Unacceptable

In this instant, Gu Chengyin indeed felt something abnormal.

It wasn't pain, nor was it numbness, but a sudden chill that exploded from the very depths of his bone marrow.

Like a cold, venomous snake, it frantically darted up along the path of his Governor Vessel, instantly rushing past the Mingmen, Jizhong, and Dazhui acupoints, striking straight toward the Baihui acupoint at the crown of his head.

Wherever it passed, the True Qi in his meridians solidified as if frozen, his blood flow plummeted, his heart rate dropped sharply, and even breathing became difficult.

His body instinctively wanted to mobilize its True Qi to resist.

But it was already too late.

How could a late Foundation Establishment cultivator withstand the thunderous power of a Golden Core cultivator?

Moreover, Lin Qingyan's strike was a sneak attack of absolute precision.

The chosen location, the force applied, and the timing of the release had all been meticulously calculated, leaving Gu Chengyin with absolutely no time to react.

Therefore, Gu Chengyin only felt a sudden alarm in his heart; before the thought of an attack could even fully form in his mind, his vision suddenly went black.

His consciousness, like a kite with a snapped string, fluttered and plummeted into boundless darkness.

His body lost all support and went limp, falling backward.

Lin Qingyan was well prepared.

Exerting strength in her arms, she tightly embraced Gu Chengyin's falling body, caught him steadily, and then slowly laid him flat on the soft couch inside the carriage.

Her movements were very light, very gentle.

After doing all this, Lin Qingyan finally let go, straightened her posture, and let out a long sigh of relief.

A layer of fine, cold sweat had seeped from her temples.

It wasn't from exhaustion, but from sheer nervousness.

After all, this was her first time ambushing someone she cared about.

Even though she had absolute certainty that she wouldn't hurt Gu Chengyin, a sense of guilt still wrapped around her heart like creeping vines.

Lin Qingyan stood by the soft couch, looking down at Gu Chengyin's unconscious face.

Sunlight slanted in through the carriage window, shining on his face and making his handsome features look exceptionally clear.

His brows were slightly furrowed, as if in the final moment before losing consciousness, he was still confused about what had just happened.

Lin Qingyan reached out to check his breathing; it was warm and steady.

She felt his pulse; it was strong and regular.

She then checked the True Qi within his body. Although it was temporarily solidified, his meridians were completely intact, and the True Qi vortex in his Dantian was slowly rotating. Everything was within normal parameters.

Only then did Lin Qingyan truly breathe a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness.

She hadn't hurt Gu Chengyin.

Then next...

It was time to get down to business.

Lin Qingyan first walked to the carriage door, raising her hand to gently wipe it across the wooden panel.

A faint golden lightning runic pattern silently emerged, wandering across the wood like a living creature.

Ultimately, it formed a complete, circular array.

This was a restrictive lightning rune, capable of isolating all sounds, light, and spiritual energy fluctuations from both inside and out.

As long as the array wasn't broken, even if the world turned upside down inside the carriage, the people outside wouldn't notice a single thing.

Lin Qingyan then walked to the carriage windows and did the same, laying down identical restrictions on every single one.

After doing all this, the carriage was completely transformed into a secret room...

One that belonged only to her and Gu Chengyin.

The matter she needed to confirm next absolutely could not be disturbed by anyone.

Otherwise...

Where would she put her face!

Lin Qingyan's cheeks began to burn hot again.

She walked back to the soft couch and sat down beside Gu Chengyin once more.

Now, there were no more obstacles.

With no outsiders to disturb them, Gu Chengyin couldn't refuse, nor did she need to pretend to be influenced by a heart demon anymore.

She... could do whatever she wanted.

But when it actually came to this step, Lin Qingyan found herself hesitating.

She looked down at Gu Chengyin's sleeping face, at his tightly closed eyes, at his slightly heaving chest, her fingertips trembling slightly.

Did she really... have to do this?

What if he really couldn't perform?

What if he found out after he woke up?

What if... he got angry?

Countless what-ifs churned in Lin Qingyan's mind, throwing her thoughts into utter chaos.

But ultimately, that deepest and most stubborn thought suppressed everything else.

Lin Qingyan simply could not believe that a normal man could completely ignore the charm she and Luo Zhao possessed.

Yet Gu Chengyin had done it, even when she was under the influence of the heart demon and taking such extreme initiative.

Time and time again, he remained entirely unperturbed; time and time again, he rejected her with absolute clarity.

So Lin Qingyan had to know. She had to see it with her own eyes and confirm it with her own hands.

Otherwise, this knot in her heart would forever lie between her and Gu Chengyin, preventing her from ever truly finding peace.

Although, from the perspective of weakening the heart demon, if Gu Chengyin really was a eunuch...

It would actually be more beneficial to her, as at least she wouldn't truly lose her purity or anything of the sort.

Lin Qingyan understood this reasoning perfectly well, but the current her simply could not accept it.

Lin Qingyan took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.

When she raised her hand again, her fingertips were no longer trembling.

She first untied the belt of Gu Chengyin's outer robe.

That belt was cyan, made of Yunjin brocade specially supplied by the Luodu Weaving Bureau, and embroidered with dense cloud patterns in silver thread.

Lin Qingyan untied it very slowly, very carefully. As her fingertips brushed over those cloud patterns, she could feel the delicate texture of the silk threads.

Once the belt was loosened, the outer robe naturally fell open, revealing the moon-white inner garment underneath.

The material of the inner garment was thinner and softer, clinging to Gu Chengyin's body and outlining his lean, sturdy physique.

His chest rose and fell slightly with his breathing. Through the thin fabric, the lines of his muscles could be faintly seen.

Lin Qingyan's breathing unconsciously quickened a fraction.

She bit her lip, forcing herself to calm down, and then reached out, beginning to unfasten the frog buttons of the inner garment.

The frog buttons were made of white jade, small and exquisite, and were not fastened tightly.

She unfastened them one by one, her fingertips occasionally brushing against Gu Chengyin's skin.

It was warm, smooth, and carried the vibrant touch of a young man brimming with vitality.

With every touch, Lin Qingyan's heartbeat sped up a bit more.

When the final button was undone, the inner garment parted to the sides, exposing Gu Chengyin's bare chest.

His skin possessed a healthy luster, and his muscle lines were smooth and distinct. It wasn't an exaggerated, knotted bulk, but a well-proportioned build full of power.

Lin Qingyan's eyes became incredibly complex in this instant.

But she quickly forced this surge of emotion back down.

Now was not the time to be soft-hearted.

She had more important things to do.

So Lin Qingyan took a deep breath, her gaze moving downward.

It landed on Gu Chengyin's waistband.

Not the belt of the outer robe, but the drawstring of his inner trousers.

That drawstring was made of ordinary cotton cloth, tied loosely, and could be undone with a gentle pull.

But Lin Qingyan's hand stopped in mid-air.

Her fingertips began to tremble slightly, her breathing became disordered, her cheeks burned hot, and even the tips of her ears turned completely red.

Did she really have to untie it?

Once untied, there would truly be no turning back.

Lin Qingyan stared at that drawstring for a very long time.

So long that the sunlight outside the window shifted an inch, so long that she almost gave up.

But ultimately, she reached out and gently pinched the end of that drawstring.

Her fingertips were cold, the texture of the cloth rough.

Lin Qingyan closed her eyes, and then gave a gentle pull.

The drawstring loosened.

The inner trousers parted as well.

Lin Qingyan did not open her eyes immediately.

Maintaining her eyes-closed posture, she took three deep breaths before finally, slowly, opening her eyes.

Her gaze.

Landed on the place she wanted to confirm the most.