The gazes of everyone present turned toward the seats in unison, only to find that Gu Qingyun, who had been there fanning himself, was gone!
Wu Hengmu and Su Hanshan were both startled, exchanging glances. Then, Wu Hengmu slammed his armrest heavily, “Nonsense! Both master and disciple are behaving recklessly!”
Xuanyuan Gu, sitting to the side, had a mysterious and unfathomable expression. He narrowed those scheming, foresightful eyes and looked toward Xuanyuan Xinbei below the platform. A plan began to take shape on that imperial face.
This trip was not in vain; he had actually witnessed such a lively scene.
The once highly esteemed Gu Qingyun was actually harboring such a disciple, and it seemed this disciple’s status in his heart far exceeded that of his consistent and capable first disciple, Yan Yi. Based on past patterns, one would have guessed that Gu Qingyun would choose the outstanding Yan Yi as his successor, but looking at the current situation, that might have to change.
What fell from Ye Qianjue’s waist just now was a Qiankun bag, a precious gift bestowed upon Gu Qingyun by the late Sect Leader of Qingshan before his passing.
Xuanyuan Gu looked toward the trial platform, where the Cangyuan Sword lay quietly on the ground. As far as he knew, this sword also had quite a history. Taken all together, the position of the Feixian Peak Master might very well be passed on to that foolish, oblivious disciple.
“It seems that Gu Immortal Venerable’s image is still somewhat different from the rumors.” Xuanyuan Gu sighed with ulterior motives.
Wu Hengmu’s face was gloomy. Looking at the chaotic trial platform, he thought his good Junior Brother had truly left him a huge surprise!
The people under the platform were already wide-eyed and confused, not knowing what to make of it.
Bai Xiuzhu looked envious and clicked his tongue several times: “I originally thought Master Gu just favored Ye Qianjue, but now it seems this is no simple favor! This is clearly intent on handing over the entirety of the Three Peaks to Ye Qianjue!”
Bai Xiuzhu gritted his teeth. In a few decades, am I going to have to respectfully call Ye Qianjue ‘Sect Leader’?!
Ye Qianjue, still under the influence of the charm technique, felt his whole body burning with heat, as if he were being licked by tongues of fire. His whole body felt numb and sticky. He blindly ran toward the Spirit-Cleansing Pool.
A breeze blew past everywhere he went.
Yeyuan happened to be wandering around the immortal peak, searching for the traces of the inner core, when he saw a blushing Ye Qianjue running hurriedly toward the distance.
“In such a hurry? What happened…” Yeyuan pondered for a moment and followed without hesitation.
He finally caught up with Ye Qianjue’s pace and entered the Spirit-Cleansing Pool. Seeing the surface shrouded in mist and hearing a huge splash, Yeyuan curiously poked his head out. He saw Ye Qianjue leaning against the shore in his cyan clothes, exposing his fair, fragrant shoulders to Yeyuan. His half-slumped clothes added a touch of seductiveness to Ye Qianjue.
Yeyuan’s blood boiled as he watched, his heart pounding. His eyes were glued to Ye Qianjue.
“Hey, you… what’s wrong?”
Yeyuan said as he took four steps, wanting to rush toward the ‘painful’-looking Ye Qianjue, when suddenly, he was lifted by the back of his neck. He looked up, “Gu Qingyun! Let go of me!”
Gu Qingyun frowned and tossed Yeyuan out of the Spirit-Cleansing Pool, then set up a barrier. He turned his eyes to look at Ye Qianjue, who was huddled in the water; his cold, frosty star-like eyes finally changed. He stepped slowly into the water and approached Ye Qianjue.
Gu Qingyun softly called Ye Qianjue’s name.
“Qianjue, come over and let Master see…”
Gu Qingyun vaguely guessed that Ye Qianjue had fallen for the Hehuan Sect’s trick, but he had to check for himself to know exactly how.
Ye Qianjue had little consciousness left. He vaguely felt the water rippling, then turned and saw the cold-looking Gu Qingyun.
“Master…”
Ye Qianjue’s voice was soft and hoarse; he looked delirious, his eyes pitiful.
“It’s Master… Master…”
Ye Qianjue reached out his hand, and Gu Qingyun grasped it. Their eyes met. Gu Qingyun saw Ye Qianjue’s passionate appearance and whispered: “Charm technique.”
“What is Master saying? Don’t say anything else, okay?”
Ye Qianjue felt he had gone crazy; clearly knowing the person in front of him was Gu Qingyun, he just wanted to be close—even closer. He cast his eyes on Gu Qingyun’s thin lips and suddenly leaned forward.
In a flash, Gu Qingyun’s eyes narrowed. Just before Ye Qianjue could kiss him, he struck him with a chopping hand to knock him unconscious.
The obedient disciple in his arms was as soft as water, his eyelashes trembling slightly, his red lips parting and closing incessantly. Gu Qingyun, who had always had excellent self-control, actually missed two heartbeats.
Wearing heavy, wet clothes, Gu Qingyun carried Ye Qianjue out of the pool and returned to the bamboo house.
Yeyuan had been waiting for a long time. Looking at the two of them in such a disheveled state, his stomach felt like it was churning—very uncomfortable. He couldn’t help but fantasize about the future: if his own body reached the end of its life, would he have to leave Ye Qianjue?
Actually, this kid is quite interesting…
“Master.” Yan Yi’s voice sounded from behind Yeyuan.
Yan Yi looked up and saw Gu Qingyun taking care of Ye Qianjue on the bed. Putting down the handkerchief in his hand, Gu Qingyun glanced sideways, “What is it?”
“Back to Master, today’s competition will be re-held tomorrow. Master Wu asked the disciple to convey that no matter what, Master must be present tomorrow and cannot be absent.”
Before he could finish, Yan Yi looked toward the room with worry.
“How is the Little Junior Brother?”
“Struck by a charm technique, he is now fine.”
Yan Yi silently closed the bedroom door and left the bamboo house on tiptoe. Ten steps out, he ran into Bai Xiuzhu and Bai Fulan.
“Senior Brother Yan Yi, what happened to Ye Qianjue? We’re going to see him!”
Bai Xiuzhu said and started to enter the bamboo house, but was blocked by Yan Yi in time.
Yan Yi looked at the brightly lit bamboo house and sighed: “The Little Junior Brother was struck by the Hehuan Sect’s charm technique. Fortunately, Master has already resolved it, so don’t go disturb his rest. Let’s go, let’s go!”
Bai Xiuzhu shrugged in disappointment: “The Qiankun bag has already been ‘confiscated’ by my Master for the time being. I was just planning to see Ye Qianjue’s reaction~ Boring, let’s go!”
Yan Yi and Bai Fulan both smiled helplessly.
On the way, Xuanyuan Xinbei, who had been lingering for a long time, finally waited for the three of them. He stepped forward politely and asked: “How is Qianjue?”
“Qianjue?”
Bai Xiuzhu snorted and frowned: “That sounds quite intimate~”
Watching Bai Xiuzhu looking wary of Xuanyuan Xinbei for fear of offending the guest, Yan Yi told Xuanyuan Xinbei about Ye Qianjue’s situation.
Hearing that Ye Qianjue was all right, the hanging heart was finally put down.
Xuanyuan Xinbei let out a long sigh of relief: “It’s good that he’s fine.”
He looked concerned about Ye Qianjue, but it aroused the three people’s suspicions. Bai Fulan smiled gently and said: “It seems the Fourth Prince and the Little Junior Brother have a deep friendship?”
Xuanyuan Xinbei’s expression froze, and he said naturally: “I have quite a bit of fate with Qianjue, so I asked a few more questions. Is there anything that makes the three of you feel troubled?”
Yan Yi’s expression froze, then returned to normal: “Naturally not. Since this is the case, the Little Junior Brother is all right, so let everyone disperse here.” He looked seriously at the two Bai siblings: “You two also go back quickly, don’t let the Masters worry.”
The four of them said goodbye implicitly and left.
A bird call sounded, and Xuanyuan Xinbei stopped his steps and pondered: “Come out.”
Mo Yan jumped down from the darkness and knelt down steadily on one knee.
“Your Highness, the Emperor has something to entrust to you.”
Xuanyuan Xinbei’s expression froze, and then he walked heavily to meet him.
He saw Xuanyuan Gu standing alone in the bamboo forest, pacing with his hands behind his back, looking at the bright moon over Feixian Peak from time to time, lost in thought.
“Father.” Xuanyuan Xinbei bowed and saluted.
Xuanyuan Gu turned around with a smile on his face. Xuanyuan Xinbei was all too familiar with such a smile. The battlefield of the royal family is different from the real battlefield; the Emperor’s look, a mysterious smile, all hide deep meaning.
But seeing Xuanyuan Gu reveal such a smile made Xuanyuan Xinbei feel terrified.
Because he knew that his Father was about to start calculating again.
“You saw the situation today; Gu Qingyun actually gave that Qiankun bag and precious magical treasures to that kid all at once. What are your thoughts on this?”
Xuanyuan Gu looked at Xuanyuan Xinbei with a smile that did not reach his eyes.
Xuanyuan Xinbei pretended to be somewhat confused: “Ye Qianjue? This person has no great ambition, but his personality is cheerful”
“No, I am not asking you for your opinion on Ye Qianjue, but Gu Qingyun.”
“Gu… Immortal Venerable Gu?”
Xuanyuan Gu took a long sigh, walked slowly to Xuanyuan Xinbei, and patted Xuanyuan Xinbei’s arm with a face of deep fatherly love, as if he were entrusting him with a heavy responsibility.
“My Son, you are my favorite prince. Although you are not the direct heir, I have always had expectations for you.” He retracted his hand, and his eyes became sharp. “If your origin is not as good as the other princes, you must strive later! Ye Qianjue is Gu Qingyun’s most favored disciple. Seeing today’s scene is enough to show that Gu Qingyun is very likely to let Ye Qianjue inherit his position.”
At this point, Xuanyuan Xinbei’s heart sank; so his Father’s purpose was here.
He looked at Xuanyuan Gu with dazed eyes, his voice heavy: “Does Father want This Prince to woo Ye Qianjue?”
“Yes and no. This wooing has too many variables. I want you to gain Ye Qianjue’s heart, make him willing to become your Dao companion, and turn him into a force for my Xuanyuan family!”
Xuanyuan Gu’s words lingered in his ears, making his eyes swim.
Xuanyuan Xinbei looked at his Father in disbelief, his heart full of complex feelings.
Let him win Ye Qianjue’s heart?
Xuanyuan Xinbei’s heart beat violently, trembling uncontrollably.
Why, upon hearing this, is there a trace of excitement?
Xuanyuan Xinbei secretly clenched his fists, his fingertips sinking into his palms, and blood stains filled the gaps in his nails.
“I know this is not easy to do, but for the prosperity of the human race, for the flourishing of the Xuanyuan family, you must do it!”
Xuanyuan Gu patted his shoulder again, as if having finished explaining the mission, and left leisurely.
No one knew that Xuanyuan Xinbei’s heart was like a stormy sea, surging continuously. His thoughts seemed to have been scattered by the waves, torn apart, and unable to think about problems completely anymore.
“Your Highness? Are you all right?”
Mo Yan, who was on the side, frowned, looking at the dazed Xuanyuan Xinbei with confusion. At a certain moment, Mo Yan felt that his master’s eyes revealed paranoia, as if he were plotting something. This made him feel a little panicked; for so many years, he had never seen such a Fourth Prince!
After a few reminders, Xuanyuan Xinbei regained his senses.
His eyes shone brightly in the dark night. He looked at Mo Yan, filled with uncontrollable excitement.
“Things seem to have become interesting, don’t they?”