Is this how you treat your savior

Gu Qingfeng stared intently at the handsome young man before him, scrutinizing his delicate features, fair skin, and the absence of an Adam's apple.

A woman disguised as a man?

But when his gaze traveled downward and swept across an unmistakably flat terrain, he immediately dismissed the thought—definitely male.

"Where did this pretty boy come from, daring to ruin this Emperor's fun? Looking for death?"

The fair-faced youth flushed crimson with rage at the insult. He yanked off his cap, letting a cascade of silky black hair tumble down. "Who are you calling a pretty boy?! I am Gu Ling'er, princess of the Seven Stars Ancient Kingdom!"

Gu Qingfeng finally recognized her. "Is the Seven Stars Ancient Kingdom so poor that even its princess suffers from malnutrition?"

Gu Ling'er didn’t fully grasp the insult, but the mocking glint in his eyes told her it was nothing good.

"Let that girl go this instant!"

"Oh? Planning to take her place?"

"I—I—I—" Gu Ling'er had never encountered such shamelessness. She sputtered, tongue-tied.

After a long, indignant pause, she finally huffed, "Is this how you treat your savior?"

Savior?

Gu Qingfeng was baffled. What nonsense was this girl spouting?

"If I hadn’t begged my father to save you, you’d have been slaughtered by the Great Luo Golden Immortal of the Chongming Celestial Clan!"

"What?!" Gu Qingfeng’s expression twisted through a spectrum of emotions. "So it was you!!"

Seeing his shock, Gu Ling'er puffed up with pride. She planted her hands on her hips and thrust out her chest. "That’s right, it was me! Why don’t you show some gratitude? If not for me, you’d have been—"

"—a damn Great Luo Golden Immortal by now! Damn it!"

Gu Qingfeng’s fury erupted. The beauty in his arms suddenly lost all appeal, and he let her escape without a second thought. Step by step, he advanced toward Gu Ling'er.

Only then did she realize something was terribly wrong. Gu Qingfeng’s face was contorted with rage, his towering figure radiating an oppressive aura as he closed in, his shadow engulfing her completely.

Trembling like a startled fawn, Gu Ling'er hugged herself tightly, her voice quivering. "Y-you—what are you doing? I-I saved your life!"

"Heh heh heh... This Emperor intends to repay your kindness properly."

"N-no need! I-I’m naturally kind-hearted! I don’t expect rewards! Besides, I have matters to attend to—ahhh! Let me go! My father is the ruler of the Seven Stars Kingdom! If you dare lay a hand on me, he’ll—"

Slap! Slap! Slap!

Her magic sealed, Gu Ling'er felt a stinging pain as her backside was smacked over a dozen times.

Whoosh!

She sprang up like a startled rabbit, whirling around to glare at Gu Qingfeng. "Y-you—how dare you hit me!"

"What? Disappointed?" Gu Qingfeng remarked coolly.

Gu Ling'er’s face burned scarlet. Tears welled up in her reddening eyes. "You monster! Is this how you repay your savior?!"

Slap! Slap! Slap!

"Enough about that. Just hearing it makes this Emperor furious."

"Waaah—!"

Gu Ling'er burst into tears—not just from the humiliation and pain, but from the crushing injustice of being punished for doing a good deed.

"I’m telling Father! He’ll make you pay for this!"

Sobbing, she turned to flee, but Gu Qingfeng seized her wrist.

If she really tattled to her father, what if the Quasi-Immortal King Gu Ruochen came seeking vengeance?

Pinning her against the wall, Gu Qingfeng loomed over her and threatened, "If you dare tell your father, this Emperor won’t help him survive his Immortal King Tribulation. Without me, he’s doomed. You wouldn’t want anything to happen to him, would you?"

Gu Ling'er’s heart hammered as his masculine presence overwhelmed her. Her cheeks flushed hotter, her gaze darting everywhere but his piercing eyes.

Turning her head away, she muttered, "Liar. Even Immortal Kings can’t help others transcend their tribulations. What makes you so special?"

With a wicked grin, Gu Qingfeng cupped her chin and forced her to meet his gaze.

Gu Ling'er found herself trapped in a smoldering, teasing stare. She tried to look away, but his grip held her fast.

Her face burned even brighter.

"Then why are you here? If this Emperor isn’t mistaken, you believe it deep down—otherwise, you wouldn’t have sought me out in secret."

His breath tickled her nose, sending shivers down her spine.

"D-don’t flatter yourself! I wasn’t looking for you! I just happened to be passing by and saw you harassing that girl, so I stepped in!"

"Heh heh heh... Perfect. You’re here to have fun, and so is this Emperor. Why not play together?"

"Ah! I... I..."

Gu Ling'er watched as that peerlessly handsome face drew closer and closer to hers. Her heart raced uncontrollably, and she instinctively closed her eyes.

Yet, the next second, the feeling of restraint around her vanished.

When she opened her eyes again, the radiantly elegant figure was already seated on the table, leisurely sipping wine.

For no reason at all, she felt a pang of disappointment.

As a princess raised in privilege, she had never experienced such thrilling moments before—only in her wildest dreams.

Just then, Gu Qingfeng's voice snapped her back to reality.

"'I' what? Don't flatter yourself! Flat as a board—hard pass."

Gu Ling'er instantly puffed up in anger. Though she didn't fully understand his words, the unmistakable mockery in Gu Qingfeng's gaze was impossible to miss.

"You scoundrel!" Fuming, she turned to leave, but Gu Qingfeng stopped her.

"If you walk away, this Emperor won’t help your father survive his tribulation."

Gu Ling'er spun around, glaring at him. "This princess would never believe your nonsense! A rogue like you couldn’t possibly have such abilities!"

Gu Qingfeng took a leisurely sip of celestial wine. "If you don’t believe me, go find an immortal about to face their tribulation and test it yourself. The truth will reveal itself soon enough."

He revealed his true motive—to use Gu Ling'er to locate an immortal on the verge of transcending their tribulation.

Having just arrived in the Seven Stars Ancient Kingdom, unfamiliar with both the land and its people, finding such an immortal was like searching for a needle in a vast ocean.

After all, no sane person would openly announce their impending tribulation—what if their enemies took advantage and ambushed them?

That’s why he needed a local insider.

And Gu Ling'er was the perfect candidate.

Given her filial devotion, she would surely cooperate wholeheartedly.

"To test or not to test—the choice is yours. It all depends on whether you want your father to live."

With that, Gu Qingfeng casually picked up his wine jug and strode away.

As he passed Gu Ling'er, he flicked her once more—payback for her interference in his ascension to Great Luo Golden Immortality.