Xiao Mei gave a light nod, her expression steady and resolute as she listened to Gu Qinghe's explanation.
Their business at the shop was finished. Now, it was time to leave Song City and return to Gu Sheng City.
They walked side by side along the city's main road. From ahead, someone smiled and waved in Gu Qinghe's direction.
But it quickly became clear that the greeting was meant for Xiao Mei, not him.
"Xiao Mei," the woman greeted gently.
"Yan Ran?" Xiao Mei replied, slightly surprised.
Gu Qinghe glanced briefly at the girl named Yan Ran. The clothes she wore resembled the academy uniform Xiao Mei had worn earlier.
His memory was vague, but he was fairly sure he had crossed paths with her once or twice before, maybe exchanged a few words.
"That white dress suits you," Yan Ran said with a smile.
Xiao Mei returned a faint smile and thanked her.
The man standing beside Xiao Mei also turned to look. Yan Ran had clearly been recruited by a sect.
The woman next to her was unfamiliar to Gu Qinghe, but he recognized the sect emblem they wore—he had seen it during the first recruitment session.
Not a major sect. That much was obvious at a glance. At best, it was a mid-tier sect.
"The Gu Clan is famous and respected throughout the Yangguan region. It's truly a pity that you only managed to take in a disciple with such low qualifications," the woman said bluntly.
"High or low qualifications are just one part of fate," Gu Qinghe replied calmly. "The cultivation path is vast. As long as there is strength, even heaven's will can be changed."
"Oh?" The woman narrowed her eyes. "So you believe a Sacred Envoy with poor talent can still overturn her own destiny?"
Gu Qinghe turned his head slightly. Xiao Mei also looked at him, her eyes widened as if seeking reassurance.
After a quiet breath, Gu Qinghe spoke again.
"Of course," he said evenly. "Her future is in her own hands. If she's willing to grow, the Gu Clan will provide everything she needs."
The woman sneered coldly. "I never expected words like that to come from a useless man like you. Everyone knows Gu Qinghe's reputation."
She then turned to Yan Ran. "Advise your friend. Don't let her end up as one of Gu Qinghe's concubines."
"Concubine?"
Xiao Mei froze. Her gaze immediately shifted to Gu Qinghe.
Yet he stood there with a cold, firm expression, completely ignoring the insult thrown at him.
The woman even lifted her chin slightly, staring at Gu Qinghe with narrowed eyes full of disdain.
"If there's nothing else, we'll be leaving," Gu Qinghe said shortly.
The woman and Yan Ran nodded. They turned around and headed in another direction, toward the Song Dragon Palace.
Gu Qinghe raised two fingers.
A flying sword materialized in the air before him.
In truth, he could have summoned another sword for Xiao Mei. But he worried she wasn't yet accustomed to flying this way—even a small mistake could prove fatal.
Gu Qinghe stepped onto the sword and extended his hand.
The gesture was clear, telling Xiao Mei to get on and stand behind him. Fear was obvious on the girl's face.
"I'm… getting on that?"
"As long as you hold onto me, you won't fall."
Xiao Mei's gaze shifted back and forth between the sword and Gu Qinghe's face.
After a few seconds, she nodded lightly. Taking a deep breath, she stepped up and stood behind him, her eyes squeezed tightly shut.
Once he confirmed that Xiao Mei was standing securely, Gu Qinghe guided the sword and flew out of the city.
From time to time, he glanced back. Xiao Mei's expression remained stiff.
She still kept her eyes closed, even after being told she could open them. She stubbornly refused to look down.
Gu Qinghe didn't make an issue of it.
Sooner or later, he was certain Xiao Mei would grow accustomed to the cultivation world.
They shot through the clouds, accompanied by birds flying alongside them.
From afar, Gu Sheng City gradually came into view, with the Gu Clan Palace standing grandly at its center.
Unlike Song City, the skies above Gu Sheng City were relatively empty.
This city was directly under the Gu Clan's administration, and there were no major sects nearby.
Cultivators who came here usually landed and walked like ordinary residents.
Gu Qinghe was an exception.
As the third son of the Gu Clan Patriarch, he enjoyed the privilege of entering and leaving the city by flying sword.
The journey felt short, and soon they arrived at the Gu Clan Palace.
"We're here. Open your eyes," Gu Qinghe said.
Xiao Mei loosened her grip and slowly opened her eyes.
In the next instant, she was stunned.
Her eyes widened, her lips parted slightly. The Gu Clan Palace complex stretched out before her—luxurious, though still inferior to the Song Dragon Palace.
"This is… where?" she asked.
"The Gu Clan Palace. You'll live and train here," Gu Qinghe replied.
Xiao Mei jumped down from the sword and stepped onto the palace courtyard.
Gu Qinghe put away his sword and walked toward the main building.
The mansion doors opened.
A middle-aged woman stepped out, wearing a gold-and-white gown. The face felt familiar to Gu Qinghe.
There was no mistake—she was the mother of this body, Gu Zhen's second wife.
Although Yun Tian had never shared an emotional bond with her, the remnants of the original Gu Qinghe's soul that he had absorbed caused his heart to tremble subtly.
"Cough!"
"Mother?" Gu Qinghe called out reflexively.
He moved quickly to her side and held her hand.
The touch was cold—unnaturally so.
"What happened?" he asked.
"I feel better than yesterday," the woman replied gently. "I heard your father sent you with Miss Gu Yanxue to the Song Dragon Palace event."
"I'm glad to hear that."
Gu Qinghe searched through his memories, dissecting the remaining fragments of the original soul.
The woman's name finally surfaced clearly.
Wang Yunxi.
She came from the Wang Clan, married Gu Zhen, and was known as the Gu Clan's Second Madam.
More than that, Gu Qinghe also remembered the mysterious illness Wang Yunxi had suffered from for the past three years.
The first year had been the worst. The following two years improved slightly, but the Dragon Palace physicians had concluded that the illness continued to erode her life essence.
Her hair turned white prematurely. Her body weakened. Her vitality declined sharply.
"Go rest. I'm back now," Gu Qinghe said.
"Alright, Qinghe. Can you help Mother back to my room?"
Gu Qinghe nodded.
After Wang Yunxi was laid down, a female clan elder arrived.
"May I speak with you for a moment, Gu Qinghe?"
He nodded and followed her to the mansion's central hall.
"Your father failed to obtain the Sun Soul Flower," the elder said directly. "One of the elders who accompanied him reported this morning."
"That flower was the only way to cure Second Madam Gu. Since he failed, Master Gu has issued an order."
"Master Gu wants to send Second Madam Gu back to the Wang Clan."
Gu Qinghe fell silent. His expression changed.
Send her back.
That meant the Gu Clan no longer wished to bear Wang Yunxi's burden.
Anger suddenly surged in his chest—sharp and burning.
"Send her back?" His voice turned cold. "You plan to abandon my mother?"
Why am I angry? Wang Yunxi shouldn't have anything to do with me.
"Elder Gu has no intention of dissolving the marriage bond," the woman explained. "He only wants Wang Yunxi to stay with the Wang Clan and spend the rest of her life there."
"I'm sorry. This order must still be carried out."
Gu Qinghe closed his eyes briefly. Yun Tian's soul forced itself to calm down.
When he opened his eyes again, the anger had subsided.
"Has Qingyin been informed?" he asked.
The elder shook her head. "Miss Gu Qingyin is cultivating at the Tianyun Sect. We didn't want to disturb her."
"Then don't," Gu Qinghe said. "I'll handle this myself."
After that, he returned to Wang Yunxi's room.
She was sleeping soundly beneath warm blankets.
Gu Qinghe stood beside the bed and formed a hand seal.
[Congratulations, new technique learned]
[Technique: Five Element Senses]
[Level: Spirit]
[Description: Detects elemental diseases and poisons]
Golden light shot into Wang Yunxi's forehead.
Cold meridians. Stagnant Qi. Withered spiritual roots. Declining cultivation level. Excessive yin element.
Gu Qinghe drew his conclusion.
This isn't an illness.
It's a curse.
Most likely… the Ice Meridian Curse.
Only a Core Formation cultivator could plant it.
He deactivated the technique and looked at Wang Yunxi's face.
This curse had a flaw.
As long as she received a continuous supply of dominant-element Qi, Wang Yunxi could survive—until she became strong enough to shatter it herself.
But right now, as a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, his strength was insufficient.
If he forced it, backlash could occur.
"If they no longer care about you," he murmured softly, "then the Wang Clan is the only family you have left."
"I swear… I will destroy the Ice Meridian Curse."