Yu Wenqiu naturally had no idea that the True Monarch senior across from her had just thoroughly unraveled her "white silk and emerald green" incident.
Seeing this senior suddenly display a series of extremely subtle expressions, Yu Wenqiu's heart skipped a beat.
Did this senior just use a secret technique similar to the Heavenly Eye?
Perhaps it's information related to Little Gu?
But why would this senior show such an expression? What on earth did she see?
Yu Wenqiu rapidly went through every secret she might have exposed in her mind. The more she thought, the more uncertain she felt, until she finally decided to simply suppress the doubt with a sense of resignation.
Forget it, forget it. There's no point in overthinking.
How could she have known that True Monarch Liuyun Suyu had already labeled her with the thought: "How can someone like this actually win him over?"
...
When Gu Chengming returned to his courtyard, this was the scene he encountered.
True Monarch Liuyun Suyu and Yu Wenqiu were sitting face-to-face, the atmosphere thick with awkwardness.
"Elder Yu?"
Seeing Gu Chengming return, Yu Wenqiu finally breathed a sigh of relief, then gave him a somewhat resentful look.
"I came to give you a surprise."
Gu Chengming thought to himself that the current situation was indeed a surprise.
For some reason, seeing Yu Wenqiu and True Monarch Liuyun Suyu sitting together gave him an ominous premonition.
As if realizing that her presence was now somewhat intrusive, True Monarch Liuyun Suyu sighed. "Since the young friend has returned, Elder Yu must have many official matters to discuss after her long journey. I shall not disturb the two of you."
Only then did Yu Wenqiu completely relax. "Safe travels, Senior."
Gu Chengming watched the figure disappear around the corner before turning back to smile at Yu Wenqiu. "Elder Yu, why did you come so suddenly?"
Yu Wenqiu's tension finally dissipated completely at this moment, and she quietly shuffled half an inch toward Gu Chengming. "I missed you."
...
On the other side.
True Monarch Liuyun Suyu paced back to her side courtyard and sat at her desk, pulling out the copy of 《Senior Hehuan Sect Female Cultivator's Guide to Capturing Your Ideal Cultivator's Heart》 from her sleeve once more.
Only this time, her reading was quite difficult, because subtle noises were drifting from the room next door.
True Monarch Liuyun Suyu pinched the page with her fingertips, feeling quite restless, then patted her own face.
As a dignified True Monarch, how could she engage in such a thing as eavesdropping?
She forced her gaze back to the booklet, but before she could finish half a line, her True Monarch senses flared up again.
This Elder Yu is actually... actually this bold?
She thought back to the karmic fragments of the white silk and emerald green she had just seen.
True Monarch Liuyun Suyu suddenly realized that in this struggle for a Daoist companion, what she lacked was likely far more than just the details of a strategy.
The most intimate contact she had had with the young friend last time was merely passing a wisp of Cloud Moon True Intent hand-to-hand.
Listening to the sounds from next door, True Monarch Liuyun Suyu felt both distressed and restless.
Yet Little Gu seems to really like this... Does he prefer this kind of clumsy display of affection?
But if she were to wrap herself up like that, wouldn't it be too affected?
No, as the dignified True Monarch Liuyun Suyu, how could she learn to wrap herself in a quilt like that?
But what if Little Gu really likes it?
True Monarch Liuyun Suyu fell into a brief state of Gu-suppression.
...
The next morning.
Gu Chengming sat cross-legged in his study, his brow relaxed.
The wisp of true essence that had originally been stagnant at the Fourth Realm, Seventh Level had quietly moved up a notch after the fulfilling intimacy of the previous night, completely stabilizing at this moment.
—Fourth Realm, Eighth Level.
According to the usual cultivation progress in the cultivation world, the journey from the seventh level to the eighth level of the Fourth Realm would take at least several years of hard work, yet for Gu Chengming, it was accomplished in a single night.
Gu Chengming looked down at his hands, his expression subtle.
The improvement brought by his current realm was actually not that significant anymore. After all, with the Knight Sword, Gu Chengming was already an existence capable of catching a True Monarch off guard under specific circumstances.
It was at this moment that the Great Record, which hadn't popped up in a long time, appeared again to say some cryptic words.
【The Great Record looks at you with a complex gaze.】
【If things truly continue like this, perhaps you will be able to seize a High-Rank Dao Throne in one fell swoop when you reach the True Monarch rank. It might even be possible to leap across two realms at once.】
Gu Chengming became curious upon hearing this and asked for an explanation.
【As everyone knows, a High-Rank Dao Throne possesses absolute suppression over a Low-Rank Dao Throne.】
【Following this rule backward, it is not hard to conclude that if a cultivator proves their Dao and seizes the highest position on a Dao Throne main branch upon ascending to the Sixth Realm, then all subsequent Dao Thrones on that main branch will be easily within their reach.】
【All Low-Rank Dao Thrones must live under their shadow; naturally, there is no room for competition.】
Did such people exist? Naturally, they did.
Whether it was the Life-Defying Calamity-Slaying True Monarch or True Monarch Jiahao, they were invincible among their peers from the moment they proved their Dao and ascended to the Sixth Realm precisely because the Dao Thrones they obtained were the highest on their respective main branchs.
And without exception, they all eventually reached the Seventh Realm.
But how could it be that simple? If simply obtaining a High-Rank Dao Throne meant one foot was already in the Seventh Realm, wouldn't everyone just go for them?
It was because the difficulty of obtaining a High-Rank Dao Throne was extremely high. Usually, one's foundation had to be incredibly solid, and one needed a powerful compatibility with that main branch to have even a sliver of a chance of obtaining a High-Rank Dao Throne from the start.
Furthermore, High-Rank Dao Thrones were rare to begin with. Once one appeared, countless True Monarchs would covet it. It was equivalent to a Fifth Realm cultivator having to compete with many True Monarchs for an opportunity.
With all these factors combined, the difficulty was naturally off the charts.
Gu Chengming's heart stirred.
He was about to ask the Great Record a few more questions, but it had already fallen silent in his Sea of Consciousness, as if it had finished its piece and impatiently handed the stage back to him.
...
Meanwhile, before the water mirror of the Imperial Observatory.
Zhou Qingmu sat on a custom-made ebony chair, staring at the scene reflected in the water mirror with a subtle expression, feeling the same confusion as True Monarch Liuyun Suyu.
—Why can Yu Wenqiu win him over?
Under the osmanthus tree in the mirror, her Little Gu was naturally reaching out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind Elder Yu's ear, and the other woman leaned into his shoulder in response. The tender atmosphere between them was enough to make anyone feel sick with sweetness even through the water mirror.
According to Zhou Qingmu's experience of reading countless people in the Night Guard Division over the years, this Elder Yu's personality followed the "quite passive" route.
From her tense posture while sitting across from True Monarch Liuyun Suyu earlier to her clumsy little movements in Little Gu's arms now, everything indicated that she was thin-skinned and didn't seem like the type of girl who dared to take the initiative.
She should be weak, utterly weak.
But she managed to win him over... Damn it.
I don't understand!
But on second thought, True Monarch Liuyun Suyu seemed just as weak...
Extending that logic, she wasn't much better herself.
Zhou Qingmu began to feel distressed.
By all rights, she shouldn't be such an indecisive person, right? Why did she become so hesitant in front of Little Gu?
Zhou Qingmu seriously searched for the root of this question in her heart.
Her thoughts quietly drifted back to the Imperial Academy decades ago.
At that time, she was only sixteen or seventeen, sitting with several classmates in a small courtyard at the academy drinking tea. One of her close junior sisters asked her seriously—
"Sister Qingmu, what would you do if you met someone you liked in the future?"
At that time, she held her teacup and gave a straightforward laugh:
"Boldly express my love; if he doesn't agree, I'll beat him until he does!"
Although those words sounded a bit like a joke, they were enough to show that her former self would never have imagined her current self being so cowardly.
Zhou Qingmu racked her brains and finally found the root of her cowardice.
It was precisely because she cared too much that she restrained herself... fearing that Little Gu would dislike her, she didn't dare to make a direct approach.
But if she continued to be this cowardly, it truly wouldn't be her turn to take the stage.
In all the years Zhou Qingmu had lived, every single thing she had done in the imperial court or in the pugilistic world was something she had never regretted.
If she continued to be this timid regarding Little Gu, it would likely become the first regret of her life.
—Boldly express your love.
Zhou Qingmu silently repeated the words she had spoken in the academy courtyard all those years ago.
As for when to take the stage, in what manner, and how to respond after taking the stage...
These were the things she, Zhou Qingmu, would have to refine carefully next.
...
A few days later.
In a natural progression of events, Gu Chengming headed toward the Night Guard Division in response to Zhou Qingmu's summons.
According to what Zhou Qingmu said in the message, the Imperial Observatory had recently observed an unusual Dao Throne omen. It was a matter of great importance that required him, the Director, to come in person.
Gu Chengming pondered this all the way on his flying sword and had a rough idea in his heart.
Recently, the pressing matters in the capital had all settled down.
The Longevity Sect Perfected Man had completely lost his aura after the battle in the Wuxian Neighborhood, and the stray fragments of wild Jiahao scattered from Wangyue's remains had been gathered one by one by various True Monarchs and Fifth Realm cultivators. The celestial phenomena over the capital had gradually stabilized.
Reasonably speaking, he, the new Director, should have been heading into a period of leisure.
Yet during this time that should have been peaceful, the Imperial Observatory occasionally sent over observation results that made it impossible for anyone to stay idle.
Inside the side hall of the Night Guard Division.
When Gu Chengming pushed open the door, Zhou Qingmu was sitting by the window reviewing a document.
Seeing him enter, she set down her vermilion brush with her usual composure and pushed an azure scroll toward him.
"This is what the Imperial Observatory observed two days ago."
Her tone was steady. "If nothing unexpected happens, this is the Dao Throne 'Unfettered Heaven'."
Gu Chengming's expression was thoughtful.
Isn't this exactly what True Monarch Jiahao told him before?
The sentence surfaced in his mind.
"Young friend, if necessary, you may take the Dao Throne 'Unfettered Heaven'."
Gu Chengming fell into thought. According to what True Monarch Jiahao said that day, this Unfettered Heaven Dao Throne was an important opportunity left for him by this senior.
Given the current situation, if he wanted to come out on top in this struggle, his own trump cards alone were likely far from enough.
Gu Chengming looked up at Zhou Qingmu sitting across from him, intending to voice his thoughts.
But as soon as he looked up, he froze, because he realized his Director's current state was quite subtle.
She was sitting by the window, her back perfectly straight, and her fingers resting on the table would occasionally tap the edge inadvertently. Her eyes held a complex meaning, as if she were repeatedly performing some difficult mental construction in her heart.
Gu Chengming didn't speak first, patiently waiting for her to organize her thoughts.
After a long time, Zhou Qingmu finally spoke slowly.
"Normally, since Little Gu helped me obtain my Dao Throne before, I should help you obtain 'Unfettered Heaven' in this matter no matter what."
The words of "requesting help" that were about to leave Gu Chengming's lips were immediately cut off by Zhou Qingmu's next sentence.
"But if that were the case—"
Zhou Qingmu changed her tone, which now carried a hint of difficulty.
"It would seem like a mere exchange of favors, as if I am using this to repay your kindness. That would make me far too despicable."
Gu Chengming's hand holding the scroll paused.
—Huh?
His Director's wording was far too solemn.
When does a superior helping a subordinate ever require a heavy word like "despicable"?
Furthermore, given Zhou Qingmu's previous recommendation of him to His Majesty as the new Director, she, the Vice Director, had no need to repay any kindness at all. After all, her "active stepping aside" had already more than repaid the favor of helping her prove her Dao Throne.
The "big trouble" alarm in Gu Chengming's heart quietly rang out once more.
Holding the scroll, he spoke cautiously: "What do you mean, Director?"
Zhou Qingmu took a slow, deep breath, as if going over the lines she had rehearsed countless times in her heart one last time.
She looked directly into Gu Chengming's eyes. "I hope you can fulfill one request for me."
"Consider it my 'payment' for helping you next."
Given Zhou Qingmu's solemn posture, this "payment" was definitely no ordinary small matter. But if he were to decline now, it would seem heartless, especially since his Director was never one to make unreasonable demands.
He deliberated for a moment and nodded frankly. "Please, go ahead."
The moment those words left his mouth, Zhou Qingmu silently went over the vow she had made in the academy courtyard one last time.
—"Boldly express my love; if he doesn't agree, I'll beat him until he does!"
In the next instant, Zhou Qingmu stood up.
Gu Chengming only saw a flash of purple-gold robes before Zhou Qingmu reached out and cupped his face.
Gu Chengming's pupils shrank slightly. Before he could even speak, Zhou Qingmu had already leaned down and kissed him.
Rate on N.U.
