‘Uncle Li?!!!’
‘How could he be here?’
The moment Gu Ming saw Butler Li fly down from the high platform, he was stunned.
Gu Ming had arrived late, missing the grand entrance of the four major powers: the Divine Maiden Palace, Lingyun Pavilion, Hundred Flowers Valley, and the Gu Family.
Upon reaching the tournament venue, he had been immediately surrounded by a swarm of female cultivators and couldn’t escape. It was only with the assistance of the Saintess Mountain Law Enforcement Disciples that he managed to break free and make it onto the stage.
During that ordeal, he had been somewhat traumatized by the fanatical women and hadn’t bothered to look up at the high platform. He had no desire to notice the changes in the personnel seated there.
He didn’t have the heart for it anyway.
Since this was the final match of the Martial Arts Tournament, his mind was entirely occupied with calculating how to lose.
Looking at the platform now, there were indeed several new faces, and Ling Yuyan and Ling Yunfeng were also up there.
Gu Ming muttered to himself. No wonder he hadn’t seen Ling Yuyan all morning; she had run off to the high platform to watch the fight.
Butler Li landed on the stage, glanced at Gu Ming, and questioned him in a rather unpleasant tone, “Your name is Nameless? How do you know the Gu Family’s True Words?”
Hearing such a harsh tone, Gu Ming could not hide his disappointment.
Although Butler Li was the Gu Family’s butler, it was in name only. His status in the Gu Family was transcendent; even Gu Ming’s father was respectful and polite to him, calling him “Mr. Li.”
He could have done nothing at all and simply enjoyed the offerings from the Gu Family.
However, for as long as Gu Ming could remember, Butler Li had taken it upon himself to raise him.
Gu Ming’s three meals a day, along with all the trivia of his daily life, were handled by Butler Li.
Furthermore, he had taught Gu Ming reading, writing, etiquette, and cultivation.
Butler Li was a very good man.
No matter what difficulties Gu Ming encountered, Butler Li would help without complaint.
Having spent years together, the relationship between Gu Ming and Butler Li had long since surpassed that of a typical master and servant.
Moreover, Butler Li was no ordinary servant.
To Gu Ming, Butler Li was both a teacher and a friend, one of the few important people in his life besides his family.
So, hearing Butler Li’s cold questioning now, Gu Ming couldn’t help but feel heartbroken.
But there was no other way. Who told him to take on this undercover mission for the Alliance Leader?
A self-deprecating smile touched the corner of Gu Ming’s mouth.
Heaven only knew what he had been thinking at the time to end up in such a predicament.
By now, except for the Alliance Leader, probably no one remembered him.
Suddenly, a blurred fragment of memory popped into his head.
In that fragment, he was kneeling on the ground with his forehead pressed against the floor. Before him, the Young Alliance Leader sat in the seat of honor, looking at him coldly.
“Gu Ming, this request is excessive. Although I am the Alliance Leader, I cannot arbitrarily interfere with other sects.”
“Big Brother, as long as you are willing to help me eliminate them, I will agree to the mission you mentioned,” Gu Ming said as he looked up, his eyes firm.
“Is she that good?” A hint of emotion appeared on the Young Alliance Leader’s cold face. “I was already considering other candidates…”
‘She?’
‘Who is she?’
Gu Ming frowned, trying to recall the “her” the Alliance Leader had mentioned. However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t remember who she actually was.
Just then, a flutter of ethereal robes passed before his eyes, and a graceful figure blocked Gu Ming’s path.
‘Shen Lingxi?!!!’
Gu Ming could not hide the shock in his eyes.
‘Why did she come down too?’
‘Looking at her stance, is she protecting me?’
Gu Ming stood somewhat numbly, and then he began to curse himself in his mind.
‘Too damn shameless. She is the Saintess of Saintess Mountain; why would she protect you? Just because you have a handsome face?’
Gu Ming shook his head slightly, shaking off the unrealistic thought. Now was not the time for such things.
‘Damn it!’
‘Uncle Li saw me use the Gu Family’s True Words!’
‘What should I do? What excuse can I find?’
Just as Gu Ming was busy coming up with an excuse, he heard Shen Lingxi speak.
“Butler Li, the match is still in progress. If there is anything else, please wait until after the match is over.”
‘She’s helping?’
Gu Ming’s heart stirred.
“Heh.” Butler Li gave a short laugh, his eyes narrowing. “This matter concerns the lifeblood of the Gu Family. I ask the Saintess to be patient. I will only take a few minutes to ask a few questions. Once I am done, I will leave.”
Shen Lingxi remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, “In that case, why not let me ask?”
Pure white flames ignited in Shen Lingxi’s eyes.
Butler Li’s heart stirred, a look of surprise crossing his face. “If that is the case, then nothing could be better.”
Under the influence of the Saintess’s skill, **[Truth]**, no one could tell a lie.
‘This is bad.’
Gu Ming sensed trouble. His eyes darted around as countless escape plans flooded his mind.
However, escaping smoothly under the watchful eyes of the crowd would be quite difficult.
It would be a different story if someone were waiting outside to meet him.
There were simply too many uncertainties.
‘Damn it.’
As Gu Ming panicked, he heard Shen Lingxi’s gentle voice. “Don’t worry, it will be fine. Just relax.”
Gu Ming looked up and saw the tenderness in Shen Lingxi’s eyes. The panic in his heart instantly vanished.
He was infected by her calm demeanor.
‘Is she really trying to protect me?’
Gu Ming’s expression was complicated. ‘Could it really be just because I look like her White Moonlight?’
But… why would she say that phrase — “Because you are.”
Gu Ming’s mind was in a mess.
Shen Lingxi turned to Butler Li and asked, “Butler Li, what do you want to ask?”
“Why can you use the Gu Family’s True Words?” Butler Li asked solemnly.
“I —”
Gu Ming hesitated, but then he saw Shen Lingxi give him a reassuring look. In that moment, he didn’t know where the courage came from, and he spoke as if possessed. “True Words? What True Words? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
The pure white flames in Shen Lingxi’s eyes flickered, and she turned to Butler Li. “He is not lying.”
Hearing this, a storm surged in Gu Ming’s heart. At first it was just a feeling, but now he was certain — she, Shen Lingxi, the dignified Saintess of Saintess Mountain, was actually helping him!
“Impossible!” Butler Li shouted angrily. “I couldn’t have seen it wrong.”
“Then, are you saying that I am shielding him?” Shen Lingxi narrowed her eyes. “Are you questioning me? Are you questioning the ability of the Saintess?”
A hint of doubt flashed in Butler Li’s eyes. ‘Could I really be wrong? Did my eyes deceive me?’
Suddenly, he whipped around to look at the Sword Fanatic. “Little brother, did you feel anything strange just now? For instance, your body being unable to move?”
When Gu Ming heard this, his heart tightened. He had used the *Forbidden* technique, and it was impossible for the Sword Fanatic to have felt nothing.
He held his breath and focused entirely on the Sword Fanatic, desperately hoping he would say no.
But was that even possible?
“No.”
‘Huh?’
He looked at the Sword Fanatic in disbelief…