The Eyes That See Through

Outside the Cave.

Chen Keshai wandered aimlessly, bored, until he spotted familiar figures—Shen Tianyin, Cao Yilin, and others—seemingly blocked by two guards and facing some trouble.

“What are you guys doing here?” Chen Keshai asked as he approached.

“Fatty!”

“We came to congratulate Brother Qin on becoming an inner disciple, but the guards won’t let us in,” Cao Yilin explained.

The two guards, their expressions stern, said, “This is a restricted area of the sect. Trespassers without an invitation will be executed without mercy.”

“It’s just a gathering of caves, why call it a restricted area? Clearly, you’re just making things difficult for us,” Shen Tianyin said darkly.

“Can I bring them in?” Chen Keshai asked one of the guards respectfully. “I’m Brother Qin’s servant. We’ve met before.”

The guard nodded slightly. “If it’s Brother Qin’s wish, you can bring them in. But make sure they don’t wander around. They might accidentally offend one of the elders.”

“Thank you, Senior Brother. I’ll be careful,” Chen Keshai said with a sly smile, bowing politely.

“Fatty, you’re the best!” Cao Yilin laughed.

Chen Keshai shook his head. “I’ll take you in later. Brother Qin is currently entertaining an important guest and doesn’t have time.”

“Who’s the guest?”

“That’s a secret.”

“Come on, don’t be mysterious.”

Chen Keshai smirked knowingly. “If I told you, you’d be scared to death.”

***

Inside the Cave.

“I don’t understand what Senior Sister means,” Qin Gou said, feeling like he was in a fog. Does this girl have some weird misunderstanding about me?

“Forget it. Just know I don’t mean to discriminate against you, and you don’t need to pretend in front of me,” Gu Feiyan said, brushing a strand of hair from her face with a calm expression.

“Let’s change the topic then. Senior Sister said you wanted to speak with me privately? Now it’s just the two of us,” Qin Gou teased with a sly smile.

Gu Feiyan’s expression turned serious. “You’re talented. How about working under me?”

“I’ll consider it,” Qin Gou said, his tone growing somber. “But first, I’d like you to answer a question… Can you see through my disguise?”

“Yes,” Gu Feiyan said confidently. “You can fool anyone in the sect, but not me.”

“Why?”

Gu Feiyan’s cold, beautiful eyes sparkled as she replied, “With my life-bound spiritual tool, the Piercing Illusion Eyes, no disguise can fool me.”

“A spiritual tool focused on vision? I see,” Qin Gou said with a bitter laugh. He couldn’t deny his loss.

Though he didn’t know the full capabilities of the Piercing Illusion Eyes, he recalled a guest at Arc Moon Mountain who had a similar eye-based spiritual tool. That man, an elderly Taoist, kept his eyes closed at all times because opening them would unleash a storm of sword energy, indiscriminately destroying everything in its path.

“Don’t worry. I won’t spread this around or use it to coerce you into joining me. After all, forced loyalty is never sweet, and I wouldn’t want you harboring ulterior motives,” Gu Feiyan said casually. “But if you willingly help me, I promise to fulfill all your desires once I become the sect’s Young Master. That’s my promise to all my subordinates.”

“Is this a mix of carrot and stick? I didn’t expect Senior Sister to be such a capable leader,” Qin Gou said with an approving smile.

“Thank you for the compliment. Now, let’s see what you truly desire. Let’s see if I have the power to fulfill it,” Gu Feiyan said, her eyes glowing faintly with a soft pink light.

Qin Gou’s expression shifted as he realized the terrifying ability of the Piercing Illusion Eyes.

“You—”

Before he could finish, Gu Feiyan’s eyes widened, and her face flushed with a hint of red. She stared at Qin Gou, her expression a mix of embarrassment and frustration.

She had seen it, clear as day.

That deep yearning, that soul-stirring desire, nearly pulled her in.

Sensing the danger, Qin Gou immediately said, “I’m willing to join Senior Sister’s faction and help you conquer the world.”

“Your deepest desire isn’t for supreme techniques or world domination—it’s… my favor?” Gu Feiyan said, biting her lip. Her tone was a mix of disbelief and shyness. Qin Gou’s innocent wish had completely caught her off guard.

He didn’t crave her alluring body or harbor any lewd intentions. All he wanted was her recognition—a pure, almost naive longing.

Gu Feiyan had always despised flattery and empty words. She preferred to see genuine beauty with her own eyes. So even if a hundred men knelt before her, professing their love, it wouldn’t compare to the sincerity she saw in Qin Gou’s heart at that moment.

“Um, does joining Senior Sister’s faction require a spiritual oath? That way, there’s no risk of betrayal or spies infiltrating,” Qin Gou said, his face red as he avoided her gaze.

“Then swear,” Gu Feiyan said, rolling her eyes playfully as she tried to calm her racing heart.

Qin Gou drew a drop of his blood, using it as a foundation for his spiritual energy. He solemnly declared, “I, Qin Gou, swear to wholeheartedly support Senior Sister Gu Feiyan in becoming the sect’s Young Master. Should I betray this oath, I will face backlash, and my cultivation will be destroyed.”

A faint, indescribable force of heavenly law swept over both Qin Gou and Gu Feiyan before vanishing.

“So that’s your name. I’ve been wondering why the other disciples call you ‘Master Qin,'” Gu Feiyan said, her gaze softening.

“‘Master Qin’ is just a nickname they gave me,” Qin Gou said with an embarrassed laugh. “Now that I’m officially one of Senior Sister’s subordinates, why don’t you seem excited?”

Gu Feiyan pursed her lips, a mischievous smile playing on her face. “Well then, I’ll give my first order to my new little dog!”

“Now, immediately, draw a portrait of me using that ‘sketching’ technique you mentioned.”

Qin Gou felt a headache coming on. “Senior Sister, was this your plan all along? All that talk about fulfilling desires and needing my help was just a ploy?”

Gu Feiyan’s smile turned devilish as she licked her lips playfully. “Smart dog. You guessed right. With your mere Weapon Refining Realm cultivation, you can’t even take a slap from me. What help could you possibly offer?”