Heartache

“But before you see my face, Sister, why don’t I help you relax a bit? After so many battles, you must be exhausted,” Qin Gou said, his figure gliding like a ghost to appear behind Qiu Qianyu.

Qiu Qianyu turned sharply, her eyes wary. “What are you trying to do?”

Qin Gou smirked mockingly. “What? Do you really think someone with my level of cultivation is worth being so cautious about?”

Qiu Qianyu relaxed slightly, her expression turning indifferent. “And how exactly do you plan to help me relax?”

“Naturally, by massaging your shoulders and back. My technique is quite unique,” Qin Gou replied.

“Is that so?” Qiu Qianyu gave him a long, assessing look. “So, you’re a disciple of the Mystic Maiden Palace? I wonder how much of your Palace Master’s people-pleasing tricks you’ve learned. Now I’m curious.”

“Why don’t you find out for yourself?” Qin Gou said with a smile, placing his hands lightly on her shoulders.

In truth, Qin Gou had no real skill in massage. However, after being served by Ye Qishuang for so long, he had picked up enough to fake it. Of course, his real goal wasn’t to make Qiu Qianyu comfortable.

—

Time passed quickly, and Qiu Qianyu began to frown at Qin Gou’s clumsy attempts. “Little Sister, I think the warm-up is over, don’t you? I have important matters to attend to. If you can’t satisfy me, I might just eliminate you right here.”

Qin Gou chuckled. “I didn’t expect Sister to be so ruthless. But you’re right—the warm-up is over.”

Hearing this, Qiu Qianyu’s eyes lit up with excitement. The idea of doing something so thrilling in the wilderness was a first for her, and she couldn’t help but feel a little giddy.

But before she could react, Qin Gou pressed down firmly on a small red mark at the back of her swan-like neck, channeling a unique energy from his Enlightened Body.

Qiu Qianyu’s eyes widened in shock. Her entire body trembled as a wave of electrifying pleasure coursed through her, leaving her paralyzed. She tried to flee but found her legs weak, unable to summon her famed Divine Step Technique.

“What… what kind of massage is this? Did you learn this from your Palace Master?” Qiu Qianyu gasped, her voice filled with disbelief. “No wonder your master is so favored by him. Is this how he feels when she serves him? Oh my god, what have I discovered?!”

Qin Gou’s face darkened, his teeth clenched. “How does Sister find my technique? Would you like another round?”

“No! Absolutely not!” Qiu Qianyu’s eyes betrayed a hint of longing, but her words were firm. “This isn’t a massage—it’s pure debauchery! Stay away from me, or I’ll have to get rough!”

Qin Gou smirked, his plan unfolding perfectly. “So, Sister, are you saying you’ve already… wet with just a moment of my massage?”

“What?! How dare you say such vulgar things!” Qiu Qianyu’s face turned bright red, her voice rising in indignation.

“I just didn’t expect the infamous Thieving Enchantress to fall so easily under a man’s teasing,” Qin Gou said with a sly grin.

“How dare you! What did you just call me? Wait… what are you talking about? A man?!” Qiu Qianyu’s voice faltered, a sense of unease creeping into her heart.

Qin Gou removed his veil, revealing his true face. His features, enhanced by the bloodline of the Faceless Hermit, bore faint, shifting demonic patterns. He stood before her in his male form. “This is my true face.”

Qiu Qianyu’s expression twisted in shock and disbelief. “You’re a man? That’s impossible! You bastard, I’ll kill you! No, wait… why do you look so familiar?”

Qin Gou rolled his eyes. “Familiar? Of course. You were harassing Gu Feiyan back then, and I was there with this very face. But clearly, you’ve been too focused on women to remember me.”

This worked perfectly in Qin Gou’s favor. He smiled and said, “After all, aren’t we old friends, Qiu Qianyu? What did you call me back then? Oh yes… Heartless One.”

—

Heartless One.

The name of Qiu Qianyu’s inner demon, her deepest fear, and the nightmare that haunted her soul. Those three simple words struck her like a dagger to the mind, leaving her stunned and disoriented.

The series of bizarre encounters, the strange massage that left her paralyzed, the sudden gender reveal, and now the utterance of a name known only to a select few—it was too much for her to process.

Tears welled up in Qiu Qianyu’s eyes, spilling over as she collapsed to the ground. Her usual bravado was gone, replaced by sheer terror. She crawled backward, her body trembling and her face pale.

“Why? Why won’t you leave me alone?!” she wailed, her voice raw with desperation. For someone who didn’t even fear Avatar Realm cultivators, this was a complete breakdown. She knew that no matter how fast she ran, she could never escape the Heartless One. This nightmare would follow her everywhere.

“Please, I’m begging you! Let me go, or just kill me! Don’t torment me anymore!” Qiu Qianyu sobbed, clutching her head in despair. Her fear had driven her to the brink of madness.

—

Qin Gou sighed, his heart aching at the sight. He had known that invoking the name “Heartless One” would be enough to scare her off, but he hadn’t expected such an extreme reaction. Despite all the care and guidance he had given her over the years, just hearing those words had reduced her to the same helpless child who had once cried in his arms on a snowy night.

“Master, what if the Heartless One comes back to hurt me?”

“Then I’ll be there immediately to protect you. Not even the heavens will harm my little Qianyu.”

—

Qin Gou’s original plan was to impersonate the Heartless One and scare Qiu Qianyu away. But now, seeing her tear-streaked face and trembling figure, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt.

Sighing deeply, he activated his spatial ring. A stone puppet emerged, transforming into Qin Gou’s original appearance—the Heavenly Master of Arc Moon Mountain. The puppet grabbed Qin Gou by the neck and lifted him into the air.

At that moment, Qiu Qianyu looked up. Her tear-filled eyes widened as the image of a green-robed youth filled her vision.

It was him—the man she had always silently called out to in her moments of despair. The one who had held her in his warm embrace when she was at her lowest.

Her terrifying nightmare, the Heartless One, now seemed powerless and insignificant in his presence.

This fleeting moment struck her heart like a thunderbolt, etching itself into her soul forever.

“Master!” Qiu Qianyu cried out, tears streaming down her face. But this time, her tears weren’t from fear—they were filled with joy, longing, and unwavering trust.