Chapter 152 - 151: Bonus - 5

Chapter 152: Chapter 151: Bonus Chapter 5

The fish got away, and she’d lost the bait, too. Gu Qingyin was furious. She sulked until just after five in the morning, when Liu Ergou called, his voice filled with shock as he questioned her.

Gu Qingyin responded half-heartedly, "Yes, someone rescued her. A secretive figure who also happened to know my master."

Liu Ergou took this very seriously. "I’ll report this to the Mystic Association immediately. Dongfang Ran might be able to run, but the family backing her can’t!"

Gu Qingyin’s eyes darted thoughtfully. "You’re right," she agreed. "They definitely need a thorough investigation."

Liu Ergou hung up and immediately contacted Tuoba Yan, explaining everything in detail.

Tuoba Yan was naturally skeptical. Compared to Gu Qingyin, every step of Dongfang Ran’s development was well-documented. You could almost say Dongfang Ran had grown up right under the noses of all the seniors. What secrets could she possibly have?

If they hadn’t confirmed her immense potential and spotless background, she never would have become an elder of the Mystic Association at such a young age.

But just then, a Heavenly Master came to report that Lin Wu had escaped!

Tuoba Yan was dumbfounded. ’Escaped from a Mystic Association prison? But how?’ The prison was protected by countless layers of wards. Not even a Candle Dragon could dream of escaping if locked inside! Unless... Lin Wu had known how to disable the wards all along!

’But why would Lin Wu know how?’

Tuoba Yan didn’t dare to dwell on the implications. He just said grimly, "I will get to the bottom of this business with Dongfang Ran and Lin Wu."

Meanwhile, it wasn’t long before Gu Qingyin received news of Lin Wu’s escape. ’What a shocker,’ she thought. ’Not surprising at all.’

At six in the morning, the castle servants were all up and about. They were shocked to discover that almost everyone had left. Only the Family Head’s family and the youngest princess of the Huo Family remained.

They were astonished, but they didn’t dare ask any questions. Even when they discussed it amongst themselves, they did so in hushed, careful tones.

At seven o’clock, the family began to trickle downstairs for breakfast.

The three brothers were in high spirits at first, but one look at Gu Qingyin’s face had them exchanging glances. ’Why does Mom seem so down?’

Gugu noticed too. She carefully sidled up to Gu Qingyin, took her hand, and asked softly, "Grandma, are you not feeling well?"

Gu Qingyin gently pinched her cheek and managed a smile. "Thank you for your concern, Gugu. Grandma is fine. Now go eat. Little kids shouldn’t worry so much, or you won’t grow big and strong."

Gugu smiled, pressing her lips together, then returned to her seat. She began picking out her favorite items from the wide assortment of breakfast dishes on the table.

She had just placed some food on her plate when the rapid sound of pitter-patter grew closer. A grey figure suddenly WHOOSHED into her lap.

Gugu let out a small yelp and looked down to see Mao Mao.

Mao Mao grinned, raising a paw to grab some food.

Gugu quickly pressed its paw down, frowning in disgust. "Mao Mao, you stink! Didn’t you take a bath? You can’t have breakfast if you haven’t washed up." She placed Mao Mao on the floor. "You’d better go take a bath first."

Mao Mao froze. When it registered what she’d said, it lowered its head and sniffed itself. It seemed... yes, there was indeed a certain post-hangover reek about it.

Mao Mao scratched its face in embarrassment and turned to scamper upstairs.

Watching the interaction between the two little ones, Gu Qingyin couldn’t help but chuckle. Her mood had improved considerably.

’Oh, well,’ she thought. ’Perhaps the time just isn’t right. Fate must have decreed that they get to struggle a little while longer. But sooner or later...’

A dangerous glint flashed in Gu Qingyin’s eyes. ’It won’t be long.’

After breakfast, the family returned home. Gu Qingyin went upstairs again to the room where she kept her master’s memorial tablet and lit a stick of incense.

After placing the incense stick in its holder, Gu Qingyin casually mentioned, "I met someone last night. Seemed like an old acquaintance of yours. It’s a shame they left after only a few words." She smiled. "That old friend of yours doesn’t seem to think too highly of you. Said you were rude and obnoxious, you know."

As she finished speaking, Gu Qingyin unconsciously flexed her wrist, and then her expression stiffened slightly.

"Master, I’m going to go rest now."

She had just turned to leave when a hand grabbed her wrist. A clear, gentle voice asked, "Are you hurt?"

Gu Qingyin froze. "Master," she said with a sigh full of meaning, "you’re finally willing to show yourself."

She turned, and upon seeing the familiar figure, her eyes grew hot and her lashes instantly became wet with tears.

Her master, Gu Ziqian, had been the undisputed number one Heavenly Master of his generation. Not only were his abilities unparalleled, but his looks and character were also exceptional.

Gu Ziqian was beautiful, but not in an effeminate way. One glance was enough to know he was a man, yet "beautiful" was the only word that fit. His personality was wonderful as well; he was truly a gentleman without peer in the world.

In his youth, Gu Ziqian had countless admirers, but he wasn’t interested in any of them. The number of his suitors finally dwindled after he adopted Gu Qingyin. As she grew older, the remaining admirers all gave up one by one with regret.

Gu Ziqian remained single his entire life, a free spirit bound by only one attachment: Gu Qingyin. Though she was his disciple, he treated her more like his own child.

"You got into a fight?" Gu Ziqian asked worriedly, pulling up her sleeve. But the skin underneath was pristine, without a single mark. He froze, then slowly looked up. "It’s been a few years, and you’ve already learned to lie to your master."

Gu Qingyin smiled. "I had a good teacher."

Gu Ziqian was left speechless and let go of her hand.

But Gu Qingyin grabbed his hand in return, saying stubbornly, "Don’t even think about running away!"

Gu Ziqian couldn’t help but laugh. He raised his other hand and tapped her on the forehead. "Now that I’ve appeared, I won’t hide anymore."

Gu Qingyin didn’t believe him. "Then why were you hiding before?" she pressed.

At this point, there was no longer any need for Gu Ziqian to hide the truth. "Before you left the mountain," he said frankly, "I accepted an extremely dangerous commission. The chances of returning alive were slim. I was afraid you would worry, so I simply faked my death from old age to allow you to live your life in peace after you left."

"...You’re really cruel," Gu Qingyin said, the realization dawning on her. Her feelings were a tangled mess.

’He really did fool me. Just as he’d wanted, I went down the mountain and lived my life peacefully, paying my respects on schedule, only occasionally grumbling about why he never came back to visit me. I never imagined that the reason he hadn’t come back was because he was still alive!’

’Then now...’

"You’re dead?" Gu Qingyin asked, nervously gripping her master’s hand. "Was it because of that commission?"

Gu Ziqian nodded. "The commission is complete, but I was outmaneuvered at the last moment and lost my life." He smiled. "But it’s not the worst possible outcome. At least my soul is intact, and I was able to come back and see you again."

"But enough about that," Gu Ziqian said, changing the subject. "You said you met an old acquaintance of mine. Did you really see them?"

Gu Qingyin nodded, then immediately shook her head. "I didn’t see them, I only heard their voice." She described the encounter, then ground her teeth in frustration. "That old coot clearly didn’t take me seriously."

Gu Ziqian’s expression grew solemn. "The Summoning Spirit Skill... not many people know that kind of magic. Of the people I know, there is only one who is on bad terms with me and also knows that skill."

Gu Qingyin quickly pressed, "Who is it?"