Chapter 272 - 271: Soul Power Loss

Chapter 272: Chapter 271: Soul Power Loss

Gu Qingyin smiled. "More than that, my son is already quite big."

But Li Tianshi suddenly relaxed and even laughed out loud. Shaking his head, he said, "You don’t even look as old as I am. Alright, fine, I get what you mean."

He sighed. "I have to say, that’s a pretty unique way to turn someone down."

Gu Qingyin frowned, confused. ’Turn someone down? What’s unique about it?’

"Go on, head up," Li Tianshi said, clutching his heart dramatically. "Just give me some time to heal."

Gu Qingyin walked away, utterly confused. It wasn’t until she had gone up two flights of stairs that she realized what Li Tianshi meant, and she found it rather incredible.

’Doesn’t Li Tianshi get over a broken heart a little too quickly? His ability to accept things is amazing.’

Gu Qingyin shook her head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, and put the matter out of her mind. She dove headfirst into a sea of books, only struggling to the surface for a breath of air when Li Tianshi came to call her.

Drifting like a lost soul to the first-floor refreshment area, Gu Qingyin unwrapped her lunch box and lamented, "It’s like those books suck the life right out of you. I get tired so fast every time I read."

Li Tianshi’s smile faltered for a moment, then he immediately burst into laughter and chimed in, "You’ve really got a vivid imagination. Your husband must never be bored with you." He shook his head, sighing with mock seriousness, "A pity I was too late."

Gu Qingyin looked at the delicious-smelling, colorful dishes and finally felt some of her energy return. At his words, she just offered a polite smile, thinking, ’Even if you had been early, I wouldn’t have been interested. Don’t get ahead of yourself.’

"Wow, your lunch looks delicious." Li Tianshi’s eyes filled with envy. "Is your husband a househusband? His cooking skills look incredible."

"A househusband?" Gu Qingyin paused, then burst out laughing. Seeing Li Tianshi’s confused expression, she explained with a smile, "He is an amazing cook, but... that’s the first time I’ve ever heard someone use that term to describe him. It’s pretty funny."

Li Tianshi still didn’t quite get it, but seeing that Gu Qingyin was now focused on enjoying her meal, he didn’t press the issue. Instead, he tactfully stood up. "I’m going to get something to eat, too. You should rest for a while after you’re done. You’ll be more efficient if you balance work and rest."

Gu Qingyin nodded in wholehearted agreement.

After she finished eating, she found a corner, leaned back in her chair, and dozed for a while. She wasn’t sure if it was her posture or something else, but she felt even more tired when she got up.

Gu Qingyin rubbed her head, wondering, ’Has my aversion to Array Books really gotten this bad? Maybe I should just have Huo Yunjing come to the Association and retake the exam for a temporary Heavenly Master Certificate.’

When she left the Association that evening, Gu Qingyin couldn’t stop yawning.

Seeing this, Huo Yunjing frowned. He pulled her in front of him and lowered his head, pressing his forehead to hers. "Tell me everything you did today."

"Hmm?" Gu Qingyin hummed. "I didn’t do anything. Just read. It made my head spin. I really have no interest in Arrays. If it had been something about spells or talismans, I’m sure I would’ve gotten more energized the more I read."

"Something’s wrong," Huo Yunjing said. "Your Soul Power is severely drained. Can’t you feel it?"

Gu Qingyin was surprised. "But I really didn’t do anything but read, and I took a short nap after lunch..." She paused. "Actually, you’re right. I did feel even more tired after I woke up."

"There’s a problem with the Book Collection Pavilion. Don’t go back there again." Huo Yunjing’s lips thinned into a line. He straightened up and looked toward the Association’s entrance, his gaze deep and dark.

"How could that be..." Gu Qingyin found it incredible. ’That’s one of the most important places in the Heavenly Master Association. How could it have a problem like that?’

"If that’s true, wouldn’t someone have discovered it a long time ago?"

But Huo Yunjing shook his head. "Few people spend that much time reading in the Book Collection Pavilion two days in a row like you did. You felt tired yesterday, but it was still within a normal range. After another full day, the rate of your Soul Power loss has outpaced your recovery."

’That’s true. Yesterday, Zhang Qiuyan didn’t stay for very long before she left. The other Heavenly Masters were the same. They all found what they were looking for, solved whatever problem they had, and then left quickly. Everyone was in and out in a hurry.’

"Wait," Gu Qingyin said, thinking of Li Tianshi. "The librarian in the Book Collection Pavilion is there every single day..."

"Does he read the books?" Huo Yunjing asked.

Gu Qingyin frowned. "Is reading the books a requirement?" she asked hesitantly. "Do you think the Heavenly Master Association knows about this?"

"They almost certainly know," Huo Yunjing said, his expression turning cold. "It’s a restricted area, after all. How could they not know?"

"Then do the other Heavenly Masters know?" Gu Qingyin asked, then answered her own question. "Probably not. Zhang Qiuyan didn’t warn me yesterday."

Gu Qingyin pursed her lips, pulled out her phone, and called Gu Ziqian. "Senior, do you know what’s going on with the Association’s Book Collection Pavilion?"

"Hmm?" Gu Ziqian’s voice was languid. "You mean how it absorbs your Soul Power when you read?"

Gu Qingyin’s eyes widened. "You know?"

"It’s not exactly a secret," Gu Ziqian said with a laugh. "The Guardian Array around the Book Collection Pavilion is very high-level, and the Association can’t afford to power it. So, they came up with a solution: draw a small amount of Soul Power each day from the Heavenly Masters who go in to read, and convert it into energy to run the Array."

"The amount drawn is very small; it has almost no effect on a Heavenly Master." At this point, Gu Ziqian suddenly realized something. "You went to the Book Collection Pavilion to read? For how long?"

Gu Qingyin said, "...Two days."

"Are you kidding me?!" Gu Ziqian’s voice turned serious. "Who took you there? Didn’t she tell you that you can’t stay in the Book Collection Pavilion for too long?"

"No." Gu Qingyin didn’t think this was entirely Zhang Qiuyan’s fault. "She probably didn’t expect me to come two days in a row."

Gu Ziqian sighed. "Don’t go back for the rest of the week. Stay home and recover."

"Okay, thank you, Senior."

After hanging up, Gu Qingyin thought for a moment before deciding to call Zhang Qiuyan.

Zhang Qiuyan answered quickly. "Qing Yin?"

For a moment, Gu Qingyin didn’t know what to say and fell silent.

Zhang Qiuyan glanced at her phone, puzzled. The call was still connected. She asked again, "Qing Yin? Why aren’t you talking?"

"It’s nothing," Gu Qingyin said with a light cough. "I just wanted to ask what time you left yesterday. I was hoping to treat you to dinner."

Zhang Qiuyan chuckled. "I left as soon as I found my materials. You don’t have to be so formal with me; I’m happy to help. How’s the research going? Making any progress?"

Gu Qingyin sighed. "It’s not that quick. I feel like I’ll have to move into the Book Collection Pavilion at this rate."

Zhang Qiuyan suddenly gasped, her voice growing urgent. "Qing Yin, have you been spending a lot of time in the Book Collection Pavilion these last two days? There’s something very important I forgot to tell you."

"You can’t stay in the Book Collection Pavilion for too long! The Array draws out a Heavenly Master’s Soul Power, and it’s dangerous if you stay for an extended period!" Zhang Qiuyan was frantic. "Are you okay? Where are you? I’ll come find you."

Gu Qingyin smiled. "I’m at the entrance to the Association, about to get dinner. Let’s meet downtown."