Hateful Inner Demon

Meanwhile, inside the core carriage of the Celestial Master's Mansion.

The curtains were drawn, completely blocking out any prying eyes from the outside.

The interior of the carriage was dim, with only a few fragmented rays of sunlight leaking through the gaps.

Gu Chengyin sat leaning against the window and lifted a corner of the curtain.

Sunlight squeezed through the slit, casting a bright streak across his face.

He squinted, looking outside through this narrow field of vision.

Three veteran Golden Core cultivators from the Divine Capital's Celestial Master's Mansion were riding in three separate carriages.

One on the left, one on the right, and one at the rear.

Their positions were perfectly calculated.

No matter which direction he went, there would always be at least one carriage carrying a Golden Core enshrinee right beside him.

If he tried to make a forced escape, the three Golden Core enshrinees could instantly form an encirclement.

Gu Chengyin's gaze slowly swept over them. His expression remained unchanged, as if he were merely enjoying the scenery.

After he dropped the curtain, the carriage returned to its dim state.

"His Majesty is truly afraid that I might run away."

Gu Chengyin shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness, though it was mostly filled with amusement.

As soon as he spoke, a soft body pressed up against him from behind.

Lin Qingyan wrapped her arms around him from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder, hanging onto him as if she had no bones.

She loved this kind of private world just for the two of them.

Whenever she had the chance, she would cling to Gu Chengyin, unwilling to separate for even a moment.

Lin Qingyan's breath brushed against the side of his neck, warm and gentle.

Yet the words she spoke were in stark contrast to this intimate posture:

"It doesn't matter, Chengcheng."

Lin Qingyan's voice was very soft, like the murmurs between lovers, but her tone was full of cold ruthlessness.

"I am already at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm now."

Lin Qingyan's gaze passed through the gap in the curtains and landed on the three faintly visible carriages, a trace of golden light flashing in the depths of her eyes:

"These three cannot defeat me."

Gu Chengyin was slightly taken aback.

He didn't respond, but instead fell into deep thought.

If Lin Qingyan said so, it meant she truly had the confidence to back it up.

A mid-stage Golden Core cultivator dominating three others—this wasn't arrogance, but a judgment based on true strength.

Gu Chengyin recalled what Lin Qingyan looked like when she was enraged.

Those blazing white eyes tinged with gold, the golden lightning dancing wildly around her, and that oppressive aura that was almost tangible.

It was absolutely not an imposing manner that an ordinary mid-stage Golden Core cultivator could possess.

If that were the case, before he broke through to the Golden Core realm...

Wouldn't Gu Xiaoli be the only one capable of arm-wrestling with Lin Qingyan?

Seeing that Gu Chengyin was pondering something, Lin Qingyan didn't disturb him.

She continued to hang onto him, her chin resting on his shoulder, while her unblinking gaze stared fixedly at Gu Chengyin's profile.

In the dim light, the contours of his face appeared even more distinct.

His brow bone was high, his nose bridge straight, and his jawline sharp.

At this moment, Gu Chengyin's eyes were slightly downcast, his expression focused and calm.

He must be brewing some bad idea again.

The golden light in Lin Qingyan's eyes became even more apparent.

What is the greatest charm of a mature man?

It is his ability to solve problems.

Just like Gu Chengyin; no matter what predicament he faced, he was always unhurried and calm.

It was as if even if the sky were falling, he could leisurely reach out to catch it, and then gently put it back in its place.

Lin Qingyan loved this side of Gu Chengyin so much.

She loved it to death.

Her gaze slid from his brow bone to his nose bridge, from his nose bridge to his lips, and then from his lips to his Adam's apple.

Inch by inch, tracing him delicately, as if she were looking at some rare and precious treasure.

The more she looked, the more Lin Qingyan's heart fluttered.

And the more her heart fluttered, the more her inner demon began to stir restlessly.

Lin Qingyan could feel that the suppressed inner demon in her sea of consciousness was beginning to turn active again at this very moment.

It was restless, signaling, and egging her on.

Go on.

Press closer.

Let him know your feelings.

Let him know just how much you like him.

Lin Qingyan's breath caught slightly.

When they were alone together, she was already much bolder than usual.

And the stirring of her inner demon amplified this boldness several times over.

Suddenly, Lin Qingyan had a thought.

An incredibly thrilling thought.

She tilted her head slightly and leaned close to Gu Chengyin's ear.

Her warm breath brushed over the rim of his ear, causing a ticklish, numbing sensation.

Lin Qingyan kept her voice very low, as low as a lover's whisper:

"Chengcheng."

Gu Chengyin was just about to speak when he was stopped by Lin Qingyan's next words.

"That dog treats you so poorly..."

Lin Qingyan's voice was soft, as if she were acting spoiled, but the content of her words was heart-stopping:

"Do you want to... get back at him a little?"

Gu Chengyin blinked.

Get back at him?

What did she mean?

He looked at Lin Qingyan's stunningly beautiful face, which was so close at hand, and suddenly had a rather bad premonition.

"For example..."

Lin Qingyan's lips touched his ear, like a demon whispering:

"Releasing the inner demon?"

Gu Chengyin froze.

Releasing the inner demon?

Could it be that Lin Qingyan wanted to...

Gu Chengyin assessed their current environment: inside a carriage, a private space, a world of just the two of them.

Suddenly, he understood something. No wonder Lin Qingyan wanted to release her inner demon.

So they were back in the familiar little dark room again.

He turned his head to look at Lin Qingyan. This fairy's gaze was very calm, yet it concealed a trace of stirring desire.

In terms of their relationship, Lin Qingyan was Emperor Luo's sister-in-law.

The current decree was for Lin Qingyan to capture him and bring him back.

Under normal circumstances, it should be Lin Qingyan escorting him as a prisoner.

But if the inner demon was released...

Then it would be him pinning Lin Qingyan down.

In a certain sense, this indeed counted as getting back at Emperor Luo.

But why did Gu Chengyin feel...

That Lin Qingyan didn't say this so he could get back at Emperor Luo.

But rather...

Gu Chengyin's gaze landed on Lin Qingyan's face, which seemed calm but was actually hiding anticipation.

He suddenly revealed a strange, wicked smirk:

"Little Aunt, are you trying to get back at His Majesty, or..."

Gu Chengyin deliberately paused. As expected, Lin Qingyan's eyelashes suddenly fluttered.

Even her eyes couldn't help but grow flustered, as if her deepest thoughts had been exposed.

Gu Chengyin looked at those fluttering eyelashes, his smile deepening a bit:

"Do you just want to be pinned down by me?"

Lin Qingyan's face flushed bright red.

The redness spread all the way from her cheeks to the roots of her ears, and then burned down to the side of her neck, so hot it seemed ready to emit smoke.

She abruptly lowered her head, burying her face into the crook of Gu Chengyin's shoulder, curling her whole body into a ball.

"I... I don't!"

Her voice was muffled against his chest, almost inaudible. "I was just... just..."

But as to just what, Lin Qingyan couldn't say it anymore.

Because she knew very well that Gu Chengyin had hit the nail on the head.

She exactly wanted to be pinned down by Gu Chengyin.

Wasn't the decree for her to escort Gu Chengyin back to the Divine Capital?

She refused!

Right now, other than Gu Chengyin's words, Lin Qingyan wouldn't listen to anyone.

Since the decree was for her to escort Gu Chengyin as a prisoner, she would purposely do the exact opposite.

She would let Gu Chengyin pin her down.

And it would be right under the escort of the three Golden Core enshrinees.

Right in the very core of the sect's entire patrol convoy.

Thinking of this, Lin Qingyan's face grew even hotter.

How could she have such thoughts?

It was all because of that detestable inner demon!