Chapter 57 Interlude: As Long as You Are Willing

“Qianyu, no, Senior Qianyu, thank you for your guidance.”

“Qinghan feels she understands much more now.”

Inside Gu Qinghan’s cave dwelling on Hanji Peak.

The black-haired girl looked at the small figure in front of her.

Even with two large ears, the half-demon girl was still slightly shorter than her.

She thanked her solemnly.

Only this time, the thanks were less constrained and more sincere.

Gu Qinghan’s previous awe of Qianyu stemmed from her ability to turn decay into magic through her cultivation.

However, her current gratitude was born from the other’s insight and enlightenment.

It was hard to imagine how such a thin and small person could speak so naturally about such truths.

These were truths that ordinary people might take half a lifetime to realize.

“These are all very shallow truths.”

“If I hadn’t saved you, you would have realized them yourself soon enough after suffering this tribulation.”

Facing Gu Qinghan’s gaze of hidden admiration, Qianyu simply waved her hand.

After finishing her display of wisdom, she didn’t actually want to take the credit.

Knowing many truths doesn’t necessarily mean one can live a good life.

Besides, this is the world of immortal cultivation where strength is the foundation of everything.

If it weren’t for her cultivation, she wouldn’t even have the chance to speak truths to Gu Qinghan here.

She certainly wouldn’t have the other girl sincerely call her Senior.

Qianyu was very clear-headed about this.

She didn’t realize that her dismissive appearance looked completely different in Gu Qinghan’s eyes.

As a rising star and true disciple, Gu Qinghan did not lack pointers from seniors.

However, those various seniors always had a sort of condescending arrogance.

Once Gu Qinghan achieved something because of their pointers, they would claim all the credit.

They would demand repayment by saying things like, “Without me, you wouldn’t be where you are today.”

Gu Qinghan was grateful for their help, but she knew they weren’t always sincere.

They simply liked to confirm their own authority by lecturing juniors.

Only the Qianyu in front of her was different.

The other person claimed no credit at all.

She even deliberately acted as if she weren’t very bright to reduce Gu Qinghan’s guilt.

An ordinary person might think Qianyu was intentionally showing off to gain respect.

But Gu Qinghan would not think that.

She had seen through everything.

The little fox in front of her might look like a short winter melon.

However, her mind was as mature as an older sister or an elder.

How could such a person do something so childish?

It was nothing more than a performance to make Gu Qinghan feel better.

Thinking of this, her gratitude toward Qianyu grew even more.

The other’s fluffy appearance now seemed much more beautiful and cute.

That’s right.

Because her mother had been taken away by the demon race, Gu Qinghan hated all demon bloodlines.

A half-demon like Qianyu naturally fell into this category.

Looking at the other’s fluffy tail and ears, Gu Qinghan had originally used great mental strength to save her.

During their early friendship, she had been very resistant and dismissive.

But things were different now.

Gu Qinghan thought about Qianyu’s help and those gentle pointers.

She secretly vowed that she would do things differently if she could do it all over again.

She would not have been so biased if she knew Qianyu was such a gentle girl.

She even realized something else.

“I really want to touch Senior Qianyu’s tail and ears…”

Gu Qinghan slightly averted her gaze.

She found that after she stopped rejecting the demon characteristics, she actually liked these fluffy things.

She wondered if she would have liked Qianyu even without her high cultivation level.

Suddenly, Gu Qinghan thought of the main business.

She looked at the small Qianyu and asked a question out of the blue.

“Senior Qianyu, did you kill that Zhong Yu before?”

“Yeah…”

Qianyu was busy thinking about how to appear more profound and was a bit confused.

That Zhong Yu had been dead for a while, so why ask now?

“You shouldn’t have killed her like that.”

Gu Qinghan’s expression immediately became serious.

“Senior Qianyu, I don’t know how you suddenly became such a strong person.”

“But erasing any life should be a very serious matter.”

“You shouldn’t be so casual about it.”

“Do you feel that I should have first seriously judged her crimes?”

“Should I have carried a heart of mercy and a holy duty before erasing her?”

“Even though she hurt you to that extent?”

“Even though she deserved it?”

Qianyu’s expression became even stranger.

“Yes!”

Unexpectedly, Gu Qinghan nodded again.

She met Qianyu’s strange gaze and continued.

“The erasing of any life should have a necessary process.”

“Today you can erase Zhong Yu because you think she deserves to die.”

“Tomorrow, you could erase a person or a group just because they don’t suit your wishes.”

“I must advise you.”

Gu Qinghan was still that girl who was very stubborn about right and wrong.

She thanked Qianyu for saving her.

But since Qianyu was her friend, she had the duty to advise her not to go astray.

She did not oppose killing Zhong Yu, but she hated how casual it was.

Once erasing life becomes as easy as a snap of the fingers, one loses reverence for life.

It is like children stepping on ants on the ground.

Gu Qinghan felt this was not good.

Even if this might anger Qianyu, she still had to say it.

There are no small matters in right and wrong.

After she finished speaking, both girls fell into silence.

Gu Qinghan knew that people with absolute power often demand that others never defy them.

Otherwise, even a kind-looking strong person might turn their face on the spot.

The cave dwelling became frighteningly cold.

The silence continued as time passed.

Gu Qinghan looked directly at Qianyu.

Even though she was a bit afraid of death, she refused to lower her head.

Qianyu’s black eyes were now deep and indiscernible.

It was impossible to guess what she was thinking.

Gu Qinghan prepared herself for Qianyu to change her attitude or become angry.

However, what happened next made her dazed.

This shock was even more intense than seeing Qianyu’s strength.

Qianyu suddenly stood up and took a small step forward.

The distance between the two of them suddenly closed.

Gu Qinghan was startled.

She felt her hands being grabbed by something.

It was a pair of small, soft, and slightly cool hands.

It was Qianyu’s hands.

The other person had suddenly grabbed her.

Gu Qinghan’s heart began to beat uncontrollably.

If anyone else had done this, she would have resisted.

But this was Qianyu, the person who saved her and helped her without taking credit.

She was stunned.

She saw the slight trembling of Qianyu’s long eyelashes.

She smelled a scent of sunny warmth and light herbal fragrance.

Her brain suddenly short-circuited.

“As the saying goes: using copper as a mirror, one can adjust their clothes.”

“Using history as a mirror, one can know the rise and fall.”

“Using a person as a mirror, one can understand gains and losses.”

“Senior Sister Gu, you are my mirror!”

“You must say more things like that in the future.”

“I am so grateful!”

Is it just gratitude?

Normally, Gu Qinghan would be happy that Qianyu listened to her advice.

But now, things felt different.

She looked into those bright amber eyes.

She felt a sense of security from her hands being held.

Gu Qinghan felt an inexplicable sense of loss.

If it were just words of thanks, there was no need to be this close.

Gu Qinghan felt her cheeks become hot.

She turned her head to one side and spoke in a weak voice.

“I know, I will advise you more in the future.”

“As long as you are willing…”