Stop Thinking About It Anymore

The carriage door was right before his eyes.

Gu Chengyin's fingers had already touched the edge. Just one more inch forward.

No, half an inch.

If his fingers moved forward just half an inch, he could push the door open.

He could rush out and blend into the escorting troops outside.

He could temporarily escape the impending wrath of thunder.

But he failed.

Gu Chengyin's world was swallowed by gold.

It was a net of lightning, a golden net woven from countless tiny electrical currents.

Its source was the walnut-sized golden ball of lightning at Lin Qingyan's fingertips.

When Gu Chengyin turned around, the lightning ball left Lin Qingyan's fingertips.

But it didn't fly toward him.

Instead, it expanded.

It expanded into tens of thousands of golden threads as fine as hair, completely enveloping Gu Chengyin.

However, there was no stinging sensation like when he was shocked before.

It was just numbness.

A paralysis that stripped every cell of its control.

Gu Chengyin felt as though his body had been disconnected.

He was still alive, but unable to move. He froze in place like a statue instantly turned to stone.

He couldn't even open his mouth to explain; the only thing still moving was his mind.

Gu Chengyin heard a sound from behind.

Lin Qingyan slowly stood up and came to his side.

Gu Chengyin could feel her presence.

Right at that moment.

A voice came from outside the carriage. It was Chen Busha.

Lord Jingzhe, Junior Preceptor Gu.

Wrapping his voice in true qi allowed it to transmit directly into the carriage.

His tone sounded hesitant, carrying a cautious request for instructions.

After all, that terrifying pressure had enveloped the entire convoy just moments ago, making anyone feel anxious.

Now, Lin Qingyan had withdrawn her pressure.

She had retracted her outward aura the moment she regained her senses.

Thus, the whole team felt much more relaxed, but no one let their guard down.

The defensive formation was still maintained, firmly guarding all directions with this carriage as the core.

And Chen Busha came over now to ask for their next move.

But there was no response from inside the carriage.

Gu Chengyin was completely immobilized; let alone answering, he couldn't even open his mouth.

Finally, Lin Qingyan spoke.

It is fine.

Three words, so concise it was almost stingy.

Someone just came to say hello. Let us keep moving.

Saying hello—what an understatement.

But Chen Busha outside would not question it.

After receiving the order, although he still had some doubts in his heart—such as why Lin Qingyan was giving the order instead of Gu Chengyin.

But these minor details were unimportant in the face of absolute strength.

What mattered was that Lin Qingyan said it was fine.

Then it was fine.

Chen Busha immediately stood up straight, turned to face the entire convoy, and commanded loudly:

Keep moving!

His resonant voice echoed along the official road.

With this order, the patrol team finally truly relaxed.

The carriage began to move again.

The wheels rolled over the bluestone slabs, making a rhythmic rumbling sound.

The clattering of horse hooves, the friction of armor, and the light clinking of metal—these sounds once again formed the standard accompaniment of their march.

The Foundation Establishment experts exchanged glances, their faces showing relief.

Thank goodness Lord Jingzhe is holding the fort.

Yeah, that pressure just now was too terrifying. Is this the Golden Core realm?

To warrant Lord Jingzhe personally saying hello, it must be at least a late-stage Golden Core expert, right?

Who cares? As long as we are fine.

......

Low murmurs circulated through the convoy.

But everyone reached a consensus.

Some old Golden Core monster must have come by just now and was forced back by Lord Jingzhe.

It was normal that small fries at the Foundation Establishment stage like them couldn't understand a magical battle between Golden Core cultivators.

Being able to survive was already a stroke of immense luck.

But in reality?

Gu Chengyin knew very well that no one had come to say hello at all.

That terrifying pressure, that sense of crisis that made the whole convoy feel as if facing a great enemy.

It was only because Lin Qingyan wanted to kiss him.

It was only because she lost her reason after her emotions were amplified.

Absurd.

But this was reality.

After the patrol team got back on track.

Lin Qingyan looked at Gu Chengyin again.

She leaned down and brought her face close to his, so close that the tips of their noses were almost touching.

Gu Chengyin could see every detail on her face clearly.

He could see the faint golden halos in her eyes, the residual traces of spiritual energy after casting lightning arts.

He could see the moisture clinging to the tips of her eyelashes from the emotional fluctuations just now.

He could see the fuller red of her lips, swollen from the kiss.

And most importantly, Lin Qingyan's eyes.

They were very cold, but devoid of killing intent.

Instead, they were filled with scrutiny and exploration, as well as complex emotions that couldn't be deciphered.

Gu Chengyin's scalp tingled under her gaze.

After quite a while, Lin Qingyan finally withdrew her gaze and calmly stood up.

She turned back to her original seat and casually waved her hand.

The numbness in Gu Chengyin's body vanished instantly.

He regained his freedom.

He immediately cried out his grievances:

Auntie, I really did not do it on purpose!

I have not used this breathing technique for so long that I completely forgot about this!

Lin Qingyan didn't look at Gu Chengyin. As if she really didn't mind, she said casually:

For Zhao'er's sake, I will not hold this against you.

Zhao'er.

Luo Zhao.

Gu Chengyin blinked.

Why for Luo Zhao's sake?

He was Luo Zhao's junior preceptor, and Lin Qingyan, as Luo Zhao's aunt, could indeed give this face and not hold it against him, the junior preceptor.

But Gu Chengyin felt something wasn't quite right.

Why specifically mention Luo Zhao?

If it were those old foxes in the imperial court speaking, Gu Chengyin could hear the hidden meanings in their words.

But women...

Especially a fairy-like woman like Lin Qingyan, whose emotions occasionally slipped out only to be quickly hidden...

The hidden meaning in her words was very difficult to discern.

Was it purely giving face to Luo Zhao?

Was it hinting that his relationship with Luo Zhao was unusual?

Was it a warning not to mess around?

Or something else?

Gu Chengyin couldn't figure it out.

But he knew now was not the time to dig deeper.

The most urgent task was to pacify Lin Qingyan.

So Gu Chengyin sat back down beside Lin Qingyan.

Auntie! I really did not mean to take advantage of you!

It does not amplify a specified emotion, but rather the strongest emotion at that moment!

When I was assassinated once, I used it on my guard at the time, and what was amplified was his battle intent!

That guard was originally only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, but after being boosted, he suppressed and beat a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Gu Chengyin gestured as he spoke, his movements exaggerated:

So I really did not expect that what got amplified in you, Auntie, was...

His words came to an abrupt halt.

Gu Chengyin suddenly realized something was wrong.

Right.

Why?

Why did Lin Qingyan want to kiss him after her emotions were amplified?

What the boost amplified wasn't an emotion specified by the caster, but the strongest emotion present at that very moment.

Gu Chengyin's pupils dilated slightly.

Could it be...

No.

Impossible.

Lin Qingyan was a Golden Core cultivator, Jingzhe of the Celestial Master's Mansion, a cold and aloof fairy.

There should only be a pure transaction of interests between them.

There couldn't be anything else.

But amplified emotions would not lie.

Gu Chengyin began trying to recall every detail from just now.

Right at this moment.

Lin Qingyan keenly sensed Gu Chengyin's abnormality once again.

Combined with his abruptly halted words...

Lin Qingyan's heart suddenly sank.

Gu Chengyin was very smart, smart enough to piece together the truth from the tiniest of clues.

No.

She couldn't let him continue this train of thought.

And so, Lin Qingyan made her move.

This time, she was remarkably swift and decisive.

Raising her hand, she struck out at Gu Chengyin, golden arcs of lightning dancing across her palm.

This was neither an attack nor a punishment, but a way to interrupt Gu Chengyin's thoughts.

She wanted to shut his mouth, to tell him in the most direct way possible:

Stop thinking about it!