To become the Saintess as soon as possible, Shen Lingxi hardly ever left her home. She spent every day cooped up in her courtyard room, cultivating the Saintess Heart Scripture.
Because of this, she ignored almost everyone who visited her courtyard, except for Gu Ming.
However, even when Gu Ming arrived, she would only exchange a few hurried words before rushing back inside to continue her cultivation.
As time ticked by, nearly one year passed in the blink of an eye.
Shen Lingxi’s hard work was not in vain.
Her mastery of the Saintess Heart Scripture grew increasingly refined, and her understanding of it deepened.
Finally, one day, after reaching the stage of Great Success in the Saintess Heart Scripture, she stretched her waist with a sense of relief. A refreshing sensation instantly flooded her entire body.
Afterward, she walked out of her room and instructed the disciples guarding her courtyard to inform the Great Elder. Her Saintess Heart Scripture had reached Great Success, and she could receive the Saintess Inheritance on any chosen day.
The disciple did not dare to be negligent and ran off in a panic to inform the Great Elder.
One had to understand that although Shen Lingxi was not yet the Saintess, her status was already comparable to one. Within Saintess Mountain, no one dared to disrespect her. Anyone who did would find themselves facing constant petty retaliation.
After all, she was the first Holy Maiden Candidate with Heavenly Grade Aptitude that Saintess Mountain had seen in a thousand years.
Furthermore, she had completely changed her previous lazy attitude and devoted herself wholeheartedly to cultivating the Saintess Heart Scripture.
Everyone in Saintess Mountain, from top to bottom, attached great importance to her. Almost all the resources of Saintess Mountain were tilted in her favor.
Even so, some powerful major sects remained skeptical. After all, it wasn’t as if Saintess Mountain hadn’t produced Holy Maiden Candidates with Heavenly Grade Aptitude before. The result? None of them had succeeded.
In fact, the Great Elder of Saintess Mountain was also uncertain, but looking at the current situation, Shen Lingxi was indeed the most promising candidate to become the Saintess—the only one.
It didn’t take long for Saintess Mountain to set a date for Shen Lingxi to receive the inheritance — in one week.
After receiving the confirmed date, Shen Lingxi excitedly wanted to tell Gu Ming the good news.
However, she realized she didn’t know where Gu Ming lived, which distressed her greatly.
Just as she was about to ask the guards of the courtyard, she saw a familiar figure in the distance.
Her eyes lit up. Taking three steps in one, she rushed over and threw herself onto Gu Ming.
For more than a year, every time she spent time with Gu Ming, it had not exceeded fifteen minutes.
However, her feelings for Gu Ming had not faded; instead, they had deepened.
Sniff—
She took a deep breath, smelling the comforting scent on Gu Ming’s body.
Gu Ming was baffled by Shen Lingxi’s actions and stood there stunned. “What are you doing?”
“Smelling you.”
“Eww—”
“Long time no see, Brother Gu Ming.”
Ignoring Gu Ming’s cry of disgust, Shen Lingxi revealed a faint smile, her eyes curving into happy crescents.
Shen Lingxi was the same age as Gu Ming, but she was born a few days later. Therefore, she called him Brother Gu Ming.
Gu Ming was a bit uncomfortable with it at first and asked her to just call him by his name, but she refused.
Her reason for refusing was simple and direct:
‘If you’re older by a few days, you’re Brother Gu Ming. Even if you’re older by only a few hours, you’re still Brother Gu Ming. As long as you’re older than me, you’re Brother Gu Ming.’
Gu Ming couldn’t win the argument, so he let her be. By now, he had grown accustomed to hearing it.
If Shen Lingxi were to call him by his name now, he might actually find it a bit strange.
“Long time no see… I want to say that, but I’ve come to see you almost every day, so it doesn’t really count.”
Gu Ming gave a bitter smile.
He noticed that Shen Lingxi had changed quite a bit.
The old Shen Lingxi was somewhat timid, had low self-esteem, and was a crybaby.
He wondered if it was because she practiced the Saintess Heart Scripture, but the current her radiated confidence from head to toe. Sometimes, she even did very bold things.
Like secretly kissing him on the cheek and such.
“Hehe.”
Shen Lingxi let go, put her hands behind her back, and took a few light steps backward with a giggle. “In one week, I’m going to receive the Saintess Inheritance and become a true Saintess.”
“Congratulations,” Gu Ming immediately offered his blessings.
“Thank you. But as my brother, shouldn’t you show some appreciation?”
Shen Lingxi leaned forward slightly, her eyes filled with expectation.
“Alright then, I’ll take you out for a big meal!”
“I don’t want that.”
“Take you shopping?”
“That sounds nice, but I don’t want that either.”
“Uhh… Then what do you want? As long as I can do it, I definitely will.”
“Anything?”
“Anything.”
“I want to go to your house.”
“Huh?”
“Is that not allowed?”
Shen Lingxi stepped closer, a hint of displeasure appearing between her brows. Faced with her approach, Gu Ming had no choice but to retreat, stepping back repeatedly until he was pinned against a wall.
“…It’s not that it’s not allowed.” Gu Ming scratched his cheek with his finger, his gaze flickering away. “But I’m currently living in my brother’s manor. That should count as my home, I guess.”
“It counts!”
Shen Lingxi’s eyes sparkled.
She didn’t care whose manor Gu Ming lived in.
She just wanted to know how to find Gu Ming.
Then, she wanted to know everything about him — his room, the bed he slept in, the books he read, and what he usually did when he was alone.
She wanted to know it all.
Before, she hadn’t had the time because she was busy cultivating the Saintess Heart Scripture.
Now, however, things were different. She had plenty of time.
Seeing Shen Lingxi’s expectant gaze, Gu Ming gave a bitter smile and nodded in agreement. “Alright.”
Actually, he truly felt that there was nothing special to see where he lived. It was just a place to eat and sleep.
Therefore, he didn’t quite understand why Shen Lingxi was so insistent on going.
However, seeing how much Shen Lingxi seemed to be looking forward to it, Gu Ming didn’t want to spoil her fun.
***
Gu Ming’s brother was the Alliance Leader of the Righteous Path Alliance. Therefore, his residence was not an ordinary house, but a massive manor covering over 60,000 square meters.
In addition to several residential buildings, the manor featured rockeries, flowing water, fish, and other decorative elements.
“Wow—”
Standing at the entrance of the manor and looking at the majestic gates, Shen Lingxi couldn’t help but cry out in surprise.
“It’s so big!”
But that was it. Her gaze didn’t linger on the sights; instead, she began to urge him. “Brother Gu Ming, where is your room?”
“On the west side.”
“Then let’s go quickly.”
Shen Lingxi pulled on Gu Ming’s arm, dragging him through the main gate. Passing through various corridors and making several turns while being greeted with calls of “Second Young Master,” they finally arrived.
It was a very simple courtyard. There were no flashy decorations inside, only some practical furniture.
Gu Ming scratched his face, feeling a bit embarrassed. “Haha, are you disappointed?”
“Mm-mm.”
Shen Lingxi shook her head slightly, her eyes glowing with a desire to explore the unknown.
“Brother Gu Ming, I can look around freely, right?” she asked.
“Sure, go ahead.” Gu Ming waved his hand, acting as if it didn’t matter.
‘Alright then, let’s see what kind of books are under the bed first!’
Full of energy, Shen Lingxi rolled up her sleeves and walked into the room with great excitement…