So What

If Gu Chengyin were allowed to continue thinking like this and find even the slightest flaw, he would definitely discover the truth.

By then, Luo Zhao's plan would be completely ruined, along with her own little schemes.

No.

He must be interrupted.

Shangguan Yunying's eyes darted around as she suddenly looked left and right.

The room was empty.

Moonlight spilled in, candle flames flickered, and everything was so quiet it seemed as if time had frozen.

She took a deep breath and stood up.

Gu Chengyin was deep in thought when he suddenly felt a fragrant breeze brush against his face.

In the next breath, a soft body had already slipped into his arms.

Both arms wrapped around his neck, and warm breath brushed against his ear.

Gu Chengyin...

Shangguan Yunying's voice was soft, carrying a hint of shyness, yet so bold that it made one's heart race:

With you not in the Divine Capital, I didn't know what to do.

Gu Chengyin's train of thought was abruptly broken.

He looked at the face in his arms, so close to his own.

The moonlight coated Shangguan Yunying's face in a faint silver glow. Her eyes were sparkling, as if stars were twinkling within them.

Her lips were slightly pouted, carrying a coquettish charm, yet hiding some indescribable longing.

Gu Chengyin's Adam's apple bobbed.

Yunying, you...

He opened his mouth to ask Shangguan Yunying to get up first so he could resume his thoughts.

Right now, it's just the two of us here.

Shangguan Yunying's voice sounded again, this time smaller, lighter, yet much more heated.

Her face flushed red, spreading from the roots of her ears to her cheeks, and disappearing deep into her collar.

But her eyes did not dart away. She looked straight at him, something burning deep within her gaze.

You can keep thinking about your things.

How about I help you do something?

Gu Chengyin's breath hitched for a moment.

Do something?

These words coming from Shangguan Yunying's mouth carried a strange, magical allure.

It was not a provocation, nor a probe, but an invitation.

A blatant invitation.

And a blatant temptation.

In just a single breath, Gu Chengyin snapped back to reality.

No.

Now was not the time for this kind of thing.

There were more important matters at hand, a more complex situation, things that required his focused attention to figure out.

But Shangguan Yunying had already made her move, her slender, jade-like hands slowly sliding down his lapels.

Wait, Yunying, you...

Gu Chengyin was about to stop her, but before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by a blinding light.

It was an arc of golden lightning.

So fast its trajectory was almost invisible, so bright it nearly burned the eyes.

It shot out from a corner of the room, carrying an aura of destruction, striking straight toward Shangguan Yunying.

Gu Chengyin's pupils violently contracted.

Without a second thought, he grabbed Shangguan Yunying, rolling over to shield her beneath his body.

His back faced outward, directly confronting the incoming path of the lightning arc.

The expected pain never arrived.

In the instant before it touched his back, the golden arc of lightning suddenly swerved.

It struck the soft couch beside them, leaving behind a scorched black mark.

Gu Chengyin slowly turned his head to look in the direction the lightning had come from.

Beside the folding screen, a figure stood quietly.

Moonlight spilled through the window lattice, tracing a cold, solitary silhouette upon her.

Dressed in plain white robes with her ink-black hair cascading down, her features bore an innate aloofness.

Like the snow on a mountain peak, or the moon among the clouds, visible but untouchable.

But at this moment, those eyes were not aloof.

They were ice-cold.

As cold as millennial ice, as deep as a bottomless abyss, making one afraid to look directly into them.

Lin Qingyan.

She just stood there. It was unknown how long she had been standing there, or how long she had been watching.

Faint golden arcs of lightning danced around her body, emitting soft crackling sounds that distorted and caused the surrounding air to tremble slightly.

Her gaze fell on Gu Chengyin.

No.

It fell upon Shangguan Yunying, who was in Gu Chengyin's arms.

Shangguan Yunying saw her too.

The two women's eyes met in midair. One cold, one hot; one still, one moving. It was as if invisible sparks were exploding between them.

Caught in the middle, Gu Chengyin suddenly felt an extremely bad premonition.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something to break this eerie silence.

But before he could speak, Lin Qingyan moved.

She raised her hand and beckoned to Gu Chengyin.

Her movement was very light and gentle, even carrying a hint of languor.

Yet those eyes held not a trace of warmth, staring straight at Gu Chengyin.

As if looking at a disobedient pet.

Gu Chengyin's eyelids twitched.

He looked down at Shangguan Yunying in his arms, then looked up at Lin Qingyan by the screen.

He suddenly realized a serious problem: he was holding a woman in his arms.

And Lin Qingyan was watching this very scene.

Chengcheng.

Lin Qingyan spoke, her voice devoid of any discernible emotion.

But it was exactly this flatness that caused a fine layer of cold sweat to break out on Gu Chengyin's back.

Come here.

No!

Shangguan Yunying suddenly tightened her arms, hugging Gu Chengyin even closer.

She looked up at Lin Qingyan, a flash of provocative light in her eyes.

Lord Jingzhe, it is late at night. Instead of resting in your own room, what are you doing running over here?

Lin Qingyan's gaze was as indifferent as frost.

The state prisoner I am escorting is here.

She paused, her gaze falling on Gu Chengyin, her tone remaining just as nonchalant:

I must ensure that he does not escape.

Shangguan Yunying smiled.

That smile carried a bit of understanding, a bit of smugness, and a bit of a declaration of war.

State prisoner?

Shangguan Yunying raised an eyebrow: But if I remember correctly, Lord Jingzhe is in the Golden Core realm, right? Let alone escaping from the Fan Tower...

...even the entirety of the Luo Capital is within your coverage, isn't it?

Lin Qingyan did not answer. She merely looked at Shangguan Yunying's pretty face, which was written all over with provocation.

Then, she slightly curled the corners of her mouth.

Chief Shangguan.

Lin Qingyan's voice grew even lighter, as light as a feather falling to the ground.

But it was this airy voice that made Shangguan Yunying's smile freeze on her face.

Do you know why I didn't strike down just now?

Shangguan Yunying's pupils slightly contracted.

Lin Qingyan looked at her, her gaze as deep as an ancient well:

Because he was protecting you.

Otherwise, you would already be a corpse right now.

Shangguan Yunying's breath stopped for a second.

She looked at Lin Qingyan, looking into those eyes that were calm to the point of being eerie, and suddenly realized a fact.

This Jingzhe of the Celestial Master's Mansion was serious.

Deadly serious.

That strike just now wasn't a warning, nor a demonstration; she had genuinely wanted to strike her dead.

It was only because Gu Chengyin's reaction was too fast and his protection too tight that Lin Qingyan had temporarily altered its trajectory.

Shangguan Yunying's hand trembled slightly.

But she did not let go; instead, she hugged him even tighter.

Her entire body was practically glued to Gu Chengyin, as if trying to meld him into her own flesh.

So what?

Shangguan Yunying raised her head, meeting Lin Qingyan's gaze, and enunciated word by word:

Lord Jingzhe, you are at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm. You are a lofty fairy.

I am merely a lowly Chief Lady Official. My cultivation base is inferior to yours, my status is inferior to yours; I cannot compare to you in any aspect.

But there is one thing in which you cannot beat me.