Dizzy with Fragrance

Lin Qingyan leaned quietly against Gu Chengyin's shoulder.

The carriage swayed slightly, and the fragmented light leaking through the gaps in the curtains flickered on her cheeks.

She closed her eyes, her breathing light and shallow, her whole body so relaxed it was as if she had sunk into some distant dream.

This scent...

This feeling...

It had been too long.

So long that she had almost forgotten it, yet the moment they touched, it surged up from the dust in the deepest part of her memories.

When she was young, she also used to lean against her Empress Sister's shoulder like this.

Her Empress Sister always wore elegant and simple palace attire, sitting by the window, holding a Daoist scripture or a memorial to the throne.

She would sit next to her sister, gently resting her head on her sister's shoulder, smelling the elegant floral scent on her.

Listening to her sister's gentle and calm voice explaining the scriptures or analyzing the political situation.

Her sister's shoulders were not broad, even a bit thin, but they could always give her the most secure reliance.

Later, her sister passed away.

That sister who would use her gentle fingers to comb her hair, who would watch her mischief with tolerant eyes, who would softly teach her principles...

Just left like that.

From then on, there was no one left to rely on.

She became the Celestial Master Mansion's Jingzhe, the aloof and cold Golden Core cultivator in the eyes of the world, and Luo Zhao's elder.

She had to straighten her back, build high walls, and keep people three feet away.

Because no one could give her that kind of security anymore.

When they were in the Meditation Pagoda, Lin Qingyan had caught a familiar scent from Gu Chengyin.

Only, she wasn't sure at the time.

But now, she could be completely certain.

Lin Qingyan's eyelashes fluttered gently against Gu Chengyin's shoulder.

Gu Chengyin's shoulders were broader than her sister's, and his scent was completely different. It lacked the elegant floral fragrance, instead being more gloomy and complex, a mix of the scent of ink and books with the flavor of political maneuvering and calculation.

But the sense of security was exactly the same.

Moreover, Gu Chengyin was just as smart as her Empress Sister, just as wise, and just as capable of controlling everything in a complicated chess game.

Just like her... he was teaching the Crown Princess of Great Luo.

No wonder.

No wonder she felt that Luo Zhao was becoming more and more like her sister.

That demeanor of hidden sharpness within calmness, that composure of acting only after planning, that resilience to tear open a sliver of survival even in desperate situations.

So that was it.

Just as her Empress Sister was the teacher of that scumbag Luo Houcong.

Luo Zhao had also found her own tutor.

The corners of Lin Qingyan's mouth, hidden beneath her black hair, curled up slightly.

Now...

She had a reason why she had to protect him.

Meanwhile.

Lin Qingyan clearly noticed that the inner demon she had firmly suppressed deep within her sea of consciousness... was weakening.

Very slightly, very slowly, like water dripping through stone, but it was indeed weakening.

Just by leaning on this man's shoulder, just by reliving that long-lost feeling...

The inner demon began to weaken.

If...

If she could gain more satisfaction.

If she could relive that warmth more deeply.

Then the extent to which the inner demon weakened would inevitably be greater.

It might even completely dissipate!

Plus, with Gu Chengyin's complete immortal path as a reference.

Everything was right before her eyes.

Lin Qingyan's heartbeat quietly sped up a bit.

But she didn't show it.

She even maintained the original steady rhythm of her breathing.

If she acted too obviously, if she exposed her true intentions, Gu Chengyin might notice something was wrong.

With this man's suspicious and cautious nature, once he discovered that the inner demon was her disguise, he would definitely become vigilant and even distance himself.

Then the loss would outweigh the gain.

Furthermore...

A ripple stirred deep in Lin Qingyan's heart.

Playing the inner demon and watching Gu Chengyin's conflicted look of wanting but not daring to take...

Was actually quite fun.

The moment this thought surfaced, Lin Qingyan suddenly woke up.

No!

She immediately tightened her focus, ruthlessly extinguishing that ripple.

Damn inner demon! To disrupt her mind at this moment!

Lin Qingyan secretly warned herself. That playful thought just now was definitely not her true desire; it must be the inner demon acting up!

She needed to stay awake at all times and absolutely could not be tainted by the inner demon's habits.

Gu Chengyin, on the other hand, had no idea what kind of complex internal storm his little aunt beside him was going through.

Right now, he was... a bit dizzy.

Not from fright, not from nervousness, but from the fragrance.

Previously, when interacting with Lin Qingyan, there was always at least a three-foot distance between them.

That was the natural boundary of a Golden Core cultivator, and also Lin Qingyan's habit of keeping people at a distance.

Although Gu Chengyin felt her temperament was ethereal, he stopped at appreciation and had no other distracting thoughts.

But right now...

The two of them were too close.

So close that he could smell the clear, cold fragrance in her hair. The scent was very special, initially smelling like pine needles after snow, cold and clean.

But upon closer inspection, there was a very faint warm sweetness, like the lingering taste of deep winter plum blossoms melting on the tip of the tongue.

Not to mention the unique body fragrance belonging only to high-level female cultivators.

Softness piercing through the coldness, temptation hidden within the aloofness.

Gu Chengyin felt like he was about to be dizzied by the scent.

He finally understood why Lin Qingyan kept people three feet away.

With such a fragrance, such looks, and such a temperament...

If unrestrained, anyone who got close would probably lose their mind.

This wasn't deliberate charming, but an attractive force carrying Daoist rhythm that naturally came after one's cultivation reached a high level.

Right at this moment, the carriage slowly came to a stop.

The driver's respectful voice came from outside: My Lord, we have arrived at the Ministry of Rites.

At the exact moment the voice fell, Lin Qingyan raised her head.

The demonic blood-red hue in her eyes had completely dissipated, returning to clear pupils.

The dependent and clingy look from just now also receded like the tide, leaving only her usual aloofness.

Lin Qingyan backed away a little, her gaze falling on Gu Chengyin's face, her tone carrying an apology:

I'm sorry, Gu Chengyin.

I just wanted to try... I've caused you trouble.

These words attributed everything that just happened to an experiment.

Gu Chengyin waved his hand, still feeling lingering fear:

It's fine, it's fine. It's just, Aunt... next time, could you tell me in advance?

That little stunt just now almost scared me to death.

Gu Chengyin was truly startled.

Anyone would be startled if a Golden Core cultivator, especially one in an inner demon state, leaned close to their ear and blew air.

The apology on Lin Qingyan's face deepened, and she nodded gently:

Alright, next time I will definitely tell you first.

She agreed very straightforwardly, her expression frank.

Seeing Lin Qingyan agree, Gu Chengyin felt relieved.

It wasn't that he resisted getting close to a fairy-like beauty; after all, this kind of enjoyment was truly pleasant.

But he was also afraid of getting too close and failing to control the boundaries, thus angering Lin Qingyan.

If only her tolerance was as high as Luo Zhao's or Shangguan Yunying's.

However, after what just happened, Gu Chengyin had a faint realization in his heart.

He roughly knew what kind of satisfaction Lin Qingyan's inner demon wanted.

It wasn't physical lust, nor romantic love.

But something simpler and much purer.

The look Gu Chengyin gave Lin Qingyan carried a bit more pity.

This Celestial Master Mansion's Jingzhe...

Seemed to have a very severe psychological trauma.