A Solemn Oath

Seeing this, Gu Feiyan’s gaze turned disdainful. Her silver-bell-like voice rang out, “So, Big Brother, are you admitting to being unreasonable?”

“Admit? Never! Not in this lifetime!” Gu Xunhe roared, his face flushed with indignation. “I’m the real victim here! That lunatic slapped me for no reason, and now everyone’s treating me like the villain!”

He felt utterly wronged. He hadn’t even done anything—just thrown out a few taunts—and yet he had been slapped squarely across the face. And now, to add insult to injury, he was being painted as the bad guy.

And the culprit behind all this? That mad dog, Qin Gou.

He was the Young Master of the Seed Demon Holy Sect! Where did Qin Gou get the audacity to do this?

“So, are you planning to fight me? Or have you forgotten Father’s recent order forbidding us from engaging in private conflicts?” Gu Feiyan’s alluring eyes narrowed like crescent moons as she sipped her wine-red lips.

“You’re forcing my hand,” Gu Xunhe said, his eyes darkening as he glanced between Qin Gou and Gu Feiyan. With a sneer, he added, “I should’ve known you two dogs were colluding all along.”

Gu Feiyan’s cold, clear eyes glimmered with a faint pink hue as she snorted, “Gu Xunhe, you’re courting death!”

“Courting death? Hardly. It’s been a while since we’ve sparred, hasn’t it? I’m looking forward to it,” Gu Xunhe said, his expression twisted with anticipation as he flicked his sleeve.

“Little Yan, let me help you,” Qin Gou said, unsheathing his staff-sword and stepping beside Gu Feiyan.

“Little Yan?!” Gu Xunhe’s eyes widened in shock before he burst into a strange laugh. “It seems I’ve uncovered quite the secret.”

Gu Feiyan shot Qin Gou a venomous glare. “Idiot! Call me Senior Sister Gu in situations like this!”

“Alright, Little Yan,” Qin Gou replied, unfazed, standing protectively by her side.

“You’re dead!” Gu Feiyan hissed, both embarrassed and furious. With a snap of her whip, she lashed out at Gu Xunhe, the air splitting with a sharp crack.

“Bring it on,” Gu Xunhe said, unflinching. Behind him, golden wings of light unfurled, gleaming brilliantly under the sun.

Life-Bound Spiritual Tool: Golden Roc Wings.

Snap!

The golden wings moved with precision, swatting Gu Feiyan’s whip aside effortlessly. The feathers then sharpened like blades, aiming at both Qin Gou and Gu Feiyan. In an instant, a storm of golden arrows rained down upon them.

“Stop!”

Suddenly, a massive hand formed of condensed clouds appeared, intercepting the golden feathers and reducing them to dust.

“What are you two doing now, Young Master, Third Miss?” The newcomer was none other than Elder Yuan Zhen, clad in a wide robe, his beard and hair as white as snow.

The commotion from the earlier chase had been too loud to ignore, prompting Yuan Zhen to intervene.

“This is none of your business, Elder Yuan!” Gu Xunhe barked, his fury uncontained.

Elder Yuan Zhen sighed, shaking his head. “The Sect Master explicitly forbade private conflicts between you two. How could I turn a blind eye?”

Gu Xunhe’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “Then I’ll ask Elder Yuan to deliver justice. This wretch Qin Gou dared to humiliate me!”

“Hmph, you’re just trying to play the victim,” Gu Feiyan retorted, refusing to back down.

Elder Yuan Zhen groaned inwardly, his head pounding. Turning to Qin Gou, he asked, “What exactly did you do, boy?”

Qin Gou shrugged innocently. “I’m the real victim here.”

Elder Yuan Zhen sighed deeply, waving his hand. “This isn’t something I can resolve. Let’s all go see the Sect Master.”

Gu Xunhe’s eyes lit up with a sinister grin. “I agree.”

Gu Feiyan glanced at Qin Gou, who nodded in agreement. “Fine,” she said.

With Elder Yuan Zhen mediating, the group headed toward the Sect Master’s main hall, tension crackling in the air.

***

On the Way.

Gu Feiyan used a secret voice transmission to ask, “Did you really slap Gu Xunhe?”

“Absolutely,” Qin Gou admitted without hesitation.

“Heh.” Gu Feiyan’s lips curved into a stunning smile. “Good job.”

“I knew you’d say that,” Qin Gou replied with a grin.

Suddenly, Gu Feiyan reached out, her soft, delicate hand intertwining with Qin Gou’s. The warmth of her touch was enough to make anyone’s heart race.

Qin Gou blinked in surprise. “What’s this? A reward for teaching Gu Xunhe a lesson?”

Gu Feiyan rolled her eyes. “It’s just to reassure you. Don’t worry—when we see Father, I’ll be on your side.”

“Thank you,” Qin Gou said sincerely.

“You seem awfully calm. Aren’t you worried Father will see through your lies?” Gu Feiyan asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Qin Gou’s expression remained steady. “Why should I be? I’m the victim here.”

“You’re such a liar!” Gu Feiyan laughed, unable to hold back.

But despite his outward confidence, Qin Gou’s mind was racing. Help! Is there a way to make sure my lies can’t be exposed?

—

Ding. The system store offers:
– Truth Immunity Talisman (信誓旦旦符箓): 100 merit points. Immunizes the user against one instance of truth-detection magic.
– Heaven-Swapping Talisman (偷天换日符箓): 1,000 merit points. Allows the user to falsify a spiritual oath.

—

“Exchange for the Truth Immunity Talisman. Now,” Qin Gou ordered.

Ding. Exchange successful. Warning: Host has only 24 merit points remaining.

Crushing the talisman in his sleeve, Qin Gou straightened his posture, walking with newfound confidence. Catching Gu Xunhe’s malicious glare, Qin Gou responded with a cheeky wink, his smugness palpable.

Gu Feiyan, watching this, couldn’t help but laugh. “Little Qin.”

“What?”

“Earlier, Gu Xunhe called you a lunatic. I thought he was just insulting you. Now, I believe him.”

***

At the Main Hall.

“What’s all this commotion about?” Sect Master Gu Jinghong asked, his voice calm but authoritative. He gazed at the group before him with a mix of curiosity and surprise.

Standing before him were his eldest son Gu Xunhe, his third daughter Gu Feiyan, Elder Yuan Zhen, the sect’s top seed Qin Gou, and a random chubby disciple. The combination was baffling. Aside from one person, everyone here was a significant figure in the sect.

Elder Yuan Zhen awkwardly rubbed his hands together. “The Young Master claims that Qin Gou slapped him, while Qin Gou insists it was the Young Master who struck him first. We don’t know if it was the Young Master slapping Qin Gou or Qin Gou slapping the Young Master. The situation has escalated, and I’m unable to resolve it. Sect Master, please decide.”

For a moment, Gu Jinghong’s dignified expression faltered. His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Elder Yuan Zhen. “Elder Yuan… was that a tongue twister?”