Gu Xunhe

In the Depths of the Night, Within a Dream.

In the grand, resplendent hall, Shen Tianyin stared at the enigmatic Qin Gou, who sat confidently on the dragon-carved throne. His voice trembled with excitement. “Lord Cthulhu, just tell me the truth—Gu Yan’er isn’t really dead, is she?”

Behind the gray mist, Qin Gou’s expression was one of utter awkwardness. He responded in a deep, emotionless voice, “Gu Yan’er no longer exists. She is completely gone from this world.”

Shen Tianyin wasn’t fazed in the slightest. Instead, he confidently declared, “But I’ve already seen her in our original world.”

“That’s not Gu Yan’er,” Qin Gou said firmly.

“I would never mistake her,” Shen Tianyin said with unwavering conviction. “Even if she’s been reincarnated, she’s still my Yan’er.”

Qin Gou had grossly underestimated him.

He had planned to use his identity as the Master of Six Paths Reincarnation and the exorbitant cost of 100,000 reincarnation points to bind Shen Tianyin and the others as his secret agents within the Seed Demon Holy Sect. However, Shen Tianyin seemed more inclined to believe in some nonsensical reincarnation theory that even a three-year-old could see through, rather than pay the steep price.

Tired of the conversation, Qin Gou waved his hand, sending the group into a deeper layer of the dream to complete another life-threatening reincarnation world task.

***

The Next Morning, Outside Qin Gou’s Cave.

A beautiful female cultivator stood waiting, her expression calm but determined. It was unclear how long she had been there.

“Greetings, Brother Qin,” she said with a radiant smile. “The Young Master requests your presence.”

In the Seed Demon Holy Sect, there was only one person worthy of being called “Young Master”—Gu Feiyan’s elder brother and the Sect Master’s eldest son, Gu Xunhe.

“Lead the way,” Qin Gou said.

He had no idea what Gu Xunhe wanted, nor whether he was aware of Qin Gou’s decision to support Gu Feiyan. However, this was not an invitation he could refuse.

***

At Gu Xunhe’s Residence.

A gentle stream flowed nearby, its soft gurgling sound blending with the rustling of fish. Inside a serene chamber, Gu Xunhe sat by a guqin, his sword-like brows and starry eyes exuding an air of arrogance. He wore a luxurious golden robe and gently plucked the strings of the guqin. (tln : Guqin is Chinese traditional instrument, it has 7 strings)

The melody came to an end.

The female cultivator bowed deeply, her voice soft and affectionate. “Young Master, Brother Qin has arrived.”

Gu Xunhe glanced at her and smirked arrogantly. “Well done. Tonight, you’ll serve me.”

“Yes, Young Master,” she replied, her cheeks flushing as she retreated gracefully, her eyes filled with tender affection.

In the chamber, only Qin Gou and Gu Xunhe remained.

“Young Master, you’re truly a man of style,” Qin Gou remarked, amused. To arrange his evening “entertainment” in front of a guest—Gu Xunhe’s confidence was certainly something.

“No need for pleasantries. I’ll ask, and you’ll answer,” Gu Xunhe said coldly, casting a disdainful glance at Qin Gou. “I heard my father gifted you his former spiritual gathering cave?”

“That’s correct.”

“Why?” Gu Xunhe asked sharply.

Qin Gou chuckled awkwardly. “I can’t say. Perhaps you should ask the Sect Master yourself.”

Gu Xunhe’s gaze turned icy. “If I could ask him directly, do you think I’d waste my time summoning you?”

Qin Gou frowned. This guy is incredibly arrogant.

Gu Xunhe sipped his tea, his expression haughty. “Because my father favors you, I’ll give you an opportunity. Support me in my bid for the Young Master position. You should know that with your current cultivation, you have no right to participate in such struggles.”

Without hesitation, Qin Gou clasped his hands and said, “I must decline.”

Gu Xunhe’s eyes grew colder, his voice dropping. “You dare refuse me? Have you thought this through? Do you even realize the benefits you’d gain by siding with me?”

“I’ve thought it through,” Qin Gou replied calmly, ignoring the implied threat.

Gu Xunhe laughed in anger. “Then tell me—are you planning to secretly support my useless brother or Gu Feiyan? Have they already approached you with promises of rewards?”

“Young Master, aren’t you being a bit overbearing?” Qin Gou said, his tone laced with displeasure.

“Overbearing?” Gu Xunhe sneered. “Eliminating unstable elements and troublemakers—is that overbearing? Who in the Seed Demon Holy Sect would dare lecture me over such trivial matters?”

With a snap of his fingers, the female cultivator and several black-clad disciples of the Steward Hall emerged from the shadows, their intentions unmistakably hostile.

“Trust me, refusing my goodwill will be the worst decision of your life,” Gu Xunhe said, his tone mocking. “But don’t worry. Out of respect for my father, I’ll spare your life. I’ll imprison you until I’ve secured the Young Master position and figured out why my father values you so highly. Then, I’ll deal with you at my leisure.”

“Now, kneel!” Gu Xunhe shouted. Two black-clad disciples rushed forward, grabbing Qin Gou’s shoulders and kicking at the backs of his knees.

“Young Master, you’re truly ruthless. What am I to do?” Qin Gou said, struggling against their grip. He stood tall, his laughter cold and filled with fury. How long has it been since someone dared to threaten me like this? A thousand years, perhaps?

The female cultivator and the other disciples quickly sealed off all exits, their faces cold and murderous.

“I really want to slap this brat,” Qin Gou thought, his anger boiling over.

—

Ding. New Task Issued: ‘Even My Father Hasn’t Hit Me’: Justice arrives as expected! Deliver a resounding slap to Gu Xunhe, the Young Master of the Seed Demon Holy Sect, so he can experience the love and discipline of a parent. Reward: Immediate breakthrough to the peak of the Weapon Refining Realm. Time limit: 5 minutes. Failure: Host will be forced to slap himself 300 times, administered automatically by the system.

—

In an instant, Qin Gou’s furious expression vanished, replaced by a serene, saintly smile.

“System, my dear system, after all this time, you’ve finally done something worthwhile!”