The Queen of Raising Pretty Boys

Although Qin Gou and Gu Feiyan were both asked to stay behind, Qin Gou found himself waiting outside the hall while Gu Feiyan remained inside with her father, Sect Master Gu Jinghong. It seemed they had private matters to discuss that were not meant for outsiders.

Before long, Gu Feiyan emerged from the hall, her expression thoughtful.

“Did the Sect Master call for me?” Qin Gou asked as he approached her.

“No need,” Gu Feiyan replied, her delicate brows furrowing slightly. “Let’s talk while we walk.”

The two strolled side by side, their pace leisurely.

Gu Feiyan occasionally glanced at Qin Gou’s face, as if wanting to say something but holding back.

Qin Gou chuckled. “What is it? Did you suddenly realize how handsome I am? Looks like Little Yan’s taste is improving.”

“Shut up,” Gu Feiyan snapped, rolling her eyes at him. Then, more seriously, she asked, “Did you really master the Green Emperor Scroll?”

“That’s right,” Qin Gou nodded. “Did the Sect Master tell you?”

“Since you’ve decided to support me, it’s no longer a secret. When Father told me, I couldn’t believe it. Who would’ve thought that just by taking a bath, I’d pick up a treasure like you?”

“Can you not make it sound like I’m a bar of soap?”

“What does that mean?”

“Nothing, nothing,” Qin Gou said, shrugging.

Gu Feiyan didn’t press further. Instead, her eyes dimmed slightly as she said, “You probably don’t know this, but I once tried to cultivate the Green Emperor Scroll. I had the entire nine-layer manual in my hands and studied it for three days and nights, memorizing it backward and forward. But I couldn’t make any progress.”

“Maybe this technique was designed specifically for those with the Enlightened Dao Body,” Qin Gou said gently. “Don’t feel bad. Your Piercing Illusion Eyes is an incredibly rare and powerful spiritual tool, even in the entire cultivation world.”

“It’s not the same. You don’t understand how powerful the Green Emperor Scroll is. Well, you probably don’t fully grasp it yet, since your life-bound spiritual tool is likely still in its prototype stage—”

She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening as she stared at Qin Gou. “Why do you have two life-bound spiritual tools? Are you… a Multi-Treasure Physique?!”

Qin Gou scratched his head awkwardly. “I’m not sure if it counts as that. I just naturally developed two life-bound spiritual tools.”

“Does my father know about this?” Gu Feiyan’s voice dropped.

“No, I haven’t reported it to the Sect Master yet,” Qin Gou admitted.

“As expected of the sect’s top seed,” Gu Feiyan said with a bitter smile. “You’re enough to make anyone feel inadequate. My adopted sister Xiaomu is really lucky.”

“Don’t bring that up,” Qin Gou muttered, his face darkening.

“Why not? Didn’t you confess your admiration for Xiaomu in front of Elder Yuan Zhen? I didn’t realize you were such a flirt. You had expectations for me, but now you’re Xiaomu’s fiancé. Poor Chen… what’s his name again? Chen Keshai? That chubby guy. He’s stuck with such a ‘loving’ scoundrel.”

“What does this have to do with Chen Keshai?” Qin Gou asked, baffled.

“You know exactly what,” Gu Feiyan said, her watery eyes gleaming mischievously.

“Chen Keshai and I are just—”

“Just friends? Right,” Gu Feiyan said, giving him a thumbs-up with a knowing look. “Cold and heartless. You’re a born scoundrel. No wonder you’re the Seed Demon Holy Sect’s top seed, Master Qin.”

Qin Gou: “…”

***

Suddenly, Gu Feiyan stopped walking.

Her sharp gaze swept the surroundings as she said, “Why do so many disciples keep giving us strange looks?”

“Probably because they think it’s unusual for me to be walking alongside you,” Qin Gou said nonchalantly.

Indeed, along the way, wherever there were large gatherings of disciples, many would cast curious glances their way, whispering among themselves.

“I doubt that’s the reason,” Gu Feiyan said coldly. She pointed at a nearby female disciple and said, “You, come here.”

“Senior Sister Gu,” the disciple stammered, clearly nervous as she approached, her eyes filled with fear.

“What were you all whispering about?” Gu Feiyan demanded.

The disciple hesitated before saying, “Earlier, when Brother Qin was being chased, it caused quite a commotion. Many people saw it. Now, the Young Master has spread word that Brother Qin tried to join his faction but was deemed too lowly and weak, so he was thrown out. The story has spread far and wide, and Brother Qin has become something of a joke in the sect.”

“Now that we see Brother Qin walking with Senior Sister Gu, people think he failed with the Young Master and immediately switched to your side. They’re saying he’s shameless and despicable.”

Qin Gou took a deep breath. Gu Xunhe, you really are a piece of work.

Gu Feiyan waved the disciple away, her eyes cold as she addressed the surrounding crowd. “And you all believe such nonsense? If your brains are useless, you might as well throw them away. Let’s see who dares to keep staring.”

The crowd fell silent. Disciples quickly lowered their heads or looked away, no longer daring to glance at Qin Gou.

Gu Feiyan then reached out, looping her delicate arm through Qin Gou’s. Their skin pressed together intimately, and Qin Gou could faintly feel the softness of her side.

“Let’s keep walking. I’d like to see who dares to gossip now.”

—

Ding. Congratulations, Host, for making physical contact with Gu Feiyan. Enlightened Dao Body ability triggered. Familiarity with Gu Feiyan’s physical structure increased by three.

—

Qin Gou sighed. “Isn’t this a bit much? Everyone’s watching. If word gets out, it won’t reflect well on your reputation.”

Gu Feiyan locked eyes with him, her gaze unwavering. “I won’t let anyone mistreat my people.” Then, with a self-deprecating smile, she added, “Besides, my reputation is already beyond saving. ‘The Sect’s Most Ruthless Demoness,’ ‘The Calamity Beauty’—adding ‘The Queen of Raising Pretty Boys’ to the list doesn’t sound so bad.”

—