When the others saw that Chen Qingling could not be persuaded, they stopped talking. They could only sigh helplessly, thinking she was still too naive.
But after waiting and waiting, Ye Bufan never appeared, and Chen Qingling grew anxious. In the end, she couldn’t sit still any longer and decided to go to his residence to check.
Soon, she arrived at Ye Bufan’s outer sect quarters. Before she even reached the place, she saw two figures walk inside. Thinking Ye Bufan had returned, she hurried forward. As she reached the gate, she called out, “Senior Brother Ye! Senior Brother Ye!”
To her surprise, two unfamiliar figures walked out of the courtyard. Judging by their attire, they were outer sect servant disciples. Seeing her calling at the gate, they politely greeted her. “Senior Sister, Senior Brother Ye has already taken residence in the inner sect. He most likely won’t return here. Otherwise, the inner sect wouldn’t have told us at the outer sect registry to reassign this place.”
Chen Qingling froze in shock. What? Ye Bufan had already moved into the inner sect and wasn’t coming back? Did that mean he truly abandoned her? Yet just last night, he had sworn he would protect her!
In an instant, her heart shattered. Her friends’ words echoed in her mind—”Qingling, don’t be foolish. Men are all the same. They say sweet words only to trick you into bed.”
She let out a bitter laugh at herself. She had trusted Ye Bufan so much, only to discover he was no different from other despicable men. Fortunately, she had held her bottom line last night. Otherwise, not only would she have been deceived of her body, but she would also be unable to protect herself now.
Now, she was in utter despair. With her own strength, she stood no chance against Zhao Tiande. As for finding other ways, it was already too late.
Just as she turned around, two men appeared at her sides. They sneered, “Junior Sister Chen, Senior Brother Zhao Tiande has summoned you. Come with us!”
Her face went pale. Though unwilling, she could only nod bitterly. Ye Bufan hadn’t just deceived her, he had also made her miss the chance of seeking someone else’s protection.
…
Elsewhere, Gu Yun had just awoken from his sleep. Stretching lazily and preparing to dress, he heard Han Ying’s report from outside. “Young Master, Zhao Tiande came to report that he has a gift for you. He said you’ll definitely like it. He asks when you’d like to meet him.” Enjoying the story? Read on at NovelPing.
Gu Yun was momentarily stunned. Zhao Tiande? At once, an image of a lewd, fat man appeared in his mind. In the original plotline, Zhao Tiande was Gu Yun’s number one lackey. If Gu Yun told him to go east, he would never go west. If Gu Yun wanted something, even if Zhao Tiande couldn’t get it, he would scour for information. Though fawning, he had always been loyal in the novel.
“What trouble has that fool stirred up this time?” Gu Yun chuckled. He had to admit, having a few lackeys wasn’t bad. At first, he disliked such people, but who could resist someone who always flattered at the right time and found ways to please you? Over time, even Gu Yun found Zhao Tiande tolerable.
But then a thought struck him, and he suddenly leapt to his feet in anger. “Damn it! Don’t tell me Zhao Tiande’s so-called gift is that girl Chen Qingling?”
In the original story, Qingling was a girl Ye Bufan met in the outer sect, one of the female leads. With her beauty and elegance, she attracted Zhao Tiande’s attention before even entering the inner sect. What followed was predictable—Zhao Tiande harassed her, Ye Bufan appeared as the hero to save her, winning her heart and making a name for himself in the Primordial Holy Land. As for Zhao Tiande, after being humiliated, he shouted that he acted under the Holy Son’s orders, thus ruining Gu Yun’s reputation and officially making Ye Bufan his enemy.
That marked the beginning of the main plotline, where Gu Yun, the villain, suffered endless humiliation.
The more Gu Yun thought about it, the more uneasy he became. Damn it! Zhao Tiande, making trouble was one thing, but dragging my name into it and leaving me to clean up the mess?
Still, it was possible Zhao Tiande really wanted to offer a beauty to please him, using Gu Yun’s name logically. Gu Yun couldn’t decide whether to call him considerate or a fool. But one thing was clear—this must not happen. Provoking Ye Bufan was trivial, but tarnishing his Holy Son’s reputation was disastrous.
Gu Yun snorted coldly. “Where’s that bastard Zhao Tiande? I want to see him now!” Then, worrying Zhao Tiande didn’t grasp the seriousness, he changed his mind. “Forget it, I’ll find him myself.”
Besides stopping Zhao Tiande, Gu Yun also wanted to meet Chen Qingling. After all, she was a female lead in the original plotline. If she could be bound by the system, wouldn’t that give him another source of rewards?
Half an hour later, a carriage pulled by a three-headed flood dragon appeared in the skies above the outer sect, attracting many astonished gazes.
“You don’t know? That’s the Primordial Holy Land’s Holy Son, Gu Yun!”
As Gu Yun arrived, Zhao Tiande came rushing out with his lackeys to greet him. Smiling broadly, his fat body jiggling as he jogged, he looked almost comical. Yet before others, he was known as a ruthless figure.
“Holy Son, why did you come personally? Such a small matter, I could’ve handled perfectly for you!” He thought Gu Yun was eager to see the beauty he had found.
Gu Yun didn’t waste words. His tone was cold. “Handled, my ass. Where is she?”
Zhao Tiande was quick to read faces, and he noticed at once Gu Yun’s displeasure. Though uncertain, he cautiously said, “You mean Miss Chen Qingling? She’s inside. Don’t worry, I treated her with respect and didn’t let her suffer.”
Countless possibilities flashed in Zhao Tiande’s mind. Could Gu Yun know Chen Qingling? Were they old acquaintances? Or did she have some hidden identity? While guessing, he hurried to lead Gu Yun inside.
In the guest hall, Chen Qingling sat with a deathly pale face, guarded on both sides. She already knew Zhao Tiande had forced her here only to present her to Gu Yun. If Gu Yun truly desired her, she, a backgroundless disciple, would have no power to resist. She would become nothing but a toy in his hands, her life filled with misery. Despair even pushed her to thoughts of ending her life.
Just then, a figure strode quickly inside. Instinctively, she raised her head, and a handsome, refined face entered her sight. She froze. Who… who is he?
Then she noticed how Zhao Tiande bowed and fawned with extreme respect before this man. She instantly guessed his identity. The Primordial Holy Land’s Holy Son—Gu Yun!
Before she could react, Gu Yun walked over with a guilty smile. “Miss, are you alright? My subordinate acted recklessly and offended you. I ask your forgiveness. But rest assured, we have no ill intentions. You are absolutely safe here, and you may leave at any time.”
Chen Qingling was stunned. Just moments ago, she had felt like a drowning woman about to die. Yet suddenly, someone had reached out, pulling her safely to shore. And not just anyone—a strikingly handsome man.
She gazed at Gu Yun’s smile, dazed. That smile seemed to captivate her very soul.