Trial by Three High Courts

Although Lin Qingyan’s words were spoken lightly, the intent behind them was almost overt.

This was not a test, not a flirtation, but an offering.

A clear indication that she would refuse nothing, a declaration that she was already completely prepared.

As long as he wanted, as long as he asked.

Gu Chengyong lowered his gaze. It wasn’t that he didn’t know Lin Qingyan’s feelings.

But knowing was one thing; accepting was another.

Gu Chengyong could take it. He could deepen the relationship further.

He could use Lin Qingyan to obtain what he desired—this was not difficult for him.

He had always been skilled at such things, exploiting whatever he could, whether it was people or circumstances.

But this time, Gu Chengyong hesitated.

Not because of self-restraint or principles of a gentleman.

He had never been a gentleman.

It was simply that he understood one thing: if he truly accepted her, there would be no turning back.

He could transcend emotions. The path of detachment from worldly feelings allowed him to do so. He could strip himself of dependence on such mortal attachments.

He could stand on higher ground, looking down upon the joys and sorrows of the human world.

He could invest in emotions when necessary and withdraw when needed—be moved in critical moments and forget feelings when required.

But Lin Qingyan was different.

She was not someone walking the path of detachment.

She was merely a woman who had fallen in love, a woman who had placed her heart before him.

Once he truly accepted her, Lin Qingyan would inevitably devote herself entirely to him alone.

She would surely see this as an eternal bond, a vow for lifetimes to come.

At that point, Lin Qingyan would no longer be the cold, aloof Fairy Jingzhe.

She would be…

What would she be?

Gu Chengyong didn’t know.

He only knew that this would be beyond his control.

And he could not accept anything or anyone that exceeded his control.

Gu Chengyong sighed inwardly.

He felt that he was truly terrible at this—using Lin Qingyan’s feelings while refusing to give her any commitment.

Accepting her kindness yet unwilling to offer equal reciprocation.

Knowing exactly what she wanted, yet pretending not to.

But in the end, he retained that shred of humanity.

He hadn’t actually taken her, and thus hadn’t truly destroyed her.

Lin Qingyan might be sad now, feel lost, feel resentment.

But one day, she would understand that this was for the best.

And Gu Chengyong would continue walking his own great path, climbing toward higher realms.

This was the best way.

Perhaps it was also because his current heart of the Dao was still at the Golden Core stage.

Gu Chengyong could never make up his mind, because Lin Qingyan was truly too good.

Maybe only when he reached the Nascent Soul stage—or an even higher realm—could he erase that trace of humanity.

By then, faced with Lin Qingyan’s willing embrace,

he would be able to accept it with an unchanging expression, then calmly part ways.

Without hurt, without pain, without a moment’s hesitation.

Just like someone truly detached.

Gu Chengyong curled the corner of his mouth into a self-deprecating smile.

He hadn’t expected that a mere Lin Qingyan could make him waver.

If this was how he reacted now, what would he do when faced with greater temptations in the future?

But no matter what, as long as that humanity remained—

as long as it had yet to be worn away by the path of detachment—

Gu Chengyong would not betray the bottom line in his heart.

And precisely because he always held firmly to his principles,

his heart of the Dao remained as steadfast as a rock, as translucent as jade.

Just as Gu Chengyong was pondering how to brush Lin Qingyan off,

the fairy in his embrace suddenly stirred.

A faint frown appeared on Lin Qingyan’s brow. Her body, leaning against his chest, gently shifted.

She pulled away from Gu Chengyong’s arms.

Turning her head, she looked toward the direction of the tower gate, a flash of alertness in her gaze.

“Chengyong, someone’s coming.”

Gu Chengyong raised an eyebrow.

If even Lin Qingyan noticed them, the visitor’s status must be considerable.

The Serenity Tower was a restricted area of the Heavenly Masters’ residence; ordinary people had no right to even approach, let alone to call her out to greet them.

The Emperor of Luo?

The thought flashed through his mind, but he quickly dismissed it.

The Emperor of Luo would never come in person. Given his status, he would merely send a messenger with instructions.

That meant the visitor was the Emperor of Luo’s representative.

It would either be an imperial decree or an oral edict.

But either way, this was what Gu Chengyong had been waiting for.

His expression unchanged, he merely nodded slightly.

“Mhm. Go ahead.”

Lin Qingyan’s eyes held unconcealed concern.

She rose on her tiptoes and pressed a soft, gentle kiss to Gu Chengyong’s lips—warm and tender, bearing the unwillingness that only surfaced at this moment.

“Don’t worry,”

Lin Qingyan murmured against his lips.

“No matter what it is, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

This was almost a direct confirmation that the visitor was indeed the Emperor of Luo’s representative.

Gu Chengyong’s face remained calm. He simply reached up and gently stroked her hair.

“Mhm. I trust my little aunt.”

“So my little aunt can trust me too.”

Lin Qingyan curved the corners of her lips, then turned toward the tower gate.

Her back, cast in the faint light, appeared unusually slender. Her steps were steady, her spine straight.

The moment she pushed open the gate and stepped out, her aura shifted abruptly.

From the tender woman nestled in his arms, she instantly transformed back into the cold, aloof Fairy Jingzhe.

The tower door opened and closed, and her figure vanished behind it.

Gu Chengyong stood still, staring at the shut gate. He let out a long sigh.

He raised a hand to touch his lips—her warmth still lingered there.

If the visitor hadn’t arrived, he really wouldn’t have been able to brush Lin Qingyan off so easily.

Inside this Serenity Tower, in this pitch-black room for just the two of them,

Gu Chengyong wasn’t sure how much longer he could have refused her.

Because of his path of detachment, he was no longer as restrained as before.

Only that last shred of remaining humanity kept him from doing as he pleased.

Lin Qingyan stepped out of the Serenity Tower. The gate closed soundlessly behind her.

She stood on the steps before the tower, her gaze sweeping across the courtyard before settling on the figure three zhang away.

The chief eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, Lyu Fang.

He wore ordinary dark-blue robes and carried no attendants, appearing alone.

Seeing Lin Qingyan emerge, he respectfully clasped his hands in salute—

his posture so humble that he didn’t seem like the Emperor of Luo’s representative at all.

“Lord Jingzhe.”

Lin Qingyan gave a slight nod in return.

But that was all.

Her expression was cold, her gaze distant, her body emanating an aura that warned others to stay away.

This was the Lord Jingzhe known to outsiders—the strongest Golden Core assistant in the Heavenly Masters’ residence, a fairy as cold as frost and snow.

Lyu Fang was accustomed to this.

This demeanor of Lin Qingyan was only to be expected.

If she had suddenly turned welcoming, he would have been scared instead.

Lowering his head, Lyu Fang cleared his throat and announced loudly:

“His Majesty’s oral edict.”

Lin Qingyan’s expression did not change. She simply lowered her eyes slightly.

Lyu Fang’s voice rang out clearly in the silent courtyard:

“In the matter of Gu Chengyong’s usurpation of the Blue Sword Sect’s sect leader position, the Cabinet shall oversee the case.”

“The Censorate, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Justice are hereby ordered to conduct a joint trial by the three departments.”

“The deadline is three days. The truth must be thoroughly uncovered.”