Ah Yao happily climbed onto the Cloud Bed and leaned against Gu Han, her small finger pointing toward the outskirts of the Immortal Palace,
"Master Mommy, Ah Yao heard there are many Yao Beasts outside. I want to go out and see them, can I?"
Gu Han was about to speak when her mind suddenly stirred.
She looked up toward the hall door, a trace of helplessness flashing in her eyes.
She gently rubbed Ah Yao's small head,
"Be good, Ah Yao. Master has some matters to handle in a moment."
"If you want to go play, let your Junior Sisters take you out first, okay?"
"Oh... okay then."
Although Ah Yao was a bit disappointed, she still nodded obediently, jumped off the Cloud Bed, and ran out in a flash.
Almost shortly after Ah Yao left, Empress Ling Shuang's voice came from outside the hall,
"Fellow Daoist Gu, sorry to disturb you."
Gu Han straightened her dress, and her cold voice carried out:
"Please come in."
The hall door opened silently.
A figure dressed in an ice-blue palace dress walked in slowly.
Empress Ling Shuang's current attire seemed even more exquisite than yesterday's.
Fine silver clouds were embroidered on the ice-blue long dress, a light blue silk ribbon was tied around her waist, and her hair was coiled high, held by a Phoenix hairpin.
She was naturally extremely beautiful, not at all inferior to Empress Qingxuan; it was just that their personalities were completely different.
Now, under such careful dressing, she added a few more points of beauty, making one dare not look directly at her.
Only... Gu Han keenly noticed that this Empress of the Northern Region's expression today seemed a bit... unnatural?
As Empress Ling Shuang stepped into the hall, her gaze remained fixed on Gu Han, a very subtle ripple flashing in her eyes.
She had thought for a long time on the way here about how to get closer to Gu Han.
discuss the Dao and taste tea?
Or like that woman Qing Xuan, send a gift?
Finally, she decided to start with the most direct "visit."
"Fellow Daoist Gu."
Empress Ling Shuang spoke, her voice still cold, but with a bit less edge than yesterday.
She stopped three zhang away from Gu Han and performed a standard salute between Fellow Daoists.
This action caused a flash of surprise to cross Gu Han's eyes.
This Empress of the Northern Region would actually be so polite?
"Fellow Daoist Ling Shuang, please sit."
Gu Han raised her hand, and a seat condensed from pure Spiritual Qi slowly formed beside Empress Ling Shuang.
"Thank you."
Empress Ling Shuang spoke, her gaze falling on Gu Han's face, as if trying to see something from those calm eyes.
"Fellow Daoist, is there something you've come for today?"
Gu Han asked directly, her tone peaceful.
Empress Ling Shuang was silent for a moment.
Before coming, she had thought of many topics for "discussing the Dao."
For instance, exploring the Great Dao, asking about the origin of that mysterious ancient bell, or... but when she actually faced Gu Han, those prepared words suddenly became difficult to say.
Especially when she saw that light-green "Profound Heart Bracelet" on Gu Han's left wrist.
That bracelet... Empress Ling Shuang's fingertips curled almost imperceptibly.
"This Empress would like to ask Fellow Daoist Gu about one thing."
Empress Ling Shuang spoke, her voice a bit lower than usual, carrying a hint of hesitation she hadn't even noticed herself.
"In yesterday's battle, when Fellow Daoist stopped at the end, was it because you felt this Empress... was not worthy of your full strength?"
This question was direct, even somewhat sharp.
But after Empress Ling Shuang asked it, she felt relieved instead—this was indeed a knot in her heart.
Hearing this, Gu Han shook her head slightly:
"Fellow Daoist Ling Shuang has misunderstood."
She looked at Empress Ling Shuang with a calm gaze:
"Fellow Daoist did not hesitate to burn a thousand years of Lifespan just for a full battle; this heart for seeking the Dao, This Gu admires it."
"Stopping was not out of contempt, but because I felt... it was unnecessary."
"Unnecessary?"
Empress Ling Shuang's brow furrowed slightly.
"Fellow Daoist used a forbidden technique to boost your cultivation and unleashed a divine weapon close to a quasi-immortal artifact, giving your all."
Gu Han said slowly:
"And I, yesterday, did not use my true killing move."
She paused and looked at Empress Ling Shuang, her tone blunt,
"If I had used my full strength, even if Fellow Daoist could have blocked it, you would have certainly been heavily injured. Such a result would be of no benefit to me."
"After all, there is no life-and-death grudge between us."
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