Preliminary Test

But even if he needed to confirm it again, now was not the time.

At least he had to wait until the dead of night.

Moreover...

A deep look of contemplation flashed in Gu Chengyin's eyes. Given the tolerance Luo Zhao, Shangguan Yunying, and even Gu Xiaoli had for him, combined with his unique value.

It was certain that his current situation was still safe.

There were risks, of course, but they were still within an acceptable range.

Not to mention, it was impossible to have absolutely no risks at all.

As Gu Chengyin was pondering, a figure quietly appeared outside the courtyard.

She stood at the boundary of light and shadow, wearing a plain cyan dress as clean as newly fallen snow. Her long hair was loosely pinned up with a simple wooden hairpin, with a few soft strands falling over her shoulders.

The morning light coated her in a hazy golden halo, making her look like a banished immortal who accidentally descended to the mortal realm, untainted by any worldly aura.

Lin Qingyan.

Gu Chengyin's expression shifted slightly, and he immediately stood up and walked over.

He currently held two hypnotic trump cards: one was Luo Zhao, and the other was Lin Qingyan's inner demon.

This equated to double insurance.

Even if Luo Zhao truly broke free from the hypnosis again, Gu Chengyin didn't believe Lin Qingyan's inner demon would as well.

If that were the case, Lin Qingyan would have exploded long ago.

And now, as long as this Golden Core aunt was around, he would never fall into a desperate situation.

"Good morning, Aunt."

Gu Chengyin approached and spoke first.

Lin Qingyan nodded slightly and opened her lips, her voice as clear and cold as an icy spring striking jade.

"Your control is very effective. I have fully recovered."

Gu Chengyin raised his eyebrows slightly.

He carefully observed the Lin Qingyan before him. Her expression was as peaceful as still water in a deep pool, her eyes as clear as a mountain stream, and her aura was harmonious and restrained. She indeed possessed the composed demeanor expected of a Golden Core cultivator.

However, a trace of doubt still lingered in Gu Chengyin's heart.

After all, the seductive inner demon Lin Qingyan from yesterday had left a rather profound impression on him.

After a moment of thought, Gu Chengyin probed,

"Aunt, will she... suddenly appear?"

"If she uncontrollably pops out while you're handling matters or meeting someone... wouldn't that be very awkward?"

He phrased this very tactfully, showing concern for Lin Qingyan while subtly weighing his own safety.

Lin Qingyan's eyes flickered slightly.

She naturally understood Gu Chengyin's meaning. The so-called awkwardness was just a euphemism; he was actually worried about the inner demon causing trouble at a critical moment.

Yet the truth was that after Lin Qingyan recovered, she once again firmly suppressed the inner demon deep within her sea of consciousness.

Even if it appeared later, it wouldn't be her inner demon, but rather her acting it out herself.

But she certainly wouldn't let Gu Chengyin know about this.

Nor could she ever let him know that the 'inner demon Lin Qingyan' he saw was never hypnotized at all.

After all, Lin Qingyan and her inner demon were one entity; satisfying herself could equally weaken the inner demon.

"It's fine."

Lin Qingyan's tone was very calm, not revealing a hint of her inner thoughts.

"I have suppressed the inner demon again. It will only be released at appropriate times."

"Yesterday's incident was mainly due to a momentary loss of mental focus during an epiphany."

Lin Qingyan turned her gaze to Gu Chengyin, showing a rare hint of approval.

"You are right. Cultivation must proceed step by step; one shouldn't be greedy for quick success."

She spoke with extreme humility, and her words lacked their usual distant and cold arrogance.

As she finished speaking, Lin Qingyan raised her hand, her slender, jade-like fingertips gently tucking a strand of black hair ruffled by the morning breeze behind her ear.

The movement was natural and casual, yet under the sunlight, it traced a breathtakingly beautiful arc.

Her black hair flowed like ink, and the sunlight passed through her fingers, casting fine spots of light on her fair profile.

At that moment, her aura was transcendent and otherworldly, so beautiful she didn't seem like a mortal, but rather a fairy of the Nine Heavens who had accidentally descended to the human realm.

Gu Chengyin was momentarily dazed and lost in thought looking at her.

When he snapped back to reality, he hurriedly averted his gaze, inwardly shocked: This Lin Qingyan was simply a mature, perfect version of Luo Zhao.

No, perhaps even superior.

Luo Zhao's beauty still carried the majesty and arrogance of a mortal crown princess.

But Lin Qingyan's beauty was almost in harmony with the Dao and nature, blending with heaven and earth, perfect and harmonious in every aspect.

This kind of beauty was not aggressive, yet it was unforgettable at first sight, inspiring yearning.

If Lin Qingyan was already like this, then how beautiful must that late Empress Lin have been?

No wonder Emperor Luo, that unfathomable Old Geezer, still couldn't forget her even now.

Gu Chengyin suppressed his distracting thoughts and said seriously,

"Since you are fine, Aunt, that's for the best. Later we need to go to the Ministry of Rites to prepare the inspection team."

Lin Qingyan nodded slightly without saying much.

The two walked side by side out of the Crown Princess's Palace.

A carriage was already prepared outside the door, the same spacious large horse carriage as before.

The interior of the carriage was lined with soft brocade cushions, and elegant sandalwood incense burned in the corner.

Gu Chengyin originally didn't care about these things, but since Lin Qingyan was present, he had specially ordered it.

Relationships are often drawn closer through unseen details.

The carriage left the Crown Princess's Palace and traveled along the imperial street toward the Ministry of Rites office.

Gu Chengyin leaned against one side of the carriage, his gaze looking through the half-lifted window curtain at the passing street scenes outside.

The morning Divine Capital had long awakened. The shouts of vendors, the conversations of pedestrians, and the sound of carriage wheels rolling over stone-paved roads wove together into a bustling picture of city life.

He temporarily suppressed the matter regarding Luo Zhao and began to ponder the sect inspection team.

Yesterday, he ran around all day, basically fleecing all the notable figures in the Divine Capital.

Today, he would officially receive the personnel dispatched by various parties and begin preparing the inspection team.

Pulling so many factions in was naturally to balance each other out, especially to guard against Emperor Luo.

This Old Geezer's mind was no less sharp than his own, and his layouts and methods were simply impossible to defend against.

What Gu Chengyin originally considered the greatest threat was actually Lin Qingyan.

The Heavenly Master Mansion's Jingzhe, a Golden Core cultivator. If she really intended to plot against him, it would truly be hard to guard against.

But now that the two had common interests and entanglements, Lin Qingyan had instead become Gu Chengyin's most reassuring ally at present.

After all, feelings can betray, but interests will not.

Moreover, Lin Qingyan's inner demon was still in his hands, which made Gu Chengyin feel even more at ease than having Luo Zhao in his grasp.

As he was thinking.

Beside him, Lin Qingyan, who was resting with her eyes closed, suddenly opened her eyes to a very narrow slit.

She first scanned the interior of the carriage, seemingly confirming its concealment, especially ensuring that outsiders wouldn't see anything.

Then she fixed her gaze on the pondering Gu Chengyin.

The carriage's speed was not fast, as matters were not that urgent.

This meant there was enough time for her to do some things she wanted to do.

For example...

To conduct a preliminary test on whether she could effectively weaken the inner demon.

This point was extremely important; it could even be said to directly concern her future.

Fortunately, as a Golden Core cultivator, her control over herself was already extraordinary.

Even against Gu Chengyin, Lin Qingyan was confident she wouldn't let him see the slightest flaw.

In the next breath...

An eerie red light quietly surfaced in Lin Qingyan's eyes.