Finally, while Xiao Yan was focused on his cultivation, Hun Changqing approached Gu Xun'er.
Seeing Hun Changqing walking towards her, Gu Xun'er's heart pounded wildly, her fists clenched tightly, extremely nervous.
Hun Changqing walked to Gu Xun'er's side, looking at Xiao Yan, and slowly said, "How have you been lately?"
Hearing Hun Changqing's indifferent yet seemingly concerned words, Gu Xun'er's heart pounded even more violently, her fists clenched tighter, and she stammered,
"I'm...okay. Since coming back...I've been a little unaccustomed to it...I've been resting in my room. I just came out for some fresh air today...and then you arrived..."
Seemingly not wanting Hun Changqing to think she had gone to see Xiao Yan as soon as she returned, she explained.
Hun Changqing, oblivious to Gu Xun'er's underlying meaning, continued, "When do you plan to return to the clan to retrieve resources?"
Hearing that Hun Changqing was concerned about resources, Gu Xun'er felt a pang of disappointment, but still replied,
"The clan's resources were already delivered once a while ago, and you've taken them from my storage ring.
If I want to go back and demand resources from the clan, I must first advance to the Great Dou Master level; otherwise, they won't agree to my unreasonable demands."
Hun Changqing frowned and said,
"Advance to the Great Dou Master level? Even with your Emperor-grade bloodline damaged, with your talent, advancing to the Great Dou Master shouldn't take long.
Then you should focus on your cultivation for now and stop going to see Xiao Yan unnecessarily."
"Also, don't try anything funny, or your Xiao Yan brother will suffer a terrible fate."
He habitually tossed out a threatening remark at the end of the conversation. Hun Changqing then left, carrying the purple beast.
Hearing Hun Changqing's threats, Gu Xun'er's expression remained unchanged. She looked up at the approaching dusk, murmuring softly, "Xiao Yan... will he die...?"
Seven more days passed quickly. Hun Changqing frequently came to "instruct" Xiao Yan in his cultivation.
Gu Xun'er, too, began to cultivate frantically, seemingly provoked by Hun Changqing's words about her being a "fool who only knows how to talk about love."
Besides cultivation, Gu Xun'er would unconsciously follow Xiao Yan whenever she saw him heading to the back mountain, constantly explaining to herself,
"I'm doing this to accompany Xiao Yan in his cultivation, I'm doing this to accompany Xiao Yan in his cultivation..."
However, the dark figure constantly appearing deep within her heart clearly told her:
she was doing this to see Hun Changqing!
She knew Hun Changqing would come to see Xiao Yan intermittently during this time.
But just seeing him, even just once, would fill her with a deep sense of satisfaction.
She kept telling herself, kept persuading herself, that the past month's experiences were just a nightmare, that Hun Changqing was just a demon!
However… she couldn't control her body from going to him, nor could she control her heart from thinking of him.
Xiao Yan was deeply moved to see Gu Xun'er accompanying him to cultivate in the back mountain these past few days.
However, what Xiao Yan didn't notice was that when he was alone in the back mountain, Gu Xun'er was constantly distracted, and after a short while, she would make an excuse to leave.
But as soon as Hun Changqing appeared, Gu Xun'er stood quietly at a distance, watching him, her heart seemingly filled with contentment.
As usual, Xiao Yan finished his cultivation, and Hun Changqing was about to leave when Xiao Yan suddenly called out to him,
"Brother, Xun'er, there's an auction in Wutan City tomorrow. Should we go check it out? Maybe there'll be some good stuff!"
Actually, Xiao Yan was deeply moved by Gu Xun'er's companionship during his cultivation in the back mountain, and since there was an auction tomorrow, he wanted to take her along. Hun Changqing was just an afterthought.
Upon hearing Xiao Yan's words, Gu Xun'er secretly glanced at Hun Changqing, wanting to see if he would go.
Hun Changqing didn't notice Gu Xun'er's gaze, but instead pondered to himself,
"It seems tomorrow's auction is the same one from the original novel. What was the auctioneer's name again? I think she was quite beautiful. I might go check her out."
Hun Changqing couldn't remember the name of the woman at the auction house who had some interaction with Xiao Yan in the original novel; after all, her role was very small. He only knew she was a beauty, but that was enough to make Hun Changqing want to go and see for himself.
"Sure." Hun Changqing nodded.
Xiao Yan immediately looked at Gu Xun'er, who also smiled and nodded.
...
The next day, Xiao Yan's group had an extra person: Xiao Yu, who had just returned home from Canaan Academy to visit his family.
The four of them formed a somewhat strange formation. Xiao Yan walked in front, Gu Xun'er walked subtly beside Hun Changqing, while Xiao Yu held Gu Xun'er's hand, her eyes secretly glancing at Hun Changqing, very curious about this sworn brother Xiao Yan had just recognized.
Xiao Yan's voice came from ahead.
"Xun'er, this is..."
"Xun'er, is this bracelet pretty?"
"Xun'er, this dress suits you quite well!"
...
Along the way, Xiao Yan helped Gu Xun'er find various jewelry and clothes. Gu Xun'er didn't refuse what Xiao Yan offered, simply accepting it with a polite smile, but without much expression.
In the past, Gu Xun'er would have felt incredibly happy if Xiao Yan had done this.
However, now that Xiao Yan was giving her things, Gu Xun'er didn't know why she felt no emotion at all, which surprised even herself.
Xiao Yan was delighted to see Gu Xun'er accept the gifts and was about to look for more for her when
his gaze inadvertently fell on Hun Changqing's hood, becoming fixed on it. Xiao Yan suddenly realized he had never seen what his older brother looked like before.
Curious, he asked Hun Changqing
, "Big brother, why do you always wear a hood? I don't think I've ever seen what you look like. Can I see?"
Xiao Yu cast a curious glance at him.
Gu Xun'er, hearing Xiao Yan's question, also looked over instantly, staring intently at Hun Changqing's hood, wanting to hear his answer.
She was arguably the person in the world most eager to see Hun Changqing's face hidden under the hood. Hun Changqing shook his head at Xiao Yan's question, saying casually
, "Too ugly. You're still young, I don't want to scare you." Xiao Yan was somewhat unconvinced. "Big brother, I'm only two years younger than you. How is that younger? Even if you're ugly, you're still my big brother. Let me see!" Xiao Yan was extremely curious about his big brother's appearance. Seeing that Xiao Yan wouldn't give up, Hun Changqing patiently explained, "When I was little, I had an accident that disfigured my face. I became terrifying and hideous, like a vengeful ghost. Everyone was afraid of me, so ever since then, I've always worn a hood and swore I would never take it off." Hun Changqing's ability to lie through his teeth was becoming increasingly adept. After hearing this, Xiao Yan looked at Hun Changqing apologetically and said guiltily, "Big brother, I'm sorry for reminding you of that painful past." Hun Changqing shrugged and said, "That happened a long time ago. I don't care about it anymore, and I've gotten used to wearing a hood. It's fine this way." Gu Xun'er, who was listening nearby, had a thoughtful expression on her face. "Is he simply trying to hide his appearance from us, worried that I'll investigate him after returning to the clan, or is there some truth to it?" Gu Xun'er pondered. "In his mind, he believes that as long as he controls Xiao Yan's life and death, I will never allow the clan to deal with him. He shouldn't have been wearing a hood even then... He must be telling the truth... Ugly appearance... An accident..." After confirming that Hun Changqing was telling the truth, Gu Xun'er thought she would feel disgust and aversion, but why... why did she feel heartache? Hearing him recount an accident, why did she feel a piercing pain for him? Gu Xun'er clenched her hands tightly.