Gu Qingying stood before Feng Lingshuang, hands on her hips, her small face tilted up, purple eyes wide open, filled with undisguised wariness and scrutiny.
The more she looked at Feng Lingshuang now, the more she felt this woman was the fox spirit that Gong Shangyu had described.
What seeking guidance on the Sword Dao?
What chance encounter and pointers?
She was trying to fool a ghost!
The unfamiliar, cold scent on Master last night, and then this Jian Mingzi accurately showing up at the door this morning, now lurking suspiciously outside Master’s courtyard…
This series of “coincidences” had automatically linked together in Gu Qingying’s mind, which was filled with Gong Shangyu’s “fox spirit theory,” into a complete, conspiracy-filled script!
This was definitely a scheming, bad woman who coveted Master’s body!
Using the pretense of discussing swords to carry out seduction!
She had to guard the gates for Master!
She absolutely could not let this kind of wildflower of unknown origin get within half a step of Master!
However, in stark contrast to the alarms blaring and surging hostility within Gu Qingying, the gaze beneath Feng Lingshuang’s veiled hat, as it fell upon the puffed-up Gu Qingying, was like spring sunshine melting snow, carrying a softness and nostalgia that even she herself hadn’t deeply examined—an almost instinctual feeling.
Heh… Little Five is just like in her former life.
Recalling the black-haired, purple-eyed little junior sister from her dreams, who always tried to keep a stern face, pretending to be serious but was actually thoughtful and a bit tsundere, the corners of Feng Lingshuang’s mouth couldn’t help but curl up into a smile reminiscent of a doting old aunt.
After all, in a certain sense, the Gu Qingying of her former life was practically taught by her own hand.
Therefore, in Feng Lingshuang’s eyes, Gu Qingying would forever be that child who practiced the sword until her wrists trembled but refused to rest, whose eyes would light up when secretly fed pastries before she’d forcibly pretend to be calm and thank her.
Now, seeing Gu Qingying standing alive before her, cheeks slightly flushed from the dual anger of having her head stepped on and a suspected love rival, purple eyes wide, trying her best to look fierce as she questioned her…
Feng Lingshuang only felt that a certain cold corner of her heart seemed to be gently warmed by this vivid, lively aura.
Compared to the heavy, blurry shadows from the later parts of the dream, the little junior sister before her eyes—who could get angry, glare, and puff up like a little hedgehog to protect herself and Master—was so real, so vivid, so full of vibrant vitality.
It’s so good.
To see you like this… so alive again.
Feng Lingshuang sighed silently in her heart.
Her gaze, separated by the white veil, lingered on Gu Qingying for a moment longer—from her delicate brows slightly furrowed in anger, to her tightly pursed, stubborn lips, to those clear, bright amethyst eyes even in the night…
Every detail overlapped with the warm fragments deep in her memory, stirring complex ripples in her heart.
There was nostalgia, emotion, and also a faint, unclear trace of bitterness.
Gu Qingying felt extremely uncomfortable under this “Jian Mingzi’s” prolonged stare.
The almost doting affection deep within the other’s gaze made her feel even more eerie and creeped out.
“Hey!”
Gu Qingying couldn’t help but raise her voice, breaking the strange silence, her tone even more unfriendly.
“What are you looking at?! Is there a flower on my face? Or are you, this sneaky fellow, plotting something bad in your heart?”
Feng Lingshuang was brought back to her senses by this fiery questioning.
She laughed inwardly, chiding herself for getting lost in thought.
She collected her thoughts, suppressing the surging emotions, and followed Gu Qingying’s words, naturally and half-truthfully explaining, “My apologies, I was rude. It’s just… Fellow Daoist Gu’s appearance reminds me of an old friend.”
Gu Qingying asked curiously, “Oh? An old friend?”
“Yes, an old friend.”
Feng Lingshuang paused, her voice appropriately tinged with a trace of melancholy.
“A… younger sister with whom I shared a deep bond.”
Huh?
Younger sister?
The alarm bells in Gu Qingying’s mind blared even louder, nearly making her jump up on the spot!
Younger sister?
Screw your younger sister!
Gu Qingying’s internal alarms instantly went into overdrive.
Her earlier suspicion that “Jian Mingzi” might be a woman disguised as a man was brutally overturned by herself at this moment!
No!
This wasn’t a woman disguised as a man!
This was clearly a thorough and complete, lustful, frivolous, and rude scoundrel!
And… his orientation might be a bit problematic!
Listen to this nonsense!
“You look like my younger sister”?
This was practically the oldest, most clichéd pick-up line used by those playboy young masters from the teahouse stories in her former life to flirt with decent women!
A universal playboy quote!
The most crucial point was—she was currently dressed as a man!
Assuming a male identity!
Under the full power of the Cognitive Modification System, in the eyes of outsiders, she should be “Gu Qingkong,” a somewhat delicate-looking young man.
This guy was telling a young man he looked like his younger sister?
What did that mean?!
Was his eyesight bad, or was he deliberately using this ambiguous talk to flirt with her?
Or… had that guy really seen through some flaw and was secretly mocking her for cross-dressing?
Whichever possibility it was made Gu Qingying feel extremely offended and furious!
“You’re the younger sister! Your whole family are younger sisters!”
Gu Qingying shouted, her face flushed red.
She straightened her slender chest, trying her best to project a manly, righteous, and imposing air, pointing at Feng Lingshuang’s nose.
“Open your eyes wide and look clearly! I, Gu Qingkong, am a pure man! An iron-blooded, true man! Got it?!”
Her fierce but inwardly weak declaration, paired with her delicate face flushed with excitement and those amethyst eyes that were even more watery and sparkling due to anger, didn’t have much of the “pure man” intimidation factor.
Instead, it had a uniquely vivid cuteness.
Pfft—
Feng Lingshuang couldn’t hold back, a very light, breath-like laugh escaping from beneath her veiled hat.
She quickly raised a hand to cover her lips, but her slightly trembling shoulders still betrayed her amusement.
Oh no, oh no…
Little Junior Sister’s eagerness to prove she’s an “iron-blooded true man” is just too… too amusing.
Exactly like that black kitten in the dream that got its tail stepped on, puffing up and hissing with a milky voice.
It instantly dispersed the faint melancholy stirred by memories of her former life.
“You’re still laughing?!”
Gu Qingying was even angrier, purple eyes practically shooting flames, feeling she had been seriously insulted and looked down upon.
“My apologies, my apologies…”
Feng Lingshuang quickly stopped laughing, though her voice still held a barely perceptible tremor of lingering amusement.
She cupped her hands slightly towards Gu Qingying, her tone sincere as she tried to make amends.
“I truly had no intention to humiliate you, Fellow Daoist, nor any desire to offend. It’s just… Fellow Daoist’s spirit and bearing truly remind me of a close relative, so I momentarily lost control of my emotions. For my indiscretion, I hope you can be magnanimous.”
Feng Lingshuang’s apology sounded quite sincere, and her posture was sufficiently humble.
As the saying goes, one shouldn’t hit a smiling face.
Although Gu Qingying was still fuming, seeing her attitude so good, if she kept being entangled in it, it would make her seem petty.
Gu Qingying let out a heavy “hmph!” and turned her head away, temporarily letting the matter drop.
But her vigilance and disgust towards this fellow hadn’t decreased one bit.
Seeing that the little junior sister, though still keeping a straight face, had at least calmed down a bit from her puffed-up state, Feng Lingshuang felt slightly relieved.
She thought for a moment and decided to change tactics.
Since being direct doesn’t work, then try being soft.
Praise!
Praise hard!
She knew all too well her little junior sister’s weakness.
“Speaking of which,” Feng Lingshuang naturally shifted the topic, her voice filled with undisguised admiration, her gaze resting on Gu Qingying as if appreciating a piece of fine jade.
“Fellow Daoist Gu is so young, yet possesses such cultivation and bearing. Truly a young talent, astonishing. That day at the Dharma Assembly, Fellow Daoist’s skill and quick-wittedness left a deep impression on me.”
Feng Lingshuang deliberately paused, steering the topic towards the most crucial person.
“Now it seems, indeed, a famous master produces outstanding disciples. To have taught such an exceptional disciple as you, Senior Lu truly has discerning eyes and teaches with great skill.”
Sure enough, as soon as she heard the other praising her and Master, the anger in Gu Qingying’s purple eyes visibly lessened.
Even the corners of her slightly pouted mouth relaxed unconsciously, even hinting at a small, proud upward curve.
Hmph!
So this guy has some taste after all!
Knows how amazing Master is!
And knows I, Gu Qingying, am not undeserving of my reputation!
She straightened her chest, chin slightly raised, trying to maintain a reserved appearance.
But her sparkling eyes and slightly flushed cheeks had long betrayed the delight and pleasure in her heart.
Yes, yes, yes!
Master is the best!
I’m also pretty good!
Come on!
Praise Master more!
And… you can mention me a little too!
Feng Lingshuang took in all of Gu Qingying’s subtle changes in expression.
A knowing yet helpless smile curled under her veiled hat.
Just as expected…
Same as in her former life, Little Junior Sister is still so easily flattered.
Just mention Master, praise Master, and then incidentally praise her a couple of times, and this little one will immediately perk up her ears, eyes shining, all her anger gone…
So… easy to read and so adorable.
The softness in Feng Lingshuang’s heart expanded further.
So, following Gu Qingying’s train of thought, she continued the “flattery,” her words earnest, her angles clever, both praising Lu Li’s teaching merits and subtly highlighting Gu Qingying’s own “extraordinary talent” and “diligent effort.”
It made Gu Qingying’s heart bloom with joy.
Her earlier anger had long been thrown beyond the clouds, and she only felt that although this “Jian Mingzi” was of suspicious origin and spoke strangely, his taste wasn’t bad!
And he speaks much more pleasantly than that Second Senior Sister, Gong Shangyu, who only knows how to annoy me all day!
Just as Gu Qingying’s hostility had greatly diminished, even starting to think the other might not be so annoying, Feng Lingshuang’s gaze inadvertently swept past Gu Qingying’s waist.
There, hanging from her belt, was a long sword with a simple, ancient style, its scabbard entwined with silver thread-like patterns.
Even in the night, the sword faintly flowed with a layer of warm spiritual light, emitting a unique aura that was both comforting and subtly stirring.
The Love Thread Sword.
Feng Lingshuang’s gaze beneath the veil instantly froze.
All her thoughts, all her emotions, all her nostalgia seemed to find a concrete anchor point at this moment, sinking heavily onto that sword.
This is… her Love Thread Sword.
The life-bound spirit sword gifted by Master in her former life, which accompanied her through countless storms, witnessed her progress on the Sword Dao, and bore countless hidden thoughts of her heart.
She had wiped it under the moonlight countless times, confiding in it thoughts she couldn’t voice to anyone; she had also relied on it to fight her way out of dangerous situations.
It wasn’t just a magic weapon; it was one of the closest links between her and Master, and between her and that unforgettable yet ultimately shattered past.
Now, it hung at Gu Qingying’s waist.
Worn with great care by her little junior sister.
At this thought, an extremely complex emotion instantly gripped Feng Lingshuang’s heart.
There was the faint melancholy of things changing, the relief of a treasured sword finding a worthy owner, the reassurance of seeing an old possession well cared for, and also a kind of… indescribable, bittersweet feeling interwoven with loss and blessings.
Feng Lingshuang could see that Little Junior Sister cherished this sword.
That made her feel relieved.
It was just… personally seeing something that originally belonged to her now worn by someone else.
Even if that person was her cherished little junior sister, the impact was still clear and profound.
Feng Lingshuang’s distraction lasted only a brief moment.
She quickly adjusted her emotions.
Since the sword had been gifted, and the wearer was Gu Qingying, that was the best outcome.
Suppressing the waves in her heart, she pretended to have just noticed it, her tone carrying just the right amount of surprise and praise as her gaze refocused on the Love Thread Sword.
“Fellow Daoist Gu, the sword at your waist… could it be the legendary spirit sword of the Duanqing Peak lineage—the Love Thread?”
Her voice was filled with the sigh of “having long heard of its fame, finally seeing it in person.”
“Indeed, it lives up to its reputation. Even sheathed, one can feel its contained spiritual essence, gentle yet hinting at sharpness. Truly a rare, sentient sword. For Senior Lu to gift this sword to you, Fellow Daoist, shows the depth of his expectations for you.”
Gu Qingying, who was feeling quite pleased from all the praise, instinctively looked down at the sword at her waist upon hearing this, feeling somewhat surprised inside: Is this sword that famous?
Even someone from the Heavenly Sword Sect has heard of it?
But then she thought, this was a treasure that Senior Sister in her former life treated as her life, so it having some fame was normal.
Hearing the other again attribute the gifting of the sword to Master’s “deep expectations” for her made Gu Qingying’s heart feel even sweeter, and the slight sense of guilt she felt towards the sword’s original owner faded quite a bit.
“Ahem, it was bestowed by Master, so of course I treasure it.”
She patted the sword hilt, saying with a hint of pride.
Seeing her action, the smile in Feng Lingshuang’s eyes deepened.
Seizing the opportunity, her tone became even gentler, carrying a purely appreciative, treasure-admiring request, free of any ulterior motives.
“I wonder… if I might have the honor to take a closer look at this sword’s elegance? I would never dare to have any intention of defiling it. It’s just that I have long admired the name ‘Love Thread’ and yearned to see it. If I could glimpse its form and sense its intent, it would be a rare inspiration for my own Sword Dao cultivation.”
Feng Lingshuang spoke very sincerely, and her reason sounded lofty and proper.
Among sword cultivators, admiring famous swords and exchanging sword intent was a common practice.
Moreover, she had just lavished praise on both Gu Qingying and Lu Li, and her attitude was so humble and polite.
Although Gu Qingying was a bit reluctant to hand over the sword, she also felt embarrassed to flatly refuse.
After all, the other had just said such nice things…
And, it was just looking, right?
With her watching closely, it should… be fine?
Hesitating for a moment, Gu Qingying finally nodded, somewhat reluctantly untying the Love Thread Sword from her waist and handing it over.
“Be careful. Don’t… don’t break it.”