As a prominent figure of the Luoxia Immortal Sect, Nalan Yunyan was naturally not the kind of woman who would shriek and become overcome with shyness upon seeing another woman’s body.
Extremely popular within the sect, she had seen many young girls who tried to establish a connection with her by offering themselves to her bed.
Every time, she would impassively order her subordinates to throw them out, her eyes as cold as if she were looking at trash.
Today was the first time she was moved.
It wasn’t because she had any interest in a child like Qian Yu, who lacked any striking features and was obscured by holy light—it was because of the girl’s pitiful gaze.
In the projection, amidst the swirling mist, the milky-white little Fox Half-Yao huddled in the center.
Her ears were matted by the mist, and her long hair was soaked by the spring water.
Upon noticing Nalan Yunyan’s gaze, she first showed the panic of being seen exposed, followed by the helplessness of being offended.
Finally, she hugged her chest with both hands, looking aggrieved and uneasy, as if she wanted to say something but didn’t dare to speak.
Nalan Yunyan never cared about the bodies of others, but Qian Yu’s nervous appearance—worrying about being seen yet not daring to voice her dissatisfaction—caused a stir in her heart for the first time in her life due to seeing someone else’s body.
It reminded her of her former self: untalented, insignificant, wanting a bit of privacy from her mother, only to have it ruthlessly shattered every time.
“I was presumptuous. I won’t connect to the communication directly like that again.”
“Hmm?”
Because Nalan Yunyan had given Qian Yu time to disconnect and tidy her clothes, by the time the communication was re-established, Qian Yu was already neatly dressed.
In the extra time provided, she had even pinned up her hair as requested.
Looking at Qian Yu, who no longer had disheveled hair but instead possessed a somewhat soft, domestic temperament due to her pinned-up hair, Nalan Yunyan quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
After a moment of silence, she apologized for her previous “overbearing” behavior.
This left Qian Yu a bit stunned.
Would the proud young lady actually apologize?
Was the lethality of her meager holy light really that great?
Qian Yu lowered her head, doubting her reality.
Unaware of what the little Half-Yao on the other side was thinking, Nalan Yunyan, who was no longer the girl she once was, quickly adjusted her mindset.
She remembered the purpose of contacting Qian Yu tonight: “Qian Yu, I told you to go and scar Gu Qinghan’s face. How is the progress?”
“Um, it’s proceeding at full speed. As soon as there’s progress, I will definitely report to you immediately.”
Although she had already confessed and defected, Qian Yu’s answer was decisive and her expression serious.
“Is that so…”
Nalan Yunyan smiled imperceptibly on the other side.
Perhaps because she had just finished a day of cultivation, her radiant golden hair was now draped down.
Her entire being looked less cold and arrogant, replaced by a touch of softness and unpredictability.
She paused and then smiled again: “If you were truly advancing my mission, why would Gu Qinghan personally go to the Heritage Ground to help you select a cultivation technique?”
“Ah… what do you mean?”
Qian Yu was startled.
She knew Gu Qinghan had gone to the Heritage Ground tonight; she had watched the woman leave the Cave Residence, otherwise she wouldn’t have dared to communicate with Nalan Yunyan here.
But she went there to help her choose a cultivation technique?
One had to know that place was one of the core locations of the Luoxia Immortal Sect.
The items stored there, at their lowest level, were foundations that led directly to the Venerable Realm.
Historically, one was only allowed to enter once upon becoming a True Disciple or achieving a great merit.
Even for a peerless genius like Gu Qinghan, who was on a level far above the other True Disciples, getting back inside wasn’t easy.
How could she be going there to choose a technique for her?
And… regarding this matter, how did you, Nalan Yunyan, know about it?
“Want to ask how I know?”
Seeing Qian Yu’s shocked little face, the smile at the corner of Nalan Yunyan’s mouth deepened.
“That is, of course, because the Heritage Ground has been controlled by my Nalan Family since its inception. Now, tell me, why would Gu Qinghan exert so much effort to go to the Heritage Ground and select a cultivation technique suitable for a Half-Yao? Is it not because you’ve turned to her side and intend to play both ends?”
The smile turned into anger and interrogation at that moment.
She had come to call her to account tonight.
If she hadn’t been distracted by Qian Yu’s body just now, she would likely have been angry enough by now to send people over to drag this double-dealing little Half-Yao back and drown her in the Tongtian River.
The girl had confessed her love to her in the morning, yet by the evening, she had coaxed Gu Qinghan into mobilizing her authority to pick a technique for her in the Heritage Ground.
Didn’t this make her look ridiculous for being in a good mood because of the girl’s confession earlier that day?
As Nalan Yunyan’s face grew colder, Qian Yu was also a bit dazed.
She didn’t even know what Gu Qinghan had left for tonight; how was she supposed to explain? Looking at Nalan Yunyan’s angry expression, she felt that if she didn’t provide an explanation, the other party would send people to storm the Cave Residence and drag her back.
Gu Qinghan wasn’t here right now.
“Forget it, you don’t need to explain anything. Just consider it that I, this young lady, misjudged you.”
Perhaps because she had remembered her childhood earlier, Nalan Yunyan did not continue her reprimand after her cold sneer; she was quite disheartened.
Just as she was about to cut off the communication, Qian Yu’s rapid words suddenly came from the other side: “Senior Sister Nalan, what are you saying? You can question my character, but you cannot insult my love for you…”
“Oh?”
The finger Nalan Yunyan was using to cut the connection froze in mid-air.
Qian Yu’s voice was fast and urgent, carrying the grievance of being misunderstood: “You said it yourself before; you wanted Gu Qinghan to experience the taste of being betrayed by a friend. I listened! That’s why I didn’t act against Gu Qinghan immediately. I plan to win her trust completely before letting her experience the taste of being betrayed by her best friend!”
“Glib talk.” Nalan Yunyan snorted coldly and turned her head away, the frost on her face quietly diminishing a few degrees.
This was the first time since her talent matured that anyone had spoken to her in such a tone that bordered on accusation.
Not to mention the person accusing her was a lowly Half-Yao. No matter how aggrieved the other party felt, she should have explained herself softly.
How could she get angry?!
Nalan Yunyan really wanted to say that, but looking at the Half-Yao in the projection whose small face was flushed from spite, she ultimately didn’t speak.
To make the timid girl speak to her so urgently, it was likely only because her sincerity had been questioned, right? Humph!
“Remember what you said.”
After another soft snort, the inexplicably easily-coaxed Nalan Yunyan crossed her arms and said indifferently, “Your flattery of Gu Qinghan is only for the sake of later betrayal. If I find that you have even half a bit of genuine sincerity for her that goes beyond acting…”
“I won’t. Senior Sister, I only like you.”
Qian Yu nodded quickly, deciding she would immediately make up a decent reason for why she liked Nalan Yunyan after she went back; otherwise, it would be bad if the other party asked later.
Why can this fox say a confession so naturally?
Could it be that Gu Qinghan was conquered by her in this way?
Nalan Yunyan suddenly blinked, looking at Qian Yu silently for two seconds, wondering if she should also find a way to test this fox’s loyalty again.
Just then, a subordinate outside the door knocked and passed in a stack of secret reports.
After reading them, a playful smile appeared in Nalan Yunyan’s eyes.
She looked at Qian Yu and spoke: “I just learned something. This time, when Gu Qinghan went to the Heritage Ground, besides choosing a technique suitable for a Half-Yao, she also chose a rather redundant divine ability.”
The Soul Questioning Mantra.
In the Cultivation World, there were many interrogation methods such as Soul Searching, but those methods were more or less harmful to the subject’s divine soul.
In severe cases, the person might even turn into an idiot immediately after being interrogated.
And the Soul Questioning Mantra that Gu Qinghan chose—its only effect was to ensure the person told the truth without damaging their divine soul.
Nalan Yunyan gave Qian Yu a meaningful look.
This was a very redundant divine ability.
Except for certain cultivators who didn’t trust their own Dao companions, almost no one would touch it.
Firstly, it required the caster’s cultivation to be far higher than the target’s.
Secondly, it had very high requirements for one’s own soul strength; a slight oversight could damage oneself.
Thirdly, Soul Searching techniques were too common in the Cultivation World.
Since they had to ensure the other party told the truth and already possessed overwhelming strength, almost no one was willing to risk injuring themselves to perform such a lackluster spell unless they deeply cared for the person being cast upon.
They would just use Soul Search.
If Gu Qinghan chose such a divine ability to test Qian Yu… then that was fine.
She wouldn’t have to test her herself.
After all, she had no intention of specially cultivating a divine ability like Gu Qinghan did.