Cutting Your Hair for You

A Bit Earlier.

“Those two Snow Traveler Lions should give Third Miss and her group quite the headache,” Zhuo Xueyang said, toying with a porcelain vial in his hand, his tone dripping with mockery.

“We’ll keep finding more fierce beasts to throw at them, constantly draining their spiritual energy so they’ll never be at full strength,” he continued.

“And then, we’ll let someone else do the dirty work. By the time the righteous sects take them out, it’ll be clean and efficient.”

“Young Master’s plan is truly brilliant,” another lackey chimed in.

“Indeed, so clever,” Qiu Qianyue said, crossing her arms and nodding like a pecking chicken.

“Long live the Young Master! Hahaha!” the lackeys cheered.

“Hahaha!” Qiu Qianyue echoed, laughing along.

“Who are you?!”

Amidst the group, an unfamiliar woman had appeared without anyone noticing, causing the group to panic.

Without hesitation, Zhuo Xueyang threw a punch aimed directly at Qiu Qianyue’s face. However, his fist stopped just short of her nose, unable to move an inch further.

***

Back to the Present.

Qin Gou stood at the rear of the group, his expression dark and unreadable. Gu Feiyan, unaware of his inner turmoil, focused her attention on the unexpected visitor in white. Her mind raced with questions.

This woman had single-handedly and unscathedly killed ten cultivators, each no weaker than the Hidden Artifact Realm. What level of power did she possess?

“May I ask for your name?” Gu Feiyan asked politely, her tone cautious. She noticed that the woman had completely suppressed her aura, making it impossible to gauge her cultivation level without activating her Piercing Illusion Eyes.

“Qiu Qianyue. You can call me Sister Qiu,” the woman said with a radiant smile, her bright eyes and pearly teeth exuding charm. She didn’t look at all like someone who had just taken ten lives.

Gu Feiyan remained composed, nodding slightly. “I appreciate Sister Qiu clearing the obstacles for us, but we’re strangers. May I ask your purpose? Why would you do this?”

“Of course, it’s for you, silly little sister,” Qiu Qianyue said, placing her hands on her hips and laughing. “Do you think I’d bother with these small fries otherwise?”

“For me? I don’t understand,” Gu Feiyan said, her cold eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Qiu Qianyue extended her hand toward Gu Feiyan, her demeanor calm and confident. “Come with me. I can show you a bigger world. Go wherever you want, do whatever you please—no one will stop you.”

“Sister Qiu wants me to follow you?” Gu Feiyan asked.

“You could put it that way,” Qiu Qianyue said, her eyes sparkling mischievously.

“Then I must refuse,” Gu Feiyan said without hesitation. “I have my own goals to achieve, and I’m on the path to fulfilling them. I won’t stray from it.”

“I expected you’d say that. I’ve been rejected many times before,” Qiu Qianyue said, her expression unbothered and cheerful. “But in the end, everyone who rejected me became my best friend. Do you know why?”

Gu Feiyan shook her head, her expression indifferent.

“Because words are cheap. It’s more convincing to let you experience the freedom and joy of being with me firsthand,” Qiu Qianyue said seriously.

Then, pointing at Gu Feiyan, she added, “No matter what you think now, I’m taking you with me. After you’ve seen how much fun life with me can be, if you still want to leave, it’ll be your choice.”

Gu Feiyan’s eyes trembled, her voice turning icy. “Sister Qiu, surely you’re joking? What you’re suggesting is no different from the behavior of those despicable flower thieves in the cultivation world.”

Before Gu Feiyan could react, Qiu Qianyue appeared beside her like a phantom, placing a hand on her shoulder. Leaning close, she whispered softly, “You’re right. I love being a flower thief.”

Gu Feiyan’s heart pounded in shock. She tried to move, to escape, but found herself completely paralyzed, unable to even lift a finger.

“Senior Sister Gu!” Liu Ying screamed, noticing Gu Feiyan’s unnatural state. Hu Le and Hu Yin, the two brothers, brandished their massive life-bound spiritual tools and charged at Qiu Qianyue.

Qiu Qianyue smirked, casually pointing a finger at Liu Ying. “Don’t move.”

“Stop.”

With a few more gestures, Hu Le and Hu Yin froze in place, their bodies stiff as statues.

“Hmm?” Finally, Qiu Qianyue turned her gaze to Qin Gou, who stood silently, his expression dark. She tilted her head playfully. “This little bunny is surprisingly obedient. I won’t restrain you.”

“Alright, Little Sister Feiyan, no one can interrupt us now. Come with me. You might hate me now, but one day, you’ll thank me for this ‘cruel kindness,’” Qiu Qianyue said, her tongue playfully licking her lips. Her white hand pressed firmly on Gu Feiyan’s shoulder, while a fragrant white lotus formed beneath her feet, ready to bloom.

Gu Feiyan wanted to resist, to speak, but her body refused to obey.

Suddenly, a deep, authoritative voice filled with anger and dignity echoed directly into Qiu Qianyue’s mind.

“Qian Yue!”

“Who’s there?!” Qiu Qianyue shouted, her beautiful face paling. The voice was painfully familiar, stirring a deep-seated fear and reverence within her—a feeling that had been ingrained in her soul over years of subtle influence.

She scanned her surroundings, her immense spiritual energy rippling outward like waves, but she couldn’t pinpoint the source of the voice.

Qin Gou stood silently, his expression unreadable. His hair was tied neatly, and he wore a seemingly ordinary crown.

But that crown was actually one of Qin Gou’s most prized defensive artifacts: the Nine-Curve Spirit-Guarding Crown. With its power, Qin Gou’s transmitted voice seemed to come from all directions, making it impossible for Qiu Qianyue to locate him.

“Who am I?”

“I’m the man who taught you to read, cut your hair, and washed your clothes.”

As the words echoed, Qiu Qianyue released Gu Feiyan, her hands trembling. She smoothed her disheveled hair and straightened her robes, looking like a delinquent student preparing for a surprise inspection.

Then, with a loud thud, Qiu Qianyue dropped to her knees, her face pale. Her back was ramrod straight, her posture so practiced and natural it was as if she had done this countless times before.

The sudden turn of events left Gu Feiyan, Liu Ying, and the Hu brothers utterly bewildered. The once-terrifying Qiu Qianyue was now kneeling in the dirt, looking as though she were about to propose.