Fortunately, Clear Autumn Is Not Here

Lin Yinyin had already stepped down from the stage and was sitting in front of Gu Yan, swaying idly from side to side.

On either side of her, there was no one else around.

Gu Yan gazed at her head of silvery hair, sensing the surging spiritual energy even in her strands.

Just as described in the original records, Lin Yinyin was indeed the most perfect experimental subject the Martial Arts Department had ever produced.

Her entire body, including her hair, was infused with silver spiritual energy—making her the ultimate weapon against demons.

The side effect, however, was that she remained forever trapped in a petite, childlike form with an equally immature mind.

Yet for the Martial Arts Department, this was actually a boon—after all, such a weapon was far easier to control.

As if sensing Gu Yan’s gaze, Lin Yinyin suddenly turned her head and glared at him fiercely.

But the next second—

Gu Yan seemed to have an idea. With a smile, he spread his hands and said, "Boss, I’ve been thinking—I was wrong earlier. How about I perform a magic trick for you as an apology?"

"Magic?" Lin Yinyin’s eyes lit up. "You know magic? Okay, show me!"

"Then watch closely, Boss. Are my hands empty right now?"

Gu Yan showed her both his palms and the backs of his hands, letting her inspect them. Lin Yinyin reached out with her tiny hands, grabbing his to examine them closely before nodding.

"Mhm, they’re empty."

"Good."

Gu Yan clenched both hands into fists and held them out to her. "Tell me, what’s your favorite snack?"

Lin Yinyin thought for a moment, almost blurting out that she loved candy. But—

No, no! Bai Jun always said she was an adult now, and adults shouldn’t keep eating childish things.

So, after a brief internal struggle, she reluctantly answered, "Coffee..."

Seeing her conflicted expression, Gu Yan chuckled softly. "Don’t blink, Boss."

Liu Jianxing watched curiously from the side.

What’s going on? Why is Gu Yan treating that boss like a kid?

Though, to be fair, she did look like one.

Shangguan Miaoyin and the others also turned their attention over.

Huh?

Since when was that old monster so easygoing?

Since when did she play little games with Gu Yan?

Meanwhile, Gu Yan unfolded his left hand, revealing a packet of instant coffee inside.

"See? Just what you asked for."

Lin Yinyin stared in wide-eyed amazement. She picked up the coffee from his palm, her eyes sparkling.

"That’s amazing... How did you do it?"

Even though coffee was bitter and she hated the taste, she’d force herself to drink it—anything to prove she was grown up.

Gu Yan smiled mysteriously. "A secret. But actually, this isn’t the gift I wanted to give you."

Under Lin Yinyin’s curious gaze, he took the coffee back with his left hand, clasped both fists together, and rubbed them as if kneading something between his palms.

Then, looking at her, he said, "Coffee tastes bitter. I don’t think it’s very nice."

"So..."

Like a real magician, he slowly parted his hands.

Lin Yinyin’s eyes widened as she saw what lay in his palms.

Her lips parted slightly, her pupils shimmering with excitement. "Th-This is...?"

"This... is what I really wanted to give you, Boss."

Gu Yan held out a large, rainbow-colored lollipop. "And this definitely isn’t a bribe."

"Mm...!"

Lin Yinyin took the lollipop, staring blankly at Gu Yan’s smiling face.

For a moment, her cheeks flushed pink. She quickly turned away, clutching the candy, too embarrassed to meet his eyes.

"You... You’re a good person."

"I forgive you for the bad things you did before."

"But... I am an adult. I really do like coffee..."

Gu Yan nodded. "Got it."

He was about to reach out and pat her head as a final gesture—

But suddenly—

Thump!

A sharp, inexplicable dread gripped his heart.

???

Gu Yan froze, his hand suspended mid-air.

Gulp.

He swallowed hard, sweat trickling down his back.

Huh? What’s going on? Why does it feel like someone’s glaring at me with pure malice?

And why does this glare feel so... familiar?

Under the weight of this invisible pressure, he retracted his hand and began scanning the room for the source.

Lin Yinyin, noticing his aborted gesture, had assumed he was going to ruffle her hair again.

Since he’d just given her candy, she decided not to dodge this time.

But when he withdrew his hand, she tilted her head in confusion.

Oh well. Little Gu Gu gave me candy, so he’s a good guy.

With that thought, she happily turned back to her lollipop.

Meanwhile, Gu Yan leaned toward Old Gao, who sat to his left, and whispered, "Old Gao, do you sense anyone staring at me?"

Old Gao focused briefly but detected nothing unusual. He shook his head. "No."

After a pause, he asked gravely, "An enemy?"

He knew Gu Yan’s perception surpassed his own. If the young master sensed something, it had to be real.

"Never mind... Must’ve been my imagination."

Gu Yan swept his gaze across the room again but found nothing.

Yet that chilling sensation couldn’t have been a lie.

So... someone’s really there?

Sweating bullets, Gu Yan slumped back into his chair.

Damn, that felt exactly like when Qingqiu is genuinely pissed at me.

But—

"Is Qingqiu here?"

He mentally reached out to his inside informant, Mei Xue.

[...No.]

Mei Xue replied impassively, closing her eyes to scan for traces of her former master’s presence.

But she found nothing.

"Good."

Gu Yan exhaled in relief.

If Qingqiu were coming, she’d have notified Mei Xue or the others in advance.

I must be paranoid.

Thank goodness. If Qingqiu had seen me teasing Lin Yinyin like this... I’d be dead.

After all, I’ve never even performed this magic trick for her.

What no one realized, however—

At the very back of the grand meeting hall, hidden in a space beyond perception—

A figure sat with her fists clenched, her murderous gaze fixed on Lin Yinyin.

In her vision, Lin Yinyin’s overwhelming spiritual energy pulsed like a storm.

"You old hag...

I’ve never even gotten to enjoy Gu Yan’s magic tricks..."

"You’ve lived for centuries, yet you’re still acting like a child in front of him..."

"And Gu Yan... you bastard!

You barely know her, yet you’re already toying with her like this...

Disgusting...!!"

"Xiao Leng, I'm so pissed!"

[...]

["Other me, that's enough... We almost got discovered by the furnace cauldron just now."]

"So what if we get discovered?!"

"I just want to rush over and drag Gu Yan away! Damn it!"

"And why is that Liu Jianxing guy always talking so close to Gu Yan?!"

["...In settings like this, everyone speaks softly and leans in. Stop being jealous over a man."]

"Ugh... Xiao Leng, whose side are you even on??"

["Give it a rest already."]