''s footsteps did not stop, and he continued with large strides. "Yes!" Crow''s voice came. Halfway through, Gu Qingyu saw Qi Wan rush over, and when he saw Gu Qingyu, Qi Wan clearly lit up. "Boss! Are you okay?!" Seeing Gu Qingyu lying in Ye Jin''s arms, the worry hidden in his brows grew heavier. "I''m okay." Gu Qingyu gave a comforting smile. "That''s good." Qi Wan breathed a sigh of relief. "Xiao Qi came to find me, she''s now in my room." "Eh?" Gu Qingyu raised her head in surprise. "She told me that you are in danger, I have to save you... and she said it was all her fault. Boss, what''s going on?" Qi Wan blinked doubtfully. "Did she go get you too?" Gu Qingyu looked up at Ye Jin. "No. If anything happens to Divine Tune, my Ghost Howl will definitely sense it." Ye Jin''s expression seemed calm. He watched Gu Qingyu quietly, not even willing to miss a moment without her in his eyes. In his eyes, she understood that no matter what happened, he would go into the abyss with her, and even as the world around them turned into ash, he would be with her until the bitter end. He''s not anxious, because he firmly believes that he would protect her, no matter what happens. "Xiao Zhezhe, can you put me down? I want to see her." Gu Qingyu licked her lips weakly. "...Please?" Ye Jin gently released her immediately. "I''ll go with you." "Yep!" Gu Qingyu nodded and looked at Qi Wan. "Let''s go." "...Okay." Qi Wan pulled his lips into a strained smile. At least you remember me, don''t you? Meanwhile In the shadows, a white robe was shrouded by a dark energy. His hands were wrapped around Nightingale''s neck, her face was contorted in pain. Her hands clawed at the vice-like grip around her neck, but his fingers would not budge. "You should have expected this the moment you decided to hurt her." A bloodthirsty smile split across the man''s face, a stark contrast from his usual gentle demeanor. His fingers tightened and Nightingale''s pupils grew wide. Her arms dropped to her side and the light in her eyes went out. All who hurt her shall die in agony. Gu Qingyu stopped before Qi Wan''s room, her raised hand stopped in mid-air. She cast a furtive glance at the person next to her. Qi Wan nodded slightly at her, and she opened the door with a light push. Xiao Qi was seated at the table in the center of the room. She shot up from her seat the moment she saw Gu Qingyu. "Xiao Yu...I... I''m sorry." "Why are you apologising?" Gu Qingyu closed the door, walked over, and gently wrapped her arms around Xiao Qi. "You saved me. I should be thanking you, silly girl." "No! Xiao Yu, that''s not what happened..." Xiao Qi sighed, "I betrayed you. It''s my fault." "You didn''t." Gu Qingyu''s words were resolute. "Didn''t you come to get Qi Wan to rescue me?" "You... Xiao Yu, I was waiting for you here to apologise. " She lowered her head. "I''m sorry. Xiao Yu, you are such a kind person... I know you love each and every one of us, and you believe in us from the bottom of your heart, even the people who plotted against you. I know that I''m the only one you trusted completely, and yet I betrayed that trust. I nearly killed you." "It doesn''t matter." The knot between Gu Qingyu''s brows loosened. "Can you continue to stay by my side?" It was obvious to her that Xiao Qi did not just stay for apologies, she was going to bid her farewell. "Can I... can I stay?" Xiao Qi looked up suddenly. "Of course." Gu Qingyu smiled brightly. "Welcome to the team." She did not just let Xiao Qi stay, she welcomed her to the team. That meant that everything in the past will cease to exist and she will have a new beginning with her. Xiao Qi beamed at her, and she raised her hand to wipe the tears from the corner of her eyes. "...Yep!" Gu Qingyu took Xiao Qi''s hand into her own and walked out of the door. Ye Jin and Qi Wan were standing at the door. When they saw them, they didn''t say anything. With their expertise in magic, the two men must have heard their conversation. Qi Wan''s face was slightly gloomy, he looked down and seemed to be deep in thought. "Qi Wan?" Gu Qingyu said softly, Qi Wan ignored it. Gu Qingyu pouted and gave his shoulders a hard smack. "Qi Wan!" "Ah!" Qi Wan jumped suddenly, then patted his chest in shock, "You spooked me, Boss, you could have just called me..." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes, she opened her mouth to speak but Qi Wan continued. "I''m sorry, Boss." Qi Wan looked at her with eyes full of guilt. "It''s all my fault. If I didn''t butt heads with Qi Yichen, you wouldn''t..." He bit his lip tightly as he blamed himself. Xiao Qi glanced at Qi Wan, and quickly lowered her head. There seemed to be something crashing in her eyes, a dam had broken. "Okay, I''m fine. Everything worked out, right?" Gu Qingyu patted his shoulder. "You..." "Xiao Yu''er" Ye Jin jumped into the conversation with a slight whimper. That instantly reminded her of the wound on Ye Jin''s hand and she quickly dragged him away. "Go and find Mo Bai!" "Look for him..." Ye Jin smiled faintly. "I don''t think I can find him right now." "What are you talking about?" Gu Qingyu obviously didn''t catch the hidden meaning in his words. Before she could stop him, Ye Jin lifted her into his arms again. "Eh..." Ye Jin looks in a weirdly good mood. "Xiao Yu''er, do you think my Ye still lacks a doctor? I don''t want a quack like him, hmph." With that, he walked away. Gu Qingyu was speechless. I know you have a lot of opinion about each other, but don''t call him a quack! Hey, he''s a renowned Divine Doctor in the martial arts world! Soon, they came to a door, which Ye Jin kicked open, and walked in. "Just hurry up and get someone to check on your hand..." Gu Qingyu frowned, but she dared not move. "Xiao Yu''er, are you worried about me?" Ye Jin teased her with a grin as he set her down gently. "...Yes." She lowered her head as pink dusted her cheeks. Ye Jin gawked at her. Maybe it was because he never heard such an answer from her, nor did he expect her to admit it so freely. The flush on her cheeks intensified under his watchful gaze. "That, I, um..." The remainder of her sentence disappeared as he pulled her into another warm hug. "Xiao Yu''er, I love you." His arms wrapped around her tightly. "Yeah." She hugged him back, and buried her face in his chest, greedily taking in his scent. Ye Jin lowered his head and pressed a soft kiss against her forehead. "Alright, I''m gonna dress my cut now, Xiao Yu''er." "Um... okay..." Gu Qingyu blushed and watched him open the closet, there was a shelf full of white bandages. "Do you use these...often?" Her brows furrowed. Ye Jin took a random roll of bandages and unrolled it as he replied half-heartedly. "Well, sometimes things happen, so..." Before he finished speaking, Gu Qingyu pressed herself against his back and hugged him from behind. "Xiao Yu''er..." Ye Jin''s hand gently covered her hand. She tried to stop herself from choking up. "You''re not...allowed to do this...not anymore. Take care of yourself, don''t risk your life like that." "Okay, I know." Ye Jin turned around and embraced her again. "I know, Xiao Yu''er." "Promise me." Gu Qingyu wiped the corner of her eyes. "I''ll help apply the medicine." "Sure." Ye Jin looked at her tenderly, watching her take the bandage from him. She wrapped the bandage around his hand, and finally finished the dressing with a lovely bow. Chapter 102: Let’s Not Sort the Whole Thing Out Chapter 102: Let''s Not Sort the Whole Thing Out Translated by: iris.knight "Come in." Ye Jin glanced at the door, and looked at Gu Qingyu again tenderly. Gu Qingyu was speechless. The door was pushed open, it was Crow, and he immediately knelt as soon as he entered the door: "King! It was a dereliction of duty! When your subordinate found Nightingale, she was dead." She frowned. "You mean, she felt bad for kidnapping a beautiful, kind and elegant person like me. It ate her up so much that she ended her own life?" Crow winced. "Queen, she was strangled." "That''s dramatic. Have you found who did it?" "...Not yet." Crow obviously sounded frustrated and disappointed. "Your subordinate has failed." "Forget it, you can leave now." Ye Jin glanced at Crow. "Yes!" Crow immediately got up, went out, and closed the door. Ye Jin turned and looked at Gu Qingyu, "Xiao Yu''er, shall we leave tomorrow morning?" "Yeah!" She nodded. "Go rest now, it''s getting late." Ye Jin looked out the window. "We still have to get up early tomorrow." "Okay. I''ll head back to my room, rest well." She looked at Ye Jin reluctantly. Ye Jin gave her another teasing smile. "Why, Xiao Yu''er can''t bear to leave me alone? You can stay here for the night, if you want to." "Meanie!" Gu Qingyu said blushing and retreated immediately. As soon as she left, Ye Jin''s face changed. His brows furrowed as his breath became laboured. "Still haven''t found the cure for the Frost Poison." He gritted his teeth and collapsed into his bed. "Damn it." On the way to her room, Gu Qingyu noticed someone with a white robe heading in her direction. "Mo Bai?" She smiled slightly. "It''s so late, why are you still up?" "Yu''er, are you okay?" Mo Bai was holding a lantern, his brows furrowed with concern. "I heard you were in danger, there''s no way I can sleep." His cheeks flushed slightly. Gu Qingyu felt a little embarrassed after hearing this. "Thank you, sorry to worry you, I''m fine, go to bed!" "I¡¯m still worried. I¡¯ll walk you back.¡± Mo Bai smiled warmly, the warm glow softened his features. "... Okay." Gu Qingyu nodded and walked forward without refusing. Mo Bai held the lamp and kept pace next to her. "Yu''er, are you hurt? Do you need me to help?" "I''m fine, but Ye Jin cut his hand instead." Gu Qingyu suddenly fell silent, her steps gradually slowed and she stopped. Mo Bai stopped next to her and asked. "What''s wrong, Yu''er?" Gu Qingyu nibbled on her lips, and after a long while, she finally asked, "Um... Mo Bai, do you have the Frost Lotus?¡± She noticed that something was off with Ye Jin before she left. Based on her calculations, it should be the Frost Poison. Mo Bai froze for a moment, then shook his head. "That can only be found on the Frozen Mountain. Ordinary people can''t reach it at all. Why, Xiao Yu''er, what do you want that to do? Is anyone...poisoned?" Gu Qingyu immediately lowered her head. "No, I just read about in the library. I thought you might know something more than what was written." "Well." Seeing Gu Qingyu''s room, Mo Bai smiled softly. "Then I''ll be off, Yu''er. Good night." "Well, good night." Gu Qingyu opened the door, waved at Mo Bai, and entered her room. As soon as she looked up, there was a red robe in the air. The man''s eyes were enchanting. Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes: "It''s scary, Master. I thought I saw a ghost." "Have you ever seen such a beautiful ghost?" Yan Zun floated to Gu Qingyu''s bed and laid down. He propped up his head with one hand, and his silken, dark hair tumbled over his shoulders. "Eh... Now that I think about it, I don''t think I''ve ever seen another ghost, other than you." Gu Qingyu rubbed her nose, walked over and sat at the edge of the bed. "Master, I''m going to sleep first." "OK, lie down." Yan Zun raised an eyebrow and made space for her. Gu Qingyu awkwardly slipped under the covers. "Master..." I don''t know if it may be because of Yan Ruhuo, Gu Qingyu will have an unnatural feeling every time she sees Yan Zun. Was it because something concealed her guilt? No, it''s impossible. "What''s wrong?" Yan Zun smiled. "My apprentice, your master has noticed that you have been a little... abnormal around your master lately." Gu Qingyu suddenly stiffened, and her brain spun quickly. Wait! If Yan Ruhuo is really Yan Zun, then he will know after hundreds of millions of years, he once talked to me! But looking at Yan Zun like this, he really doesn''t seem to know? So, who is Yan Ruhuo? "Master, I..." Gu Qingyu suddenly found the courage to face Yan Zun''s charming eyes. "I want to know your name." This was not just for the mystery surrounding Yan Ruhuo but because she genuinely wants to know Yan Zun''s name. She thought Yan Zun would be angry, but he smiled instead. "That''s because of this? I am very happy that you asked about my name. Remember, your master''s name is Yan Ruhuo." A pang hit her chest. He''s really Yan Ruhuo! So why doesn''t he remember that we¡¯ve met before? "Master..." Gu Qingyu suddenly felt tired, and she relaxed next to Yan Zun. "Do you know where my Spirit Gem came from?" "You mean the one you got after you became a white tiger?" Yan Zun''s narrow eyes smiled. "Ah, many years ago, your master used its powers to seal away the White Tiger. That was how you came across it." "Then..." Gu Qingyu thought for a while, but no words came to mind. She just nodded and closed her eyes gently. There''s always a solution to any problem. Who cares! Yan Zun did not disturb Gu Qingyu, he simply propped up his head with one hand and watched her quietly. The moonlight flooded the room. The next day, morning Gu Qingyu was awakened by an excited rapping on the door. She rolled over, still half-asleep. The rapping had given away the person¡¯s identity. "Come in." The door was pushed open, and Qi Wan walked in brisk steps. When he saw Gu Qingyu still lying in bed, he immediately ran over. "Boss, get up!" "Wa no!" Gu Qingyu said as she rolled away from him. "Boss, it''s time to go!" Qi Wan still didn''t give up. "No!" Gu Qingyu covered her head with the blanket. "Boss, then I''m gonna go down and finish your portion of the delicious breakfast!" She immediately sat up, glaring at Qi Wan. "I dare you!" Qi Wan smirked. "Boss, finally got up? Your hair is a mess, you know." Her face was indifferent as she cracked her knuckles. "Ah? Say it again?" "Boss..." Qi Wan swallowed weakly. "I didn''t say anything. Nothing, you didn''t hear anything." Gu Qingyu hmphed as she straightened her clothes. "Boss, would you like me to comb your hair?" Qi Wan watched her with a smile as she picked up a comb. She rolled her eyes. "Do you even know how?" "Why won''t I! Back in the day..." Qi Wan looked bold. "Back in the day, every morning you come to your daughter''s room and gently wake her up and help her tie a pair of twin plaits before she goes to school?" Gu Qingyu raised her eyebrow. Qi Wan rolled his eyes too. "Boss, just what are you thinking about every day?" "Think about something you didn''t expect!" Gu Qingyu handed out the comb. "Here." "Eh? You actually want me to tie your hair?" Qi Wan had an incredulous expression. "It''s okay if you don¡¯t want to.¡± She pouted and pulled her hand back, but Qi Wan took the comb in an instant. Gu Qingyu took her seat in front of the mirror and watched Qi Wan¡¯s reflection. He stood behind her, his dark green robe was warmed by the sunshine. His long fingers held the comb, and the comb moved slowly and delicately through her tresses, as if he was afraid of hurting her. In that moment her eyes stung, her vision blurred for a moment, and she reached up to rub her eyes. "What''s wrong with the boss? Did I hurt you?" Qi Wan''s hand stopped immediately, and he looked at Gu Qingyu in the mirror with concern. "No, no." She smiled, "Go ahead." Qi Wan continued to work with great interest: "Good! Boss, you can rest assured! Guaranteed to look better than twin tails!" Is that all? Gu Qingyu closed her eyes gently, allowing Qi Wan to style her hair in peace. It didn''t take long for Qi Wan''s confident voice to ring across the room. "Okay! Boss can open her eyes! Quick, praise me!" Gu Qingyu opened her eyes and looked at herself in the mirror. She thought Qi Wan would prank her with a weird hairstyle, but this time he combed his head seriously. Her hair was tied into a simple bun, it seemed ordinary, but it kept her hair out of her eyes. It was perfect for her. "Not bad..." Gu Qingyu was stunned. Qi Wan looked smug. "Of course! I''ve always thought you would look good in this hairstyle, ever since I''ve first met you!" Gu Qingyu was speechless. "It sounds that you have been yearning for my hair." "No! I''ve been yearning for you, Boss!" Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyan seriously. Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Come on, let''s go eat, I''m hungry." "Well, okay." Qi Wan smiled and opened the door for Gu Qingyu, a little lonely in his eyes. Do you still don''t believe me? Gu Qingyu walked out, Qi Wan followed Gu Qingyu, and she saw Ye Jin walking towards them. "Good morning, Xiao Zhezhe!" Gu Qingyu said with a smile. "Early, Xiao Yu''er." Ye Jin also smiled at evil spirits, and walked to Gu Qingyu''s side. "Let''s go have breakfast, I''ve already had someone pack the supplies for us." "Alright. Gu Qingyu nodded and walked side by side with Ye Jin. Right when they entered the dining hall, Mo Bai joined them from the other entrance. "Yu''er." Mo Bai smiled softly as he greeted her. Gu Qingyu nodded. Now, I wake up to handsome guys like this every morning! This is truly a reverse harem! Chapter 103: Scissors-Paper-Stone Chapter 103: Scissors-Paper-Stone Translated by: iris.knight They didn''t bring much with them, so there was not much to pack. "We''ll have to set sail again, there''s a small sea between here and Nanyou." Qi Wan mumbled to himself. Gu Qingyu looked up at Ye Jin. "Set sail?" "About that, you don''t have to worry at all, Xiao Yu''er." Ye Jin smiled, "I''ve already had someone prepare the ship." "Let''s go." Gu Qingyu nodded, but she caught someone at the corner of her eye. Crow approached the team with several horses in hand. This is so well prepared! Gu Qingyu almost moved to cry. "Xiao Zhezhe, this is fantastic!" "You''re that easily touched?" Ye Jin cast her a side-glance as he hopped onto the saddle. Qi Wan almost cried too, although it was from indignance. "Boss! This is the same as what I prepared too!" Gu Qingyu patted Qi Wan''s shoulder and tried to placate him. "Ah! It is a rarity from him, inevitable from you." Qi Wan had an unreadable expression. "Boss, am I too nice to you?" "Yes, but you can always be nicer!" Gu Qingyu replied cheerily as she saddled up. Ye Jin looked at Gu Qingyu and blinked, there was a warm glow in his eyes. "Xiao Yu''er, from now on, I will be even nicer to you." Gu Qingyu immediately blushed, lowered her head, and trotted away. Ye Jin glanced at Qi Wan and smiled. Qi Wan''s eyes turned cold as he turned his face away. He got onto his horse and caught up to Gu Qingyu. "Boss! Wait for me..." On the Road They passed through the plains, and with winter''s impending arrival, the winds were much colder. The sun was warm, but hardly enough to fend off the cold. Gu Qingyu shivered as she pulled her clothes closer to herself. "Here, Xiao Yu''er." Ye Jin took out a coat from his luggage and handed it to her. "I know you will be cold." "Thank you... Thank you..." She took it and wrapped the coat around her. "Alas, such cold dog biscuits smacking on my face!" Qi Wan shook his head with a sigh. "Brother Qi, do you want some?" "What? Sunflower seeds?" Qi Yichen took out a handful of seeds from his sleeve again. Gu Qingyu stared at the scholar with shock. "Brother Qi! Why does it look like you have a never-ending supply of sunflower seeds in your sleeves?" "You''re not wrong." Qi Yichen flipped his hair. "Sunflower seeds are a must-have for any form of traveling." "Not bad!" Gu Qingyu turned to Qi Wan. "How much longer till we get there?" "About an hour or so, it''s not too far away." Qi Wan looked into the distance, "Boss, do you want to play a game?" "What game?" Qi Yichen was a step ahead of Gu Qingyu. Qi Gan gestured to Qi Yichen. "Okay, this game is called ''scissors-paper-stone''." "Oh? And how do you play?" Qi Yichen''s face was full of excitement, and even Murong Zuoyu looked over curiously. "You play with three types of hand gestures, scissors, paper and stone." Gu Qingyu stretched her hand and showed them as she explained. Xiao Qi nodded solemnly. "It looks quite fun!" Ye Jin also smiled, but there was some sourness in his smile. This was probably another thing from their world. "Come on, let''s play in pairs first. Or it''s gonna be really chaotic, especially when all of us are on horseback." Gu Qingyu gathered everyone as she guided her horse to Xiao Qi''s side. Qi Yichen leaned close to Qi Wan with a goading smirk. "Come~ Young Brother Qi~" "Ah? You wanna play with me?" Qi Wan raised an eyebrow. "Brother Qi, has I told you that I have won the scissors-paper-stone championship for fifty consecutive years?" Gu Qingyu said with a sigh. "Gee, it only took one sentence for you to reveal your age!" Qi Wan had a blank look. Did I just say something that exposed my age? Oh, maybe I did... "You two go ahead, I''ll spectate." Gu Qingyu watched them curiously, she was more interested in how Qi Yichen and Qi Wan would bend the rules. Qi Yichen flicked open his fan and fanned himself. The big words on the fan were gone. "Shall we bet on something? It seems boring otherwise." "Ah ha! I was thinking of the same thing!" Qi Wan nodded with a grin. "Brother Q ~" Qi Yichen tensed under his strange grin. "What are you doing?" Qi Wan''s eyes narrowed as his grin widened and he leaned closer to Qi Yichen. "If you lose..." Qi Yichen''s ears suddenly turned red, and he leaned away from him. "What are you doing?" "You have to give me all of your sunflower seeds, ha ha ha ha!" Qi Wan settled back into his saddle with a hearty laugh. Qi Yichen exploded in an instant. "You XXX! If you lose, give me your fan!" Qi Wan was also obviously shocked. "What do you say? Say it again? Do you know how important that fan is to me?" "Then do you know the importance of sunflower seeds to me?" Qi Yichen also stared at Qi Wan with wide eyes. They then shook their heads in unison. "No idea!" Seeing that the two of them were about to fight again, Gu Qingyu immediately came out to ease the tension. "Okay, okay, just play and have fun, why are you two going with such big bets." She paused. "I''ll help you decide on a small bet, okay? Whoever loses would swim to Nanyou, how''s that?" Everyone was stunned by her proposition. Play and have fun? Set a small bet? Qi Yichen sulked. "I''ll bet on the sunflower seeds." Qi Wan winced. "I''ll offer up the fan." "Eh, don''t be like this, I''ve already said that you two don''t need to make things difficult for yourselves." Gu Qingyu frowned, "I can change the bet!" "Sure!" Qi Yichen nodded excitedly. Qi Wan, who knew just what Gu Qingyu was plotting, wanted to stop him. But the scholar was faster than he expected. So Qi Wan raised his head and threw a furtive glance in her direction. "Boss, I..." "Well, okay," Gu Qingyu cut him off. "Then it''s settled, whoever loses will run around the imperial city of Nanyou for three laps, in complete nude. And he has to shout the winner''s name as he runs... Hahahahahaha!" Her dastardly plan trailed off and turned into sinister laughter, as though she could already see the scene playing before her eyes. No matter who it is, the results would be glorious! "Brother Zhu, do you have to be so cruel..." Despair was written on Qi Yichen''s face. "Boss..." Qi Wan glared at Qi Yichen. This is all your fault, why did you agree to this? Qi Yichen pouted. How would I know this would happen? He strongly regretted going along with Gu Qingyu''s plan, and he regretted more for agreeing to play this silly game... "Come on!" Gu Qingyu cheered excitedly as she watched Qi Yichen and Qi Wan reluctantly extend their hands. "Scissors! Paper! Stone!" Qi Wan used paper, Qi Yichen used scissors. Qi Yichen held his chest with a mixture of relief, excitement and shock. "Wow ha ha ha... I won... Brother Zhu, did you see that? Ha ha... Ah... Oh, I can''t breathe... what..." He suddenly fell down, and planted headfirst into the ground. Gu Qingyu was speechless. Really? Is this necessary? Qi Wan sighed. "Brother Qi! Actually, there is a special way of playing here! Think about it yourself, you can gag and choke someone with a piece of paper, and the scissors could stab you to death, which is more painful?" Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan with eyes of admiration. I knew he would bend the rules! Such ingenuity! Qi Yichen suddenly jumped up onto Qi Wan''s horse. He pulled out a pair of scissors from his sleeve. "Painful? I''ll let you try and see which one is more painful!" Qi Wan whipped out his ribbons in retaliation. "Come on! Who''s scared of you!" Qi Wan''s horse frizzled at their shouting and tore ahead. Gu Qingyu watched and sighed as Qi Wan and Qi Yichen grew further and further away. Ye Jin and Mo Bai both winced and looked at each other. An elusive smile graced Ye Jin''s lips, it was charming and on the devious side, but the murderousness in his eyes was very strong. Mo Bai''s fingers rubbed his jade flute gently as his usual, gentle smile remained on his face, but that smile did not reach his eyes and hidden within those orbs were ruthless intent. In the eyes of unsuspecting spectators, it would look like they were about to go to war instead of playing scissors-paper-stone. Gu Qingyu turned to watch the two of them with a blank look. Are you two going to fight or are you two going to play? "You guys want to play too? What are you betting?" She asked out of curiosity. Mo Bai raised his head slightly and looked at Ye Jin. "Are you betting?" "No!" Ye Jin''s answer was very calm. He looked directly at Mo Bai''s eyes. "I can''t afford to lose anything right now!" Mo Bai''s eyes chilled and he trotted forward. Gu Qingyu''s confusion intensified as she watched Mo Bai leave. Finally, she shrugged helplessly, turned around and checked on Murong Zuoyu and Xiao Qi. The two of them had been fairly quiet the whole time. "Xiao Qi, Brother Murong, do you two want to...play?" They were already playing! And they were having the time of their lives! "I didn''t expect Brother Murong to be good at it." Xiao Qi looked very shy. Gu Qingyu stared at them as if she had seen a ghost. "How many rounds have you played?" "We started playing at the same time as Qi Wan and Brother Qi. Miss Xiao Qi was very impressive." Murong Zuoyu tugged the corner of his lips before he sent his horse into a canter and went ahead. Xiao Qi kept pace with him. Gu Qingyu turned to look at the only person staying with her in the same place. "Xiao Zhezhe, what were you two betting just now?" In her impression, whether it was "Ye Jin" or "Jia Qizhe", he always seemed free and bold in her eyes, it didn''t seem like there was anything he would not bet. Ye Jin raised his lips to a curve, he looked to be in a very good mood. "I''m not telling." "Tch, fine, keep it to yourself..." She pouted and went ahead. Ye Jin chuckled as he followed her. His laughter was like willow leaves in March, gently brushing against your skin in the warm spring sun. It teased her, tickling something deep in her chest. Chapter 104: Another Voyage Chapter 104: Another Voyage Translated by: iris.knight "Why didn¡¯t you continue?" Gu Qingyu slowly walked down and walked over. Qi Yichen moaned with tears in his eyes. "It''s really painful to use paper! I lost!" Gu Qingyu was instantly at a loss, and at the same time looked at Qi Wan. "Did you cruelly destroy the flowers of the motherland?" "No, boss! How could someone as kind as me destroy the flowers of the motherland? I would only hurt Qi Yichen!" Qi Wan spoke firmly. Gu Qingyu felt a sense of helplessness. "Tell me, what have you done?" "I really didn''t do anything..." Qi Wan looked helplessly, "I just grabbed a little ink in the nearby swamp and scribbled on his fan!" "I am Unparalleled?" Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan in doubt. Qi Wan took the fan in Qi Yichen''s hand and opened it. It wrote, "I am Invincible!" "This is okay." Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Yichen, surprised. "Why are you unhappy? Why is it so painful?" "I suddenly want the original words back! Do you know that until now, the wind from my fan still smelled of the rotting swamp!" Qi Yichen grabbed his fan from Qi Wan''s hand. Gu Qingyu gave Qi Yichen a sympathetic gaze, and then looked at Ye Jin. "Let''s go. Where''s the ship?" "Come with me." Ye Jin nodded and walked forward. Someone came from the shadows and took their horses away. Everyone walked with Ye Jin, and soon they came to a big ship. "Xiao Zhezhe," Gu Qingyu stared blankly at the ship. "Do you have to be so...wasteful?" She searched hard in her mind for a most apt description. "Huh? Is this wasteful?" Ye Jin asked, looking at Gu Qingyu with a puzzled look. Even "extravagant" would belittle the ship''s grandeur. It was truly a sight that could not be described with mere words... "Let''s go." Gu Qingyu nodded and boarded the ship with Ye Chen. The others followed behind Gu Qingyu, each with their own thoughts. The crew took their respective positions, and the ship set sail! They also took everyone to their respective rooms, leaving Gu Qingyu alone, leaning against the railing on the ship. Gu Qingyu supported her chin with a hand, looked at the distant beach, feeling a bit wistful. When was the last time we went to sea? It always felt so long ago. How should I describe this? Is it the reassurance that all is well, despite everything disastrous that happened? Or is it the jubilation that we''re about to face the unknown, with all its challenges? Maybe I''ve begun to love this kind of adventure? An adventure where everyone goes through thick and thin together. Xie Zang should have finally cured his sister¡¯s illness... They should be travelling the world together right now, I guess? Will he, at least, occasionally remember the time that he once adventured with me? He approached me for the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny at first, but in the end, didn''t we become friends? Gu Qingyu let out a gentle sigh, and suddenly someone patted her left shoulder and she jumped. She whipped back instinctively, but there was no one on her left. Qi Wan''s voice rang in her right ear. "Hey! Boss!" Gu Qingyu patted her chest and tried to calm her pounding heart. "Hey! You scared me! I thought I saw a ghost..." "You never saw one before?" Qi Wan looked at her with a scornful look, "Aren''t you one yourself?" "Scram!" She shouted mercilessly. Qi Wan copied her and leaned against the railing beside her: "What''s wrong, Boss, in a bad mood?" "Not really, I just can''t describe what I feel..." Gu Qingyu looked into the distance, but the coast was no longer visible. "Ah, I actually feel the same way." Qi Wan followed her eyes and stared at the horizon. "I¡¯m looking forward to a new adventure, but I¡¯m also afraid of losing you." She tore her eyes from the horizon and stared at Qi Wan instead. It is truly a wonderful world, to think that there is a person who will know what you are thinking in your heart without you having any words, and feel the same feeling as you. No need to show anything, he doesn''t even need to look into your eyes. All he needs to do is to stand beside you, and he could read your mind in an instant. Between you two, there is an understanding that goes deep into your bones. "What, my guess is right?" Qi Wan smiled, his eyebrows curled, his eyes narrowed into half-moons. Qi Wan''s smile was always sunny, without any impurities, not as charming as Ye Jin, nor as gentle as Mo Bai. But there was always something left unspoken in his smile. It¡¯s like a smile from the boy you grew up, as he tried to show you a different side of him, the best side he had to offer. "Well, yeah, you guessed right." Gu Qingyu also smiled, "Well done." "Thank you for the compliment." Qi Wan brushed the loose hair that framed his face. "Is there a kind of excitement and joy of finding your soulmate?" "Yeah... Go away!" Gu Qingyu immediately realized what he was saying, waving her hands as if to chase away a fly. "What soulmate!" Qi Wan laughed. "Boss, you are so cute!" "Cute?" Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan with a blank expression. She gently lifted up her sleeves and toyed with her crossbow sleeve. "I give you a chance to rephrase that." "Boss, calm down..." Qi Wan''s eyes widened immediately. "Actually, this trip will take about three days. Do you think Murong Qize will return, with a vengeance?" "Oh? Are you talking about that ''legendary being''?" Gu Qingyu tilted her head, "Yeah, I know, he¡¯s next to you right now, and looking at you with a strange curl in his lips." Qi Wan immediately looked sideways and turned back when he saw nothing. "It''s scary, Boss! Please don''t tell ghost stories, okay?" "What are you afraid of, aren''t you a ghost yourself?" Gu Qingyu sneered with the same tone Qi Wan used before. Qi Wan rolled his eyes. "Boss, you really don''t want to lose any arguments." "Correct!" Gu Qingyu smiled. "It''s best to not lose any arguments at all! But especially when against you!" "Tch." Qi Wan pretended to faint at that reply. But Qi Wan''s words reminded Gu Qingyu. According to Ye Jin, Murong Qize was successfully assassinated by his men, but she was not worried about this, but... The man who claimed to be "Xuan Di". He seemed to control electricity. Electricity is a natural element... and his magic was so powerful that for the first time, Gu Qingyu felt powerless. It seemed that in front of him, everything couldn¡¯t help but bow before him, everyone were just his supporting actors. "Why, boss, still unhappy? Is something wrong?" Qi Wan couldn''t help asking when he noticed her pensiveness. She hesitated, and finally broke the silence."Remember the last time I was caught?" "Yes, I do." Qi Wan nodded. "It wasn''t Murong Qize? True, it would be impossible for him to steal you in front of so many of us." "Yes," Gu Qingyu said and nodded. "It''s a person who calls himself Xuan Di." "Xuan Di?" Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyu in doubt. "Yes, he is very powerful. In front of him, I couldn¡¯t move at all," Gu Qingyu lowered her eyes. "In front of him, I only have a sense of powerlessness, even struggling was in vain. I wanted to escape, but it felt delusional." "Boss..." Qi Wan suddenly turned and embraced Gu Qingyu, "I''m sorry." "You don''t need to apologize." Gu Qingyu patted Qi Wan''s back comfortably. "No, obviously when I saw you from the beginning, I made up my mind to protect your..." Qi Wan immediately interrupted Gu Qingyu''s words, "I always thought I was strong, but I saw people like Ye Jin, Mo Bai, and Xie Zang. I feel that I am too weak and have always wanted to become stronger... Otherwise, I won''t be qualified to stay by your side. " Gu Qingyu frowned, "What are you talking about, you know? You are very strong, so I was motivated to continually hone myself.... I always wanted to say thank you, Qi Wan." Qi Wan pursed his lips and said nothing. At this moment, they listened to each other''s heartbeat.The world suddenly became so quiet that the only thing that could be heard was their heartbeats. Thump, thump. Powerful, like the only thing to depend on. Isn''t the other person who knows you best? The person closest to your heart is not necessarily a loved one or a lover. Nothing can describe this bond that goes deeper than family and love. "What are you doing?" Suddenly a cool voice came. Gu Qingyu was shocked, and immediately trembled to release Qi Wan. "Xiao Zhezhe!" Qi Wan lowered his eyes, concealing the complex emotions in his eyes, and pretended to smile indifferently. "Boss, we have been caught red handed, what should we do?" Hearing this, Ye Jin''s cold eyes hardened. "Catch what, you traitor!" Gu Qingyu stared at Qi Wan fiercely, "Don''t make it worse!" "Eh? Am I not telling the truth?" Qi Wan looked at the sky and then looked at the ground, and finally looked at Ye Jin''s murderous eyes before he turned around. "Ahahaha! Boss, have a good chat, I will take my leave. Hahaha..." Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan desperately as he walked further and further, then swallowed hard and turned her head to look at Ye Jin. "Um, Xiao Zhezhe, listen to me..." "Yes, you should explain." Ye Jin smiled angrily. "If you can''t give a satisfactory explanation, you can work on your will, for him.¡± Qi Wan, who was far away, shuddered immediately as a sudden chill went down his spine. Gu Qingyu said with a laugh. "We... we are just... um..." What would be good here... Ye Jin suddenly came over in a stride, picked Gu Qingyu up in his arms and together, the pair left the deck. "Eh, Xiao Zhezhe... Xiao Zhezhe, it''s my fault, please calm down... Xiao Zhezhe, walk slower... Where are we going..." Chapter 105: Jealousy Chapter 105: Jealousy Translated by: iris.knight "Xiao Zhezhe, calm down..." Gu Qingyu swallowed nervously. "Xiao Yu''er, you know I''m on this ship. So why did you act so intimate with him?" Ye Jin placed her at the edge of his bed, anger and frustration was written all over his face. "I was wrong..." She could bury herself in the ground. He grabbed a chair and sat across her. "What did you do that was wrong?" ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have hugged Qi Wan when you¡¯re on the ship... " Gu Qingyu lowered her head. The temperature around them plummeted. "When I¡¯m on the ship? With Qi Wan?" Ye Jin huffed at her response. "So Xiao Yu''er, you mean that if I''m not around, then you can hug and be all intimate with other men?" "No, no, no! That''s not what I meant!" Gu Qingyu immediately looked up. God! What have I said! "No?" Ye Jin''s lips were curled, he seemed to be smiling, but he still looked angry. "Xiao Zhezhe, just calm down..." She was grasping at straws. It¡¯s already bad when women get jealous, but that is nothing compared to when a man is jealous. But even then, that¡¯s nowhere near comparable to when Ye Jin is jealous! That¡¯s practically the end of the universe! Ye Jin nodded with a smirk. "How are you going to make up to me?" "Um..." She gulped before asking tentatively, "How do you want me to make up to you?" The smirk on his lip grew into a full smile. Then, he closed the distance between them as he crashed his lips against hers. Her eyes widened in surprise before they fluttered close. His lips were forceful and insistent at first, but it gradually slowed and softened as they pushed and pulled. It was akin to a sudden thunderstorm that eased to a comforting drizzle. His hand reached up and gently cupped her cheek. She relaxed into his touch, his hand was as warm as her burning cheeks. He tilted her head and deepened the kiss. Her left hand crawled up his neck while her right hand settled against his chest. She pulled him towards her and they fell back against the bed. Her fingers tangled in his long locks as he shifted above her, taking care to not press her hair. "Xiao Yu''er..." Between breaths, her name slipped from his lips in a husky whisper and she answered with a soft, breathy moan. Bang! Bang! Bang! A loud noise at the door broke the spell. Gu Qingyu almost jumped at the sound. Then, she recovered from her shock and tried to push him away. Ye Jin was frowning at the noise as he stopped and closed his eyes. "Xiao Zhezhe?" She asked cautiously. "Shh." He held her gently. "Don''t move." The banging on the door got louder, Qi Wan¡¯s voice added to the cacophony. "Boss... Are you there, Boss? Boss! Ye Jin! I¡¯m gonna kick this door down if you don¡¯t open it in 3, 2..." Ye Jin suddenly got up and Gu Qingyu sat up. She watched as he walked over and yanked the door open. Qi Wan''s stunned face appeared at the door. He flinched before he quickly scanned the room and found Gu Qingyu. "Boss! Are you okay?" "I..." Gu Qingyu looked up at him. "I''m fine..." "Boss, I just figured it out! This is both our fault! I can''t let you take all the blame!" Qi Wan immediately bowed to her. His words rendered her speechless. She looked up, Ye Jin''s face darkened again. She wanted to cry. You''re fueling the fire, boy! Qi Wan looked at Ye Jin with a serious look. ¡°Although, to be totally honest, I don¡¯t think either of us are at fault!" Ye Jin couldn¡¯t care less about him, he walked directly to Gu Qingyu and sat down next to her. "Er... Qi Wan, you can go." Gu Qingyu waved weakly at Qi Wan. Obviously, Ye Jin cannot and should not be angered any further. Qi Wan shot Gu Qingyu with a worried look, before he stole a glance at Ye Jin. ¡°Boss, is everything okay?" "Yes..." She nodded. Qi Wan then left the room reluctantly. "Then, Xiao Zhezhe..." Gu Qingyu carefully looked at Ye Jin. "You...are you... alright?" "Xiao Yu''er, do you think I¡¯m fine?" Ye Jin looked at Gu Qingyu with a smile. "I''m sorry, Xiao Zhezhe." She reached over and touched his hand hesitantly. In an instant, her hand was wrapped in his, and their fingers intertwined. "Xiao Zhezhe, it¡¯s all my fault." Gu Qingyu lowered her head. Ye Jin held a soft gaze in his eyes as he looked at her. "Xiao Yu''er, do you think I will be angry with you?" Gu Qingyu felt guilty when she thought about it. For her sake, Ye Jin tossed aside his sister and his powerful subordinates who had been loyal to him for many years. He gave them to her and allowed her to do whatever she wanted, but she...Even now, he still said that he was not angry with her. "I shouldn''t have hugged Qi Wan, I shouldn''t have made you angry, I shouldn''t..." The more she mulled over her guilt, the more words spilled out of her mouth. Soon, tears followed her words and she sobbed. Ye Jin was taken aback by her tears, and he immediately wrapped his arms around her. "Don''t cry, Xiao Yu''er. I¡¯m sorry, please, don¡¯t cry." "Wah! You are so pitiful, Xiao Zhezhe!" She wailed and cried even more. Ye Jin was speechless. Are you actually crying for me, Xiao Yu''er? Gu Qingyu cried till she got tired and fell asleep in his arms. Ye Jin looked at the damp spot on his chest with a defeated smile. He ran his fingers along her hair, then gently tucked her into bed. He saw a wisp of red smoke in the air and the corners of his lips curled. "What, have you lost your patience, Yan Zun?" "Ye Jin, I¡¯m warning you," Yan Zun''s voice came, mixed with ruthlessness and anger. ¡°Do not touch my people." "Then I do want to see how Yan Zun backs those words up." Ye Jin laughed nonchalantly. After that, the red smoke disappeared. Before Ye Jin could leave, sharp pain surged through his body. It was the Frost Poison, again. He gritted his teeth, and collapsed onto the bed. Gu Qingyu woke up in a daze, and stared up at the ceiling. The bed seemed to be swaying a little, why? Oh right, I¡¯m on a ship now. I was crying in Ye Jin¡¯s arms... and, by the look of things, I fell asleep. She rolled over, and she was suddenly staring at Ye Jin¡¯s face. They were so close that her nose almost brushed against him. Even when he was asleep, he was so enchanted and enchanting, as if capturing her soul. She couldn''t help reaching out and pinched his face gently. Wow! It''s actually pretty soft! His features remained still, it seemed like he was still fast asleep. So she continued her ministrations and caressed his surprisingly soft cheeks. Just as she sighed, Ye Jin mumbled dreamily, "Xiao Yu''er, does it feel good?" She flinched and looked up, her gaze met with Ye Jin''s beautiful eyes. Her hand stopped stiffly on Ye Jin''s face, not knowing whether she should continue or put it down. Gu Qingyu gulped. I actually do want to stroke his face a few more times... Before she could react, she was pressed into his chest. Her hands were gently held by him and his enchanting voice came from above her head. "Xiao Yu''er, if you like, you can touch it anytime. Colour burst across her face. "Xiao Zhezhe..." "Yes?" "I-I''m hungry!" Gu Qingyu stuttered. "Okay, let''s go for lunch." Ye Jin smiled and got up, the thick blanket slipped down his body, and his smooth hair fell down like a waterfall and gently swept across her face, making her feel even more flustered. His collar was slightly open, revealing the contours along the base of his neck and his collarbone. "Why, Xiao Yu''er?" Ye Jin asked with a smile, "Stunned by my good looks?" "Don''t talk nonsense!" Gu Qingyu said with a blush and immediately got up to straighten her clothes. Gu Qingyu and Ye Jin walked out the room together, Xiao Qi was standing at the door. "Xiao Qi?" Gu Qingyu was stunned. "What''s wrong?" "Xiao Yu, I, I, I came to call you to eat..." Xiao Qi''s face was flushed, she lowered her head and stuttered, "I-It''s already a-a-afternoon." It''s already afternoon? No wonder I am so hungry... "Oh, okay." Gu Qingyu nodded. "Thank you!" "Come on, Xiao Yu''er." Ye Jin beckoned with a smile. Gu Qingyu nodded and took Xiao Qi''s hand. "Come, Xiao Qi, let''s go together!" "Eh... Xiao Yu..." Xiao Qi raised her head, barely keeping up with Gu Qingyu. After lunch Gu Qingyu and Ye Jin parted ways and she went for a walk with Xiao Yu on the deck. Along the way, Xiao Qi''s face was still red. Gu Qingyu wondered, but did not ask much. Finally, after Xiao Qi glanced at Gu Qingyu for a few times, she stuttered, "Xiao, Xiao Yu..." "Huh?" Gu Qingyu turned to look at Xiao Qi. "That...um...I..." "Spit it out, no need to be so lady-like around me!" Gu Qingyu said readily. Being lady-like? Xiao Qi twitched her lips, and she was no longer restrained. She asked boldly, despite her flushed face. "Xiao Yu, have you two done the deed?" "We? What''s the matter..." Gu Qingyu murmured doubtfully before she realized that she was referring to herself and Ye Jin. "Oh! That''s the... oh!" Xiao Qi stomped, when she was about to reply, Gu Qingyu smacked her head lightly. "What''s in your head every day? What happened to being a pure and lovely lady?" Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. Xiao Qi retorted with a pout. "Xiao Yu, you told me not to pretend to be a lady!" "Ladies should keep their image at the right times!" Gu Qingyu flicked Xiao Qi''s forehead again and walked forward. Xiao Qi immediately followed, eager to hear more gossip. "So did you two..." "No." Gu Qingyu replied immediately, also feeling a blush creep up her face. Xiao Qi''s face immediately showed a disappointed expression. "Oh, and I waited so long..." "What did you just say?" Gu Qingyu turned around. "Wait?" "Well," Xiao Qi nodded. "I wanted to call you for lunch but I was afraid to disturb you two hahaha..." "Xiao Qi, I think it''s better for you to pretend to be a lady." Gu Qingyu sighed as she looked up. Murong Zuoyu was walking towards them. He was dressed in a purple robe, his sword hanging on his waist. His hair was a little tousled by the sea breeze, but it better reflected his indifference and decisiveness. Arrogant, cold, elegant; Dressed in purple; A sword that slashed through the heavens. "Brother Murong!" Gu Qingyu said with a smile. Murong Zuoyu nodded in response. He walked to Gu Qingyu''s side. "Brother Zhu, I have something to discuss with you alone." Chapter 106: Sinking Chapter 106: Sinking Translated by: iris.knight Murong Zuoyu nodded slightly. "I wonder if Brother Zhu knew Murong Qize was killed?" "I..." She looked at the horizon in the distance with a guilty conscience. Should I tell him the truth? He remained silent for a while, and then slowly spoke. "Brother Zhu, was Ye Jin behind it?" She raised her head to look at Murong Zuoyu''s eyes. His eyes were honest, with their usual coldness. "Yes, Brother Murong, I don''t want to hide it from you." She gave a frank nod. He sighed softly, there was no trace of anger, which was not what she had imagined. "What''s the matter, Brother Murong?" She frowned. After all, Murong Zuoyu sighed for the first time. What could make him sigh? "There is someone behind him, you need to be more careful." He looked at her, his eyes deadly serious, "I can''t find the real identity or details of that man, I just know that he is very strong. Brother Zhu, please be careful. " Gu Qingyu felt her heart stirred from the concern. "Hmm!" She feigned a relaxed smile. "Aren''t you also with me?" "Brother Zhu, I will protect you." He had a solemn look in his eyes, he was making a promise to her. "Thanks." She also nodded. He gave a faint smile and walked away. His smile is beautiful. Gu Qingyu stared dumbly as Murong Zuoyu left. Suddenly, she smelled a faint fragrance mixed with herbal scent. She followed the scent and turned back, Mo Bai was standing behind her, watching her with his gentle eyes. "Mo Bai?" Gu Qingyu was startled. "When did you show up?" "Did I scare you? Sorry, Yu''er." Mo Bai said softly. "Ah, it''s okay, what''s wrong?" She smiled back. "Yu''er, I have found the Frost Lotus you mentioned." He smiled like a child waiting for compliments. "What? Really? Where?" She exclaimed and immediately asked. "In addition to the Frozen Mountain, there are also some in Nanyou." Mo Bai said with a smile. Gu Qingyu nodded and bowed. "Thank you, Doctor Mo! This lady can not possibly repay this great grace and great virtue!" "It is a great grace, huh..." Mo Bai''s eyes darkened, and then he looked at her and smiled gently. "If you can''t repay me with money, you can pay me with your love instead." Gu Qingyu raised her head and looked at him, and saw that there was nothing but a smile in his eyes, so she played it off like a joke. "Okay! We can skip all the trouble by having you married to me, but do give me a big dowry!" Mo Bai laughed, "Yu''er..." Before he could finish his sentence, they heard Qi Yichen''s roar in the distance. "Qi Wan you bastard! Give me back my fan!" Gu Qingyu looked in the direction of the sound, then shook her head helplessly. "Ah, the two kids are at it again!" Mo Bai gave Gu Qingyu a puzzled look. "Kids?" ¡°Technically, they¡¯re more like brats" Gu Qingyu nodded, satisfied with her explanation. And then she dragged along Mo Bai by his sleeve. "Come, let''s go check it out!" "Okay." Mo Bai''s eyes were stained with a little smile, and he walked forward with Gu Qingyu. Arriving at the "playground" of the two "brats", Gu Qingyu saw Qi Yichen and Qi Wan sitting side by side, one was in green, the other was in white. They were both sitting with their legs raised, munching on sunflower seeds. "Can I ask how you two reconciled this time?" Gu Qingyu eyed them curiously. Qi Wan spat out some husks, then nudged Qi Yichen with his elbow. Qi Yichen also spat out a seed husk. The two of them each took out a fan from their sleeves at the same time, and opened them together in synchronisation. I am Unparalleled! I am Invincible! "I¡¯ve only realised this just now, but we are really like family. So why must we fight so hard?" Qi Wan sighed, waving his fan. "It''s too hard!" Qi Yichen also sighed, waving his own fan. Suddenly, his movements stiffened in the air. Gu Qingyu looked at him with concern. "What''s wrong with you?" Qi Yichen''s face slowly turned white, and then he bent over and gagged. "The horrid stench from this fan is still very strong!" Qi Wan forced a smile and fanned the wind, pretending to be indifferent. "Are thy a fool? This scent is no foul smell! Thy merely need to see things with a closer eye." Qi Yichen was taken aback for a moment, and then quickly answered. "Thy should take the first sniff, to see the truth of my words." "Thy are a big fool, big fool, big fool! Important things must be repeated three times!" Qi Wan fanned himself. Qi Yichen''s complexion changed, tossing his fan and pounced on Qi Wan. "You¡¯re the fool!" Gu Qingyu silently watched these two "brats" start to "play" again and rolled her eyes. "Mo Bai, do you have some sunflower seeds? Also, a small bench." "...What''s the use?" Mo Bai looked at Gu Qingyu sceptically, but probably already knew in his heart. "To watch the show! Don''t you think the days at sea are too boring?" Gu Qingyu stared at Mo Bai matter-of-factly and at the same time, actually moved a small bench over from somewhere. After setting up the seats, she took out some sunflower seeds from her sleeve, sat on the small bench and patted the space beside her. "Come! Don''t be shy! Take a seat!" Can I say no? However, it was not possible, Mo Bai smiled indifferently, gently brushed his sleeve, and also bent down to sit down. Gu Qingyu nodded in satisfaction, took out a melon seed to eat, and handed some to Mo Bai. Can I not take it? However, it was not possible, Mo Bai smiled indifferently, stretched out his fair-white hands, and took over the seeds in Gu Qingyu''s hands. Gu Qingyu nodded with satisfaction, and at the same time stooped down to pick up Qi Wan and Qi Yichen''s fans on the ground and handed one to Mo Bai. Can I leave? However, it was not possible, Mo Bai smiled gently and took the fan gracefully. Gu Qingyu nodded in satisfaction, while munching the seeds, she opened the fan to fan herself, and at the same time signaled Mo Bai to do the same. Mo Bai finally replied, "No." Gu Qingyu raised her head with a smile on her face. "And here I was thinking that you''re a bit weird today." "...What''s weird?" Mo Bai looked at Gu Qingyu''s eyes, with a gentle smile of his own. "Um, never mind." Gu Qingyu took the fan in Mo Bai''s hand and wanted to get the seeds back too, but Mo Bai''s palm closed. "What''s wrong? Pass them back, I did go too far." Gu Qingyu reached out her hand. "No, Yu''er." Mo Bai curled his lips, "I want them now." Did I hear correctly?! He...wants them now? She did not push any further, withdrew her hand, and continued munching her handful of seeds. The pair watched Qi Yichen and Qi Wan wrestle and roll on the ship¡¯s deck. "How long do you want to play?" Gu Qingyu called out to them. "Never!" Qi Yichen roared. "You''re wrong!" Qi Wan immediately strangled his neck. "Till one of us dies!" Gu Qingyu grimaced and felt a little bored, so she got up and put away the small bench. Mo Bai also stood up, copying her. Gu Qingyu looked at Mo Bai, and then Qi Wan. "Mo Bai, walk with me." "Sure." Mo Bai smiled softly. They strolled on the deck. The oncoming sea breeze set them in good spirits but it was a little cold on the skin. Suddenly, the ship began to shake. Gu Qingyu was shocked, and immediately grabbed the side railing, while Mo Bai stretched out his hand and supported her. "What''s going on?" Gu Qingyu frowned and raised her head, then she spotted a sailor in a black robe running over to them. "Ma''am, Sir, the ship is sinking due to some unknown problem, please get on the escape raft as soon as possible!" Gu Qingyu shook her head. "What about the others?" "Leader Ye is looking into the cause. The others are also rushing to the escape raft, and we urge you two to do the same as soon as possible." The sailor bowed. Gu Qingyu asked anxiously, "Where is he? I''m going to find him." "The leader said that the madam should rest assured, he would join her soon." The sailor''s humble attitude directly ignored Mo Bai¡¯s whitening pupils as he remained behind Gu Qingyu. "Yu''er, let''s go." Mo Bai closed his eyes gently and opened it again, with its normal colour. "Remember just who Ye Jin is." Gu Qingyu nodded. Yeah, Ye Jin is no mere mortal, with incredible powers. Despite knowing all this, I couldn''t help but worry. They followed the sailor and soon came to the other side of the ship. Murong Zuoyu, Qi Yichen, Qi Wan and Xiao Qi were already there, waiting for them. The shaking had stopped a while ago, but they could feel the ship slowly sinking. Gu Qingyu immediately turned back and looked at the sailor. "What about Ye Jin?" "The leader asks you to go first." The sailor lowered his head without saying anything more. "Boss, let''s go first," Qi Wan frowned when he saw Gu Qingyu. "He must not want you to stay in danger, but if you stay, he would worry more. If you really must stay, I will stay in your stead!" Gu Qingyu suddenly raised her head, seeing the resolve on Qi Wan''s face. He was not joking at all. Xiao Qi also looked at Qi Wan. She was amazed, and finally, she slowly lowered her head. "Okay, let''s go." Gu Qingyu glanced back at the ship worriedly, gritted her teeth in determination. Qi Wan was right, not only would she not be able to help by staying, but it might also drag Ye Jin down, but... "Can''t you use your wings?" She asked Qi Wan anxiously. Qi Wan laughed dryly. "Boss, do you think anyone can fly?" Chapter 107: True Colours Chapter 107: True Colours Translated by: iris.knight Gu Qingyu gritted her teeth and followed everyone else to board the escape raft. But after everyone else had boarded, she stopped again. "Brother Zhu, come on board quickly." Even Qi Yichen became anxious. "Well, okay." Gu Qingyu said, but she remained rooted. A sudden urge to run back swept over her and she turned back. But before she could move, the floor beneath her feet shook and a large crack opened up. Water gushed through the cracks, sending chills down her spine. "Boss!" Qi Wan frowned, and wanted to pull Gu Qingyu onboard, but even the escape raft was sinking. "What''s the matter?" Gu Qingyu asked, shocked. "I don''t know, it seemed to be bound by something..." Murong Zuoyu frowned as he tried to plan what to do next. Gu Qingyu immediately used the railing as support to keep a firm footing. "Everyone! Can you use your wings?" "Yes." Mo Bai nodded. "I''ll take Qi Yichen." Qi Wan also opened his mouth, and at the same time he looked at Qi Yichen with a smile. "Are you moved, Brother Qi?" "Well, moved to death." Qi Yichen rolled his eyes. Murong Zuoyu thought a little. "Then I will bring Miss Xiao Qi." "Thank you, Mister Murong." Xiao Qi nodded. Gu Qingyu nodded, and everyone spread their wings and flew into the sky at the same time. She tried to summon her wings as well, but a sharp pain pierced through her right shoulder. Her left hand clasped over her shoulder in pain, and she nearly lost her balance. In the nick of time, she grabbed the railing and kept herself upright. By then, the water had reached her knees. "Yu''er!" Mo Bai immediately landed and grabbed Gu Qingyu, and at the same time, a wave crashed over the ship. The ship had sunk completely. "Boss!" Qi Wan shouted as he lost sight of her. He wanted to dive into the water, but there was another wave coming towards him. He hoisted Qi Yichen further into the air and they somehow managed to remain in the air. The wave grazed Qi Yichen and he was completely drenched, even his hair was dripping. That did not bother him in the slightest as he yelled. "Damn it! Brother Zhu!" "Then Mister Mo is also..." Xiao Qi frowned, wanted to continue, but saw the seas swell and rolled. Right then, they spotted a white robe floating in the air. Mo Bai held the unconscious Gu Qingyu. The tip of his boots lightly touched the sea, his white robe flaying in the storm. "Mister Mo?" Xiao Qi was shocked, but heard a cold sneer from Qi Wan. "I knew something was wrong with you for a long time. Are you finally showing your true colours?" Qi Wan¡¯s grip tightened, Qi Yichen could feel his rage. Mo Bai chuckled, ever so gentle, his white robe danced with the sea breeze, his black hair fanned out behind him, giving him an air of divinity. "What, you have nothing to say?" Qi Wan got closer, his ribbons fell out from his sleeves and surrounded him as he got ready for battle. Mo Bai raised his head, looked at Qi Wan and murmured something. Suddenly, a giant wave emerged behind him. Qi Wan could only hear Mo Bai''s voice mixed with the sound of waves reverberating through the air as he commanded the waves. "Oh, this is the power of a Spirit Gem!" Qi Yichen frowned and folded his fan. "Run." Murong Zuoyu also turned his head. "This is his territory." "But Ye Jin..." Qi Wan cast a look at where the ship was sunk. After a while, he let out a growl and escaped. Mo Bai watched them fly away as his lips curled into a beautiful arc. His mood seemed especially good. His smile was still warm and soft, but there was something else mixed in that smile. He glanced at the girl in his arms, her eyes still closed, her brows furrowed. He reached up to rub away the tension between her brows, but his hand stopped, his fingers barely brushed against her. Are you still worried about Ye Jin? His eyes turned cold, he lifted his white robe and turned around. The sea beneath them had calmed. His white robe brushed against the water surface as he landed softly on the endless mirror, and a soft ripple swept across the surface. A single line separated the clear sky and the sea, as a man walked on water with white wings folded against his back. In his arms was a girl in a pink dress. The sea glistened and sparkled under the warm sun as he walked towards the horizon. They were only out at sea for half a day, so Qi Wan and the others quickly arrived on the coast. His eyes were slightly red as he punched into the sand, his fist was buried by the sand. "Damn!" Qi Yichen stood by and looked at him, his eyes full of worry, but he remained silent. Murong Zuoyu sighed. "Find a way to go to Nanyou first. We can discuss more there." "It¡¯s the only thing we can do now," Qi Yichen nodded. "But Ye Jin is..." "Ye Jin will not die so easily." Qi Wan suddenly stood up. "The people she chose will not be so useless. Let''s go." "Yes! We must rescue Xiao Yu!" Xiao Qi nodded, her eyes were red too. "I will return to Dongxuan," Murong Zuoyu paused. "To bring troops." "Thank you." Qi Wan gave him a strained smile. "No need, saving Brother Zhu is the right thing to do." Murong Zuoyu''s hand settled on the hilt of his sword out of habit and he spread his huge wings. "I''ll take my leave." "Safe travels." Qi Wan nodded. Qi Yichen took out his fan and fanned himself. "Ah, then I''ll go back to Xiqian and bring some troops too." "I... I''ll go to the Beiying Kingdom to ask my brother to pitch in." Xiao Qi clenched her fists. Qi Wan was stunned speechless. This is the feeling of having overpowered teammates! After a while, he nodded. "Then I will go to Nanyou first. Take care, all of you. We''ll rendezvous in three days." "Good." Murong Zuoyu nodded, flapped his wings and flew away. Qi Yichen sighed. "Miss Xiao Qi, let''s go to see if there is a horse nearby!" "Okay." Xiao Qi nodded and looked at Qi Wan again. "Qi Wan, take care." Qi Yichen patted Qi Wan''s shoulder and pursed his lips. Qi Wan''s lips barely twitched. He turned around, spread his wings, and flew towards the ocean. "Let''s go." Watching Qi Wan go away, Qi Yichen snapped his fingers. "Hurry up." "Do we need to contact Ye?" Xiao Qi blinked. "Ah," Qi Yichen curled his lips, "Ye Jin shouldn''t be that useless." Xiao Qi nodded, not very sure what he meant, and left with Qi Yichen. At the same time, a cloud slowly appeared above the sea. In the center of the sea, a whirlpool slowly formed. A man in a blue robe stood in the middle of the whirlpool. Bloodthirsty rage swallowed his enchanting eyes. A group of people in black surrounded him, all of them bowed respectfully. ¡°King!¡± "I command you to capture Nanyou within three days." The voice was filled with an evil charm, an unique cruelty and a bone-chilling coldness. "Yes!" Qi Wan glanced at the changing clouds, he understood something and smiled. Ye Jin, since you can''t protect her well, then let me do it. Sorry, Boss, I have put you in danger again. But don¡¯t you worry, just wait for me. Meanwhile Cold. So cold. Everywhere feels cold. My limbs are so heavy, I think-I think I¡¯m sinking. I can¡¯t breathe, water was rushing into my lungs. Someone was here. They wrapped their arms around me, and pulled. All of a sudden, I could breathe again. Was that Qi Wan¡¯s voice? He sounds so far away...I can¡¯t make out what he¡¯s saying, but he sounds... angry. Everything turned into a blur. I could hear him again, and this time, it was crystal clear. "Wait for me." Ye Jin... Where is he? He¡¯s so powerful, is he okay? And everyone else, Mo Bai, Murong Zuoyu, Xiao Qi, Qi Yichen, and Qi Wan. Suddenly, in the endless darkness, there was a faint red light. A man in a red robe held a kerosene lamp in his hand, and his smile was devious. "Why, you forgot your master?" Yan Zun tilted his head slightly. Gu Qingyu woke up with a shock. "Master!" There was a red world in front of her. Yan Zun nodded. "Ah, you seemed to gotten in some serious trouble, stupid apprentice." "Serious trouble?" Gu Qingyu blinked. "How is Ye Jin?" "Do you think something will happen to him?" Yan Zun smiled but she could not see whether joy or anger lie beneath it. "Um..." Since Yan Zun said so, then Ye Jin should be fine. This made Gu Qingyu sighed with relief. Yan Zun raised his eyebrows. "Worry about yourself, stupid apprentice." "Me?" Gu Qingyu was even more puzzled. "What''s wrong with me?" "You were fine a second ago, so why did you lose consciousness? If it weren''t for me, you might have already fallen into a complete coma." Yan Zun sighed, "Stupid apprentice, you put your trust in so many people that doesn¡¯t deserve it.¡± "I trusted people that I shouldn¡¯t have..." Gu Qingyu murmured and repeated after him with a wry smile. "Got it, who is it this time?" Yan Zun raised the corner of his lips with interest, without any sense of danger: "Who do you think it is? Take a guess." "Ye Jin has no need. It can¡¯t be Qi Yichen and Xiao Qi, they won¡¯t do this again. Qi Wan would never betray me. Murong Zuoyu is unlikely too, and Mo Bai won''t do this either, I guess..." Gu Qingyu sighed, no answer came to mind. Sadly, I was never able to guess who "betrayed" me. Is it because I trust too much? Or, was it the fact that I was already mentally prepared for it since the beginning. "Well," Yan Zun paced about aimlessly. "What are you going to do this time?" "What can I do?" Gu Qingyu asked back, "Is it the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny? Os the Spirit Gems?" Yan Zun smiled mysteriously, and leaned in. "Not necessarily, actually... you are also very attractive." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Come on, are you talking about the divine beast? Ever since I swallow that spirit gem, I can¡¯t turn into a white tiger anymore." "Is it?" Yan Zun turned around, "Well, what should happen would always happen. Go, your master will stay here and watch you quietly." Gu Qingyu was stunned and confused, her consciousness fell into darkness before she could react. Chapter 108: Emperor of Nanyou Chapter 108: Emperor of Nanyou Translated by: iris.knight A clear female voice came. "Miss, are you awake?" Gu Qingyu turned her head and saw a woman standing beside her with a basin of water in her hands. "Miss, I am here to wipe your face for you. You can call me Xiao Qin." Xiao Qin smiled and placed the basin on the table. She pulled out a small towel, dipped it into the basin, wrung it dry then approached Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu scanned her surroundings. The room was wide, like a palace... No, it is a palace, with an opulent and luxurious layout and exquisite and meticulous decorations. "Where is this?" Gu Qingyu shifted slightly, tilted her head, and avoided Xiao Qin''s hands. Xiao Qin''s hands stiffened in the air, but she was not annoyed. She slowly withdrew her hands and returned the towel to the basin. "Is Miss complaining that the water is cold? No worries, I will change it now." "I''m asking you where this is." Gu Qingyu felt her voice hoarse. "Don''t rush, Miss, it will be fine soon." Xiao Qin smiled and walked out with the basin. Gu Qingyu only felt a sense of speechlessness. This is completely a communication barrier, okay! She is obviously trolling her! When Xiao Qin walked into the palace again, the water basin in her hand was steaming hot. Gu Qingyu gave up. "Beauty, I¡¯m hungry." Xiao Qin raised her head, her smile remained the same. "Okay, I will tell someone to serve food now." "Beauty, can you let your master come?" Gu Qingyu asked tentatively. "Miss, the meal is coming soon, please bear with me." Xiaoqin nodded with a smile and gently wiped Gu Qingyu''s face with the warm towel. Gu Qingyu''s lips twitched in annoyance. It seems that I met a master today! She is even better than me... "Okay, Miss, please wait for a while" Xiao Qin put away the towel, picked up the basin, bowed, and walked out. Gu Qingyu closed her eyes, feeling very helpless. What is pretending to be cool? This is the real master! I''m so weak! It didn''t take long for the door to be opened. Gu Qingyu was too lazy to raise her eyes. "Beauty, is the meal coming?" No one replied, only the sound of light footsteps, one after another, until the person reached her bed. As the smell of herbal fragrance wafted closer, Gu Qingyu suddenly opened her eyes and turned around. The person standing near her bed was in a white robe. He held a tray, filled with dishes, a glass of water, and a bowl of porridge, with a gentle smile. "Yu''er." He smiled and called her name, the same way he always had. He placed the tray on the table, then sat down gently at the edge of her bed. "Mo... Bai?" Gu Qingyu looked into his eyes incredulously. He smiled. "Yes, it''s me. Yu''er." "Why..." She swallowed thickly as her heart pounded madly in her chest.. Why... is it... Mo Bai... "What''s the reason? There''s no reason, Yu''er." Mo Bai''s slender fingers gently caressed her face, she froze against his touch. She sighed and decided to cut to the chase. "Do you want the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny? Or the Spirit Gems?" "I want... you." His hand gently lifted a stray lock of her hair and tucked it behind her ear. She suddenly locked her eyes with Mo Bai''s, his expression remained determined, and his eyes were still dark black. "Mo Bai, don''t joke around. "Gu Qingyu grinned bitterly, "If I guess right, you are the Emperor of Nanyou.¡± "Yes." Mo Bai did not deny it and nodded calmly. "Got it." Gu Qingyu closed her eyes gently. "You can go now." "Yu''er, be good and eat." Mo Bai picked up a bowl of porridge from the tray, scooped a spoonful and brought the spoon to her lips. She didn''t move, and didn''t even want to open her eyes. Mo Bai smiled gently. "I said, I''ll cook porridge for you." She remained still. It was not until this stalemate continued for a long time that Mo Bai pulled his hand back and put the bowl back on the table. "Yu''er, I thought when I bought you back here, I could get rid of all the people around you. But I didn¡¯t expect so much disruption..." Mo Bai sighed and got up. "What do you mean?" Her eyes snapped open and she looked at him. Mo Bai held out his hand, and resting on his palm was the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny, bundled up in a strange silk thread. "Is there anything in here? I just don''t know what it is." Mo Bai held up the jewel and turned it over in his hand. "Since I don''t know what it is, then I''ll just seal it." "Don''t you dare!" She hissed. "By your reaction, there should be something inside." Mo Bai smiled, turned around, and walked towards the door. "Come back!" Gu Qingyu tried to push herself up, but it felt as though she was bound by something. "Mo Bai!" "Yu''er," Mo Bai didn''t look back. His gentle voice turned cold. "I know you like Ye Jin. I¡¯ve always known." "So what?" Gu Qingyu asked with a deep frown. Mo Bai tilted his head to look at her, his lips curled in a handsome arc. "I want him to die." At that moment, her heart sank into icy waters. "Ye Jin is so powerful, so it doesn''t matter if you throw him into the sea..." Mo Bai''s chuckles were low and deep. "No wings, no magic, it doesn''t matter..." "Stop, please..." Gu Qingyu closed her eyes in pain. His chuckles grew louder. "Yu''er, if you follow me, I''ll spare him. How¡¯s that? The Empress of Nanyou, that is a nice title, no? If you like, I can eradicate the other three countries for you, as long as you want it, I will give you this world!" He paused and did not give her the opportunity to answer. "Yu''er, think about it, and when you made up your mind, tell someone to get me." He left the room without looking back. Gu Qingyu watched him with despair. She stared at his back and watched him go further and further away. Yan Zun... what will happen to him? Xiao Qin walked in, still smiling. "Miss, I came to help you with your meal." "No. I won¡¯t eat." Gu Qingyu refused without thinking. Xiao Qin seemed to not hear it. She supported Gu Qingyu up and set a pillow behind her. "Miss, be careful." "I''ve already said I¡¯m not eating." Gu Qingyu couldn''t move, she was at Xiao Qin''s mercy. "Miss, why are you resisting? Is there anything wrong with the emperor?" Xiao Qin picked up the glass of water from the tray. "Since that''s the case, let''s drink some water." Gu Qingyu opened her eyes in annoyance. "I said I¡¯m..." Her words suddenly got stuck in her throat. She saw Xiao Qin dip her fingers into the water and wrote on the table¡ªMiss, I placed the antidote to the Bone Softener in this porridge. Bone Softener... Am I poisoned with Bone Softener? No wonder I can''t move. Xiao Qin continued to write. Please believe me. Well, since there is no other way, let''s bet on it! Gu Qingyu nodded. Xiao Qin smiled, picked up the porridge on the table, scooped up a spoonful, and brought it to Gu Qingyu¡¯s lips. Gu Qingyu opened her mouth and swallowed slowly. That way, a bowl of porridge slowly bottomed out. Gu Qingyu felt pain spreading inside her body. Anyhow, she was recovering, she could move her hands now. She looked at Xiao Qin, mouthing. Why are you helping me? Xiao Qn continued to write a few words on the table--I know Miss does not have it easy, I know Miss is a good person. I don¡¯t want to see the emperor imprisoning you, and I don¡¯t want him to commit greater sins. Gu Qingyu nodded, dipped her fingers into the water, and wrote on the tabletop¡ªI will leave immediately once I¡¯ve recovered. Who knows, Xiao Qin shook her head¡ªNo, wait for the night. Gu Qingyu nodded and smiled. Xiao Qin also smiled. She reached out her hand and handed a jade bracelet to Gu Qingyu. If Miss went out, could she hand this over to a storyteller on the corner of Ancheng in Nanyou? Gu Qingyu took the bracelet and replied--Of course. The sky had darkened, Gu Qingyu also felt that her physical strength was almost restored, so she got up and bid farewell to Xiao Qin. "The Imperial Palace¡¯s gates will close in an hour¡¯s time. Miss must leave before then." Xiao Qin shook Gu Qingyu''s hand. Gu Qingyu nodded, also holding Xiao Qin''s hand: "I know, thank you. Do you...want to come with me?" "No," Xiao Qin shook her head bitterly. "I can''t go." "Why?" Gu Qingyu was puzzled. "All of the emperor¡¯s people demonstrated their loyalty by taking medicine. Should the emperor be displeased, then when he wants us to die, we must die." Xiao Qin sighed. "And Miss, are you not afraid of me dragging you down?" "Of course not, you saved me." Gu Qingyu shook her head. "If that¡¯s the case, take care! If you really want to go, I will definitely come back for you with an antidote!" "Take care, Miss." Xiao Qin smiled and did not respond to Gu Qingyu''s last sentence. Gu Qingyu nodded and walked out. Fluffy white ears emerged from the top of her head, and her tail swished and swayed behind her. Gu Qingyu felt that her hearing, sense of smell and her sight had improved greatly. She jumped gently and landed on top of a wall. When she got to the backyard, she carefully slipped down the side of the wall and landed back on the ground. Suddenly, her ears wriggled. A group of people was heading her way, their footsteps sounded like patrolling soldiers. She looked around, her eyes locked on a tree, and she leaped onto the branches. The patrolling soldiers passed her by in a hurry, but there were fewer soldiers than she expected. I wonder if Mo Bai was too trusting of Xiao Qin? She waited for them to disappear past the corner before jumping off the tree. Xiao Qin had drawn a map for her, she followed it and ran to the gates. Less than an hour left. Her toes lightly touched the floor, she ran without making a sound. her hair whipped in the air, her robes were flying behind her, she did not stop. There were no guards at the gates. Now, there is only one thing left on her mind. Find Ye Jin! He must be alive!` Before she could cross the threshold, the world around her spun and her strength was sapped away in an instant. She collapsed, but even then, she reached towards the gate. Everything faded to black. Chapter 109: Salvation Chapter 109: Salvation Translated by: iris.knight "You''re awake?" There was a soft voice, but it was icy against her ears. Gu Qingyu turned to look at the person seated at the edge of her bed. "Mo Bai..." "Yu''er, I''ve underestimated you." Mo Bai smiled as he clapped once. The door opened and someone covered in blood was dragged in. Gu Qingyu was shocked to recognise that person. "Xiao Qin!" Xiao Qin laid on the ground, blood pooled around her, and stained the carpet. In an instant, the metallic smell of blood filled the air. She raised her head slightly and looked at Gu Qingyu. Her face was badly bruised, but there was a faint smile on her face. "I will ask one last time, did you let her go?" Mo Bai looked at Xiao Qin tenderly. Xiao Qin''s voice was strained. "No..." Before she could finish, Mo Bai held out his hand. A strange force moved through the air and Xiao Qin flew towards him. In an instant, Mo Bai had grabbed Xiao Qin by her neck. "Emperor... please... you cannot keep falling deeper and deeper into...." Xiao Qin''s face contorted in pain as she struggled to breathe. "Don''t..." Gu Qingyu stared at Mo Bai with horror. "Don''t kill her!" "Yu''er, the more you plead for her, the more I want to kill her.¡± Mo Bai''s tone was gentle, and suddenly Xiao Qin lowered her head. Her eyes were glassy, she seemed to be watching Gu Qingyu, but not anymore. She was dead. Gu Qingyu stared at her glassy eyes and limp form, her own blood had run cold. "Xiao Qin..." A whisper escaped her lips as Mo Bai tossed Xiao Qin onto the carpet. "Take it away." His words did not bring any emotion, but it sounded gentle, and people could not help feeling chill. "And change the carpet, I don''t want to see a speck of blood." "Yes!" Two people came up and quickly pulled Xiao Qin away, and several others took the carpet away. Gu Qingyu screamed and cried as she tried to stop those people from taking Xiao Qin away. Xiao Qin grew further and further out of her reach, but there was nothing she could do. Mo Bai sighed, waved his sleeve and the door closed with a deafening thud. Gu Qingyu eventually stopped, she flopped back against the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling. Mo Bai watched her, his gaze stayed at Gu Qingyu''s wrist. They were still bound by the manacles, but due to her tugging and pulling against the manacles, her wrists had been cut open. Blood trickled from the cuts and dripped on the metal. The crimson liquid glistened under the candle light. His gaze steeled and he immediately reached out, his hand gently touching Gu Qingyu''s wrist. Gu Qingyu didn''t avoid him, she just continued to stare at the ceiling. "Yu''er." He called her name with some distress, and his hands glowed with pale green light. The wounds on her wrists were slowly healing, but the blood did not return to her. Just like some things, even if it recovers, the damage it causes cannot be erased. The wound has healed, but the pain is still there, but it hurts the heart even more. "Yu''er..." Mo Bai''s fingers lightly touched the chain, hesitating a bit, but he did not undo the manacles. She cast him a cold glare. "Don''t call me that." He replied with a bitter laugh. "Yu''er, do you hate me?" Hate? No, it''s not like that. He killed Xiao Qin, so I should hate him. But I can''t, because he''s Mo Bai... "Yu''er, you know? Everyone who betrayed me died even worse than her." His slender fingers gently crossed her cheek. "So, it''s normal for you to hate me, I am cruel after all." She did not speak and no longer struggled. His gentleness was just an exterior, as he drove a knife into her heart with a smile. "Yu''er, say something." His words were gentle but chilling. Her lips moved, but there was no sound. "Yu''er, do you detest me so much?" Mo Bai gazed at her and gently stroked her face. Gu Qingyu shifted her gaze and looked at him. "I always thought we were friends." "Friends? Ha, ha..." Mo Bai laughed like he heard something funny. "Yu''er, I''m glad you can treat me as a friend, but I don''t need it." He suddenly shifted from the edge of the bed and pinned her down against the sheets. "Go away!" She pulled against her manacles, her wrists were sliced open again. Blood flowed yet again. "Yu''er." A black aura emanated from him as his eyes turned white. The black aura enveloped them, it kept Gu Qingyu frozen in place. He stared at her unflinching, his white eyes stood against the black aura. "You can only be mine, Yu''er." She returned his gaze and murmured. "Mo Bai, you''re insane..." "Insane?" He let out a bark of laughter. "I''ve never had sanity in the first place!" "Mo Bai..." There was sympathy in her eyes. "Don''t do this." "Do you know, Yu''er, I can hear it." His head was buried in the crook of her neck. "I can hear them, those people, they whispered behind my back. I can hear everything. They all said that I''m crazy." "Don''t listen to them." She felt that the manacles on her hands unlock, so she reached our and gently embraced him. "Mo Bai, don''t listen to them. You have always been a gentle person. " He suddenly pinned down her arms, leaned down, and kissed her. In that gentleness was aggression, and in that aggression was despair. The black aura overflowed, devouring his heart and eroding his tenderness.Tears rolled down the corners of her eyes. I''m not afraid, I just... it pains me to see you like this. I never knew that you wanted love so much. You had always camouflaged yourself with that mellow gentleness because you were afraid of disagreement, afraid of conflict, afraid that people would leave you. I see your pain, that despair that you hide so deeply in yourself. I saw your tightly clenched hand when you killed all those people, I felt your deep fear when you tied me up. Mo Bai, you''re afraid that I would leave you too, right? Mo Bai raised his head suddenly, his eyes were confused. And when he saw her tears, he immediately panicked. He released her, and gently wiped away the tears streaks at the corner of her eyes. "Don''t cry, Yu''er... I''m sorry, I''ll stop...It''s all my fault, don''t cry..." The more he tried to appease her, the more she cried. Her eyes were stinging, but at that moment, she saw into the depths of his heart. How can I save you, the person I used to think as infallible? How do I save you, a child full of darkness but longing for light? How do I save you from falling into the abyss and struggling in the darkest abyss? I have not witnessed the moment when you fell into darkness, but I want to pull you out of there. Thorny black vines surrounded you, choked you. You forced your arms through the thorns and tried to reach out for help, ignoring the pain and the blood that covered your arms. You screamed and shouted,.but no one grabbed your hand. Until it was completely swallowed by thorns. Until you were swallowed by those thorns. The thorns pierced through you as it took root in your soft heart. It sucked on your blood and stole the very essence of your life. In order to survive, you have to become violent and cold, and still keep up a farce of kindness. The pure light in your eyes had vanished, your tenderness became flowers that encased those thorns. If you are not careful, the thorns will pierce these soft petals. You are afraid to change yourself. No, you cannot change yourself. You have to keep up the act, put on the show, or all of them would leave you. ¡°Just be kind.¡± You repeated those words like a mantra as you licked your wounds in the dark. How do I pull you out from those thorny vines? I want to cover you and shield you from the pain, but I''m scared that I would damage the flowers on those vines. How do I stop you from sinking further into darkness? I want to grab your hand and drag you out, but I¡¯m worried that the darkness has already eroded your heart. I¡¯m afraid that I would cause you more pain instead. I''m really sorry, I see it. I see you, but there¡¯s nothing I can do! "Yu''er, stop." Mo Bai wiped away her never-ending tears, he had noticed that she was looking into his heart. Gu Qingyu looked at Mo Bai, but saw tears swirling in his eyes as well. You must be hearbrokened when they left you. You must be in agony when the thorns pierced your heart. You want to keep your tenderness, right? Then keep it well. You don¡¯t have to force yourself, because the very fact that you are trying right now is proof of your kindness. "Mo Bai," Gu Qingyu''s hand gently rubbed his cheek as her fingertips dabbed the corners of his eyes. "I''m sorry I''m late, it took me too long to get here." I am truly very late. "You arrived just in time.¡± Mo Bai smiled softly. "Just, don''t leave me ever again. Just stay with me, here." "Don''t do this," Gu Qingyu frowned, her head was spinning again. She tried to keep her eyes open. "Mo Bai, come with me. We''ll get out of here, and we could go see the world together..." "No, I just want your world." He reached up and covered her eyes. "Close your eyes. When you open them again, I will be the only one in your eyes." "What..." There was a confused look in her eyes as she tried to look at him. Her lids grew heavier by the second, she did not even have the strength to brush his hand away. "You really thought I didn''t know Xiao Qin added the antidote to the porridge? Then why didn''t I say nothing?" Mo Bai''s voice was so soft that it made her heart tremble. "Yu''er, sleep. The only person in your eyes can be me." You will forget everything, you will only remember this gentle person. You will only remember the fragrant scent of herbs. I am the only person that can be allowed in your eyes. You can only watch me quietly. Until time passes us by, where everything has changed. Chapter 110: Preparations Chapter 110: Preparations Translated by: iris.knight "Yes." Qi Wan nodded and beckoned the innkeeper with a wave as he kept walking. The innkeeper immediately fell in step behind him and followed Qi Wan to a room. "Owner, what''s wrong?" he asked cautiously as soon as he closed the door. Qi Wan did not answer, he looked at the innkeeper with stern eyes instead. "How many of us are here?" The man was startled, but he quickly responded. "About two hundred people." Qi Wan nodded. "Notify the other cities, get everyone to come here as soon as possible. Be ready to attack Nanyou''s imperial city." "Master, you..." The innkeeper was so surprised that his tongue slipped. "What happened? Master, you never got angry in the eyes of your subordinates. Pardon my interjection, but attacking Nanyou is not a wise choice." "Your master¡¯s wife has been caught by the Emperor of Nanyou, how can I not lose my temper? How can I not attack his city?" Qi Wan broke the cup in his hand as rage burned in his dark green orbs. Master¡¯s wife? The man knelt down immediately when he heard it, and his eyes were also deeply determined: "Yes! The subordinates will definitely call on all parties and rescue the boss lady!" Finally, there is a wife! Meanwhile Gu Qingyu''s eyes opened with a flutter. Her mind was completely blank. She felt as though she had been asleep for a long time, but at the same time, she felt like she was jolted awake. Who am I? She looked around, someone else was in the room. He was dressed in a white robe. There was a gentle smile on his face, a jade flute was tied to his waist, and he smelled like herbs. "Who are you?" She sat up. "Who am I? Why don''t I remember anything?" The person before her seemed trustworthy, though the reason eludes her. "I am Mo Bai," That person smiled softly as he sat down at the edge of the bed. "You''re Yu''er, my empress." "Yu''er? Empress?" Gu Qingyu blinked doubtfully. "You''re the emperor?" "Well, yes." Mo Bai nodded as he gently stroked Gu Qingyu''s head. "Stay here and rest for a while, I''m going to get some medicine for you. I''ll be right back." "Why do you have to get medicine? Am I sick?" Gu Qingyu looked at herself, she didn''t have any injuries, and she felt quite healthy aside from her hazy memories. "Don''t worry, you''ll feel even better after a few more doses. Mo Bai lowered his hand. "Yu''er, wait for me." Gu Qingyu nodded obediently as she watched Mo Bai get up from the edge of the bed. Mo Bai was about to turn and leave, but someone was tugging on his sleeves. He turned around with a faint laugh. "What''s the matter, Yu''er?" Gu Qingyu took a deep breath before raising her head and looked up at Mo Bai. Her face was slightly flushed. "Can you...not go? I don''t want you to leave." Her sudden shyness stunned Mo Bai and he sat down next to her again. "Alright, I''ll stay here with you." "Ok!" She grinned, her eyes narrowed into half-moons Soon, some people brought the medicine over instead. Mo Bai picked up the bowl, scooped a spoonful, put it on his lips and blew gently, before he finally brought the spoon to Gu Qingyu''s lips. Gu Qingyu looked at the medicine, and then at Mo Bai. "It''s okay, it''s not bitter." Mo Bai looked at Gu Qingyu tenderly without moving his hand. The spoon remained right next to her lips as he patiently waited for her. Gu Qingyu nodded after hearing his answer and took the spoonful of medicine. The bowl of medicine was soon emptied, and just as he said, it was not bitter at all. A figure suddenly appeared in her mind. A light blue robe. A devilish, teasing voice. But she could not make out his face, it was a complete blur. She flinched at the sudden image. "What''s the matter?" As keen-eyed as Mo Bai, he immediately noticed her slight change in demeanor. "I...I think I saw someone..." Gu Qingyu looked down at the blanket that covered her legs, droplets dripped onto the fabric. "He is wearing a blue robe, and I don''t know who he is..." Mo Bai''s eyes turned cold in an instant, but the ice faded in an instant. He reached out and gently dabbed the corners of her eyes. "If you can''t tell, then forget about it. Sleep would always help you feel better." "Ok..." Gu Qingyu nodded as she sniffled and laid down. She plucked up her courage and asked, "Mo Bai, can you...can you stay here until I fall asleep?" "Of course, Yu''er." Mo Bai reached out and tucked her in carefully. Gu Qingyu nodded, closed her eyes with satisfaction, and soon drifted off. Mo Bai stood up once she drifted off, his face was icy. So, you still can''t forget about him? In that case, I will make him disappear. He lifted his robe as he left the room. As soon as he stepped over the threshold, someone approached him. The man knelt down and said, "My liege, the soldiers of Dongxuan, Xiqian and Beiying have already sent troops and are coming towards our country!" Mo Bai nodded and commanded with a gentle voice. Gather all of our troops. Defeat is not an option." "Yes!" The man lowered his head, a drop of cold sweat slipped from the top of his forehead. Defeat was not an option, for defeat would beget a suffering more painful than death. In an empty world Who am I? He said that my name is Yu''er. Who is the man in the blue robe? He was running towards me, his robe dancing and billowed against the sky, his lips were moving...Is he calling me? "Xiao Yu''er! Xiao Yu''er!" Xiao Yu''er? Is that my name too? His facial features were vague, but he had this natural, intoxicating charm that drew her towards him. "Who are you?" That question escaped her lips, but that man didn''t answer her. Instead, he held her hand in his and walked forward. Gu Qingyu somehow felt relieved and followed his lead. Suddenly, a person wearing a white robe descended from the sky, with black wings on his back. Feathers that matched the colour of his wings rained from above. "Mo Bai? You..." She did not expect to see him, and was about to approach him when the man in blue robe stood between them and blocked her. The jade flute in Mo Bai''s hand impaled that man in an instant. "No!" Her eyes widened as she watched that man collapsed to the ground. "Xiao Yu''er..." he whispered, the smile on his lips familiar. Gu Qingyu knelt down next to him. "No! Ye Jin, don''t die!" Her eyes opened in a snap, the room was pitch dark. She rubbed her head, her brain felt fuzzy. She could sense something next to her. She turned around, it was not something, but someone. A red robe, a playful look. Gu Qingyu was startled. "Who are you?" The man eyed her suspiciously. "What''s the matter, kitten? I''ve only been gone for a few days, did you forget about me already?" "Kitten?" Gu Qingyu stared at him. "Me?" Xie Zang sighed and slapped his forehand. "Well, I finally know why you can sleep so peacefully." "What the hell are you talking about?" Gu Qingyu asked suspiciously, "Get out, this is my room!" "Oh, your room?" Xie Zang raised his lips and laughed, "Did you lose your memories? Then why do you remember Ye Jin?" "Ye Jin? Who is Ye Jin... Have I met him before?" Gu Qingyu was even more puzzled as the image of that man in her dreams returned to her mind. Right then, a sharp pain pierced through her chest. Another jolt of pain went through her head. The more she tried to recall that man''s face, the more her head threatened to split open. Her hand held her chest as she squeezed out her voice. "Get out! Or I''m going to scream for Mo Bai!" "Are you alright, Kitten?" Xie Zang leaned forward to check on her. His soft, long locks flowed down his shoulders and gently brushed against her face and left a slight ticklish sensation. "I''m Xie Zang, don¡¯t you remember?" He whispered softly. "Xie Zang?" Gu Qingyu pondered for a while before she shook her head. "I don''t remember. Have we met before?" "Yeah, we also went on adventures together..." Xie Zang smiled bitterly and suddenly hugged Gu Qingyu. "It''s all my fault. I should have come back earlier to protect you, my Kitten!" His embrace startled her, but Gu Qingyu did not push him away. And when she lowered her head, tears were streaming down her face. What is this inexplicable sense of familiarity? There really seems to be a feeling that she had met him at the beginning of time. There was also a group of people whose faces are blurred, but all of them were by her side. "Don''t cry," Xie Zang was shocked when she saw her sudden tears and immediately dabbed away her tears with his sleeves. "Wait for me! I will definitely help you turn back to normal one day!" "What do you mean, turn back to normal?" Gu Qingyu bawled. "Who is Ye Jin? Why does my head and my chest hurts the moment I think of him? And why can''t I remember anything about him?" She felt like a child who had lost their most beloved toy, but no matter where they looked, they could not find it. Even though it was supposed to be in their house, the toy remains firmly just out of reach. "You''ll remember soon, don''t cry." Xie Zang suddenly heard the footsteps of fast approaching, patting Gu Qingyu''s head lightly, "I have to go, Mo Bai will be here soon. Wait for me, I will help you remember everything tomorrow!" Gu Qingyu looked up, and the mysterious man in red had long vanished. The door was pushed open, Gu Qingyu followed the sound and her eyes met with someone in a white robe. The cold moonlight lit up his features and his calm face was full of tenderness. "Yu''er, why are you up? Did anyone come here?" He spoke softly, even the words were so gentle. Gu Qingyu sniffed slightly and remembered Xie Zang. She shook her head. "No, I just had a nightmare." Sorry, Mo Bai. I don''t want to lie to you, but I really really need to find out the truth. Then I can stay with you forever. "Nightmare?" Mo Bai walked in and sat at the edge of her bed. "Um..." Gu Qingyu nodded after a pause. "It seems that there is a person called Ye Jin..." "Alright, continue." Mo Bai''s expression remained unchanged, and his voice was so gentle. "He called me Xiao Yu''er, and..." Gu Qingyu couldn''t speak anymore, the pain had returned. "The more I think about it, the more my chest hurts..." "Then don''t think about it." Mo Bai stroked her head. "Go to sleep, I''ll be right here." "Alright." Gu Qingyu nodded and laid down again. Chapter 111: Abandon the City Chapter 111: Abandon the City Translated by: iris.knight "Has it reached this level..." He muttered to himself as he left the room. Eastern border of Nanyou "Hold your formations!" A general commanded his troops, but his legs shook like jelly. That night, under the pale moonlight, the god of death himself had appeared and came to collect his toll. Murong Zuoyu danced across the battlefield in a silver armour, blood splattered across his stone-cold features. Truly, the stone-cold god of battle. Western border of Nanyou Qi Yichen waved his fan in one hand and directed the army of Xiqian with his other hand. "Yes, that''s right, that''s it, yeah, you need to finish the job..." He walked up while snacking on melon seeds, and smacked down one of the enemy soldiers with his fan. "Don''t blame me. Your emperor has simply gone too far! According to this scholar''s predictions, you lot will be defeated today and your emperor will croak!" Northern border of Nanyou "I order you to take the city before dawn." Bei Cheng''s voice was loud and clear despite the clashing sound of metal weapons. "Yes!" The soldiers of Beiying fought bravely with their monarch''s presence. Xiao Qi was also involved in the battle, Gu Qingyu''s smile flashed in front of her eyes. Bei Cheng also joined his sister in the fray. Wait for me, Qingyu. At Nanyou¡¯s capital Mo Bai sat in the great hall as people ran up to him one after another. "Report:! Xuan Pass in the south has been breached!" "Report! Tongyang Pass in the west has been breached!" "Report! We have lost Castle Lian in the east!" Mo Bai cradled a cup of tea in his hand. He raised the cup to his lips and downed the cup of tea in one slow draught. He gently placed the teacup on the table, then patted the white robe gracefully as he stood up. "Abandon the city." The man''s eyes widened. "Emperor! But..." "Why didn''t you hear what I said? Abandon the city!" Mo Bai walked outside with a faint smile on his lips. The man squeezed out a reply from gritted teeth. "Yes!" Gu Qingyu opened her eyes and looked out the window, it was already dawn. She rubbed her head, she still felt fuzzy. "Anyone? Mo Bai?" The door was quickly pushed open, and Mo Bai, who was wearing a white robe, came in with a gentle smile and a bowl of porridge in his hand. "Yu''er, you''re awake?" Gu Qingyu nodded. "Yeah! And I''m hungry!" "Well then, have some porridge." Mo Bai sat at the edge of her bed. "After this, we''ll head out and get something better." "Good!" Gu Qingyu agreed cheerily, took the bowl and ate away. Mo Bai stared at her quietly, his eyes were warm yet intense. He only schooled his features when Gu Qingyu looked up after she had finished her porridge. He gently plucked the bowl from her hands. "Yu''er, I''ll be sending someone to bring you a set of clothes later. We''ll head out after you change into that." Gu Qingyu let out a laugh. "Eh? Okay!" "Let me know the moment you''re ready." Mo Bai walked out, and a maid entered the room with steady feet. In her hands was a large tray, yellow clothes stacked neatly on the tray. She knelt on the floor and greeted Gu Qingyu. "Your majesty." "Oh, don''t bow, please get up!" Gu Qingyu sat up straight and unfolded the garments. The robe was golden yellow, to be specific. With the clearly valuable accessories and the phoenix embroidered on the fabric, all of these elements had made the garments importance and value clear. It''s... a phoenix robe. "It looks very beautiful, but I don''t like such clothes," Gu Qingyu pouted as she glanced at the maid. "Go and ask Mo Bai if there''s something else I can change into." The maid gawked at Gu Qingyu. Your majesty, do you know what this is? This is the phoenix robe! The phoenix robe! "What''s wrong?" Seeing the maid''s lack of response, Gu Qingyu placed the phoenix robe back on the tray with some disappointment. "No? Well, then I won''t wear it." The door was pushed open, and Mo Bai approached them with a smile. "Why, Yu Er, don''t you like it?" His usual white robe was replaced by a golden yellow robe, the same colour as hers. Mo Bai''s robe had a life-like flying dragon motif splayed across instead. "Mo Bai? Why are you wearing this too? They all look too fancy and serious, it doesn''t really suit you." Gu Qingyu frowned. Mo Bai laughed. "Then what kind of clothes do you think suits me better?" "Blue!" Gu Qingyu blurted out without thinking, the look in his eyes changed, and she immediately clasped her hand over her mouth. "Sorry Mo Bai, it was the first thing that came to my mind...Should I not have said that?" Mo Bai froze for a moment, then smiled again. "No, no. Yu''er, I also like blue, but we''ll wear this for today, is that okay?" "Okay, whatever you say!" Gu Qingyu also smiled and picked up the clothes. Mo Bai nodded and walked out. The maid at her side stared at her with eyes as wide as saucers. "Why are you staring at me like that?" Gu Qingyu fiddled with the ornaments on her clothes. "Um...can you give me a hand with this?" "Yes, yes!" The maid immediately came up and held up the robe as Gu Qingyu slipped into it, then adjusted the ornaments and accessories for her. After finishing the adjustments, the maid looked up at the lady in front of her with shock. "What is it?" Gu Qingyu asked with a smile. "I look amazing, right?" Perhaps other people would call that lady arrogant, with that question. But she looked different in the maid¡¯s eyes. She looked generous and beautiful, and breathed new life into the phoenix robe. It no longer reminded the maid of absolute sovereignty and prestige encapsulated in time, instead, it felt pristine and alive. The maid nodded. "Yes!" Upon hearing her instant response, Gu Qingyu laughed even more. "Your Majesty, this is..." The maid stared at the Divine Tune hanging from Gu Qingyu''s neck. Gu Qingyu looked down and discovered the whistle. "What is this?" Gu Qingyu took it off curiously and looked around, but felt a slight pain in her heart. Is this something related to the man named Ye Jin? "Blow it when you miss me..." A voice came gently with a breeze, and Gu Qingyu couldn''t help but put the obsidian whistle on her lips and gently blew into it. There was no sound. "Is this broken?" Gu Qingyu looked at the whistle strangely. She has no use for a broken whistle, but for some reason she couldn''t bear to get rid of it. In the end, she placed the whistle back around her neck. "Let me comb your hair for you!" The maid looked at Gu Qingyan so that she was no longer talkative and picked up the delicate comb. Gu Qingyu nodded, got up, and walked to the mirror. After brushing her hair, Gu Qingyu stood up and almost fell back into her seat. The sudden weight of all of her hair accessories weighed her head down. "Oh yeah, do you know why are we all dressing up like this? What is Mo Bai up to?" She asked while tinkering with accessories on her head. "I-I don''t know, your majesty." The maid''s hand trembled as she answered, and the comb fell to the ground, splitting in half on impact. "Ah!" she yelped. Gu Qingyu bent down to pick up the halves of the intricate comb and spliced them together. "What a shame, it''s such a beautiful comb." Immediately after Gu Qingyu sighed, the maid knelt on the ground and slammed her head against the floor. "It''s your servant''s fault! Your servant is too clumsy! Please forgive your servant!" "Oh, stop that! Get up!" Gu Qingyu immediately pulled her up. "It''s just a comb, you don''t have to do this." The maid stood up with shaky feet. "Please forgive your servant." "I''m not even upset!" Gu Qingyu looked at her, completely befuddled. "I said it''s okay...am I so scary?" The maid shuddered. "No..." The terrifying one is the Emperor! "Then everything''s fine, right?" Gu Qingyu stood up and walked out of the door. The maid immediately lowered her head and followed. Opening the door, Mo Bai stood under the gate of the palace, that familiar jade flute was still at his waist. Mo Bai raised his head slightly when she stepped out, showing a gentle smile. "Yu''er, you look beautiful!" "Um..." Gu Qingyu walked over with some embarrassment, My head feels so heavy, these things are so bulky." Mo Bai laughed. "Yu''er, do you know that this is what all women dream of?" Perhaps, not all women... "Huh? Well, since Mo Bai said so..." Gu Qingyu played with her hairpin. "Let''s go!" "All right, Yu''er." Mo Bai gently pulled Gu Qingyu''s hand and walked toward a green passage. At the same time, at the northern border of Nanyou A man in a blue robe tore through the enemy ranks, bloodlust practically oozed from him. A wave of light flew out with a sweep of his sleeves. And he leveled his enemies in an instant. Alongside him were some well-trained men in black. Each of them fended off battalions on their own. At this moment, someone galloped towards him. "Jia Qizhe!" Ye Jin stopped and looked back. Xie Zang stopped his horse right in front of Ye Jin. "Mo Bai made her take the Grass of Amnesia, she has already forgotten you." "So what?" Ye Jin smiled, charming, but extremely cold. "Now, there is only Mo Bai in her eyes." Xie Zang was also smiling, "You will get hurt if you go there, why do this to yourself? You''re the leader of Ye, there must be someone out there for you." "Are you done?" For a moment, Ye Jin''s hands were covered in a black aura. "I just want my Xiao Yu''er!" Xie Zang sighed. "Well, half a day later, when you get to the Imperial City, she will be waiting for you there." "Oh? It seems that the Lord of Xieli Castle found a way?" Ye Jin tilted his head. "Weren''t you waiting for me to figure something out?" Xie Zang smiled and asked rhetorically. "Do you know... she hasn''t forgotten me..." Ye Jin clenched Ghost Howl in his hand, "just now... she blew the "Divine Tune" that I gave her... Xiao Yu''er was thinking of me... She misses me, I must go find her!" "Now that you mentioned it, she does have some impression of you. It''s quite strange." Xie Zang nodded. "You can come after I give her the antidote." "I''ll give it to her myself." Ye Jin''s eyes sank. "Thank you, Xie Zang! Ye will remember your kindness." Chapter 112: His Devotion Chapter 112: His Devotion Translated by: iris.knight That person felt oddly familiar...who is he? And where is Xie Zang? He''s late, isn''t he going to help me recover my memories? Qi Wan saw her as well, he shouted in glee, "Boss!" "Mo Bai, he is..." Gu Qingyu turned to him with furrowed brows, but Mo Bai smiled and shook his head. He took her hand silently, and she returned his gesture reflexively with a tight grip. Qi Wan watched their interaction with a frown. "Boss! What''s the matter with you? Why are you wearing Nanyou''s phoenix robe?" "Because..." Gu Qingyu stared into Mo Bai''s eyes, and his eyes were full of joy. "I am...the empress of Nanyou..." "What?" Qi Wan''s beautiful green eyes were full of disbelief. Then the realisation hit him, and he turned to glare at Nanyou''s emperor. "Mo Bai, you bastard! What did you do to her?" "You have called me a bastard. Tell me, what can I do?" Mo Bai smirked at Qi Wan then turned back to Gu Qingyu. "Yu''er, this is your coronation ceremony." "What?" Gu Qingyu was puzzled. "It''s a formal ceremony, to crown you as my empress." Mo Bai''s fingers gently swept across her cheeks. His eyes were soft despite the shadow cast on his face by the harsh sunlight. Gu Qingyu squinted a little against the sun before she had to look away due to discomfort. "Okay." Qi Wan was skilled in magic, so he could hear their conversation. As soon as he heard this, he immediately took two steps forward and called out to her. "Don''t go! You''re Gu Qingyu! I''m Qi Wan!" Gu Qingyu stopped in her tracks. Suddenly, a blurry face appeared in her mind. Although she couldn''t see his face clearly, she could feel him smiling at her. He wore a dark green robe most of the time, and no matter what she asked, he would always help her. She could almost make out his face, it''s as if the fog in her mind was clearing. He was quite good looking, like a handsome young master from a noble household. His hair is tied up with dark green ribbons, and his face always had a warm, sunny smile. He seemed to have helped her a lot and went through many things with her. The moments that they spent together trickled into her mind. He seemed to call her... ¡°Boss!¡± Qi Wan shouted again from the base of the wall. Gu Qingyu followed the voice and whipped back. "Qi Wan?" Qi Wan was also shocked, and he was immediately overjoyed, "Yeah, it''s me! Qi Wan!" Mo Bai''s eyes flicked, and he looked at Gu Qingyu with some worry. His medicine has failed? Faint black lights appeared in his hands. But right then, Gu Qingyu turned back again, took Mo Bai''s hand and beamed at him. "Mo Bai, let''s go!" "Well, okay." Mo Bai breathed a sigh of relief and walked away with Gu Qingyu in tow. "Boss!" Qi Wan called after her again and again. When Qi Wan''s voice eventually grew distant, Gu Qingyu looked at Mo Bai and pleaded sweetly "Mo Bai, I''m hungry! Can we go and eat something first?" "Whatever you want." Mo Bai stroked her head lovingly and led the pair in a different direction. Yay!" Gu Qingyu smiled at his reply and touched the ornament above her head. "This is so heavy..." "Then we''ll take this off first." Mo Bai said after a short pause. "Yes please!" Gu Qingyu concurred. She gently plucked the crown-like ornament from her head and a maid waiting at the side immediately rushed over with her head down and stretched out her hands to hold the accessories. The maid held up those accessories as her head remained lowered, as though she had been holding up Gu Qingyu''s head instead. After a short walk, the pair arrived at the dining hall. Gu Qingyu drooled as she watched the maidservants bring out plate after plate of delicacies. Mo Bai laughed at her animated enthusiasm. "Dig in, Yu''er." "Righty-ho!" Gu Qingyu said without a word, she immediately picked up the chopsticks and began her feast. Mo Bai didn''t touch his set of tableware. He just sat quietly and watched her with gentle eyes. It took Gu Qingyu quite a while to finish all the food on the table. She finally set her chopsticks down with a soft snap, wiped the grease from her lips. "I''m done, let''s go." "Sure." Mo Bai nodded and stood up, gently taking her hand in his again. Gu Qingyu also held onto Mo Bai''s hand and followed him. Outside of the dining hall was a magnificent lobby that made Gu Qingyu feel a little emotional. She looked around curiously and played around with things. "Yu''er, if you like it, it''s yours." Mo Bai patted her head lightly, "Go." "Um..." Gu Qingyu nodded, one of the maids had returned with that ornament and handed it to her. At this moment, a strong gust of wind swept through the lobby. Mo Bai immediately stood in front of Gu Qingyu, his imperial robe billowed in the wind. After the wind subsided, Mo Bai smiled softly and held her hand. "Long time no see, Leader of Ye." Ye Jin walked in from the entrance of the lobby, with hints of rage on his face. "If I could, I never want to see you again." But the anger in his features dissipated the moment he saw Gu Qingyu, and he flinched. "Xiao Yu''er!" "Xiao Yu''er?" Gu Qingyu pondered a little, then blurted out, "You''re Ye Jin!" "It''s me! Xiao Yu''er!" Ye Jin was estatic to see her, he summoned Ghost Howl and cast caution to the wind. "Don''t worry, I''ll save you right now!" "Yu''er, be good, hide behind me now." Mo Bai lowered his head and looked at Gu Qingyu, his eyes full of tenderness. "I will protect you." "...Hmm!" She returned his gaze with one of complete trust. She turned around and hid behind Mo Bai. "You''ve gone too far, Emperor of Nanyou. I warned you what happens to people that cross me!" Ye Jin''s eyes seemed to be set ablaze in an instant. He waved his sword and sent a blue wave of energy flying towards Mo Bai. Gu Qingyu was shocked and shielded Mo Bai without thinking. "No!" Ye Jin was also shocked, and immediately withdrew his attack. The wave stopped a hair''s breadth from Gu Qingyu. But taking back such a strong attack came with consequences, even for someone as powerful as Ye Jin, blood trickled from the corner of his lips. "Yu''er!" Mo Bai immediately came up, grabbed Gu Qingyu by her shoulders and pulled her back. "Are you all right?" "I''m fine..." Gu Qingyu looked at Mo Bai, then turned around to look at Ye Jin, with a little guilt in her eyes. "I''m sorry..." "Xiao Yu''er, you don''t need to apologize." Ye Jin smiled, that smile tugged at her heart. "Do you still want to fight? In her presence?" Mo Bai never expected Gu Qingyu to shield him. He raised his head and glared at Ye Jin. Ye Jin pursed his lips and smiled at Gu Qingyu. "Xiao Yu''er, wait for me." And with a gust of wind, he disappeared, leaving behind only a wisp of blue smoke. Gu Qingyu stared blankly at the place where he had originally stood. "Yu''er, what''s wrong? Did he actually hurt you?" Mo Bai looked at her with concern while checking her pulse. Gu Qingyu shook her head. "No....I''m a little tired. I want to rest first." "Okay, I''ll bring you back to your room." Mo Bai nodded and took Gu Qingyu''s hand again. Gu Qingyu kept up with Mo Bai, and cast a longing at the lobby. Everything looked the same. On the way to her room, Mo Bai suddenly stopped in his steps. "What''s wrong?" Gu Qingyu looked around in confusion, nothing seemed unusual. "Yu''er, thank you..." Mo Bai turned and wrapped her in a tight hug. "Thank you..." "Don''t need to thank me." Gu Qingyu patted his back. She tried to lean back to look at him, but he wouldn''t loosen his grip. "What''s wrong?" "I''m sorry, Yu''er." Mo Bai''s voice trembled slightly. "I''m sorry." "Why are you apologising?" Gu Qingyu tilted her head in doubt. Mo Bai''s chin rested on her shoulder, even after tilting, she could not get a look at his face. "Yu''er, you know, this is the first time anyone has tried to protect me like that..." Mo Bai''s shoulders were shaking as well. "I''m sorry..." You, why are you apologising? Are you feeling guilty? Gu Qingyu smiled and circled her arms around him. "It''s okay, Mo Bai. I would be devastated if you died." "Devastated?" Mo Bai echoed her words in a whisper. Then he suddenly pushed her off him and turned his back towards her. The fierce sunlight beat down on his golden dragon robe. His gentle temperament had faded, replaced by a stern, kingly air. "Mo Bai?" Gu Qingyu grabbed onto a nearby tree, she almost lost her balance. "Yu''er, I will prove everything to you! I am the emperor and I will give you everything! The world is yours, even my throne!" The tremble in his voice was replaced by determination. "If you still want to leave, after recovering your memories, I...I won''t keep you. But before that, please, just give me some time." The maid on the side of the path immediately knelt down when she saw them and lowered her head to the ground, but her eyes were filled with disbelief. What did his majesty just say? Even his throne? Does he plan to give up the entire kingdom just for her? Gu Qingyu watched his back, her eyes filled with shock and horror. Finally, she replied with raised lips. "Okay!" Mo Bai no longer stood rooted to the ground, he strode off. Without that mask of gentleness, he was just an emperor who wanted to give everything to the one that held his heart. He dared not look back because he was afraid that he would regret it. He was afraid that if he turned around, he couldn''t help but imprison her again and make her miserable. Afraid that if he saw her, he couldn''t help but hurt her again, and become that insane, obsessive version of himself. In that moment, he simply wanted to give her everything, including freedom. Including Ye Jin. That¡¯s why he did not dare to look back. He was afraid that when he sees her, he will disregard everything and go back on his own word. Therefore, If you still want to leave, after recovering your memories, I... I won''t keep you. But before that, please give me some time. Give me time to prove that I am just as good as him. I am just as, if not better than him and just like him, I am deeply in love with you. Chapter 113: Harbinger of Disaster Chapter 113: Harbinger of Disaster Translated by: iris.knight Xie Zang greeted her with a smile: "Waiting for me, kitten?" "Um...not entirely." Gu Qingyu shook her head. "I want to help him." Xie Zang was stunned. "You...you''ve recovered your memories?" "Yeah." Gu Qingyu nodded with a sigh, "Keeping up the act was so tiring..." In fact, when she saw Ye Jin, she almost slipped. She wanted to run up to him, wrap her arms around his neck, and just tell him how much she missed him. But if she does that, Mo Bai would probably go beyond the point of return. She wants to help Mo Bai, but with how sharp he can be, she was worried that she may not be able to pull the wool before his eyes. "Seeing Ye Jin prompted your memory to come back?" Xie Zang watched her curiously. Gu Qingyu shook her head frankly. "No, it''s Qi Wan..." "That''s unexpected." Xie Zang ticked the corner of his lips. "It seems like the bond between the two of you is more than things appeared. Something else might be at work." "Perhaps." Gu Qingyu smiled, "Xie Zang, do me a favour." "Are you asking me to make Ye Jin wait?" Xie Zang smiled and shook his head. "No way, kitten. You of all people should know why." "No," Surprisingly, Gu Qingyu shook her head. "Mo Bai is going to head to the frontlines of the battle soon. Before that, I need to know who''s here." "Oh, everyone''s here." Xie Zang counted, "The emperor of Beiying is in the north, Xiqian''s Prime Minister is in the west, and Dongxuan''s stone cold battle god is fighting in the east. Ye sent out all of his assassins. In light of our friendship, Xieli Castle is going to support the siege as well. This battle even brought out some unexpected forces. All in all, I doubt Nanyou is going to survive this. You are truly a harbinger of disaster, kitten." Harbinger of Disaster? Gu Qingyu tried to loosen her knitted brows. "Hey, I didn''t have a say in this! It''s not like I have a choice! Why did you guys go all out anyway?" "What are you talking about? Kitten, do you have any idea how everyone freaked out when you got taken away? They are all worried about you. Qi Wan brought out all the troops that he had planted everywhere. Qi Yichen basically exposed his own fake death and went back to being the Prime Minister just to be able to move his soldiers. Xiao Qi? She scaled that snowy mountain all on her own and went back to Beiying to persuade her brother to help, not that it took much persuasion. Bei Cheng showed up in person. And Duke Murong, who managed to change his icy reputation thanks to you, risked his own chances at the fight for the throne and waged war against Nanyou without any explanation. Meanwhile, Ye Jin basically revealed all of Ye''s power to the world. Kitten, this is the greatest war the world has ever seen in a millennia!" Gu Qingyu rubbed her red, puffy eyes. "Alright, this battle started because of me, I will do everything to end this." "Alright, kitten, what are your plans?" Xie Zang hooked his lips with interest, "Ah, by the way, the people in Xieli Castle are also on their way to help. Is that going to help you?" "No, not helping actually." Gu Qingyu commented bluntly. Xie Zang pouted. "Oof, harsh. It''s like you dumped a bucket of ice water over my head." "At least it''s ice water, what if it''s boiling water instead?" Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Oh, stop it, we don''t have time. Our top priority is to stop this as soon as possible." "Oh? Stop the great war?" Xie Zang raised an eyebrow. "And just how do you plan to do that? All of them are out on the battlefield right now, trying to rescue you. I''m the only one with any time on my hands." "Just tell them I''m okay, I''ll find a way out..." Gu Qingyu said, and she stopped. Of course that''s not going to work. If it had been anyone else who got kidnapped, she would be risking life and limb to save that person. And she would not stop until she sees that person safe and sound. "What''s the matter, kitten? Keep going, what''s next?" Xie Zang signaled her to carry on with a serious nod. "No, no." She changed her mind. "Since things have gotten to this point, let them in." Xie Zang smiled. "Let them in? So, you mean to let them come to you?" Gu Qingyu shook her head, she had made up her mind. "No, I''ll go to them." After Xie Zang left, Gu Qingyu stared at the ornament headpiece on the table as her mind wandered. She''s surrounded by jewellery and gold, but her chest still feels empty and hollow, as if something was missing. What''s missing? Then it clicked. The Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny! The Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny was in Mo Bai''s hands, and Yan Zun was also sealed by him. So much time has passed, god knows what happened to Master. Now is the best time to look for it! With a new goal established, she got up and left the room. I have do this, and I have to do this myself. The maid outside the door looked down and immediately knelt down. "Your majesty! Is there anything your servant can do? Please, let your servant serve you." That maid reminded Gu Qingyu of someone. The first person she met when she came here, and the only one who really helped her. But she died in the end. She wanted to use her own blood to snap Mo Bai back to his senses, but it didn''t work. Gu Qingyu clenched her fist. Xiao Qin, let me finish what you''ve started. I will snap him back to his senses, and wake up the real Mo Bai. Gu Qingyu looked at the darkening sky and replied indifferently. "I''m hungry, I want to eat something!" "Your servant will bring it to you!" the maid said immediately. "No, I''ll go get it myself." Gu Qingyu looked at her. "Please get up, where''s Mo Bai anyway?" "The emperor, he''s...in the Imperial Study..." Gu Qingyu nodded and walked forward. The maid tried to keep up with her, but Gu Qingyu stopped her. "It''s fine, go get some rest. I''ll go find him on my own." "Yes, your majesty!" The maid bowed. "Oh yeah, call me Miss or Qingyu," Gu Qingyu turned back and smiled, "Your majesty is way too serious for me, I can''t get used to it at all. Also, what''s your name?" Oh please, if Ye Jin finds out that they''re calling me Mo Bai''s empress, he''ll go into another fit of jealousy. "Yes! Your servant is called Tsing Yi!" Tsing Yi did not dare to disobey the would-be empress and immediately lowered her head. Gu Qingyu smiled with satisfaction and left. Walking along the path all the way to Imperial Study, Gu Qingyu could hear the rustling of pages. He was hard at work. Mo Bai called out to her, as though he heard her footsteps. "Yu''er? Come in." Gu Qingyu no longer hesitated, gently opened the door and stepped into the Imperial Study. Sure enough, Mo Bai was still dressed in the dragon robe. He was seated behind a desk, reports piled in front of him. There was a man standing beside him, he appeared to be the chief eunuch. When the chief eunuch saw Gu Qingyu, he immediately knelt down. "Good evening, your majesty." Gu Qingyu winced. Why does it feel like everyone is more scared to see her than Mo Bai? Am I that terrifying? "Get up, and you don''t have to do this in the future." Gu Qingyu gave him a smile. Meanwhile, Mo Bai looked up from the pile of reports and pointed to the chair beside him. "Yu''er, have a seat." "Okay." Gu Qingyu nodded and sat down, her eyes remained on Mo Bai as she observed him with curiosity. "Yu''er, are you interested in this?" Mo Bai seemed to have read her mind. "If you''re bored, feel free to take a look." The chief eunuch''s eyes grew so wide, they were about to pop out of his skull. Your Majesty! These are the reports from your ministers! All of them are classified information about the state! Is it truly wise to hand them to the empress for her to kill time? Gu Qingyu had the same idea and shook her head. "No need, I''ll just sit here." "Yu''er, I will head out to battle tomorrow." Mo Bai smiled, "Wait for me, I''ll be back." "Can I..." Gu Qingyu hesitated and finally said, "Can I come with you?" Mo Bai froze for a moment. It seemed that he finally realised that because he made her lose her memories, he was truly the only person that mattered in Gu Qingyu''s eyes. Yeah, isn''t that what he wants? It''s just... does such love really belong to him? Is this what he truly wanted from her? "Of course." Mo Bai raised the corner of his lips. "Yu''er, you can do whatever you want." The chief eunuch beside him could tear out his hair. Your majesties! Your servant is still here! "Oh, don''t mind me, do what you have to do. I''ll just stay here." Gu Qingyu said as she swung her legs. Mo Bai smiled and nodded. "Okay." Gu Qingyu then relaxed into her chair and closed her eyes, as she was going to sleep. Mo Bai also lowered his head and continued to examine his reports. From time to time he looked up and looked at Gu Qingyu, a warm smile remained on his face. Gu Qingyu quietly opened up her senses and searched for the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny. Technically, she was the owner of the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny, so she should be able to sense it...right? But this was more dangerous than it looks. If Mo Bai caught on and realised what she was up to, it would be game over. She did not expect Mo Bai to let down his guard so much around her, not a single wall was up around him. Gu Qingyu used her senses to scan the room, there was a faint pulse of energy from Mo Bai. It was so faint that she almost missed it, but it was really from the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny. The energy must have become so faint because of the seal. Gu Qingyu''s heart could pop out of her chest. Master! Isn''t he super powerful? Why did he get sealed? Goodness, I really need to have a word with him once I get him out. For some reason, a lump formed in her throat. To see someone so powerful, practically peerless, being sealed up by someone who he thought to be so much more weaker than him. He''s stuck in a normal rock, and has to rely on others to free himself. How do you even begin to process this loss of dignity and pride? Chapter 114: I am Qi Wan, Your Husband Chapter 114: I am Qi Wan, Your Husband Translated by: iris.knight Where is this place? This is so annoying. I could only make out anything within half a meter, based on the tiny bit of light from me. What is going on? It seemed that she felt something in the midst, and she suddenly turned around and saw another light. It''s Yan Zun. "Master?" A grin immediately split across her face. "Yes." Yan Zun sauntered towards her as if nothing in the world could cause him to hurry. "You''ve not seen me for days, did you miss me?" "Days?" Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "It''s only two days. Say Master, what is this place?" "This is a place that allows your teacher to communicate with you." Yan Zun smiled and charmed, "but in order to get here, you will need to be able to sense me." "And I did! I sensed you!" "Yeah, otherwise how would you be here?" Yan Zun looked very satisfied, he reached out and stroked her head. "Stupid apprentice, well done." "What should we do next?" Gu Qingyu asked, "Master, I thought you''re really powerful, how did Mo Bai manage to seal you?" "I let my guard down." Yan Zun sighed. "I didn''t think that person would give the one thing that could seal me again to the royal family of Nanyou." "What?" Gu Qingyu said, surprised. "Seal you again?" "Well, things are better this time. The Emperor of Nanyou didn''t use that thing at the moment, but I would not want to deal with that at all, even with my current strength." Yan Zun narrowed his eyes, clearly annoyed. "Master, I will rescue you!" Gu Qingyu declared as she looked at Yan Zun. "Please believe me. This is also a good opportunity to train myself. I can do this, on my own, without you by my side." Yan Zun smiled. "Okay, then make me proud." "Well!" Gu Qingyu nodded with a smile, "Wait for me, Master!" The darkness dispersed and ushered in blinding light. Gu Qingyu slowly opened her eyes. Mo Bai was very close to herself. He was leaning down and staring right into her face. That surprised Gu Qingyu and she let out a yelp. Mo Bai laughed as he straightened himself. "Yu''er, I tried waking you several times, nothing worked. You gave me a scare." "Ah? Really?" Gu Qingyu thought on her feet. "Maybe I''m just too tired." "Then go and get some proper sleep. Don''t force yourself to stay up with me." Mo Bai gently stroked her head. "Um..." Gu Qingyu looked at the brightly lit hall, and then out of the window, the sky had gone completely dark. She was asleep for a really long time. She stood up and stretched. Then, she caught a peek at his desk, reports still piled the table. "Mo Bai, have you been reading these reports this whole time?" "Yeah." He nodded. Gu Qingyu looked at him with some surprise. "Aren''t you tired?" "You''re here with me, so I''m not tired." Mo Bai stroked Gu Qingyu''s head again. "Come on, Yu''er. You must be hungry." She would not have realised if he had not mentioned it, her stomach was rumbling a little. She nodded vigorously. "Yeah, I''m hungry!" Mo Bai laughed softly. "Let''s go." He took her hand and led her out of the study. His gentle big palm wrapped hers, it was firm and determined. Mo Bai, is this what you have always wanted? To have your loved ones stay by your side forever, and never leave you again. So you choose to hold onto them tightly and never let go. What a contradictory and determined person you are. After dinner, Mo Bai sent Gu Qingyu back to her room. "Yu''er, sleep earlier today, and we will head out tomorrow." Mo Bai looked at Gu Qingyu tenderly, and his face appeared soft under the sway of the light. "Okay..." Gu Qingyu nodded and smiled. After watching Mo Bai leave the room, Gu Qingyu turned around and sat on a stool instead. I need to do something, we are already heading out tomorrow. Or, Nanyou would be destroyed at this rate. Even if Mo Bai is even more powerful, he can only support one side, what about other places? Time and tide waits for no man, he''s not gonna make it. Now there is no one else but to rely on myself. Suddenly, there was a soft rustling right above her, she looked up immediately. A dark green robe descended from the sky. "Boss, it''s me!" Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyu with a wide grin. Gu Qingyu pretended to look at him suspiciously. "Who are you?" "You... really don''t recognise me?" Qi Wan''s expression collapsed. For a moment, he seemed forlorn but he quickly recovered. "We met before, allow me to introduce myself. I¡¯m Qi Wan, your husband!" Gu Qingyu was speechless, only Qi Wan would be this shameless. "Why, are you so surprised to learn that a handsome guy like me is your husband? You''re so elated that you can''t speak? Oh, my dear, don''t be like this, that''s embarrassing me!" Qi Wan reached out his hand and put on a posture that he thought was very handsome, and even flicked his hair. "Come, baby! Leap into your husband''s arms! I will take you out of here!" "Enough, you can leave now." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Are you itching for a spanking after such a long while?" "Eh?" Qi Wan suddenly raised his head and stared at her. "Boss, didn''t you lose your memories?" Gu Qingyu smacked her forehead. "Come on, even my amnesia would be cured from that level of stimulation and shouting." Qi Wan suddenly stretched out his arms and hugged Gu Qingyu tightly. "I thought you would never remember me again!" Gu Qingyu felt that his body was trembling slighty and he sounded as though he was sobbing. She reached over and patted his back gently. "Okay, it''s okay. Thank you, Qi Wan, thank you for worrying about me, thank you for bringing back my memories. Do you know? If I didn''t see you, I probably wouldn''t remember." "Me?" Qi Wan raised his head and looked at Gu Qingyu, his expression was surprised, "Me?" "Uh-huh." Gu Qingyu nodded. "Wow ha ha ha boss thought you actually love me so ha ha ha ha..." Qi Wan laughed heartily, his eyes full of joy. "Go away." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes and pushed him away. "It''s dangerous here! The whole palace is crawling with Mo Bai''s men, do you have a death wish or something?" "Boss! Death is a worthy risk if I could see you again." Qi Wan''s expression was affectionate. "I actually believed it." Gu Qingyu pouted. "Okay, I''m not kidding, it''s really dangerous here. Get going! It''ll be really bad if you get caught." "Boss, can I take this as you worrying about me?" Qi Wan chuckled. "Ah, read it as such." Gu Qingyu replied perfunctorily then thought carefully, and instructed, "Also, to notify everyone else to stop the battle and come to the Imperial City." "Yes, my lord!" Qi Wan saluted. Suddenly, his eyes steeled and immediately stepped forward to grab Gu Qingyu''s hand, "Come with me!" He gently pinched Gu Qingyu''s hand, and Gu Qingyu immediately understood his signal. Mo Bai was here, and there was no time left to hide. He would rather expose himself to danger and give up the opportunity to escape, all while knowing that he will definitely be caught if he stays than run away and cause Mo Bai''s suspicion. Gu Qingyu felt her eyes stung a little, but when she felt the cold air approaching behind her, she struggled against Qi Wan''s grip. "No! I''m going to find Mo Bai!" Mo Bai must not be allowed to find that she has recovered her memory, otherwise everything would go to waste! "Yu''er!" Mo Bai''s voice came and sent a huge wave of energy flying towards Qi Wan. Qi Wan sidestepped, but he did not manage to dodge it entirely. Blood trickled out of the corner of his lips. It pained her to see him hurt, but Gu Qingyu stepped back to Mo Bai''s side. "Mo Bai, let him go. He didn''t hurt me." "Yu''er, are you sure?" Mo Bai looked at her with concern. Gu Qingyu shook her head. "Yes." Mo Bai seemed to be relieved, and then stroked Gu Qingyu''s head. "Good, leave it to me. You should go out first, everything will be fine." Then the look in his eyes changed. "Tsing Yi, send the empress to my palace." Tsing Yi, who had been standing next to him, took two steps forward. Gu Qingyu could tell that he never planned to let Qi Wan go, so she tugged on his sleeve with a whimper. "Mo Bai!" "Huh?" Mo Bai turned around and looked at Gu Qingyu, his eyes full of softness. Gu Qingyu shook her head and looked down. Qi Wan seized the opportunity and sent out one of his ribbons. The dark green ribbon wrapped around the beam at the top of the ceiling. But right then, Mo Bai condensed the dark light in his hand into a daggar and threw it at Qi Wan. Qi Wan froze for a moment, then stretched out his other hand. Another ribbon flew out from his sleeve and wrapped up the dagger as he flew towards Mo Bai. "Be careful!" Gu Qingyu instinctively blocked Mo Bai and shocked him. He grabbed her and jerked her back. The ribbon sliced open his arm. Qi Wan was also shocked, he didn''t mean to injure Mo Bai. But at the very least, Gu Qingyu was safe. He was about to leave when the following scene shocked him to his core. Blood was gushing out of Gu Qingyu''s chest. A dagger pierced through her as Tsing Yi stood behind her with a vicious glare and gritted teeth. "Die!" Tsing Yi cursed as Gu Qingyu''s expression turned rigid. "Boss!" Qi Wan screamed. And before Mo Bai could react, he flew towards Tsing Yi and released all of his power. Ribbons flew out from him at a blinding speed and left gaping holes in Tsing Yi. Chapter 115: Yu Chapter 115: Yu Translated by: iris.knight Gu Qingyu also slowly fell to the ground and into Mo Bai''s arms. Mo Bai immediately knelt down, let Gu Qingyu lie on his knees, and looked at the person in his arms with shock and panic. "Yu''er...Yu''er!" Gu Qingyu could only hear Mo Bai, she raised her head slightly and looked at him as she managed to squeeze out a faint smile. "Mo Bai, I''m sorry....I haven''t really been able to help you." "Yu''er, stop talking, I''ll heal you!" Mo Bai''s hands glowed with stars, but Qi Wan grabbed his hand and stopped him. Mo Bai raised his head and met Qi Wan''s angry and cold eyes. "Mo Bai, listen to me," Gu Qingyu coughed. "Don''t... continue anymore... Actually I have... restored my memory... I''m sorry... I lied to you... please......" Her words were suddenly stuck in her throat. "Yu''er!" Mo Bai''s pupil shrank suddenly. "No!" Then, a pair of hands shoved him to the side as Qi Wan pulled Gu Qingyu into his arms. Icy rage was all that was on his face. "This is what you wanted? Your insanity is what killed her." "I''m sorry... I''m sorry..." Mo Bai looked at Gu Qingyu in Qi Wan''s arms, "Yu''er..." "Do you know? If I didn''t care about her feelings, I would have destroyed this city and dragged her out of here! Did you know?You''re the one that she kept fussing over even after her memories came back. She was worried about you! But what did you give her? What can you give her?" A ribbon flew out from Qi Wan and wrapped Tsing Yi into a bundle. He leapt up and left. Mo Bai sat on the ground in a complete daze. "Yu''er... how could this be..." I still ended up hurting you. Qi Wan soared through the air with Gu Qingyu in his arms. And with a shake, the ribbon wrapped around Tsing Yi loosened and she plummeted to the ground. A man in black caught her right before impact. The man in black watched Qi Wan go away, then bowed his head respectfully before he turned to face Tsing Yi. "You... who are you..." It took all of her strength to squeeze out her question. "Your people call me Kuro, I work for Qi Wan." Kuro smiled at her slightly, and his beautiful face shone like a demon in the moonlight, "His orders were to treat you well. Let''s go." The fear in Tsing Yi''s eyes was magnified infinitely. Qi Wan landed on a hill. Someone immediately came up and knelt before him. "Master! Tsing Yi has arrived!" "Good." The warmth in his eyes were replaced by infinite coldness. He strode into the nearby valley with the now-unconscious Gu Qingyu in his arms. Ye Jin, Mo Bai. Since either of you can''t protect her, then don''t blame me for being rude. Qi Wan came to a cottage and then gently his fingers along the edge of the bed, the bed flipped up and revealed a tunnel. He walked down the tunnel and into a luxurious palace.He went straight to the bed and gently set her down onto the sheets. The sheets were slightly cold. A man walked in immediately and bowed his head obediently. "Master!" "Yu, heal her." Qi Wan glanced at him. Without any hesitation, Yu nodded. "Yes!" Qi Wan stepped back and Yu stepped forward. Yu wrapped his hand around the dagger in her chest, and with a bit of force, he pulled it out. Blood spewed from her wound. Qi Wan just frowned, but his eyes remained on Gu Qingyu. Yu stretched out his hand, white mist swirled and gathered in his palm. Slowly and gently, he pressed down on the gaping wound and stopped the bleeding. Then, Yu chanted with a magnetic baritone. His voice echoed through the room and added a sense of sombre hollowness. "May my years bring your healing, may my health restore your peace. May my offering of life bring about your awakening, may my mortal flesh be exchanged for your immortal eternity." Her body started to glow with a faint light, then the light grew bigger and bigger until it blinded everything. Soon, the light dissipated. The young and beautiful Yu is no longer there, replaced by a mere husk of bones. Meanwhile, Gu Qingyu was peacefully asleep. Her breathing had smoothened out, it was clear that she was out of the woods. Someone immediately stepped forward and removed the skeleton. Qi Wan walked over, sat down at the edge of her bed and watched her intently. "No one can hurt you now, boss." His fingertips brushed against the hollow of her cheeks. Gu Qingyu''s brow gently furrowed, then smoothened as her eyes opened with a soft flutter. "You''re awake?" Within seconds, a smile spread across Qi Wan''s face. "Yeah," Gu Qingyu rubbed her head, her mind felt fuzzy. It took her a long time to react. The last thing she remembered was Tsing Yi''s dagger going through her. "Where...are we? Am I dead?" "I''m right here, how could you be dead?" Qi Wan gave a cheeky grin. "How do you feel? Are you touched? Would you like to repay me? You can just put a ring on it." "Go away. If you want a ring, you missed your chance a few more thousand years." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "So I had a chance a few thousand years ago?" Qi Wan''s eyes lit up. "Yeah, yeah." Gu Qingyu jumped out of bed. It didn''t hurt at all, even though she was stabbed just moments ago. "Qi Wan, what did you do?" "It''s a secret." Qi Wan leaned into her and said with a low whisper, "But I can tell you if you marry me~" "Then forget it, I rather not know." Gu Qingyu pouted as she smacked his face. Qi Wan was not annoyed. "Ahahaha! Boss, come with me for a walk~" "Well, okay." Gu Qingyu stood up, but her legs gave out. Qi Wan immediately held her up. "Boss, you''ve gotten old! Slow down, I''ll support you." It should be a sequela, whatever healing method he used, it did not recover her lost strength. Gu Qingyu realised that she would have difficulty walking on her own, so she nodded. "Let''s go." Qi Wan carefully supported Gu Qingyu and the pair left the palace and walked up a path. Soon, the path opened up to the surrounding scenery. The night sky stretched on, but light was slowly breaking through the darkness at the edge of the horizon. In that moment, both the moon and the sun shared the sky. It''s daybreak. Dewdrops were forming on leaves, tiny veins along the leaves were visible. Birds were chirping in the distance as they welcomed a new day. Gu Qingyu looked at the beauty of these natures in a trance. The cold wind of the ending winter swept towards her and carried the fragrance of the beginning of spring with it. Qi Wan took off his most outer robe and draped it over her shoulders. "Do you like it?" "This is the place you mentioned when we were back at Ye?" Gu Qingyu said in amazement, "It''s so beautiful!" "Yeah, it''s beautiful." Qi Wan narrowed his eyes and smiled. In the faint light, his face looked clean and pure. "I''ve only been here for such a long time since I have been here. Now, finally Someone can watch it with me." That sounded like a relieved exclamation, but Gu Qingyu heard the disappointment in his excitement. She didn''t say anything and focused on the moment. She heard the sound of the first dewdrop sliding off a leaf. She felt the warmth of the sun slowly passing through the clouds, the coolness of the wind blowing gently on her face, and the person around her that was sharing this moment with her. "Do you know?" Qi Wan suddenly said, "I can feel everything from you. I can even hear your heartbeat. I never thought that I would find someone in this world that I want to spend the rest of my entire life with." Gu Qingyu raised her head. "Well, I can feel yours too. " This bond between them has gone past soulmates, or even twin flames. Neither of them can describe this, but they could always sense each other. Then, Gu Qingyu suddenly remembered Ye Jin. Where is he now? Is he ok? The last time we met, he got hurt, did he get better? Or did it get worse? Is he still looking for me? Does he still want to see me? His charming face appeared in her mind. "What are you thinking about?" Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyu with a smile, but he knew deep down who was on her mind. Gu Qingyu hesitated, looked at Qi Wan again, and finally shook her head. "It''s fine." I don''t want to destroy this atmosphere. I don''t want to destroy Qi Wan''s happy mood. "Right, we should get going, get some breakfast in our system. I can make a full spread you know? The size of a buffet table!" Qi Wan pointed and emphasised. "Okay, I know, delicacies of the world. What do you think I''ve been eating this whole time? I''ve eaten pretty much everything except for poison." Gu Qingyu began to walk back to the palace. Qi Wan opened his mouth, but paused right before he said anything. In the end, he couldn''t resist and asked, "What about feces?" Gu Qingyu was speechless. Only Qi Wan would think like this. She rolled her eyes. "Nope, I haven''t tried it. That one''s for you to try." Qi Wan chuckled as he gently supported her and led the way. Gu Qingyu suddenly remembered Mo Bai but shook her head gently. She could use a break, a breather to clear her mind before she dealt with what remained Chapter 116: True Colours 2 Chapter 116: True Colours 2 Translated by: iris.knight "No need, I can do this." Gu Qingyu pouted. She asked when she looked up, "Is this the place?" Qi Wan smiled as he helped her walk in. As soon as they entered the house, a beautiful spread of delicacies greeted them. "Yeah, it''s nice isn''t it?" "I love it!" Gu Qingyu was so excited, she was going to pounce onto the table and dig in. "Okay, let''s eat, no one''s going to fight with you for it." Qi Wan and Gu Qingyu sat down together. He turned around and met her intense stare. Qi Wan gulped nervously under her sudden scrutiny. " What''s wrong, boss?" "Are you sure no one''s going to fight with me for this?" She questioned with a raised brow. Qi Wan froze for a second, then immediately picked up his chopsticks. 1 Hour Later Burp! "That''s not fair! You said you weren''t going to fight with me for the food!" Gu Qingyu complained as she rubbed her belly. Hiccup! "Oh please, how much did you eat? And how much did I eat?" Qi Wan rubbed his stomach too. The pair of big eaters sprawled out in their chairs and rested. After a while. Gu Qingyu turned to Qi Wan and asked, "Are there any fun places around this area?" "Yeah, I know a scenic spot!" Qi Wan nodded immediately. "In fact, you''re looking at the perfect tour guide right now!" "Is that so? You seemed to be very familiar with this area." Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan with a straight face. "Ahem, boss, I told you. I''m not as simple as you thought, maybe even beyond your imagination..." Qi Wan coughed lightly. "You said you don''t mind.¡± "You don''t have to remind me, I''m just curious." She reached over and held his hand. He was really tense and nervous, a clear indication that he really values her view of him. "I would like to take a look." Qi Wan pondered and finally relented. He nodded. "Okay." He stood up, helped Gu Qingyu stand up then gently tapped the wooden floor with his feet. The floor began to rattle and shake. Within moments, Gu Qingyu found herself in Qi Wan''s arms, the panel beneath them opened up and they were falling through the hole. She looked up, the panel had already closed above them. Qi Wan''s hair danced around them as they fell. Then, Qi Wan landed on solid ground, and turned to her with half-moon eyes. "So, was that exciting?" "Well, it''s okay. A rollercoaster is more fun though." Gu Qingyu nodded. Five people came up to them and knelt down before them. "Welcome back, Lord Qi!" They greeted Qi Wan in complete unison. "Yes." Qi Wan nodded with a smile, "Get up, you don''t have to be so serious." The five people raised their heads with a surprised expression, their movements were perfectly in sync. But they were well-trained after all and they immediately got up and bowed their heads. "Yes!" "This is your lady-in-chief." Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyu and smiled. "Go away." Gu Qingyu was about to smack his head again, but his men were still around. So she rolled her eyes instead, and walked away. "My queen! Wait for me!" Qi Wan hurried to keep up with her. "You forgot your tour guide!" The five watched the pair continue down the path and glanced at each other. One of them asked in a daze. "Was that Lord Qi just now?" The second person shook his head. "No way!" The third person disagreed. "No, that should be Lord Qi. But since when does he have such a...wimpy side to him?" The fourth person nodded. "Yeah, and Lord Qi seems really...weak-willed in front of that woman." The fifth person concluded. "The Lord must have changed himself! It''s good, otherwise all of us would be even more stressed out." "Okay, let''s catch up with them. What if they need us?" The first person, who was also the leader of the squad, turned to catch up with Gu Qingyu and Qi Wan. "Yes!" The other four nodded and followed. Gu Qingyu looked around her, the architecture was ingenious and breathtaking. As she continued down the passage, she found herself in an underground castle. "Boss, are you thirsty? Would you like some tea?" Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyu flatteringly, and the leader of the squad immediately offered a glass of water. "No need, I''m not thirsty." Gu Qingyu shook her head and continued forward. "Qi Wan, let me ask you something." "Please, go ahead! Do not hesitate!" Qi Wan stood at attention immediately. The squad followed suit. "You don''t have to be so serious and uptight..." Gu Qingyu looked at the squad of five, and then looked at Qi Wan. "I really don''t understand how you managed to train these people to be completely not like you." The five people on the side panicked internally. Lady-in-chief! Do you know that whatever you said could potentially prompt Lord Qi to send us to our graves in an instant? "It''s my lack of consideration, I will rectify it right now!" Qi Wan nodded immediately and glanced at the squad. "What are you still doing? Relax! Don''t stand so straight!" "Yes!... Okay, got it." The five people immediately changed their manner of speech. Gu Qingyu shrugged helplessly and turned back to Qi Wan. "Is Tsing Yi dead?" "No, she''s still alive. And she''s here." Qi Wan tilted his head, "What about it?" "I want to see her." Gu Qingyu nodded as if something was on her mind. "No, boss..." Qi Wan swallowed weakly. "Why? Why are you not letting me see her? Who just said'' Please, go ahead! Do not hesitate!''?" Gu Qingyu glared at Qi Wan. "Okay, okay, well, I''m just worried about you." Qi Wan''s face was helpless, "I kinda lost my cool yesterday, and probably went overboard with it...It can be a bit of a visual shocker, and I''m not sure if you can handle that so..." Gu Qingyu softened at his explanation and nodded. "I''ll be fine, take me to her." "But..." Qi Wan still looked at Gu Qingyu hesitantly. Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes and suddenly grabbed his arm. "Xiao Wanwan~" "Don''t do that, Boss..." A shiver went down his entire body. "Xiao Wanwan~ Just take me there, please?" Gu Qingyu pleaded with her trademark doe eyes as she swung his arm to and fro. "Boss, you know that I can''t say no when you do this... Fine, at least I have good self-control." Qi Wan patted her head helplessly. "Go, but you have to tell me the moment you feel unwell. And you, tell Kuro to get ready." He tilted back and instructed the leader of the squad. Then, he led the way. "Yes!" He bowed then left immediately. "Thank you, Xiao Wanwan~" Gu Qingyu gave him a satisfied grin and let go of his arm. Qi Wan watched her with disappointment as he stroked his sleeve longingly. "Boss, you just demolished the bridge you just passed through!" "That''s the point. I''ve already gone through it, so why should I keep it lying around? What if someone crosses that bridge to come after me?" Gu Qingyu turned around and asked with an innocent, naive smile. Qi Wan was rendered speechless. Although I really want to refute you, somehow it sounds like you have a point! "Ah, you are so silly. But I''ll give you a pointer or two, since I''m so kind and responsible." Gu Qingyu nodded as though she was a wise old sage. Silly? The remaining members of the squad had huge sweat drops behind their heads. This was the first time anyone had completely subverted their entire world view. They had never seen Lord Qi behave like this, they have never heard anyone call Lord Qi silly, and they have never heard anyone tell them to ''not be so uptight'', let alone from a Lady-in-chief. "Thank you boss!" Qi Wan nodded with a smile, "Boss, we''re almost there." Gu Qingyu turned, they were approaching a door. Maybe they had arrived at a remote part of the castle, as the door felt eerily cold. Something seemed to be calling out to her. A shiver went down her spine. "Boss, you would not like this place..." Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyu with some worry. "This leads to the dungeons. Do you still want to continue?" Gu Qingyu answered with a firm nod. He sighed, then waved his hand. One of the members of the squad walked up with a key in his hand, and unlocked the chains that sealed the door. The door opened and the smell of damp mold with the rusty smell of blood rushed out. Gu Qingyu felt her stomach roll, but she pressed on. Qi Wan stopped her with his hand, and asked again, "Do you really want to go in? You don''t have to force yourself." "I''m not forcing myself. Did you forget what I really am? I can still handle this." Gu Qingyu reassured him with a carefree smile and reached out to hold his hand before she entered the dungeons. Qi Wan remained close to her side and the other four members of the squad followed them dutifully. Inside the dungeons. The walls were replaced by cells, and each cell was occupied. Many of them were on their last breath, even letting out a whimper would be too much for them. Gu Qingyu frowned, focused her eyes to look straight ahead and strode forward. She was not afraid, but it was a little hard to watch. These people were obviously tortured, and are now left here to die or to struggle painfully to live. Such cruelty. It''s hard to picture that this was done by someone with such a warm smile and joyful personality. Qi Wan, he is really not as he appeared to be. That sunny, cheerful and humorous boy. The boy that came from the same world as her. Chapter 117: Masks Chapter 117: Masks Translated by: iris.knight Gu Qingyu always reached out and pushed his face away. "Calm down. Am I really as weak as I look?" "Boss, the thing is, it''s almost impossible to find girls as gentle, sweet, petite, and adorable like you." Qi Wan said as according to his conscience. "Oh, really?" Gu Qingyu looked at him in surprise. "Yes, we have other witnesses as well!" Qi Wan nodded. The remaining members of the squad immediately reacted. "Yes, the lady-in-chief is so kind!" "Yes, so petite and cute!" "Yes, yes!" "Awww, Qi Wan, it turns out that your men are as honest as you are!" Gu Qingyu said, her hands covered her slightly flushed face as she stomped her foot. Qi Wan was speechless. The squad were rendered speechless as well. "We''re here." Qi Wan turned a corner and came to a door. It was a solid steel door. The smell of blood escaped the room through the edges, and it overwhelmed Gu Qingyu''s senses. The leader of the squad had been waiting for them, and when they arrived, he gently opened the door. There was a water pit in the center of the room, this room was a water cell. Tsing Yi was chained to the heart of the water pit. Her blood had dyed the water crimson, and her skin was badly bloated and rotten. Gu Qingyu almost did not recognise her. The sight made her skin crawl. "Boss..." Qi Wan walked to her side and gently extended his hand, blocking her eyes, "Are you afraid?" "I''m fine." Gu Qingyu shook her head, "I''m not afraid." "No, I mean... I..." Qi Wan lowered his head. "Boss, I am not standing in front of you right now. I am actually a ruthless, bloodthirsty, sadistic, mass murderer. Are you still not afraid?" Gu Qingyu laughed. "Oh! Yeah, I''m scared." Qi Wan was surprised for a while, but Gu Qingyu continued, "I am definitely scared of that person you just described. Whoever that is, gives me the creeps. But Qi Wan, I will never be afraid of you. You will always be my Qi Wan, no matter what happens." "Yeah!" The corners of his lips lifted. "Thank you!" "Don''t thank me." Gu Qingyu turned to look at Tsing Yi. "Can you still talk?" Tsing Yi''s fingers moved slightly, then slowly raised her head. "You can even move..." Gu Qingyu mumbled to herself. Her calm reaction scared Qi Wan instead. "Boss, I figured you would want to talk to her, so I kept her alive, somewhat." "Alright, anything to say?" Gu Qingyu nodded with satisfaction, looking at Tsing Yi. She could not even see her lips move, but she heard Tsing Yi say, "Go to hell." Gu Qingyu flinched, Tsing Yi was much more obsessed and resentful than she expected. Even Qi Wan''s eyes turned cold at Tsing Yi''s response. "Why do you hate me so much?" Gu Qingyu watched her curiously. "You... do you know... how much you''ve hurt Mo Bai... Tsing Yi coughed. "You are blind to everything... Every decision you make is a mistake..." "What?" Gu Qingyu could not believe her ears, even though logic reminded her that Tsing Yi must have served Mo Bai for a long time. She must have spent much more time with him than Gu Qingyu had. "You... cough, did you not even realise that your weapons are missing?" Tsing Yi''s voice had a mocking tone. Gu Qingyu''s eyes widened immediately. She knew right from the beginning, and she had always assumed Mo Bai had taken it. "Yes, it was taken away by Mo Bai." Tsing Yi seemed to haev read her mind. "Every night, in order to stop himself from going to see you, from going to hurt you, he would drive the Soul Nails into himself. Every night!" Gu Qingyu paled. She knew that the Soul Nails were powerful, but she had no idea what powers it actually had. Regardless, driving the Soul Nails meant hurting the soul directly. She couldn''t even begin to imagine the sheer agony. "Do you know?... He loves you so much. So much that it drove him insane. But he kept his head, just so he could be with you. Everything he did was to try to have you, but he could never have your heart...He was an emperor! And he fell from grace, all of one woman. It''s so tragic that it''s hilarious." Qi Wan''s eyes sank. He was about to lash out but Gu Qingyu grabbed his arm and stopped him. "Keep going." Her voice trembled slightly. "Did you really think that you bluffed him? That he would not find out that you''ve recovered your memories? Oh he knew, he just didn''t tell you. He knew that going to war meant destruction for Nanyou, but he went ahead, for you. He could have held you as hostage and used you to bargain with the other kingdoms, but he didn''t. He could have had you, kept you, all for himself, but he didn''t want to force you..." The tremble in Gu Qingyu''s voice had spread to her hands. "I..." "Anything to say? Are you going to defend yourself? Try to absolve yourself from your sins? You''re not even out there! You ran away, and now you''re hiding here, afraid and scared to own up to what you did." Tsing Yi''s eyes burned with contempt. "I''ve wanted to kill you for a long time, ever since you killed Fen Yi...It''s a shame you survived..." "Fen Yi? She was also one of you?" Gu Qingyu frowned. That''s the lady in pink from the Fragrance Hall. Their names were close enough, so I did have a hunch that they were related in some way. So, whoever that finished Fen Yi that day...should be Mo Bai. She went peacefully because she saw her majesty, and she was glad to offer her life up to someone that she served. In that regard, Tsing Yi is less fortunate...No, she almost killed me, whichever side she ended up in would not have let her go easily. "Yeah, are you surprised?" Tsing Yi cackled. Her cackling pulled the muscles on her face, and her face twisted and contorted. "Oh, all those previous assassinations? Those attacks in the mountains? Even the Spider Queen, all of them were done by us..." Qi Wan sleeve robe waved, and in a flash, the water swelled up and encased Tsing Yi. Tsing Yi was trapped in that ball of water, her face contorted in pain. But even though her voice was stifled by the water, Gu Qingyu could still read her lips. Tsing Yi was still laughing. Her lips opened lightly. Go to hell. Then the light in her eyes vanished. She''s finally free, free from this world that had caused her so much suffering. Gu Qingyu closed her eyes gently and took a deep breath, there was a soft fragrance. And when she opened her eyes, she was wrapped up in a warm embrace. "Boss, you don''t have to feel guilty over this..." Qi Wan hugged her, his worry evident in his voice. "I mean, you''re a huge softie. I really don''t want you to have to deal with all this. Just leave things to me, I can take care of it. You don''t force yourself to get back out there. We''ll face it together. This place? It''s your home now. I''ll take you outside once you''ve decided that you''re ready. Okay?" "...Okay." Gu Qingyu said softly. Alright, Qi Wan, I will prepare for that day. I will not force myself, I will train myself to be strong enough to handle everything when the time comes. Before that, and after that, I know that you will always be by my side, to the edge of the world, and until the end of time. The bond between us has transcended death, time and everything else. It''s something that I can''t describe with words, nor put ink to paper. Hundreds of years into the future, you would be with me, cracking up jokes, and I would be there, laughing at every single one of them. It would be just like right now. You would still be you, that humorous person that is filled with joy. And I would be me, the girl that would be protected by you. Gu Qingyu followed Qi Wan and exited the dungeon, The moment fresh air surrounded her, she took in deep breaths, as if she was trying to clean out her lungs. She glanced at Qi Wan, he was staring at her with half-moon eyes. He did not seem fazed by the smells in the dungeon. Ah, so he was already used to it. Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Say, since you''re so amazing, why don''t you invent a mask for me? Or is it because you can''t invent something?" "Of course I can!" Qi Wan glared. "Just you wait, boss, I''ll give you a finished product tomorrow!" "Okay, okay, I''m just messing with you. I don''t have any use for it either way, it''s not like I would be going back to the dungeons." Gu Qingyu sighed, shook her head and walked forward. "So, where shall we go next, Qi Wan?" "Are you really treating this place like an amusement park?" Qi Wan was shocked. "Huh?" Gu Qingyu turned back slightly and gave Qi Wan a standard, beautiful smile, showing only 8 teeth from the top row. "Did I misunderstand something? Am I not allowed to relax and have fun here?" "No, no, no, how could you be wrong? Let''s go, my dear boss! Your tour will resume right this moment, this place is bigger than any amusement park you have ever seen!" Qi Wan immediately bowed, then trotted forward and led the way. The squad of five behind them was speechless at their interaction. Lord Qi, whatever happened to your cool image? After witnessing so much, would we be in trouble? Would the Lord visit us later at night and silence us? In that case, should we butter up to the lady-in-chief and secure a chance of survival? Gu Qingyu followed Qi Wan with satisfaction, but she could feel the squad behind her, watching them. She turned around. "Do you guys have anything urgent?" "No, no." The leader was stunned, then replied. "Oh, you''re just here to hit soy sauce?" Gu Qing nodded understandingly. The squad leader was confused. What in the world does hit soy sauce mean? And that was number 2''s old name, why would...? The second-in-command was gobsmacked. Why would the lady-in-chief want to stir me? Should I hit myself first? I don''t know what did I do wrong, but surely pleading for mercy would help? Oh no, I think Lord Qi''s attitude is rubbing off on me! Gu Qingyu noticed that the squad leader did not respond. Instead, he looked to be lost in thought, and the second-in-command was horrified, so she asked, "What''s wrong?" "Ahem." Qi Wan clarified. "Boss, actually the second-in-command, his name used to be Soy Sauce." Chapter 118: The Squad of Seasoning Spices Chapter 118: The Squad of Seasoning Spices Translated by: iris.knight "Ah? Oh, poor you. Every day he¡¯ll get beaten by passerby A." Gu Qingyu sighed and looked at the second-in-command with sympathy. The third in the squad raised his head and blinked puzzledly. "Lady-in-chief, are you looking for me?" Gu Qingyu was startled. "What? What''s your name?" "Passerby A!" The third man looked at her matter-of-factly "What''s wrong?" "Pff! Do you have anyone called passerby B!" Gu Qingyu could not hold in her giggle. The fourth in the squad was confused. "I am the third''s younger brother, and my name is Passerby B. The lady-in-chief had a good eye, but how did you find out?" "Okay, what''s your name?" Gu Qingyu looked blankly at the most silent fifth and the boss who had been watching silently. The boss answere with a serious voice. "My name is Shrimp Oil, lady-in-chief." And the fifth in the squad raised his head. "And my name is Vinegar, lady-in-chief." Gu Qingyu was gobsmacked. There''s strange people everywhere, but why are there so many of them today? What is Qi Wan''s squad? Soy Sauce, Shrimp Oil, Vinegar, Passerby A and B. What is going on? "Ahem," Qi Wan cleared his throat unnaturally, reaching out to help Gu Qingyu close her chin. "I had the same reaction when I first met them." "Well, I know." Gu Qingyu pouted and looked at the five people, "Hello, introduce yourself, you can call me MSG." The squad of five didn''t know how to react. Meanwhile, Qi Wan came to a realisation. "Oh, I get it now! Then I''m Salt!!" The squad of five was completely speechless. Lord Qi, what ever happened to your pride? Gu Qingyu nodded confidently. "No wonder you''re "Does this have anything to do with whether I''m " Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyu calmly, "It is in my blood!" "Oh, get lost." Gu Qingyu pursed her lips in annoyance and then looked at the squad kindly. "You guys have followed us around all day. If you''re tired, please feel free to go and rest up." The squad was confused. "Lady-in-chief! We are not tired! We are not really tired!" "Oh, then would you like to join us?" Gu Qingyu asked innocently. "Okay, you all can go now." Qi Wan waved his hand, and the squad left with a bow. "Boss, it''s just the two of us now!" Qi Wan smiled with a scowling look, "This young mister will now bring you on a mountain adventure!" "A mountain adventure? What, are you the king of the mountain?" Gu Qingyu said with great interest. Qi Wan nodded thoughtfully, but his answer showed that he was really considering it. "Hey, not a bad idea! And you will be queen of the mountain!" Gu Qingyu reached out and smacked Qi Wan''s head. "Stay focused! Stop thinking about unrealistic things!" "Why? It''s very realistic..." Qi Wan looped her arm with his and led them to the exit. "Come, come, madam! This young mister will bring you on a mountain adventure! And show you the sights of the world!" "Tch." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes, and walked through the tunnel with Qi Wan. At the end of the tunnel was a springboard. Qi Wan stepped onto the springboard and beckoned her to join him with a wave. Slowly, the springboard slowly activated. Suddenly, it shook violently. And then they were launched upwards, along with the board. Gu Qingyu panicked, and she lost her balance but Qi Wan grabbed her by the arm and supported her. "Careful boss, this pathway hasn''t been used for a while, so things can get a little rocky." "Was the tunnel that we took on the way in considered stable?" Gu Qingyu snapped back, but she was really quite scared. "Well," The springboard suddenly came to a halt, and it disappeared into the floor. Qi Wan gently pinched her hand and said with a teasing grin, "Oh, I didn''t know you would be scared of such things, couldn''t tell at all!" "Yes, yeah, this thing scares me the most." Gu Qingyur replied with a huff and rolled her eyes, even though her face had turned a little pale. "You know me so well." "Don''t get angry, boss, I''ll get someone to change these immediately!" He apologised the moment he noticed that Gu Qingyu was actually scared of these thrill-seekers, and a tinge of guilt poked at his heart when he saw her pale face. "I''m sorry, I didn''t know you don''t like these things...I wanted to give you a surprise, so..." "It''s okay. It''s not that I can''t do this, I''m just not really up for it right now. It''s a little too exciting for me." She shook her head, but her legs were still a little weak. She looked up, and a vibrant scene greeted her. She was standing in the middle of green pastures, wildflowers of red and yellow peeked out from the green grass. "Do you like it?" Qi Wan helped her off the springboard and led her to sit down on the grass. There were no trees in sight, and the bright sun that showered onto the pastures was a welcomed warmth in the tail end of winter. Birds were chirping in the distance, the fragrance of flowers filled the air. "It''s breathtaking." Gu Qingyu laid directly on the soft grass, it was warm from the sun. It felt as though she was lying on a heating blanket. She closed her eyes, it was still bright behind her eyes. Qi Wan laid down beside her. "Boss, if you want to, you can stay here with me, forever." "That sounds nice, but there is still so much to see, so much to do." She sighed, "when we''ve gathered all of the spirit gems and completed my mission, then we can all come here together. Imagine, on a sunny morning just like this, Ye Jin and Murong Zuoyu are having some sword practice, Mo Bai''s playing the flute, Xie Zang is playing with the birds, you and Qi Yichen are bantering as always, and Xiao Qi and I would be in the kitchen. Then, we would announce that breakfast is ready, and everyone would come in then we would all sit down for breakfast together. That would be our life, we''ll all have breakfast together, then travel and go on adventures every day." "This is your wish?" Qi Wan turned his head in surprise and looked at her. Gu Qingyu didn''t answer and she closed her eyes again. After a while, she said, "I know that will never happen. All of you have other things to do, there''s no way that you could give up all of that to fulfill my literal fantasy. You would be giving up your countries and people. Even if you all really uproot your lives to fulfill my dream, that would not make you guys happy. I would be the only one that''s happy, and there is just no point if you guys aren''t happy." "Who said that?" Qi Wan hmphed, "Everyone would love to go on adventures with you everyday, and just have fun together. You know what, once you have finished your mission, we''ll come back here, and we''ll do exactly what you dreamed of. I''m looking forward to it already, boss." "Hmm! Me too!" Gu Qingyu smiled. The sun and QI Wan''s enthusiasm brightened up her face. "Thank you, Qi Wan. Sometimes I wonder if this is all just a dream. All of a sudden, I would wake up to my alarm blaring in my ears. And then I would get up, get dressed, have breakfast then go to work. I would have to rinse and repeat that for the rest of my life. Maybe sometimes I would remember my time here, but it would still be just a dream. Even meeting you would be just part of a dream." Qi Wan didn''t say anything, so she continued after a pause. "But, I would still be happy if it''s just a dream. I did meet amazing people like you guys, and have such amazing and beautiful experiences. So, one day, if we ever go back, you have to call me... Qi Wan?" He had been silent for a while, so she turned to look at him. His eyes were closed, and his long lashes quivered with each breath. As she leaned over him, the sun cast a shadow on his face. His chest raised and fell peacefully, he seemed to be asleep. His handsome features turned soft and warm under the sun, his dark green robe smelled like the sun as well. The young nobleman was just a normal, cheerful boy. He may be a bloodthirsty big bad villain in many people''s eyes, but to her, he would always be that boy that tries to make her laugh and would do everything for her. He carefully hid all of his cold and dark sides, and only showed his cheerful side as he joked and laughed with her. Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan''s sleeping face, smiled gently, and laid down again. She would not forget this moment, she would not forget this person in front of her. The sight of him dressed in a dark green robe, taking a nap in the warm sun on soft green grass, she would burn it into her memory. Gu Qingyu also closed her eyes, the warm sun has made her quite drowsy. And soon, she was dreaming. She dreamed of someone, his blue robes danced in the wind. His face was all that she could see in that moment. Blue light gathered in his hand, it was his prized sword, Ghost Howl. "Xiao Yu''er..." He seemed to be calling her with a low voice "Please, come back soon..." Gu Qingyu could feel a lump form in her throat, but she couldn''t say a word. She wanted to go up to him and hug him as tight as she could, but they were seperated by a glass wall. She could not get through it no matter how hard she tried. "Xiao Yu''er, why can''t I find you at all... He seemed to be mumbling to himself, "Xiao Yu''er, I miss you so much, where are you..." Ye Jin! I''m right here! Gu Qingyu slapped the glass and shouted constantly, but even she could not hear her own voice. Ye Jin! Ye Jin! Jia Qizhe! I''m right here! Just come here! Ye Jin''s sword suddenly sliced open his arm, and blood splashed onto the glass. The crimson liquid slid down the clear wall. "I''m sorry Xiao Yu''er! I''m useless! It''s all my fault! I will find you, no matter what it takes, and I will protect you.." Ye Jin suddenly turned around and walked away, as if he never saw her. No! Ye Jin! The glass wall vanished in an instant, and she dropped to the ground. She could not find the strength to stand up. Tears poured down her cheeks as she reached out toward him. She stretched as far as she could, but he was still walking further and further away from her. "No!" Her eyes snapped open. Qi Wan''s giant face was looking back at her and gave her a scare. "Qi Wan?" Chapter 119: Getting Lost Chapter 119: Getting Lost Translated by: iris.knight The sun was still beating down on them, and casted a shadow on her face as Qi Wan leaned over her. "Yeah, I guess that was a nightmare." Gu Qingyu exhaled and Qi Wan continued to wipe her face. "How long have I slept?" "Ah, not very long, just 3 hours." Qi Wan looked at the sky, "It should be noon now." The realisation hit her and she said excitedly, "Does that mean it''s lunchtime?" Qi Wan was speechless. Can you think of anything else? Boss, you still have tear streaks on your face! He cleared his throat and asked, "You dreamt of Ye Jin, right?" Qi Wan watched her intently, his face was just inches away from her. She turned away and avoided his pale green eyes, "yeah." She has to admit that sometimes Qi Wan knew her better than herself. "If you want to see him, I can bring you to him tomorrow." Qi Wan said with a determined look in his eyes, as if he had made up his mind about something. "Really?" Gu Qingyu was overjoyed and immediately turned to look at Qi Wan. Qi Wan looked into her eyes. After a few seconds, he nodded and then turned over and laid down next to her again. "Ah, I really don''t like this feeling of giving up my favourite things!" Gu Qingyu frowned at his statement. Qi Wan saved her, and she was now in his care, so she had avoided mentioning Ye Jin, let alone suggesting to go to find him. She was also worried that it would upset Qi Wan. But, even if he did not mention it, she had planned to leave tomorrow. She has to go to Ye Jin and face the inevitable. There would never be enough time for her to clear her mind and find the perfect answer that she would not regret. Sometimes the answer would appear right in front of you and slap you across the face like a cold fish. It would be better to prepare to face the answer head-on before that happens. If that dream was true and he is really looking for her, then she will have to go to him. Yechen, do you know how much I missed you? How long has it been since I heard you call me "Xiao Yu''er"? When I see you again, I would wrap you up and hug you as tight as I can. Then I would tell you, "I missed you, Xiao Zhezhe." I really miss you, so please, just wait for me for a little while more. "Okay, it''s about time. And I''m hungry too, let''s go grab lunch!" Qi Wan stood up and held out his hand to Gu Qingyu. "The food here is great too, boss. And it''ll be covered if you join us, would you give it some thought?" "Well, it''s worth considering." Gu Qingyu nodded. She took his hand and stood up with his help. Qi Wan laughed heartily, "No exams or interviews. The opening for the high-paying Queen of the Mountains is just waiting for you!" "All right, I''ll consider it. I''ll let you know again in a few hundred years." She rolled her eyes and walked away. Alright! You have to get back to me, ok?" Qi Wan did not appear to be joking at all as he caught up to her with a skip, his pale green orbs sparkled under the sun. "Huh." Gu Qingyu agreed casually. They were back at the springboard, the way that they used to come to the pastures. "Boss, do you still want to use this?" Qi Wan frowned. "There is another way, it will be better. Do you wanna use that way instead?" "No, I actually like this. I was just caught off guard." She shrugged. "Let''s get going, I''m hungry." "Huh!" Qi Wan stomped on the springboard. The springboard shook hard and then dropped down. Gu Qingyu gasped and at that moment, a ribbon flew out of Qi Wan''s sleeves, jammed straight into the wall next to them, and pulled against the springboard, slowing their descent. The springboard gradually dropped to the ground and the palace was in sight again. Qi Wan gently retracted his ribbons and they disappeared into his sleeves. "Let''s go." He smiled at her slightly and walked forward, without a care of the fact that he forcibly turned the springboard into an elevator. Some actions are just subconscious. Some feelings are just beyond control. After lunch Gu Qingyu leaned back into her chair. "Ah, life like this is great." "So, as long as you are with me, all you need to think about is playing and eating. You don''t have to worry about anything else. I''ll take care of everything else. My job is to feed you till you''re all round and fat." Qi Wan narrowed his eyes and smiled, which was really good-looking. Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Round and fat, do you think I''m a pig?" Qi Wan laughed, "It''s good, even if you''re a pig." Gu Qingyu didn''t intend to fight with him on this issue, but looked at Qi Wan with expectation: "Come on, where to play in the afternoon?" "Well, there are really a lot of good places here. Where do you want to play..." Qi Wan thought with his hand on his chin and leaned on the table. After a while, he snapped his fingers, "Ah-ha!" "Where are you going?" Gu Qingyu immediately became interested. "Come with me, your uncle guarantees that you''ll have fun~" Qi Wan gave a conniving smile. He stood up, grabbed a piece of fruit and held it in his teeth. "Let''s go, pretty~" Gu Qingyu smiled innocently. "Sure, if your ''pretty'' doesn''t find this fun, then she just might end you~" Qi Wan''s body stiffened and wiped the cold sweat from his brows. "Boss, you really refuse to be short-changed at any given moment..." "Yeah, that depends actually." Gu Qingyu nodded matter-of-factly, "Like if I get a full roast chicken for free, then maybe I can be short-changed a little." Qi Wan was speechless. Boss, can I confess that I can no longer keep up with your mind twisters? He nodded: "It''s good not to lose anything. If anyone charges you, just stuff it in their mouths!" "Good idea!" Gu Qingyu also nodded in conviction and opened the door, "So, shall we, uncle?" Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyu in horror: "No, boss, please just call me Qi Wan!" Gu Qingyu quickly answered. "Good uncle, no problem uncle!" Qi Wan waved his hand weakly, and stretched out his hand to hold the door for Gu Qingyu. "Let''s go, my queen." "Alright~" Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan with a smile and walked out of the door. Qi Wan followed her out, then led the way. They walked up a flight of stairs until they came back to the ground above and the lush forest. Qi Wan held out his hand, "Here, boss. This area is a lot bigger, it would be really bad if I lost you." "Lost me?" Gu Qingyu snorted, but she still held his hand, "I''ll be thankful if you didn''t get lost yourself!" "Ahem, how could that be possible..." Qi Wan coughed unnaturally, obviously a little guilty, "To be honest, I really did get lost the first time I came here." "Yeah, exactly." Gu Qingyu wiggled her eyebrows. "So where are we going?" "We''ll be there soon." Qi Wan smiled as he gripped her hand, then he tugged it gently and ran, pulling her with him. Before she could react, she was running along with him and they ran through the forest, "Hey, hey, slow down..." "Qi Wan, you... you should have told me...that you were going to run... Just you wait... I''ll show you..." Gu Qingyu bent down as she panted. When she raised his head and wanted to "educate" Qi Wan, she was shocked by what she saw. The afternoon sun shone radiantly, and in front of her was a small river. It glistened and shimmered under the light. The river is clear, the stones at the bottom of the river are clearly visible, and she could see fishes of different colours resting in between the stones. The wind passes through the woods, and colorful butterflies dance along the wind as they surround their own flowers. "It''s so beautiful..." Gu Qingyu sighed. Suddenly, she heard music playing behind her. She froze, then whipped back. Qi Wan held a leaf in his lips and played. As the song rose and fell, it followed the wind and traveled through the trees. Slowly, the singing of birds surrounded them. Birds of all shapes, sizes and colours gathered around Qi Wan and sang with him. The whistling leaf was not drowned out by the birdsong, instead it added to the song and created a perfect harmony. The breeze lifted his hair, his eyes were closed gently, and his lashes quivered with every breath. Gu Qingyu could only watch and stare at the sight before her. It was as if he was singing the song of nature itself, flowers bloomed to its melody, and rivers twisted and turned to its beat. Life surrounded them. The song was almost magical, yet it was only played for her. Some time later, Qi Wan removed the leaf from his lips and opened his eyes. He had a teasing grin as he looked at Gu Qingyu. "So, boss, have you finally fallen for me? Do you feel your heart pounding with love?" "Yes, my heart is definitely pounding." She nodded. "Goodness me, I thought there was a ghost behind me..." "Do you have to say that?" Qi Wan rolled his eyes. "These things don''t come easy, enjoy it while it lasts, boss! Well, we won''t be able to finish the tour anyway, we''re leaving tomorrow. But we''ll come back once we''ve collected all of the Spirit Gems, there is still a lot more to see and more places to explore, and only I know where they are!" Gu Qingyu was also delighted. "That sounds really nice." She walked to the side of the river and dipped her hand into the water. The cool water gently parted at the back of her hand and then closed at her palm. Even her heart had turned clear. The fishes didn''t seem to be wary of her. They swam over and gently touched her hand curiously, tickling her. "I like being here. It always opens up my mind, and calms my heart." Qi Wan sat on a large rock and leaned back slightly. He looked relaxed, lounging on the rock and basking in the sun. "Everytime I''m here, I''ll find something new. This place is truly full of surprises." Chapter 120: Halcyon Days Chapter 120: Halcyon Days Translated by: iris.knight "Well, yeah..." Qi Wan sighed as he squinted and watched Gu Qingyu play with the fishes. An afternoon soon passed just like that. Time always flies when you''re having fun, and just when you want that moment to freeze and stop forever, it had already passed. In a blink of an eye, it was already evening. Qi Wan stretched his back. "Okay, let''s go, go back and eat~" "Uh-huh." Gu Qingyu reluctantly looked back at the scenery, then turned back and walked out of the forest with Qi Wan. Back in the palace, after dinner, Gu Qingyu asked the question that had been eating her away. "Qi Wan, I always wanted to ask, where is this place? Who are you, exactly?" She paused, then continued before he could respond. "Of course, if you don''t want to say it, you don''t have to force yourself." "If you want to listen to the boss, of course, I can say," Qi Wan raised his eyebrows, "This is called Ling Ding Mountain, I named it. And I am the boss of Ling Ding. It''s sort of like an organisation as well." "Oh, that''s what it is." Gu Qingyu nodded her head with a clear look, "Got it, thank you." "Well, there is still another place we can check out at night. Are you tired, boss? Do you want to see it or do you want to sleep?" Qi Wan asked her. "Of course, let''s go!" Gu Qingyu snapped her fingers and stood up. "Lead the way!" "Well, it was the same spot" Qi Wan narrowed his eyes and smiled. "It''s just a different scenery at night~" "Then let''s not waste time!" Gu Qingyu rubbed her hands together excitedly. "Oh, we might have to wait a bit more." Qi Wan looked out of the door, and it was still fairly bright. "The surprise would only show up at night." "Okay." Gu Qingyu pouted. She laid on the table and played the chopsticks, hoping that time would pass quickly. Seeing her like this, Qi Wan couldn''t bear to let her wait any longer and immediately stood up and smacked the table. "It''s okay! It''s a little early, but it''ll still work! Let''s go!" "Good! Let''s do this!" Gu Qingyu also got up immediately, excited. Qi Wan grabbed her hand and walked out to the original springboard. They stood on the springboard, and just like before, Qi Wan slowed down the springboard with his ribbons. Everything was dark at first, but when things were different when they arrived at the pastures. It may be night already, but it was not dark at all. Moonlight filtered through the clouds, specks of light floated in the cool air of the end of winter. It''s fireflies. One by one, fireflies hovered among the grass with small lanterns, like scattered pearls. Their light glowed from hints of green to yellow, than back to green again. Gu Qingyu took in the scenery around her. Qi Wan watched her quietly as he remained by her side. Under the faint moonlight, his face looked a little misty and soft. "Boss..." "Huh?" Gu Qingyu turned to look at Qi Wan. She was in a very good mood, it was clear that she loved the surprise. Under the shining light of the stars, Qi Wan''s face appeared soft. He took a deep breath, nervousness written on his face, and then he said slowly, "Qingyu, I love you." "I..." Gu Qingyu was stunned. She did not expect Qi Wan to confess to her so suddenly. She didn''t know how to answer him. Seeing her lost and shocked reaction, Qi Wan lowered his gaze to the ground and hid the swirling emotion in his eyes. He smiled and said with a laugh, "It''s so hard to find a soulmate in this world. I''m grateful to have a friend like you." Ah, friend? Soulmate? Gu Qingyu couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief, and also smiled. "Well, then you should cherish it more." "What, haven''t I cherished it enough?" Qi Wan asked with blinking eyes. Then he turned to look at the sky, "Yeah, this is enough." "What?" Gu Qingyu didn''t understand what he was referring to. "Spending time with you, one on one" Qi Wan reminded with a cheeky smile, "What will happen if Hero Jia finds out?" Gu Qingyu''s face instantly turned green. "I think you will die miserably. Of course, I will not be much better." "Well, that''s good! It''ll be worth it to drag you down with me!" Qi Wan nodded thoughtfully. Gu Qingyu slapped his head mercilessly. "Get lost!" Qi Wan massaged his head. "Ouch, boss! You''re so fierce, who would even dare to want to marry you except for me?" "Tch, I can take care of myself just fine, I don''t need nobody." Gu Qingyu answered Qi Wan with disdain. "Yes!" Qi Wan''s expression suddenly realized. "You''re a strong, independent woman!" "Then tomorrow morning, I''ll cook breakfast. Would porridge be good?" Gu Qingyu asked with her hand on her chin. "Ahahaha, I don''t want to trouble you, boss. You''re a guest, there is no way I would let you do this!" Qi Wan gave her a sincere smile. "You should just shower and enjoy a good night''s sleep, then wake up to a feast. Leave someone else to do it!" Gu Qingyu nodded. "Well said!" The night grew darker. Qi Wan just wanted to say something, but he heard Gu Qingyu ask, "Qi Wan, do you know about the Snow Lotus?" "Of course I know. I grew up on an extremely steep iceberg. Boss, what kind of thing do you ask?" Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyu curiously. "I heard that Ye has been sending people to look for it, and they have lost many people over the years trying to find that thing. The Snow Lotus can cure all kinds of diseases and all the poisons in the world. In fact, there are some illnesses and poisons that can only be cured by it. It''s definitely a good thing, but to get it at the cost of so many human lives? It''s really suspicious." Qi Wan just told Gu Qingyu all of his speculations and thoughts. He really was not guarded towards her. Gu Qingyu was also very moved and nodded. "I want to find it, I have to." "Is there something wrong with you?" Qi Wan immediately looked at Gu Qingyu, his eyes concerned. "Ah, no." Gu Qingyu shook her head, and she didn''t intend to hide from Qi Wan. "It''s Ye Jin." "No wonder... I guessed it before, otherwise, Ye wouldn''t have poured so much into finding it." Qi Wan nodded and snapped his fingers, "Okay, I''ll take care of this!" Gu Qingyu copied what she used to see on television and clasped her hand together. "I thank you for this great kindness, and I will surely repay you in my next life!¡± "It doesn''t have to be your next life, you can just marry me in this life." Qi Wan smiled gracefully. "Come on," Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Stop kidding, I''m sleepy. Let''s go back together." "Huh." Qi Wan still narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Oh yeah, what about my weapons?" Gu Qingyu frowned, suddenly thinking of the matter, "Can I call them back to me?" "If you want to, of course you can call it back. Your will just needs to be strong enough." Qi Wan nodded. "You can try it, but you can''t summon it with usual means." Gu Qingyu wondered. "Why?" "That''s the basic method, just a simple summoning and appearance. So if you want it to come to your side, then you have to add in more willpower and intent. Then you call out to it with your heart." Qi Wan nodded.. "Okay, I know." Gu Qingyu said thoughtfully, "Let''s go." Back at the palace She was led by Qi Wan to the door of a room. Qi Wan opened the door and bowed. "Boss, please!" Gu Qingyu raised her feet and walked in.As soon as she entered the room, she was shocked by the magnificent decoration. She opened her mouth, her face in disbelief. "Qi Wan, do you have to be this extravagant?" "Haha, do you like it?" Qi Wan smiled. "Hurry up and sleep. Call me if there''s anything, I''ll be next door." "Well, okay." Gu Qingyu sat on the mattress, and immediately felt trapped, the bed was soft. Qi Wan turned back three times in a step, and his eyes were all ¡°soft and tender¡±. Finally, Gu Qingyu couldn''t help but ask, "Is there anything else?" "Boss, I''m so handsome, don''t you want to keep me with you?" Qi Wan flicked his hair as he leaned against the table Gu Qingyu grabbed a cup and threw it at him. "Come on, don''t hide, I''ll help you get a facelift." Qi Wan caught the teacup deftly. "No! Don¡¯t! We can talk this out! Don''t ruin my handsome face!" "Because you are so handsome, so handsome that you¡¯re causing so much trouble, so I plan to ruin it and help you regain your humanity! Thank you very much!" Gu Qingyu said with a straight face. "Oh, I don''t know why this baby was so sleepy..." Qi Wan immediately shouted and put the teacup on the table. "Well, do you want to stay, handsome?" Gu Qingyu''s hand played with the teapot. "No, no! You must rest quickly!" Qi Wan immediately flew out and closed the door. Gu Qingyu laughed as she laid down on the bed. She had a fun day. Tomorrow, I can go to find Ye Jin. I can barely wait... Gu Qingyu somehow feels weird, but she can''t think of what she overlooked. Suddenly, she suddenly looked up. The Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny! I promised the Master that I would take back the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny but the situation did not go as planned and she did not manage to retrieve it. Oh, I''m really gonna have a headache tomorrow. Gu Qingyu scratched her head and laid down again, staring at the ceiling in a daze. The last time we met, it was in that strange liminal space. Maybe I can visit him in that space again? He did say that I can go there as long as I can sense him, shall I try? She closed her eyes and tried to enter the spirit world. The spirit world was gloomy and dark, the red in the sky and the earth had vanished, replaced by a sickly grey. Gu Qingyu clenched her fists and pulled off the Devouring Lotus hanging from her neck. The Devouring Lotus let out a bright light and lit up her surroundings. It was the only light source in that world. Chapter 121: Weapons Unlocked 2 Chapter 121: Weapons Unlocked 2 Translated by: iris.knight Gu Qingyu held out her hand and took a deep breath. Qi Wan''s advice popped into her mind. She can''t use such a basic method to summon her weapons anymore. She gritted her teeth, lowered her hands, and then closed her eyes gently. Nothing has changed. It was still dark behind her eyes, although she could vaguely see the light from the Devouring Lotus. Her fingers moved as she tried to form a mental image of her weapons in her mind. She focused as she tried to get every detail as accurate as possible. They should still be with Mo Bai. I wonder how he is coping? Suddenly, she was holding something in her hands, it was hot against her skin. She looked down, it was the Soul Chain and the Soul Nails. But unlike before, the Soul Chain was warm in her hands. It used to be so cold that it sent chills to her core. And the Soul Nails were glowing with an unearthly blue light. And then, with a blinding light, someone gradually appeared before her. His long, platinum white hair tumbled over his shoulders, his robe was complete black and void of any patterns. The pure black of his robes stood out against his white hair. He had amber-coloured eyes, and he had a blank expression on his face. He seemed a little stiff and rigid. "Who are you?" Gu Qingyu was confused to see him. "Me? I''m the Soul Nails." The boy replied impatiently. "Are you my new owner?" "Uh, I guess..." Gu Qingyu was a little speechless, the boy seemed a little grumpy. She was not wrong. Upon hearing this, the teenager frowned, "I thought you''ll be someone powerful. Instead, I''m stuck with a little girl." ...Big brother, why do you look younger than me? "Huh, you''re the incarnation of the White Tiger. But you''re still too weak." The teenager gestured as he continued. "So, since one of you has released me, I''ll serve you for the time being. You can call me Yuan." "One of you? Seal?" Gu Qingyu had no idea what Yuan was referring to. "Huh? Was that dude in white clothes not your friend or something?" Yuan returned her question. "If it weren''t for his blood, I might still be asleep. That blood was quite tasty." He licked his lips hungrily. "Blood?" Gu Qingyu shrieked. "Explain." "Huh? Don''t you know?" Yuan seemed to take delight in her horror. He continued after a long pause. "That person was in so much pain. And he nailed the Soul Nails straight into his body to suppress something. That alone is crazy, but I delivered and controlled his urges. His blood coated the nails and broke the seal that was placed on me. Which by the way, breaking that seal required a lot of blood with powerful magic in them. It was fresh, rich, with an aftertaste of insanity. It was delicious." "Mo Bai..." Gu Qingyu was a little stunned, but she quickly responded, "So, you''re the Soul Nails?" "Did you not catch me the first time?" Yuan frowned again. "What about the Soul Chain?" Gu Qingyu looked around, there was no one else aside from them. "Soul Chain?" Yuan asked curiously. Gu Qingyu nodded. "Yeah, that girl with blonde hair and violet eyes." "Ah, she''s taking a nap. Maybe she doesn''t like the taste of blood." Yuan narrowed his eyes and deduced. "Oh, you guys are really strange..." Gu Qingyu nodded, "One of you likes blood, the other doesn''t. And personality-wise, you''re polar opposite even though you two are bonded together..." "Who wants to be bonded with her?" Yuan cut her off impatiently. "That was just her wishful thinking, and wayward blessings from some people in the past. I had nothing to do with it." "Wow, ok...talk about capricious." Gu Qingyu was losing words. "Did you just call me capricious?" Yuan seemed to be laughing, "Funny, she calls me that, a lot." "Yeah, pretty much everyone would say that." Gu Qingyu stopped beating around the bushes and cut straight to the point. "Since you, the Soul Nails, are back, can you tell me a little more about yourself? Introduce yourself." Yuan was a little stunned. "What did you just say?" Introduce himself? Why does this feel like an interview? "Didn''t you say that I''m your owner? You should know yourself, right? Then introduce yourself, like usage instructions, production date, shelf life, that sort of thing." Gu Qingyu explained nonchalantly. Yuan realised that he was up against someone phenomenal. He frowned and reluctantly introduced himself. "Yuan, I''m the Soul Nails. Humans see me and the Soul Chain as a symbiotic pair of weapons, but we are two separate weapons. When my powers are fully awakened, I can freeze and subdue souls. It''s very powerful, and if you can''t control it, I could eat you instead." "Wow." Gu Qingyu was blown away. "Then why would I use you at all? I do not want to be eaten." Yuan scowled and snapped back, "Suit yourself!" Gu Qingyu retorted, "Fine, then I''ll never use you!" She waved her hand and turned to walk away. "I couldn''t care less!" Yuan didn''t expect her to be so decisive and immediately blocked her path. "Wait!" "What are you doing?" Gu Qingyu glared at him with narrowed eyes. "My time is precious!" "You..." "What? If you have something to say, make it quick!" Gu Qingyu was even more cocky than him. Yuan has never met anyone like her. He knew he was losing, so he answered disgruntledly, "From now on, you can call me whenever, master." Huh, that''s more like it! Gu Qingyu raised an eyebrow. "Okay, Yuan." "By the way, the man named Mo Bai seems to have tied something to the Soul Chain." Yuan held his chin and said, "You better go check it out soon, or it''s going to melt." "What?" Gu Qingyu opened her eyes and snapped back to reality. Her night vision activated automatically. She was staring at the ceiling and in her hand was the burning Soul Chain. Gu Qingyu sat up, and just as expected, something was tied to it. She untied it from the Soul Chain. It was a letter and a small pouch, inside the pouch was something stiff and hard. Gu Qingyu opened the letter and read it under the bright moonlight--- Yu''er, I''m sorry. I broke your heart and I''ve locked you up for so long. I know this is not what you wanted, and I''m sorry. My actions even almost cost you your life. Please, give me some time, I will become the person that you wanted me to be. And if you are willing to see me, when we meet again, I would be the same Mo Bai you met at the beginning of everything. Mo Bai The sight of those soft strokes of ink made her eyes sting a little. She looked up and was about to rub her eyes, but she stopped. There was a red robe floating in the air. She opened her mouth to scream, a hand clasped over her mouth and she swallowed her scream. "Stupid apprentice, this would scare you?" A familiar voice came from behind her. This long-awaited voice made Gu Qingyan burst into tears. Master! It turned out that the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny was in that pouch! Yan Zun''s eyes softened at the sight of her tears. His hand shifted away from her mouth and moved to wipe away the tears at the corner of her eyes. "Stupid apprentice, did I scare you?" Gu Qingyu shook her head. She stared at him blankly, without a single word. "What''s wrong?" Yan Zun caressed her cheek. "Why aren''t you saying anything?" "I..." Gu Qingyu choked a little. "Sorry, Master..." I promised you that I would be stronger, that I would learn to stand on my own two feet, and that I would be fine on my own. But I couldn''t do any of that. "Why are you apologising? You did a very good job." Yan Zun''s hand brushed against her hair. "I''m proud of you, stupid apprentice." "I know..." Gu Qingyu lowered her head and wiped the corners of her eyes with her hands. Yan Zun sighed, his feet lightly touched the ground as he sat down next to her. He held her in his arms and patted her back gently. "Well, good. Don''t cry." "Um..." Gu Qingyu raised her hand and wiped her tears, but her tears would not stop. Yan Zun looked at her in his arms and smiled. "Why, it was just a few days, did you miss your teacher so much?" Gu Qingyu pouted. "No..." "Haha, okay, it''s fine." Yan Zun laughed, "Just cry it all out, don''t hold back." Gu Qingyu became embarrassed after he said that. She wiped her tears away with a sniffle and looked up. "Master, the Soul Nail seems to have awakened." Yan Zun let go of her and waved his sleeves. "Let''s talk somewhere else." The world before her spun, then faded to black. When she opened her eyes again, the fiery red spirit world appeared before her. That grey wasteland was no more. The spirit world can only be called a spirit world with him there. "Focus, stop zoning out!" Yan Zun looked at Gu Qingyu, "So, you said that the Soul Nails have awakened. How was it?" "Ah, he looked like a boy, and he calls himself Yuan. And he has white hair with black robes..." It was easy to describe him, because Yuan''s appearance was so unforgettable. Yan Zun was lying on a big chaise lounge and propped up his head with one arm. "Oh, it''s him." "Eh? You two know each other?" That piqued her curiosity. "You can say so." Yan Zun didn''t continue the topic, and turned away instead. "Okay, go get some sleep. I need some rest too, I lost too much power when I was sealed. Oh, the Spirit Gem is also in that pouch." "Okay!" She nodded, closed her eyes and left the spirit world. Mo Bai sent the Spirit Gem to her? Chapter 122: Goodbye, Little Cuties Chapter 122: Goodbye, Little Cuties Translated by: iris.knight This piece of rock...Gu Qingyu pouted her lips and grabbed Yan Zun''s robe. "Good morning, master. Stop floating, don''t you get dizzy?" "Good morning~" He yawned lazily. "Not at all, this feels really comfortable." "Well then, maybe you should be more considerate of other people, like humans." Gu Qingyu berated. Yan Zun raised an eyebrow. "Are you a human?" Gu Qingyu stopped. Hm...I don''t think I am a human. She jumped out of bed with a pout, got dressed for the day then opened the door. Qi Wan was standing at the door with a smile on his face. "The first ray of sunshine in the morning accompanied by my smile! Good morning boss!" His bright smile and cheery voice reminded her of a nice, friendly delivery man. "Yeah, good morning." Gu Qingyu nodded and walked out, closing the door behind her. "Boss, did you sleep well last night?" Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyu with a wide smile. She nodded. "Not bad, " "Well! Your satisfaction is my honor!" Qi Wan immediately bowed deeply and led Gu Qingyu forward, "Please come to the dining room with me!" Passerby A, who happened to be passing by, immediately bowed at the pair. "Your subordinate greets Lord Qi! Lady-in-chief!" Gu Qingyu nodded and looked at Passerby A. "Good morning." "Yes, good morning~" Qi Wan greeted Passerby A with a smile. Passerby A lowered his head in pleasant shock and waited for Gu Qingyu and Qi Wan to walk past him. "Boss, what do you want to have for breakfast today? Feel free to choose from more than one hundred flavors!" Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyu with great respect. "Well, whatever you want." Gu Qingyu nodded. Passerby A silently closed his chin. It seemed that he had seen more of this side of Lord Qi than the rest of the squad...In that case, would he be the first to be silenced? As they approached a door, Qi Wan opened the door for her then bowed. "Please, this way!" Gu Qingyu relished in his dramatic and undivided attention. She lifted her feet over the threshold and walked in. The dining table was covered with steaming, delicious dishes. She sighed, "Ah, food!" "Please, eat to your heart''s content!" Qi Wan gave her a smile as he pulled open a chair for her. It reminded her of the waiters in fine dining restaurants. "Okay!" Gu Qingyu sat down in her chair and beamed at Qi Wan. "Sit, let''s eat together~" "Well!" Qi Wan sat down next to her. While eating, he said, "Get ready, we''ll be leaving soon. I found Ye Jin, we''ll go find him together." "Okay," She nodded, "Thank you." "It''s always a pleasure to serve you, boss!" After Breakfast Qi Wan led Gu Qingyu to one of the springboards leading out of the valley. The squad of five followed them all the way, and the leader of the squad announced with a bow. "The horses are ready. Safe travels Lord Qi, Lady-in-chief!" "Safe travels Lord Qi, Lady-in-chief!" The other four members of the squad also bowed and said in unison. "Safe travels Lord Qi, Lady-in-chief!" A louder voice sounded from behind them, and a group of people stood in order. "Yeah." Qi Wan responded softly as he watched Gu Qingyu step onto the springboard before he joined her. On the other hand, Gu Qingyu waved cheerfully at them. "See you again, little cuties!" The group of people and the squad were all surprised and confused. Little cuties? Why did the Lady-in-chief address them so... cordially? Would Lord Qi come after them for this? "Boss, there''s still one more cutie here!" Qi Wan batted his lashes. "Come with your dearest cutie." Everyone''s eyes widened unanimously, except for the squad. Did they misheard that? Oh, they must have misheard that! "Come on, let''s go." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes and turned around. "Good!" Qi Wan immediately pressed the springboard, then the springboard rose up and slowly brought them to the surface. They arrived at the path leading out of the valley. Nearby, a pair of horses were grazing calmly while tied to a tree. Gu Qingyu and Qi Wan jumped onto the horse, and under Qi Wan''s lead, they slowly trotted along the path. She hesitated, but still couldn''t resist asking, "So, where is Ye Jin?" "Boss, are you that anxious to see him?" Qi Wan sulked. "Ah, would you miss me so much if you didn''t see me? Even a third of that would be nice." She pondered for a while, then replied without an ounce of humour, "I''ll miss you." "What?" Her answer surprised him so much that he stopped his horse. Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes and carried on. "It''s nothing. Just forget it." "Eh! Nope, nope, nope! I heard that!" Qi Wan immediately caught up with her, grinning from ear to ear. "I''m so happy, boss! I''ll be fine even if that was a lie!" Her heart sank a little when he said that, but she still had a scowl on her face. "Tch, who would even bother to lie to you?" "Boss!" Qi Wan''s grin grew even wider. "Yeah." Gu Qingyu said in response, speeding up. "Hurry up, maybe we''ll get to a ctiy or something by noon." She wanted to ask if they could find Ye Jin by noon, but that would really put Qi Wan in a spot, so she changed her question. Qi Wan squinted as he scanned the path ahead. "Ah, you''ll probably be able meet Ye Jin in the afternoon." "What?" Her excitement escaped her lips. "Really?" "When did I lie to you?" Qi Wan also seemed to be in a good mood. "Speaking of which, what do you plan to do when you find Ye Jin?" "Erm, well..." To be honest, She really hadn''t thought about it. After a short pause, she answered, "I want to gather everyone, then continue the search for the Spirit Gems." "There''s still three more." Qi Wan blinked and said, "I knew you would say that. If everything works well, everyone would be there to meet us just when we arrive." "So fast?" She looked at him with surprise. "You''re really efficient, I should really just leave things to you! You even read my mind!" "Of course!" Qi Wan tossed his hair and posed, then looked forward. "It''s the exit. We''ll be in Dongxuan once we leave this valley." "Dongxuan..." She repeated after him with a mumble. That place could be considered as her hometown. It was the place where everything began, and where she met everyone. "Don''t you want to go back?" Qi Wan asked. He watched her carefully, afraid that she would be unhappy. Gu Qingyu shook her head. "No, I was just reminiscing. I do want to go back, have a look, and visit my mother here while I''m at it." "Huh? I thought you didn''t like your family here." Qi Wan raised an eyebrow. "Hahaha, yeah. Only a handful of people were nice to me." She laughed. "And those are the people that I want to see." "You''re surprisingly sentimental." Qi Wan sighed as he murmured, "You''re my only family here." Gu Qingyu stunned for a moment, then reached out and stroked his head. "Ah, think of it this way," She waved her hand, "A place where you can breathe can be called home, and a place where there is space is a place to live!" That did derail Qi Wan''s brooding thoughts. He doesn¡¯t understand what she was talking about, but it kind of made sense. "Let''s go!" Gu Qingyu yanked the reins and sent her horse into a gallop. "Qi Wan, lead the way!" "Yes!" Qi Wan galloped after her. "Boss wait for me! Be careful!" "Relax, with my skills? I''ll be fine!" She said proudly. An hour later They came to a stream, Qi Wan stopped, got off his horse and led it to the water. "This place is?" Gu Qingyu copied him, her horse leaned down to the stream and lapped at the cool water. "The place where we scheduled to meet up." Qi Wan rested as he leaned against the tree beside him. "Scheduled to meet?" Gu Qingyu felt her heart rate quicken. "Yeah, Ye Jin will definitely be back." Qi Wan looked relaxed. "Just wait for a while more." "Okay." Gu Qingyu looked up at the sky. The sun was shining, it was almost blinding. She held out her hand and shielded her eyes from the sun''s glare, then a shadow came over her. Jia Qizhe? A wide smile split across her face, but that person''s robe was not blue, but black. "Boss, careful!" Qi Wan''s voice suddenly sounded, and his ribbon flew out, wrapped around her waist and pulled her towards him. Was that Xian Di? Before she realised, she was already in Qi Wan''s arms. Qi Wan was glaring intently at Xian Di. It was obvious that he felt the intense pressure emitted by the person before them. "What a coincidence, nice to meet you again." Gu Qingyu feigned a relaxed smile, but the Soul Chain slowly formed behind her and circled her and Qi Wan. Xian Di tugged at the corner of his lips and said. "No, it''s not a coincidence. I have been looking for you." "Boss, who is he?" Qi Wan looked at the man in black robe in front of him, a sense of deja vu pulled at the back of his mind. "The one from the first kidnapping." Her lips tightened to a thin line. "Xian Di." Xian Di suddenly held out his hand. "Come to me." Gu Qingyu froze, then her feet started moving towards him against her will. "Boss!" Qi Wan immediately pulled her back. "What''s going on?" A green aura burst out from him and encircled her. Gu Qingyu also held onto Qi Wan''s arm with dear life, trying her best not to move even an inch towards Xian Qi. Beads of perspiration slid down her forehead. "Xian Di, just what are you up to?" Xian Di smirked. "Initially, I only wanted the Lifeblood of Jewel of Destiny. Now, I want both you and the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny." "Talk about objectification, I''m really just a thing in your eyes..." Gu Qingyu smiled wryly. "Don¡¯t you dare touch them!" Qi Wan immediately pulled her behind him, released his ribbons and sent them flying towards Xian Di. Chapter 123: Where It All Began Chapter 123: Where It All Began Translated by: iris.knight Qi Wan''s eyes sank but he was not going to give up, he gently tugged the remaining part of the ribbon and it returned into his sleeve. "There''s no way you''re taking her, not when I''m around." Qi Wan narrowed his eyes slightly as magic swirled around him, waiting to burst. Xian Di did not seem fazed. "Then I will simply kill you first." "Hmph, big talk." Qi Wan snorted coldly. Just when he was about to strike, a bright blue light appeared behind Xian Di. Xian Di whipped around, black light shot out from his hand and he blocked the strike of blue. Gu Qingyu only felt a burst of joy. Ye Jin! He''s here! The blue light was from his sword, Ghost Howl. He raised the sword above his head and slashed down. Xian Di raised his head, tilted his body to the side and stretched out his arm. A shield of black light formed on his arm and took another blow from Ye Jin. "It''s been a while, Shadow." Xian Di''s expression was still indifferent. Ye Jin snorted coldly. "Really? Because I never want to see you again." As soon as Ye Jin finished his sentence, Xian Di vanished with a gust of wind. His disembodied voice echoed through the trees, "I will come for you soon, Gu Qingyu." Gu Qingyu rubbed her eyes and looked at Ye Jin, and found Ye Jin was also staring at her. They stared at each other, in complete silence. I can hear your call, even if you say nothing; I can feel your languish, even if you did nothing. Qi Wan lowered his eyes and stepped back without a sound. "Xiao Zhezhe." Gu Qingyu said, her voice was soft but clear. "Xiao Yu''er." Ye Jin moved closer and pulled her into his arms. She was pressed into him as his arms wrapped around her tightly, as if he poured all of his yearning into her. I missed you so much. The happiest thing in the world is that when I am thinking of you, you were also thinking of me. The happiest thing in the world is simply two lovers embracing each other. I want to hold you, for you are my only in this world. "Yeah." Gu Qingyu also stretched out her hands and wrapped around Ye Jin. Can you hear how much I missed you? Of course you can, for I missed you as much as you have missed me. "Xiao Yu''er, I can feel it." Ye Jin closed his eyes gently, "I can feel the beat of your heart... I can sense it, even when we were apart. But yesterday, for a short while, it disappeared. I couldn''t feel a thing." Her heart started racing at that moment. He could feel everything about her, her life, her death, her recovery, her heartbeat. Everything about her. "I was so scared that you were gone." Ye Jin buried his face in the crook of her neck. But I can''t find you anywhere. I searched everywhere that I could think of, but I could not find you. The world is just this big, why can''t I find you anywhere?Every time I arrive at a new place, I become filled with hope, only to be disappointed again and again. Did you abandon me? Did you leave me behind? No, you would never do that. So something must have happened. All the more for me to find you. It was the only thing I can think of amidst the silence between us. Where are you, my dearest person? "I won''t." Gu Qingyu choked a little. I will not leave you, no matter what. I felt you searching for me, everywhere. "Xiao Yu''er." Ye Jin gently stroked her head."Let''s go." "Yes." Gu Qingyu nodded and turned to Qi Wan. Qi Wan walked over with a smile, "Sheesh boss, tone it down! Have some consideration for the singles!'' "Hey, I pointed you in a good direction, but you didn''t take that path. And now you''re blaming me? You missed that ship." Gu Qingyu shrugged and mounted her horse. "Well, there''s still another ship. Qi Yichen has probably recovered from his heartbreak by now, and he suits your tastes. Maybe consider him." "What the hell." Qi Wan rolled his eyes. "Do I look not straight to you?" Gu Qingyu looked at him with a puzzled look. "You certainly never thought of things in a straight line." Qi Wan was speechless. "Okay, Xiao Yu''er." Ye Jin looked at her with a smile. "I came here in such a hurry, I forgot to bring a horse." "Oh, what a coincidence, there''s enough space for one on Qi Wan''s horse." Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan with a smirk. "What?" Qi Wan blinked, his face innocent. "Boss, every time you smile like this, I know I''m going to get into some trouble." "Hm, very perceptive of you!" Gu Qing nodded and looked at Ye Jin. However, Ye Jin turned and hopped onto her horse instead. He settled behind her, his arms circled around her waist, and his chin rested on her shoulder. "Xiao Yu''er, this is just fine, let''s go.¡± Qi Wan was dumbfounded. "Can I catch a break?" Her face turned scarlet in an instant. She tugged the reins gingerly and her horse trotted forward. Qi Wan sighed and kept up with them. "Oh, it takes skill to be a third wheel these days!" Gu Qingyu twisted her lips, but she dared not turn back. She sat ramrod straight, even her neck was stiff. Ye Jin obviously felt how tense she had become, he reached up and gently brushed her cheek. "Xiao Yu''er, are you still not used to me?" "No, it''s not you, it''s me... Um..." Gu Qingyu only knew that she was nervous and uncomfortable. Although she had always wanted to be with Ye Jin, she would get so shy and embarrassed when they were actually together. Alas, love was truly a complicated subject. Ye Jin''s fingers were tangled in her hair, and he chuckled lightly. "It''s okay, take your time." Gu Qingyu sped up, her breathing quickened. "Care to join as the fourth wheel?" Qi Wan leaned down and looked at his horse, who was chewing seeds with the leash in his mouth. The crunching sound was unsettling. The horse was frightened by him and frizzled as it trotted forward. Qi Wan rolled his eyes. "Where are we going?" Gu Qingyu finally remembered to ask. Qi Wan was gobsmacked. "I thought you knew where you were going, boss! I was following your lead!" "What?" Gu Qingyu looked around, the scenery grew familiar. "We''re almost at the Gu residence. Why don''t I head back there while you two go meet up with Brother Murong?" "Boss, I think it would be better if you went in person~" Qi Wan started to analyze by example. "Look, for people who ran away from home, don''t they usually return after accomplishing something?" "Yeah, but..." Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan doubtfully. "Are you and Ye Jin not enough?" Both of them are top martial artists! And one of them is the elusive Shadow! "They don''t know that~" Qi Wan nodded. "Over here, the only person with a proper reputation is Duke Murong Zuoyu. I think we ought to enlist his help at least, wouldn''t you agree?" "Well, yes, then we''ll go to the palace to find Murong Zuoyu." Gu Qingyu nodded and turned around. "What about the others?" Qi Wan was close behind her. "They should arrive by night." "Alright! Let''s mosey!" They stopped outside the gates leading to Dongxuan. Gu Qingyu gazed at the city before her and grew a little wistful. They had returned to where their story began. It felt like their story was coming to an end, and everything was circling to the beginning. Nothing has changed since she left. The flowers were still in bloom, and the grass was still lush and green. The trees were still thriving, and the streets were still full of people. Did anyone notice that she was away? Gu Qingyu couldn''t help but look up at the sky and narrowed her eyes slightly. In the world where she came from, would Ran Ran mourn for her when she found that she died? And the hospital director, the department head, all of her colleagues, and all of her patients. Would they mourn for her? Would they even notice that she''s not with them anymore? Qi Wan came over and patted her shoulder gently, maybe because he could understand how she felt. "Boss, at least a lot of people here care about you." Ye Jin also guessed what was on her mind and Qi Wan''s word confirmed his thoughts. He dismounted and gently helped her off the horse. "Come on, Xiao Yu''er. Look ahead." "Yeah!" Gu Qingyu nodded and stood firm. The guard at the gates bowed respectfully as soon as he saw Gu Qingyu. "Third Miss of the Gu family!" "Yes." Gu Qingyu nodded. Some people still seemed to remember her. "Duke Zuoyu has ordered, if you are here, please go directly to the Duke''s mansion to find him!" Another guard answered with a bow. "Duke Zuoyu''s Mansion? Got it." Gu Qingyu nodded then faced Qi Wan and tilted her head. "Lead the way." "Okay." Qi Wan led them through the streets, and soon they arrived at a posh-looking mansion. Gu Qingyu stared blankly at the door. "Wow, talk about impressive..." The person at the door was very excited when he saw Gu Qingyu, and declared with a bow. "Welcome home, Princess!" Gu Qingyu felt the wind knocked out of her lungs. What is going on this time? Ye Jin''s face sank, and he narrowed his eyes unpleasantly. She knew that he was going to start spitting fireballs. She immediately tugged on his sleeve, and then smiled at the two people at the door. "You got the wrong person, but it''s ok. I''m looking for Duke Zuoyu." "No, we did not get the wrong person." A man opened the door immediately, "Princess, please come in!" Qi Wan also squinted slightly and sulked. Come on, he could stand Ye Jin but Murong Zuoyu was also after his boss? "Qingyu." A familiar and cold voice sounded. Gu Qingyu looked up and saw Murong Zuoyu, who was in a purple robe approach them from the distance. "Welcome back." There was a slight smile on his face, which breathed life and colour to his stone-cold features. "Thank you!" Gu Qingyu also smiled and nodded. "Brother Murong, long time no see!" Chapter 124: Bolt from the Blue Chapter 124: Bolt from the Blue Translated by: iris.knight Murong Zuoyu''s face stiffened. Although he was used to Gu Qingyu''s quirky mannerisms and her weird way of phrasing things, he still felt rather bewildered after he heard that sentence. "What, are we not welcomed?" Gu Qingyu asked with raised brows as she watched him. "No, of course. You''re welcomed here." Murong Zuoyu nodded. She grinned. "Haha, that''s good, I want to continue the search for the Spirit Gems. What do you think, Brother Murong?" "I will join you, naturally." Murong Zuoyu picked up the tea on the table and took a light sip. "Good! Others will be here at night, but before that I need to make a trip home, to the Gu Residence." She said with a smirk. Murong Zuoyu choked on his tea, then coughed a few times. It took him a while to collect himself after all that sputtering. "What do you mean, Brother Zhu?" "Well, I want to go back to visit my family. So, what happened while I was gone?" She tilted her head. "Okay," he paused. "The Gu family has become one of the three major families with its connections and resources. General Gu in particular has added several achievements and victories to his name, cementing his irreplaceable position in the royal court." "Oh, that''s not bad." She took a sip of tea thoughtfully. Murong Zuoyu frowned. "Brother Zhu, why do I have a sense that you are up to no good?" Qi Wan clapped his hands together and replied, "that is exactly why we''re back!" "Has Brother Zhu been picked on in that place?" Murong Zuoyu narrowed his eyes slightly. "Do not worry, your brother is with you this time." Gu Qingyu smiled. "Well, thank you Brother Murong!" Being with Murong Zuoyu was so relaxing, it was like hanging out with an older brother. Ye Jin probably also understood Gu Qingyu''s feelings, and thus did not have strong hostility towards him. However, he still does not like Murong Zuoyu, especially with the "Princess" situation at the door. So he snorted. "Xiao Yu''er, if you just wanted fame and prestige, am I not enough?" Gu Qingyu slowly turned to him. Ye Jin snorted again. "If the Madam of Ye is not enough for you, then how does the Princess of Shadow sound to you?" Gu Qingyu stared at him with bated breath. Ugh, why does he become so difficult when he kicks into "jealous" mode? Murong Zuoyu lifted his eyes from the cup and glanced at Ye Jin, then stood up. "Let''s go, Brother Zhu." "Well, okay..." Gu Qingyu got up from her seat as well, and signaled to Qi Wan and Ye Jin with a nod. "You two wait for others, I''ll be back soon." Ye Jin pouted, hmphed as a reply. It was obvious that he was in a foul mood. Qi Wan also pursed his lips and hmphed. "Bye." Gu Qingyu almost rolled her eyes. What are you doing, behaving like children? She ignored the two sulking men and left the main hall with Murong Zuoyu. The pair entered his private carriage and made their way to the Gu Residence. She finally relaxed when she entered the carriage. Now that''s life! ? Along the way, Murong Zuoyu broke the silence and said to her in a serious tone, "Rest assured, Brother Zhu. no one would dare to bully you." "Well...Brother Murong, when we arrive, I hope to let them see what I''ve accomplished...." She looked at him and explained, "Do you get what I mean?" "I understand." Murong Zuoyu nodded. She sighed with relief and looked out the window. Her second sister popped into her mind, she should be... The thought tugged at the corner of her lips. "What did you think of that made you so happy?" Murong Zuoyu raised his eyebrows slightly as he stared at her. "Ah? Is it that obvious?" She immediately covered her face in embarrassment. "Oh, I was just thinking if my second sister is dead." Murong Zuoyu was speechless, she had such an expectant look before he pointed it out. It didn''t take long to get to the Gu residence. The members of the Gu Family had received the news of their visit and had been waiting to greet them at the door. They all knelt down when they saw Murong Zuoyu''s carriage. Murong Zuoyu was already well-respected as a duke, but after Murong Qize''s mysterious death, he had been named as the chosen heir to the throne. "We greet Duke Zuoyu!" Murong Zuoyu stepped out from the carriage and at the same time held out his hand and smiled slightly at Gu Qingyu. "Here, watch your step." She may have seen his smile before, but it still warmed her heart. The colder they are, the brighter their smile. They don''t normally smile, not because they are as cold and uncaring as they appear, but because they do not enjoy faking happiness. So when they do smile, it was always from the bottom of their heart. "Well, thank you." Gu Qingyu accepted his chivalrous gesture with grace and stepped out of the carriage with a hop. General Gu raised his head and froze when he recognised his daughter. "Yu''er?" The other members of the Gu family heard him and looked up as well. Everyone was shocked to see the Third Miss with Duke Zuoyu. Gu Qingyu scanned the crowd before her, she did not see her second sister. So, she had died. Gu Qingyu did not feel guilt, or pity and certainly not grief. She did not feel anything. "Yes, it''s me." Gu Qingyu nodded with a smile, "It''s been a while." "You...how are you with Duke Zuoyu?" General Gu was obviously surprised. "He''s a friend of mine." Gu Qingyu looked at General Gu with a smile, "Father, please, get up." General Gu frowned. "Ridiculous! Duke Yu has not even spoken, you ought to..." "Get up." Murong Zuoyu interrupted him. "Gu Yi, Yu''er''s words are my words. She is my sister now." "Yes!" Gu Yi stood up in amazement, and the crowd followed. "We welcome Duke Zuoyu, please come in!" "Yes." Murong Zuoyu entered the Gu residence, while Gu Qingyu followed him with casual strides. Gosh, it feels good to be home like this!. With Brother Murong around, I could get away with everything! Having a brother like him is awesome! They arrived at the main hall. Murong Zuoyu sat down and Gu Qingyu sat next to him. She looked around, she didn''t see her mother as well. "Where''s Mother?" Everyone fell silent the moment she said that. "Where is she?" Gu Qingyu asked again. Gu Yi began slowly. "As soon as you left home, she fell ill with a strange disease. After a while, even the royal doctors couldn''t do anything, so she..." He shook his head with a sigh. Her father''s words were reduced to a buzz as pain swelled from her chest, she closed her eyes and composed herself. "Yu''er." Murong Zuoyu placed his hand on top of hers and looked at her with worry. He was aware of Mrs Gu''s kind and upstanding character. She must have been one of the few that cared for Gu Qingyu in this house. Her death would sadden Qingyu greatly. In fact, she did not come home for "payback", she came home to visit her mother. Gu Qingyu gave Murong Zuoyu a faint smile, she was fine. Then, she turned to her father. "Strange disease? What kind of strange disease?" Gu Yi was not pleased with her tone, but Murong Zuoyu was still with them, so he answered, "She would get headaches every night, and a pattern of blue flames grew up her arm. It became so painful that she could not bear, so..." Gu Qingyu stared at him in disbelief. Blue flame patterns? Gu Yi let out a deep sigh. "Your mother died in so much pain. I know that the sign came from an assassin organisation named Ye. Those assassins are the most powerful in the world, no one dared to so much as touch them. I have sent people to try to learn more, but none of them returned..." "That ''s impossible!" Gu Qingyu denied that accusation immediately. "What''s impossible? Am I still going to lie to you in this kind of thing?" Gu Yi was obviously angry too, "Gu Qingyu, your mother was still thinking of you till her last breath!" Gu Qingyu took a deep breath. "It''s all my fault...I''ll get to the bottom of this and seek justice for her." "Justice?" Gu Yi sneered, "you dare challenge Ye?" Gu Qingyu flinched, then quickly answered, "I already have." And it''s their big boss. Gu Yi was also surprised, but he continued, "Forget it, even if you really have the ability to avenge her death, your mother would not come back. You won''t be able to make up to her." Her eyes became a little red and puffy. ¡°You''re right, it is my fault, I did not do my part as her child. But talking about this won''t change anything, the only thing I can do now is to find out what really happened to her." "Well." Gu Yi nodded and ended the conversation. Gu Qingyu took a deep breath and pretended to ask casually. "Yes, what about my second sister? Where is she?" "Yan''er, she..." Gu Yi''s eyes sunken. "was poisoned." "Yeah." Gu Qingyu covered her lips with "surprise", "Oh no! How could that possibly have happened?" Gu Yi frowned at her dramatic reaction. Murong Zuoyu cleared his throat and diverted the conversation. "Yu''er, It''s getting late." "Oh, we should go." She snapped out of her daze and stood up. "Yu''er, you''re not staying?" Gu Yi''s face sank instantly. "No, there isn''t anything worth staying for anyway." Gu Qingyu turned and smiled sweetly at Gu Yi. Such a smile made Gu Yi shudder. He was a general, who had gone to battles and returned. Yet when he saw his daughter''s sweet smile, a chill crawled up his neck. The cold, harsh look in her eyes and her bared teeth reminded him of a snake. Sadly, there was no farmer that nursed the snake back to health, there were only those that wished to capture it. They stepped into the carriage and returned to the mansion. Only after the carriage doors closed did Gu Qingyu leaned back against the padded cushions and let out a long sigh. "Qingyu." Murong Zuoyu''s eyes reflected his concern. "This may not be the right time, but you must believe in Ye Jin. He would not do something like this." Gu Qingyu nodded. "I know." She sighed precisely because she believes him. Chapter 125: Reunion Chapter 125: Reunion Translated by: iris.knight "It''s my fault, mother died because of me." Gu Qingyu muttered in a shaky voice. "I dragged her into this. If I hadn''t..." The tremors in her voice spread to her hands. "Qingyu." Murong Zuoyu placed his hand on hers, helping to still the tremors. "Stay calm, we will find the true culprit that killed Mrs Gu, and clear Ye Jin''s name." "Yeah." Gu Qingyu nodded, a resolute gleam in her eyes. "We will." The carriage stopped, they were back at the duke''s mansion. Murong Zuoyu stepped out from the carriage and turned back like before, with an outstretched hand. And just like before, she accepted his hand and stepped out of the carriage with a hop. Right then, they heard Ye Jin''s cold voice from the door. "So, you''re finally back." A chill ran down Gu Qingyu''s spine and her hand jerked back as though she had been burned before she turned to look at Ye Jin. "Xiao Zhezhe!" Ye Jin snorted, then left the mansion and disappeared into the crowd that mingled in the street outside. Gu Qingyu tried to go after him, but the world spun before her eyes and she collapsed to the ground. She looked at the person that tackled her to the ground. "Hey, who the heck are you?" "Brother~ Zhu~" the mysterious person rubbed their face all over her clothes like a cat as they replied sweetly, "I missed you~" "Qi! Yi! Chen!" Gu Qingyu gritted her teeth and shouted, "Get off me now!" "No!" Qi Yichen clung onto her. "Did you miss me? We''ve not seen each other for such a long time!" Gu Qingyu turned her face away and yelled, "No, just get off me! Where''s Qi Wan, go and pounce on him instead!" "Eh, don''t be so cold~" Qi Yichen rubbed his face against her again. "I went all the back to Xiqian for you~" "You went back to Xiqian?" Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "I''m surprised they did not burn you at the stake from disappearing on them." Qi Yichen''s eyes were brimming tears. "Hey, that''s mean..." "Sorry, it must not be easy for you. Can you please get up now?" Gu Qingyu softened her tone. "No! I finally have you all for myself, there''s no way I''m letting go that easily!" Gu Qingyu sighed in defeat. People walked past Gu Qingyu and Qi Yichen with curious, suspicious stares, but they were right at the door to the duke''s mansion, so they kept their voices to a hush. A middle-aged lady walked by, shaking her head and sighed, "Ah, why would anyone do such things in broad daylight, and right outside the duke''s mansion! The Duke is right at the side! Youngsters these days!" Murong Zuoyu pinched the bridge of his nose with furrowed brows. He had half the mind to throw them out. At that moment, he heard Qi Wan. "Brother Murong, are you back? What about my boss?" He stepped aside with a wince. Qi Wan saw Qi Yichen and Gu Qingyu lying on the ground and joined the fray. "Get up, Qi Yichen! Leave my boss out of this!" Gu Qingyu had the wind knocked out of her lungs again. Xiao Qi, who noticed the commotion and walked out of the mansion, covered her eyes while Qian Cheng shook his head. "Brother Zhu really had it tough!" After a long while, Qi Wan finally pried Qi Yichen off Gu Qingyu and helped her to her feet. She stretched her neck gently, it cracked and popped a few times. The sound sent goosebumps crawling up Qi Yichen''s arms. "Qi Yichen, you went back to Xiqian for me, I haven''t even thanked you yet." She smiled at him sweetly. Qi Yichen stepped back. "No, no, Brother Zhu, in fact, I didn''t even want you to thank me..." "Oh?" Gu Qingyu walked towards him, her smile widened. "Really?" Qi Yichen chuckled nervously as he took a few more steps back. "Yeah!....and, ahahaha, I just remembered! A few months ago my teacher told me that he''s not gonna make it, I have to hurry back now..." Gu Qingyu raised an eyebrow. "...a few months ago? Your teacher contacted you a few months ago, you''re only going back now?" Qi Yichen opened his fan and waved it. "Ahahaha, there''s not much to do anyway, I''ve already made preparations. I even bought the coffin! So, it would really help if you just let me..." "Okay, get another one." Gu Qingyu nodded thoughtfully. "You''re going to need it, for yourself.." Qi Yichen scuttled away. "Brother Zhu, I don''t understand what you mean, haha..." "It''s fine, I understand." Gu Qingyu narrowed her eyes as she walked closer to him. A few moments later Gu Qingyu clapped the dust off her hands and turned to Murong Zuoyu. "Brother Murong, let''''s head inside!" Murong Zuoyu pretended he did not see anything and nodded. "Okay." Qi Wan glanced pitifully at the "unknown object" on the ground, added another kick and followed Gu Qingyu and Murong Zuoyu into the mansion. Qian Cheng and Xiao Qi had returned to the main hall and were waiting for them. "Eh, Qian Cheng? You''re here too!" "Yeah." Qian Cheng nodded with a smile that reached his eyes. "Brother Zhu, I''m very worried when I heard you were kidnapped." "Yes, thank you, everyone." Gu Qingyu looked around. Sure enough, Ye Jin was not back yet and Mo Bai...would not be here. Xie Zang raised the corner of his lips: "Kitty, I think you can thank me." "Sure," Gu Qingyu nodded. "You can have Qi Wan, here you go."" "What?" Qi Wan stared at Gu Qingyu with wide eyes, "Boss, did you just sell me?" ? "Not ¡®sell¡¯, she gave you to him." Murong Zuoyu calmly added as he sipped his tea. No one expected Murong Zuoyu to chip in. "Tch, I don''t want him. Not even if you add ten boxes of gold." Xie Zang pouted. Qi Wan gawked at him. Have you considered my feelings? Have you at all? It was obvious that Xie Zang did not consider his feelings. "Okay, I don''t want to play games, or lie to you all." Gu Qingyu changed the conversation and cut to the chase. "I want to find the remaining Spirit Gems. And I''m not going to force anyone to come with me." "Why would I not come with you?" Qi Wan sat on a chair with his ankle resting on top of his knee. "Of course, it''s fun, none of us are leaving you to do this on your own." Murong Zuoyu nodded, as was Xie Zang. "Me, I''m going to follow Xiao Yu..." Xiao Qi said weakly. "Then I guess I can only give you my blessings." Qian Cheng said with a melancholic smile. He could not go with her because of the weight on his shoulders, the people of Beiying still need him. "It''s alright, thank you for your blessing." Gu Qingyu also nodded. She understood his decision, he chose to serve his people. His wisdom and decisiveness was a testament to his determination to serve his people. He was not reckless like Mo Bai, who would doom his country for one person. He understood the weight on his shoulders, and he did not think to shirk from his duties. Instead, he held onto it and carried them with steadfast steps. Do what you have always wanted to do, protect your people, protect your country. Thank you for supporting me throughout this journey. Gu Qingyu raised her head and looked out the window. The sky was getting darker, and Ye Jin was still not back yet. She got up from her seat. "Give me a while, I''m going to find Ye Jin." Qi Wan''s hand shot into the air. "I''ll go with you!" "No, you take good care of Brother Qi, he is probably about to die." Gu Qingyu glanced at the unknown object outside the door and sighed, "Why do you do this yourself?" Qi Wan also sighed. "It''s not like anyone can stop him. I tried, but he just would not change!" Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes and walked out the door. "Brother Zhu, should I get more hands to assist you?" Murong Zuoyu stood up. "No, no, thank you, Brother Murong." Gu Qingyu smiled back and walked out. If Ye Jin finds out that she called for help to find him, he would be even more sulky. Urgh, why is this my life? It took me forever to land a guy like this, and I still need to manage his feelings for him! Isn''t it usually the other way around? Why do I have to take care of him like this? She walked through the streets, but Ye Jin was nowhere to be seen, so she slipped into an alley, took out the Divine Tune and blew it softly. Hm, let''s see if you''re still going to avoid me. It didn''t take long for her to feel a warm presence behind her back. Gu Qingyu pouted. "Hm, you''re late." "Xiao Yu''er, I''m still angry you know?" Ye Jin hugged her from behind, and his chin rested on her shoulder. His chest was flat against her back as he whispered into her ear with a husky voice. Her ears turned red. "Angry? I''ve been looking for you for so long, are you still angry? Besides, I missed you, you have to show up even if you are angry." "Xiao Yu''er, I wouldn''t dare to disobey you." His warm breath tickled the shell of her ears. Gu Qingyu blushed. "Hurry up, let''s go back for dinner." "Xiaoyu''er, are you shy?" Ye Jin asked, looking at Gu Qingyu with a grin. As much as they needed to go back to the mansion, his arms were so warm and comforting, she almost did not want to leave. "...no." She mumbled "Hahaha, my Xiao Yu''er is so cute." Ye Jin laughed, turned her around, and stared into her eyes. "So, what happened there?" Gu Qingyu''s heart jolted, but she gave him a reassuring smile. "What could possibly happen?" "You were not yourself the moment you came back." Ye Jin smiled. "Xiao Yu''er, you can''t fool me." Chapter 126: Contest for Attention Chapter 126: Contest for Attention Translated by: iris.knight She looked up at him, his face had darkened. He pursed his lips and stroked her hair gently with his hand, then he said with a soft voice, "Xiao Yu''er, I will help you find out the truth." "Yeah." Gu Qingyu nodded and arched into Ye Jin''s arms. "Xiao Zhezhe." Ye Jin smiled warmly and calmly. "I''m here." He has always been by her side, and he would never leave her. They walked back to the duke''s mansion. From a distance, Gu Qingyu saw Qi Yichen brooding as he sat on the steps of the mansion. As soon as he saw Gu Qingyu he rushed up to her. "Brother Zhu~ I shall forgive you, even though you have hurt my heart." Ye Jin''s face darkened and Gu Qingyu immediately ducked behind him. "No, please don''t forgive me. Just give up completely." Qi Yichen froze. Then, he huffed. "Brother Zhu, you will lose me like this!" "Fine, whatever. What can you do anyway?" Gu Qingyu looked really puzzled. "Nothing." Ye Jin added and then took Gu Qingyu''s hand and walked into the mansion. Qi Yichen stood there, petrified. "Brother Zhu...you really don''t want me anymore..." "Relax, Qi Wan still wants you!" Gu Qingyu squeezed Ye Jin''s hand slightly, and turned back with a laugh. "Where''s your Qi Wan anyway?" "You took forever, boss!" Qi Wan was in the main hall and immediately ran over when he saw her.. "You took so long, I was going to start without you!" "Start without me?" Gu Qingyu narrowed her eyes slightly, her body exuded a cold air, "Good. Because if you had, you would be dead." Qi Wan cringed, the only time Gu Qingyu would get serious was when food was involved. Murong Zuoyu walked out of a passage and smiled slightly at her. "Brother Zhu, come and eat." "Yeah!" Gu Qingyu nodded immediately and pulled Ye Jin towards the dining room. Qi Wan sighed quietly and kept up. "I''m gonna lose my appetite at this rate..." "Then don''t eat anything, I will take yours and Qi Yichen''s share." Gu Qingyu smiled, the smile was extremely amiable. Qi Wan stiffened and immediately replied, "No! I''ll eat, I''ll rather stuff myself!" The "stone statue" ran over when he heard her. "Don''t say that, Brother Zhu. We can talk this out!" In the dining room, Gu Qingyu drooled over the spread on the table. Xie Zang had already taken his seat at the table, and when he saw Gu Qingyu, he smirked, "Yo, kitten, you''re back?" "Huh." Gu Qingyu nodded. Xiao Qi had taken her seat as well, right next to Qian Cheng. "Brother Zhu, after I finish this meal, I will return to Beiying." Qian Cheng looked a bit lonely. Gu Qingyu nodded. "Don''t worry, I''ll visit you once we''ve gathered all of the Spirit Gems." "Huh." Qian Cheng smiled slightly. Ye Jin sat down. "Ah, Xiao Yu''er, I really have my work cut out. There''s so much contest for your attention." Gu Qingyu turned to him with utter confusion. Contestant No.1, Qi Wan, looked at Ye Jin with dissatisfaction. "Have you ever seen anyone as handsome and flawless as I am?" Contestant No.2, Qi Yichen, rolled his eyes. "Of course there is. People like me wherever I go, I''m much more handsome than you!" Contestant No.3, Murong Zuoyu, slowly made his way to his seat at the table and gracefully sipped his tea. Contestant No.4, Xie Zang, winked at her. "Kitten, I am a contestant~" Contestant No.5, Qian Cheng, rolled his eyes disdainfully. "Brother Zhu, don''t listen to his rubbish." Contestant No.6, Xiao Qi, glanced weakly at Ye Jin, then looked at Gu Qingyu. "Um...do I count, Xiao Yu?" Gu Qingyu sighed. Dinner was a cheerful, comforting occasion, everyone enjoyed the meal. As the table was cleared, Qian Cheng got up and bowed slightly at Gu Qingyu. "Brother Zhu, I''ll go first." "I''ll walk you out." Gu Qingyu also stood up, she stole a glance at Ye Jin, worried about his reaction. Ye Jin just hmphed softly, it seemed that he relented. Ah, at least sometimes the great Hero Jia sees reason. Qian Cheng nodded and stepped out of the dining room, Gu Qingyu kept up with him. She turned back before she left, and saw Qi Yichen waving a small handkerchief at her. "Come back soon, Brother Zhu~" ...Why did Qi Yichen''s personality change so much since he came back? Although he was not much different from this at the beginning... Xiao Qi looked up and waved at her older brother. Gu Qingyu and Qian Cheng walked slowly along the path, and neither of them spoke. Finally, Gu Qingyu broke the silence. "Qian Cheng, don''t be too sad, I will write to you often." "Really?" His eyes lit up. "Of course." Gu Qingyu smiled, "When did I ever lie to you?" Qian Cheng''s face stiffened as memories of her tricks and pranks on him appeared in his mind, especially her payback prank after his failed attempt at teaching her how to fly. Gu Qingyu also realised what Qian Cheng was thinking, and coughs unnaturally. "Ahem, let bygones be bygones, eh? We should look to the future!" Qian Cheng laughed after hearing that. "Got it." Within moments, they arrived at the stables. The stablehand brought Qian Cheng''s horse to them, and Qian Cheng got onto the saddle. "Take care, Qian Cheng." Gu Qingyu also smiled. He turned the horse around and left the mansion in a gallop. Take care, and see you again. Gu Qingyu turned to head back, but Xiao Qi was behind her. Gu Qingyu laughed. "Don''t want to leave your brother? You can still catch up to him." "I''ve already decided to go with you." Xiao Qi stood by her side and watched her brother''s silhouette disappear into the setting sun. "He''s actually a really gentle and caring person." "Yeah." Gu Qingyu concurred, then held Xiao Qi''s hand. "Let''s go." The pair strolled back to the main hall, only Qi Wan was there, slumped in one of the chairs and twiddling his fingers. "Why are you alone?" Gu Qingyu asked, "Where''s everyone else?" "They all went back to their rooms to rest." Qi Wan raised his head and looked at Gu Qingyu, "Boss, it''s New Year in a few days." "Eh? Really?" "Really." Qi Wan smiled. "Why, are you excited?" "Yeah!" Gu Qingyu chimed, "It''s the New Year!" Xiao Qi stared at the two of them with a quizzical look, they were so excited and enthusiastic, it would not surprise her if either of them had never celebrated the New Year before. "Oh, what about Ye Jin?" Gu Qingyu looked around again to confirm that Ye Jin was not seen. "He probably has something on." Qi Wan nodded thoughtfully. Xiao Qi glanced worriedly at Qi Wan, then finally decided that it was better to tell Gu Qingyu the truth. "He looked very unhappy after you left, and he went back to the room that Duke Zuoyu prepared for him." and she looked down as soon as she finished her sentence. Gu Qingyu nodded, then glanced at Qi Wan. "Take me there." "Ah? Oh, okay..." Qi Wan touched his nose, didn''t look at Xiao Qi and walked away on his own. "Well, Qi Wan, you''ve got guts." Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan with a smile, "Did Ye Jin mention what he was busy with?" "Boss, I''m wrong..." Qi Wan''s expression looked like, "Don''t get mad, I was just kidding..." He stopped in front of a door and pointed at it. Gu Qingyu huffed lightly and signaled him to leave before she knocked on the door. Ye Jin opened the door after she knocked a few times. He looked at her flatly. "What''s the matter?" Gu Qingyu did not expect such a lukewarm response. "Xiao Zhezhe, I''m back..." "Why are you back? I thought you were leaving with Bei Cheng, you still make it if you go now." Ye Jin turned away and closed the door. "No! Don''t!" Gu Qingyu immediately reached out and blocked the door with her hand. "Xiao Zhezhe, let me explain!" He glanced at her hand, and instead of closing the door, he walked back into the room. She immediately slipped into the room and closed the door. Once the door was closed, she turned around and a light cologne filled her senses, and something soft was pressed against her lips. Gu Qingyu stared wide-eyed at Ye Jin, who had closed the distance between them. She could see each of his eyelashes, his eyes were even bluer than she remembered. Her heart raced at their proximity. Seeing her like this, Ye Jin gently nipped at her lower lip, obviously a little unhappy. "And you''re distracted when I''m kissing you?" She looked at him weakly and chose to tell the truth. "I''m distracted by you..." He seemed to be very pleased with her answer and kissed her again. It was not until she grew breathless did he break the kiss, he pressed Gu Qingyu into his arms. "Xiao Yu''er, I don''t want you to see other beautiful men." His words made Gu Qingyu cry and laugh at the same time. "I''ll have to look at them when I talk to them, right?" "Do you still want to talk to them?" His tone raised by a few notes as he leaned down to kiss her yet again. "Fine, fine, fine! I won''t talk to them, I won''t look at them!" "Hmph, that''s more like it." He ran his fingers through her soft hair. "Xiao Yu''er, what do you want to do after collecting all of the Spirit Gems?" "Live with everyone, in peace." She answered matter-of-factly. "In peace..." Ye Jin nodded. "Alright then." "Eh?" She blinked and blinked, and looked up at him. "Okay, Xiao Yu''er, it''s getting late, let''s go to bed." Ye Jin had a devilish grin on his face. She took a step back, but her back was against the door. "Aha, haha, then I shall not bother you..." "Where do you think you''re going?" He gazed into her eyes softly. Chapter 127: Premonition Chapter 127: Premonition Translated by: iris.knight Ye Jin''s appearance was very charming: "Oh? Then let''s not wait anymore and go to sleep." "Xiao Zhezhe, um, well, you see, we literally just got back together. And, we ''re not married either, wouldn''t it be weird if..." Ye Jin''s eyes sank, and then he smiled again. "Xiao Yu''er, are you eager to get married?" "I..." Gu Qingyu froze, she did not know how to respond. Surprisingly, Ye Jin nodded solemnly. "It''s my fault, Xiao Yu''er, I forgot about this. I''ll find a day and prepare everything, we''ll have the wedding as soon as possible." She gawked at him. "You''re being serious?" "When did I ever lie to you?" Ye Jin grinned. "Take it easy, Xiao Yu''er, I''ll make sure everything would be perfect. So, let''s go to bed." "Then..." Gu Qingyu racked her brains, she was still trying to find a way to leave, but all of sudden, she was swept off her feet and into his arms. "Eh, hey, Xiao Zhezhe, let me go, I can walk myself..." Ye Jin placed her onto the bed, then laid down beside her. He wrapped his arm around her before pulling the quilt over them. "okay, go to sleep, my Xiao Yu''er" Gu Qingyu stared wide-eyed as her head rested against his arm. "Eh?" "Why do you look disappointed?" Ye Jin had a shit-eating grin on his face. "No, no, let''s sleep." Gu Qingyu immediately buried herself in the quilt and closed her eyes. She fell asleep to the sound of his laughter. She had been dreaming all night, although they weren''t really dreams, they were bits and pieces of her memories. There were moments of her patients'' consultations, having breakfast with Ran Ran, moon-viewing with Ye Jin during the Lantern Festival, how Mo Bai fussed over her when she was looking for the illusionary Spirit Grass, that reminded her of her colleagues in the hospital. There was also the time Qi Wan finally taught her how to fly, and Qi Wan and Qi Yichen''s first major fight that grew to form the basis of their interaction. The two worlds seem to have overlapped with each other, and it felt as though it was only yesterday that she woke up in the woods, holding a drawing of Jia Qizhe. All of the joys and sorrows, the tears they shed, the laughter they shared rushed back to her that night. Tears trickled from the corner of her eyes, but someone had wiped them away softly. She was just nostalgic of her old life, and of the people that were part of it. How has Ran Ran been? Does she still miss her? But when she tried to think harder, to remember more, everything turned into a blank. Her head was throbbing when she woke up and she tried to reach up and massage her temples. But she could not move. And when she opened her eyes, she was staring right at Ye Jin, who still had his arms wrapped around her. He seemed to have felt her stirring, and gently released her. She sat up immediately and rolled her shoulders, loosening her stiff joints. When she turned back, Ye Jin was staring at her with his head propped up with one arm. His collar was slightly open, revealing sturdy pecs beneath those blue robes. His hair was a little tousled as it scattered over his shoulders. He even had a tiny cowlick, but that added to the seductive charm. "Hey, hello, can you not do this in the morning?" Gu Qingyu felt blood rushing to her nose. "Huh? I''m not doing anything." Ye Jin''s expression was extremely innocent. He blinked and then laughed, "Xiao Yu''er, you were so restless last night."" "Me?" She stared at him as she tried to sieve through her memory. "Did I do anything...out of line last night?" "Ah, it was quite cute. I can get used to it." Ye Jin nodded. "It''s not much, you would just kick off the quilt, then toss and turn. Halfway through the night, you placed your cold feet on my stomach, then you rolled over and grabbed onto me like a small animal. That''s all, not much." Gu Qingyu felt tired as she listened to his explanation. Not much? It sounded like he hardly slept because of her. "Alright, let''s get ready for breakfast, Xiao Yu''er." Ye Jin stretched his back and yawned so wide his eyes narrowed to a thin line. He looked more like a lazy cat at that moment. Gu Qingyu immediately jumped out of bed, straightened her clothes, and ran out of the room. "Take your time, I''ll be off, bye!" Ye Jin did not stop her, his low chuckles followed her as she left the room, causing a pink flush to creep up her neck. On the way to the dining room, she saw Xie Zang walking towards them. "Morning, kitten." Xie Zang nodded with a smile. "Morn..." Gu Qingyu also greeted him with a smile, but she felt a sharp piercing look staring at her back and remembered her promise from last night. She lowered her head immediately and hurried to the dining room with a shuffle. Xie Zang stared at her curiously, perplexed by her very sudden change in demeanor, before he slowly fell in step beside her. "What''s wrong, kitten? Did something happen?" Gu Qingyu shook her head and kept walking straight to the dining room then plopped into her seat. Murong Zuoyu was already waiting for them at the table and nodded towards her. "A good morning to you, Brother Zhu." "G''morning, Brother Murong." Gu Qingyu glanced nervously behind her, Ye Jin was not following her. Xie Zang sank into a seat beside her. "Kitten, why are you so panicky today?" "No, it''s nothing." Gu Qingyu shook her head and practically pounced onto Xiao Qi when she walked into the dining room. "My dear, you''re finally here!" Xiao Qi was surprised by her sudden shower of affection. "Xiao Yu?" Qi Yichen walked in as well, waving his fan. "Brother Zhu, this scholar has made some calculations, coupled with the darkening of the point between your brows, you will face a great catastrophe today! In order to resolve this disaster, you would need to..." "Rubbish!" Qi Wan had somehow appeared right behind Qi Yichen and he smacked the back of his head fiercely. "Keep your mouth clean, and stop talking in riddles! Say something more auspicious, jinx!" As soon as he looked up, he saw Gu Qingyu and stood at attention. "Morning, boss!" That was a very obvious contrast. Gu Qingyu nodded, and Qi Yichen immediately turned around and pulled Qi Wan''s collar after being smacked. "I''m telling the truth! You can doubt me, but you cannot question my calculations!" "Tch, come on." Qi Wan looked at Qi Yichen with disdain. "Alright, then how should the boss resolve this catastrophe?" Qi Yichen shook his head and continued, "In order to resolve this disaster, you would need to stay home today. You cannot go out." Gu Qingyu laughed at his suggestion. "Qi Yichen, how did you get to that answer? Is it a catastrophe or a blessing in disguise? And if it''s a catastrophe, I would never be able to outrun something of this scale. Not to mention, even if I stayed home, wouldn''t trouble just show up at the door?" Qi Yichen paused as the gears in his head turned, that somehow makes sense. But he dismissed it with a wave of his fan. "In short, Brother Zhu, just trust me once." Gu Qingyu hardly saw Qi Yichen become so serious, so she nodded. "Okay." "Xiao Yu''er." Ye Jin''s voice drifted through the door. "What are you doing?" Gu Qingyu''s heart dropped as her entire body tensed up. She looked back at Ye Jin with a nervous laugh "I...I...I am going to eat..." "Oh? Eat?" Ye Jin teased, "Tell me the truth, Xiao Yu''er." "Ahem, ahem." Gu Qingyu coughed unnaturally, "Well...I..." "Looks like the punishment last night was too light." Ye Jin wiggled his eyebrows. Qi Wan immediately looked at Gu Qingyu in disbelief, as did everyone else. She stared at him, then swallowed nervously. "Xiao Zhezhe, let me explain..." "Oh, no need, I get it." Ye Jin nodded as he took his seat at the table, picked up his chopsticks in a fluid motion and began to eat. She sighed, he clearly did not wish to listen to her at all. She scooted over to sit next to him and ate silently. The others also sat down quietly and began their meal. Breakfast became an awkward ordeal. It didn''t take long for Ye Jin to finish eating, he put down his chopsticks, got up and left the dining room. Gu Qingyu immediately stopped eating and followed him. He went straight to his room without even glancing at her. She ran in before he closed the door, and shut the door behind her. "Xiao Zhezhe, listen to me! I really didn''t look at them, more than the absolute necessary!" Gu Qingyu raised his hand to the heavens. "The only reason I was looking at Qi Yichen was that he was warning me that a catastrophe was going to happen to me today." "Oh?" Ye Jin raised his eyebrows slightly. ''But I''m here, what sort of catastrophe could happen to you?" She went silent. Actually, I think that catastrophe is you! "Anyway, have you had your fill?" Ye Jin took her hand into his, his thumb rubbed against the back of her hand. He simply did not have the heart to ignore her. When Gu Qingyu heard this, she shook her head with a pout. "No! Xiao Zhezhe, I left the moment you did. I was so worried that you were angry. Obviously, I barely ate." Ye Jin patted her head with a tinge of guilt. "Let''s go, we''ll grab something outside." "Sounds good!" Gu Qingyu nodded and the pair stepped out from the room together. Qi Wan was waiting at the door, and he pounced the moment he saw her. "Boss, you''re finally out!" Gu Qingyu ducked and avoided him. She stole a glance at Ye Jin, then kept her eyes glued to the ground. "What?" "Why are you staring at the floor?" Qi Wan looked at her suspiciously, "I just thought we could hang out, so I came to find you." She could feel the chill coming from Ye Jin, and shook her head as she shivered. "No, no, no, I''m fine. We''re just gonna go out for a walk." "Go out?" Qi Wan frowned. "Didn''t Idiot Qi say that you should not go out?" "Erm, Ye Jin''s going with me. And I''ve gotten much stronger, we''ll be okay." Gu Qingyu waved. "Okay bye, we''ll be back soon. It''s just around the area, not dangerous." "Okay." Qi Wan sighed softly, "Come back soon." Gu Qingyu opened her mouth and tried to continue, but Ye Jin dragged her away before she could even say another word. She kept stealing glances at him as they walked out of the duke''s mansion, she was still worried that he was angry. He didn''t seem to be angry. Instead, he was scanning their surroundings instead, as his grip on her hand tightened. "Xiao Yu''er, what do you want to eat?" Gu Qingyu breathed a sigh of relief. "Anything, as long as it''s nice." Ye Jin nodded and they crossed the street. Chapter 128: Catastrophe Chapter 128: Catastrophe Translated by: iris.knight "Coming right up!" The waiter answered. Ye Jin gently gathered the hem of his robe and sat down next to her. "Xiao Yu''er, do you like food like this?" "Well, it''s nice to change things up every now and then." Gu Qingyu nodded. "Street food is great too, you should try some." Ye Jin nodded. The waiter had just placed their order on the table. "Enjoy!" Ye Chong gently threw a silver piece into the waiter''s hand. He answered with pleasant shock, "Thank you, mister!" Ye Jin then picked up a spoon, slowly scooped up a wonton, and gently blew it a few times before holding it near her lips. "Xiao Yu''er, here." Gu Qingyu just stared at him, but in moments, she felt stares from everyone around them, but she could not push him away or he would get angry again. She sighed internally, dignity does not exist for her anymore. She then opened her mouth and ate that wonton. "Yum! It tastes good!" Ye Jin seemed very satisfied with her cooperation and withdrew the spoon. Then she began to eat and smiled. "Well, it''s really good." The two of them soon finished the two bowls of wonton that way. "Let''s go, it''s about time we head back." Gu Qingyu stood up and looked at Ye Jin. Suddenly, a torrent of crackling blasted from behind her, and she covered her ears immediately. Ye Jin''s eyes sank, and she immediately came over, held her in his arms and covered her ears. "Don''t worry, it''s the sound of firecrackers." Gu Qingyu nodded and curled up quietly in his arms. The sound finally quelled after a long time. The New Year was just around the corner, the festive mood was reflected in their surroundings, with red decorations everywhere. "Xiao Yu''er, are you okay?" The moment the sound subsided, Ye Jin looked down to check on her. He turned her face from left to right in his hands, fearing if anything had happened to her. She didn''t know if she should cry or laugh as he fussed over her. "I''m fine, Xiao Zhezhe." And from the corner of her eye, she spotted someone selling candied hawthorns and her eyes lit up. "Oh, do you want some?" Ye Jin followed her gaze and smiled. Gu Qingyu nodded. "Yes! Very much!" "Okay, say something nice." Ye Jin stroked her head. Something nice? "Xiao Zhezhe~" Gu Qingyu cooed sweetly and tugged his sleeve. "Oh, and?" Ye Jin raised his eyebrow and stared at her. She closed her eyes for a while, steeled her nerves, and went all out for the sake of her favourite snack. "Husband~ Please buy some sweets for me~" Ye Jin immediately smiled with satisfaction, and patted her head. "Just wait here, don''t go anywhere." Then, he strode towards the candied- hawthorns-seller. Gu Qingyu watched his back with a smile. However, it didn''t take long for her to feel a sudden sense of vertigo, Ye Jin''s back began to turn upside down, and the world seemed to rotate. "Xiao Zhe... Zhe..." Gu Qingyu said with a frown and tried to reach out to him, then she collapsed. The bright sunlight stung Gu Qingyu''s eyes when she came to. She squinted against the light and it took a long time for her vision to focus on her surroundings. She was in a forest, with a stream before her. "You''re awake?" A nice female voice came, but with a different kind of familiarity. Gu Qingyu looked up and saw a woman wearing a pink dress, with a silver mask on her face. She did not recognise anyone with a silver mask, and the only other person who wore pink dresses was dead a long time ago. "I haven''t seen you for a long time. Gu, Qing, yu." The woman laughed as she removed her mask. Gu Qingyu was shell shocked. "Gu Yan?" Yes, Gu Yan, the second miss of the Gu family, her "sister"! Why is she here? Isn''t she already dead? "Yes, it''s me." Gu Yan nodded and returned the mask to her face. "Gu Qingyu, thanks to you, my face is now completely destroyed. " "Shame, you''re not dead." Gu Qingyu sighed and shook her head, she would shrug too, if she hadn''t been tied so tightly to a tree. "Ah, great, here we go again." Gu Yan frowned slightly, it was a lament, but it somehow grated against her ears. "So, sister, what will Hero Jia do for you?" Gu Yan said while she looked at the stream. Gu Qingyu froze and stared at her intently. "What do you say?" Gu Yan seemed to be musing, "Would he give up his powers? Or would he destroy his reputation as Hero Jia? Maybe he would break his own wings." "Oh, he''s not coming." Gu Qingyu narrowed her eyes slightly and something was looming out of her. Gu Yan dare to come and use her to threaten her Ye Jin? "Why? Not convinced?" Gu Yan looked at Gu Qingyu and sneered. "It''s better if he doesn''t show up, then I can play with you for as long as I want to." Gu Qingyu smirked and strained against her restraints. The ropes on her body snapped apart and she slowly strode towards Gu Yan under her terrified gaze. "No, he''s not coming because I would be more than qualified to take you down myself." Gu Yan quickly composed herself and a whip appeared in her hand. "Looks like you have some skill after all, Gu Qingyu. The rumours were true, you''re really that Gu Qingyu who only knew how to fight with her fists." "You''re the one that spread that rumour, right?" Gu Qingyu retorted harshly. "And, you must be the one that killed my mother." "So what? Both of you should have died a long time ago!" Gu Yan exclaimed, but she took a few steps back and her back bumped against a tree behind her. She glanced back nervously, then turned back to Gu Qingyu and swung her whip. "I, Gu Yan, am not someone you should mess with either!" Gu Qingyu simply caught the whip with one hand. And then she tapped into Yan Zun''s strength and pulled the whip. "Ah!" Gu Yan jerked forward, then an enormous pressure came over her and she stumbled to the ground. In her panic, she raised her head to look at Gu Qingyu. Her hair scattered and danced in the air, and the ends were bright red, and her pupils had turned into the shade of blood. Her aura was tremendously powerful and the pressure that pressed onto Gu Yan, none of that matched her impression of Gu Qingyu. "You... what kind of monster are you..." Gu Yan immediately backed away, backing against the tree, "Go away! Stay away from me!" "Didn''t you say that you wanted to play with me? Yes, I will play with you." Gu Qingyu raised her lips and smiled at Gu Yan, but her body exuded an inexplicable coldness. "No...no...please...please let me go..." Gu Yan trembled unceasingly, "let me go..." She suddenly stood up and ran into the woods. Gu Qingyu sneered, she suddenly flew forward and her hand pierced through Gu Yan''s chest! Her hand came out from behind Gu Yan, her nails were as sharp as claws. It was as if her hand had turned into a blade, as thick blood covered it and dripped to the grass below. Someone came from behind her, Gu Qingyu immediately pulled her hand out and turned around. "Brother...Zhu..." Qi Yichen stood ten meters away from Gu Qingyu and stared blankly at her. Fiery red hair, blood-red eyes. She was truly the incarnation of a divine beast. Her expression was bloodthirsty and cold, and blood splattered on her face, yet there was beauty in her cruelty. The two stared at each other for a while as Gu Qingyu blinked and blinked, then the scarlet in her hair and eyes scattered. "What''s wrong?" "No, as soon as I heard that you and Brother Jia went out, I knew that something bad would happen so I rushed out to find you. I asked around and got here." Qi Yichen stepped forward, "Now it''s all right, Brother Zhu. Let''s go." "Where''s Ye Jin?" Gu Qingyu realised that he left out someone. Suddenly, a black fog crept towards them. And the plants that surrounded them began to wilt and die. "What is going on?" Gu Qingyu frowned. "It''s the Frost Poison" Qi Yichen looked into the distance. "Something powerful triggered it." "Boss!" Qi Wan''s voice came, and he ran out of the woods. "Bad news, Ye Jin''s gone rogue!" "What?" Gu Qingyu grabbed him. "Quickly, take me to him!" "It''s dangerous, you''ll be swallowed by the darkness if you don''t have enough power. " Qi Wan frowned, and twisted his arm to hold her hand instead. "Brother Murong and Xie Zang are trying their best to suppress it, you need to get somewhere safe." "No! I can''t just leave him like this! This must have happened because of me..." "Boss, there is no time! Come with me!" Qi Wan grew increasingly anxious. "Please, or I''ll knock you out and drag you back." "I dare you." Gu Qingyu glared. "This time is really dangerous. The Frost Poison, when released, is extremely powerful, it sucks the life out everything around it. It''s even gotten here!" Qi Wan pressed on. "Boss, please listen to me once!" "Let her go." Qi Yichen sighed suddenly. "She''s the only one that can stop this catastrophe. Qi Wan''s eyes were a little red, and he looked at Gu Qingyu. Then, he held out his arm in front of her., blocking her path. "No, I''m not letting you go." "Sorry, Qi Wan, I have to." Gu Qingyu suddenly calmed down. Qi Wan moved his lips and wanted to say something more, but his eyes rolled into his skull and he slumped forward. Qi Yichen caught his fan that flew back, stepped forward, and caught Qi Wan before he fell face-first into the ground. "Qingyu, be careful." That was surprisingly direct. Gu Qingyu nodded and ran towards the source of the black fog. As she ran through the woods, the fog grew thicker and thicker. Ye Jin, wait for me! Finally, she saw the heart of the black fog. She couldn''t even see Ye Jin''s face. A cloud of dark energy surrounded him, engulfing him. But within the layers of darkness, amidst the fog, was bright red and purple light. The two lights were shields, it was Xie Zang and Murong Zuoyu. Chapter 129: Give Me Your Heart Chapter 129: Give Me Your Heart Translated by: iris.knight Tears sprang to her eyes and she yelled, "Xiao Zhezhe!" The man in the black gas flinched and ran over to her at the sound of her voice. In that moment, darkness faded away, revealing Ye Jin as he ran towards her and wrapped her up in a tight embrace. "Xiao Yu''er!" "Xiao Zhezhe!" Gu Qingyu also hugged him tightly, her voice came out as sobs, "Sorry! I''m sorry, I''m late. I caused you so much pain!" "No, I should apologise. I didn''t rescue you in time." Ye Jin bent down slightly, his chin resting on her shoulder, "Xiao Yu''er, I''m really afraid of losing you..." The dark mist faded slowly, and Qi Yichen, who just rushed over, let out a sigh of relief. His tightly gripped hands finally loosened, revealing a slight bruise and clammy palms. Thank goodness he made the right call, or he would never forgive himself. Xie Zang and Murong Zuoyu silently released their shields and stepped aside. "Xiao Yu''er, are you hurt?" Ye Jin leaned back and looked at her. Gu Qingyu shook her head, as she continued to sob. I''m sorry, I''m so sorry. You must have been so anxious and worried. And you must have been in so much pain, this is all my fault. "Xiao Yu''er, don''t cry. They must have hurt you." Ye Jin gently stroked her hair. "I will not let go of any single one of them." Gu Qingyu dried her eyes and looked up at him. "I''ve finished off Gu Yan, who else is left?" Ye Jin gently brushed away the tear streaks on her face. After a while, he slowly answered, "Xian Di." "It''s him again?" Gu Qingyu sighed. "Will he ever leave us alone?" "Yeah." Ye Jin nodded and looked at her with worry. "Xiao Yu''er, let''s go. I won''t leave you anymore." "Huh." Gu Qingyu''s eyes were red and puffy, and she lowered her head in embarrassment. Qi Yichen, who had been waiting for them, opened his fan and clicked his tongue. "Brother Zhu, it''s rare to see you blushing~" Gu Qingyu glared at him. "Qi Yichen, I don''t mind helping you forget what you just saw. So are you going to do it yourself? Or would you like me to assist you? I''m sure Ye Jin would be glad to lend a hand as well." Qi Yichen choked, and then laughed nervously. "Ah, haha, Brother Zhu, don''t jest. I didn''t see anything at all!" "Ah, good." Gu Qingyu nodded at his reply. Suddenly, there was a slight rustling nearby. and Gu Qingyu whipped around, and sent out the Soul Chain. "It''s me!" Qi Wan stood up as he rubbed his head. "Ow, that hurt." "Qi Wan?" Gu Qingyu immediately withdrew her weapon. She still felt bad for reacting the way she did, he only wanted the best for her, but she was so obstinate that Qi Yichen had to step in and knock him out. "What are you doing?" Qi Wan let out a grunt and turned away. "I am actually angry this time." Ye Jin''s eyes sank, and Gu Qingyu gave his hand a squeeze before she smiled sweetly at Qi Wan. "Aww, don''t be like that, Xiao Wanwan, it''s not good for your health to be angry anyway~" "Hmph."Qi Wan turned to look at her. "If it had been you, would you be angry?" Gu Qingyu went silent. Yeah, if it was just Qi Wan''s beloved one who was in trouble, and things were as precarious as just now, she would have knocked him out and dragged him away immediately. At this moment, a black aura was slowly formed in the open space in front of Gu Qingyu. "What''s the matter?" Gu Qingyu stepped back two steps, "Xiao Zhezhe, your Frost Poison?" "No. I was just like that because someone forced the Frost Poison to activate and I lost control." Ye Jin lowered his eyes, "But that''s not Xian Di." Indeed, Xian Di had a habit of striking from surprise. He would not slowly appear right in front of them.The black aura gradually formed into a person. The mysterious individual was covered in a black cloak, and wore a wide-brimmed hat of the same colour. The brim was so wide it obscured his face. "I haven''t seen you in a long time, Gu Qingyu," the man raised his head slightly and made a hoarse voice, but to her, it sounded very familiar, " Gu Qingyu''s heart jolted. "It''s you!" The person that killed her! Qi Wan and Ye Jin were both alarmed as well. "Boss, looks like we''ve got some old company." Qi Wan stepped forward and stood side by side with Gu Qingyu, lifting his chin slightly. "Old man, since you''ve gone through so much effort to send us here, save yourself the energy and just let us stay in this world without any trouble." "No," the man laughed. "You have caused quite a bit of trouble already." Qi Yichen silently put away his fan, but he was surprised. Gu Qingyu was not someone from their world. He has heard claims, but he was not certain about the credibility of those claims. He has looked into her life path as well, there was a sudden, inevitable event that transformed her previously-uneventful life. That discovery stuck out to him, but it was only speculation on his part, but it looked like his speculation and those claims he once heard, were all true. Murong Zuoyu kept his eyes focused, but he was puzzled. What does it mean? In this world? Isn''t she someone from this world? On the other hand, Xie Zang was smiling. It seemed that his kitten still had a lot of secrets... "What do you want?" Gu Qingyu stared at him coldly, and cut to the chase. "And why did you send me to this world?" The mysterious man shrugged. "How do you know that this world wasn''t your world? I''ll be honest, White Tiger, I was just doing my job and sent you back to the world where you belong." "What about me?" Qi Wan narrowed his eyes slightly. "Oh, man, am I a divine beast too? Or maybe one of the divine?" "No," the mysterious man laughed. "Oh, you''re nothing. But, you were the guardian of divine beasts in your past life. We need you to awake the divine beast." "Are you done talking?" Ye Jin slowly gathered blue light in his hands, "Because if you are done, you can go now." "I''m done. But, are you the one she loves, Shadow?" The mysterious man stretched out his hands, the flesh on his limbs was rotten. Black light gathered in his hands. Right then, Ye Jin stumbled to the ground and spat out a mouthful of blood. "Xiao Zhezhe!" Gu Qingyu was taken aback, and the Soul Chain appeared. It encircled her, ready to pierce through the mysterious man in an instant. "You have grown a lot, Gu Qingyu." That man tilted his head. "But, I can control the Frost Poison. If I willed it, Ye Jin could die in the next second." "You!" Gu Qing''s eyes narrowed, but she didn''t dare to act. He was not kidding. The Frost Poison that was gradually seeping out from Ye Jin was sufficient proof that he was capable of controlling it. Ye Jin''s life was in his hands. "Xiao Yu''er, I''m fine." Ye Jin closed his eyes slightly and pushed himself up despite the torrent of pain inside him. Blue light gathered in his hand and formed Ghost Howl. "Don''t force yourself!" Gu Qingyu nibbled on her lips as she watched him with worry. She turned to the intruder. "What the hell do you want?" Faint red light gathered in Xie Zang¡¯s hands. "Lord of Xie Li Castle, I would advise you to keep your hands where they are." The intruder tilted his head and looked at him. "Is she more important than your sister?" The red light on the Xie Zang hand suddenly vanished, and his face stiffened slightly. "What did you say?" ¡°She¡¯s very adorable, rather trusting too. Her disease may have been cured, but she is quite frail." The black robe tilted his head. "What do you think I¡¯m talking about?" "Asshole." Xie Zang took two steps back. "Oh, and you." The black robe looked at Murong Zuoyu. "Except for your brother Zhu, the person you care about the most should be your actual brother?" Murong Zuoyu''s eyes sank. "What did you do to Ranyue?" Murong Ranyue, his brother of the same mother and father. The man smiled and didn''t answer, but looked at Gu Qingyu. "Now, I think we can finally have a conversation." Qi Yichen was not mentioned at all, because he was not seen as a threat. He had lost his powers after all. As soon as Qi Wan took the first two steps and tried to close in to him, the man said with a hoarse voice. "Guardian of the divine beasts. With so many lives at stake, surely you would not do something so reckless.¡± Qi Wan huffed, Gu Qingyu held out her arm and stopped him. "What do you want?" She clenched her fist. The man in black walked towards her. "It is said that the heart of the White Tiger is more precious than all the other divine beasts. It is precisely because of its divine power that it can reign above all creatures.¡± "Got it." Gu Qingyu nodded, she faced him without fear. "Can you let go of Xie Li, Murong Ranyue and Ye Jin?" "Xiao Yu''er, no..." Ye Jin said immediately, but before he finished speaking, blood spat out from his lips again. "Xiao Zhezhe!" Gu Qingyu steeled her nerves and answered. "You have a deal." "Don''t, boss!" Qi Wan immediately grabbed Gu Qingyu''s hand. Gu Qingyu shook it off, her eyes filled with quiet resolve. ¡°Qi Wan, don''t stop it." Qi Wan gritted his teeth: "Do you think he would let go of Ye Jin if you gave him your heart? What if he goes back on his word?" "We don''t have a choice." Gu Qingyu suddenly smiled. "Thank you, Qi Wan." She turned to the mysterious man. "Xiao...Yu''er...no...you...can''t..." Ye Jin''s voice was barely a whisper. The man held out his hand and his voice was full of greed. "Come, give me your heart." Chapter 130: Cry, Ghost Howl Chapter 130: Cry, Ghost Howl Translated by: iris.knight "Maybe." Gu Qingyu smiled, "I''m glad to have met all of you.¡± She lifted her hand as a white light formed in her palm. "Come." The masked man''s voice dripped with desire. "Lord of all divine, your servant offers up this sacrifice!" Gu Qingyu closed her eyes as she brought the white light in her hand to her chest. "Asshole!" Qi Wan cursed and threw caution to the wind. The ribbon flew out of his robe and coiled around her hand, stopping her. Then, he pulled her back and grabbed her by the shoulders. "You idiot!" The red light in Xie Zang''s hand shot at the masked man, but he blocked it with one hand. Meanwhile, Murong Zuoyu swung his sword, a purple wave flew out from the blade and swept towards the masked man. The masked man blocked Murong Zuoyu''s attacked with his other hand, but the attack pushed him back a few steps. "All of you are actually going to sacrifice your family to save her?" "Don''t do this!" Gu Qingyu struggled in Qi Wan''s arms. "Xie Zang! Murong Zuoyu! It''s not worth it!" "At least I won''t regret this. And, I would be heartbroken if you died like that, kitten." Xie Zang''s eyes narrowed slightly. "Brother Zhu, I believe we will rescue Ranyue." Murong Zuoyu also nodded, his voice calm. The masked man let out a belt of laughter. "Very good! Each and every one of you is just begging for death! Then, I shall grant your wish!" Black light burst out from him and enveloped the area in a dark fog. Qi Wan immediately formed a light green shield around him and Gu Qingyu. Xie Zang and Murong Zuoyu did the same, red and purple light glowed through the darkness. "Wait! Ye Jin''s still there!" There was no sign of Ye Jin, the dark fog was too thick to see through. She tried to run to find Ye Jin, but Qi Wan had trapped her in his arms. "I''m never gonna let you go." Qi Wan said. Suddenly, there was a burst of blue light in the darkness! But unlike the usual pale blue, it was a deep marine with dark swirls. The change in colour was worrying. "Xiao... Xiao Zhezhe...?" Gu Qingyu anxiously watched the light grow bigger and bigger, until it rivaled the black light from the masked man. Qi Wan was also staring in shock, his arms loosened in his distraction. Gu Qingyu grabbed that chance and broke free. She summoned Yan Zun''s power and ran out of the shield. The red light escorted her all the way as she sprinted towards the masked man. "Boss!" Qi Wan screamed. The Soul Chain in her hand flew out and struck the masked man accurately in the darkness, the chain wrapped around the masked man, tying him up. He amplified his power and wings spread from his back, snapping the Soul Chain! At this moment, in the dark fog, a figure emerged. In his hands was a blue light shaped like a sword that towered over him. "Cry, Ghost Howl." Ye Jin whispered, and swung his sword. It screamed like a banshee and sent a blast surging towards the masked man. Gu Qingyu stepped back and waited for the perfect timing, the red Devouring Lotus cradled in her hand. "Bloom!" The sound of explosions boomed from left and right, she squeezed her eyes shut and covered her ears. Someone had wrapped their arms around her. The world around her suddenly went dark. There was a voice, singing in the darkness. Who was that? That song sounded like a chant, the lyrics sang of the first encounter with the divine. The most precious offering, from the most devout believer. Gu Qingyu''s eyes flew open that moment and stared at the canopy of a bed made from red sandalwood. Her head was spinning, and the ringing in her ears had not gone away. What happened? Weren''t they in the woods, fight that masked man? And...Ye Jin, is he okay? She tried to push herself up from the bed, but when she moved even just her arm, her whole body felt like it was tearing apart. She took a sharp breath. It seemed that she was quite badly hurt. "Don''t move, your injuries are very serious." A familiar voice advised. Gu Qingyu''s eyes widened and turned slightly to the source of that voice. It was Mo Bai. The gentle smile, the beautiful face, and fragrance of medicinal herbs, it was really him. "Mo Bai..." Gu Qingyu was a little surprised, "Why are you..." "Yu''er, I''m back." Mo Bai smiled softly, "Am I still welcomed?" "Of course!" Gu Qingyu nodded immediately, "Is Ye Jin alright?" "He''s fine." Mo Bai''s look remained the same. He glanced out of the window, it was already dark outside. "He''ll wake up soon." Gu Qingyu coughed lightly. "What about...Qi Wan?" She did not even have time to make up to Qi Wan. He was always looking out for her, but she went against his advice every time. The situation just kept escalating, and it got so dire that she had to do what she did. "He is more seriously injured than you, and he is still in a coma." Mo Bai sat at the edge of her bed and checked her pulse. "Because you are too close to that person, you were caught up in the explosions. Qi Wan shielded most of the damage for you. It did damage some of his vital organs, but he''s still alive." Gu Qingyu felt her eyes dampen. "Thank you, Mo Bai." "It''s what I should do, Yu''er." Mo Bai''s expression was gentle. He turned sideways and picked up the bowl. "Take your medicine first." He helped her sit up and lean against a pillow. Gu Qingyu opened her mouth very obediently and drank all the medicine. The medicine is not bitter, even with a light aroma, and a sweet and sour taste. as always. Gu Qingyu asked hesitantly, "Can I... go and see Qi Wan?" "Yu''er." Mo Bai frowned slightly, but he sighed at the determined look in her eyes. "I will help you." "Okay." Gu Qingyu reached out and gently placed her weight on his shoulders. Mo Bai carefully supported her and kept her movements small and to the minimum. Qi Wan''s room was next to her, and she gently opened the door. The room was only lit by the moonlight. "Thank you, I''ll go in myself" Gu Qingyu held onto the door and looked at Mo Bai. Mo Bai held out his hand, but it stayed frozen in the air. After a while, his hand dropped to his side and he sighed softly, "I''ll be outside.: "Yeah." Gu Qingyu walked in and closed the door gently. Moonlight flowed in through the window and spilled quietly on Qi Wan''s face.He looked so peaceful. He was so persistent. Gu Qingyu endured the pain from her body, step by step, walked to his side, and sat by the bed. Tears slowly slipped down her cheeks. I''m sorry Qi Wan, I can''t give you anything, but I''ve so selfishly demanded you to give my everything. I''m sorry Qi Wan, I''m really sorry. I couldn''t do anything. Suddenly, Qi Wan coughed slightly. "Qi Wan?" She immediately took his hand and turned to the door. Her mouth opened and she was about to call for Mo Bai when Qi Wan said with barely a whisper, "Don''t... call him... cough!" "Okay, I won''t. I won''t" Tears kept pouring from her eyes, it pained her to see him like this. "Are you all right?" Qi Wan gave a strained smile as he gazed at her. His pale green eyes sparkled under the moonlight, like a calm lake on a warm summer night. "It''s okay." Gu Qingyu shook her head and held his hand tightly, "I''m sorry Qi Wan, you were so seriously injured... But if this were to happen again, I would still make the same decision." "I know." Qi Wan raised his hand slowly, his hand shook as he reached up to cup her cheek. With a brush of his thumb, he gently brushed away her tears. "I understand how you feel. So, if this were to happen again, I would also make the same decision." "I think we should get Mo Bai to check on you, hold on." Gu Qingyu glanced at his wounds. The quilt covered up to his chest and his shoulders were bare. Blood was seeping through those thick layers of bandages that wrapped all over him. Qi Wan did not refuse, and closed his eyes gently. Mo Bai walked in, holding a bowl of medicine in one hand and bandages in the other. "I''ll do it." Gu Qingyu rubbed her eyes and took the items from Mo Bai. Mo Bai pursed his lips, nodded slightly, and went out. "Drink the medicine first." Gu Qingyu gently helped Qi Wan up, scooped up the medicine with a spoon, and placed it on his lips. Qi Wan opened his mouth obediently and sipped that spoonful of medicine. They continued this rhythm, until the bowl was empty. "You''re also injured, go and rest." Qi Wan looked at her with worry. "Rubbish, I was very well protected by someone." Gu Qingyu said rudely, and she began to unravel his bandages without much warning, but her movements were light and gentle. Qi Wan gave her a shit-eating grin. "Boss, you''re gonna have to take responsibility, I''mnot wearing anything underneath." "Wait till you''re pregnant with my child." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes and removed the bandages completely. Streaks of bloody, red cuts were all over his solid chest. "...Does it hurt?" Her fingertips softly brushed at the edge of his wounds, and he grabbed her by the wrist and stopped her. Her brows furrowed. "It hurts a lot? I''ll dress them immediately." "No, it doesn''t hurt. Not at all." Qi Wan smiled. "Then why are you holding me like this?" Her furrowed brows went from worry to confusion. Qi Wan slowly let go of Gu Qingyu''s hand. "It''s ticklish, boss." "Yeah, I had no idea you''re ticklish!" The tension in her brows disappeared as she wiggled them and teased him instead. Then, she began to dress his wounds. The bandages were already coated with medicinal paste. As soon as the bandages touched his wounds, Gu Qingyu immediately pulled her hand back, and looked nervously at Qi Wan. "Does it hurt?" Qi Wan laughed with short huffs. "No, it doesn''t hurt. Boss, you''re a psychiatrist, right? You at least went to Med School. Have you seen how nurses reapply dressings for patients? You don''t need to be so delicate, just wrap it any way you like. It doesn''t hurt anyway." "I have seen how they do it, but those patients did not like it. At all." Her hands moved gently as she continued, "If you want, I can let you experience it." "No, no, no, never mind..." Chapter 131: Hope and Despair Chapter 131: Hope and Despair Translated by: iris.knight "Yeah, I know." A wave of melancholy swept through her and she rubbed her eyes a little. Qi Wan "But, to be treated like this by you, even death is worth it." Gu Qingyu suppressed the sudden urge to smother him with the quilt. "Alright, go to sleep." She secured the bandages with a bow, then supported his back and helped him lie down on the bed. "Slowly." "Yeah." Qi Wan laid down slowly with her help. "Boss, you''re also injured, get some rest as well." "Yeah, I will." She stood up, tucked him in and gave him another smile before she left his room. "Goodnight." Gu Qingyu stepped out of Qi Wan''s room and closed the door behind her. Someone in a blue robe had been waiting for her. His face was as charming as always. "Xiao Zhezhe..." Ye Jin pulled her into his arms before she could protest. "Hey, your injuries have not healed yet..." She chided as she remained still in his arms. "Xiao Yu''er, how can you make these decisions on your own." Ye Jin muttered as he tightened his arms. "How can you give your heart away, even if it''s for me? Your heart can only belong to me." "Yes, it''s yours." She reached out and gently wrapped her arms around him and he placed his chin on the top of her head. "I''m sorry, I should not have done that." "No!" Ye Jin raised his head, held her hand and led her to his room. "It''s my fault, I failed to protect you. But we should continue this conversation somewhere else." "Yeah." Gu Qingyu quietly followed him. They walked into Ye Jin''s room, and he closed the door behind them. But his hand was still wrapped tightly around hers. "It''s okay." She clasped her other hand over his and rubbed it gently. "It''s all over." "Um..." Ye Jin lowered his head and slowly let go of her hand. He took out something like an orb from his sleeve and placed it on her palm. "This is...?" She held up the object and turned it over in her hands. "...a Spirit Gem?" "Yes." Ye Jin nodded, "The dark Spirit Gem." "How did you get this?" Gu Qingyu couldn''t help but admire Ye Jin, "Did you find it from that masked man?" "No." Ye Jin shook his head, "It''s Ghost Howl." "Ghost Howl?" His answer reminded her of the curious form that Ghost Howl took in the earlier battle, and figured that it had been damaged and broken. "Speaking of which, I think the Soul Chain broke." "Broke?" Ye Jin was surprised. "The Soul Chain and Soul Nails are unique weapons, both of them are sentient, it should not be broken so easily." "Maybe." Gu Qingyu closed her eyes and held out her hand. Black fragments gradually emerged and spun around her. Those fragments were spinning faster and faster, and they quickly came to Gu Qingyu''s hands and slowly pieced together. Soon, the Soul Chain was pieced together. Gu Qingyu opened her eyes and looked at the long chain in her hands with disbelief. "It...fixed itself?" "No." Ye Jin stroked her hair and said softly, "you fixed it." "Me? I can actually do that?" "Does it matter? You''ve already fixed it." Ye Jin rubbed her head. "Okay, hurry up and come to bed. you are badly hurt and need to rest." "Okay." She nodded, and was about to leave the room when Ye Jin pulled her hand and stopped her. "What?" "Right here, don''t go anywhere." Ye Jin smiled. "I''m going to go out to settle something, but I''ll be back before you know it." Gu Qingyu''s heart started to race. "You''re...you''re not planning to...to find Mo Bai and..." "My Xiao Yu''er is smart." Ye Jin''s smile widened and reached up to his eyes. "Okay, go to bed soon." He said and turned to leave the room. Right then, Gu Qingyu immediately hugged his arm tightly. "No, don''t! Please, you can just talk this out! He has already changed over to a new leaf!" Ye Jin turned back to look at her in the eyes, his eyes narrowed as he questioned her. "Xiao Yu''er, does this mean you forgive him?" "Yeah, well, people make mistakes right?" Gu Qingyu swallowed weakly and looked up at him. Her voice grew smaller and smaller under his watchful eyes, until she trailed off. "But he almost killed you." He refuted flatly. She was at a loss for words. But she was not afraid, because he was not doing it for himself. He was doing it for her. Gu Qingyu hesitated for a while, then continued, "But, that person has already received the punishment he deserves, right?" Ye Jin was silent for a while before finally showing a smile. "Ok, then let''s go to bed." Gu Qingyu''s eyes widened in muted surprise. "You have a point." Ye Jin led her to the bed only to stop at the edge. "Are you...afraid of me?" He turned his back to her, so she could not see his face. Gu Qingyu smiled with a soft laugh. "Why would I be afraid? "Don''t you think I''m... terrifying?" Ye Jin''s voice was monotonous. "I kill without batting an eye. My mood swings violently from joy to anger and everything in between." Ye Jin was also aware of his behaviour. He knows his personality well, so he knows that it is difficult for anyone to accept him except his subordinates. But even his subordinates only look up and admire him. "No, I''m not afraid of you. You only killed because of me, and your mood sours because of me. You''re gentle and soft to me, and when I spend too much time you get all jealous and huffy. But doesn''t that mean that you care about me?" She walked up and hugged him from behind. "Xiao Zhezhe, you''re amazing. Don''t beat yourself up over like this, don''t worry or fret about how you look in my eyes. Because no matter what you do, you''re already the best thing that has ever happened to me." She knew that Ye Jin would only show this side of him when he was anxious. He may sound monotonous, almost uncaring and indifferent, but it was a thin veil to conceal the anxiety that was eating him away. She could tell. "Hmm." Ye Jin turned around and returned her hug. "Xiao Yu''er, what would I do without you. Please, don''t ever leave me again." "Don''t worry, I won''t leave." She patted his back. "Okay, hurry up. Let''s go to bed." After she laid down next to Ye Jin, Gu Qingyu closed her eyes and went to the spirit world. Yan Zun lounged on the chaise couch and played with a stray lock of hair on his chest. "Oh, stupid apprentice, you''re here?" Gu Qingyu scowled. "Master, can you not call me stupid apprentice every time we meet?" "Why? Was I wrong?" Yan Zun raised his eyebrows. "Stupid apprentice, you finally found another Spirit Gem." "Yeah, that was unexpected." Gu Qingyu nodded, "Were you surprised? Actually, I think I''m getting pretty good at this." "Stupid." Yan Zun suddenly knocked her forehead with a knuckle. "Do you think I would not know that the dark Spirit Gem was lodged in the Ghost Howl?" Gu Qingyu frowned as she rubbed where Yan Zun had knocked her. Why does it feel like you are pretending, Master? And it does not even look convincing... "What are you thinking about?" Yan Zun knocked her head again. "There are still two Spirit Gems left." "Then where should we look for it?" Gu Qingyu recovered and asked immediately. Yan Zun narrowed his eyes slightly. "Once upon a time." "Huh?" Gu Qingyu looked at Yan Zun with some doubts. "Stupid apprentice, someone will give you a lift." Yan Zun changed his posture, looking very comfortable, "Well, your teacher will need to rest too." "Give me a lift?" Gu Qingyu was completely befuddled. "Master, what do you mean?" "It''s exactly what I just said." Yan Zun closed his eyes and didn''t seem to intend to talk anymore. Gu Qingyu had to give up, she rolled her eyes and left the spirit world. After exiting the fiery red spirit world, Gu Qingyu found herself in a different liminal space. Everything around her was white. "This is..." Gu Qingyu lowered her head and looked at her hand suspiciously, but nothing appeared. A clear and nice voice came. "This is my world, Master." Gu Qingyu looked up in surprise. "Soul Chain?" "It''s me." The girl smiled, "Long time no see, Master." "Well, it''s been a long time." Gu Qingyu scratched her head. "Um...I want to ask, why did you break earlier?" "I had just woken up at that time, so I wasn''t paying attention, so..." The girl''s cheeks turned a little pink. "The smell of blood made me sleep for a while, sorry, Master." "It''s nothing." Gu Qingyu shook her head. "But, isn''t the Soul Chain your own body?" "It''s just where I reside. The girl tilted her head slightly. "Master, thank you for fixing it." "Ah? I really didn''t do anything..." Gu Qingyu smiled awkwardly, she was a little uncomfortable with direct gratitude. "By the way, Master, I''m here to remind you." The girl bowed slightly. "The Soul Nail has awakened, and his dark personality is not as simple as he looks. Master, be careful not to lose yourself and fall into despair." Although she couldn''t understand what she was talking about, Gu Qingyu knew that she was doing it for her own good, so she nodded, "Okay, I''ll take note. Thank you, um...I don''t think I got your name the last time we met." The girl smiled, it was as bright as the sun. "I am Wish." Wish and Abyss. One gives unlimited hope, and the other pushes into despair. Chapter 132: Poison and Porridge 2 Chapter 132: Poison and Porridge 2 Translated by: iris.knight It wasn''t until her eyes finally focused did she recognise who was in front of her. Ye Jin was leaning over her, his eyes were wide open and he was staring right at her- "Ah!" She yelped, then turned away and glanced out of the window. The sky was still dark, their room was only lit by moonlight. But tension hung in the air in the gloomy night. "What are you doing? Why are you awake? It''s in the middle of the night." She frowned. Ye Jin raised his eyebrows instead. "Xiao Yu''er, I could ask you the same thing, why are you awake?" It took her some time to process that Ye Jin had found out that she was talking to Yan Zun and Wish. "Hmm..." Gu Qingyu nibbled on her bottom lip as she tried to think of a response. "Can you get off me first?" "Don''t change the subject. Why are you still awake? What, do you have something you want to do?" Ye Jin curled his lips with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Stop it." Her face flushed slightly, and she pushed him away, "I''m actually going to sleep now. You should too, your wounds have not healed. Ye Jin''s eyes clearly lit up. "Oh? Then what about after I get better?" Gu Qingyu avoided his gaze and something clicked in her head. She then pulled the quilt over her head and went to sleep. Ye Jin laughed, reached over and covered her properly before laying back down. It was late at night, and dawn came quietly. Next Morning Gu Qingyu yawned, sat up, but was pushed back onto the bed. "Xiao Zhezhe? What are you doing..." She was still half-asleep and swatted his arm weakly. Ye Jin rolled over and pinned her down. "Sleep. Now." She twisted around to look at him, his eyes were still closed and she had to suppress a chuckle. He seemed to still be asleep. Gu Qingyu tried her best to make her voice appear as gentle as possible. "Xiao Zhezhe, it''s morning, get up~" "No." Ye Jin smacked his lips and continued to sleep. "Xiao Zhezhe~ Oh, come on, get up~" Gu Qingyu continued her efforts. Silence, he ignored her. Gu Qingyu finally lost her patience. After trying and failing to pry off the person that was stuck to her like an octopus, she shouted in his ear. "Dammit! If you want to sleep so bad, can you let go of me first!" Ye Jin opened his eyes and looked at her with bleary eyes. "Huh? When did you wake up Xiao Yu''er?" Gu Qingyu stared at him flatly. Ye Jin yawned lazily before letting go of her. Gu Qingyu sat up and said, "Okay, it''s time to get up. If you haven''t got enough sleep, you can sleep a little more. I have to go already." "Don''t." Ye Jin also sat up and leaned against her as he whimpered with a pout, "Xiao Yu''er, I''m still sleepy..." His voice was practically dripping with honey, that she had to turn back and check if it was really Ye Jin. His eyes were slightly closed, and it seemed that he really didn''t sleep well as he pouted. "Okay, then you can sleep more." Gu Qingyu couldn''t help but soften her tone. She did not expect Ye Jin to have such an adorable, child-like side to him. "Stay here with me." Ye Jin is still reluctant. Gu Qingyu looked out the window hesitantly. Qi Wan was still badly injured, not to mention she has no idea if Murong Zuoyu and Xie Zang are well. So she turned back to Ye Jin. "Xiao Zhezhe, I can''t sleep anymore. I have other things to do." Ye Jin''s face sank and he released her with a hmph before straightening out his clothes. Gu Qingyu blinked a few times and looked at Ye Jin, it felt like he was angry again. She asked carefully. "Xiao Zhezhe, are you angry?" "No." Ye Jin hmphed again. Gu Qingyu was convinced that he was most definitely angry, and she felt bad. "Hey, if you''re tired, you can continue to sleep, it''s okay..." "I can''t sleep if you''re not around." Ye Jin climbed out of the bed, "Xiao Yu''er, you tossed and turned for the whole night." Then, he walked out of the room without looking back. The guilt in her heart grew stronger, and she immediately straightened her clothes and chased after him. But Ye Jin was gone. Gu Qingyu looked around and checked and she spotted Murong Zuoyu instead, who was walking towards her. Since she came out of Ye Jin''s room, Gu Qingyu smiled awkwardly. "Morning, Brother Murong." Murong Zuoyu nodded slightly. "Good morning, Brother Zhu. Have you slept well? Your injuries haven''t healed yet, so it''s better to not move about too much." "Got it, thank you Brother Murong." Gu Qingyu also smiled. Getting along with Murong Zuoyu didn''t feel as restrained as when they first met. "Where is Qi Yichen?" Qi Yichen did not have any powers, so she had been worried about him throughout the battle, and she had not seen him around since yesterday. "Oh, Brother Zhu~ Did you miss me?" A familiar, albeit slightly annoying voice came from the end of the corridor. She looked at Qi Yichen kindly. "No, you got the wrong idea, I just want to see if you¡¯re dead." Qi Yichen gently dabbed the corner of his eyes. "Ever since Brother Qi Wan fell ill because of you, I knew I was the next target!" "Very self-aware." Gu Qingyu nodded, "It''s worth considering." Qi Yichen froze as he wondered if he had said the wrong thing. Gu Qingyu turned sideways slightly and looked at Murong Zuoyu. "Right, where''s Xie Zang?" "Oh, kitten, did you miss me already?" Gu Qingyu cringed, but Qi Yichen was staring at her with an expectant look, so she answered sweetly, "Yes!" Qi Yichen collapsed to the ground and Xie Zang smiled happily. "Kitten, I have missed you too." "Well, you all have fun, I''m gonna go check on Qi Wan." She was relieved that they were all fine and the weight on her heart had lessened. She turned around and walked towards Qi Wan''s room. Qi Yichen caught up to her with a short jog. "Brother Zhu, wait for me~ I want to prank him too!" Gu Qingyu narrowed her eyes at him, was her performance that obvious? They stopped by the dining room and Gu Qingyu took a bowl of porridge. She and Qi Yichen came to Qi Wan''s room and gently opened the door. Qi Wan was still asleep as his chest rose and fell in a slow, smooth rhythm. The sunlight danced through his hair and landed between his brows. "Land to Brother Zhu?" Qi Yichen stood behind Gu Qingyu, with his chin resting on her shoulder. "He''s beautiful, isn''t he?" Gu Qingyu was taken aback, then turned to look at Qi Yichen in disbelief. "You..." "Me?" Qi Yichen squinted his eyes and smiled, his face very close to her. "What is it?" "You...are you actually interested in Qi Wan?" Gu Qingyu swallowed nervously. She knew that Qi Yichen is gay, but if he was going to make a move on Qi Wan against Qi Wan''s feelings, she would side with Qi Wan and talk sense into Qi Yichen. But, for all the teasing she had made, she had not considered that it might actually be real. Qi Yichen moved his lips. "I......" "Ah, ah, boss, what are you doing!" An earth-shattering scream sounded in front of them, followed by a coughing fit. Gu Qingyu was startled, and immediately pushed Qi Yichen away and ran to Qi Wan. "Qi Wan! Are you okay?" Qi Wan continued to cough, and as he did so, he pointed a shaky finger at Qi Yichen. "You...you..." He was coughing so much that he became breathless. Gu Qingyu helped him sit up and patted his back gently. "Slow down, don''t get so agitated. " After Qi Wan finally calmed down, he pointed at Qi Yichen again. "Don''t think that you can take advantage of my boss when I''m injured! No way I''ll let you!" Qi Yichen looked at Qi Wan with innocent eyes. "Me? We did nothing. During the time you were in a coma, nothing happened between us." Yet that seemed to have agitated Qi Wan even more. "You''re dead! Come here so that I can slap you!" "Pff!" Gu Qingyu held in her laughter as much as she could, but she snorted when she heard this sentence. "What are you laughing at?" Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyu, holding her hand. "Boss, did this bastard bully you? Don''t worry, I''ll beat him up for you!" "Hmph, come on, it''ll be great if she doesn''t bully me instead." Qi Yichen curled his lips. "Man, this sucks." "Oh this sucks for you? I don''t care! Keep it to yourself!" Qi Wan glared at Qi Yichen again. Qi Yichen glared back at him. "I..." "Can''t hold it in? What to do, huh? Easy, don''t let me do the work and just slap yourself instead, ha!" Qi Wan shot daggers at Qi Yichen, then turned and looked at Gu Qingyu tenderly. "Boss, tell me, what horrible things did he do? Don''t worry, I''ll avenge you!" Gu Qingyu winced. "Thank you Qi Wan, but Qi Yichen really didn''t do anything." "Didn''t do what?" Qi Wan shot another glare at Qi Yichen. After Qi Yichen saw the extent of Qi Wan''s injuries, he lost interest in teasing or pranking him, so he nodded. "Did you hear that? Brother Zhu said that I didn''t do anything." "Didn''t do nothing? You could have just said so! You idiot, you made me worry over nothing!" QI Wan coughed a few times again. "Alright, enough, both of you. Here, your breakfast." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes and picked up the bowl of porridge. Qi Wan twisted his lips, then opened his mouth. "Ah¡ª" Qi Yichen turned his face away and opened the fan to cover his face. "Oh! I can''t look!" Considering that Qi Wan was a patient and that he was injured because of her, Gu Qingyu patiently brought a spoonful of porridge to his lips. Just when Qi Wan was about to eat the porridge, Qi Yichen put down his fan and declared with an innocent face, "I didn''t put poison in this porridge just now!" Qi Wan paused with his mouth still hanging open. Gu Qingyu froze, her hand remained stationary in mid-air. She rolled her eyes and stuffed the porridge into Qi Wan''s mouth before he could react. Qi Wan choked and swallowed everything. "Boss, you... I didn''t offend you, right...?!" "No." She calmly threw the spoon back onto the nearby table. Then she pinched Qi Wan''s nose with one hand and poured the remaining porridge into his mouth in one fell swoop. After the bowl of porridge had been emptied, Gu Qingyu set the bowl on the table and clapped her hands clean as she looked at Qi Wan, who was wheezing as he laid on the bed. Then she turned and looked at Qi Yichen with a bright smile. "Well, are you ready?" Qi Yichen took two steps back. Chapter 133: Unlikely Ally Chapter 133: Unlikely Ally Translated by: iris.knight Qi Wan''s body shook, and then immediately exclaimed loudly. "Yes! Boss, because of you, my life is full of meaning! Oh! You are like the sunshine in my life, illuminating the core of my soul. You are like the blessing of rain after a drought, watering my fields!" "Huh, not bad. You just graduated from primary school?" Gu Qingyu nodded with a satisfied smirk. She turned to the door and greeted Xiao Qi with a warm smile, "Morning." "Yeah, good morning." Xiao Qi walked in with a tray of medical supplies and gently placed the tray on the table. "Here, Xiao Yu. I''ll be outside." "Okay." Gu Qingyu nodded, turned sideways slightly, gently untied the bow that tied up Qi Wan''s bandages, and began to unwind it as Xiao Qi stepped out. Gu Qingyu''s brows furrowed as she removed the bandages. His injuries are healing, but it was still horrifying to see. Seeing the worry in her eyes, Qi Wan reached over and squeezed her hand gently. "It doesn''t hurt, it''s all on the surface anyway." "Just on the surface?" Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes, but she knew that he said that to assure her. She removed the old bandages, put it on the tray, gently applied the medicinal paste that Mo Bai prepared, then re-dressed Qi Wan''s injuries with clean bandages as delicately as she could. "Um, I want to go for a walk later." Qi Wan turned and looked out the window. The warm sunlight of early spring was inviting and calming. Gu Qingyu tied off the bandages. "Come on, you''re still going to walk around? Just stay in bed and rest up." "I''m mostly fine, you don''t have to worry, boss." Qi Wan stretched out his hand and ruffled her hair. "Okay, I''m really bored. You know me, I can''t stay still at all." "What, are you expecting me to just let you out to prank and tease Qi Yichen again?" She pierced through his veneer mercilessly. Qi Wan sighed, "Oh, you still know me best!" "Exactly. I''m doing this for your own good. What if you two get into a brawl like always, and that caused your injuries to reopen?" Gu Qingyu explained with a sigh. Qi Wan wanted to disagree with her, but he swallowed his words. "Yes Boss! You have worked so hard for me! Ah! I love you so much! How can I thank you, my boss! Oh!" Qi Wan sighed as he scanned through his lexicon. Gu Qingyu waved her hand and dismissed his praises shyly. "Okay, fine, you can rest for a while. I''ll go get something to eat, then we''ll go for a walk." "Yes, my lord!" Qi Wan laid down immediately and started to plan out their itinerary in his head. Gu Qingyu walked out of Qi Wan''s room and saw Ye Jin walking towards her. She frowned and greeted him. "Oh, there you are. Where have you been, Xiao Zhezhe? I couldn''t find you anywhere just now." Ye Jin smiled, stretched out his hand and patted her head. "I went out to do something." Gu Qingyu immediately realised what he had meant. ¡°You-you-did you went to rip Mo Bai a new one?" "What do you mean?" Ye Jin blinked in confusion, but he figured out what he meant. "Ah, that''s about right." Gu Qingyu swallowed weakly. "Can I ask...who won?" Even though the answer was clear to her, after all Ye Jin was standing in front of her with a smile, completely unscathed. In contrast, poor Mo Bai. Let''s hope he''s not too badly hurt. Gu Qingyu silently raised a stick of incense for Mo Bai in her heart, then took Ye Jin''s hand. "Let''s go and have breakfast, I''m hungry." "Yeah." Ye Jin seemed to be in a particularly good mood. He pulled her into his arms and walked forward with his arms wrapped around her shoulder. The corner of a white robe peeked out from a pillar behind them. Everyone else was already seated around the dining table, waiting for them in comfortable silence. Gu Qingyu and Ye Jin sat down. Qi Yichen was resting his head on the table, his voice barely a whisper, "Brother Zhu...I can''t..." Gu Qingyu sighed, "Didn''t I tell you to prepare a coffin in advance? That''s great, now I have to make preparations instead!" Qi Yichen stared at her with horror and shock. "Let''s eat. By the way, Qi Yichen," Gu Qingyu raised her head slightly, "Can you still eat? If you can''t eat, I will..." "No, no, how can I not eat it!" Qi Yichen straightened his back immediately and shoved rice into his mouth. "Brother Zhu, you worry too much! "It seems that I went easy on you." Gu Qingyu nodded thoughtfully. Qi Yichen choked on a mouthful of rice and went into a coughing fit. Everyone else ignored him, except for Xiao Qi, who glanced at him sympathetically. "By the way, Kitten, where are we going next?" Xie Zang asked as he added more food to his bowl. "Well, next..." Gu Qingyu was also confused about the ambiguous answer Yan Zun gave her last night. "Someone might bring us to where the next Spirit Gem is?" "Oh? Who?" Her answer piqued Xie Zang''s interest. Gu Qingyu shook her head honestly. "God knows who, I guess we''ll have to wait to find out. Xie Zang rubbed his chin as he continued his questions. "Kitten, this world is just that big. We have already visited all the countries in this world, so where are the other Spirit Gems?" Gu Qingyu''s heart dropped.He was right, they have travelled through all of the countries, on this continent, at least. And they found all of the available Spirit Gems. Where would the remaining gems be? Lost in the wilderness? Hidden somewhere in the mountains? If that''s the case, it would be really hard to find the remaining Spirit Gems. Looking at Gu Qingyu''s puzzled expression, Xie Zang nodded. "Well, it seems that we think differently." "Huh?" Gu Qingyu raised her head and blinked in confusion. At this moment, a black gust of wind swept through the room. "What''s the matter?" Gu Qingyu frowned and sniffed the air lightly. Then she stood up and declared loudly, "Something is coming!" Everyone rolled their eyes, that much was obvious. Suddenly, Gu Qingyu felt an immense weight on her body. When she looked down, her body was wrapped in heavy chains. The chains did not touch her, instead it surrounded her, glowing with sinister, black light. She gritted her teeth and tried to break free from the chains, but she could not even move a muscle. It was as if gravity itself had doubled. Sitting across from Gu Qingyu, Qi Yichen first noticed her shift in behaviour. "Are you okay, Brother Zhu?" Upon hearing this, Ye Jin, who had been holding her hand tightly, immediately turned around and looked at Gu Qingyu. "Xiao Yu''er? What''s the matter?" "You..." Gu Qingyu forced her head up and answered with a strained voice. "Can''t you see..." "Brother Zhu!" Murong Zuoyu immediately got up and drew out the sword around his waist, the sword shined with purple light. Xie Zang narrowed his eyes slightly. "Kitten, are you caught in something?" "Perhaps." She pulled her other hand up against the crushing gravity around her and gently touched the chain. In an instant, an electric current surged through her body from her fingertips. "Urgh..." Gu Qingyu growled through her tight jaw. Just as she wanted to claw at and pull off the chain, Xie Zang wrapped his hand around hers. And he gently lowered her hand. "Leave this to us, don''t force yourself." "Xiao Yu''er, this is..." Ye Jin frowned and closed his eyes slightly. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open. "Fang?" "Yes."Xie Zang also lowered his eyes, turned around, and waved his sleeves. "Murong, I''m going to borrow your roof." The roof was lifted, and a man stood on the exposed pillar, in his trademark, black regal robe that commanded authority. "Heh, Xian Di." Ye Jin narrowed his eyes slightly, and squeezed Gu Qingyu''s hand. "I should have known it was you." "Yeah, Fang, my weapon of choice." Xian Di looked at Gu Qingyu with a smirk. "So? Does it feel comfortable?" "Comfy." Gu Qingyu looked at him and smiled, "I could fall asleep in this." She suddenly grabbed the chain that surrounded her and pushed it apart. The strong electric current surged through her, but she refused to let go. "Xiao Yu''er! Let go!" Ye Jin tried to pull back her hand, but her hand would not budge. He did not dare to pull harder, for fear of hurting her. Xian Di narrowed his eyes slightly, then waved his sleeve, Fang was removed instantly. Gu Qingyu collapsed to the ground in an instant. Ye Jin caught her and held her in his arms as he shot cold daggers at Xian Di. "This is why I detest the weak." Xian Di turned his back to them, "What''s the point of resisting when you are so weak? The weak are meat and the strong do eat." "Yeah, you are so strong..." Gu Qingyu fired back despite the tremors in her muscles. Her hand was still shaking from the aftershocks of electrocution. "How do you know... what it¡¯s like to be weak...were you always so strong anyway?" Xian Di whipped back. "What did you say?" In an instant, a dark miasma surrounded them. She did not mean to, but she knew then that whatever she said had triggered Xian Di, in its intended sense. Ye Jin shielded Gu Qingyu in his arms, gathering blue light in his hands, and Ghost Howl formed. Xian Di closed his eyes, and the dark miasma dissipated. "I''m not here today to fight. But watch what you say, Gu Qingyu." "Not here to fight? Then what are you planning? Are you finally aware that good would always triumph over evil, so you want to change your ways and join the good guys? Sure, you can join us, but there is an entry fee of 3 boxes of gold." Xian Di narrowed his eyes and shot a glare at her. "Enough talk." He hmphed, "Gu Qingyu, I am here to take you to find the next Spirit Gem." Chapter 134: Transfusion Chapter 134: Transfusion Translated by: iris.knight Xian Di looked at Gu Qingyu with an expressionless face. "Whether you believe me or not, you''ll have to come with me." "Dream on! If you want to take her away," Qi Yichen closed his fan and pointed at Ye Jin. "Then you''ll have to cross over his dead body first!" Gu Qingyu stared at Qi Yichen flatly while Ye Jin looked at him and laughed softly. "Dead body? I have no intention to die. I will protect Xiao Yu''er, and I will always be with her." Gu Qingyu turned to look at Xian Di instead. "Where are you taking me?" "Oh? Didn''t that fellow Yan Zun tell you?" Xian Di paused, "Once upon a time." "What?" Gu Qingyu said with some doubts, but also remembered what Yan Zun said last night. But what does Once Upon a Time mean? "Have you been there?" Xian Di narrowed his eyes slightly, "to the faraway past." "No." Gu Qingyu shook her head frankly. "I''ve been to the distant future... to be precise, I stayed there." Xian Di raised his eyebrows with interest, and then looked at Gu Qingyu and said, "You can bring the others." "I can?" Gu Qingyu also knew that Xian Di''s words were true, because there was no need for someone as strong as Xian Di to lie to her. He would not bother to, anyway, given his past record of kidnapping her. Xian Di turned around. "Why would I lie to you?" "Kitten, do you really believe him?" Xie Zang looked at Gu Qingyu with a glint in his eyes. Gu Qingyu replied calmly. "He has not given me a reason not to believe him." "That''s right." Xie Zang narrowed his eyes. "It is beneath him to do that." Xian Di glanced at Xie Zang, and then looked at Gu Qingyu again. "Tomorrow noon, I will be waiting for you at the river where it all began." And he vanished like a gust of wind. Gu Qingyu blinked and then recalled, he must be referring to the river where she first woke up in this world, and the meeting place when she, Ye Jin, Qi Yichen, and Xiao Qi were going to find Qi Yichen''s teacher and get the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny. "Looks like everything worked out." Gu Qingyu gently nudged Ye Jin to release her, but he would not let go. Gu Qingyu patiently said, "Okay, I''m fine, Xian Di is gone. Ye Jin still didn''t let go, his grip on her tightened instead. "Xiao Zhezhe?" Gu Qingyu finally realised something was wrong. "Yeah." Ye Jin lowered his head, his head buried in the crook of her neck. And suddenly, that spot on her neck felt damp. Her eyes widened in surprise. Ye Jin was crying. She wrapped her arms around him in silent comfort. The others walked out of the room automatically and closed the door behind them. "Xiao Zhezhe, what''s the matter?" Gu Qingyu broke the silence. He hugged her tightly and did not answer. She prompted him again. "Xiao Zhezhe?" Ye Jin raised his head, his eyes were slightly red, and he pressed her against him. "Xiao Yu''er, I''m sorry." "Why are you apologising?" She also felt a slight stinging in her eyes. Why was he apologising? Was he blaming himself for not protecting her? "You were right in front of me, and I didn''t notice a thing, even though you were in trouble. You were trying too hard, and you were in so much pain, but I couldn''t do a thing to help." Ye Jin bit his lip, "Xiao Yuer, I want to protect you, but it scares me when you are so determined to shoulder things on your own." Gu Qingyu blinked puzzledly. "You''re...scared?" "You worked so hard, and all on your own. It makes me feel like you are pushing me away, that I can''t even try to help you. " He ran his fingers through her hair. "I don''t have any room to protect you. Every time something happens, you charge in head first, at complete disregard of your own safety. You just give and give as you try to protect everyone at your own expense." "Yeah." She nodded and listened carefully to him. "I know you are different, Xiao Yu''er. And I want to shield you from the storms of the world. But I know you don''t like to rely and depend on others, that you want to have achievements that you can call your own. You want to be stronger so that you can protect others. But please, count on me once in a while, rely on me. You don''t have to do things on your own, you don''t have to walk this path alone. I want to not just see you soar, but to soar with you. I want...to be part of your world." Her heart swelled as tears threatened to fall from her eyes. She never expected Ye Jin to know her so well, and to love her so deeply. "I see. Xiao Zhezhe." Gu Qingyu smiled. Her hands were tightly wrapped around Ye Jin as she buried her face in his chest and she inhaled his scent greedily. "I get it now." He returned her embrace. "Yeah." Finally, after a long time, Gu Qingyu remembered that she was going to take Qi Wan out for a walk. She also had something that she needed to wrap up before their departure tomorrow. She looked up at Ye Jin abruptly and broke the spell. "Um, Xiao Zhezhe, I have to go." "What''s the matter?" His stormy blue eyes stared back at her. "Um..." Gu Qingyu thought slightly, "I''m going out to do something!" "Huh?" Ye Jin raised his eyebrows slightly. "My mother''s death should be related to my sister." Gu Qingyu lowered her eyes. "But Gu Yan would never be able to pull this off alone, she must have had help." Ye Jin nodded approvingly. "Yeah." "Even though Gu Yan''s death would make investigations difficult, I still want to find out the truth, and uncover the real culprit. On my own. Is that okay?" "Of course." Ye Jin stroked her hair lovingly and told her with a soft voice, "As long as there is anything that Ye can help with, you can use the Divine Tune on your neck to mobilise its members at any time and ask for whatever you need." Gu Qingyu blinked a few times, her boyfriend is really overpowered. "I have something to do as well. Stay safe." Ye Jin smiled, his smile bewitching as always. Gu Qingyu immediately covered her nose, nodded, and walked out. She came all the way to Qi Wan''s room and opened the door without an extra thought. Qi Wan was lying in a pool of blood on the floor with an outstretched hand, as he was reaching out to something. "Qi Wan!" Gu Qingyu screamed and immediately ran over to pick him up and rest his body on her thighs. "What happened?" Qi Wan frowned slightly, then opened his eyes at the sound of her voice. He replied with a faint, hoarse voice, "Boss...are you...alright?" And then his eyes rolled into his skull. "I''m fine! Stop talking!" Gu Qingyu clung onto him as she shouted towards the open door. "Mo Bai! Mo Bai! Help!" Mo Bai heard her shouting and rushed over in an instant. His eyes sank when he saw Qi Wan and he bent down to take his pulse. Gu Qingyu didn''t dare to speak, for fear of disturbing Mo Bai. Her lips quivered as she forced them close. Finally, Mo Bai took Qi Wan from Gu Qingyu and placed him on the bed. "He was just caught in Xian Di''s power. And, perhaps he was anxious and tried to rush out of bed, but his body was still too weak to handle it. So he collapsed and his wounds reopened." Tears swirled in her eyes. She had hurt him, again. Even though he was grievously injured, even though he knew that his body could not handle it, he still risked everything and tried to rush to her side. Even if he collapsed, even if his wounds reopened, he was still trying to crawl to the door and get up to find her. He was afraid that she would get hurt. Even a small cut would tear him apart. Gu Qingyu stepped outside in order to not disturb Mo Bai as he worked to stabilise Qi Wan¡¯s condition. She paced about as she waited anxiously. After a while, Mo Bai walked out. "How is he?" Gu Qingyu approached him immediately. Mo Bai sighed softly, "He''s alive, but he has lost too much blood..." If it was just a wound, Mo Bai could speed up the healing process with magic. If there was some minor bleeding, he could easily close the wound without leaving a scar. But he could not conjure blood from thin air, let alone enough blood to save Qi Wan. Gu Qingyu flinched for a moment then held out her arm with silent determination. "Use mine." She and Qi Wan once asked for each other''s blood type when they were chatting. It so happened that they share the same blood type, type B. "You..." Mo Bai was taken aback. "Trust me, he can use my blood." Gu Qingyu nodded and pulled Mo Bai into the room. Mo Bai was hesitating, but Gu Qingyu sat down in a chair and rested her arm on the table next to her. She pulled up her sleeves and revealed her fair skin. "Please, Mo Bai." "Yu''er, we may need more than what your body can take..." He frowned. Gu Qingyu gave him a soft smile. "Maybe. But Qi Wan became like this because of me, right? The least I should do is try. " Mo Bai finally relented with a helpless sigh, his hand closed over her inner elbow and he made a small incision with a leaf. He did the same on Qi Wan''s arm and began the transfusion. Gu Qingyu''s face began to turn pale, and Mo Bai looked at her worriedly. "Yu''er, you have to tell me if your body can''t hold it up anymore." She nodded. "I can still keep going." Mo Bai sighed again. He knew that Qi Wan was just a friend to her and that if it had been any one of them, even him, in need of a transfusion, she would do the same and offer up her own blood to save them. It was precisely because he understood her that he continued the transfusion. Gu Qingyu''s vision began to blur as tiny bright spots danced before her eyes, and she kept trying to force her eyes to stay open. No, not enough. He still needed more, she could not fall now. Her jaw tightened as she pushed through the exhaustion and the dizziness. "Yu''er, don''t force yourself." Mo Bai reminded her, worry evident in his voice. "I''m not..." Gu Qingyu just opened her mouth to reply, but her head fell against the table before she could say a word. Mo Bai''s voice suddenly sounded so far away. "Yu''er? Yu''er¡ª" Gu Qingyu opened her eyes, but instead of Mo Bai, it was Yan Zun that stood before her. "You reckless, stupid apprentice." Yan Zun walked over and flicked her forehead. She hissed and massaged her forehead. "Ouch!" "Ah, so you can still register pain through that thick skull of yours." Yan Zun raised his eyebrows as he chastised her, "Are you so powerful now that you can just give up your blood freely?" Chapter 135: Palmtop Tiger 2 Chapter 135: Palmtop Tiger 2 Translated by: iris.knight "You dimwit." Yan Zun flicked her forehead again, "Then it''s fine for you to throw your life away without considering how everyone that you leave behind would feel?" His words silenced her. Yes, if she is replaced by anyone else, then she would be worried to death. She was so concerned with keeping Qi Wan alive that she did not consider anything else. Yan Zun noticed her silence, lowered his hand and continued, "Stupid apprentice, you are in real danger this time. First, your injuries from the masked man have not healed. Then you were caught in Xian Di''s weapon, Fang. Your body is already battered and torn. And now you''re donating your blood on top of all this, are you an actual saint or do you have a death wish?" She smiled awkwardly. "I..." "What? Your body was already at its limit, why did you force yourself and tried to go past that limit? You think things would work out every time you put your life on the line?" He has never scolded her like that, she had truly angered him this time. Gu Qingyu understood that his anger stemmed from worry for her, and lowered her head. "I know, I''m sorry." "What will you do next time?" "Next time something like this happens..." She raised her head and looked at Yan Zun, and the moment she saw his narrowed eyes, she lowered her head again. "I''ll get the others..." "That''s more like it." Yan Zun turned away. But it was obvious to him that Gu Qingyu only said that to pacify and appease him. "Master, then I...may I wake up and go back?" She asked in a soft voice. Yan Zun turned back with a smile as his dark hair tumbled over his shoulders like a waterfall. That smile was charming, devilish, but it chilled her to the bone. "Do you think you can still wake up?" She shivered. "So...I...I can''t go back?" Yan Zun chuckled with satisfaction at the sight of the raw fear in her eyes. "No, you can go back whenever you want." She had been tricked by this stupid rock demon. Gu Qingyu answered as she scratched her head. "Okay, Master, I''m leaving now." "Okay." Yan Zun narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled. Gu Qingyu covered her nose, as her vision faded to black. When she opened her eyes again, something was resting on her face. She turned her face away, only to stare right at Qi Wan, who was way too close for comfort. He laughed when he saw that she had woken up, nonetheless, there was distress and worry in his voice. "Boss, you finally woke up." It turned out Qi Wan''s hand was on her face. Gu Qingyu was about to slap away his hand when she noticed something and her eyes became as wide as saucers. Reflected in Qi Wan''s green eyes was a tiny, white cat with tiger stripes. That cat was staring right back at her. Gu Qingyu blinked, was that her? She suddenly remembered what Yan Zun had said, her body was already at its limit. Was he referring to her human form? Is that why she was forced into her form as a mini white tiger? Gu Qingyu''s wide-eyed look was incredibly adorable in Qi Wan''s eyes. He sat up, leaned on the pillow, and then gently picked up the tiny white tiger and placed her in the crook of his arms. " Boss, how do you feel?" She growled as the fur on her back stood up. "I hate this! I want to turn back!" "Boss, your body is weaker than I am now, so don''t move." Qi Wan gently smoothed out her fur. "Really, you should not donate blood when you yourself is already injured." Gu Qingyu relaxed under his careful soothing, curled up in his arms, and purred. "This is called being helpful!" "Fine, good on you for helping people." Qi Wan replied, rubbed her head and continued to stroke her fur. "But, if this happens again, just leave me alone." Gu Qingyu stopped her purring and listened to Qi Wan intently. He continued after a pregnant pause, "At the very least, I was your guardian in my previous life. And now I have been brought to this world, or time, to protect you. It would be ridiculous if my charge died on my watch. And, boss, I''m serious, you don''t have to do so much for someone like me...Hey, ow!" He was interrupted by a slap from Gu Qingyu. She hissed as she swatted at him with her paws. "Don''t say such stupid things! You have three seconds to take back what you just said!" But Qi Wan stood his ground. "Boss, I''m serious!" She would have pounced onto his face if she could. But her current form was even smaller than the last time, she could only reach his neck even if she stood on her hind legs. His collarbone was surprisingly delicate and beautiful, and his skin was soft and supple. His Adam''s apple bobbed as he swallowed, coupled with his tousled hair and open collar, he looked very sexy. If she had been in her human form, she might have to deal with intense nose bleeding. Gu Qingyu bared her teeth, tilted her head slightly and gently nipped his neck. Qi Wan squealed. "Boss!" Gu Qingyu raised her head and looked at Qi Wan. He blushed, a little at a loss. "Boss, although I like you very much, but you are a cat now...so...erm..." Gu Qingyu was speechless, and bit his neck again, this time with more strength. Qi Wan grunted in pain. "Boss, softer!" At this moment, something fell onto the ground and clattered. Gu Qingyu followed the sound and turned, Qi Yichen was standing at the door, with abject horror and shock written all over his face. At his feet was his fan. He squatted down in an instant, avoiding her eyes and picking up his fan. "I...I didn''t see anything! Don''t worry, Brother Zhu, Brother Jia is not here, please go ahead! I''ll alert you the moment he''s back!" Gu Qingyu had the sudden urge to swat him, and she would act upon it if she was in her human form. Although, she would not blame Qi Yichen for reacting the way he did. He walked in to a tiny white tiger standing on Qi Wan''s chest with its hind legs, the tiny white tiger''s paws resting on his shoulders as it nipped his neck lightly. And Qi Wan''s squeals were quite misleading. Qi Wan tilted his head up and rubbed his neck, there was a small mark. His lips drew into a thin line. "Boss, you''re so mean, it hurts." Qi Yichen''s brows flew up with his hairline, he might have heard something he should not have. Suddenly, Gu Qingyu wished she could use her giant White Tiger form and bite Qi Wan to death. At this moment, Mo Bai walked in with two bowls of medicine in his hands. When he saw Gu Qingyu, his eyes clearly lit up. "Yu''er, you''re awake?" Gu Qingyu slowly got down from Qi Wan''s shoulders and returned to his arms. She yawned lazily and nodded. And with that, she had reached maximum cuteness. Qi Wan immediately reached out and pinched Gu Qingyu''s face, and then continued to stroke her fur. "Sorry, I was brewing the medicine just now." Mo Bai explained why he was not in the room. He walked to Qi Wan and passed him a bowl of medicine. "Thank you." Qi Wan took it and finished it in a single breath. Mo Bai leaned down slightly to look at Gu Qingyu, stretched out his hand and held out the other bowl of medicine. "Yu''er, yours." Gu Qingyu took the bowl with her paws, even though the bowl was as big as her. Then, she dipped her head into the bowl and lapped away. "She''s so precious." Qi Wan gently tilted the bowl to give her more room. "Slow down, don''t choke." After Gu Qingyu finished the medicine, she lifted her head from the bowl, lapped and cleaned her face, then curled up in Qi Wan''s arms for a nap. And the man with green eyes melted instantly at the sight of a tiny, white furball curled up in his arms and gently ran his palm along her fur again. Qi Yichen opened his fan with a snap and fanned with a twinkle in his eyes. "A truly harmonious sight." Mo Bai stiffened instead, he turned around and walked out of the room. Qi Wan shuffled down the bed and laid down as carefully as he could. He pulled the quilt just up till the tiny white tiger''s neck, taking care not to smother her. As the tiny white tiger was curled up on his chest, half of his chest was uncovered by the quilt. But with a warm, snuggly fuzzball resting on his chest, he was not cold at all. "I should go now, sleep well." Qi Yichen smiled and walked out of the room as well, closing the door behind him. Gu Qingyu did not visit the spirit world, she genuinely wanted to take a nap. She too was aware She had felt dizzy ever since their recent encounter with Xian Di, and her hand would shake from time to time. Was it a remnant from him? Xian Di can control electricity, that would mean that Fang should be an electric-type weapon. But based on her experience, he should be able to do more than control electricity. And is the masked man dead? She had not seen him after that battle where she had been knocked out by the explosions. And no one has so much mentioned a word about him since then. He''s probably blown to bits...When would she be able to return to her human form? What if she was stuck with a cat''s body forever? The thought alone frustrated her. She fell asleep as stray thoughts swirled in her mind. Qi Wan did not sleep, instead he watched Gu Qingyu silently. His hand gently smoothed over her fur, and he could feel tiny trembles as she slept soundly. A wry smile danced across his face. You''re just too strong sometimes, boss. You can count on me, I''m here with you. And I would never let anything hurt you, no matter what. I will use my life to protect you, even if I die, I will not let anyone hurt you. After all, we have spent three lives together already. Our past life, our lives right now, and in the future, where we came from. I am your guardian, and also your Qi Wan. And I will always protect you, watch over you, and stay by your side, until the end. I''ll be here for you even if you try to drive me away. I just want to love you purely, I don''t want to worry so much, and just protect you. I will accompany you to do everything you want, and I will try to give you whatever you want. Qi Wan''s eyes were gentle, and the sun shone on his face through the gaps in the curtains as a cat slept soundly in his arms. Chapter 136: A Feast Chapter 136: A Feast Translated by: iris.knight "Awake?" Qi Wan asked softly when he noticed her stirring. Gu Qingyu raised her head and looked at Qi Wan''s pretty face with a confused meow. "Why are you here?" Qi Wan didn''t know if he should laugh or cry. "Boss, you fell asleep in my arms." Gu Qingyu shook her head. Because the weather was relatively cold, she remained curled up in Qi Wan''s arms and didn''t want to get up. But she still asked with a short meow, "What time is it?" "It''s about six o''clock..." Qi Wan looked out the window and replied. Another meow followed. "Is Ye Jin back?" Qi Wan shook his head. "Not yet." Gu Qingyu nodded, stood up, and decided to go out to find Ye Jin. But as soon as she stood up, her legs turned into jelly and another dizzy spell hit her, and she plopped into Qi Wan''s arms again. "Be careful." Qi Wan picked her up and sat up, "Boss, you''ve lost too much blood and your injuries have not healed. I''ll take you where you want to go." Gu Qingyu immediately shook his head and laid back into his arms, Qi Wan was badly injured as well. She answered with a meow. "You''re the one that should stay put." Qi Wan laughed and was about to reply when someone knocked on the door and opened it. It was Qi Yichen. Gu Qingyu''s ears wiggled at the sound of knocking and meowed at Qi Yichen. "Why are you here again? "Do you not welcome me?" Qi Yichen fanned himself and smiled flatteringly. "Brother Zhu, Brother Jia is back." Upon hearing this, Gu Qingyu immediately stood up shakily but Qi Wan pressed her back now. "Don''t move, you''ve hardly recovered.¡± "Xiao Yu''er!" Ye Jin appeared at the door. Gu Qingyu saw Ye Jin and stood up again, but her legs gave out yet again. Ye Jin walked over hastily, caught the tiny white tiger, and plucked her from Qi Wan''s arms. He looked at Qi Wan, and said something that Gu Qingyu did not expect, "Thank you for taking care of her." Qi Wan squinted slightly, then smiled and said, "This is what I should do." Gu Qingyu twisted around to look at Ye Jin and bumped her head against his arm with a sweet meow. "I''m hungry!" "Then I bring you to dinner right away, Xiao Yu''er." Ye Jin rubbed the tiny white tiger''s head tenderly and walked out of the room. As Ye Jin was closing the door behind them, Gu Qingyu immediately realized something was amiss. She leaned over his arm and looked back through the shrinking crack. Qi Wan was smiling at her and Qi Yichen was waving at her with a wide grin on his face. Wait! Qi Wan was badly injured! Would leaving him and Qi Yichen alone be alright? What if they start fighting again? "What are you looking at, Xiao Yu''er?" Ye Jin asked with a laugh as he stopped. He followed her line of sight and turned back, then he closed the door and tapped her head. "What are you worrying for?" Gu Qingyu leaned back into Ye Jin''s arms again and let out a soft cry as he walked. "I know you''re hungry, we''ll be there soon." Ye Jin looked at the cat in his arms, "I was only away for a while, how did you end up like this? I can''t take my eyes off you for one second." She whined again. "Okay, got it." Ye Jin gently rubbed the tiny white tiger''s heads as she curled up in the crook of his arm. "You, you just push yourself too much sometimes." Gu Qingyu blinked a few times as she gazed at Ye Jin with sparkling, onyx eyes. "Here." Ye Jin pushed open a door with a creak. They walked into the empty dining room. Ye Jin raised his hand to pull out a chair. Ye Jin''s hand paused in the air for a few seconds, and then he placed his hand on the tiny white tiger''s head as if nothing had happened. "I''ll cook. What do you want to eat?" Her eyes lit up the moment he said that. Ye Jin''s cooking is one of the best she has ever had. She pawed at his arm, then climbed up to his shoulder in her excitement. He laughed as he tilted his head to give her more room. "Okay, what do you want to eat?" Gu Qingyu did not hesitate and spat out a long list. "I want cake, noodles, and fried rice. Oh, and fried chicken! And burgers!" Ye Jin was speechless. "Xiao Yu''er, what are you talking about?" He was familiar with fried rice, and noodles. But cake, fried chicken and burgers? Those sounded like food items from her world. The tiny white tiger shook her head with a soft meow. "Okay, okay, I will eat whatever you cook." Ye Jin smiled and walked into the kitchen. When he arrived in the kitchen, Ye Jin first spread out a clean white blanket on a table (which had somehow appeared from nowhere) and placed the "white furball" on his shoulder onto the blanket. The "white furball" slowly rolled around on the blanket, before settling on its back and stretched, then rolling back onto its stomach again. The "white furball" and the white blanket melted together, creating the perfect camouflage. Ye Jin stroked the feline''s fur and then started cooking. After Gu Qingyu turned into a tiny white tiger, her sense of smell had become more sensitive. The fragrance of food overwhelmed her nose as she sniffed the air and drooled while Ye Jin tossed the wok. Ye Jin chuckled when he saw the string of drool that trailed from her mouth. The food should be well-cooked, scooped out a portion onto a small plate, and set the plate in front of her. "Eat, greedy cat." It was fried rice, with eggs and meat and more. The tiny white tiger stretched out her tongue and licked Ye Jin''s hand affectionately, then buried her head in the fried rice. It was beyond delicious! Each grain of rice still retained its slightly chewy texture, and it was seasoned perfectly. The more she ate, the hungrier she became. And soon she devoured that small plate of fried rice. When she lifted her head, Ye Jin had just finished preparing a bigger portion for her. He scooped it into a bigger bowl and placed it in front of her and kept the small plate. "Eat." The fragrance filled her nostrils and she practically dived her head into the bowl. "Eat slowly, don''t choke, there''s still more." Ye Jin lifted the wok gently and tossed the golden rice a few more times. Then he brought over another pot, poured in some water, and began to prepare soup. The tiny white tiger licked the bowl clean, and then the bowl in front of her was taken away by Ye Jin and replaced with a bowl of bone broth. The tiny white tiger cheered. "Xiao Zhezhe is best!" She lowered her head and lapped up the broth. Ye Jin smiled and watched her silently. After her meal, Gu Qingyu hiccuped and glanced at the two empty pots then looked at her round belly as she laid down on the blanket on her back with half-lidded eyes, completely content. She meowed at Ye Jin. "Leg massage, please~" "Okay." His hands stretched out immediately and gently kneaded the little white tiger''s short legs. The strength was not light or heavy, it was just right. Gu Qingyu looked at the ceiling and sighed. I do enjoy life like this, but when can I turn back? "Xiao Yu''er, don''t you have a Spirit Gem?" Ye Jin suddenly remembered something and said. Gu Qingyu''s eyes lit up in an instant and she whined. "Why did I forget this! But I had to swallow to turn back the last time..." "You lost too much energy. But it should get better after a few more days." Ye Jin rubbed the tiny white tiger''s head then continued to massage her legs. Gu Qingyu growled with annoyance and frustration. "How many days? We''re supposed to leave tomorrow! Whatever, it''ll be good enough if I could turn back at all. When life gives you lemons, make sweet lemonade." "Okay, Xiao Yu''er, it''s getting late, let''s get some sleep." Ye Jin picked up the little white tiger and cradled her in his arms. "You really want to leave tomorrow?" Meow! "Of course!" "Okay, okay, Xiao Yu''er. Whatever you want." Gu Qingyu suddenly sobbed. "But my mother..." "I''ve looked through it." Ye Jin stroked her fur gently. "Gu Yi was also involved in this matter. His background is not as simple as we thought. He was once a member of Ye, but he left the organisation and changed his appearance and voice. Gu Qingyu was taken aback. It was Gu Yi... that killed her mother? She loved him! She loved him so much! And he loved her too! Why? She could accept and rationalise anyone else, except her father, the person that her mother loved the most. No, that man was not her father, not anymore. Since the beginning, she only saw her mother as family. Ye Jin sighed softly, perhaps he had read her mind. He clarified, "Xiao Yu''er, he''s after me." The person that Gu Yi hates has always been Ye Jin, so whether it is her mother, her sister Gu Yan, or even herself, they were all just Gu Yi''s chess pieces for the ultimate revenge. That''s why there was a flame pattern, because he knew what it meant, so he added that himself. He was the only person that could get close to Mrs Gu, so he used her trust against her. Which was why when he brought a bowl of medicine to her, she drank it without hesitation. She believed that he would never trick her, never harm her, because she loved him. Gu Qingyu felt a pang of sorrow. Mrs. Gu found the person she wanted to spend a lifetime with, but it was not the person for her. She deserved better. Gu Qingyu sighed. "Xiao Yu''er?" Ye Jin was a little flustered when she didn''t continue. "You...are you okay?" Gu Qingyu answered with a dejected whimper. "How can I blame you for this? I must avenge my mother." Ye Jin seemed to have made up his mind. He rubbed the tiny white tiger''s head and looked down at her, his eyes filled with gentleness. "Okay, let''s go now." "Now?" "So, have you decided on the method?" Ye Jin''s eyes were full of smiles. "Of course!" Ye Jin opened the window, holding the tiny white tiger in one hand, and grabbed the window ledge with the other. He jumped, vaulted over the window ledge and dropped down. He fell through the air, landed steadily on the ground and walked forward. Their destination? the Gu Residence. Chapter 137: Revenge Chapter 137: Revenge Translated by: iris.knight Ye Jin looked at the little white tiger in his arms and rubbed her head. "How would I dare not cooperate with my dear''s orders?" The tiny white tiger turned a little pink, and then placed her mouth close to his ear. "Ok, here''s the deal, we''ll..." Ye Jin''s face grew darker as he listened, and his lips pulled into a slight wince. "Xiao Yuer... are you sure?" After seeing the tiny white tiger''s firm eyes, he sighed helplessly. "Okay, okay. Your wish is my command, my dear." Gu Yi blew out the candles and stood in front of the window, looking wistfully at the silver water of the lake outside the window. Once upon a time, someone stood by his side and watched the scene with him. However, he killed her, only for his revenge. He clenched his fist and hit his chest. He regrets it! If he could turn back the clock, he would definitely not kill his wife! But it is impossible to turn back time, no matter how much you wish for it. "My lady, will you resent me? You must hate me now, right?" Gu Yi muttered as his clenched fist opened, a single earring resting at the center of his palm. "I do hate you." Suddenly, a cold, sinister gust of wind blew through the room, and the door opened with a creak. Gu Yi was shocked, turned around, but someone was standing next to him! That woman was dressed in white, and her long black hair draped over her shoulders. Between the dark tresses, a single earring gleamed in the moonlight, the same earring as the one held in Gu Yi''s hand. "Xue... Xue''er..." Gu Yi''s voice trembled as he stepped back. That women looked exactly like Gu Qingyu''s biological mother in this world, Hua Qianxue. "Brother Yi, why?" The woman''s voice was hollow, lonely. It sounded like despair. No living person would sound like that. The woman looked out the window and did not turn to look at Gu Yi. Gu Yi was a little at a loss. "Xue''er... I''m sorry... I''m sorry..." The woman still did not turn her head to look at Gu Yi. "Brother Yi, I loved you so much, I loved you with all my heart and soul. Why... why did you hurt me... why did you hurt your Xue''er...You even hurt my Yu''er, our Yu''er!" "Xue''er I''m sorry! I..." Tears seemed to flow from the corner of Gu Yi''s eyes. At this moment, the old general who once stared death in the eye was filled with regret. "I should not have been consumed by hatred..." "But my heart has. I hate you, I hate you so much. All of my love for you had turned into hate." The woman turned to Gu Yi sharply as she glared at that man. Her icy glare made him shudder. Gu Yi was so frightened by the woman that his legs gave out and he fell back on the ground. "Xue''er...Xue''er don''t do this...It''s my fault...Are you Xue''er''s ghost? Are you back to..." "Yes, I came back and have you join me." The woman smiled slightly. Her smile was eery and morbid, with a deep despair. "Xue''er... Xue''er, I don''t want to die yet..." Gu Yi panicked. "Please..." In the bitter end, General Gu Yi was nothing but a cowardly person who feared death. The woman floated towards him as blood and tears streamed from her eyes. "Brother Yi...Look at me...I am Xue''er...Come, stay with me, keep me company..." She laughed, and tears of blood continued to slide down her face: "Brother Yi... come with Xue''er...I am so cold, so lonely here...Won''t you stay with me? Brother Yi once killed a lot of innocent people, right? Everyone misses Brother Yi...They all want to meet you..." "Don''t... don''t!" Gu Yi kept crawling back and backed up against a corner. "Xue''er! I was wrong, I''m sorry! Please, forgive me..." "Brother Yi...Brother Yi..." The woman cackled in a frenzy as she bent down and strangled Gu Yi. And Gu Yi could not fight back, his powers were sealed away at that moment. All he could do was grab her hand as he struggled to breathe. "Xue...er..." "Brother Yi, you will join me very soon...and, all the other people who have been waiting for you. They would be delighted to see you as well." The women watched as Gu Yi''s breathing grew weaker and weaker, until his hand dropped to his side for the last time. The woman smiled with satisfaction, stood up and wiped away the blood and tears from the corner of her eyes. "You can come out now." The little white tiger jumped in from the window and leaped into the woman''s arms. "Xiao Zhezhe, you''re the best! You could get an Oscar for that!" Yes, the woman was Ye Jin. Ye Jin helplessly rubbed the tiny white tiger''s head, and answered with the same voice he used to play Mrs. Gu''s ghost. The little white tiger pawed at Ye Jin, rubbing the two soft things on his chest that he had somehow conjured up to better fit the role. "Oh, this is fun!" Ye Jin stroked the tiny white tiger with a sigh. "My lady, can I change back now?" She protested, "No! Let me play for a while~ How did you do this anyway? It''s so soft! Did you stuff this with cotton? Wow, this would be great as a pillow." Ye Jin sighed and removed his disguise in an instant. "Enough, Xiao Yu''er, we should go." He glanced at the corpse at his feet that was still warm. "What do you want to do with this? " Gu Qingyu thought about it for a while. "Let''s just bury it in the wilderness." "Okay, someone will clean this up later." Ye Jin''s eyes narrowed as he smiled. Moonlight shone on his face. His eyes were like silver lakes, glowing with the pale moonlight. He stared at her with a soft gaze. In front of her, he was no longer the indifferent and intimidating Hero Jia, nor was he the murderous, bloodthirsty Leader of Ye. He could even forget that he was also the Shadow that controlled the royals of the kingdoms, whose existence could only be heard in hushed whispers and outlandish rumours. He is just a man who loves her deeply. Gu Qingyu blushed a little, and she lowered her head with a mew. "Okay, I''m sleepy, let''s go quickly..." "Okay." Ye Jin rubbed her head and walked out. The night might be cold, but she was warm in his arms. She lay quietly on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. It belonged to her alone. Amongst the trees in the distance, the corner of a white robe peeked out from the dark. The man was holding the jade flute and his eyes were extremely desolate. He may never have her heart but the least he could do was to watch over her from afar. Back to Murong Zuoyu''s Mansion Gu Qingyu was already asleep. Ye Jin went back to their room, laid down on the bed, gently covered the tiny white tiger with a quilt, and then rubbed her head with a smile. A cloud of red smoke gradually appeared on the tiny white tiger''s head, and Ye Jin''s face instantly turned icy. "Haven''t you had enough?" Ye Jin smiled, but the smile didn''t reach his eyes, and his piercing gaze was bloodthirsty and cold. The red smoke gradually formed a human figure, dressed in red robes, the man smiled at his question. "What''s the matter? It''s always better to have more." "If I am not mistaken, Xian Di is your old friend." Ye Jin narrowed his eyes slightly. "And you, have been using Xiao Yu''er." Yan Zun chuckled. "Yeah, you are truly the Shadow. I do wish to use her power and release myself, but I didn''t make her suffer, right?" Ye Jin snorted. "Yeah, she didn''t suffer. She just almost died, several times." "If it weren''t for me, do you think she can live to this day?" Yan Zun raised an eyebrow. "Yan Zun, you are my greatest enemy now." Ye Jin smiled, "However, you are still Xiao Yu''er''s master. If you died, she would be heartbroken." "Good, at least you understand that." Yan Zun answered with an elusive smile. Ye Jin''s lips flattened to a line as he closed his eyes, it was clear that he did not wish to continue their conversation, while Yan Zun turned into a red mist and disappeared in the air. It was late at night after all. The next day Gu Qingyu was awakened by a burst of firecrackers. She rubbed her eyes. Today should be the New Year, and yesterday seemed to have been New Year''s Eve. It seems that no one reminded her...so that she didn''t even have the chance to ask for red packets. "Happy New Year, Xiao Yu''er." Seeing Gu Qingyu woke up, Ye Jin, who was sleeping next to her, reached out and rubbed her little head. The tiny white tiger rolled onto her back, with her legs dangling in the air, and continued to sleep. A peal of laughter escaped his lips as he watched the adorable cat next to him. Just as he was about to say something, another burst of firecrackers came from downstairs. Ye Jin frowned at the noise and he moved to get up. But the tiny white tiger rolled over again and four small paws hugged his arm as she whined. "Happy new year! Red Packet please!" He laughed at the pleasant surprise as he ruffled the fur on her head. "Okay, I''ll give you all of my gold." "What about the silver?" "Yes, all yours. Even me." Ye Jin added to the list as he continued to pamper her. "Hmph, that''s more like it!" Ye Jin smiled brightly. "Are you hungry?" She was about to answer when he said that, but her stomach was a step ahead of her and growled loudly. Ye Jin''s soft chuckles turned into a full-bellied laugh. "My Xiao Yu''er. I knew you''d be hungry, go to dinner." Then, he picked her up, got up from the bed and walked out of their room. Gu Qingyu meowed lazily, as she watched with sleepy, half-lidded eyes. They soon arrived at the dining room. Ye Jin held the tiny white tiger with one hand and gently pushed the door open. Three people were already sitting inside. Qi Yichen turned and smiled at Gu Qingyu. "Oh, good morning Brother Zhu, and Hero Jia." Ye Jin''s real identity is relatively confidential, so everyone still generally calls him "Jia Qizhe". Ye Jin nodded, walked in and sat down. To Gu Qingyu''s surprise, Mo Bai was also sitting there, dressed in a white robe. He looked elegant and beautiful as always. Mo Bai raised his head slightly at the sound of the door and then gave her a faint smile. "Morning, Yu''er." The tiny white tiger nodded. "Good morning~" Xie Zang was watching Gu Qingyu with his trademark smirk. "Good morning, kitten. What happened, how did you end up as your original form again?" Gu Qingyu glared at him half-heartedly. "Hey, don''t tease me. I already feel bad enough." Chapter 138: Final Preparations Chapter 138: Final Preparations Translated by: iris.knight At this moment, the door opened again. It was Murong Zuoyu. The tiny white tiger lifted her head from Ye Jin''s arms. "Morning, Brother Murong!" "Yes, good morning." Murong Zuoyu nodded and sat down. The tiny white tiger shook her head and growled at Ye Jin impatiently. "Put me down, I want to eat!" "Okay, okay." Ye Jin took out a soft mat and laid it out on an empty spot on the table, then gently set her on the mat. "Go ahead." The tiny white tiger roared as loudly as she could. ¡°Oh! Then I won''t hold back, time to devour everything! Bankrupt Brother Murong!" Murong Zuoyu furrowed his brows. Her comment, should he believe her, does worry him no matter his wealth. And he watched in horror as the tiny white tiger practically inhaled everything in her bowl. Every now and then, Ye Jin would add more food to her bowl as he watched her eat happily, he himself did not eat much. While she ate, Gu Qingyu thought about how she would deliver food to Qi Wan, before going to see Xian Di. They did plan to meet at noon, at the river where it all began. "Wow..." Qi Yichen was stunned from the side, "Brother Zhu, how is it the smaller you are, the more you can eat?" He genuinely thought that her appetite would decrease according to her size, but he did not expect that she would be able to eat so much. If Murong Zuoyu was having trouble keeping up with her appetite, would Hero Jia have trouble keeping up? Oh, poor Brother Jia. Gu Qingyu burped, and Qi Yichen turned to watch her, wishing that she might have had her fill. But she buried her face in her bowl again and kept eating. Qi Yichen was at a loss for word. After a few more minutes, the tiny white tiger finally had her fill. She cleaned her face as she laid on the mat. "Hurry up and eat, we have to leave after this." Everyone unanimously looked at the leftovers on the table, each with a cringe on their face. Then the tiny white tiger curled up into a ball. "Wake me once you''re done, I''m gonna nap for a bit." Their resignation turned to annoyance. All of a sudden, the bricks piled at the corner seemed very appealing. Murong Zuoyu clapped softly with a sigh. The door opened, and someone immediately walked up to clear the table and set the table with new dishes. Qi Yichen''s eyes lit up. "Brother Murong! Oh, you are truly..." Murong Zuoyu quickly shushed him, then glanced at the tiny white tiger that was sleeping. He did not have anything else left. Qi Yichen nodded immediately as he stole a glance at Gu Qingyu. The tiny white tiger yawned lazily, her eyes narrowed slightly. Qi Yichen''s heart dropped as he held his breath. But the tiny white tiger rolled over and continued to sleep. Murong Zuoyu exhaled and looked at Qi Yichen at the same time. Qi Yichen released his breath as well and patted his chest. It was precisely that exhalation that caught the tiny white tiger''s attention. Her ears wiggled as she looked up with bleary eyes and a lazy meow followed, "Why is it so noisy?" Xie Zang stared at Qi Yichen with wide eyes, he looked like he was going to kill him. Murong Zuoyu also glanced at Qi Yichen and the blade in his hand flashed for a second. Ye Jin looked at Gu Qingyu, smiled, and remained silent. "I...I''m a sinner...I will end myself..." Qi Yichen deeply regretted his decision as well. The tiny white tiger tilted her head and looked at the spread before her. "What happened? Why is there so much food/ Could it be that I just had a dream of having breakfast?" Murong Zuoyu looked at Qi Yichen with an indifferent expression. "Death would be too easy. on you." Qi Yichen swallowed thickly, he agreed as well. Just when Gu Qingyu was about to eat breakfast again, someone picked her up from the table and tucked her into their arms. "Xiao Yu''er, don''t eat too much in the morning. You''re gonna put on weight and get a stomach ache." Ye Jin rubbed the tiny white tiger''s head. The tiny white tiger was still half-asleep and was a little confused. "Oh? I''ve eaten already?" Ye Jin sighed, he would like to know if she had her fill as well. As Gu Qingyu laid in Ye Jin''s arms, she suddenly remembered that Qi Wan must not have eaten yet. He was still on bed-rest, so he could not join them for breakfast. She was planning to bring some food to him when Murong Zuoyu clarified with a faint smile, as if he had read her mind, "Someone has already brought breakfast to him." She nodded and looked up at Ye Jin. "Then can I..." "No, you can''t visit him." Ye Jin answered before she could even finish her sentence. "Xiao Zhezhe~" "No way." "Xiao Zhezhe~ Zhezhe~" "Do not......" "Xiao Zhezhezhezhezhezhe~" Ye Jin helplessly held his forehead. "Well, only for a while." Gu Qingyu immediately jumped up to the table happily, picked out a bit from each dish and piled it all on one plate. Then she held the plate with her teeth, hopped down to a chair, and to the ground before she left the room with a swing in her steps. Qi Yichen sniffed. "Tsk, this sour smell in the air." Ye Jin glanced at Qi Yichen with a menacing look, and Qi Yichen shut up immediately. Gu Qingyu ran all the way to Qi Wan''s room. Right before she could open the door, someone burst through the door and ran out of the room. It was Xiao Qi, she ran out of the room with her hands covering her face, the sound of her sobs echoed through the hallway. She did not see Gu Qingyu at all, and the door closed behind her with a loud bang. Gu Qingyu was a little confused and gently pushed open the door with her paw. Qi Wan inside did not lift his head and answered with his eyes still closed. "Miss, I should have told you before. My heart already belongs to Gu Qingyu. I cannot give you what is not mine." Gu Qingyu''s jaw dropped and the plate clattered to the ground, but the food remained on the plate. Qi Wan opened his eyes at the sound of the clattering ceramic and saw that it was Gu Qingyu at the door. "Boss..." Qi Wan said blankly. Gu Qingyu was also a little embarrassed, she probably knew why Xiao Qi would leave in tears. She lowered her head slightly, picked up the plate again, and walked to Qi Wan''s bed. She jumped up to his side, placed the plate next to his pillow, and just nudged it. She pretended that she did not hear anything. "For me?" Qi Wan was somewhat surprised. The tiny white tiger sat curled up beside Qi Wan and meowed softly, "Or whose?" Qi Wan immediately picked up the plate. "Thank you, boss! I know you''re the best!" Gu Qingyu turned around and noticed the tray of food on the table. She was a little puzzled. "What about those?" "Ah, I didn''t have much appetite just now." Qi Wan picked up a piece of cake and popped it into his mouth, savouring the flavour with each bite. "Hm, not bad." Gu Qingyu looked at the cakes on the table, and then at the cakes on the plate. She was a little speechless. "Aren''t these the same?" "I prefer to eat the one you brought." Qi Wan grinned. The tiny white tiger rolled her eyes. "Fine, enough. Are you better? We''ll have to set off soon." "Where are we going?" Qi Wan sounded like he had no idea that they were leaving. "To the river." "To go after the Spirit Gem?" Qi Wan guessed. "Correct, good guess." "Okay, no problem." Qi Wan rubbed the tiny white tiger''s head with a smile. "Of course I''m fine! Look at you, you''re in even better shape than me!" And although he left that part unsaid, he still needed to protect her. The tiny white tiger shook her head. "Then take your time, I''ll be off first! We''ll wait for you by the main gate." "Yeah." Qi Wan pinched the tiny white tiger''s face. The tiny white tiger jumped out of the bed and ran towards the door. She did promise Ye Jin that she would not take too long, although would this be seen as too long? It would be terrible if Ye Jin got angry again. Not long after she ran out of Qi Wan''s room, a white robe appeared in front of her. Gu Qingyu looked up at Mo Bai. "Yu''er." He smiled slightly and greeted her. Gu Qingyu also nodded. As much as she had decided to put the past behind them, she still felt awkward around him, especially if it was just the two of them. Would Mo Bai feel the same way? Mo Bai seemed to have sensed her discomfort and sighed softly, "Yu''er, since everything is resolved, I''ll be off first." Gu Qingyu nodded again as she watched Mo Bai leave the mansion, completely alone. He did everything he could to try to make her happy, only to realise that she never wanted anything that he gave her. Because she wanted someone, someone that was not him, and she could not fit both of them in her heart. Just like how he could not fit anyone else in his heart, other than her. Gu Qingyu sighed. Mo Bai was a really nice person as well, and if she could, she would split herself into pieces and just give each piece to each person. She was so deep in thought that she barely noticed that someone stood near her. He picked up with large warm hands, and a slightly cold voice came from behind her. "What are you looking at?" That surprised her and she immediately twisted around and saw Ye Jin. She denied with a firm shake. "Xiao Zhezhe! I haven''t seen you for a few minutes but I miss you so much already!" Although it was obvious to him that she was just licking his boot, Ye Jin seemed to appreciate her effort. "Okay, Xiao Yu''er. It''s about time, we should go." "Alright!" Ye Jin held her as they walked to the main gate. Murong Zuoyu was already standing there, waiting for them in his usual purple robe. And Xie Zang was dressed in his trademark red chic robes as well. He turned around at the sound of Ye Jin''s footstep and commented as he walked over with the tiny white tiger in his hands. But Xie Zang was not looking at them, he was talking about something behind them. "Oh, you''re here?" The tiny white tiger mewed lazily, then turned around. Qi Wan was walking towards them as well. He greeted them with a smile. "Boss, am I quick enough?" His hair was now tied up into a high ponytail with a dark green ribbon, and he looked absolutely dashing. Chapter 139: Yan Ruhuo Chapter 139: Yan Ruhuo Translated by: iris.knight A man in a black robe stood by the river bank with billowing black robes and wind-tossed hair. Xian Di was already there. He saw Ye Jin and the others and scanned the team, and then his gaze settled on the tiny white tiger in Ye Jin''s arms. Gu Qingyu squirmed a little under his watchful eyes and growled, "Hey, what are you staring at? Let''s get going already!" Miraculously, Xian Di did not lash back at her. He chuckled instead, "I don''t think you can go like this." The tiny white tiger bared her teeth and hissed. Xian Di combed back his hair absentmindedly and waved his hand. The world spun before Gu Qingyu''s eyes as a familiar sensation washed over her. She was turning back to her human form. It was not until she recovered completely that Xian Di turned around and walked away. "Let''s go." His voice appeared hoarse and cold in the wind. Gu Qingyu suddenly found herself carried in Ye Jin''s arms, both of them stared at each other in surprise. And then she finally reacted and gently nudged him, who dutifully released her. Gu Qingyu was back to her human form, pink dress and all. Her hair draped over her shoulders as the Devouring Lotus settled at the center of her collarbone in full bloom. "Boss, you''re more and more beautiful." Qi Wan praised with a smile that reached the corner of his eyes as they followed Xian Di. "You think so too?" Gu Qingyu embraced the flattery. "Don''t you think that I''m not only more beautiful, but also smarter, kinder and cooler?" Qi Wan hesitated, "Kind..." "Huh?" Gu Qingyu stared at him patiently. "Boss, you are actually very kind! You are too kind!" Qi Wan immediately answered with his hand on his heart. "Thank you! Thank you! You have a good eye!" Gu Qingyu nodded with conviction. Qi Yichen turned back and glanced at Qi Wan contemptuously, and then looked at Gu Qingyu and said, "Brother Zhu, in fact, you are more than kind! You are so handsome, so generous, so moving!" Gu Qingyu nodded with satisfaction. "Qi Yichen, you are becoming more and more pragmatic, not bad." Xie Zang turned and looked at Qi Yichen with contempt, then said to Gu Qingyu, "Kitten, you are more than kind, handsome, generous, and moving! You don''t know how many advantages you have! I have no words to describe your sheer beauty!" Gu Qingyu looked at Xie Zang with surprise. "When have you become so honest?" Murong Zuoyu turned to look at the Xie Zang, and the man in red gloated, "What? Do you have something to add?" Murong Zuoyu simply stared at him in contempt and turned back. He did not have anything to add, but he never intended to contribute to the game. Ye Jin stroked her head. "Xiao Yu''er, they said everything. All I can say is, I''m glad you''re mine." And everyone agreed unanimously that Ye Jin won the game. It cut straight to the point, very fitting of that man. "Okay, okay, I think we''re getting there." Gu Qingyu looked ahead as Xian Di continued to walk ahead of them and kept some distance from them. He was walking up and along the river, perhaps he was looking for the source? Suddenly, he stopped and looked up at the sky. "What''s wrong?" Gu Qingyu followed his gaze and looked up as well. It was still sunny in the morning, but the sky was now overcast with gloomy clouds, it looked as though it was going to rain. Xian Di shook his head and held out his hand. "Are you ready?" "Yeah, we''re ready." Gu Qingyu nodded, and at the same time, Ye Jin wrapped his hand around hers. Qi Wan walked to her side, and the others also stood near her. Xian Di laughed lightly, then with a wave of his hand, an overwhelming gust of wind came, and everything in sight turned to pitch dark. Before Gu Qingyu could react, she was pulled into a warm embrace and a familiar scent surrounded her. It was Ye Jin. In the darkness, Ye Jin seemed to be whispering into her ear, his warm breath warmed the shell of her ear. "Xiao Yu''er, hold on tight. Don''t let go." Boom! Gu Qingyu''s eyes snapped open at the roar of thunder and rain poured from the sky. She tried to cover her head with her hands, but the rain had already drenched her from head to toe. She looked around, the scenery was the same as before. She was still in that same forest, next to the same river. What happened? Did Xian Di fail? She never thought that Xian Di would fail. But where were the others? Were they all sent back in time? Was she the only one left? Why would Xian Di make such a basic mistake and just leave her behind? Questions plagued her mind. She lifted her head with some difficulty, the rain was getting heavier, she had to get out of there first. She grabbed onto a tree and hoisted herself up gingerly. But the moment she straightened, the strength in her body was suddenly sucked out and a pounding headache followed. Was her weakness caused by her injuries, compounded by the rain? Her legs gave out and she slid down along the tree and sat on the muddy ground. The rain grew to a torrent. She could not summon up the strength to move as her breath became more and more shallow. Even keeping her eyes open was a chore. Was she going to die? Like this? All alone in a forest? She had not even started to look for the last few Spirit Gems! Gu Qingyu forced her eyes open as the rain continued to slide down her face, blurring her vision. She wiped the rain from her eyes and tried to stand up again. Right then, the rain stopped. No, she could still hear the rain, but the downpour turned into a soft pitter-patter as it beat against something. But the water stopped sliding down her skin. A pair of white boots stopped before her, and she looked up at the person before her. It was a teenager. His normally-clear eyes were clouded with worry as he stared at her. "Are you alright, miss?" He frowned slightly, his black hair cascading down to his shoulders. Above them was a white paper umbrella, as pristine as his robes. If she could, she would let out a loud gasp. She stared wide-eyed at the familiar teenager in front of her. It was Yan Ruhuo! It''s him! It''s Yan Zun from the past! Then, that meant that she travelled through time again? So Xian Di did send her back in time, but what about the others? Did he leave them behind instead? She stared at Yan Ruhuo as she tried to process the thoughts that raced through her mind. "Miss, are you lost?" Yan Ruhuo leaned down gently, and his soft long hair gently swept her cheeks, tickling her. Gu Qingyu nodded blankly. She could no longer feel Yan Zun in the spirit world. What in the world was going on? Yan Ruhuo furrowed his brows at her silence. Then he held out his hand and gently touched her forehead. Her skin was burning hot, his frown deepened. "miss, you best come with me. Or else you might not survive this storm." Gu Qingyu agreed with a faint whisper, "Thank you." Yan Ruhuo stepped forward and handed the umbrella to Gu Qingyu, then gently carried her and walked forward. She tried to hold up the umbrella, but her arms were too weak. So she rested it against her shoulder instead. Her head was still pounding, and the world was spinning again, she closed her eyes in a flutter. The sound of the rain echoed in her ears. When she opened her eyes again, she was no longer in that forest. She was staring up at a wooden ceiling, it was simple with a traditional charm. A faint medicinal scent tickled her nostrils, but it was different from Mo Bai. Gu Qingyu frowned slightly and pushed herself up. "Don''t move. You caught a bad cold, and you''re still injured." The sound of shuffling footsteps drew closer as a voice advised her. Gu Qingyu turned to follow the voice, only then did she remember that she had met Yan Ruhou in the forest. She met his clear eyes that stared back at her with worry and warm kindness. How did such a pure, kind boy become that evil, bloodthirsty Yan Zun? What did he go through? "Are you okay? Do you still feel dizzy?" Yan Ruhuo asked. Gu Qingyu shook her head. "Where is this place?" "This is my house." Yan Ruhuo smiled softly, "Pleased to meet you, miss. My name is Yan Ruhuo. You are?" She smiled. "Gu Qingyu." "Gu Qingyu?" Yan Ruhuo repeated, "That sounds oddly familiar." "Have you heard of it before?" "No, I haven''t." He shook his head. Gu Qingyu looked outside the window. It was still raining but shades of red and orange peeked through the clouds. It was evening already. She did not even manage to find out what happened to Ye Jin and the others. He would be so worried once he realised they were separated. She has to go and find them. She did not like being on her own anyway. Without them, everything felt too quiet, too peaceful. It unsettled her, their absence ate away at her core. "I''m sorry," She shifted and lifted the covers. "I was separated from my friends. Who knows what would happen to them in such a horrible storm, I have to find them." Yan Ruhuo immediately stopped her and pulled the covers up."Miss Gu, your body is very weak. You really should not be walking right now. And the surrounding forest is covered by my spell. If there had been anyone, I would have sensed them. You''re the only person that I sensed." She drew in a sharp breath. That meant that Ye Jin and the others were not in this area at all. Were they really left behind? Oh no, how would she get the Spirit Gems all on her own? "Zoning out again?" Yan Ruhuo looked at her curiously and when he saw that she went silent again, he said softly, "Miss Gu?" "Huh?" Gu Qingyu came back to her senses and waved her hand, "Then, I would take up your kind offer, sorry for the disturbance. And you can just call me Qingyu." "Okay, Qingyu." Yan Ruhuo smiled, and shallow dimples appeared on his cheeks. Chapter 140: Back to the Past Chapter 140: Back to the Past Translated by: iris.knight "Thank you." Gu Qingyu was getting hungry as well, and took the porridge graciously. Ye Jin must be looking for her, there was no way that he would leave her alone, all by herself. Ye Jin, Qi Yan, Mo Bai, Qi Yichen, Xie Zang, Murong Zuoyu, Xiao Qi, and Yan Zun. None of them will leave her behind. The porridge made by Yan Ruhuo was very delicious. She smacked her lips after finishing the porridge, and smiled at him. ¡°Thank you, Brother Yan. Your cooking is really good.¡± He did not pay much attention to the way she addressed him, and he merely smiled softly at her praise. ¡°Thank you for the compliment, Qingyu. It¡¯s already getting late, do get some rest soon.¡± "Okay." Gu Qingyu nodded, laid down and snuggled into the covers. Yan Ruhuo walked out of the room and closed the door gently. The storm continued, and every now and then, thunder claps would be mixed with the pattering of the rain as silver arcs of lightning danced through the sky. Her mind wandered back to Ye Jin and the others, wherever they are, they must be looking for her. Xian Di sounded like he knew Yan Zun, and that he was gathering the Spirit Gems to release Yan Zun from the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny. Does that mean that Xian Di was Yan Zun¡¯s friend? If not, why would he help her travel to this time period to search for the Spirit Gems? Gu Qingyu sighed slightly and took out the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny from her sleeve. The jewel glowed faintly in the darkness, maybe that meant that Yan Zun was still in it. Then why wouldn¡¯t he come out? Wait, is he avoiding Yan Ruhuo? Then what would happen if they meet? A mischievous grin spread across her face. She was tired, but she was not sleepy yet. So she closed her eyes and entered the spirit world. It was a barren wasteland, Yan Zun was not around. But she was not looking for him, she was looking for someone else. She may not know what had happened, but someone might. She closed her eyes gently, and after a while, a light appeared next to her. When she opened her eyes, a boy was standing in front of her. He bowed with his hand over his heart, ¡°Master.¡± "Abyss.¡± Gu Qingyu nodded. ¡°What are your orders?¡± Abyss asked with a smirk as he straightened. His youthful appearance really did not match his experience and age. Gu Qingyu also smiled and replied confidently, "You should know." "Are you asking about the others?¡± Abyss understood her, and when she nodded, he looked up and answered, ¡°They¡¯re here too.¡± ¡°They¡¯re here? If that¡¯s the case, where are they?¡± ¡°Each of you arrived at a different location, you are all separated right now.¡± Abyss seemed less grumpier than when she first met him. She nodded. ¡°Okay, then where¡¯s Yan Zun?¡± Abyss stiffened slightly at the mention of Yan Zun, and then he smiled. "Wasn¡¯t he right in front of you just now?¡± ¡°Right in front of me? You mean, he¡¯s really Yan Zun?¡± Abyss said matter-of-factly, ¡°Or who would he be? They were the same person after all.¡± Gu Qingyu hesitated for a moment, and still said, "Yeah, but...they don¡¯t look alike at all.¡± ¡°That¡¯s precisely why you¡¯re here right? You have your answer.¡± Abyss returned her question without a hint of impatience. Gu Qingyu threw him a strange look. "Where is Xian Di?¡±" Who knows, Abyss looked a little regretful this time. "I''m sorry, that is beyond me.¡± ¡°Beyond?¡± She glanced at Abyss, he was not being snarky or difficult this time, there¡¯s no reason for her to doubt his words. So she relented and asked something else, ¡°Then do you know where the others are?¡± Abyss shook his head: "How would I know that kind of thing.¡± "Okay, thank you." She nodded and ended the conversation. Abyss disappeared, leaving her alone in the empty spirit world. She would be able to sleep easily, now that she knew that they were all here. But it would be difficult to find them, they could be anywhere. And where would the remaining two Spirit Gems be? Her heart jolted when she remembered what Yan Zun had said, "Actually, Xiqian has more than one Spirit Gem." Everything made sense now, they only found one during their visit to Xiqian because the other was hidden in this time instead. Therefore, the next Spirit Gem is at Xiqian in this time period. With a better direction and the next step planned out, Gu Qingyu gradually fell asleep. The next morning The early morning sun shone through the window, and Gu Qingyu was awakened by a delicious smell in the air. She looked out the window, the rain had stopped and the sky was all clear. The bright sunny day was a stark contrast to the weather yesterday. She yawned and sat up. She felt much better, her strength was slowly returning and her headache had subsided. She slipped out of bed silently and walked out of the room to investigate the smell. She followed the smell to the kitchen. Yan Ruhuo was dressed in a white robe, similar to what he wore yesterday, and he was busy with something on the stove. Gu Qingyu walked up curiously, and he turned around at the sound of her footsteps. "Oh, you''re awake. Good morning, Qingyu." "Yes, good morning, Brother Yan" Gu Qingyu smiled and leaned over his shoulder to peek at the stove. "Are you making porridge?" "Ah, yes, because you''re still recovering from a cold, it''s better if you eat something light." Yan Ruhuo answered naturally, but also somewhat shyly, as he stirred the porridge. "Thank you for your trouble." Gu Qingyu nodded and hesitated, but still asked, "But what are you so nice to me?" His stirring paused as he tilted his head to look at her, a confused gleam in his eyes. "Do I need a reason to be nice to people?" Well, he has a point. He does not need a reason to be nice to people. But she would never hear that from Yan Zun. Gu Qingyu was a little dazed and then shook her head. "You are right, you don''t need any reason or explanation." Yan Ruhuo resumed his stirring. After a while, he picked up a small plate, scooped a tiny bit of porridge, and poured it onto the plate. He brought the plate to his lips and took a small sip to test the taste. Then he put down the plate with a satisfied laugh, perhaps it tasted good. Then he prepared a bowl for her and set it on the table before doing the same for himself. "Here, go ahead." "Okay." She sat down at the table, picked up a spoon and slowly ate the porridge. It was delicious, each grain of rice melted in her mouth, several flavors such as meat, shrimp, and shiitake mushrooms were cleverly blended together in perfect harmony. Gu Qingyu sighed internally. She didn''t know that Yan Zun was such a great cook. Yan Ruhuo sat beside her and ate the porridge. They ate in silence. Finally, when Yan Ruhuo finished eating, he wiped the corners of his mouth with his handkerchief and then smiled at Gu Qingyu slightly. "I will help you find your friends later." "Thank you so much!" Gu Qingyu immediately looked at him gratefully. "Besides, I want to ask you something." "Ask away, Qingyu." "Where is Xiqian?" Gu Qingyu asked tentatively. After all, the world in this time may be very different, it was better if she kept the details vague. Yan Ruhuo looked at her curiously. "Are you not from this area?" "Ah, yes, it''s just that I lived elsewhere when I was younger. I''ve only came back recently." Gu Qingyu''s smile was a little tense. Right then, she noticed some white-coloured thing behind him. Yan Ruzhuo was taken aback, then slightly tilted his body, a little cat jumped onto his shoulders with its furry tail swishing behind him. "This is...?" Gu Qingyu was a little curious, the cat was quite cute. "This is my divine beast, the White Tiger." Yan Ruhuo smiled. "Go west from here, and you will arrive at Xiqian in about a day." "Divine beast?" She''s a divine beast herself, and that Yan Zun did call her his divine beast. Does that mean the cat that she was looking at was her in the past? "Yes." Yan Ruhuo stretched out his hand and gently rubbed the little white tiger''s head very tenderly, "She''s Yu''er, as in rain." "Yu''er?" That reminded her of the way Mo Bai calls her. "Well, she''s adorable, isn''t she?" Yan Ruhuo stroked the little white tiger on his shoulder with tenderness. It was really hard to believe that this person would turn into the bloodthirsty demon that she knew. Gu Qingyu smiled. "Yes, she''s really cute." "Okay, I''ll go out and have a look first." Yan Ruhuo stood up. "Actually, it''s fine." Gu Qingyu also stood up from her seat. "Thank you, Brother Yan, for your kind offer, but I think it would be better if I went to find them on my own instead. I would take my leave as well, thank you for your care during this short stay." "But..." Yan Ruhuo hesitated, then shook his head, "No, Qingyu, you''re still recovering." "It''s okay, I already feel much better. And I''ll just avoid vigorous activities." She shrugged, then bowed solemnly. "I am really grateful for your help, had you not found me, I might have died. You saved my life!" "You don''t have to be so polite..." He sighed and was going to continue, but Gu Qingyu had walked out already. "Goodbye, I''ll see you later." Gu Qingyu waved at Yan Ruhuo and walked into the forest. Chapter 141: In My Dreams Chapter 141: In My Dreams Translated by: iris.knight She sighed and looked up. The sun was still hanging high in the sky and not a single cloud in sight. She looked down at the grass below. She stared at the sun for a tad too long, and it took a while for her eyes to readjust. By the time she recovered, a small white-coloured thing was in front of her. "What¡¯s this?" Gu Qingyu knelt down to take a closer look, it was a little white tiger. The little white tiger actually smiled at her, and then a crisp female voice spoke, "I''m here to help you." "... Yu''er?" Gu Qingyu said hesitantly. "Yes." Yu''er nodded, and then dots of light began to appear on her body. She gradually grew bigger and her shape changed. The light dissipated, and a "Gu Qingyu" in a white dress stood in front of her with a faint smile. "You..." Gu Qingyu looked at her in surprise. "Why do you look exactly like me?" "Because I am you." Yu''er smiled happily. "Pleased to meet you, you can call me Yu''er or Rain." "I am Gu Qingyu." In order to be polite, Gu Qingyu also nodded slightly, temporarily hiding her inner surprise. "Why are you helping me anyway?" "What why?" Rain was still smiling, "Did you forget? I''m a divine beast, we are divine beasts." "So?" Maybe she was still getting used to seeing her own face talk back at her, but Gu Qingyu did not have a good feeling about Rain, even if she might be herself in the past. "Why do you sound like you know everything?" "Because I am a divine beast." Rain replied vaguely. "Well, you''ll know soon enough." "Soon?" Gu Qingyu frowned. "Are you really here to help me?" "That''s right." Yu''er shrugged, "I''m going to change back first, there''s a surprise for you soon." As soon as she turned around, she turned back into a little white tiger and ran deeper into the forest. "Wait!" Gu Qingyu was about to give chase, but someone interrupted her with a light tap on her shoulder. Gu Qingyu whipped around on reflex and grabbed the person''s hand by the wrist. "Who?" "Brother Zhu, it''s me." A cold voice answered with a tinge of surprise. "Brother Murong?" She finally recognised who was that person and released him immediately. Because of her excessive strength, red grip marks had already appeared on Murong Zuoyu''s wrist, but he had not struggled at all, perhaps he was worried that he would hurt her. Gu Qingyu looked at his wrist with an apologetic look. "Brother Murong..." Murong Zuoyu glanced at her hand and shook his head. "Don''t worry, it''s barely a scratch." "Still, it''s so great to see you here!" Gu Qingyu exclaimed delightfully. Murong Zuoyu greeted her with a rare smile as well, "Yes, I did not expect to see you here as well, Brother Zhu." She then shared the plan with him, he was part of the team after all. "Here''s the thing, I want to go check things out at Xiqian first. The next Spirit Gem might be there." "Alright, I will go with you. I had been looking for you anyway.¡± Murong Zuoyu nodded, his hand rested on the pommel of his sword out of habit. The two walked side by side in the woods, chatting occasionally. She felt relaxed around Muron Zuoyu, if she had an older brother, she imagined it would just be like this. When she first met Murong Zuoyu, he was cold and sharp-tongued, and he would tease her every now and then. But after spending more time with him, he turned out to be kind and a little naive actually. And then, she remembered how Murong Zuoyu tried his best to keep a straight face despite his seasickness, and his reaction when he first saw her in that pink dress and behaved like a lady. The way he nearly choked on his tea made her laugh out loud then, and now. Murong Zuoyu tilted back to look at her at the sound of her laugh. "What are you thinking about?" "Haha, nothing." Gu Qingyu waved her hand, suddenly a little curious. "Speaking of, Brother Murong, can I ask you a question?" "Yes. That''s one." Murong Zuoyu nodded. Gu Qingyu smiled awkwardly. "Uh, can I ask two?" "Yes. Two." Murong Zuoyu nodded again. She paused. "Can I ask four questions then?" "Yes, go ahead." He looked at her and answered. "Really?" She was going to proceed with her actual question. "Really, yes. That''s four questions." Murong Zuoyu interrupted her mercilessly. Gu Qingyu gave him a flat look. And then, he laughed. "Alright, I was messing with you. What did you want to ask?" Gu Qingyu pouted, then continued, "Brother Murong, why did you come with me?" She had always wanted to ask that question. In the beginning, he said that he wanted to protect the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny. But in hindsight, she began to have questions. Murong Zuoyu, a prince and duke loved by his people, who also loved his people even though he kept them at arm''s length, an heir to the throne. Why would he come with her to search for the Spirit Gems? Murong Zuoyu seemed to have anticipated that she wanted to ask this question, smiled, and then began, "I should have mentioned when we first met that I want to protect the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny and prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. It was my destiny, but I''m sure that''s not what you wanted to hear." Gu Qingyu nodded without comment. Murong Zuoyu looked forward and continued. "When I was a child, the prime minister of Dongxuan said that I was a general that protected the Lifeblood Jewel in the past. I never believed him, until one day, I dreamt of this place." Gu Qingyu''s heart jolted and she looked at him in disbelief. "You dreamt of this place?" Murong Zuoyu nodded. "At first, I didn''t take it seriously, it was a dream after all. But I had the same dream again and again." He sighed. "Perhaps that''s just how destiny works, you can''t go against it. I saw the same forest in my dreams, Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny was in the center of a river, glowing with a red light and you were standing on the water and stared at it." "I...?" Gu Qingyu looked up at him, the dreams sounded almost like a vision. "Yes, that was before I met you. Even though I''ve seen you a few times in the palace, you seem pretty normal, even obstinate at times." He stole a glance at her, made sure that she was not offended, then carried on, "But, when you showed up in my room, dressed in purple. And the way you avoided my soldiers, how you calmly defused the situation. That piqued my interest." "So that was it..." Gu Qingyu smiled, a little guilty. The actual danger was always defused by Ye Jin and Mo Bai, she barely played a role in it. So when Murong Zuoyu said that, it made her feel a little guilty and embarrassed instead. "Only when I arrived here did I truly believe what the prime minister had said. I walked over based on what I remembered of that dream, and I actually managed to find you." Murong Zuoyu had spoken more than any other conversation they had. "That''s it." Gu Qingyu nodded and turned back to the road, they were about to leave the forest. The trees by their side became fewer and fewer, the sunlight danced through the leaves, leaving golden spots and mottled shadows on the ground. The sunlight was blinding when they walked out from the woods. But strangely, the weather was cold. Gu Qingyu looked around. They walked into open plains and there was nothing around that warranted a longer stay, aside from the tree with red fruits in the distance. Murong Zuoyu followed her gaze and looked at the tree. "Well, Brother Zhu is hungry?" "Yep!" She nodded vigorously. "Wait." The sword in Murong Zuoyu''s hand was unsheathed and flew towards the tree. The sword flew around the tree and brought back a bunch of fruits as a skewer. Murong Zuoyu stretched out his hand and the sword flew to his hand. He removed one of the fruits, wiped it with his sleeve, and handed it to her. Gu Qingyu smiled gratefully at Murong Zuoyu, looking at him as though he had saved her life. Then she took the fruit and ate happily. She finished it within a few bites and smacked her lips. Only then did she realise that Murong Zuoyu had been watching her eat. She blinked puzzledly. "Brother Murong, are you not hungry?" "I''ve already eaten." Murong Zuoyu smiled. "This was where I arrived." "Oh~ okay." Gu Qingyu nodded. "Do you want to take a break?" "Are you tired?" Murong Zuoyu returned her question. "Not really..." "Then let''s keep going." Murong Zuoyu walked forward. Gu Qingyu ambled as she followed him. About three hours later, they arrived at a small village. The people in the village seemed very happy to see Murong Zuoyu, and immediately surrounded them. They called him General Leng, which confused both of them. Wait, according to Murong Zuoyu, his prime minister said that he was a general in the past, does that mean? Murong Zuoyu caught on quickly as well, and he nodded at the villagers, albeit awkwardly. "General Leng, welcome to this small village! We are honoured to have you here. If you don''t mind, please come in!" Someone invited them. From the way he spoke, he should be the village chief, and when he saw Gu Qingyu, the village chief said, "This young miss must be the general''s friend, please come in! Come!" Chapter 142: The History of Xiqian Chapter 142: The History of Xiqian Translated by: iris.knight "Wait a minute!" One of them suddenly pointed at Gu Qingyu and shouted, "Isn¡¯t this the priestess?¡± Everyone was taken aback and they all turned back to stare at her. Gu Qingyu was also surprised. ¡°What?¡± The village chief weaved through the crowd and walked up to her. Only then did he recognise her and dropped to his knees. ¡°Divine Priestess!¡± Other villagers knelt down in the same manner. ¡°Divine Priestess!¡± Gu Qingyu was completely in a daze. ¡°Are you guys referring to me?¡± Murong Zuoyu was also staring at her in confusion. The villagers all remained on the floor in silence. Gu Qingyu immediately bent down and helped the villager chief to his feet. ¡°Please, get up!¡± ¡°Oh, Divine Priestess! You have graced this tiny village with your presence, we are truly blessed!¡± The village chief answered with a tremble in his voice. Gu Qingyu was still confused. It seemed she elicited a much greater reaction than Brother Murong. The village chief looked behind her and was a little puzzled. ¡°Didn¡¯t the Lord come with you?" "The Lord?¡± Gu Qingyu was even more confused, "Who are you talking about?" "Oh, are you alright, Divine Priestess?¡± The village chief was shocked by her reaction. ¡°Didn''t you often appear with the Lord?¡± ¡°Oh!¡± She finally connected the dots, they must be referring to Rain, who looked just like her, and Yan Ruhuo, so she answered with a mischievous giggle. ¡°He¡¯s not here today, I came out here on my own for a walk.¡± "So that''s it." The village head nodded and bowed, "Please come in!" Gu Qingyu nodded, and walked into one of the cottages with Murong Zuoyu. The village chief walked in and closed the door behind him, leaving the other villagers outside. The moment the door closed, the village chief asked, ¡°But why are both General Leng and the Divine Priestess here?¡± Before Murong Zuoyu could speak, Gu Qingyu slapped the table and said without embarrassment. ¡°We¡¯re here to do some sightseeing!¡± Murong Zuoyu chose to remain in resigned silence. The village chief was even more puzzled. "The Lord, is he...¡± Gu Qingyu patted the table for the second time and said without shame, ¡°Who cares about him! Actually, the general and I have actually eloped!¡± Murong Zuoyu swallowed, he was slowly regretting his decision to let Gu Qingyu do the talking. The village chief stiffened. ¡°Divine Priestess, you...¡± Gu Qingyu laughed and patted his shoulder. ¡°Ahahahaha, relax! I was just kidding!¡± The village chief also laughed, as a nervous droplet of sweat slid down his forehead. It was obvious that the village chief was shocked. Murong Zuoyu winced and reminded himself to never get on her bad side. Gu Qingyu watched the village chief bring over a glass of water, and finished it in a single breath. "By the way, if I may ask, where are the two of you going?" The village chief asked weakly. Gu Qingyu didn''t see a need to hide it, so she answered, "Xiqian." "Xiqian?" The village chief stared at her. "Is the Divine Priestess going to intervene in the wars? Is this the Lord''s intentions?" "What do you mean?" Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Xiqian is now embroiled in a civil war, and all countries want to annex it. Xiqian is also a big country. If it was annexed by any of the other countries, that would give them far too much power. They could potentially take over the continent." The village chief explained with a sigh. "So that''s why..." "Is the Divine Priestess not aware?" The village chief seemed puzzled. "Didn''t the general come from there?" Both Gu Qingyu and Murong Zuoyu stared at each other in surprise. If they stayed any longer, they were going to blow their cover. Gu Qingyu stood up and pulled Murong Zuoyu along with her. "We still have some urgent matters to attend to, so we will take our leave first. Thank you for your kind hospitality." "Since the two are in a hurry, please!" The village chief bowed, "We have prepared two good horses for you. Hopefully, it would be of use to you." "Thank you so much." Gu Qingyu gave a grateful smile. "It is an honor for us to be able to help you." The village chief smiled graciously, it was clear that he respected them greatly. Soon, Gu Qingyu and Murong Zuoyu mounted the horses and bid farewell to the village. Along the way, the horses slowed to a gentle canter as Gu Qingyu mindlessly munched on the melon seeds in her hands. Murong Zuoyu wondered where she conjured up those melon seeds. "Brother Murong, do you want some?" Gu Qingyu asked after she spat out a mouthful of husks. Murong Zuoyu shook his head. "No, it''s better for Brother Zhu to... enjoy it." "I figured." Gu Qingyu nodded and continued to munch away in content. The afternoon sun shined warmly on their faces, and warmed their hearts. "By the way, about Xiqian''s ongoing civil war." Gu Qingyu mused as she ate. "I didn''t expect that things would be this dramatic in the past." "Yes," Murong Zuoyu nodded in agreement. "At the same time, who would expect that Xiqian would survive this ordeal and remain as one of the four nations in this continent." Gu Qingyu sighed, "Qi Yichen did a great job, it''s just a shame that things went that way." Murong Zuoyu knew what her lament was referring to, and kept quiet. "Hey, Xiqian survived this civil war, we know that because of the future. So, can we infer that even if things look bad for Xiqian in our time, they would make it out alive?" She turned to Murong Zuoyu, waiting for approval of her deduction. "Not necessarily." Murong Zuoyu shook his head instead. He paused, and continued, "That was the past. Our presence here will change something." "Will change what?" Gu Qingyu was taken aback, not understanding what he meant. "Yes." Murong Zuoyu nodded, and then explained, "For example, if we took a Spirit Gem here, then in the future, there would be one less Spirit Gem in Xiqian.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± ¡°At our current pace, we would only reach that place tomorrow.¡± Murong Zuoyu looked at the sky, and massaged his temples. ¡°Brother Zhu, I think we should hurry.¡± ¡°Great minds think alike.¡± Gu Qingyu nodded and galloped ahead. Murong Zuoyu also sent his horse into a gallop and kept up with Gu Qingyu. The sun slowly moved westward, and at sunset, they arrived at the city gates. "Brother Murong, go and pretend to be General Leng again. Maybe that would grant us entry.¡± Gu Qingyu beamed at him. Brother Murong coughed slightly. "Brother Zhu, we can just walk in." "But you are so famous, what would we do if people found out that we tried to sneak in?¡± Gu Qingyu was a little worried. Murong Zuoyu''s brows knitted for a moment, that almost sounded like a problem to him. Almost. Gu Qingyu slapped her forehead at the sight of his realisation. "You were still fine just now, didn''t expect your IQ to drop so drastically." Murong Zuoyu rolled his eyes, ignoring Gu Qingyu, and drove the horse forward. Gu Qingyu immediately caught up to him. "Hey, I was just kidding..." As soon as they arrived at the city gates, the soldiers that guarded the entrance stood at attention and bellowed, "General Leng!" "Hm." Murong Zuoyu nodded at them and entered the city. Gu Qingyu followed Murong Zuoyu as she watched the soldiers, their eyes were filled with awe and respect. As they made their way through the streets, the people cheered as soon as they saw Murong Zuoyu. "General Leng is here!" "We''re saved!" "The emperor did not abandon us! General Leng is here!" "Yes, as long as General Leng is here, we will never lose!" Gu Qingyu understood as she listened to the townspeople that surrounded them. This city was one of the border cities. Everyone in Xiqian''s main army would be involved in the civil war, and with the threat of annexation looming on the horizon, it was no wonder that the citizens in this city were terrified. But General Leng''s presence meant change, it meant hope. She does not know the real General Leng, but the people loved him so much. He must be pretty amazing. The way these people adored him, it reminded her of how things were like back home. She looked at him, his expression was schooled to a cold mask, but emotions swirled in his eyes. And if she squinted, she might see the tears that were on the verge of sliding down his cheeks. A prince and duke that loves his people as though they were his own. How could he not respond when they called out to him so desperately? They may not be calling his name, but they saw him as their beacon of hope. In their eyes, he was their savior. As long as "General Leng" was with them, as long as their guardian angel was with them, their city would not fall. Gu Qingyu sighed softly, knowing what Murong Zuoyu was thinking, stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder to show comfort, but did not say a word. Murong Zuoyu glanced at Gu Qingyu, nodded slightly, and walked forward. At the same time, he opened his mouth and declared with his cool voice, "I''m here. You will all survive this, none of you will die. " Hearing his words, the crowd broke out into cheers and shouts of joy. "General Leng! General Leng! General Leng!" Murong Zuoyu raised his hand slightly, and the crowd soon quietened down. Murong Zuoyu paused, and continued. "Everyone, please, carry on with what you were doing. Pay no attention to me." "How could we..." Someone frowned, and others did the same. "Disperse, all of you." A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He dismounted, then walked to her and held out his hand. "Here, watch your step." "Thank you, Brother Leng." Gu Qingyu also quickly changed her words, took his hand gently, and got off the horse with a hop. Chapter 143: General Leng Chapter 143: General Leng Translated by: iris.knight Gu Qingyu smiled and lowered her voice. "Maybe when we get to the capital of Xiqian, you can easily retrieve the Spirit Gem with that face too!" "I hope so." Murong Zuoyu nodded slightly and sighed, "I never thought things would be this bad in Xiqian." Gu Qingyu followed his gaze. The city was quiet, many shops and stalls were closed. In fact, all the doors and windows were closed tightly. The homeless gathered in the alleys, trying to hide from the cold. People walked past them, ignoring them. "Yeah, it''s along the border after all. They must have cut off the supply roads." Gu Qingyu sighed. "No," Surprisingly, Murong Zuoyu shook his head, "The situation in the imperial city is much more dire." His words reframed the context and her heart dropped. Yeah, if the border cities that are away from the conflict are in such a bad state, the capital must be in chaos. All of the power is consolidated there, the ongoing conflict must be amplified there. "But at least that''s the capital. They''ve already given up on the people here." Gu Qingyu shook her head, suddenly remembered a poem she had read before, and said it softly, "In prosperity, the masses suffer. In destruction, the masses suffer." Murong Zuoyu seemed to be moved by these words. Perhaps that struck a chord with him. "Brother Zhu, do you think so too?" Gu Qingyu nodded. "A dynasty prospers because of the efforts of its people, and when the dynasty falls, its people are forced to go to war against each other. Every exchange of power involves war. So the people suffer in prosperity or destruction." Murong Zuoyu nodded, and the way he looked at her changed slightly. She was originally a strange woman, clever, decisive, brave, and tough, but her remark made her even more unique. Perhaps he knew from the beginning that his Zhu Fan must be extraordinary. "Brother Leng, I think you will stay." Gu Qingyu said suddenly. Murong Zuoyu was taken aback for a moment, but he didn''t know that Gu Qingyu had observed him so intricately. "I have planned to. " "I figured, you''re not the kind that could turn a blind eye to this." "It''s just a plan." Murong Zuoyu sighed lightly, "I still have to go with Brother Zhu to find the Spirit Gem." Gu Qingyu lowered her head and was a little touched, was he planning to go against his own wishes to help her? She pushed past her hesitation and replied, "Brother Leng, I can actually do it alone." "Brother Zhu, you are too hard-headed." Murong Zuoyu looked at her and smiled. "I believe the others have said the same thing. You would rush in with a complete lack of self-preservation, and put up a strong face for everyone else.¡± Gu Qingyu lowered her eyes. "Got it." Then, she raised her head and said in a brisk tone, "Then let''s stay here for now." "Stay here?" Murong Zuoyu was in disbelief, frowning slightly. "What about that Spirit Gem?" "Yeah," Gu Qingyu smiled, "Who said that the Spirit Gem must be at the capital? We can look around here, and help this city at the same time." Murong Zuoyu flinched for a moment, and then he curled his lips and stopped arguing with her. "Okay." They stopped at an inn. Gu Qingyu found a map and examined it as she munched on an apple. Murong Zuoyu sat beside her and studied it as well. "This is Yan Yang City." Gu Qingyu stared at it for a long time and finally came to a conclusion. Murong Zuoyu glanced at her, was that hard to figure out? He asked tentatively, "Brother Zhu, you only saw that after such a long time?" "Yeah, how? It''s amazing!" Gu Qingyu said with a triumphant expression, "Are you impressed?" "Yes." Murong Zuoyu nodded and said sincerely. For someone as good as her, there should be no other in the world. "Right, right~" Gu Qingyu was still smug, looked at Murong Zuoyu who was speechless, and laughed out loud, "Ahahaha, ok I''ll stop messing with you." Murong Zuoyu held his forehead even more speechlessly so that he didn''t get angry. "Okay, Brother Zhu, stop making trouble." "Hey!" Gu Qingyu suddenly stood up and looked at Murong Zuoyu. Murong Zuoyu thought she had found something, and immediately sat up straight. "What?" "Look!" Gu Qingyu held out the apple in her hand, she had gnawed a small smiley face on it. "Cute, right?" "Very cute." Murong Zuoyu gritted his teeth a bit, he was really going to lose his patience. Gu Qingyu sat back in her seat just enough, held the apple in her left hand and pointed on the map with her right hand. "Brother Leng, look, if we take this path, it would take only a day to reach the capital." Murong Zuoyu nodded and motioned for her to continue. She took a bite of the apple, and then continued, "Going there and back would take about two days. Maybe one of us can head to the capital to bring reinforcements, while the other stays here and buys time." "Reinforcements?" "Yes. I''ll stay here and you can go to the capital as General Leng, there''s no way they would deny you. Sure, they might be in a bit of a pickle but they can handle it. We might even make it back in time." "It''s a good idea. But Brother Zhu, can you handle this alone?" "Of course, I''ll hold the line for as long as it takes." Gu Qingyu smiled and nodded. "So, get going." Murong Zuoyu thought for a while, then raised his head and said decisively, "No." "Eh? Why? Didn''t you say that this is a good idea?" "It''s a good idea, but it''s not pragmatic." Murong Zuoyu shook his head. "Brother Zhu, I can''t leave you alone in this dangerous place." Gu Qingyu pursed her lips and kept quiet. He refused to leave her in a dangerous situation, and she refused to let him stay. So she concocted a plan to get him to do what he wants and not worry about her, but it failed. Murong Zuoyu sighed, "Brother Zhu, that was a well-thought-out strategy. But you can''t pull the wool over my eyes." He already knew that she would try to send him away and protect him in her way instead. Gu Qingyu lowered her head and bit her lip. "Brother Murong, you know, we don''t have much time." "I know." He looked out the window, the sun was slowly setting down the mountain. "In short, I won''t leave, Brother Zhu." Murong Zuoyu stood up. "Let''s go have a meal first, you didn''t eat much today, you must be starving." "Brother Leng understands me~" Gu Qingyu smiled and opened the door. "Brother Zhu." Murong Zuoyu''s voice came from behind her, cool with unquestionable determination. "I will definitely find the Spirit Gem." "Yeah, I know." Gu Qingyu lowered her head and walked downstairs. Not "thank you", or "I believe you". It was "I know." She knew that he would find the Spirit Gem. She knew that he would protect her. They ordered a couple of simple dishes, and Gu Qingyu started on them the moment the food arrived at their table. No matter what happened, it was important to have her meals. Murong Zuoyu held his forehead, his shoulders shaking slightly from time to time as he watched her eat. Gu Qingyu glanced at Murong Zuoyu. It was clear that he was holding back his laughter, she sighed, "Brother Leng, cry if you want to. Don''t hold back!" Murong Zuoyu paused, put down his hand and looked at her. He was completely stunned. Gu Qingyu pinched his cheeks as she laughed. His cheeks were surprisingly soft! And she pinched his cheeks again a few more times. "Brother Zhu, what are you doing?" Murong Zuoyu looked at her helplessly. "Tsk, tsk, tsk! It feels so nice!" Murong Zuoyu gently patted her hand off his face and massaged his temples. "Brother Zhu, please wipe off your drool first." "Ah? Oh, okay..." She touched her mouth and found that there was nothing, she pouted. "Brother Leng, you lied to me." "I did not lie to you, it was just a bluff." Murong Zuoyu smiled innocently. "Brother Leng, you..." "What?" Murong Zuoyu smiled and began to eat. Gu Qingyu was bewildered, she had been blindsided by his teasing. "Brother Zhu, you should eat quickly, otherwise the food is going to go cold. And things go cold very quickly in winter." He reminded her kindly. Gu Qingyu immediately picked up her chopsticks and began to shove rice into her mouth. The plates were devoid of its contents at the end of their meal. Even though Murong Zuoyu had seen her unique skill several times, he still couldn''t help but look at Gu Qingyu in admiration. "What are you looking at?" Gu Qingyu slowly put down her chopsticks, "Do you admire me very much? Don''t just admire me, if you try you can eat this much too. The key is to cast aside public perception and just go for it!" "Go for it?" That intrigued him. "Yes!" She nodded sincerely. "In layman''s terms, throw away your dignity!" Murong Zuoyu changed his mind. He would like to hold onto his dignity, thank you very much. "What do you think?" Gu Qingyu wiggled her eyebrows. "Did my advice change your thirty-year-old mind?" "It''s twenty-five." He corrected her. "Brother Leng, you seem to have revealed something ground-breaking? Whatever helps you sleep at night." Gu Qingyu nodded as she got up and looked at the sky, it was getting dark. "Speaking of sleep, I''m going to bed." Whatever helps you sleep? Murong Zuoyu was speechless, she sounded as though she was coaxing a child. Chapter 144: Xie Li Returns Chapter 144: Xie Li Returns Translated by: iris.knight "Brother Leng, go to bed, get up early tomorrow~" She yawned lazily. "Brother Zhu, have you really decided to stay here?" He still sounded worried. "Yeah." She narrowed her eyes and smiled. "Brother Leng, this is not like your usual style." "Oh?" He leaned gently on the handrail. "What is my usual style?" "Calm and decisive, with compassion for his people, but not fettered by personal emotions." She shrugged. He smiled, and a smile bloomed from his icy face, like the brightest winter sun. "Then you should account for occasional willfulness." The contrast between his usual cold demeanor and the willfulness he just displayed stunned her, and then she replied with a laugh, "I''ll account for that in the future. Brother Leng, it''s late, go and rest." "Good." Murong Zuoyu nodded and walked upstairs, "See you tomorrow." "Well, see you tomorrow." She walked into her room and closed the door, but she was still thinking about how to let Murong Zuoyu leave Yan Yang City. She could leave, but Murong Zuoyu would follow her. And he would worry over the townspeople no matter where they went. If the city had fallen, the guilt would eat him away. For his sake, she needed to get him out of here. Gu Qingyu stared at the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny in her hand and ran her fingers along the facets of the jewel as she thought about countermeasures. They would need to find the others as soon as possible. There''s just too much to be split between her and Murong Zuoyu, it would be difficult to find the Spirit Gem as well. She sighed, stood up, walked to the window, and gently opened the window. The breeze of the night was mixed with a little coolness. She closed her eyes gently and took a deep breath, savouring the night air. When she opened her eyes again, a red dress greeted her. Gu Qingyu raised her head in surprise. "Xie..."? No, it was not Xie Zang. It was a woman, she watched her with curious eyes and a faint smirk. "Xie Li?" Gu Qingyu whispered in surprise. Her room was on the second floor, and Xie Li was crouched on the edge of her window, as she balanced herself with one hand on the wooden railing around the window. "Yeah." Xie Li lowered her head slightly, entered the room with a hop and clapped her hands. "Long time no see, Yu." She spoke as if she were talking to an acquaintance. Gu Qingyu thought she might have mistaken her as Rain, so she explained, "No, I am..." "I know, you''re Gu Qingyu." Xie Li snapped her fingers. "Long time no see." "Ah, long time no see..." Gu Qingyu looked at Xie Li in surprise. "You..." "I knew you would be surprised." Xie Li smiled slightly, pulled out a chair and poured herself a cup of tea. "Yes, I¡¯m Xie Li, Xie Zang''s older sister." Gu Qingyu opened and closed her mouth like a goldfish. "Xie Zang''s older sister?" "Yes. If I can, I want to be his younger sister instead." Xie Li sipped her tea. "Relax, I''m here to help." "Help? How can you help me?" "In your impression, what kind of person is Xie Li?" Xie Li asked rhetorically. Gu Qingyu hesitated for a moment, and answered truthfully. "Very kind, very innocent. She had very clear eyes." "Really." Xie Li''s gaze shifted away from Gu Qingyu''s eyes. "I will help you get the Spirit Gem." "Why?" Gu Qingyu looked at her strangely, "Why would you do this for no reason at all?" "It''s not for no reason. You saved Xie Li." She laughed lightly. "Ah. Not ''saved'', I should say ''will save''." Putting aside the many doubts in her heart for a while, Gu Qingyu chose one of the most important questions to her. "And how are you going to do that?" Xie Li seemed to have expected her question. "That Spirit Gem is right here." "It''s here?" Gu Qingyu was shocked. Her suggestion was to just encourage Murong Zuoyu to stay, she never thought that it would be so convenient that it was actually in Yan Yang City. "Yes, that Spirit Gem is this city." Xie Li sighed softly, "If the city falls, the gem will break." "What? It''s connected to the city?" Xie Li didn''t speak, she motioned for Gu Qingyu to sit down, and when Gu Qingyu was seated, she held out her hand with her palm facing up. A clear red light gathered in her palm, the colour reminded Gu Qingyu of a bloodstone. Soon the light dissipated and a red crystal ball appeared in her hand. "My specialty is divination." She said, her crisp voice stood out against the quiet night. "Divining the past, and predicting the future." "Yeah." Gu Qingyu nodded, indicating that she was listening. "Look." Xie Li placed her hand in front of Gu Qingyu, and Gu Qingyu watched as the image inside the crystal ball slowly shifted and morphed. Millions of soldiers charged into Yan Yang City as the city was razed to the ground in a sea of fire. As the city walls crumbled, a purple gem shattered. She was hit with a pang of realisation and she stood up. "Thank you, Xie Li. I will guard this city." Xie Li ignored her and sighed again, "My predictions are always correct." "You''ve never made a mistake before? I don''t doubt your prediction, but in any case, I have to at least try my best." "Ah, that''s more like you." Xie Li laughed, a sweet smile blooming from the corner of her mouth. "Yu." Gu Qingyu asked another question. "But why are you here?" "Me?" Xie Li''s smile deepened, and her dimples accompanied her sweet smile. "I''m from here." Gu Qingyu said in a daze, "Then, that means Xie Zang is also..." Xie Li didn''t answer, but instead asked. "Hadn''t you figured this out already?" Gu Qingyu went silent. Yes, she had a hunch for a long time. Xie Zang, Yan Zun and Xian Di were all connected in some way, as though something tethered them together. "Yu, you are very smart." Xie Li stood up, "There are some things, even if I don''t say them, you can figure it out." She paused. "Oh, aside from this Spirit Gem, you''ll still have to find another." "Can you tell me where it is?" Gu Qingyu asked. Xie Li shook her head. "I don''t know. The last Spirit Gem is beyond the range of my ability." "Alright." Gu Qingyu nodded, and looked at the capable and charming woman in front of her. The image of the sweet little girl she met resurfaced, and she asked, "Do you know..." "No, I can''t predict my own future. This is the greatest sorrow of divination." Xie Li interrupted her and sighed softly, "Yu, don''t tell me, or we will all be condemned by heaven." "Condemnation from heaven..." Although Gu Qingyu didn''t believe it, she knew that this is very important to Xie Li, so she relented, "Okay, I won''t say anything." Xie Li smiled at her. "Then I will go first. Help will show up soon." "Okay, thank you." Gu Qingyu nodded and watched Xie Li jump out of the window, her red dress fluttered behind her. As soon as Xie Li left, there was an urgent knocking at Gu Qingyu''s door. She opened the door, it was Murong Zuoyu in a purple robe. "What''s the matter, Brother Leng? You''re still awake after this?" Gu Qingyu was a little puzzled. "Brother Zhu, I just felt someone else, so I came to have a look. Are you alright?" Murong Zuoyu looked at her and asked tentatively after making sure that she was fine. "Has anyone been here?" Gu Qingyu nodded and stepped aside from him to enter the room. "Come in, I need to talk to you." Murong Zuoyu walked in, she closed the door and informed him with a stoic face. ¡°Xie Li was here.¡± "Xie Li?" Murong Zuoyu stood aside, somewhat puzzled. "I have only heard of Xieli Castle. Is that related to Xie Zang?" "Yes." She nodded. "Xie Li, Xie Zang''s younger...no, older sister." She looked out the window. "They were from here." Murong Zuoyu looked slightly surprised, but he soon reacted, "Then what is she doing here?" "Help us find the Spirit Gem. She said, this city is a Spirit Gem." Gu Qingyu sank into her chair. That visit from Xie Li still felt like a dream. "I think she''s right. Brother Leng, the Spirit Gem is here.¡± Murong Zuoyu nodded as if none of what she said had surprised him. "I know, then we''ll just have to protect this city." Gu Qingyu also nodded, but did not dare to tell the vision that she saw in Xie Li''s crystal ball. She predicted that the city would fall, and that she has never been wrong before. They would need to change fate itself to protect the city. "What''s the matter, Brother Zhu? You seem unhappy." He sat beside her. "Isn''t it good to learn where the Spirit Gem is?" "Yes, it''s very good." Gu Qingyu answered, suddenly remembering a very important question. "I was just thinking since this city is a Spirit Gem, how do we get it?" "Didn''t Xie Li tell you?" Gu Qingyu answered with a wry smile, and he shook his head. "Okay, I know. Let''s defend the city first." "Well, that''s right." She picked up a teacup, but he gently held her hand and stopped her. "Don''t drink tea at night, you would have trouble sleeping." He let go of her hand and stood up. "Call me if anything happens, I''ll be next door." Chapter 145: Xuan Yi Chapter 145: Xuan Yi Translated by: iris.knight Murong Zuoyu stood up, the silver moonlight splashed onto his purple robe, adding a icy quality to the fabric. Gu Qingyu watched him walk out of the room. She forgot to ask Xie Li where the others were, if only she had more time with her. She laid down on her bed and stared at the ceiling. She was tired, but not sleepy. Normally, she would visit Yan Zun and just train all night, but he was not in the Lifeblood Jewel of Destiny anymore. But she could still meet the Soul Nails and the Soul Chain. Gu Qingyu closed her eyes and went to the spirit world. Wish arrived as expected, she stood in the middle of a white world and bowed when she arrived. "Master." "Yeah." Gu Qingyu nodded. "It¡¯s good to see you, Wish." It seemed that every time, either Wish or Abyss would show up. They would never appear together. Aren''t they connected? Oh, Abyss did say that they weren''t. Wish straightened and looked at Gu Qingyu with her soulful eyes. "Master, what can I do for you?" "I just wanted to ask what is the situation right now. Where exactly are we?¡± "Master, this is hundreds of millions of years in the past.¡± Wish answered with a crisp voice. ¡°You know that¡¯s not what I¡¯m asking about.¡± Wish sighed softly. "Master, there are many things in this world that we can only observe but not change. For example, history." "Who said that?" Gu Qingyu said with a wink, "Do you know that there''s a place called schools? The people there change and alter history every day." "Such a powerful place exists?" Wish was quite surprised. "Why haven''t I seen such a thing despite living for so long?" "Ahahaha, you can''t go to that place right now..." Gu Qingyu laughed. "So what are you referring to?¡± "All you can do is watch, now that you are in a foreign time." Wish said, with a trace of sadness in her eyes. "It is not so easy to change the true history, Master." She was reminding Gu Qingyu of her plans to defend the city. "I see. But, have you ever tried to change the future before?" "No." Wish raised her head to meet Gu Qingyu''s gaze. "That''s right. How can you know if you don''t try? Even if you know that it''s impossible, you have to do your best." Gu Qingyu smiled and shrugged, "Thank you. Next question, do you know where the others are?¡± Wish shook her head. "I can''t read Xian Di¡¯s magic.¡± "Xian Di..." She reminded Gu Qingyu of this, and Gu Qingyu nodded, "Okay, thank you." "Sorry that I could not be of help..." Wish seemed a little forlorn. ¡°It¡¯s ok, I¡¯m gonna get some sleep now.¡± Gu Qingyu dismissed her with a wave and closed her eyes. Very quickly, she fell into a dreamless sleep. The next day Gu Qingyu rubbed her eyes, stretched her back and looked out the window. The sky was just turning orange, it was dawn. She straightened her clothes, jumped out of the bed, walked to the mirror and started combing her hair. Looking at her messy hair, Gu Qingyu suddenly thought of Ye Jin. He promised to comb and brush her hair for her every day. Where would he be? He¡¯s looking for her, right? In that moment, a blue robe, his blue robe appeared in the reflection. She whipped around instantly, but there was nothing. Nothing, aside from the open windows. There wasn¡¯t anyone behind her. She sighed softly and returned to brushing her hair. Gu Qingyu pulled her hair up into a simple ponytail and left her room. Coincidentally, Murong Zuoyu just walked out of his room. They bumped into each other. "Morning, Brother Leng." Gu Qingyu greeted him with a smile. "Morning, Brother Zhu." Murong Zuoyu nodded and walked downstairs with Gu Qingyu. They found a table in the dining area and soon, two bowls of porridge were served. Gu Qingyu stirred her porridge absentmindedly and said, ¡°Brother Leng, now that we know where the Spirit Gem is, I think we¡¯ll need to change our plan. With just the two of us, and no information about the incoming attack, we are woefully ill-prepared for this.¡± ¡°Then what do you suggest, Brother Zhu?¡± "Find the others.¡± Gu Qingyu concluded, "The world is only this big after all. We can start our search in this city, then expand the search area as we go. It should be fine as long as we stay in the area." He looked at her with approval. "Okay." The two set off as soon as they finished breakfast. "Brother Murong, let''s take a look in this city first." She changed back to calling him "Brother Murong" when there were just two of them. Murong Zuoyu nodded and looked around. Perhaps because "General Leng" was now in the city, the townspeople were a lot more energetic, even the sound of bargaining at the market was louder. Gu Qingyu looked at such people, then looked at Murong Zuoyu with a nagging thought in her mind. The townspeople regarded him as a savior, a god even, but he was just a normal person. He might be watching over them, but he''s just as, if not more afraid and saddened than them. But he has to fight, to protect the people he cares about. None of them started as fighters and killers that steeled their hearts against their enemies. "What''s wrong, Brother Zhu?" He turned back to check on her, maybe he had sensed that her mind was elsewhere. Gu Qingyu shook her head and kept walking. Suddenly, a bewitching melody filled the streets. Gu Qingyu scanned the surrounding buildings as she tried to find where the music was coming from. They walked down the street and arrived at the source of the music. Women gathered at the door, waving their handkerchiefs. A strange, intoxicating scent wafted through the open door. "This is...?" Murong Zuoyu was a little confused. "The brothel." Gu Qingyu added, and looked at Murong Zuoyu, "Places like this should be in every city, and judging the crowd, it''s probably the few places people would gather in Yan Yang City. Let''s go in and check it out, maybe we''ll learn something." Murong Zuoyu nodded. "Hold on." Gu Qingyu stretched out her hand, her sleeves lightly covered Murong Zuoyu''s face, and when her hand dropped to her side, there was already a purple mask on his face. She smiled with satisfaction. "Hm, much better. Or the people might freak out if they find out that General Leng is visiting the brothels in the middle of a crisis." The masked Murong Zuoyu looked even more mysterious and cold. He nodded. "Let''s go." Gu Qingyu twirled before they walked in and her pink dress turned into a black brocade. Coupled with her simple ponytail, she could easily mix in as one of the male patrons. Ye Jin used to be in charge of disguises. But it looked like she could handle these tasks as well, her power seemed to have grown stronger in this era. The sound of the music became clearer as they entered the brothel. It was more than bewitching, the plucking and strumming of strings were almost hypnotic, tempting her to stay indefinitely. But the hypnosis was coloured with melancholy. A young lady at the door greeted them with a smile, "Oh, come inside, Sir!" Murong Zuoyu backed away with visible embarrassment and awkwardness. "Brother Murong, it''s okay." Gu Qingyu tapped his hand with a smile. No one would recognise him anyway, so she returned to calling him by his name. He nodded and walked inside with Gu Qingyu. As they weaved through the drunk patrons, Qi Wan''s face popped into her mind. The first time they met was at a brothel as well. And that music quiz! She had never heard a traditional acoustic cover of Little Apple before. It was wild to find someone like her. And the rest, as they say, was history. She looked upstairs, and a person that looked to be the madam walked up to them. "Please, take a seat. Our lead courtesan would be performing soon, followed by an auction to the courtesan¡¯s first night. Feel free to participate if you are interested." Murong Zuoyu looked at Gu Qingyu with a little embarrassment, but she nodded and tossed a piece of silver into the madam''s hand. Then she sat down and motioned for him to sit next to her as she poured a cup of wine for herself. "Very well! I will send for someone to accompany you both right away!" The madam grinned at them. Gu Qingyu shook her head and she said with a smile. "No need, we''ll just wait for the lead." The madam flushed under her gaze. "Very well. I will take my leave then." The music also stopped after the madam left. Gu Qingyu looked at Murong Zuoyu, she could not see his expression because of the mask. Nonetheless, she reassured him, "Relax, Brother Murong, we''re just here to take a look." He nodded. "Yeah." "Want some?" Her own cup of wine was already empty. She poured another for herself, and one for Murong Zuoyu. Murong Zuoyu didn''t take the cup. "Brother Zhu, drink less." "Fine, got it." She put down the cup obediently. And then the room dimmed, despite it was still early in the morning. Gu Qingyu turned around, the candlelight have all been extinguished, and the windows were all firmly closed as well. But the people around them carried on, unfazed by the sudden change in lighting. Murong Zuoyu reached for the sword on his waist and grabbed her hand tightly. She didn''t fight against his grip. Instead, she gave his hand a squeeze as she turned to the stage with a slight laugh in her voice. "Brother Murong, the performance is about to start." Murong Zuoyu immediately let go of her hand with some embarrassment. "Sorry." "No, no need to apologize." Gu Qingyu leaned back in her chair. The candlelight on the stage flickered behind the layers of chiffon that draped across the stage. She could only make out a human-shaped silhouette under the faint light. That person was leaning over something. Suddenly, the sound of a Guqin echoed through the room and the noise around them was reduced to a hush. The Guqin sounded like a bolt of lightning that danced across the night sky, and of a cloud of birds that escaped their cage, soaring into the skies as they relished in their long-awaited freedom. Gu Qingyu straightened and focused on the performance. The chiffon curtains were pulled apart, revealing the musician. Ink-coloured hair tumbled over his shoulders as his long slender fingers danced across the strings. His vermillion robe matched his thin, red lips. What shocked her was that the musician and courtesan was a man. Moreover, there is a sense of similarity with Xian Di. She immediately grabbed a person beside her and asked, "Who is he?" "You don''t know him? Sheesh, you must be new here." The man glanced at her with contempt. "He is the lead courtesan here, Xuan Yi." Chapter 146: Actions and Consequences Chapter 146: Actions and Consequences Translated by: iris.knight Gu Qingyu''s blood turned cold when she heard the courtesan''s name. Xian Di, Xuan Yi. She raised her head and looked at the man on stage, then turned around and saw Murong Zuoyu standing next to her. She could not read his expression, but his amethyst eyes sparkled under that mask. "Brother Murong, he''s..." Gu Qingyu frowned and spoke. Murong Zuoyu nodded, and said softly, "Xian Di." The song swelled and dipped as it kept its audience on their toes. The man on the stage played intently as his hands flew across the strings, his hair scattered and draped across his shoulders. A thunderous applause filled the room when the song ended. "Xuan Yi, starting at five hundred pieces of silver!" The madam declared with a smile. The crowd fell silent for a moment. A second later, they erupted. "Six hundred!" "Seven hundred!" "Eight hundred!" "Nine hundred!" Xuan Yi stared at the Guqin on his lap in silence as the auction continued. Finally, the bidding slowed when it reached two thousand pieces of silver. The madam was grinning ear to ear at this point. There were only two bidders left. "Three thousand!" A clear voice sounded. Everyone turned to the speaker, it was a young man in a black brocade. It was Gu Qingyu. Murong Zuoyu turned and looked at her in disbelief, but she stared unflinchingly at the madam and repeated. "Three thousand." "Three thousand...Would the two of you like to continue?" The madam looked at the two men cautiously. One of the two bidders, the better-looking one, gave her a side-eye. "Where did this boy come from? Are you trying to pick a fight with your father?" Gu Qingyu mirrored his contemptuous side-eye. "Where did this crass old man come from? Are you trying to pick a fight with your grandpa?" "You! Who are you? Do you know who I am?" "Me? Didn''t I say that I''m your granddad? That''s easy, you''re my grandson!" She laughed and stole a glance at the man on the stage, he was still staring at the instrument. She paused. "So, do you want to continue?" The man gritted his teeth. "Three...Three thousand five hundred." "Four thousand." Gu Qingyu kept her steely glare on him. The man''s face collapsed as he turned and walked out of the brothel. Gu Qingyu wanted to find the other bidder, but he was already gone. "Now, four thousand pieces of silver. Anyone else?" Gu Qingyu glanced around, the crowd was in silence. The madam clapped with all smiles. "Very well, deal! Xuan Yi would be waiting for you upstairs." Gu Qingyu nodded and glanced at the man on the stage again. He slowly got up, it looked like he had been taking a nap. He picked up the Guqin and walked off the stage without even glancing at the audience. She watched sorrowfully as he disappeared upstairs. Xian Di, the man that terrorised her, the person that had the power to send them back in time, started out as a prostitute. After the crowd dispersed, Gu Qingyu sat back on her seat. "Brother Zhu, what are you doing?" Murong Zuoyu hissed. "Huh? I just want to help him." Gu Qingyu sighed softly, "Nothing else." "I know." Murong Zuoyu also sighed softly, "But in the future, he would kill everyone that ever came to this place. That includes you, Brother Zhu." Gu Qingyu nodded with a wry smile. Even if she helped Xuan Yi right now, he may still kill her as Xian Di, in order to erase all traces of his past. In fact, in order to cement his reputation as the all-powerful, untouchable Xian Di, he would have to silence her. But, he didn''t do that. He didn''t kill her when they first met, when her ex-fianc¨¦ kidnapped her. He was close though. The madam came over and smiled. "Young sir, this way!" Gu Qingyu nodded, gave Murong Zuoyu a reassuring look and mouthed, "Wait here." Then she followed the madam upstairs. While going up the stairs, Gu Qingyu asked, "Who was that person just now?" "That person is General Leng''s friend, Count Chu." The madam seemed to look at Gu Qingyu with a bit of fear. "I offended him for you, sir. To have the audacity to steal his prize right under his nose, you must come from an interesting background as well. Although, for Xuan Yi''s sake, I would appreciate your assistance to keep this place free from Count Chu''s anger." Gu Qingyu smiled and shook her head. What a joke, that money was for Xuan Yi, not the madam. Besides, did the madam really offend that man for her? No, she did it for the money. The madam tried to continue, but Gu Qingyu ignored her and walked into Xuan Yi''s room. When she opened the door, the first thing she saw a red robe fluttering to the ground and pooling at his feet. And she was staring at his bare, naked back. Gu Qingyu immediately turned her face away, but heard Xuan Yi chuckle in disdain. "Why pretend? There''s only two of us." Gu Qingyu was taken aback and glanced at him. He sat down in the bathtub beside him, the water reached his shoulders. She opened her mouth, but Xuan Yi continued, "Sorry for the inconvenience, I''m afraid you would have to wait for me to finish bathing. Also, whatever the madam promised you is gone, I hope you''re not disappointed." Gu Qingyu looked at him silently as tears pricked at the corner of her eyes. He used to be someone like this. No wonder he was so cold and proud. That was his walls. But...Xian Di would never behave like this. After a while, Xuan Yi got up and slipped into a thin silk robe. "Go ahead." Gu Qingyu finally lost her temper. She stomped up to him and slapped him harshly. A red mark immediately appeared on his handsome face and he stared at her in a daze. "Xuan Yi, are you really going to let people just...do this to you?" She stopped and took a few deep breaths to calm herself. "You have a right to say no. You can fight to say no. You don''t have to live like this. If it didn''t work the first time, fight back next time. Why have you given up already?" Xuan Yi lowered his eyes. "I..." "I won''t touch you. I''ll pay the madam, then you can do whatever you want." She closed her eyes and turned away. "Wait a minute!" Xuan Yi said suddenly, "What is your name?" "Is that important?" She dodged the question. "Then...why do you want to help me?" "You don''t need to know why." She dodged the question again and left the room. When the madam saw that Gu Qingyu came out, she immediately stood up and smiled. "Oh, that was quick. So when will the silver arrive?" "Three hundred." Gu Qingyu looked at the madam with a face of stone. The madam gasped, "Three hundred? But you promised four thousand pieces of silver..." "Three hundred in gold. For his freedom, would that be enough?" She clarified, her icy rage seeped into her voice. The madam froze for a moment, and immediately smiled. "Enough! Of course it''s enough! It is enough to buy this whole brothel!" "Good, the gold will be delivered to you by late afternoon. Make sure you let him go." Gu Qingyu glanced at the madam, and then walked outside. When Murong Zuoyu saw her, he immediately got up and followed Gu Qingyu like a loyal servant. After walking out of the brothel, Murong Zuoyu looked at her and said, "How did it go?" "I thought she would at least try to haggle for more." Gu Qingyu shook her head, "It''s not hard to believe that Xian Di will become like the person that he is in our time." "He..." Murong Zuoyu began tentatively. Gu Qingyu nodded, and then looked at Murong Zuoyu. "Brother Leng, do you have 300 pieces of gold?" "Yes." Murong Zuoyu nodded. "Haha, even if you don''t have it, I should be able to gather it, if I just stole and robbed a few noble households..." She laughed nervously. But Murong Zuoyu didn''t have time to pay attention to her humor. "Brother Zhu, are you sure you want to do this?" Gu Qingyu looked into the distance with firm eyes. "Yes, we have to save him." "Even if his hands will be stained with the blood of countless innocent lives?" She answered after a pause. "Yes." "Even if he might kill us right here, right now?" She went silent. She felt sad for Xian Di, but she firmly believed that Xian Di was not as cruel as the people said. He could have killed her when they first met. But he didn''t, he never tried to kill her. He made her suffer, yes, but he did not try to kill her. Even when he attacked her with Fang, she could sense that he was not aiming for her vitals. He was more soft than he appeared. Maybe he did not like to kill after all. He might even have been a sweet and kind person, but he was robbed of his agency and he had to obey certain people. She could hear him as he swore that someday he would return all of his pain a thousandfold. Gu Qingyu sighed softly. "He won''t do that." "You really trust him?" Murong Zuoyu asked, and then walked forward, seemingly not wanting Gu Qingyu to answer, "Let''s go, we need to keep looking for the rest." Gu Qingyu nodded and looked forward. "I think there isn¡¯t anyone else in this city." "How about going to the capital?" Murong Zuoyu suggested. "The capital? But what about here?" Gu Qingyu frowned. "I can handle it." Murong Zuoyu stroked her head. "This is the only way. Now that I know the Spirit Gem is this city, then I will definitely protect it." "Okay. I''ll be back as soon as possible." Gu Qingyu smiled and changed back to her pink dress. "I''ll be waiting for you." Murong Zuoyu suddenly pulled her into a gentle hug. "Take care, Brother Zhu. Come back safely." Gu Qingyu returned his hug. "I will." Chapter 146.5: Cloud and Rain Chapter 146.5: Cloud and Rain Translated by: iris.knight As she squinted at the map for the third time, a strange movement appeared in the corner of her eye. A familiar figure waved at her from within the woods. His clothes were so green, he almost could camouflage into the trees that surrounded him. Her eyes lit up and she ran to that figure. ¡°Qi Wan!¡± She practically pounced onto him. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking for you everywhere!¡± ¡°Hey! Me too, I¡¯ve been looking for you as well. I¡¯ve found everyone else already, they¡¯re just waiting for you in the woods.¡± It warmed her heart to see her closest friend again, his green eyes was a welcoming sight. Green eyes, had his eyes always been green? ¡°Really? Then what are we waiting for? Lead the way, my loyal subject!¡± She exclaimed with an exaggerated grandiose. ¡°Sure, this way. Just follow me.¡± He answered flatly, as if he had missed her joke. They walked deeper into the forest and away from the road. The rain grew heavier as they walked, the rumbles in the distances signaled that this was just the start, a storm was rapidly approaching. Qi Wan led her through the woods in silence. A sense of uneasiness gnawed at her bones as she walked behind him. ¡°Hey, Qi Wan, are we there yet?¡± ¡°Almost, just a bit more.¡± The pair arrived at an empty clearing, the ground has become muddy from the rain. Gu Qingyu walked around for a bit, they were deep in the forest and she had gone very far from the beaten path. ¡°Where is everyone?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see them very soon.¡± A lady in a white cloak answered as she stepped out from behind the trees. A split reflection of herself. Although, unlike Gu Qingyu, she was dressed in white instead. Her white garb was unnaturally pristine in the heavy rain and muddy clearing. ¡°Thank you for bring her to me.¡± Rain said with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me, your wish is my command after all.¡± Qi Wan walked up to her and gently kissed the back of her hand, while Gu Qingyu stared in disbelief. This must be some sort of practical joke. Qi Wan would not be so desperate to go for her copy instead. What was Rain doing here anyway? And where were the others? ¡°Now, we should proceed with the next phase of our plan.¡± Rain said plainly as she lunged towards Gu Qingyu. Gu Qingyu summoned the Soul Chain and defended herself, the chains surrounded her and blocked each strike and swipe from Rain. Yet, suddenly, something crushed her defences, slammed into her side and sent her flying. Another shock of pain came when she collided against a tree and fell to the ground. ¡°What...¡± Gu Qingyu tried to push herself up, only for a sharp pain to shoot through her shoulder. Her arm took the brunt of the attack just now, and it seem to have hit her shoulder at well. But her injured shoulder was the least of her concerns when she registered just who had attacked her. After all, she would recognise those green ribbons anywhere. ¡°Good work.¡± Rain complimented the person that attacked Gu Qingyu as he spun a tight ball of ribbons like a flail, winding up for a next strike. ¡°Qi Wan, just what are you doing?¡± She could not believe her eyes. Did Qi Wan really just attack her? ¡°What, are you so dumb that you can¡¯t tell? No wonder you had to rely on everyone else this whole time.¡± He chuckled, the laughter void of his usual warmth. Her heart sank and the liquid in her veins turned to ice. It can¡¯t be. She never thought he too, would betray her, just like everyone else. ¡°Why? Why are you doing this? Why did you betray me?¡± She screamed as hot tears poured down her cheeks, mixing with the cold rain pelting down on her. He said he loved her, he saved her life. He had stuck by her through thick and thin. He was her closest friend, the only person she could share her former life with. He was the only person that could truly understand her in the strange new world. And now, all of that was ripped out from her. Was all of that just an act to get her to lower her guard? Was that why he had decided to reveal his true colours now, when she was at her weakest, when she was completely alone? ¡°Don¡¯t take it to heart. It¡¯s nothing personal.¡± He answered with a grin and sent the flail flying towards her. Gu Qingyu jumped and dodged the attack, but the pain in her arm caused her to lose balance and she stumbled her landing. Rain took that chance to swipe at her face. Gu Qingyu ducked and rolled away, then used the Soul Chain to block another swing from Qi Wan. She hoisted herself up yet again as the chains circled protectively around her. Even with one of her arms out of commission, Gu Qingyu managed to put up one hell of a fight. She dodged and dashed between Rain and Cloud, striking whenever there was an opening while her chains protected her blind spots. Still, every now and then, Rain¡¯s attacks would slip through the gaps and reach her, chipping away her energy and stamina while Qi Wan¡¯s flail were deadly strikes that literally keeps her on her toes. Gu Qingyu didn¡¯t even know that Qi Wan could wind his ribbons and transform them into a flail, he had always used his ribbons like whips. Exactly, something was wrong. Qi Wan did not have green eyes, his eyes were golden amber, the same colour as the sunrise they had seen together. Qi Wan always used his ribbons as whips and ropes, never as a flail. It not, she would have seen it before, they had fought alongside each other for so long. And Qi Wan called her boss. Last, but not least, he always, always got her jokes. ¡°You¡¯re not Qi Wan, are you?¡± She finally said. ¡°Oh? What gave it away?¡± ¡°He never used the ribbons like a flail. He always called me boss, and it took me a while to remember, but his eyes were amber, not green. Just who the heck are you?¡± He stopped his onslaught of attacks. ¡°I¡¯m Cloud, the real guardian of the Divine Beast. That¡¯s all you need to know. Well, that¡¯s all you can know because your time had just run out.¡± Cloud tilted his head towards Rain. At some point, she had disappeared to the back of the clearing. Orbs of pale light swirled around her as she was clearly charging up for something. ¡°You¡¯re tougher than I expected. But it doesn¡¯t matter, you won¡¯t be walking away from this. Allow me to show you the strength of a Divine Beast.¡± Rain transformed in a burst of light. Her nails grew into large claws as her face contorted and lengthened to resemble that of a cat, complete with cat ears and whiskers. A long, fluffy tail swished and flicked behind her impatiently. The tiger beast roared with deafening strength, Gu Qingyu clasped her hands over her ears as soon as possible, but the few seconds of exposure was enough to make her head spin. Her sensitive hearing had become an exploited weakness. She did not even know that it was possible to channel the divine beast¡¯s power into a partial transformation, let alone how to fight it. Gu Qingyu could only try her best to guard and block Rain¡¯s deadly flurry of swipes and kicks with her chains. Each attack caused the chain to rattle unsettlingly, perhaps the next strike would be the one that would break them. Gu Qingyu tried to put some distance between them. If she could just get far away enough, she could use the explosion from the Devouring Lotus. But to her horror, ribbons emerged from the ground and pinned her down. Cloud had unraveled the flail while she was occupied. Damn, the two of them work really well together, one of them always kept her busy just enough for the other to set up the next strike. She could only watch as the tiger beast lunged towards her, its sharp large claws about to tear her into shreds. Her eyes squeezed shut against the wind pressure and she braced for impact. Snap! Something had torn apart the ribbons that pinned her down, a pair of warm arms grabbed her and moved them away just in time. Gu Qingyu opened her eyes and looked up, it was yet another familiar face. But this time, his eyes were amber. ¡°Qi Wan? Is that really you?¡± She could not believe her eyes. ¡°Who else would I be, boss? Did they hit your head too hard or something?¡± That nickname and the friendly jab was all the evidence she needed. ¡°It¡¯s really you!¡± She cried, much to Qi Wan¡¯s confusion. ¡°What do you mean it¡¯s really me?¡± He asked as he turned to her attackers, the half-tiger and... ¡°Hey! Why are you wearing my handsome face? Who the heck are you, you copycat!¡± Qi Wan yelled, pointing at Cloud. ¡°Looks like you got reinforcements, lucky you.¡± Those harsh words were really jarring against Qi Wan¡¯s face and voice. ¡°Wow, you¡¯ve even copied my voice! Well, I can¡¯t help it if you want to be like me. I am quite dashing after all, right boss?¡± Qi Wan quipped back. ¡°Quit joking, look out!¡± Gu QIngyu shouted as Rain leaped towards both of them. Qi Wan sent his ribbons flying through the air, wrapped them around Rain and threw her across the clearing. Cloud resumed his attacks with the flail, swinging the heavy weight towards Gu Qingyu. She hopped and dodged a few more times as she reconfigured her chains and formed a makeshift net with them, catching the flail instead. Then she pulled on the connecting ribbon and Cloud stumbled forward, creating the perfect opportunity for Qi Wan to deliver a solid punch to his doppelganger¡¯s face. Chapter 147: Eyes on the Road Chapter 147: Eyes on the Road Translated by: iris.knight Cloud coughed out a mouthful of blood as Qi Wan retreated to Gu Qingyu''s side. He pulled her back to a safer distance. "Boss, don''t stand so close, it won''t be good to be infected by some bird flu or something!" Gu Qingyu just frowned at him. That was a sudden change in mood, whatever happened to their plan of being serious? "Boss, how about that? Was I good?" Qi Wan looked at Cloud, who was at a distance from them, with a satisfied smile. Then he turned to Gu Qingyu with an expectant look, as if he was a child waiting for his teacher to praise him. "Yeah, yeah, really amazing." Gu Qingyu ruffled his hair with a bright smile. "The person on the other side is uglier than me. What should we do? Shall we run?" "Um..." Qi Wan looked at Rain and sensed her growing power as well. He turned to Gu Qingyu and winked. Just as Gu Qingyu was trying to figure what he meant, he grabbed her, spread his wings and darted into the woods! It took her a long time to finally process that they were flying. She dragged her fingers across her face. "You know my heart can''t take this kind of shocks..." "My bad, couldn''t exactly preempt you. I''ll take note next time." Flying through the woods was quite dangerous. Once Qi Wan believed that they had reached a safe area, he released Gu Qingyu and set her down on a large rock. "Next time?" Gu Qingyu groaned, "Dude, can we just not fight them next time?" "Sure." Qi Wan answered with a smile and knelt down in front of her. He untied the makeshift bandage on her shoulder, and blood oozed out from the gash. It had been throbbing the whole time, but Gu Qingyu did not complain, until now. She glanced at the gash and pouted. "It hurts." "I know I know..." Qi Wan leaned in and carefully undid the buttons on her shirt and peeled back the sticky fabric near the gash. Gu Qingyu looked down, her shoulder was now completely exposed and she could see the full length of the wound. It trailed from the end of her collarbone to her arm. She could even see a bit of the cartilage of her shoulder joint. It was mortifying to see. Yikes, Cloud did not hold back at all. Qi Wan closed his eyes and opened them again, they were a little red. "What''s wrong? It doesn''t hurt, I''m fine." Gu Qingyu stretched out her other hand and stroked his head. "I know a little bit of healing magic. Tell me if it''s too much." Qi Wan wiped his eyes with his sleeve, his fingertips glowed faintly with a pale white light. "Yeah." Gu Qingyu looked up and away as she let him slowly heal her. It was still pouring, but the rain fell on a pale green dome of light above her. The dome of light formed a barrier that encapsulated them. Droplets of rain fell against it in pitter-patters and slid down to the ground. Such a wonderfully strange feeling. She was in the middle of a storm, under the pouring rain, without an umbrella. The droplets of rain should be pelting down on her, but she was dry. At that moment, it was as if she was in a bubble that separated her from the world. She was just another soul, watching the world go by before her eyes. But she did not feel lonely. Her kindred spirit was right beside her, and he watched the world with her. He went through hell and back with her. They might be stuck outside in a storm, but at least they were stuck outside together. She didn¡¯t need an umbrella, because he kept her dry and warm. He would shield her from the rain and the storm for all of eternity. And no matter what happened, he would always be at her side. He volunteered to shoulder her pain with her, to carry her burdens with her. Before she met him, she was in a sea of darkness, searching for someone that would understand her. And now, she could see the path ahead of her, because his presence had lit up each and every step of her path. ¡°How do you feel?¡± Qi Wan looked up at her, a faint blush bloomed across his cheeks. She looked down at her shoulder, the wound had closed, and the throbbing had eased into a dull ache. Qi Wan was dabbing and cleaning the dried blood with a damp cloth. ¡°Yeah, much better.¡± She nodded, as a flush crept up her neck as well. She was used to wearing off-shoulder tops in the modern world, but she had been in this world for so long that revealing her bare shoulder felt like she was showing too much skin. Maybe the local customs had rubbed off on her. "Alright." Gu Qingyu gently pulled up her sleeve. "It''s alright now, thank you Qi Wan." ¡°Sheesh, how many times do I have to tell you? You don¡¯t need to thank me.¡± He kept the cloth and helped her button up her dress delicately. ¡°I should have killed that copycat.¡± "Pff! I have to say, although you two behave differently, but you really look exactly the same. But from the vibes, you¡¯re much more handsome than him.¡± ¡°Yeah! It¡¯s, what¡¯s that word? Ah, the Apple of your eye!¡± Qi Wan stood up and sat down next to her. He tilted his head up and looked at the sky. ¡°What a storm.¡± Only then did she look up again, the rain was so heavy that tiny waterfalls slid down against the barrier. But there was not even a sound, that must have been Qi Wan¡¯s doing. "Speaking of, why are you still here, Qi Wan?" Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan with some confusion. "Me? Do you not welcome me?" Qi Wan looked at her with sparkling amber eyes. "No, no, I just think it''s weird..." Gu Qingyu shook her head and murmured, "Xian Di is gone, Yan Zun is gone, and Xie Zang is still missing in action. They were from this era, so I thought you won''t be here too. That black-clad person that sent us to this world did mention that you were from the past, maybe you would be gone to avoid any weird time paradoxes.¡± "But I''m not them." Qi Wan said softly, "Boss, I''m just Qi Wan, your guardian." "I''m a reincarnation of the divine beast. The real divine beast in this time should be Rain." "No, to me, you are just Gu Qingyu. You''re my boss and I''m your guardian. Not her. Who cares about divine beasts!" Qi Wan snorted. "That copycat can do all the protect-divine-beast thing. I''ll get rid of him soon anyway. Boss, you''re the only one I care about." Gu Qingyu smiled, and ruffled his hair. ¡°Hm, well said.¡± "Speaking of which, Boss, why are you here?" Qi Wan asked too. "Me? Do you not welcome me?¡± Gu Qingyu mirrored his tone. "No, it''s not..." Qi Wan stammered a little, "Boss, you know I¡¯m not good with words...¡± Gu Qingyu burst out laughing. ¡°Just kidding! I was going to go find you guys at Xiqian¡¯s capital.¡± ¡°Find us?¡± Qi Wan frowned. ¡°On your own?¡± "Ah no, there is also Brother Murong." Gu Qingyu narrowed her eyes slightly, "He is talking about Yangcheng, guarding the spirit orb." "Spirit Gem?" Qi Wan was even more puzzled. "Well, the next Spirit Gem is the city itself." Gu Qingyu nodded and hopped off the large rock, "Let''s go, maybe the rest are waiting for us at the capital.¡± ¡°Okay. "Qi Wan also jumped down, looking at Gu Qingyu with some worry, "Boss, your injury..." "Don''t worry, I hurt my shoulder, not my leg!" Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. But right then, he picked her up and swept her off her feet. "You''re going to strain your shoulder if you use your wings. Let me do the flying." Qi Wan replied with a grin. His dark green wings flapped behind him, and the pale green barrier encapsulated them. Qi Wan avoided where they fought against Rain and Cloud as they flew towards the capital. Strange, they must have taken a while to regroup. Why haven¡¯t Rain and Cloud caught up to them? Were they going to let them go? No, that was impossible. Gu Qingyu lay in Qi Wan''s arms and looked at Qi Wan, her lips pressed into a thin line. "What''s the matter?" Qi Wan felt her stare, he looked down and gave her a toothless smile. "Am. I that good looking?" "Yes, you''re quite easy on the eyes." Gu Qingyu nodded nonchalantly, it was true. "Boss, why are you so honest today?" Qi Wan looked at her in disbelief. "No, today is my only dishonest day actually." Gu Qingyu sighed softly and lamented. Qi Wan sighed when he registered the "joke". Gu Qingyu smiled, and from the corner of her eyes, she caught a glimpse of the crossbow sleeve on her forearm. The gifter of that weapon popped into her mind. His smiles, his frowns, and everything in between. He would call her "Xiao Yu''er", his cooking skills was first-rate, and his voice tugged at her heartstrings all the time. He was not the great hero in the world of martial arts, or the Leader of Ye, or the Shadow of the monarchs. He was just her Ye Jin. Qi Wan knew what she was thinking about when he saw her wistful gaze. He shelved away his disappointment with a smile. "You''ll see him soon, Boss." "Huh?" Gu Qingyu didn''t react for a while. And then it clicked in her head and she answered. "Yeah." "Speaking of, you said you met Xian Di and what''s-his-face in this era. How are they like?" "What''s-his-face?" Gu Qingyu was a little speechless. "That''s Yan Zun. You don''t know him, but he''s also very powerful. It''s hard to imagine that they used to be like this." "Be like what?" "Ah, it''s a little tragic." Gu Qingyu shook her head, somewhat regretful, "No, it''s very tragic." "It''s very tragic? What, they used to work in a brothel?" Gu Qingyu''s eyes widened. Was that really just a random guess? Qi Wan lowered his head in surprise as Gu Qingyu remained quiet. "Right on the money?" "Yeah." Gu Qingyu nodded, but she didn''t tell him who it was. "It was horrible, I can''t believe he grew up in such an environment." "Ah, right..." Qi Wan looked forward. "Oh yeah, how did you find me?" Gu Qingyu was a little curious. If it weren''t for Qi Wan''s timely arrival, she might be dead by now. "Do you know that there is something called telepathy?" Qi Wan grinned. "Or I should say, we were in sync." "Enough." Gu Qingyu dismissed his jesting with a wave. "I mean it." "Me too." Qi Wan looked at her with serious eyes. Gu Qingyu pointed forward. "Eyes ahead, you''re going to hit that bird." Chapter 148: A Brief Respite Chapter 148: A Brief Respite Translated by: iris.knight Gu Qingyu felt her legs drop, and she pulled herself up against him before she could fall. Right then, a sharp pain shot through her shoulder. Her brows knitted in pain, but she pushed it aside as she reached up, smacked away his hand and freed the screeching bird. The bird flapped its wings and flew up after regaining its freedom. It circled over Qi Wan¡¯s head for a moment before a white substance splattered onto his hair. And then it flew away happily. "What the hell!" Qi Wan screamed in disgust and pointed at the bird as it flew away. ¡°Hey, get back here! You¡¯re not gonna get away with this!¡± That bird seemed to have understood what he said and turned back immediately. It zoomed past Qi Wan and added to the pile on his head. "F***! That''s harsh!" Qi Wan covered his head and groaned. "It¡¯s tough to fly these days!¡± "Yes!" Gu Qingyu lamented with him. Qi Wan then realised just how tight he was holding onto her, and how her arms strained around his neck. He tucked his arm under her legs again. ¡°Sorry, sorry, that must have been painful.¡± "It''s okay, it doesn''t hurt." Gu Qingyu smiled as she glanced at her shoulder, blood had seeped into the bandage. "It''s my fault! It''s my fault!" Worry and self-blame was clear in his voice as his eyes darted between her shoulder and their surroundings and his beating wings kept them in the air. "It''s okay," Gu Qingyu pursed her lips, "Really, I''m already much better. Let''s just get to the capital already." "No!" Qi Wan decided and began to fly downwards. "Hang in there. Just scream if it hurts too much." Gu Qingyu felt her lips twitch. "Huh?" "Oh man, then it must be really painful." Qi Wan landed and set her down. His hand closed over her injured shoulder and a faint white light glowed against her wound. A steady stream of warmth poured into that spot. It felt like he was just pouring his own magic into her, and through the wound, it flowed through her veins and warmed her whole being. Qi Wan¡¯s healing magic was very different from Mo Bai¡¯s magic. Actually, it did not feel like healing magic at all. Qi Wan doesn¡¯t know any healing magic. He was really just pouring his magic into her and using it to speed up her own healing. And when she finally realised that, her hand clasped over his hand and she said, "Qi Wan, stop." "Boss, it''s okay, I have more than enough." Qi Wan smiled indifferently. "It''s just magic. And, it''s only on these occasions that I''ll be glad that I have too much magic for myself." Gu Qingyu felt something twist with guilt in her chest. "Qi Wan, enough. Let''s go, it''s getting dark." Qi Wan looked up at the sky. It was about 4-5 pm, but because of the horrible storm and that they were in mid-winter, the evening had crept upon them. He nodded, picked her up and started flying again. "Can you speed up?" Gu Qingyu grew antsier as she watched the rain. The sight reminded her of when she first arrived at this time. At that point, what had appeared before her was a pair of pristine, white boots. His eyes were clear and spotless, soft and beautiful. The sun had disappeared into the horizon by the time they landed again. They were in the woods just outside of Xiqian''s capital, to avoid unwanted attention and walked into the city. As they passed through the gates, Gu Qingyu sighed as she watched the bustling crowds that weaved through the streets. "I wonder just how much suffering is just hidden beneath the surface." "Yes, a lively tragedy." Qi Wan raised his eyebrows. "The more prosperous the place, the lonely they feel, do you feel their loneliness? Each and every one of them?" "No, I guess only they themselves can truly attest to that." Gu Qingyu shook her head, "Let''s go and find an inn for the night." "Okay!" Qi Wan was full of smiles and seemed to be very happy, matching the atmosphere of the city. "What? Full?! Are you serious?" Qi Wan looked at the boss in disbelief and gesticulated, "We''ve been to ten inns, how are they all full?" "You must be from out of town, aren''t you?" The innkeeper glanced at Qi Wan in a strange way. "It''s a good day today. There are not many people sleeping on the streets." Qi Wan scoffed and opened his mouth to fire back. Gu Qingyu stepped forward and tugged on his sleeves. "Forget it, let''s go." The innkeeper seemed to only just noticed her presence, and his eyes widened. "Divine Priestess?" Qi Wan glanced at her and made a mental connection. "Ah..." Gu Qingyu was a little embarrassed, she was not sure of how she should reply. "Divine Priestess, is that you?" The innkeeper''s eyes were as wide as saucers, as a smile split across his face. "Do you wish to stay here?" Gu Qingyu took a gamble and nodded. "Yes." "We have two suites available upstairs! This way!" The innkeeper bowed before he led them upstairs. "Thank you." Gu Qingyu smiled slightly and handed him a piece of silver. "No, no, no! I cannot accept it!" Who knows, the innkeeper immediately bowed and stuffed the piece of silver back into her hand. "Divine Priestess, I cannot even begin to repay you, you have saved my life! I can only help with this humble inn, how could I take your money on top of that?" Rain had saved his life? Maybe she was not a villain after all. Perhaps she just did not appreciate the sudden appearance of a doppelganger. Gu Qingyu nodded and withdrew that piece of silver. "Tsk, tsk, talk about double standards." Qi Wan followed Gu Qingyu and the innkeeper. The innkeeper opened the suites for them, then he bowed again and retreated downstairs. Gu Qingyu and Qi Wan sat in her room, Qi Wan sighed and shook his head. "Boss, it seems that you are more than popular here." "No, it''s not me." Gu Qingyu also shook her head, "It''s just Yu''er, or Rain, looks exactly like me. She''s the real Divine Priestess." "Even your names are so similar..." Qi Wan pursed his lips. "Alright, let''s just begin the search tomorrow. We''ve been out all day, and you''re injured, you need to rest now." "Not yet," Gu Qingyu corrected. "We''ve not eaten." "Ah!" Qi Wan''s eyes lit up in realisation. "Stay here, I''ll head down and bring something up right away." "Yeah, go go." Gu Qingyu waved and lay down on the table to rest. "Get enough for the both of us, okay?" "Okay!" Qi Wan hurriedly got up and walked out, his loud footsteps echoed through the corridor. Not long after, Qi Wan came back with two trays full of dishes. He placed the trays on the table, clapped his hands and sat down with satisfaction. "Boss, here! Eat up!" "Good." Gu Qingyu smiled, picked up the chopsticks and started eating. Qi Wan stood up and opened the windows. A cool breeze blew through the room, everything felt more refreshing. "Need to get some air circulation." He said as he returned to his seat next to her. "Boss, I finally learnt that it''s not just enough to have franchises all over the continent. Imagine having shops in the past! Now that''s truly impressive!" "So? What do you want to do?" Gu Qingyu asked with a side-eye as she kept eating. "Don''t tell me you plan to start a business here?" "Haha, nope~" Qi Wan laughed. "Oh stop staring, eat." Gu Qingyu tapped his empty bowl with her chopsticks. "I''ll eat everything if you don''t start soon." "It was meant for you." He reached over and ruffled her hair. "Eat up." "Oh, that won''t do. Eat, now. Or else, I''m not eating too." She rolled her eyes and put down her chopsticks. "Fine, I''ll eat." Qi Wan picked up his chopsticks and gradually filled his bowl. "By the way, after I came here, I saw a person who looked like Ye Jin." Her eyes lit up. "Where?" "It''s here, in this city." He nodded. "but I don''t know why, it feels...off." "What sort of off?" "I can''t put a finger on it." Qi Wan shook his head. "I still remember that place. We''ll check that place tomorrow, together." "Alright." Gu Qingyu nodded as Qi Wan cleared the table. Qi Wan wiped the table with the cloth, then picked up the tray full of dirty dishes and bowed. "Goodnight, Boss!" He was like an excellent server. "Good night." Gu Qingyu waved as she watched Qi Wan leave the room and close the door behind him. Gu Qingyu laid down on the bed in her room, the soft mattress dipped against her weight as she settled under the covers. She rolled over and closed her eyes, but all she could think of was Ye Jin. Qi Wan said that he saw someone that looked like him, but would that really be Ye Jin? What if that person is another doppelganger? But, if that person Qi Wan saw was really Ye Jin, then why would he not find her? What if? Oh no, what if? A sinking feeling settled in her stomach, she could only cross her fingers and pray that whatever premonition she was having would turn out to be wrong. She sighed, and then she heard the sound of rustling fabric. She immediately sat up and checked the room. The room was completely dark, aside from the moonlight that flitted through the curtains. Her eyes glowed in the darkness as the Soul Chain appeared around her. The runes etched into the chain''s metal emitted an eerie light as it encircled her, ready to strike at a moment''s notice. "Goodness, that''s scary. Yu, you''re really powerful." A crisp, familiar voice answered with a silvery laugh that gently broke the silence of the night. Gu Qingyu looked at the person in front of her that was clad in a red dress. She exhaled, "Xie Li." Her chains disappeared from view, but it still remained hidden around her, she was still on alert. Thanks to that lesson from Rain, she no longer trusted anyone other than her own friends that came to this era with her. "Cautious?" Xie Li grabbed a chair and moved it to sit near her bed. Her red dress looked almost like blood under the cold moonlight. "Why? Was it because of that Yu''er?" "I guess." Gu Qingyu gave a short answer. After all, she was not familiar with Xie Li in this era. The Xie Li she knew was a sickly, but sweet and kind little girl. The Xie Li in front of her was healthy, but also witty and dangerous. Chapter 149: Emperor Ye Chapter 149: Emperor Ye Translated by: iris.knight "That''s just from your point of view." Gu Qingyu laughed as well. "And from my point of view, she''s just someone who tried to kill me." "Yeah, you''re right." Xie Li shrugged. "I can''t say anything to make you believe me, Yu. I don''t have any evidence, you would just have to take my word for it. Both my word that I would help you, and my word that Rain is not as bad as she appeared." "Okay, thank you anyway." Gu Qingyu pursed her lips. "I found a trace of the last spirit gem." Xie Li gently closed her eyes. "It is very close to you." "Very close to me?" Gu Qingyu was a little surprised. "Yes, very close." Xie Li nodded. "Yu, many things have changed since your appearance. I came to just make sure that you are mentally prepared for...certain things." "What...what does it mean?" Gu Qingyu had a bad feeling. Xie Li sighed softly, "Yu, I can only say so much, I have to go already." "What, so soon?" Gu Qingyu asked before she could stop herself. "I have something that I need to do." Xie Li stood up and walked away in a red dress. Gu Qingyu sat in her bed and watched with wide eyes as Xie Li left the room via the window. She turned to the closed door, there was no knocking. This means that Qi Wan did not notice the arrival of Xie Li? When Xie Li showed up the last time, Murong Zuoyu also showed up only after she left. That leaves two possibilities. Either that she was more powerful than all of them, hence she could conceal her powers so skillfully and that only Gu Qingyu''s heightened sense of hearing would notice her, or that Xie Li did not have any magical powers at all. And her divination was something she could do without magic. Perhaps it was a talent that she was born with. Gu Qingyu sighed again. Ever since she came to this era, she became more suspicious and alert about everything. That may not be a good thing. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep, but the gears in her head kept turning. Too many thoughts. Too many questions. Since Xie Zang, Xie Li, Yan Zun and Xian Di were all from this time period, then how did they live so long that they could meet her? Why was there someone that looked exactly like her? What would happen to Yan Ruhuo that turned him into Yan Zun? Why would Murong Zuoyu dream of this time? Was he from here as well? Then why didn''t he lose his memories? Or maybe it was not memory loss, their old memories overwrote their new memories instead. What about her? Is she from this time period as well? But why does she not have any memories from this time? Was it because of Rain? And what does that mean for Qi Wan and Cloud? The more she tried to solve the puzzle, the more irritated she became about the missing pieces. And she has not even begun to unravel Ye Jin''s mystery. Forget it, she''ll just have to figure it out when the time comes. Who knows, maybe everything would work out when she finds Ye Jin. Gu Qingyu sighed, turned over again and fell asleep. Her dream was quiet and cold. She was in the middle of the main street in Xiqian. The streets were filled with the bustling crowd heading to and fro, but they walked past her without noticing her presence. It was as if she had turned transparent. She could see people haggling and bargaining for goods at the street stalls, but she could not hear them. As she weaved through the crowd, she saw Ye Jin. He was at the end of the street, and he was looking at her. He could see her! And, oh, he was staring at her with such soft eyes. Time seemed to have slowed down to a crawl. Centuries may have passed before she tried to run to him and wrap her arms around him. But something kept her rooted to the ground. She could not move a single muscle. She opened her mouth and called and screamed his name, but the only thing she heard was silence. The air had been sucked out, was this how vacuum felt like? Ye Jin smiled at her, and then he mouthed, "Goodbye, Xiao Yu''er." No... Where was he going? She pulled and tugged against her invisible bonds, but the more she struggled the harder it was for her to move. She could only watch Ye Jin walk further and further away. No! She broke free suddenly, but fell to the ground severely. Ye Jin did not turn back, he did not even slow down. "Ye Jin--" Her voice came back at that moment, and she opened her eyes- A tangy, familiar scent surrounded her and she was wrapped up in someone''s arms. But that was not how he smelled like. "Nightmares? Don''t worry, I''m right here." Qi Wan gently patted her back and whispered. "What did you dream of?" His voice seemed soft in the dark night. "Ye Jin..." She choked a little and tears poured down her face. She missed Ye Jin so much. "Hey, it''s ok. We''ll see him tomorrow." Qi Wan''s voice was gentle as he squeezed her a little and he looked at her with tender eyes. "I promise." "Yeah!" Gu Qingyu raised her head. Qi Wan had a giant wet spot in his chest now. She rubbed her eyes in embarrassment. "Okay, go to sleep, or you''re not gonna have enough energy." Qi Wan rubbed the back of her head gently. "I''m right here." "Good!" Gu Qingyu laid down obediently. Qi Wan sat on the side of her bed and tucked in the corners of her quilt. "Go to sleep." Gu Qingyu closed her eyes. Ye Jin, you''re waiting for me, right? You must be thinking of me as well, she thought before she fell asleep again. The next day, early morning Gu Qingyu woke up to the same scent that surrounded her last night. Qi Wan sat on the bed, his back leaning against the headboard. His head was propped up by his right arm, which balanced on his knee. His eyes were closed and he took even breaths. He was still sleeping. Her eyes stung a little. Sorry, Qi Wan. I''m sorry, I owe you too much. She pulled her hand out from under the covers to rub her eyes, and it was this tiny movement that jostled him. His arm slipped off his knee and his amber eyes snapped open. "Boss?" "Yeah, I''m awake." Gu Qingyu smiled at him, then sat up and stretched lazily. Qi Wan yawned as well, and he said with bleary eyes, "Let''s go, breakfast." "Okay." Gu Qingyu said with a smile and followed him downstairs. The innkeeper saw the pair descend the stairs and bowed. "Good morning, Divine Priestess!" "Don''t call me that, just call me Qingyu." She pursed her lips. "You wished to be addressed by your name? Very well." The innkeeper pointed to the table beside, "Please, take a seat. We''ll serve breakfast immediately." "Okay, thank you very much!" Gu Qingyu nodded and sat down at one of the empty tables with Qi Wan. He held up his head with one hand, his dark hair was tied up with a ribbon that fell loosely onto his shoulders. "Actually, they may not all be in Xiqian." Her sigh came out as a whisper. "I know," Qi Wan concurred. "They could very well be in the three other major countries or any of the other smaller countries. But think about it, Xiqian is in chaos right now. That would draw everyone here; that was what drew you here." When Gu Qingyu noticed their server setting porridge on their table, she ended the conversation. "Yeah, I hope so." Breakfast ended quickly, other guests at the inn gradually streamed out of the inn. Gu Qingyu and Qi Wan also stood up, nodded to the innkeeper, and walked out of the inn. As soon as they walked into the main street, Gu Qingyu couldn''t wait and asked, "Where''s Ye Jin?" "Just follow me!" Qi Wan kept his leisurely pace. He caught a stall from the corner of his eyes, it sold something red and glossy, from the sugar. He beamed at her, "Boss, do you want some candied hawthorns?" "Not really..." She was still deflated from the dream, but she picked herself up. The thought that she would see Ye Jin soon was enough to cheer her up. Qi Wan watched as she went from deflated to forced energetic, then to genuine hope and joy. He smiled and turned away, hiding the disappointment in his eyes. "Then I''m just gonna get some for myself. Don''t steal mine, okay?" He quickly returned with a bunch of candied hawthorns. As they walked down the street, Gu Qingyu finally caved and stole one of the sticks of candied hawthorns. "Didn''t you say you''re not eating?" He shot her a glare as he pouted. She hmphed as she chewed, the sugar cracked and popped with each bite. "I changed my mind, it''s a sudden craving." "Fine, whatever you want." Qi Wan just indulged her. "I took a bite out of that one though." "I don''t care." She shot him a glare and took another bite. Qi Wan chuckled. "Okay. Let''s go then, it''s just up ahead." Ahead? She raised her head and was greeted with the sight of a...golden palace. "This is..." She asked in a daze. "Yeah, that''s right, it''s the royal palace." Qi Wan said with a smile. The two guards outside the palace watched them with hostility. If they had been any closer, the guards would have stomped over and chased them away. "Divine Priestess, your humble servant suggests that you could consider wearing some sort of mask. Would be kind of bad if someone recognised you." Qi Wan leaned in and whispered into her ear. She agreed and turned around. Then, her whole body stiffened. Qi Wan was wondering what was taking her so long. He turned around with a smirk, ready to tease her but his smile vanished when he saw what she was looking at. Ye Jin. "Xiao..." Her voice trembled. Ye Jin walked right past her. Gu Qingyu froze in place as she stared at the empty spot before her in disbelief. He was still standing here a few seconds ago, and then he just walked right past her. He didn''t say anything, he didn''t even look at her. Qi Wan''s jaw was going to drop to the ground as he watched Ye Jin walk into the palace. Ye Jin was dressed in a black robe with golden embroidery of mystical patterns. Cold air surrounded him as if he did not know them. The guards at the door immediately lowered their heads respectfully. "Emperor Ye!" Ye Jin didn''t answer and strode through the palace gate. Chapter 150: The Ye Empire Chapter 150: The Ye Empire Translated by: iris.knight "Let me go!" She tried to push past them, but her limbs were shaking and she seemed to have lost all of her strength. "Xiao Zhezhe!" Ye Jin froze for a split second, but he kept walking. The guards glanced at her in disgust as they threw her out. Gu Qingyu fell back unsteadily and fell into someone''s arms. "Qi Wan..." She said in a daze. His eyes were burning with anger, he wrapped Gu Qingyu in his arms with one hand and waved his free hand. Ribbons shot out from his sleeve and wrapped tightly around the two guards. "Boss, I''ll bring you in today, no matter what happens. And if Ye Jin somehow doesn''t remember you, then he would pay for it!" Rage and bloodthirst gleamed in his eyes as the guards were lifted off the ground and the ribbon wound tighter and tighter around them. "No!" Gu Qingyu grabbed him by the shoulders. "Qi Wan, don''t!" "Why?" Qi Wan lowered his head and looked at her tenderly. "Don''t worry, I''m here. No one would hurt you. No one would stand in your way. And no one would make you cry. No one would dare to." A chill ran down her spine despite the fact that she was still in his warm arms. She had never seen this side of him before. "Qi Wan..." "Boss, you''re scared." Qi Wan said as he looked at her. That was a statement. "Yes." Gu Qingyu stretched out her hand and caressed his face with trembling fingers. "Don''t do this, I just want Qi Wan." She''s such a coward, she could not bear to face his true self. She only wanted the good, the sunny, cheerful Qi Wan, and not the Qi Wan she was looking at now. Qi Wan flinched, then smiled. "Okay." He released the two guards, and they knelt on the floor, gasping for air. "What should we do now?" Qi Wan has calmed down as he asked lackadaisically. ¡°Um, let¡¯s go inside and have a look. Maybe we¡¯ll learn more.¡± She turned to the two guards. ¡°With their help, of course.¡± The guards huddled together and shivered under her plotting gaze. ¡°We¡¯re sorry, we had no idea...¡± "Qi Wan, take them away." Gu Qingyu tilted her head towards a small alleyway near them. "Good!" Qi Wan walked over with a smile, picked up the guards and followed her. In the alley, Gu Qingyu grinned as she stared at the quivering guards. "Umm, w-what are you going to do to us...?¡± One of the guards plucked up his courage and asked. Gu Qingyu did not answer his question. She squatted down and smiled. "Hm, you¡¯re quite good looking.¡± Droplets of sweat formed on his forehead. ¡°P-p-please, my wife is still waiting for me at home...¡± ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Qi Wan punched him. "Oh~ that''s it~ what a pity~" Gu Qingyu shook her head with a sigh. ¡°But...if that would spare me then...¡± The guards continued with a stammer as he glanced furtively at Qi Wan. Qi Wan punched him again, then he turned to Gu Qingyu with a straight face. "Boss, he''s not as good looking as me and he''s not as rich as me, so you can just take a pass on him. But if you''re really looking for someone, maybe consider me as one of the potential candidates?" Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Have you always been this bold in asking girls out?" She was referring to their past lives in the modern world. "No," Qi Wan smiled brightly, "Only you, Boss. Only you." "Fine, since you''ve got some ideas, I''ll let you handle this." She stood up and clapped twice. "Strip them bare, Qi Wan." "Huh?" Qi Wan stared at her, his eyes were as big as saucers. "Boss, you''re...I know Ye Jin not recognising you has been a shock, but you don''t need to do this to yourself. I can..." "What the hell are you thinking?" Qi Wan received a punch in the face as well. Gu Qingyu explained with pursed lips. "Take off their uniforms so that we can disguise as them and sneak into the palace." "Oh, that! You scared me!" Qi wan patted his chest exaggeratedly and then stepped forward with a sly smile. The guard watched as Qi Wan stepped closer and closer to him, and closed his eyes in despair. Gu Qingyu walked to the other guard''s side and squatted down. "Hey, let me ask you something." "Just ask!" The guard focused his attention on her, he did not even glance at his colleague. "How often do you change posts?" Gu Qingyu looked at the sky. "Once half a day." The guard replied cautiously. "It''s about time." Gu Qingyu nodded and waggled her eyebrows. "Well done, you''re much more cooperative." The guard stared at her blankly. "What are you staring at!" Qi Wan, who finished undressing one of the guards, punched the guard that was staring at her. "Is my wife that pretty?" "Huh?" That guard immediately came back to his senses and looked at his colleague, who had shrunk into the corner in only a pair of boxers. He immediately wrapped his arms around himself. "I''ll-I''ll do it myself!" "Okay." Qi Wan straightened and rested his elbow on her shoulder. "So, sweetheart, is your husband''s efficiency up to standard?" Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes helplessly and picked up the first set of uniforms on the ground. "Less talk, more work. Get changed, let''s not waste any more time." "Yes, milord!" He picked up the other set of uniforms, turned away, and changed into it. It fitted him nicely. He turned back to check on Gu Qingyu, she had changed into the uniform as well, but it was a little big on her. "Now, I will give you two choices," Gu Qingyu looked at the two naked guards, "You can either pretend to be dead. Or, I can help you forget all of this happened." The two guards looked at each other, immediately knocked their heads into each other without hesitation, and flopped to the ground. "I said pretend." Gu Qingyu looked at Qi Wan with some confusion. "Ah, they probably misheard." Qi Wan smiled, and put his arms around Gu Qingyu, "Let''s go, sweetheart!" "Hands off. Let''s go" She sprinted back to the palace. As soon as they got to their posts, two other guards approached them. "Hey, newbies, you can head back inside now." Newbies? Gu Qingyu had been worried that she and Qi Wan would blow their cover, it seemed like that would be very unlikely. They were new here, so no one would recognise them. As long as they stayed in line, they should be safe. Gu Qingyu nodded and walked into the palace with Qi Wan. Their lack of response made the other two guards look back at them. They looked at Gu Qingyu and Qi Wan suspiciously as they disappeared into the palace and then shook their heads. "The newbies these days barely have any respect for their elders." "What can you say? That''s what being young is like." The older guard replied wistfully. That tugged at her lips, she kept her head down and pulled Qi Wan along as he chuckled at her. Suddenly, a group of people, nay a small parade walked by right in front of them. Gu Qingyu and Qi Wan immediately ducked behind a tree while the other palace guards and servants bowed. They watched discreetly from their hiding spot. At the beginning of the parade was Xie Zang! And Xie Li! It seemed too much of a coincidence to have them gathered here as well. Between Xie Zang and Xie Li was a man dressed in sea green. He looked to be in his mid-thirties as he walked with them with grace. Servants followed them, and soldiers surrounded them as they walked further into the palace. Gu Qingyu''s lips tightened to a thin line as she watched the parade. Right then, for a split second, Xie Li turned around and smiled at her. That surprised Gu Qingyu, she did not expect Xie Li to notice her and Qi Wan, but before she could do anything, the parade had already walked away. "What''s the matter, Boss?" Seeing Gu Qingyu''s startled eyes, Qi Wan couldn''t help asking curiously, "That was Xie Zang?" "Yes." Gu Qingyu nodded, "and his sister, Xie Li." "Xie Li?" Qi Wan blinked, "I have only heard of Xieli City and the Xieli flower." "Those were named after her." Gu Qingyu sighed softly. "Oh." Qi Wan spotted a palace maid in the short distance, and he walked up to her with a smile. "Hello, I was wondering, what is going on today?" The maid looked up at him, turned a deep shade of pink and stared at the tray in her hands. "Um...the Ye Empire has come to visit Xiqian today, and...all of the surrounding countries has also sent their representatives to attend the event." The Ye Empire? Gu Qingyu''s heart jumped, that did not sound good to her. "Sorry, we''re new here and we''re a bit lost. Can you tell us why has the Ye Empire come to visit?" Qi Wan stared at her with his amber eyes. "Of-of course." She answered with a stammer, her eyes remained fixed on the tray. "The Ye Empire basically rules the entire continent, and all of the countries need to obey them. And the current monarch of Ye is the young Emperor." "What''s his name?" Gu Qingyu asked pointedly, her voice betrayed her anxiety with a tremble. "I shouldn''t..." The maid looked at Gu Qingyu a little strangely. "It''s okay, there''s only the three of us here. Tell us, you can trust me." Qi Wan stared at the maid intently. She glanced at Qi Wan and lowered her head again. "I heard the Emperor is called Ye Jin." Gu Qingyu only felt that something exploded in her mind. That name, his name echoed in her mind and everything else faded to a hum. Qi Wan looked at Gu Qingyu with a worried look then dismissed the maid with a friendly wave. "Okay, I see. Thank you for your help, we should get going." "Wait, what''s your name?" The palace maid tugged on his sleeve and stopped him. "I''m Cloud." He gave her a mysterious smile. "But don''t tell anyone I was here." The palace maid nodded fervently as she watched them leave. "Boss, are you okay?" Qi Wan watched as Gu Qingyu walked away. "I was right." She sighed as she leaned back against a tree. "He''s from here too." Qi Wan gritted his teeth. "I''ll punch him if he doesn''t remember you, until he remembers!" "Thank you, Qi Wan." Gu Qingyu''s smile was a little sad. "Hey, what are you doing? The ceremony is about to begin, get to your posts now!" Chapter 151: The Lotus Waltz Chapter 151: The Lotus Waltz Translated by: iris.knight "Ceremony? What kind of ceremony?" She asked. "You''ve already asked me twice, newbie!" The guard huffed. "Listen and remember this time, I won''t repeat it anymore. The ceremony that''s going to happen soon is to welcome Emperor Ye, and also for him to pick his bride!" Something crumbled into dust inside Gu Qingyu when she heard that. "Got it, we''ll be there right away." Qi Wan pulled her away with a hand on her shoulder. "Sheesh..." The guard frowned and walked away shaking his head. They found a quiet courtyard. Qi Wan watched Gu Qingyu as she remained almost catatonic, her eyes were glassy and hollow. "Boss? Boss. Wake up, we don''t have time to zone out like this." He grabbed her shoulders and shook her slightly. "Pull yourself together." "I can''t. It''s not going to matter anyway, he''s Emperor Ye now and he''s about to get married to someone else." "He''s not getting married. He''s just picking a bride. And even then, it''s hardly his choice. Xiqian is forcing him to choose a bride from one of their princesses to try to save their own skin." He scoffed, the disdain directed at Xiqian''s monarch, before he returned to comforting her. "Hey, maybe Ye Jin didn''t get a good look at you, that''s why he didn''t recognise you. We could go inside, and walk right up to his face. That could work, right?" "Yeah..." After a pause, she nodded and squared her shoulders. "We can''t just give up like this. Thanks for the pep talk, Qi Wan." He wrapped her into a warm hug. "Don''t worry, I''m still here. If that dumbass really forgot about you, then we''ll just leave all of this and never come back." "...Okay." She laughed. Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps approached them. Qi Wan pulled Gu Qingyu along and they ducked behind a tree. "Wait, let''s practice one more time. I want to run through the steps again." The sound of footsteps grew closer as a lady in a white and turquoise dress stopped her maid and walked into the quiet courtyard. That lady was an elegant beauty, her hair was tied up with a single ribbon. Gu Qingyu almost mistook her for a fairy. "Very well, your highness." The musician that followed her nodded, she was carrying a stringed instrument on her back. She sat down and began to play as the lady danced beside her, twirling and skipping along to the melody. The lady stopped as the song came to a close. She turned to her musician, "Alright, we should go. The Lotus Waltz is the final item for the ceremony, and it would be the end of Xiqian if Emperor Ye doesn''t pick me." "Don''t worry, by how captivating your dance was, I won''t be surprised if Your Highness ends up as Empress Ye!" She gushed. "You''re so sweet." The princess glanced at her maid with a shy smile. A fit of unnamed anger suddenly burst to life in Gu Qingyu''s chest. Just as she was about to jump out from behind the tree, a loud "boom" rang out. In that moment, both the princess and the lady-in-waiting collapsed to the ground. She whipped around in astonishment and watched Qi Wan dusting off his hands as his ribbons retracted into his sleeves. "Jesus, who does she think she is? It took all of my self-control to not knock her out and make her shut up." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes. "Hey, we may not know them, but the princess is actually quite beautiful, and she''s a great dancer." Qi Wan snorted disdainfully. "Beautiful? She''s nowhere near you. Your performance of that routine would be better than hers anyway." "Wait, you mean..." "Yes, yeah," Qi Wan dragged the two women behind the bushes. "They took forever to finish that dance, and, well, my hand slipped. I hope you''ve already remembered the steps." "I did, but..." "Just as I thought. Alright, change and we can attend the ceremony." Qi Wan picked up the instrument and turned away. "You''ve memorised the song?" "Yeah, otherwise how could I match up against you-your dance?" Qi Wan said with his back facing her. "Hurry up and get changed. If anyone shows up, I''ll have to knock them out too. Or...do you need an extra hand?" "Get lost." Gu Qingyu rolled her eyes unceremoniously. The weather was still fairly cold, so she just put on the princess'' dress as an added layer, pragmatism over beauty after all. She was already quite thin, so it did not make much of a visual difference. She also found a turquoise chiffon veil in one of the sleeves, it was probably used to cover the face so she wore it to prevent anyone from recognising her. After slipping into that dress, she glanced sympathetically at the princess, who was reduced to just her red belly band, and stifled a snigger. She nudged Qi Wan once she was ready. "Let''s go." Qi Wan turned around and in an instant, his face turned beet-red. Gu Qingyu stole a glance at the princess lying on the ground and laughed, "Sheesh, you didn''t have any qualms with knocking her out. And now you''re embarrassed when faced with the consequences?" "No, boss, it''s not that." Qi Wan rubbed his nose sheepishly. "You''re. How could you be so gorgeous?" "Huh? Gorgeous?" "Yeah." "Come on." Gu Qingyu untied her hair and used the wooden hairpin Ye Jin gave her to pin her hair up instead, but she can''t seem to get her hair to wind around the hairpin. "I''ll help." Qi Wan walked up behind her and held out his hand. She stopped trying and passed the hairpin to him as she sat down on a large stone near them. Qi Wan smiled as he turned over the hairpin in his hand, admiring the intricate carvings in the wood. "This is really intricately made. Where did you get this?" "Somewhere. It is really beautiful." She agreed, but her smile was tinged with slight sadness. Qi Wan took out a white ribbon from his sleeve, he tied her hair up first, then used the hairpin to pin it in place. "The white ribbon suits you. I made that myself by the way." He said as he tamed her flyaways. "Thank you. I''ll hold on to it." She stood up and smoothed out the wrinkles in her dress. Perhaps the princess''s dress was really thin, or that her own dress was too rich in colour, the pink looked as though it seeped through the turquoise chiffon. "It looks good." Qi Wan said sincerely as he turned away, the tips of his ears were still red. "Let''s go." "Yeah!" Gu Qingyu followed Qi Wan and walked towards the main hall. It was already afternoon, and the sun was warm, but it was not enough to drive away the frosty chill of late winter. Gu Qingyu pulled down the sleeves of her double-layered outfit. Thank goodness she wore a second layer, how did the princess survive on such a thin dress? Before they stepped into the main hall, they could already hear the music. And as they stepped into the main hall, a slight chill greeted them, the main hall had been covered in a thin fog. An old lady hurried them along with shuffled steps. "What took you so long, Your Highness! Your item is about to begin!" Gu Qingyu nodded and followed the old woman. "You are?" The old woman eyed Qi Wan suspiciously. "I''m just a musician." He smiled. Although the old woman had doubts, she stopped asking questions and pointed towards the lotus platform in the center of the main hall. "And now, the Princess of Xiqian would present the Lotus Waltz." Gu Qingyu nodded again and walked up the steps leading to the platform. The music in the main hall slowly faded as the guests took their seats to enjoy the long-awaited performance, renowned Lotus Waltz. Maybe they were just attending the ceremony to watch Xiqian fail. After all, no one has seen Emperor Ye show any interest in women. And if Xiqian¡¯s princess so much as made Emperor Ye to frown, she could be executed on the spot and no one would protest, not even her own father. Qi Wan snapped his fingers. "Great! My most beautiful princess, show off your most moving dance under the eyes of everyone today!" He hid behind the steps, away from the audience''s sight, placed the instrument on his lap and began to play. Silence loomed in the hall as everyone waited for the performance to begin. The sound of plucking strings echoed through the room as a lady in a turquoise dress walked up the steps along with the beat. Strange, the lotus platform was about 10 metres above ground, yet the stairs had stopped halfway. Gu Qingyu had noticed the short stairs in the beginning, and as she got closer, she realised that a giant water tank was placed just right at the end of the stairs. She would reach the end of the steps in the next 4 beats. She lifted her hand, her chiffon sleeves twirled once and she continued her ascent by stepping on the air itself. Everyone''s eyes widened. As she stepped onto the invisible steps, a single lotus flower bloomed at the tip of her toes. How could this be? The old woman opened and closed her mouth like a goldfish. Qi Wan watched all of this unfold. Oh, is that so? So the stairs were supposed to reach up to the platform. If his Boss did not notice or had she not replaced the actual princess, the Lotus Waltz would have flopped. That''s okay, because this should be the real Lotus Waltz! Come, my most beautiful princess. Use the melody that I have prepared for you and bloom into your most glorious moment! This song has been made for you, for you are the true and only princess to me. I just want to hold you in the palm of my hands. I just want to make you the happiest person in the world. I just want you to do anything and everything that you dream of. Go, you can do it. I''ll be right by your side. Gu Qingyu closed her eyes and twirled in the air, her sleeves spun around her as she skipped through the air with feather-light steps. Lotuses bloomed at her feet, forming a unique set of stairs. The Lotus Waltz has always been highly-regarded. In particular, the dance was described as the sight of dancing fairies across a lotus pond, as though the lotuses itself had come alive. One of the noble ladies in the audience was particularly shocked. "How can she...?" Xie Li who was seated next to her smiled slightly. "Indeed, the lotuses have come alive. Is Miss An blown away by the performance?" Miss An Linlin flinched before she returned to her impassive tone. "Yes, I have heard it for a long time. It is truly a sight to behold, and just as described, it is very lifelike." Xie Li''s smile remained on her face, but she did not continue the conversation. Instead, she turned to her brother next to her. "So, are you enjoying yourself?" "It is a good performance." Xie Zang glanced at his sister strangely, she had never asked him about his enjoyment in such events, nor has she complimented anything so openly before. Xie Li kept smiling. "If there''s a chance, do you mind if we let her join the Xie family?" "Whatever you want, sister." Xie Zang smiled, his gaze remains firmly on the dancer. Chapter 152: Forgotten, but not Forsaken Chapter 152: Forgotten, but not Forsaken Translated by: iris.knight Xie Zang frowned slightly. "She seems...oddly familiar." Xie Li beamed at his response, while An Linlin''s jaw tightened. She had planned to embarrass that princess at the performance, but she did not expect to be outwitted instead. How did that woman catch the Xie family''s attention anyway? At this rate, even if she were to fall out of favour with Emperor Ye, the Xie family would step in and protect her instead. Damn! Just how did she manage to get them to side with her? She looked so weak and frail... Whatever, there''s still plan B. She smirked. On the other hand, Xie Li returned her attention to the performance, the dancer had reached the lotus platform at the center of the stage. The chirpy, lighthearted tune transformed into a deeper, richer harmony, as though a stone had been cast into the center of a lake, sending ripples across the surface, further bewitching the audience. Gu Qingyu paused for a moment, that did not sound like what the musician had been playing before. But it''s not like she could stop, Qi Wan must have changed the song for a reason, she would just have to go with it. She closed her eyes and spun in the center of the lotus platform, the skirt of her green dress spun open into a full circle around her. The clear whistle of a flute joined the strings, blending and adding depth to the song. Mo Bai? Her heart jolted at the harmony, but her movements remained smooth and balanced as she prepared for the next sequence and sat down. She would have to stand up and fly up to the center of the lotus platform while spinning. She closed her eyes and readied herself. Just when she leapt into the air, she heard a soft ripping sound. She had not even noticed what had happened, the only thing she felt was a sudden chill and the feeling of fabric sliding off her skin. She was still spinning in the air, but her green dress had been ripped apart, revealing her pink dress instead. An audible gasp broke out in the audience, no one had expected this turn of events. Right after that, their shock was replaced by delight as they applauded. She had become a lotus in full bloom, as she softly and gracefully landed at the center of the lotus platform. An Linlin could only watch in disbelief. She turned around in horror and just so happened to meet Xie Li''s eyes. "Miss An, this dance is much more beautiful than described." Xie Li narrowed her eyes slightly. "Yes." An Linlin smiled but the sharp hatred in her look remained. Why, why could that bitch... Could it be that she was in cahoots with Xie Li, Priestess Xie? The music sped up as the smaller lotus danced atop the large lotus platform. Suddenly, eight pink ribbons shot out from her dress, as if extending it and forming petals. The audience was completely enthralled. Even Ye Jin lowered his goblet of wine and watched intently. The song gradually slowed and faded away. The audience seemed to have returned to their senses as a standing ovation echoed through the hall. "Indeed, she is truly the Lotus Princess! What an amazing display of the Lotus Waltz!" "Yes, I have heard the Princess was a great dancer. She has proved her skills to be far beyond the rumours!" Even Xiqian''s emperor stared at the dancer atop of the lotus platform in shock. Gu Qingyu panted slightly to catch her breath. The sound of strings had started again. She was going to follow the music and make her exit, but a strange force stopped her. Then, the strange force pulled her through the air. Qi Wan threw away the instrument and tried to catch her, but she was not falling. Instead, she was pulled towards Ye Jin. Ye Jin stood up and with a wave, removed the chiffon veil that covered her face before catching her and pulling her into his arms by her waist. Gu Qingyu stared at Ye Jin in a daze, suddenly unable to speak. Meanwhile, all of Xiqian''s royalty stared at the imposter with shock. Ye Jin looked at Gu Qingyu and narrowed his eyes. "Emperor of Xiqian, I have accepted your gift." "It is our honour!" The emperor of Xiqian did not expose the imposter and agreed gleefully instead. With those words, Ye Jin had guaranteed Xiqian''s safety and well-being. An Linlin''s jaw was so tight, she could almost crush all of her teeth. Who was the imposter? Although, the fact that it was an imposter made more sense to her. That bitch could barely dance, of course she sent a scapegoat to perform on her behalf. Xie Li beamed at the reveal, while her brother turned to her quizzically, "You are in an awfully good mood today, sister." "What on earth gave you that impression? I''m not in a good mood at all." Xie Li was still smiling as she answered her brother in a serious voice. "I wanted her to be your wife, what a pity." "Why? Has something happened between you and the Lotus Princess?¡± Xie Zang continued his questioning. Xie Li shook her head. "No. But if you don''t marry her, it won''t be long before you will come to regret it." "Regret?" He blinked a few times. "I don''t know her at all, I''ve never even spoken to her before. Why would I regret not marrying her?" "Are you doubting my ability?" Xie Li leaned back and shot a look at her brother. "No, that''s not..." He avoided her eyes and stared at his hands instead. Xie Li''s visions has never gone wrong. She serves as the high priestess for the Xie royalty and was the most powerful clairvoyant in the world. It was precisely due to the clever use of her powers that the Xie family could remain in power amidst the ongoing chaos. Like the Ye Empire, they do not claim sovereignty over a certain piece of land, but govern nations instead. Their influence was only just shy of the Ye Empire. "That''s right." Xie Li narrowed her eyes slightly, "Silly brother. Keep your eyes peeled, and grab the chance to marry her the moment you can. She is more than some Lotus Princess." "G-got it." Xie Zang looked at the girl in Ye Jin''s arms, a little speechless. Poor girl, lord knows what she had done to catch such keen interest from his sister. It would be better if she had been hated by his sister. At most, her life would end in a horrible death. But if his sister liked her instead, then his sister would do anything to keep her around, even if she wanted nothing to do with his sister. Fine, since that''s the case, he should pay more attention. Gu Qingyu and Ye Jin stared at each other, time seemed to have stopped in that moment. Ye Jin''s eyes softened as his lips quivered and his voice lowered to a mere whisper, "Xiao Yu''er..." Her heart raced at his words, he remembered her! But his recollection only lasted for that second. A piercing clarity returned to his eyes as her own face was reflected in those blue orbs. He suddenly released her and returned to his seat. "Do what you will, as long as you return to Ye with me." A stinging pain pierced her chest, her eyes closed for a moment. "Don''t you remember me?" "No. But you do resemble someone that I know, who are you?" He scrutinised her, but the softness in those blue orbs had vanished. "I am Gu Qingyu." Gu Qingyu also calmed down slowly, "But you always called me Xiao Yu''er." He grabbed her by her chin and spat, "There have been many that tried to approach me with your methods. Leave, before I grow sick of the sight of you." "Ye Jin, wake up." She was not intimidated by him at all. "Xiao Zhezhe, it''s me, Xiao Yu''er. You said you love me." Ye Jin waved his sleeve and before Gu Qingyu could dodge it, she was set flying through the air. "Bam!" Someone caught her. She looked up at the person, her eyes met with amber. Clad in the guardsmen''s silver-white armour, he was truly her knight in shining armour, always by her side. "Qi Wan..." Qi Wan landed carefully and sneered at Ye JIn. "Since you pushed her away with your own hands, don''t expect her to come running back to you." "Oh? What not? She is already my concubine." Ye Jin narrowed his eyes, "Emperor Xiqian, your guard does not seem to understand the rules." Sweat broke from the emperor''s brows as he shot up from his throne. "Fool! Someone, throw this insolent servant into the dungeons this very instant!" Gu Qingyu was horrified. She freed herself from Qi Wan''s embrace and shielded him. "Don''t you dare!" The emperor frowned and softened his tone. "Princess, you have to think about the kingdom." "I see." Gu Qingyu steeled her heart and turned back to Qi Wan. "Let''s go." "Where are you going?" Ye Jin called with a chilly voice. "To pack. Didn''t you ask me to leave with you?" She looked back and gave him a strained smile before pulling Qi Wan along with her and left the hall. "Tsk tsk tsk, looks that I have my work cut out for me." Xie Li sighed and shook her head. Xie Zang could not suppress his curiosity and asked again, "Sister, just what happened between you and that girl?" "Nothing, I''ve just taken a liking to her, and I want her as my sister-in-law. Don''t just stand there, get to work!" She nudged her brother in the ribs. Xie Zang was still baffled. "Work?" He paused and watched the distant figure step out of the hall. "But...she looks strangely familiar...if only I could remember where had I seen her..." Xie Li only answered with a silent smile. Gu Qingyu and Qi Wan left the hall and returned to the courtyard. Only after she confirmed that there was no one else around did she let go of his hand and squatted down to the ground with soft sobs. Qi Wan squatted down next to her and patted her back. "Hey, just cry. Cry as much as you want, as loud as you want." She only whimpered in between her sobs and hiccups, "What...what should I do? He...he doesn''t remember me..." She had waited so long to see him again, only to be stabbed through by an emotionless ¡®Who are you?¡¯It was simply too much. Qi Wan wrapped his arms around her, tucking her head under his chin. "He''ll remember you. "He even called me by my name..." She pressed the heel of her hands into her eyes, but tears continued to pour down her cheeks. "He will remember who you are, I promise." Qi Wan closed his eyes, it pained him to see her in such distress. "You have to believe in him, there''s no way he would forget about you." Chapter 153: Back to Square One Chapter 153: Back to Square One Translated by: iris.knight "That''s the spirit!" He ruffled her hair affectionately. Her eyes were red and puffy from all that crying, he took out a handkerchief and dabbed the corner of her eyes carefully. "Hold on, I''ll go and grab something." "Okay!" Gu Qingyu sniffed a few times, trying to clear her nose. He took a few steps, then turned back to her again with worry. "Wait here, don''t go anywhere." A smile spread across her face. "Oh, stop worrying. I''m not a child. Just go, I''ll be right here." "Okay, I''ll be right back." He turned and left the courtyard. Qi Wan walked straight ahead until he left her sight, then he stopped and slammed his fist into a nearby pillar. "Damn it!" He cursed. He had already decided to take her and leave this place if Ye Jin did not remember her, but his resolve shattered the moment she started to cry. He wanted to protect her, to shield from any and all harm, but when push came to shove, he couldn''t. Suddenly, a young lady stepped out from the shadows. Qi Wan followed the sound and turned towards her. The lady was An Linlin. She had an eerie grin on her face. "What''s the matter, young mister?" She examined the man before her, her smile plastered on her face. Qi Wan straightened and glanced at her coldly. "Miss, I may not know what you''re up to, but I''m not blind." An Linlin was shocked. "You...what are you talking about? I don''t understand." "It''s better if you don''t." Qi Wan snorted and began to walk back to the courtyard. "Wait a minute!" An Linlin stomped. "You like that girl right? Why don''t we work together?" "Work together?" Qi Wan turned his head slightly. "Yes! Team up with me!" An Linlin gritted her teeth, "I have a medicine here that can make that girl forget about everyone else. She would only have you in her heart. Give it to her and she would be yours forever. Don''t worry, it would not hurt her. I never planned to hurt anyone, I just want Emperor Ye." Qi Wan walked away with a cold cackle. "If it''s that effective, you should try to give it to Emperor Ye instead." She watched him leave with rage-filled eyes. How dare he scorn her offer! He will pay for this! Meanwhile As Qi Wan left, Gu Qingyu looked down at her hands as she sat down on the floor and rubbed her eyes. There was still a faint throbbing in her chest, was it because of Ye Jin? Perhaps. How could he forget about her? Tears spilled from her eyes again and dripped onto the grass patch below. No matter how many times she tried to wipe them away, they just won''t seem to stop. Even though Qi Wan had comforted her, she still felt awful. Maybe it''s karma. She once lost her memory and forgot about him, and now it''s his turn to forget her. "Miss, are you okay?" A familiar voice came from in front of her. Gu Qingyu looked up in astonishment. "Xie...Xie Zang?" Xie Zang flinched as he held out a handkerchief. "Why, have we met before?" "Perhaps..." Gu Qingyu accepted the handkerchief with a wry smile and wiped away the tear streaks all over her face. "Thank you." Xie Zang hesitated, then stretched out his hand. "Here. Let me help you up." "Thank you." She took his hand without much thought. With a slight jerk, Xie Zang helped her to her feet. "You don''t need to be so disheartened about Emperor Ye. He has never been shown to be close to women, and he is very picky. The fact that he has decided to accept you means that he must value you in some way." "Well, I''m Gu Qingyu." She smiled and shrugged. "Thank you for those kind words, it did help me feel better." "Gu Qingyu?" Xie Zang repeated subconsciously, "Excuse me, are you sure we have not met before?" Gu Qingyu paused, then let out a soft sigh. "...No." "Sorry, I should not have overstepped." Xie Zang looked to the distance. "Since Miss Gu is feeling better, then I would take my leave first." "Of course, thank you." Gu Qingyu nodded as her sensitive hearing picked up the sound of approaching footsteps. "Right," Xie Zang took two steps then turned around. He took out a jade pendant from his sleeve. "You can use this if you need any help from the Xie family." "...Thank you." Gu Qingyu did not decline and took the jade pendant, the word "Zang" was engraved on it. And with that, he left. She stared at his back as he walked away with a strange sense of melancholy. Her old friend that she used to fight side by side with had just walked away without a care. Her lover, who had sworn that she was his world, has forgotten her. Having lost her own memories before, the pain of being forgotten by someone she loved felt a lot more painful than forgetting someone she loved. It is painful to carry all of those memories and emotions, to face that sudden isolation of being forgotten. It is so painful to be left behind. Well, she is not alone. She still has Qi Wan, Murong Zuoyu and Mo Bai. They haven''t found Qi Yichen and Xiao Qi yet, but she knows it would not be long before they would all be reunited again. Yes, just a bit more. Gu Qingyu turned when the sound of footsteps got closer. "Oh, boss, who are you staring at?" Qi Wan stopped beside her and glanced at the handkerchief and jade pendant in her hand with a small pout. "It''s Xie Zang." Gu Qingyu kept the handkerchief and the pendant in her sleeve with a sigh. "Him?" Qi Wan huffed in disdain. "Just another person that forgot about us." "Not quite." She shrugged. "He just went back to square one." Qi Wan looked at her and shook his head. "That doesn''t make a difference. He still forgot about us." "Well, if you put it that way." Her brows furrowed. "Still, they have changed a lot. They are nothing like who they would become in the future." "Oh? Do you want to be more specific?" She shook her head. "I can''t describe it, but they feel like two different individuals." "Two different individuals. To be honest, boss, I keep having this feeling that something is going to happen." He pondered while rubbing his chin. She rolled her eyes. "What could possibly happen? We''ll just deal with whatever that comes our way, let''s go!" "Yeah, it is about time we head back." Qi Wan nodded and began to walk back to the main hall with Gu Qingyu. "Stop!" A high-pitched voice yelled. Gu Qingyu turned around, it was the musician that was supposed to play for the princess. Gu Qingyu was about to answer, but Qi Wan stopped her and pulled her behind him. "What do you want?" "What do I want? What do you think? You fraud! How dare you impersonate the princess!" "Hey, if she hadn''t performed on behalf of your princess, do you think she would still be alive right now?" Qi Wan chuckled. "Don''t tell me you didn''t know that someone was trying to hurt her." The musician flinched, then she lowered her head. But she looked up again with fire in her eyes. "But the princess loves Emperor Ye! Nothing would change that, she would gladly trade this opportunity to dance for His Majesty with her life!" "Woah, what''s the point in trading your life away?" Gu Qingyu stepped up before Qi Wan could protest. "If I hadn''t gone in her stead, your princess might not even have been able to finish the dance!" The musician choked, then stomped. "But...but what does that have to do with you anyway! To latch onto Emperor Ye while pretending to be the princess, do you not feel ashamed?" "Latch onto?" Gu Qingyu retorted with a hmph. "And just how did you come to that conclusion? Did you see that with your left eye or your right eye?" The musician was shocked into silence. Yes, when she finally arrived at the hall, it looked like it had been Emperor Ye who pulled her into his arms. "If that''s all you have to say, we''ll get going first." Gu Qingyu turned around. "But I suggest you two better give up on Emperor Ye, he already has someone in his heart." The musician sneered. "That person is not you either. Emperor Ye is only curious about you. The moment that curiosity fades, that would be the end of you." "Really? Then we''ll wait and see. If you have any more plans about Emperor Ye, I don''t mind sending the both of you to the land below first. You two can wait for me there." Gu Qingyu whipped around with a frosty laugh. A chill ran down the musician''s spine. "Let''s go." Gu Qingyu pulled Qi Wan along and walked away. Her head was held high, but there was a wry smile on her face. Ye Jin, Ye Jin, I''ve even stooped down to using such despicable threats and cheap methods for you. Please just remember me soon. Qi Wan followed her silently. "What''s wrong?" She asked when she noticed his unusual silence. "Boss, is Ye Jin really that good of a person?" Qi Wan hesitated for a while before he finally asked. He knows that Gu Qingyu is cheerful and friendly, and that she would hate to make unnecessary enemies. She had the tendency to think of the best of people until she was proven very wrong. Not to mention, it was wrong of her to impersonate the princess and steal her performance. But for Ye Jin, she would even use the methods that she despised and looked down on the most. Was he really that good of a person for her to cast aside her own moral beliefs for? "Of course he is, you''re just not there to see it." She exhaled softly. "I''ll help him bring back his memories. There''s no way he forgot about me completely." Right when Gu Qingyu finished talking, they had reached the hall. They arrived just in time to see Ye Jin step out from the building. He raised his brows when he saw her, then he turned and looked forward. "Let''s go." Gu Qingyu knew that he was talking to her and fell into pace behind him. "Boss," Qi Wan whispered. "I''ll always be with you." "Yeah." Gu Qingyu gave him a relieved smile. "My daughter." The emperor of Xiqian had also walked out of the main hall. The monarch stood in front of her. "Be good to Emperor Ye. Whatever you do, do not upset him." "Oh." Her half-hearted answer caused the monarch to frown in irritation. "I did not raise you to answer-" "You might want to check the princess'' palace. She should be there." Gu Qingyu said flatly, and then without even glancing at the emperor of Xiqian, she walked away and followed Ye Jin. After all, that man tried to send Qi Wan to the dungeons. Gu Qingyu followed Ye Jin and under his indication, sat in the same palanquin with him. Chapter 155: A Proposal Chapter 155: A Proposal Translated by: iris.knight "Xiao Yu''er, do you like it?" Ye Jin asked softly. Gu Qingyu nodded after a pause. "Yep, I like it!" She liked anything that was from Ye Jin. "It''s all yours." Ye Jin smiled, took her hand and led her into the palace. His hand was big enough to cover her hand completely, the warmth made her feel settled and safe. She wouldn''t mind if the sky was falling, because he was with her. Ye Jin opened the gates to the main hall, the wind rushed through the giant doors. Gu Qingyu walked in, but Ye Jin stopped just outside with his head hung low. "I''m sorry, Xiao Yu''er, for keeping this from you." "It''s okay." She whispered as her hand reached up to caress his cheek. "It''s okay, it doesn''t matter anymore." Her dearest person was right in front of her, nothing else mattered. "Yeah." He joined her in the main hall, and clasped his hands around her hand. "Stay, Xiao Yu''er. Stay here with me, forever." She flinched, then shook her head. "You have to find the Spirit Gems, right?" She nodded in silence. Ye Jin sighed, lowered his hand, and flicked her forehead. "Fine, do you have any leads?" "Yeah...It''s Yan Yang City, at the edge of Xiqian." Murong Zuoyu was still waiting for them there. "Yan Yang City? That''s a ghost town." "Ghost town? But Brother Murong is still there." Ye Jin nodded. "I heard that the city has been abandoned for quite some time, though nothing would happen anytime soon. Although, if the emperor of Xiqian does not send in troops soon, things might take a turn for the worst." "Then... can you send some troops instead?" He ruffled her hair affectionately and a loud chuckle escaped his lips. "Of course! Anything for you. It would just take some time for them to move there." "Thank you." Gu Qingyu was relieved to hear that, then her thoughts drifted to Qi Wan. He said he would be with her, but where was he? She had been attacked in the valley, was he in some sort of danger as well? "What''s the matter? You''re gonna get wrinkles if you keep frowning like that." Ye Jin gently pulled her to the side and sat her down. The chair was more akin to a large sofa, it was so soft that she almost sank into it. The softness was relaxing and a little sleep-inducing. "No, it''s just..." Gu Qingyu hesitated. Ye Jin would probably be upset, but she had to ask, "Xiao Zhezhe, can you sense if Qi Wan was in the area?" "Oh." To her surprise, he did not get upset. Instead, he sat next to her, pulled her into his lap, and closed his eyes in concentration. After a while, he opened his eyes and shook his head confidently. "Nope." Her entire body grew tense at that discovery. Sensing her change, Ye Jin tightened his arms around her. Her question did leave a sour taste in his mouth, but he reassured her. "Don''t worry, I''ll send out a search party. We''ll find him soon." "Yeah, thank you." She relaxed in his arms. "You don''t have to thank me. He has helped me take care of you for so long, it''s only right that I do something." He explained. "Hmm..." Gu Qingyu looked out the window, the sun was setting. The sofa was really comfortable and her eyelids were getting heavier by the second. "Just sleep. Don''t worry, everything would be okay." Ye Jin patted her on the back softly. "Okay..." She stifled a yawn and closed her eyes. Her dream was dark and cold. The empty expanse stretched for as far as her eyes could see. The past she has experienced only spoke of destruction, a barren wasteland. Who would live to tell the tale? Countless betrayals morphed into everlasting friendships. They would be with her till the end, right? Gu Qingyu slowly opened her eyes, her legs were still asleep. She squirmed at the discomfort, then realised she was still sitting on Ye Jin''s lap. He had sensed her jostle and opened his eyes. "Xiao Yu''er?" "Yeah." She answered. It had gone completely dark outside, she could no longer tell the time. "Let''s go get something to eat, if you''re completely awake." He petted her head affectionately. "Okay." She agreed and shifted to stand. But her legs gave out the moment they made contact with the floor, they were still covered in pins and needles, and she fell backwards. Ye Jin got up in an instant and caught her with a smirk. "Are you so happy to be with me that you forgot how to walk?" "Don''t be silly." She rolled her eyes. "My legs fell asleep, that''s all." "Hahaha, you''re so cute, my Xiao Yu''er." He laughed, his chest rumbling with the sound. He picked her up and carried her in his arms. "Here, I''ll bring you to the dining room." He opened the door with a kick, then walked down a corridor. Along the way, any servant that saw them dropped to their knees and greeted them. "Your Majesty! Your Highness!" Ye Jin must have told them to address her as such... A pink flush crept up her face and left her cheeks burning from embarrassment, she turned and buried her face in his chest. Wait, speaking of... "Xiao Zhezhe, are you an emperor? Is this an actual country?" She blinked and looked at Ye Jin with confusion. Ye Jin tilted down and spoke right next to her ears, his blue eyes warmed by the glowing lanterns that lit the palace. "A country, or the world. Anything you want it to be, all of this belongs to you either way." Gu Qingyu''s face reddened again. "I, I didn''t mean that..." "Haha, I know." Ye Jin laughed loudly again,he was clearly having fun teasing her. The maidservants and soldiers were all gobsmacked. They had never seen their emperor this cheery before. Whoever the new empress was, she must be incredible. They had better get in her good graces soon. Gu Qingyu, who was oblivious to their plans, glared at Ye Jin. "Hey, stop laughing!" "Hahaha, okay, I''ll stop." It took him a while to calm down, but a mischievous twinkle remained in his eyes. "You''re really cute, Xiao Yu''er." "Hmph!" She turned away with a pout. Gu Qingyu took in a sharp breath when they finally arrived at the "dining room". The decorations were very extravagant as well. "What''s the matter, Xiao Yu''er?" Ye Jin set her down in a chair, then took a seat next to her. He clapped twice, the servants immediately began to serve plate after plate of delicacy. "Nothing..." Her eyes sparkled as her mouth began to water. Ye Jin couldn''t help but laugh again at the sight of her gluttonous face. "Go ahead, dig in!" She grabbed her chopsticks without a moment''s delay and just like he said, dug in. He poured a bowl of soup for her as she practically inhaled her food. "Slow down, remember to chew. Say, do you want to get married? I can have everything ready the day after tomorrow." He said that so casually, it had nearly missed her. And when she finally processed it, she choked on her food and entered a coughing fit. Ye Jin immediately gave her a spoonful of soup, then patted her back gently. "See, I told you. Slow down." "What did you just say? Get married?" Her eyes were as wide as saucers. "Yeah," Ye Jin smiled calmly. "Why, do you not want to marry me?" "No, no, no!" She shook her head immediately. "I would, maybe, one day perhaps like to get married. Preferably with you. But now? It''s just-don''t you think it''s too soon?" She was so shocked that she almost choked to death. "No, the day after tomorrow. There''s still a day to get used to it." He ruffled her hair while grinning from ear to ear. "Beside, we''ve been together for so long. Are you not used to me yet?" "No, it''s not..." Gu Qing said hurriedly, "It''s just...it''s just a little sudden...I don''t...nothing..." "That''s good." Ye Jin smiled and put down the bowl of soup in his hands. "Eat, or they''re gonna go cold soon." "Y-yeah." She picked up her chopsticks again and tried to ignore her burning face. Marriage. That had always felt really far away. She had never thought about it, neither in her old life or in this new life. For a period of time, she was even convinced that she was gonna grow old and die alone. And now that she had found someone she really loves, it did make sense. She had the impression that when women get married, they also get older really quickly, and suddenly become really domestic. Was that just a stereotype? But based on her understanding of married life, it was doing chores all day, cooking near mealtimes, then fetching the kids when school ends, and chatting with the neighbours whenever they meet, comparing their kids'' results. Rinse and repeat that for 40 to 60 years, until she dies. The thought of living like that made her sigh. "Pfft!" Ye Jin''s laugh snapped her out of her rollercoaster of thoughts. He flicked her forehead again. "What are you thinking? It''s just getting married. I just want the world to know that you''re my wife, that''s all." Wife. Oh, so he just wanted to scream to the world, "That''s my wife!" The thought warmed her heart. She would not be his concubine, or his queen, just his wife. It was a simple, plain title, but it felt the closest to his heart. "Yeah!" Gu Qingyu smiled and nodded, "I see." "Xiao Yu''er, I will give you a wedding the likes the world has never seen." Ye Jin vowed. "I''ll wait and see." Her eyes were distant because she was looking at their future together. You will stay with me forever, right? Fate will never be able to separate two people who truly love each other. Because both of them would work towards their happiness together, not even fate can stand in their way. He''s trying his best to protect their hard-earned happiness, she needed to play her part as well. She had been working towards her goal to stand beside him, someday. That day was sooner than she expected but she was almost there. Almost, she can almost feel those words on her tongue. "I''ve finally caught up to you. You''re really strong, but I''m just as strong as you." Chapter 154: Remembrance Chapter 154: Remembrance Translated by: iris.knight "Why are you staring at me like that?" He eyed her lazily as he rested his head on his propped arm. "You...really don''t remember me?" She asked carefully. "Are you sure? I''m Gu Qingyu." To her surprise, Ye Jin did not lose his temper. He pondered for a long while, then replied, "It''s vague, but it does ring a bell. Who are you exactly?" "I''m..." Her eyes were too wet all of a sudden. "I''m your friend." He stared at her with those piercing blue eyes. "Then why don''t I remember you?" "Technically, you forgot about me." Crushing loneliness hit her when she said that out loud. Her master Yan Zun, who was always by her side, had forgotten her. Xian Di had also returned to his younger self. Xia Zang too, although he was quite a gentleman in his younger days. Even Ye Jin had become a stranger. If Qi Wan had not been with her, she would have been completely lost and alone in yet another strange, unfamiliar world. "Forgot? Perhaps I did forget." Something flickered in the young emperor''s eyes, but it quickly faded without a trace. A loud shout interrupted their conversation, "We''ve been attacked!" The smashing and clang of metal soon followed. "Xiao Zhezhe!" Gu Qingyu immediately grabbed his hand as the Soul Chain appeared from thin air and surrounded them, waiting to strike. "Are you trying to protect me?" A smile tugged at the corner of Ye Jin''s mouth, then he got up, opened the curtain, and stepped out of the palanquin. "Don''t worry, wait here. I at least have enough power to protect my people." Gu Qingyu stared at his back in a daze, and released the Soul Chain in her distraction until the curtain was lowered. Ye Jin...No, how can I let you face danger all on your own! I wanted to get stronger because of you. I have trained and worked this whole time to be able to keep up with you. I want to stand and fight beside you, and not drag you down or hide behind you. You are very powerful, ridiculously powerful. But someday, I want to stand at the top of this world with you. I want to be worthy to stand with you. Gu Qingyu no longer hesitated and stepped out of the palanquin, only to be greeted by horror. They were completely surrounded and greatly outnumbered. There were only four other soldiers with her, protecting the palanquin. They had been attacked in a valley by a whole army. The four soldiers were all strong warriors chosen by Ye Jin himself, each of them capable of taking down a battalion on their own. But the terrain and the sheer number of enemies had placed them at a great disadvantage. On the other hand, Ye Jin was fighting on his own, surrounded and separated from the group. Corpses piled around him as he slashed through his foes with a ferocity that rivaled a demon king. She decided on her course of action. The Soul Chain appeared once again, zipped through the battlefield, and pierced through the enemy behind Ye Jin. He turned around slightly and saw her. "Why did you come out? I told you to wait for me inside." "I want to fight with you." She carried her voice calmly and clearly, a quiet declaration of her resolve. "Please, trust in my skills." The Soul Chain danced through the army as she spoke, but not the slightest fear coloured her face as the purple chain skewered her foes. Death herself had appeared for a time of harvest. "Skills?" He smirked. "Very well, show me what you can do." Gu Qingyu leaped up and jumped out of the protection circle, the chains spun rapidly around her as she took down waves of enemies. The four soldiers took notice and spread out accordingly, focusing their attention on taking down the enemies. Gu Qingyu stole glances at Ye Jin as she fought. "Concentrate. You said you wanted to fight." He said nonchalantly. She flushed and turned away immediately. Piles of bodies had stacked around her. They were not difficult to defeat, but it looked like the enemy was trying to tire them out. Wave after wave kept pouring through the valley. Suddenly, one of them broke through her defenses and rushed straight towards her. In her distraction, the soldier closed in on her. But he fell to the ground right before he could deliver the killing blow. A single leaf was stuck in the soldier''s neck. Warmth burst in her chest. She looked towards Ye Jin, only to see him lowering his sword. "Ye Jin!" She was still held up by one of the soldiers as she blocked his swing with her chains. The blade was a little too close to her arm. But Ye Jin had stopped, he was neither attacking nor defending. Her body moved before she could think as she sprinted towards him. In an instant, the soldier''s sword sliced into her arm and left a huge gash. Blood splattered and spilled on the ground as pain ripped through her senses. She shoved that to the back of her brain and rushed to Ye Jin''s side. Chains encircled them and encased them in a tight ball. "Ye Jin? Are you okay? What happened?" Gu Qingyu looked at Ye Jin anxiously and gently shook him. Ye Jin stared at her with glassy eyes, blood was pouring from her arm. Light slowly returned to those blue orbs and he pulled her into a tight embrace. "Xiao Yu''er!" Tears burst forth as Gu Qingyu felt his arms wrap around her, but it left her at a loss. Ye Jin scanned the enemies surrounding them and with a large swing of his sword, felled another wave of them. His sudden burst of power scared some of the enemy soldiers. Gu Qingyu lay quietly in his arms, lest she would distract or disturb him. His familiar smell dulled the sharp taste of iron in her nostrils. Gu Qingyu''s chains surround them, as if to bind the lovers together, never to separate again. The leader of the enemy army noticed the change and yelled that instant, "Retreat!" And he fell to the ground as soon as that word left his lungs. A man, clad in armour, stood behind him. More armoured men arrived, the flame emblem of Ye was etched clearly on their armour. Gu Qingyu shrank into Ye Jin''s arms. The strong smell of blood was too much for her after all, the stench made her stomach lurch. If she had eaten, she would have emptied her guts by now. "Clean up this mess, leave none alive." Ye Jin commanded. "Yes!" His troops answered in unison. "Xiao Yu''er, let''s go." Ye Jin tightened his grip and together, they flew further into the valley. She was buried in his arms, the wind rushed and howled in her ears, while Ye Jin flew and brought them away from the blood-drenched battlefield. It felt like freedom, as if a ray of sunlight shot through the overcast, gloomy clouds in her heart. Ye Jin landed after a while, but his arms was still wrapped around her. The only sound between them was the steady heartbeat that pounded against their ribs. The wind passed through the woods without any sound. Tiny, soft green leaves were sprouting from the branches. Spring was finally here. Ye Jin finally broke the long silence with his usual, magnetic voice. "I missed you, Xiao Yu''er." "Yes, me too." She pressed her forehead against his. "Xiao Zhezhe, I thought...I thought I would never see you like this." I thought you would never remember me, no matter how hard I tried or what methods I used. "No, no." His hands moved to cup her face. "I would never forget you." During the battle, he lowered his sword because he was struggling against his memories. He could not keep her waiting, he had to return to her side. He needed to wake up. And he did, when he saw her, battered and torn yet fighting to protect him. The sight of that crimson splatter brought him back. The sight of her bleeding arm brought him back. Speaking of, her arm was still bleeding. His hand slipped from her face and moved to hold her injured arm. "Ah." Somehow, she finally noticed that her arm was still injured. "Idiot, why did you rush over?" He held her hand and lifted the fabric of her sleeve gingerly. The grisly gash ran across the entire length of her arm. "Uh..." She stared at her arm, at a loss for words. Her getting injured seemed to be the ongoing trend. "Xiao Yu''er..." Regret and self-blame coated Ye Jin''s voice. His fingertips gently brushed against the edge of the gash, blue specks of light began to hover and dance across the wound. It was slowly healing. Gu Qingyu clasped her other hand over his healing hand. "I''m fine, it''s less painful than it looks." "It''s my fault..." He pressed her into his arms again as he solemnly swore. "From this moment on, Xiao Yu''er, I would never let anyone hurt you again! I swear, on the name of Ye!" Gu Qingyu blinked, and blinked again. Then, she smiled. "Okay." I believe you, because you are Ye Jin. "Let''s go, Xiao Yu''er. Let''s go home." He picked her up again as a pair of black wings spread from his back, matching his black robes. His devilish charm had diminished a little, replaced by a king''s maturity. Gu Qingyu wrapped her arms around his neck and stared at him. She did not care where they were going, because her love has come back to her. And she would follow him, even to the ends of the earth. He remembered her, he finally remembered her. She just wanted to savour that moment and bask in his warmth, as time went by. Till they would reach the time where they had first met. Even then, they would still hold onto each other. This must be what true happiness feels like. "Xiao Yu''er, we''re here." Ye Jin landed outside a pair of castle gates. The guardsmen had already opened the gates when they spotted Ye JIn from the distance. People filed out and greeted him. "We welcome your return, Emperor Ye!" "Yes, I have returned with your empress." He informed plainly and entered the castle. Gu Qingyu''s cheeks were burning as she covered her face with her hands, her eyes glaring at him from between her fingers. The people were pleasantly surprised, and they answered, "We welcome your return, Emperor Ye, Empress Ye!" "Alright, rise." Ye Jin brought her to the central palace, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Chapter 156: A Breakfast Affair Chapter 156: A Breakfast Affair Translated by: iris.knight "By the way... Ye Jin, do you like that colour?" She had been meaning to ask him about the robes that he was wearing. Black, hemmed with gold thread, it was a huge departure from what he used to wear. "I suppose it is. Why did you ask?" "Nothing much. Then why did you change to wearing blue?" "Heroes don''t wear black. And I don''t think you like the colour black." "How...did you know?" "I guessed." "Can you even guess that?" Her jaw dropped. "Wait, going back a bit. You live here, you''re alive as yourself in this time. You''re also alive as yourself when I first met you. So, you''re really really old, like thousands of years old, right?" "Ah, that''s about there. Don''t judge me, you''re practically immortal too." He teased. "Good point. Hey, can there be two White Tigers at the same time? Wouldn''t having two of the same Divine Beasts around cause a catastrophe?" She asked again. "Of course there''s only one Divine Beast, Xiao Yu''er." Ye Jin explained patiently. "That leaves two possibilities. It could be that the two of you each hold half of the White Tiger''s strength, and it would show its true power when you two combine your powers. Or that only one of you is the real White Tiger." "The real White Tiger. So one of us, either I or Rain could be a fake." She thought aloud. Ye Jin nodded. "But both of us can transform into a Tiger Beast. That doesn''t make sense." Ye Jin raised his eyebrows. "Hm, it may not be the White Tiger''s strength. Have you seen her turn into the White Tiger, like you have?" Gu Qingyu went silent. She had seen Rain turned into a tiny tiger and a humanoid tiger beast. But she herself cannot turn into the latter form. And, from her own experience, the tiny tiger form was caused by exhaustion. How could she transform between that at will? "So don''t worry, Xiao Yu''er. Honestly, so what if you might be the fake one? I''m still here." "Well...but I''m the reincarnation of the White Tiger. That would make me Rain''s reincarnation. If one of us is a fake, then..." She was still trying to wrap her head around the mystery. "You silly billy." Ye Jin chided as he pulled her into his arms. "Alright, we can talk more tomorrow, you need to sleep already." "Fine." Gu Qingyu pouted slightly and did not protest any further. She was still quite worried about Qi Wan, where on earth would he be? And Brother Murong too, he should be fine, right? Ye Jin carried her with steady steps as he strolled in the moonlit night. And she drifted off again to the reassuring sound of his heartbeat. Ye Jin walked back to the main hall, then pushed open another door without a sound. It led to a large bedroom. A large, soft bed was in the center of the room. Ye Jin gently placed her on the bed and tucked her in quietly before stepping out again. In the main hall, a soldier spoke with a hushed voice, "Your majesty, our troops are ready. We can attack Xiqian whenever you wish." "Good." Ye Jin stared at the darkness outside as the faint candlelight in the room danced in his eyes. "We will strike Xiqian at its heart, bypassing Yan Yang City." The soldier raised his head in disbelief. "But, your majesty, we would lose more than half of our troops if we don''t attack from Yan Yang City!" "You dare question me?" Ye Jin glared at the soldier with narrowed eyes. "Of course not!" The soldier lowered his head immediately. Beads of perspiration formed on his forehead despite the cool night. Ye Jin thought for a while, then said, "Oh, find the man that was following the empress. Alert me the moment you find out where he is." "Yes, your majesty!" The soldier answered with eyes glued to the floor. "Okay, that''s all." Ye Jin dismissed the soldier with a wave and returned to the bedroom, closing the door behind him. Once the coast was clear, the soldier breathed a sigh of relief. Ye Jin returned to the bedroom. A smile coloured his lips when he saw that Gu Qingyu was fast asleep. He quietly slipped under the covers and settled next to her. Xiao Yu''er, I will protect you. The Next Morning Gu Qingyu opened her eyes slowly and glanced outside the window. The sun had just risen. She turned to her side, Ye Jin was next to her. His eyes were closed as his chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. One of his arms rested over her shoulders and reached her back, as if he was shielding her in his sleep. She never knew that waking up next to the person she wanted to see the most could fill her with so much joy. What a hard-won but simple happiness. Gu Qingyu felt her eyes water, but she did not move, afraid that she might wake him up instead. She would toss and turn in her sleep, while Ye Jin was a super light sleeper. He must not have slept well. All of a sudden, Ye Jin said with a whisper, "My dear, is your husband that good looking?" Gu Qingyu gasped in response, she didn''t think that Ye Jin would be awake. Her face turned beet red and she covered her face that instant. Ye Jin laughed and pressed her against his chest. "Good morning, Xiao Yu''er." "G-good morning." She replied with a slight stutter as her heart pounded against her ribs. "You didn''t really toss and turn last night." He rubbed her head. "Still sleepy?" Gu Qingyu shook her head. "No, I''m gonna get up now." "Okay~" Ye Jin yawned lazily, then sat up, the blanket slipped down to his hips as he did so. The neckline of his white inner robe was slightly open, revealing his chiseled muscles. "Xiao Yu''er ," He reminded her as she stared at him in a daze. "You''re drooling." Gu Qingyu wiped her chin without thinking, there wasn''t anything there. She sat up and shot a glare at him. "Hey! Gosh, all you do is tease me!" "Pfft! Okay, okay. You''re the only person I want to tease anyway." He replied. She hopped off the bed with a huff, smoothed out the wrinkles in her dress and left the bedroom. Ye Jin slipped into his black robe in a hurry and chased after her with a thick white robe in hand. "Wait for me! Slow down, and it''s cold outside. You''re gonna get sick at this rate!" They passed by a maidservant, who watched them with a slack jaw. That was the emperor chasing after the new empress, right? Oh dear, she should not have seen that. No, she did not see anything at all. Gu Qingyu took the thick white robe and draped it across her shoulders before glancing at Ye Jin. "Lead the way." "Yes, my dear!" Ye Jin looked at her with smiling eyes as he walked ahead and led the way. The palace staff dropped to their knees as Ye Jin and Gu Qingyu walked by. "Your majesty! Your highness!" "Yes, all of you may rise." There was a cheery lift in his tone. The palace staff panicked as they noticed their monarch''s strangely good mood. The new empress was making a very significant difference very quickly. "Oh, you''re quite nice to your staff. I couldn''t tell." Gu Qingyu commented as she rubbed her chin. Ye Jin smiled. "Yes, I''m very kind." If only the empress could hear their thoughts. The emperor can be very far from kind. When he loses his temper, he would kill without batting an eye. "Right?" Ye Jin turned to them. They immediately agreed. "Yes, the emperor is really kind!" "He really takes care of us!" "Serving his majesty has been the best decision in my life!" "Ah, the weather is really nice today!" Ye Jin nodded with satisfaction, and then looked at Gu Qingyu. "See, the people have spoken." She nodded. "Hm, indeed. These days, monarchs like you that even care for the servants are really few and far between!" "All the more reason for you to cherish me, Xiao Yu''er." He grinned. "Yeah, good point!" The palace staff stared at her with imploring eyes. Forgive us, your highness! We cannot go against such great power! But it would not be for long for them to realise who was the actual great power. The couple arrived in the dining room. Gu Qingyu felt her mouth water the moment she saw the breakfast spread of classic dishes and porridge. There were even her favorite pickled radishes, with thinly sliced meat. "Dig in, I knew you would be hungry by now." He pulled open a chair for her. Gu Qingyu sat down and picked up her cutleries. "Then I won''t hold back~" "I never asked you to. Eat." He sat down next to her. Breakfast passed quickly. Gu Qingyu patted her food baby with a burp. "That was delicious!" "Of course, I''m a good cook." He watched her clear the table with a smile, he himself did not eat much. "Huh? You prepared all of that? When?" "I finished everything about half an hour before you woke up. Just enough time to let them cool to the optimal eating temperature." He reached for the teapot and poured a cup. "Tea?" Gu Qingyu shook her head. "Thank you, you must not have slept, right?" It would be impossible to make her get up in the morning to make breakfast, but he never even asked her to do that for him. Instead, he has made breakfast for her. He even cooked himself, even though he could have just delegated that to the palace cooks. In these ancient times, no men would bother to cook for their wife or their family because of how it would make them look weak. There must be even more pressure on Ye Jin, no thanks to his reputation as a cold, proud emperor. But he did not care about that, at all. "As long as you''re happy." He pinched her cheeks. "We can go once you''re done. There''s a place I want to show you." "A place? Where?" It has been so long since she had the time to do some sightseeing.