Ultimately, Cui Shifan raised the wine cup in his hand.
The composure cultivated over decades of navigating the treacherous seas of officialdom allowed him to maintain his basic dignity.
Pressing the cup to his lips, the amber liquid flowed slowly down his throat. It was spicy and burning, much like his current mood.
It is but mere worldly possessions.
Cui Shifan consoled himself in his heart.
The Cui Manor had deep foundations. Although losing this amount of wealth stung, it was merely a flesh wound.
Furthermore, problems that could be solved with money were never truly major issues.
But despite reasoning with himself, the flesh-cutting agony at the bottom of his heart still spread uncontrollably.
Footing the bill was one thing.
Bleeding so much wealth, and he only drank two cups of wine?
The most crucial point was that the favor for all this fell entirely on that brat, Gu Chengyin?!
These martial artists and officials were grateful to Junior Preceptor Gu for hosting the banquet, and in awe that Junior Preceptor Gu could even invite the Grand Secretary.
Although they ultimately cheered for Elder Cui's generosity, this generosity was clearly forced upon him by Gu Chengyin!
What did that make him, Cui Shifan?
A gullible fool?!
Cui Shifan's fingers tightened slightly around the empty wine cup.
But in the end, he did not lash out.
Seeing Cui Shifan drink the wine, Gu Chengyin knew the matter was settled.
The smile on his face grew even more radiant as he immediately announced loudly:
Elder Cui attends to myriad state affairs daily and is extremely busy. It is already a rare honor that he could take the time to come tonight.
We shall not keep him any longer, lest we delay the Elder in handling national affairs!
He turned to the crowd and declared loudly:
Everyone, eat and drink well! Enjoy yourselves to the fullest!
The people in the venue stood up one after another, cupping their hands in unison:
Respectfully seeing off Elder Cui!
Their voices were uniform, their attitudes respectful.
Gu Chengyin nodded with a smile, extended a hand in an inviting gesture, and walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Cui Shifan down the stairs and towards the exit.
The two remained silent along the way, with only the dull thuds of their boots stepping on the wooden stairs.
As they neared the main entrance, Gu Chengyin suddenly spoke in a familiar tone:
Old Cui, rest assured. My little aunt is magnanimous and won't fuss over such trivial matters.
He patted his chest, looking like a man who could be completely trusted:
I guarantee you this much.
Cui Shifan cast a sidelong glance at him, his lips moving slightly, but he ultimately remained silent.
He didn't want to speak.
After all, some things were better left as an unspoken mutual understanding; pointing them out would only lower one's status.
He merely gave a faint hum of acknowledgment as a response.
The two stopped just inside the red sandalwood main doors of the Fan Pavilion.
Outside, the Cui Manor's carriage was still waiting, the wind lanterns hanging from its eaves swaying gently in the night breeze.
Inside, the clamor grew even more fervent, the music and dancing showing no signs of stopping.
Gu Chengyin withdrew his smile and switched to a businesslike tone:
So, what is the plan, Old Cui.
Cui Shifan also adopted a strictly professional expression.
He adjusted his robes, his voice steady and solemn:
This old minister learned that my useless son acted out of line at the training grounds today, offending the prestige of Lord Jingzhe. I am filled with trepidation and dare not be negligent.
I specially entered the palace to beg forgiveness from His Majesty and explain the situation. This old minister will immediately and strictly discipline that unworthy son, imposing a heavy punishment without leniency.
At the same time, to express my apologies, this old minister is willing to dispatch capable guards to escort Lord Jingzhe on her journey, bearing all expenses myself to offer my meager assistance.
I only pray for His Majesty's boundless grace to forgive this old minister's failure in teaching his son.
Speaking to the end, Cui Shifan's gaze finally landed on Gu Chengyin as he said:
Junior Preceptor Gu, His Majesty has already granted permission.
This bureaucratic speech was flawless and high-sounding.
Gu Chengyin blinked, then quickly realized what was happening.
Brilliant!
Cui Shifan had gone directly to Emperor Luo to confess his faults.
He framed Cui Zilong's offense today as an affront to Lord Jingzhe, and then, under the guise of making amends, dispatched aristocratic experts to escort Lin Qingyan on her journey.
This way, the aristocratic families sending experts to join the inspection team became an act of making amends by imperial decree, rather than a collaboration with Gu Chengyin.
It achieved the practical goal while severing the Cui clan's ties to the Crown Prince's Palace.
This was equivalent to telling Emperor Luo that he, Cui Shifan, had absolutely no ulterior motives.
No wonder Cui Shifan was able to become the Grand Secretary.
He played these schemes and maneuvers incredibly smoothly.
However, Gu Chengyin didn't mind.
As long as the people came, that was enough.
As for whether these aristocratic experts were nominally escorting Lin Qingyan or doing something else, it didn't matter at all.
As long as the people were useful and could fight, Cui Shifan could frame it however he liked.
Gu Chengyin immediately cupped his hands, a look of admiration appearing on his face:
Elder Cui places righteousness above family loyalty and is strictly impartial. You are truly a role model for our generation! This junior is full of admiration!
He spoke sincerely, or at least he appeared exceptionally sincere on the surface.
Cui Shifan said no more. With a slight nod, he stepped toward the door.
Cui Ziting hurried to keep up from behind.
But just as he passed by Gu Chengyin, Gu Chengyin suddenly reached out and grabbed him.
Ziting, let me ask you something.
Cui Ziting paused, stopped in his tracks, turned around, and said respectfully:
Please ask, Junior Preceptor Gu.
Gu Chengyin asked straightforwardly:
How is Zilu doing now?
Cui Ziting's expression shifted slightly. He looked up at Gu Chengyin, a complex light flashing through his eyes.
After a moment of silence, a gentle smile appeared on his face, and his voice softened:
Zilu is currently at our ancestral home in Qinghe. She reads and cultivates every day without ever slacking off. She works very hard.
The elders in the clan hold her in extremely high regard. She tops the lists in all assessments.
Cui Ziting paused and added:
She is excellent, incredibly excellent.
He spoke plainly, but Gu Chengyin could hear the underlying pride. It was an older brother's acknowledgment and protective love for his sister.
Gu Chengyin nodded slightly: That is good.
He looked at Cui Ziting, a touch more seriousness in his tone:
If possible, please send her my regards.
A hint of a smile flashed in Cui Ziting's eyes, and he immediately gave a solemn nod:
Rest assured, Junior Preceptor Gu, Ziting will certainly pass it on.
I am sure Zilu will be very happy to hear it.
Gu Chengyin smiled and let go of his hand.
Cui Ziting cupped his hands again, turned around, stepped out the main door, and boarded the carriage.
Inside the carriage, Cui Shifan looked at Cui Ziting as he entered and asked: What did Gu Chengyin say to you?
Cui Ziting replied: To answer Father, Junior Preceptor Gu asked about Zilu's situation and asked me to send her his regards.
Cui Shifan was slightly taken aback and couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
After a long while, he finally spoke: Hmm... since he asked you to send regards to Zilu, you should make a trip back.
Pausing, Cui Shifan added: Before you go back, go to the storehouse and take a Luoshan Token to bring to Zilu.
When you return, find an opportunity to give the other token to Gu Chengyin.
.......
Gu Chengyin stood at the entrance of the Fan Pavilion, watching the carriage depart until it completely disappeared from sight, before turning back inside.
He did not go to the noisy main hall but instead followed the stairs up toward the Cloud Viewing Pavilion on the top floor.
When he pushed open the carved wooden door of the Cloud Viewing Pavilion, stepped inside, and casually closed the door behind him.
Two slender, jade-like hands silently emerged from his left and right waist like phantoms.
They then slowly moved upward, slithering like snakes, and finally rested on his chest.
At the same time, a coquettish voice, enchanting to the bone, whispered right next to Gu Chengyin's ear from behind:
Master~
nd fell into a coma while saving his younger sister from an out-of-control car. He became a vegetable. No one knew that his consciousness had crossed into a world of cultivation. Over the course of sixty years, he began as the lowest kind of mine slave, struggling to survive amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood. By sheer chance, he eventually obtained the complete memories of a fallen Immortal King. Alchemy, medicine, formations, feng shui, physiognomy, artifact forging… Every great inheritance of the cultivation world was now his. But when he opened his eyes again, he discovered that ten full years had passed in the modern world. To pay for his treatment, his father had sold the family’s shop and house, leaving himself covered in lasting injuries and illness. His mother had cared for him day and night, and more than half of her hair had already turned white. His younger sister, who had been only fifteen back then, was now twenty-five. To help repay the family’s debts, she had been forced to lower her head and put on a smiling face in places of glittering lights and endless revelry. Only then did Chen Xuan understand that what he had lost was not merely ten years. He had lost the life his entire family was meant to have. The good news was that he had brought back the memories of an Immortal King’s entire lifetime. The bad news was that his soul had returned alone—his cultivation had not come with him. Spiritual energy was scarce, resources were depleted, and the modern world still had firearms, surveillance, capital, and laws. If he wanted to protect his family, break free from everyone’s control, and become truly invincible beneath the heavens, he would have to start all over again.
. As long as he maintains the villain image and follows the plot to the grand finale, he can obtain generous rewards and return to the real world. So Gu Chen'an entered the role and began to act as a scumbag villain, but who would have expected that the female leads could hear his inner thoughts. Miss Su from the Su family was shocked: "I originally thought Gu Chen'an was a scumbag, but I didn't expect he turned out to be a gentleman! What? You said I have to call off the engagement? I definitely won't, I'll piss you off!" Bai Yuan Tian was dumbfounded: "Young Master Gu is usually unreasonable and a complete brat, but he actually calls me little sweetie in his heart? What, Young Master Gu even said he likes me?" As the female leads' images collapsed more and more, the plot also collapsed with it. Gu Chen'an looked at all this chaos. "Ladies, don't aggro me, if you keep this up the male lead really will stab me, I still need to survive to the grand finale!"
s + Rent Collection Wealth】 At the start, he inherited a rundown house in the urban village from his grandfather. The house had no tenants, but the moment he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, a self-proclaimed empress from the Tianxuan Continent arrived as his first tenant. Ye Chuan soon discovered that with every new tenant moving in, not only did he receive massive daily payments, but he also obtained unique items related to their backgrounds. 【Acquired Bai Qianshuang’s related item: Tiger Strength Pill—dramatically enhances physical power!】 【Acquired Bai Qianshuang’s related item: Deer Blood Pill—significantly boosts vitality!】 …… From that day on, all sorts of bizarre tenants began appearing in the house: the empress from Tianxuan Continent, an apocalyptic sorceress from the Magic Realm, a mysterious scientific girl who fell through a spacetime rift… Every single day, he received strange, powerful items and endless money. Then one day, he suddenly realized—he had become invincible. Enough, enough! Stop giving me more!
he colors of other people’s emotions. Light red meant anxiety. Gray meant exhaustion. Orange meant excitement. Yellow... meant repression. At the same time, he could gain unlimited control over one of those colors. Pale cyan: relaxation. Using this ability, he started offering “two-yuan hugs,” spending an afternoon exchanging emotional-color experiences with others. Then came his final female customer of the day— a girl whose emotional color was pure black... —— A week later, Xu Chuan had become skilled at using pale cyan—Relaxation—treating it like a bottle of menthol balm whenever he needed it. That was when he discovered he had unlocked another unlimited emotional color: Purple, the color of fear. So these emotional colors refresh every week? Fine, I take it back—I’ll never call you useless again... —— Much later, after Xu Chuan had accumulated countless emotional abilities, one night, he suddenly found himself inside someone else’s dream. There, he could use the emotional colors he possessed to paint. And in her dream, he painted her a shower of pink shooting stars, spreading across the depths of the night sky...
