Who Do You Think You Are?

“Confused? I wish I could stay confused forever,” Qin Gou muttered before slamming his palm against Ye Qishuang. The sweet, innocent girl from his memories shattered like a mirror. He flipped over a table, causing the mischievous crybaby Qiu Qianyue to vanish. Finally, he punched Zhao Xinting, who stood frozen in shock, breaking him into countless fragments.

“But my disciples could never be this cute!” Qin Gou roared, his voice filled with fury. The false world around him crumbled, collapsing into chaos.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself in what appeared to be a stone cave.

“Little Qin, you’re finally awake,” a soft voice said.

“Hmm?” Qin Gou realized his head was resting on a pair of soft, fragrant thighs. Looking up, he saw… Gu Feiyan?

“Are you fully awake? Do you need water?” Gu Feiyan asked gently, patting his shoulder. She retrieved a small, clear bottle of water from her spatial ring.

Qin Gou sat up abruptly, his eyes filled with confusion.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Was the illusion too overwhelming? Do you need more time to rest? It’s okay, I’ll guard you,” Gu Feiyan said softly.

“Are you fake too?” Qin Gou asked, frowning.

“Are you insane?” Gu Feiyan snapped, her beautiful eyes widening in annoyance.

Qin Gou sighed in relief, spreading his hands. “Then it’s real. Little Yan suddenly being so gentle scared me.”

Gu Feiyan tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, half-angry and half-amused. “I’m only being nice because I was lucky enough to find you so quickly in the Mystic Realm. I figured we could work together, so I wanted you to recover as soon as possible. But clearly, I was wasting my kindness on someone ungrateful.”

Qin Gou chuckled, standing up. “My spiritual energy is fine. It’s just that the illusion I experienced was… unsettling. Was that the first trial from Forgotten Self?”

Gu Feiyan nodded, her cheeks flushing slightly. “You don’t need to share what you saw in your illusion. I won’t tell you about mine either.”

“I wasn’t planning to ask. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?” Qin Gou asked, puzzled.

“None of your business,” Gu Feiyan huffed, turning her head away.

***

At that moment, a red-haired man surrounded by a faint white glow fell from the dark ceiling of the cave, landing in front of Qin Gou and Gu Feiyan with a loud crash, kicking up dust.

“Was I like that when I fell?” Qin Gou couldn’t help but ask.

“Yes. That white glow seems to protect the person from harm for a short time, likely to prevent ambushes. You had it too,” Gu Feiyan explained.

The red-haired man opened his eyes warily. His gaze turned cold when he saw Qin Gou, but he froze when his eyes landed on Gu Feiyan. “Sister Feiyan?”

“Who are you?” Gu Feiyan asked, her eyes glowing faintly pink as she activated her Piercing Illusion Eyes.

“I’m Chi Yu from Blood Ridge… though I go by Chi Yuchao now,” the man said, raising his hands to show he was unarmed.

Gu Feiyan’s expression turned icy. “Nonsense. Chi Yu was only this tall the last time I saw her.” She gestured to her waist. “And Chi Yu is a girl. Who are you really, you lying dog?”

She reached for her whip.

Chi Yuchao quickly stepped back, waving his hands. “Calm down, Sister Feiyan! I can prove I’m Chi Yu. I’ll tell you a secret only the two of us know. As for why I look like this now… it’s complicated.”

“What secret?” Gu Feiyan asked, her brows furrowing slightly.

Chi Yuchao hesitated, glancing at Qin Gou.

“He’s a disciple of the Seed Demon Holy Sect and my friend. His name is Qin Gou,” Gu Feiyan said calmly.

“Alright,” Chi Yuchao said, nodding. His expression turned serious. “The secret is… Sister Feiyan is still a virgin!”

“How dare you!” Gu Feiyan’s whip lashed out, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “What kind of idiot are you? I’m the third daughter of the Sect Master, unmarried. Isn’t that normal? How is that a secret?”

Chi Yuchao ducked under the whip, looking aggrieved. “I was wrong, okay? Give me another chance. I have another secret that will prove my identity. Do you remember the dream you told me about?”

Gu Feiyan paused, lowering her whip slightly. “Go on.”

“You said you dreamed of a rosy-cheeked child who told you he was your future son. And your future husband… was the Master of the Xuan Nu Rakshasa Palace!” Chi Yuchao said earnestly.

Qin Gou stared at him, dumbfounded. If his mouth isn’t broken, then his brain must be.

“I believe you,” Gu Feiyan said, her expression softening. “Even if you’re not Chi Yu, you must be someone close to her. She wouldn’t share that dream with just anyone.”

“Thank you, Sister Feiyan,” Chi Yuchao said, his excitement making him look like a giddy schoolgirl—a stark contrast to his current appearance.

Qin Gou turned to Gu Feiyan, incredulous. “You actually believe him? What kind of nonsense is this? Your future husband is the Master of the Xuan Nu Rakshasa Palace? The Palace Master is Ye Qishuang, a woman. Even if she suddenly decided she liked women, how would you have a child together?”

“It was just a dream,” Gu Feiyan said softly, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment. “But I did have that strange dream.”

Chi Yuchao shot Qin Gou a disdainful look. “You don’t understand. The Palace Master may be a woman, but as the ruler of the Xuan Nu Rakshasa Palace, she must have a loyal cauldron. If that cauldron pleases her, he could be considered half the Palace’s master.”

“Ye Qishuang would never have a cauldron,” Qin Gou said firmly.

Chi Yuchao frowned. “What are you talking about? The Palace Master is the supreme ancestor of the Yin-Yang Cultivation path. How could she not have a cauldron? What makes you so sure?”

Qin Gou’s face darkened, his sharp features exuding a sinister aura. “Because I won’t allow her to degrade herself like that.”

“You won’t allow it? Who do you think you are to the Palace Master?” Chi Yuchao burst into laughter, doubling over as if he’d just heard the funniest joke in the world.

—