"?"
A massive question mark slowly formed in Gu Chengming's mind.
The air froze in that instant.
To be honest, he had considered many possibilities.
Since it was a technique from the Hehuan Sect, perhaps it would manifest as a little succubus dressed in thin gauze with a lingering gaze, the kind that would shout "Master, I want a kiss" the moment they met?
Or perhaps a cold, ethereal fairy who secretly possessed charm bones and was a cloying sweetheart?
At the very least, it should have been a quirky demoness with a head full of lewd thoughts, right?
As a galgame master, Gu Chengming had even rehearsed seven or eight sets of response plans in his heart for these potential character archetypes.
And yet...
What did it mean by "how many heroines are there"? What was "all pure, all collected"?
As a galgame master, I really have to romance you now.
【Seeing that you remained silent for a long time, the 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》 became a bit nervous, muttering in its heart: "Oh no, why isn't he talking?"】
【It thought to itself, 'It's over, it's over. He couldn't be a protagonist of a dropped eunuch novel, could he? If so, wouldn't all my skills be completely wasted?'】
Gu Chengming really couldn't hold back anymore when he saw this. He asked, "Aren't you a technique from the Hehuan Sect... Logically speaking, it's hard for female cultivators of the Hehuan Sect to be virgins, right? In that case, why do you care so much about whether a female cultivator is pure?"
Gu Chengming tried to keep his wording as tactful as possible.
However, it would have been better if he hadn't mentioned it. The moment he said the words "Hehuan Sect female cultivators," the 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》 immediately became disgusted.
【Don't mention those tramps!】
【What does it have to do with me if that group from the Hehuan Sect practiced incorrectly? I am the 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》, the supreme manual that emphasizes the great joy of heaven and earth, yin and yang!】
【Their behavior of treating dual cultivation like eating and drinking, or even as a transaction, is simply a desecration of the Great Dao of Yin and Yang!】
Speaking of this, the Yin Yang Creation Strategy seemed to suddenly realize something and became pale with fright.
【Wait! You asked that just now...】
【You aren't thinking of dual cultivating with those women from the Hehuan Sect, are you?!】
Gu Chengming couldn't help but be stunned upon seeing this, but before he could explain...
The 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》 got anxious first, as if it were terrified that Gu Chengming would be defiled by those women from the Hehuan Sect.
【It hurriedly advised: You are born with a charm bone; don't do such foolish things! Do you know how many disadvantages there are to a non-virgin heroine?】
【First, those women have long had messy yang qi mixed within their bodies. If you dual cultivate with them, not only will you gain no benefits, but you'll also have to expend effort to help them comb through their meridians. It's simply a losing trade.】
【Second, every time you take a non-virgin, it's equivalent to taking over the long string of ex-boyfriends, ex-fiancés, and ex-dao companions behind her...】
【Third, think about it. When you dual cultivate with her, will she think of someone else? When you communicate deeply with her, will she compare you to others in her heart? Just thinking about such things makes one's dao heart unstable!】
【I would rather you have a single heroine—even if you only stay with one heroine for the rest of your life—than have you take those unclean, non-virgin heroines just for the sake of practice or collecting!】
【If we're going to do it, let's do a pure love harem! We resolutely will not board that kind of public bus! Okay? Consider it my plea to you!】
Before Gu Chengming could express his opinion...
The 《Zhou Rites Heavenly Rectifying Art》, which had been silent the whole time, suddenly stirred.
When this newcomer, the 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》, first appeared, Zhou Rites had held great vigilance and hostility toward it.
In its perception, techniques from the Hehuan Sect were nothing but lewd songs and erotic verses, the culprits behind the collapse of rites and music.
It had even secretly mobilized its noble spirit, prepared to immediately go up and give the newcomer a righteous elbow strike to teach it how to be a proper technique the moment it dared to utter a single shameless word.
And yet...
【The 《Zhou Rites Heavenly Rectifying Art》 thought to itself: Isn't this a Hehuan Sect technique? How is it even more conservative than me?】
【Although the other party's choice of words is unrefined, isn't its ideology essentially 'arising from emotion, stopping at ritual' and self-respect? Isn't this opposing debauchery and promoting fidelity?】
【Its attitude toward the 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》 gradually shifted from original loathing and vigilance to... a bit of appreciation, even regarding it as a kindred spirit.】
【It paused, nodded, and spoke with a hint of approval:】
【"The boundary between men and women lies in being cautious when alone. The Way of Hehuan should originally be the proper order of yin and yang, not indulgence and promiscuity. Although the Yin Yang Creation Strategy hails from a heterodox sect, its heart toward the Dao is rarely pure."】
【The 《Zhou Rites Heavenly Rectifying Art》 also advised: "Chengming, it is right. A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall, nor does he enter a turgid stream. Those female cultivators with improper conduct and chaotic private lives are indeed not good matches."】
Gu Chengming: "..."
Damn it, although I really want to curse you two as a pair of eccentrics, I actually think the same way. What can I do?
Life in the Jishan Neighborhood returned to tranquility, but Gu Chengming did not stop his cultivation.
The night was deep, and all was silent, save for the light sound of raindrops from the eaves striking the bluestone slabs, making the quiet even more profound.
Inside the quiet room, Gu Chengming sat cross-legged with his eyes slightly closed, his breathing long and rhythmic. He was not practicing the sharp sword arts of previous days, but was instead circulating the 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》, which he had only recently initiated.
As the technique circulated, the qi within Gu Chengming's body underwent subtle changes.
Under the pull of the newly born "yang seed" deep within his dantian, his second realm true essence actually began to combine hardness with softness. Like a surging river, it not only flowed more smoothly through his meridians but also carried a resilient, endless quality.
Though the "yang seed" was small, it was like a greedy vortex, constantly inhaling and exhaling the spiritual energy within Gu Chengming's body. Each breath performed an extremely fine refinement and compression of his true essence. Between his inhalations and exhalations, a faint white mist billowed from his nose and mouth, like dragons and snakes.
"Buzz—"
Suddenly, an extremely faint tremor echoed from within his body.
It wasn't the collision of bones, but the resonance of spiritual energy reaching its limit and impacting a bottleneck.
Breaking from the ninth level of the first realm into the second realm was a leap across a major boundary, like a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate, involving great commotion. However, level breakthroughs within the second realm were more like a rising tide lifting a boat—a natural process of accumulation.
Gu Chengming's mind was as calm as an ancient well. He did not deliberately strike at that barrier but instead followed the flow, guiding the pure yang true essence tempered by the "yang seed." Like a trickling stream merging into the sea, it naturally overflowed that invisible levee.
Crack.
It was as if some shackle within his body had been gently snapped.
The true essence that had filled his dantian suddenly collapsed inward in an instant, then exploded outward with even more startling speed. Not only was the total volume more than thirty percent greater than before, but its quality had become crystal clear, faintly shimmering with a warm, jade-like luster.
Second Realm, Second Level.
Gu Chengming slowly opened his eyes.
He raised his hand and gently clenched his fingers.
Within his palm, a wisp of true essence meandered, sometimes turning into a thread as soft as silk and sometimes into an indestructible sword qi, transitioning without the slightest friction.
Since the 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》 had reached the entry level, Gu Chengming had been pondering the true utility of this core secret manual of the Hehuan Sect.
While this was a Great Dao method primarily focused on "dual cultivation," and disciples of the Hehuan Sect mostly relied on mutual supplementation to increase their cultivation, it would be a gross underestimation of the thousand-year heritage of a major sect to say it was useless without dual cultivation.
After several days of comprehension, Gu Chengming discovered that even in a single state, this technique provided immense benefits to himself.
First was the control over his own qi. Previously, when he practiced the sword, his spiritual energy was as sharp as a blade. While it was decisive in killing, it was inevitably too rigid and prone to breaking, which was also a burden on his meridians.
Now, with the 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》 mediating, his sword qi possessed a few more points of mellow, flowing intent.
Secondly, he found that he had become exceptionally sensitive to the emotional changes of those around him. The feeling was very mysterious—it wasn't mind-reading, but a kind of resonance through qi.
For example, whether Elder Yu was truly angry or just feigning a tantrum, he only needed to sense slightly to capture that subtle "yin-yang" fluctuation from the aura she emitted.
"As expected of a master method for playing with people's hearts..."
Gu Chengming restrained his aura and sighed inwardly.
However, cultivation was one thing; how to increase the favorability of this technique was another problem before him.
Although the 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》 had been getting along famously with 《Zhou Rites》 over the past few days due to their shared values, its attitude toward him remained stuck at the stage of "lamenting that iron cannot become steel."
Based on the personality of this Hehuan Sect manual and its "all pure, all collected" theory, Gu Chengming could roughly deduce the method to increase its favorability—it was nothing more than romancing a physically and mentally pure female cultivator it approved of and establishing a substantial intimate relationship with her.
But that was the problem.
To romance a technique, he had to deliberately romance an innocent female woman?
And most likely one who had never had a dao companion and possessed a simple mind?
While Gu Chengming didn't consider himself a moral saint and prioritized maximizing benefits, the act of playing with innocent feelings purely to grind favorability felt somewhat improper no matter how he thought about it. It didn't align with his principles.
A galgame player's romance is built on the premise of not harming any innocent NPCs!
"But perhaps I can change my perspective?"
Gu Chengming sat by the stone table, his fingers lightly tapping the surface.
He recalled his experience when romancing 《Hundred Bones Resonating》.
At that time, he hadn't actually become some emperor who stood alone through the ages; he had simply followed its lead and gave it the prestige it wanted, and its favorability soared all the same.
It was the same for the 《Zhou Rites Heavenly Rectifying Art》. As long as the core logic was self-consistent, as long as it could be explained as great righteousness or great ritual, the other party would not only accept it but even start romancing itself.
Therefore, the so-called nature of a technique didn't necessarily have to be followed completely according to its personality...
"Since the 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》 pursues pure love and romancing..."
"Then does the technique itself count as a heroine?"
Thinking of this, Gu Chengming opened the CG interface.
The Huiyuan Sword Art was hugging that great sword, which was taller than she was, sitting quietly in a corner and spacing out.
Sensing Gu Chengming's gaze, she immediately looked up, her clear eyes instantly lighting up.
"Huiyuan?"
【Hearing this, the Huiyuan Sword Art became nervous and expectant.】
"Although cultivation has been complicated these past few days and many new partners have arrived, in my heart, you are always the special one."
"After all, you are the one who has accompanied me all the way from my humble beginnings. Without the foundation you helped me lay back then, I wouldn't be who I am today."
"No matter how many divine powers I practice or how many secret methods I master in the future, you will always be my original heart."
These words were forty percent genuine and sixty percent technique.
For a personality as simple and highly attached as the 《Huiyuan Sword Art》, it was an extremely aggressive offensive.
【Huiyuan Sword Art's small face turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye, and actual steam even began to rise from her head.】
【The most special... original... original heart...】
【These few simple words made her head spin. She felt as though she had become weightless, as if she were lying on the clouds.】
In the CG image, the Huiyuan Sword Art hugged her great sword in a fluster, wanting to say something but too shy to speak. In the end, she could only cover her burning face and spin around in circles several times before "thumping" down onto the ground, her eyes turning into swirls.
【Although the Huiyuan Sword Art's favorability is already at maximum, her sense of happiness has exploded, and she has entered a "dizzy" overloaded state.】
Meanwhile, the attitude of the 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》, which had witnessed the entire scene from the side, was quite subtle.
【The 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》 looked at the Huiyuan Sword Art, who had been coaxed into losing her way by a few sweet words, then looked at you, a complex emotion surging in its heart.】
【On one hand, it truly felt it was a pity. This was such a waste! This top-tier rhetoric of 'reminiscing about the past' that was actually 'you are the only one'—if used on any pure-hearted heroine in reality, wouldn't her favorability be instantly maxed out?】
【And yet, it was actually used to flirt with a technique that doesn't even have a physical form? What a waste of a god-given gift!】
【But on the other hand, when it saw the Huiyuan Sword Art looking so happy she was about to faint, it couldn't help but admire. Not even sparing his own technique... this kind of boldness is truly worthy of respect.】
【The 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》 had to admit that this vision of 'everything can be added to the harem' was a bit beyond its expectations.】
【It feels that your future is truly promising.】
【《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》 favorability +5】
【Current Favorability: 10/Stranger】
Gu Chengming looked at the value that had only jumped by 5 points and then stopped, and he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
That was it?
He tried saying a few more nice things to the 《Qingxin Art》, but the 《Qingxin Art》 just continued eating melon seeds in silence, and there was no reaction from the 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》 side either.
"It seems... a purely verbal offensive only has this much effect." Gu Chengming understood in his heart.
Although this 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》 claimed to pursue pure love, it was essentially a technique of the Hehuan Sect—it was a thorough physicality enthusiast.
Without substantial physical contact or progress in dual cultivation, trying to grind favorability purely with smooth talk was likely as difficult as reaching the heavens.
"Oh well."
Gu Chengming wasn't discouraged. He stretched and ended this slightly absurd attempt.
"At least it proves that while the path is narrow, it's not completely blocked. It's just... I still have to wait for an opportunity."
Since there was no suitable target for romance for the time being, he would let nature take its course.
【The Hundred Bones Resonating, which had been waiting nearby for a long time, was stunned to see you stop. It ended before it was even its turn?】
【The Hundred Bones Resonating couldn't help but feel a bit dejected.】
【It was still waiting for Emperor Gu to praise its strength a bit...】
Seeing this, Gu Chengming found it funny and added a few words of praise, making Old Hundred happy again.
【Hundred Bones Resonating favorability +5】
After deciding to temporarily slow down with the Yin Yang Creation Strategy, Gu Chengming began to enjoy his rare vacation life.
Morning in the Jishan Neighborhood always woke up with the long cries of the breakfast vendors at the mouth of the alley.
The sunlight after the rain filtered through the sparse tree leaves, dappling the bluestone slabs of the small courtyard.
He rose early, performed a simple wash by the well in the yard, and then sat at the stone table.
However, after Gu Chengming decided to slow down the romance progress, the Yin Yang Creation Strategy was the one to get anxious first.
【The 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》 has been observing you for a day and is anxious in its heart.】
【How can he be such a dense protagonist?】
【It's not that a dense protagonist is bad, but the problem is he should at least go out and bump into a beautiful girl at a corner, or pick up a fallen saintess or something, right?】
Just as the 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》 was still grumbling in its heart...
Creak—
The door to the main room was pushed open, and Yu Wenqiu walked out.
Today, Elder Yu clearly hadn't slept in as she usually did.
Ever since the Drunk Dream Boat case, perhaps to regain her dignity as an elder, or perhaps out of a subtle sense of guilt, she had been performing quite diligently lately.
She wasn't wearing her usual loose casual clothes today but had changed into a set of narrow-sleeved martial attire. Her long hair was tied high, and an exquisite jade pendant hung from her waist. She looked heroic and spirited, finally possessing a bit of the majestic bearing of a Wenjian Sect elder.
Yu Wenqiu carried an exquisite red sandalwood food box and walked briskly to the stone table.
"Little Gu, reading?"
She placed the food box on the table. Although she tried hard to maintain her elder's posture, the hint of 'please praise me' in her eyes couldn't be hidden.
"I saw you've been working hard studying techniques lately, so I specifically went to the Baiwei Pavilion in the East Market and waited in line to buy a few kinds of pastries. I heard their cloud-slice cakes are very beneficial for the soul. Try some."
【The 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》's eyes instantly lit up.】
【Holy crap! Top tier!】
【The 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》 exclaimed: "This lazy temperament, this defenseless posture, this natural beauty that's hard to give up... Who is this?! Could this be the legendary childhood friend who dropped from the sky? Or a foster sister living together?"】
Gu Chengming was helpless and replied in his heart, "This is my Wenjian Sect elder."
【So it's a master?!】
【The 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》 was not only not disappointed but became even more excited.】
Immediately after, she asked the question she cared about most—the core question:
【This elder, is she a virgin?】
Before Gu Chengming could answer, the 《Zhou Rites Heavenly Rectifying Art》 naturally picked up the conversation.
【Zhou Rites' gaze swept over Yu Wenqiu, who was leaning on the table. Although it had many complaints about her disheveled and lazy appearance, it still gave a fair evaluation on matters of principle.】
【It nodded and said: "Although Elder Yu is lazy in her conduct and doesn't bother with trifles, her primordial yin has not leaked, and her dao body is pure and flawless. She has practiced the sword in the mountains since childhood with a focused mind; she is indeed a person of ice and jade purity."】
【After receiving a positive answer, the Yin Yang Creation Strategy immediately entered a state of excitement.】
【The first step of 'all pure, all collected'! It's this beautiful master. As the saying goes, the one closest to the water enjoys the moonlight first.】
【The 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》 began to formulate a battle plan for Gu Chengming.】
【For a lazy, older-sister-type master like this, her heart actually often longs to be taken care of. You must show your masculinity, but you must also be like a spring breeze, moisturizing things silently.】
【And now is a great opportunity! She took the initiative to buy you pastries. What does that mean? It means she has you in her heart! You absolutely cannot cower at a time like this!】
【Listen to me! Stand up right now, grab her hand, and say: 'The cakes are sweet, but they are not even one-ten-thousandth as sweet as Master...'】
【Then ask her if she wants to dual cultivate.】
Damn it, do you even know how to romance someone?
Gu Chengming couldn't hold it back anymore after seeing the final direct offensive and simply stopped paying attention to the Yin Yang Creation Strategy.
He knew his own elder too well.
What 'specifically waited in line to buy'? She probably wanted to eat it herself but was embarrassed to eat alone, so she bought it under the banner of caring for her disciple.
"Elder, these cloud-slice cakes from Baiwei Pavilion go on sale every day at the hour of the snake, and each person is limited to two boxes. It's only the hour of the sheep now, and this box of yours..."
Gu Chengming reached out and opened the food box, pointing to the pastries inside that were clearly missing half and had uneven edges.
"Why is there only half a box left?"
"And this cutting... it doesn't seem like the work of a master at Baiwei Pavilion. It looks more like it was broken off by someone?"
Yu Wenqiu's expression, which had been waiting for praise, stiffened.
Her gaze drifted, and she instinctively hid her hands behind her back, coughing dryly in an attempt to maintain her dignity as an elder.
"That... on the way back, this elder encountered a few stray cats. Seeing how pitiful they were, I shared some with them."
"Stray cats?"
Gu Chengming raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling on an extremely fine bit of white powder at the corner of Yu Wenqiu's mouth.
He didn't expose her, but only shook his head helplessly and walked into the house.
A moment later, he came out with a damp handkerchief, raised his hand, and carefully wiped the pastry crumbs from the corner of her mouth.
Yu Wenqiu was stunned for a moment. She instinctively wanted to say "how disrespectful," but her body stood obediently before him.
"If you're going to sneak food, remember to wipe your mouth."
"Also, these cloud-slice cakes are too dry. If you want to eat them in the future, tell me first, and I'll prepare a pot of tea for you."
"...Oh."
Yu Wenqiu responded somewhat guiltily, and her heroic elder's posture instantly collapsed by half.
【The 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》 originally thought you would follow the method it provided, but after seeing your interaction with Yu Wenqiu, its mindset gradually became subtle.】
【This kind of silent care, this perfectly timed physical contact, and this method of gradually bringing the other party's daily life under your control...】
【Why does it seem like you're raising a pet?】
【Thinking of this, it was suddenly pale with fright. It turns out you're the one playing the biggest game!】
【《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》 favorability +5】
【Current Favorability: 15/Stranger】
"?"
—I didn't even do anything, and you can still increase favorability?
Meanwhile, on the other side, Gu Chengming didn't notice that Yu Wenqiu's gaze had been lingering on him.
The afternoon sunlight filtered through the gaps in the sparse osmanthus leaves, dappling his plain green robe. It was clearly the same face she had seen for a long time, but at this moment, in Yu Wenqiu's eyes, this kid had somehow become a few points more attractive.
That feeling was very mysterious. It wasn't purely about his appearance, but a kind of inexplicable attraction of qi.
"What the hell..."
Yu Wenqiu only felt her cheeks burning slightly. She instinctively shrunk her body, eating the cloud-slice cake like a hamster while secretly sizing up that back figure.
Was it an illusion?
No, that wasn't right. As a third realm sword cultivator, no matter how much she neglected her cultivation, her senses would never be wrong.
The attraction on this kid had genuinely become stronger.
Yu Wenqiu's brow furrowed slightly. The jade slip this kid had brought back from the Elegant Garden a few days ago suddenly flashed through her mind.
Her heart skipped a beat, and her gaze became somewhat strange.
"Could it be because of the new technique?"
"Good one, Little Gu. You actually dare to use this elder to test your moves?"
Yu Wenqiu bit into the cloud-slice cake in her hand somewhat indignantly, wanting to put on an elder's majesty to scold him a bit. But when the words reached her lips, looking at Gu Chengming's focused side profile, that inexplicable restlessness surged up again.
"Fine, considering that today's pastries are quite delicious."
She blushed and shifted her gaze guiltily, muttering indistinctly.
"It must be that today's wind is too dry, making one feel restless... Yes, it must be so."
Inside the carriage heading toward the Jishan Neighborhood, although there was only one person, the atmosphere was eerily heated.
Ji Yixi held that ancient bronze mirror tightly with both hands, like a student holding the only cheat sheet before an exam. On that face that was usually as cold as frost, there was now a hint of nervousness and seriousness that was hard to hide.
The surface of the mirror rippled, not reflecting her image but instead showing countless blurred afterimages. Noisy whispers buzzed within the carriage.
"Three thousand six hundred tributaries have all been cut off; only this world still holds a variable."
"Since it is a variable, it cannot be measured by common logic. You must establish an absolute psychological advantage during the first meeting!"
Ji Yixi blinked and nodded somewhat slowly. She pulled out a small notebook filled with dense writing from her sleeve and asked extremely seriously, "So this is 'Plan A'?"
The voices in the mirror instantly became excited, chattering as they began to review: "According to our review of those failed timelines, it's best to bring that Commander Wang to show off your strength."
Ji Yixi held her pen and drew a heavy circle around the word "deterrence." Her brow furrowed slightly as she asked in a small, uncertain voice:
"Won't that seem a bit impolite?"
"This is a game! It's to gain the initiative!"
"Oh..."
Ji Yixi responded as if she half-understood. She felt it made sense, so she seriously added a note saying "be a bit fierce" next to that line of text.
"And then?" she asked humbly.
"Then comes goodwill. Tell him we know the secrets he carries, let him know we have no ill intent."
Ji Yixi continued writing furiously.
"Finally, directly give him a promise he cannot refuse!"
"Directly promise 'any condition'! Unconditional trust and entrustment!"
"Tell me, what man in this world can refuse a promise of 'any condition' from an Imperial Princess?"
Inside the carriage, Ji Yixi looked at the final line of bolded "any condition" in her notebook and took a deep breath.
She clenched her fist and said to the mirror, "I've remembered it."
"This is the optimal solution."
The voices in the mirror let out a cheer, as if they had already seen the dawn of victory.
...
Ever since the last incident where the Yin Yang Creation Strategy's favorability increased.
Gu Chengming had summarized a set of determination mechanisms belonging to the Yin Yang Creation Strategy.
The so-called physical contact was clearly the fastest way to increase favorability.
But besides that, actions deemed as "playing a big game" by the Yin Yang Creation Strategy could also make it excited and increase its favorability.
The most typical example was the last interaction with Elder Yu, which it had determined to be "raising a pet," leading to a five-point increase in favorability.
According to Gu Chengming's speculation, perhaps the greater the contrast in identity, the more excited the Yin Yang Creation Strategy would become.
However, so far, besides Elder Yu, no one else had met this standard.
Gu Chengming was deep in thought.
Identity contrast...
Just as he was pondering, a knock came from the door.
Thump, thump.
He stood up to open the door.
Outside the door stood an unremarkable green cloth carriage. Beside the carriage stood a tall guard dressed in black martial attire with a dao hanging at his waist.
And beside the guard stood a woman draped in a light green cloak.
Although the hood covered most of her face, her temperament exposed her identity.
The Second Imperial Princess of Great Qian, Ji Yixi.
"Your Highness?"
A flash of surprise crossed Gu Chengming's eyes, and he was about to cup his hands in greeting.
However, the guard who had been standing by Ji Yixi's side stepped forward first, blocking Gu Chengming.
He didn't draw his blade, but the condensed baleful qi of a peak third realm martial artist bore down on Gu Chengming like a mountain.
"Since you know Her Highness has arrived in person, why haven't you opened the central gate yet?"
Hearing this, Gu Chengming slowly lowered the hands he had prepared for the greeting, his brow furrowing slightly.
He practiced the 《Zhou Rites》, and it was true he valued the order of status, but this was his home, not the inner imperial palace.
"If Your Highness is here as a guest, I would naturally welcome you."
Gu Chengming stood within the threshold, his figure not retreating a single step:
"But if you are here to put on airs, my humble abode is simple and likely cannot accommodate Your Highness."
"Presumptuous!"
The guard's face darkened, and he took a step forward. His terrifying blood-qi power erupted, clearly intending to use his aura to set rules for Gu Chengming.
However.
Just as that aura was about to touch Gu Chengming.
Whoosh—
An extremely light sound of breaking air came from within the courtyard. It was the sound of a dry branch slicing through the air.
"Where did this stray dog come from, daring to bark at the door of my Wenjian Sect disciple?"
The guard's expression changed drastically.
He only felt a chill rush straight to his crown, and the aura he had been pressing toward Gu Chengming was instantly sliced to pieces.
Not only that, an invisible sword qi bore straight down on his face, forcing him to let out a muffled groan and stumble back three steps. Each step left a deep footprint on the bluestone slabs.
It wasn't until he retreated to the side of the carriage that he barely managed to steady himself. His face was flushed, and his throat moved as he clearly suffered a hidden injury.
He looked up and saw that behind Gu Chengming, Yu Wenqiu had leaned against the doorframe at some point.
She still held that half-eaten candied fruit in her hand, wearing her loose home clothes with her long hair draped casually.
"If you don't know how to speak, this elder doesn't mind teaching you on behalf of your master."
Yu Wenqiu took a bite of the candied fruit. The guard gritted his teeth, his face turning pale and green in turns, veins bulging on the back of his hand.
"It was my failure to discipline my subordinate. I hope you two can forgive me."
Ji Yixi clearly hadn't expected the guard she brought to be so rude.
"Apologize."
"Yes."
The guard lowered his head, restraining his baleful qi, and spoke reluctantly:
"I was too rude just now... please do not take offense."
The guard retreated behind the carriage and didn't dare say another word.
As Ji Yixi spoke, she still seemed to feel it was improper and took out a bag of spirit stones to hand to Gu Chengming.
"This is an apology for the offense just now, a small token of my regard. Please accept it, Mr. Gu."
Gu Chengming wondered what kind of play this was and stepped aside with a gesture of "please."
Elder Yu wasn't polite at all, waving her hand to collect the bag of spirit stones.
Seeing this, Ji Yixi also let out a sigh of relief and stepped into the courtyard.
In the courtyard, Yu Wenqiu had long since restrained that terrifying sword intent and slumped back onto her swing.
She still held that unfinished fruit, seemingly teasing the ginger cat at her feet, but in reality, her ears were slightly pricked, and a faint, almost imperceptible divine sense remained locked on Ji Yixi.
Gu Chengming led Ji Yixi to the stone table under the osmanthus tree.
"My humble abode is simple, and I only have coarse tea. Please do not take offense, Your Highness."
Gu Chengming lifted the purple clay teapot and poured a cup of spiritual tea that wasn't emitting much heat for Ji Yixi—it was the half-pot left over from what Yu Wenqiu had been drinking earlier.
Ji Yixi didn't care about these slights in etiquette.
She extended two fair, slender fingers and lightly touched the edge of the coarse ceramic cup. She didn't drink, but only quietly watched the few tea leaves swirling in the cup.
At this moment.
【The 《Yin Yang Creation Strategy》 asked: Is the Great Qian Princess a virgin?】
Gu Chengming ignored it without changing his expression.
He picked up his teacup, took a light sip, and was the first to break the silence:
"Your Highness possesses a body of ten thousand gold. You have deigned to come to this Jishan Neighborhood today; surely it wasn't just to drink this coarse tea?"
Ji Yixi didn't beat around the bush.
She looked up, her cold eyes staring straight at Gu Chengming, her voice as flat as water:
"I hope Mr. Gu can do something for me."
Gu Chengming set down his teacup. His expression remained unchanged, but his tone carried a hint of evasion:
"Your Highness must be joking. I am but a small night patrolman of the Night Guard Division, with low cultivation and limited ability. Your Highness has many fierce generals and powerful experts under your command. If there is a task, why seek out an idle person like me?"
"Moreover..."
Gu Chengming pointed to Yu Wenqiu, who was still eating fruit nearby:
"I am currently in closed-door cultivation with my elder and am not taking on external affairs for the time being. Your Highness should seek someone more capable."
He refused very decisively.
He had just gone through the Drunk Dream Boat case. Although he had gained benefits, he had also almost been swept into a battle between fourth realm experts.
Now that the storm had not yet settled, he only wanted to stay safely at home, writing books and practicing his techniques. He truly didn't want to get involved in the murky waters of the imperial family again.
Ji Yixi seemed to have long expected him to refuse.
Her expression didn't change as she just quietly looked at Gu Chengming and slowly uttered a few words:
"Lantern Festival night, Drunk Dream Boat, Great Qian dragon qi."
These few short words made Gu Chengming's pupils shrink slightly.
The fact that he possessed a dragon-shaped qi seed and had drawn in dragon qi had been hidden from Zhou Qingmu and the Night Guard Division, but he hadn't expected this Second Imperial Princess to know?
And looking at her, not only did she know, but she might have known even earlier than Zhou Qingmu?
"What does Your Highness mean by this?" Gu Chengming narrowed his eyes.
"I haven't told anyone else."
Ji Yixi's tone remained flat:
"Zhou Qingmu doesn't know, my father doesn't know, and the Imperial Observatory doesn't know. In this world, only I know."
She paused, looking at Gu Chengming's guarded eyes, and suddenly shook her head slightly:
"Mr. Gu, you don't need to be nervous. I'm not using this to blackmail you."
"I just want to tell you that the reason I sought you out isn't because you are a Wenjian Sect disciple, nor because of your contributions to the Night Guard Division."
"But because of you yourself."
"There are some things only you can do."
Gu Chengming was silent for a moment. The vigilance in his heart, far from decreasing, became even stronger.
"Only I can do?"
He pretended to be somewhat confused:
"I am but a small night patrolman of the Night Guard Division, with a low cultivation of only the second realm. Your Highness is surrounded by experts; even that third realm guard just now could only lead the horse for you. Why would you need my meager skills?"
"If it's to find someone or investigate a case, the Night Guard Division has its own Records Hall. If it's for killing, the Black Armor Guards under Vice Commander Wang are even more elite. I am of humble status and fear I cannot bear Your Highness's heavy trust."
Ji Yixi seemed to have long expected his refusal.
Her expression remained unchanged as she quietly watched Gu Chengming until he finished his set of excuses before she spoke calmly: "It's not to investigate a case, nor is it to kill someone."
"It's a secret realm."
"A secret realm?" Gu Chengming's gaze focused.
"When the Founding Emperor established the nation, he once suppressed an ancient ruin beneath the capital region called the 'Azure Lotus Sword Realm'."
Ji Yixi's tone was flat, as if she were speaking of an insignificant trifle:
"That place was once a trial ground for ancient sword immortals. But because the killing intent was too heavy, it was sealed by the Founding Emperor. Every sixty years, the seal loosens, and the imperial family sends people in to reinforce it and collect some items."
"But this secret realm has extremely strict restrictions. One's cultivation cannot exceed the third realm, and sword qi crisscrosses within it. Those who have not reached the level of Jiandao Tongshen will die upon entry."
She leaned forward slightly, and for the first time, a hint of extremely serious emotion appeared in those eyes.
"Although I have death soldiers by my side, whether in terms of sword talent or means of handling crises, none are as good as you."
As she spoke, she extended a hand and pressed it lightly on the stone table, staring straight into Gu Chengming's eyes as she threw out her final chip word by word:
"If you are willing to help me this once."
"After you return from the secret realm, I can promise you any one condition."
【Hearing this, the Hundred Bones Resonating's heart stirred: A secret realm?】
【Hearing this, the Yin Yang Creation Strategy's heart also stirred: Promising any condition?】
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