Gong Shangyu opened her eyes, and the first thing that came into view was the blanket draped over Gu Qingying.
She turned her head silently to look at the still-sleeping Gu Qingying beside her.
Staring at Gu Qingying, wrapped so tightly, Gong Shangyu lowered her head forlornly, her gaze fixed on the blanket covering her for a long time.
Then, from deep within her heart, an uncontrollable sourness welled up her throat.
That sour feeling filled Gong Shangyu’s mind in an instant.
She recalled every little moment she had experienced together with Master, and felt that the person who should have been cared for by Lu Li just now was clearly herself.
Her mood only worsened and became more irritable.
I wish Master would care for me like this too!
Gong Shangyu thought to herself, and at the same time, her gaze drifted to Gu Qingying’s peaceful sleeping face.
At that moment, she unexpectedly felt a powerful urge to swap identities with Gu Qingying.
In truth, as early as in her previous life, when Gu Qingying, who had been expelled from the Gu Family, was picked up by Lu Li, Gong Shangyu felt that Gu Qingying seemed somewhat familiar to her, as if she were looking at another version of herself.
After learning of Gu Qingying’s miserable background from Lu Li, the previous Gong Shangyu even felt some sympathy for Gu Qingying, thinking she had finally found someone similar to herself.
But, unexpectedly—
At this thought, Gong Shangyu lifted the corner of her mouth in self-mockery.
She really had been a bit too sentimental; Gu Qingying was nothing like her.
At the very least, Gu Qingying’s luck was far better than hers by a great margin.
Gong Shangyu slowly withdrew her gaze from Gu Qingying’s face, fell into thought for a while, and then looked at Lu Li not far away.
From Gong Shangyu’s angle, she could clearly see Lu Li’s profile: delicate and gentle features, his whole bearing like a perfectly polished piece of jade, always making Gong Shangyu want to be close to him without realizing it.
Even when Lu Li was asleep, his face was relaxed.
His brows were smooth, the corners of his mouth slightly raised.
The more Gong Shangyu thought of her future happy life with Lu Li, the more she felt unable to suppress her feelings.
Lost in her thoughts, Gong Shangyu suddenly felt someone bump her arm forcefully.
Turning her head, she met a pair of purple eyes—Gu Qingying, who had seemed to be in deep sleep, was now awake, though Gong Shangyu hadn’t noticed when.
Gu Qingying curled up inside the blanket, her hair slightly messy, and those beautiful phoenix eyes calmly met Gong Shangyu’s gaze.
Gong Shangyu quickly turned away and shut her eyes, pretending to be asleep as if nothing had happened.
But not long after, Gu Qingying nudged Gong Shangyu’s arm again with her elbow, lowering her voice, “What exactly were you just looking at?”
Gong Shangyu withdrew her hand from the armrest and lazily replied to Gu Qingying, “Nothing… I was just looking around~”
“I’m warning you!”
Gu Qingying’s voice suddenly leaned in, almost pressed to Gong Shangyu’s ear, “Master is mine, so I advise you not to harbor any foolish hopes!”
Hearing this, Gong Shangyu sneered and was forced to open her eyes.
The next moment, she found Gu Qingying’s face only inches away from hers.
They were so close that if Gu Qingying blinked, her long lashes would sweep across Gong Shangyu’s cheek.
Although Gu Qingying hid her emotions well, Gong Shangyu still caught a flash of tension and fear in her expression.
In that split second, Gong Shangyu seemed to understand something.
She arched one eyebrow, revealing a half-smile, “Relax~ At least before we deal with Fourth Junior Sister, that dangerous one, we’re still on the same side.”
“So, let’s get along peacefully~”
“After all, we’ve been sisters for two lifetimes now. It would be far too unsightly to always fight and squabble.”
Gong Shangyu said this, and hurriedly added secretly in her heart.
Of course, peace is only temporary~
Faced with Gong Shangyu’s verbal provocation, Gu Qingying’s expression did not become as angry and flustered as Gong Shangyu expected.
Instead, she stared at her blankly, suspicion filling her eyes.
Gong Shangyu did not back down and met Gu Qingying’s gaze with a forced smile.
After a long time, Gu Qingying slowly sat back, turning her head away to avoid looking at Gong Shangyu.
And so this smoke-free battle ended in such a manner.
But Gong Shangyu knew that Gu Qingying did not intend to let matters rest—it was simply that she didn’t want to argue in front of Lu Li.
After all, Lu Li was still sleeping and could be easily woken by their bickering.
So Gong Shangyu only glanced once at Lu Li in the distance and sensibly kept quiet.
The rest of the journey passed without incident, and Lu Li’s party safely arrived at the Imperial Capital of Jin.
After three long, bumpy days, Lu Li’s group finally reached the Jin Kingdom.
As Lu Li’s Spirit Boat approached the Qiongyu Pass near the Imperial Capital of Jin, Jin soldiers nearby immediately paid their respects with solemn bows.
As the Spirit Boat reached the outskirts near the capital, the local commoners of Jin knelt respectfully, presenting exquisite food with sincere devotion, as if the Spirit Boat carried immortals descending from the heavens.
Even years later, Gu Qingying would vividly remember that unforgettable and distant afternoon when she and Lu Li arrived in the Jin Kingdom aboard the Spirit Boat of the Xuling Sect.
Lu Li’s Spirit Boat slowly descended at the exclusive docking ground outside the Imperial Capital of Jin.
The moment they stepped out of the cabin, a grandeur and prosperity unique to the center of imperial power, utterly unlike Yangzhou City, surged toward them.
In the distance, the towering city walls of Jin Kingdom rose like a coiled dragon into the clouds, built from massive blue-gold stones that gleamed with a cold, imposing luster under the sunlight.
At the city gates, traffic bustled, crowds flowed like a river, various carriages, caravans, and cultivators shuttled back and forth—lively and noisy, yet all adhering to an unspoken, strict order.
The air was thick with the scents of spices and spirit materials, mingling with the mundane aroma of mortal life.
What drew Lu Li’s attention most were the two rows of Imperial Guard standing upright outside the city gates, all in fresh armor and exuding a fierce presence.
Every soldier was a Qi Refining cultivator, with several Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivators among the officers.
Leading them was a commander in silver armor at the peak of Foundation Establishment.
Beside the commander stood an elderly man in royal court garb, his face lean and thin, his aura faintly rippling with spiritual energy—he, like Lu Li, had reached the early Nascent Soul Stage!
Seeing Lu Li and his disciples disembark, the Foundation Establishment commander stepped forward at once, cupping his fists and greeting in a loud voice, “This humble one is Xue Feng, commander of the Imperial Guard, welcoming Immortal Master Lu of the Xuling Sect to Yicheng! His Majesty has already prepared a grand banquet in the Imperial Palace and has specially ordered me and Royal Attendant Zhou Lao to await your honored arrival!”
The Nascent Soul Royal Attendant also nodded slightly as a greeting, his eyes sweeping over Lu Li with a hint of scrutiny, but said nothing more.
Hearing this, Lu Li was inwardly impressed at the Jin royal family’s intelligence network.
They had not only prepared the reception ahead of time, but even sent a Nascent Soul Royal Attendant.
Lu Li kept his expression calm and returned the salute, “Thank you, General Xue and Attendant Zhou, for waiting so long. I do not dare to accept such honor.”
Then, under the guidance of Xue Feng and Zhou Lao, Lu Li and his two disciples passed through the bustling welcoming crowd and headed toward the towering city gate.
On both sides of the road, many citizens of Jin watched curiously, whispering about the Xuling Sect Immortal Master and the heroes of Yangzhou City, their eyes full of awe and gratitude.
Clearly, news of how Lu Li and his disciples solved the Child Disappearance Case and thwarted the Yin Corpse Sect’s plot in Yangzhou City had already spread to the Imperial Capital of Jin.
As Lu Li’s group entered the city, even more spectacular and luxurious sights of the inner imperial capital came into view.
The main avenue was so wide that ten carriages could ride side by side, paved with white jade and leading straight toward the imperial city.
On both sides of the street were grand pavilions, rows of shops, ornate eaves, and intricate carvings—extreme extravagance everywhere.
The air here was even thicker with spiritual energy than outside.
Clearly, there must be a major spirit vein buried under the imperial city.
From time to time, cultivators riding magical tools and spirit beasts would sweep through the sky, but all consciously avoided the core region of the imperial city.
So, in silence, Lu Li and his disciples passed through several heavily guarded palace gates and finally arrived before a grand hall deep within the palace.
This hall was called Qianyuan Hall, the place where the Emperor of Jin Kingdom received important guests.
Lu Li and his disciples entered the main hall in order, only to find its interior vast and resplendent, adorned with golden dragons and phoenixes.
On both sides sat numerous civil and military officials of Jin, as well as members of the royal family, all turning their gaze to the newcomers.
At the far end of the hall, on the lofty Dragon Throne, sat a young man in a bright yellow, elaborately embroidered dragon robe and imperial crown.
His features were refined, his eyes exceptionally deep, and his chin clean-shaven.
Although he emitted no spiritual energy, there was an innate, imposing aura of a man long accustomed to power.
Clearly, this was Zhou Ruolin, the current Emperor of Jin Kingdom.
“Xuling Sect, Duanqing Peak, Immortal Master Lu arrives!”
The sharp voice of the Royal Attendant echoed throughout the hall.
Lu Li led his two disciples forward, and according to the customs of the cultivation world and mortal dynasties, bowed respectfully.
“Lu Li, Master of Duanqing Peak of Xuling Sect, greets Your Majesty.”
Gu Qingying and Gong Shangyu followed closely behind, bowing to the Emperor with respectful postures, but with eyes that betrayed neither awe nor deference.
In fact, they looked at the so-called Emperor with evident indifference and curiously glanced about.
As for Gong Shangyu, she was even less reserved, secretly sizing up the man before her—the Emperor of Jin who, just a year ago, had ascended the throne by killing his own brother and imprisoning his father.