Revealing One's True Colors

Qin Hao looked at Xia Lingxi. Her stubborn eyes shimmered with tears, a mix of her reluctance to part and the grievance of being repeatedly rejected.

Qin Hao remained silent for a moment before finally choosing to compromise:

"Alright."

After saying that, Qin Hao raised his hand, his slender fingers removing the mask from his face.

Xia Lingxi held her breath, her heart instantly leaping to her throat. She did not dare to blink. Even Gong Jun, who was standing nearby, cast his gaze over. He was also curious about what the face beneath the mask looked like.

The mask was gently taken off. There was no deliberately drawn-out motion, just an ordinary reveal of the true face beneath.

The moment that face was fully revealed, Xia Lingxi felt as if time had stopped.

The setting sun seemed to have found its home, gently falling upon Qin Hao's face and coating it with a layer of gold.

What kind of face was this? His sword-like eyebrows slanted upwards into his hairline, carrying an innate, natural nobility. Those eyes were so profound they seemed like a night sky capable of embracing a sea of stars.

His exquisite facial features were flawless in every aspect. Combined, they presented a breathtakingly striking impact.

Xia Lingxi was completely stunned. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, and a blush rapidly spread across her face.

"Handsome... too handsome..."

An unprecedented, surging flutter and adoration instantly breached Xia Lingxi's psychological defenses like a bursting dam.

The vague affection she had held before now found a clear vessel. She completely and unreservedly fell for him.

Seeing the silly girl staring blankly at his face, completely motionless, Qin Hao took a step forward and reached out to gently flick her forehead:

"Are you satisfied now?"

Hearing Qin Hao's words, Xia Lingxi woke up as if from a dream. Looking at this handsome face so close at hand, she made a bold decision.

She suddenly hooked her arms around Qin Hao's neck, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him.

Beside them, Gong Jun's pupils shrank violently upon seeing this scene:

After forcefully kissing Qin Hao, Xia Lingxi licked her lips, still wanting more:

"Hmph, you have now been marked by this princess! No matter where you are in the future, I will find you."

After saying that, Xia Lingxi turned around, not looking at Qin Hao again: "Ugly monster, you can go. I don't want to see you anymore."

Xia Lingxi spoke crisply and decisively, even carrying her usual spoiled arrogance. However, only she knew just how terrible she felt in her heart at this moment.

She drove him away because she did not dare to look anymore. She was afraid she would completely lose control, lose all her dignity, and do something even more embarrassing.

Qin Hao took a deep look at this silly girl, and then his figure disappeared.

After being silent for quite a while and hearing no movement behind her, Xia Lingxi slowly turned around. He was gone. He had really gone.

At this moment, Gong Jun stepped forward opportunely:

"Lingxi, Brother Qin Hao is not from the same world as us. Stop thinking about him."

Xia Lingxi pouted. If she had known she would feel this sad, she would not have acted so tough. If she had shamelessly begged him to stay, would he have stayed?

Seeing Xia Lingxi completely ignoring him, Gong Jun's expression shifted:

"No rush. That Qin Hao just left. Who knows if he has gone far. Once I confirm he won't come back, I'll make my move!"

At the same time, in the void

[Ding. Warning. There are three days left until the rental period ends. Host, please return to the client's side as soon as possible.]

Hearing the electronic voice in his mind, Qin Hao curled his lips: "What's the rush? I haven't gone far. Mainly, I want to see what kind of tricks this Gong Jun is trying to pull. He makes me feel that something is very wrong, but he hasn't shown any abnormalities. I suspect he is wary of my presence."

"Once I leave, he might just show his true colors."

...

Gong Jun ended up waiting for three days. Three days had passed, and it seemed that Qin Hao had truly left.

Thinking of this, the corners of Gong Jun's mouth curled up slightly: "Xia Lingxi, Qin Hao is gone. You and the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart are all mine!"

Gong Jun walked step by step toward Xia Lingxi, who was sitting cross-legged in cultivation.

Xia Lingxi's Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart sensed a strong surge of malice. She jerked her head up and discovered that the source of this malice was actually Gong Jun.

This made Xia Lingxi feel as if she were facing a formidable enemy. She immediately took out the immortal sword Qin Hao had given her, held it horizontally across her chest, and sternly rebuked him:

"Gong Jun! What are you doing?"

Gong Jun coldly snorted: "Doing what? Doing you, of course, you slut! I worked hard for so many years and finally managed to make you have a favorable impression of me. But you, in just one month, fell in love with someone else!"

"Originally, I didn't want to make you suffer so much. I actually quite like your looks. If you were obedient, I could have spared your life after taking your Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart and kept you as my plaything. But now, I only want to torture you to death!"

Xia Lingxi retreated again and again, threatening as she backed away:

"You dare harm me? Qin Hao won't let you off."

Hearing this, Gong Jun sneered repeatedly: "Qin Hao? Haha, he's already gone! I heard it from your conversation long ago. It was just a transaction between you two. Idiot, he never took you seriously at all. You were the only one who got too caught up in the act!"

Gong Jun's words turned Xia Lingxi's face ashen. She gritted her teeth: "I still have my Crown Prince brother. My Crown Prince brother will definitely not let you get away with this."

As soon as these words were spoken, Gong Jun laughed even more maniacally:

"Hahaha, Xia Yang? He probably died a few days after we left. The entire Great Cang Kingdom no longer bears the surname Xia. It bears the surname Gong!"

"Did you think it was your imperial father who wanted to take your Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart? Haha, let me tell you a cruel fact. Your imperial father is long dead. Not only is he dead, but he was also refined into a puppet by my father. Taking your Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart was also for me!"

"Back then, when that Qin Hao suggested bringing in reinforcements to kill the emperor, I was genuinely terrified. I have to thank you and Xia Yang, you two idiots. You two saved my father's life."

Gong Jun's words caused Xia Lingxi to collapse onto the ground, her ashen face instantly turning deathly pale:

"You beast! You... my imperial father was your master!"

Gong Jun shrugged: "Master? Heh, sentiments are the most ridiculous things in this world. I only believe in strength! That idiot of an imperial father of yours was poisoned by me over a long period of time precisely because he trusted me too much, eventually turning into my father's puppet!"

As he spoke, Gong Jun flashed to appear right in front of Xia Lingxi. In a panic, Xia Lingxi gripped the immortal sword in her hand and swung it at Gong Jun.

A terrifying sword aura severed one of Gong Jun's arms with extreme speed.

Seeing this scene, even Xia Lingxi was stunned: "This sword Qin Hao gave me is so powerful!"

Reeling from the pain, Gong Jun retreated repeatedly. He glanced at Xia Lingxi with lingering fear and snorted coldly: "Slut, that Qin Hao is truly generous to you, actually gifting you such a precious sword. But soon, it will belong to me."

Having witnessed her current strength, Xia Lingxi slowly stood up. The look she directed at Gong Jun was full of disdain:

"Tch, stop bragging. You and I are both in the Nascent Soul realm, and I have the precious sword and martial skills Qin Hao gave me. Let's see who kills who today."

Hearing these words, Gong Jun let out a disdainful sneer. "Who said I wanted to kill you? I had originally planned to take my time toying with you, but seeing you flirt with that Qin Hao made me drop the idea. Little did you know, I had already sent for my father to hurry over!"

Before his voice could fade, two figures materialized behind Gong Jun. One of them was none other than Gong Jun's father, Gong Chen, while the other was Xia Lingxi's imperial father, Xia Ling. However, at this very moment, Xia Ling had already been reduced to a mere puppet.