The Secret Between Us

"As for Xiaoli, she knows the name of the Qingyun Immortal Clan, and she knows it is what I am looking for, but just like Her Highness, she knows nothing about the Qingyun Art."

Saying this, Gu Chengyin's gaze refocused on Shangguan Yunying's face.

His expression became incredibly serious, even carrying the heavy weight of an entrustment:

"Therefore, Yunying..."

"Currently, in this world, other than me."

"You are the only person who knows the full picture of this matter."

Shangguan Yunying was stunned.

She never expected this to be the answer.

To think he actually... told her such a life-and-death secret without any reservation?

To entrust this treasure, which was enough to stir up a storm of blood and slaughter across the world, to her just like that?

"I..."

Shangguan Yunying opened her mouth, only to find her voice a bit dry.

She looked into Gu Chengyin's eyes. There was not a hint of probing or calculation in them, only pure trust.

She absolutely could not let him down!

With such trust, even if her body were smashed to pieces, she absolutely could not betray it!

Shangguan Yunying suddenly raised her right hand, forming her fingers into a sword gesture, about to slash at her left wrist!

"Rest assured! I, Shangguan Yunying, hereby swear a blood oath! With my Dao heart and my bloodline as proof!"

"If I leak even half a word of what I have seen and heard today, may my meridians be completely severed, my cultivation utterly destroyed, and my soul eternally damned..."

A blood oath, especially that of a cultivator, involved one's Dao heart and karma. Its binding force was extremely strong, and once broken, the backlash would be terrifying.

However, before Shangguan Yunying could finish her words, her fingers, which were about to pierce her skin, were firmly grasped by a warm and powerful hand.

Gu Chengyin's palm wrapped around her fingers, his grip just strong enough to stop her action.

Shangguan Yunying looked up in astonishment, meeting Gu Chengyin's smiling eyes.

She saw Gu Chengyin shake his head, the solemn expression on his face dissipating.

"There is no need for this."

"After all, I trust you very much."

Gu Chengyin gently lowered Shangguan Yunying's hand, looking at her slightly dazed face.

"So, Yunying."

"Let this matter remain a secret between us, alright?"

A secret between us.

This sentence was like the sharpest arrow, effortlessly piercing through Shangguan Yunying's reason and defenses.

Nailing directly into the softest part of her heart.

"Boom!"

Her cheeks felt as if they had ignited instantly. A burning heat spread at an astonishing speed, from her cheeks to the roots of her ears, and down to her neck.

Shangguan Yunying even felt all the blood in her body rush to the top of her head in that instant, and her heart began to beat wildly like a drum.

Thump, thump, thump...

The sound was so loud she feared Gu Chengyin would hear it.

This massive impact turned Shangguan Yunying's mind into complete mush.

All her usual competence, calmness, and composure were thrown out the window at this moment.

She was dizzy and at a loss for what to do, lacking even a fraction of her usual aloof and capable appearance as the Chief Female Official.

Gu Chengyin, on the other hand, did not think there was anything special about his words.

In his view, Shangguan Yunying had a straightforward and affectionate personality, and as the Chief Female Official, her ability to keep a secret was beyond doubt.

Rather than binding her with a cold blood oath, it was better to give her full trust and an emotional connection. This would make her more willing to keep the secret voluntarily.

However, to further consolidate this and give Shangguan Yunying a clear hope to look forward to, Gu Chengyin felt it necessary to add another promise.

Thus, he cleared his throat and continued:

"Do not worry."

"When I truly have the strength to fear no covetous eyes, I promise..."

"The first person to learn the Qingyun Art will definitely be you."

The first... will be you.

Hearing these words, it was nothing short of another fierce, direct hit to Shangguan Yunying's heart.

Amidst a mind full of messy pink bubbles and heartbeats, these few words were infinitely magnified and played on a loop.

This unique treatment, this almost favorable promise...

"I... I...!"

Shangguan Yunying completely could not handle it anymore.

She felt her cheeks burning so hot they might catch fire, her heart beating so fast it might explode, and her mind went completely blank, entirely unable to think or form any words.

If she stayed any longer, she was afraid she would do something even more embarrassing, or simply faint right there.

"Swoosh!"

Shangguan Yunying suddenly exerted force, breaking free from Gu Chengyin's loose grip. Without leaving a single word, she turned around and immediately used her Foundation Establishment Realm movement technique.

Turning into a crimson afterimage, she flew out of the martial arts arena at a speed even faster than when she arrived, without looking back.

In an instant, she disappeared beyond the halo of the palace lanterns, leaving behind only a wisp of her elegant and fragrant scent.

Gu Chengyin: "...?"

He maintained his outstretched hand posture, looking in the direction Shangguan Yunying had disappeared, his expression gradually becoming bewildered.

What... was going on?

Did he say something wrong?

Showing trust, giving a promise.

Was this not the standard operation to win people's hearts and consolidate relationships?

Why did Shangguan Yunying's reaction look like she had been scared away by something terrifying?

Gu Chengyin scratched his head, somewhat puzzled.

He believed his performance and words just now were just right.

He had indicated his difficult situation while also giving trust and hope for the future, which completely aligned with logic and worldly wisdom.

"A woman's heart... is like a needle at the bottom of the ocean."

In the end, Gu Chengyin could only attribute it to gender differences and the special reaction of an individual personality, shaking his head helplessly.

......

The next day, before dawn.

Gu Chengyin sat cross-legged in the quiet room and slowly opened his eyes.

In his eyes, a seemingly tangible azure light flashed by and then hid deep within his profound pupils.

He slowly exhaled a long breath, which condensed without dispersing, swirling in the cool air for a moment.

It actually carried a faint hint of the fresh fragrance of vegetation and the essence of clouds, completely different from the turbid air expelled by ordinary cultivators after breathing exercises.

A night of bitter cultivation of the Qingyun Art had yielded considerable results.

Within his dantian's sea of qi, the scale of the true qi vortex had grown even larger, and the rhythm of its rotation had become more steady and profound.

The quality of his true qi had once again seen a significant improvement, becoming more pure and condensed. When circulated, it moved as easily as commanding his own arm, exceptionally agile.

"Now, even if I encounter an early-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator head-on, I have the confidence to deal with them, and perhaps even emerge victorious."

Gu Chengyin felt the surging power within his body and slightly raised the corners of his mouth.

This was not blind confidence, but a reasonable assessment based on the comprehensive improvements brought by the Qingyun Art, the massive amount of true qi converted from his influence, and the amplification of his breathing technique.

Of course, if he encountered a monster like Chen Busha at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm, or even a half-step Golden Core Realm, he would still have to weigh his options carefully.

Standing up, he stretched his muscles and bones, causing the joints all over his body to emit a series of soft cracking sounds.

Gu Chengyin walked to the window, pushed it open, and looked outside.

It was still pitch black outside. Only in the distance, where the skyline met the eaves of the palace, did a sliver of fish-belly white light peek through.

Palace lanterns burned quietly under the corridors, illuminating a small area. The palace paths and building outlines further away were all immersed in the thickest darkness just before dawn.