Do Not Disturb: The Icy Solitude of a Disgruntled Leng Qingqiu

Time ticked by second by second.

Yet the temperature around the Sword Holding Department building continued to drop.

The sword-wielders huddled together, shivering.

"What's going on?"

"It's almost evening—why hasn't the Director's anger cooled yet?"

"Yeah, who could’ve provoked our Director Leng?"

"I heard it was the Deputy Director of the Alliance who brought some lunatic along, pissing off our Director Leng."

"Damn it, that bastard must’ve tried pulling strings to get someone in, which angered our fair and impartial Director!"

"Exactly! That guy should just drop dead!!"

Contrary to everyone’s expectations, inside the office of the Sword Holding Department’s Director...

Leng Qingqiu stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, her hands clasped behind her back. A shattered phone lay at her feet, torn apart and discarded.

She had remained like this for nearly an entire day.

Her expression was cold, yet tinged with a hint of grievance. Beneath that grievance flickered disbelief, and beneath the disbelief, a deep, gnawing self-doubt.

Earlier that day, Gu Yan had called her back.

Just when she thought he might say something sweet to cheer her up...

What she got instead was:

["I’ve been busy lately, so I won’t be coming back. Don’t disturb me."]

"He didn’t even bother explaining?"

"Even if he thinks I don’t know his true identity, couldn’t he at least pretend like before and humor me a little?"

Leng Qingqiu clenched her fists, biting her lip hard.

Gu Yan, you bastard!!

I hope you die out there and never come back!!

Busy? Busy with your Night King schemes with those two tramps, huh?!

And Luo Ya from the "Ray of Hope"—Ling’er said she’s got that mature, wife-like charm.

I bet you’ve got something going on with her too!

Then there’s Lin Yinyin, that century-old loli who’s technically legal—she’s clearly into you.

No doubt you’re involved with her as well!

And Mei Xue! My most trusted former subordinate—you stole her away too!

She must be another one of your conquests!

And let’s not forget Bai Qionglan, Ling’er’s best friend! Rumor has it you saved her in a KTV private room, and she even called you by some intimate nickname.

I bet you’ve got something with her too!!

Fine, fine, fine!!

By this count, there are already six women tied to you in the open!!

Leng Qingqiu trembled with rage.

Without her even realizing it, Gu Yan had surrounded himself with so many vixens.

The thought alone—

BOOM!!

In a burst of fury, Leng Qingqiu shot through the window, soaring high into the sky.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!!

Her spiritual energy carved dazzling arcs across the heavens.

The wind howled past her ears as her psychic blades slashed wildly through the air.

Beams of light shot from her fingertips, piercing the clouds as if to rend the sky itself.

"GU YAN!! YOU HEARTLESS BASTARD!!!"

Her roar echoed across the firmament.

The energy beams split apart, transforming into countless arrows of light that streaked in all directions, striking the surrounding clouds and detonating with thunderous booms.

Leng Qingqiu’s figure flickered through the air, her speed making her nearly untraceable.

Like a meteor, she blazed across the horizon, spiritual energy gathering in her palms.

With a sweeping motion, a blazing orb formed above her, expanding with her will—

BOOOOM!!!

The colossal sphere erupted, a shockwave of scorching energy ripping through the clouds, scattering them into tattered wisps.

"...Hmph."

Her rage subsided slightly after that outburst, but the bitterness in her heart remained.

She wanted to confront Gu Yan, but...

Even after extending her spiritual senses to their limit, she couldn’t detect his presence. He must’ve cloaked his aura, hiding deliberately.

Was he really that unwilling to see her?

But even if they did meet... what would she say?

If those rumors were true, she couldn’t bring herself to kill Gu Yan—or those vixens around him.

She had... truly grown weak.

Leng Qingqiu clenched her fists.

This tantrum of hers made her feel like a pitiful clown with nowhere to vent.

With a despondent sigh, she drifted back into the building.

Meanwhile, countless citizens of Jianghai gazed up in terror at the bizarre spectacle in the sky.

The dark clouds looked as though they had been shredded, scattered into chaotic fragments.

Upon closer inspection, one could even see faint cracks splitting across the heavens.

People whispered—was this the precursor to a demonic invasion?

Back in her office at the Sword Holding Department, Leng Qingqiu stood in melancholy silence.

Had Gu Yan really... taken up with other women?

Just then—

Click.

"Sis... are you okay?"

Leng Ling’er tiptoed in, peeking at Leng Qingqiu, who stood rigidly by the window, fists clenched in visible fury.

Ah, it’s definitely that scumbag brother-in-law again.

Her eyes flicked to the shattered remains of Leng Qingqiu’s phone on the floor.

Oh no... Brother-in-law, you’re done for. Sis is seriously pissed this time.

"Ling’er, don’t ever mention that bastard you call ‘brother-in-law’ again!"

Hearing the noise, Leng Qingqiu turned, her voice dripping with sorrow.

Wait—Ling’er too?

She recalled how Ling’er had once read some forbidden 18+ book titled "As a Little Sister, I Fell for XXXXXX."

That makes seven now!!!

Hssk—!

Damn it!!

Had she... become the fool in all this?

Leng Qingqiu pressed a hand to her forehead, the weight of her misery nearly crushing her.

Leng Ling’er twitched.

I didn’t even mention him!

Can’t I even think about him?!

Quickly, she scurried over and hugged Leng Qingqiu’s arm, consoling her:

"Sis, what’s wrong? Is it because of that trash Gu Yan?"

"Hmph!!"

Leng Qingqiu scoffed. "Never speak of him again. Your ‘brother-in-law’ already has other women outside!"

"?? Other women?"

Leng Ling’er blinked, then burst into laughter, shaking her head emphatically.

"Absolutely impossible!!"

"Huh?"

Leng Qingqiu narrowed her eyes, activating her Truth-Seer ability—no lie could escape her spiritual gaze.

"‘Absolutely impossible’? What do you mean?"

Leng Ling’er puffed out her chest confidently and pointed at herself.

"Because my [Bullsht Radar] hasn’t gone off!"

"Bullsht Radar?"

"Yep! Whenever you’re about to be cheated on—or when you and brother-in-law are lovey-dovey—the radar reacts automatically. But ever since that day you two got intimate, it’s been completely silent..."

?!

Wait—Ling’er isn’t lying?!

What kind of absurd ability is this?!

Though Leng Qingqiu found the so-called "Bullsht Radar" utterly ridiculous, she had to admit—aside from the heartache from Gu Yan’s coldness, she hadn’t felt any other peculiar sensations.

Could it be... Gu Yan really is just busy and can’t come back?

But if he’s busy... what could he be up to?

Just what is that man scheming now?

Leng Qingqiu pondered silently.

Beside her, Ling'er tried to comfort her: "Sis, stop overthinking it! I’m telling you, your husband definitely loves only you! I can tell—he’s a total romantic at heart!"

"Hmph, forget about your brother-in-law for now. What’s this 'Bullshit Radar' of yours? Which book did you pick that up from? Ling'er, just what exactly goes through your mind all day?"

The sudden shift in topic left Leng Ling'er frozen: "......?!"

Aaaahhhε＝ε＝ε＝(#＞д＜)ﾉ!!

Damn you, brother-in-law!! This is all your fault!! Now I’m the one getting scolded!!

....

....

Ancient Martial World.

Gu Yan hovered high in the sky as dark clouds rolled in, shrouding the heavens.

Around him, faint spatial fluctuations rippled through the air.

Swish!

Having fully recovered, Leng Bingning appeared behind Gu Yan, a small golden orb resting in her palm.

She spoke calmly, "There are still over a dozen dragon qi fragments with Ling'er. The rest are all here."

Gu Yan gave a slight nod, extending a tendril to take the orb.

Watching this, Leng Bingning frowned and brought up a more pressing matter: "Also, Qingqiu is furious. Was it really okay for you to say those things to her? Aren’t you going to make it up to her?"

At this, Gu Yan finally turned his head to look at her, his expression unchanging, his tone indifferent: "Her anger is natural. After all, I said those things deliberately."

"You—!"

Leng Bingning was about to retort when she suddenly sensed something off about Gu Yan.

She flew closer, activating the Ice Heart Scripture to probe his condition.

The Ice Heart Scripture could assess a person’s emotional state, determining their suitability for its cultivation.

And now... what she detected in Gu Yan... was an unprecedented compatibility with the scripture—one even she herself had never achieved!

This could only mean one thing...

Leng Bingning’s face darkened, her voice tinged with disbelief: "You... you’ve lost your emotions?"

"Why... how did this happen?"