tln : i just finished my work test entrance, it was such a letdown. Sorry for the delay…

Call Me Qin Gou

After slipping a few sleeping pills into the unconscious female disciple’s mouth, Qin Gou hid her within a bush created by his Universal Seed. Straightening his disguise as Wu Qi, he finally arrived at Yi Chengying’s cave.

“Chengying Sister,” he called out.

The door opened, and a maid greeted him. Recognizing Wu Qi, she quickly led him to Yi Chengying.

“Wu Qi? What brings you here so late?” Yi Chengying asked. Her room was filled with intricate wooden carvings of various sizes, and she was currently carving a rearing horse with practiced skill.

“Sister Chengying, Sister Caihe sent me with a message for you,” Qin Gou said, glancing at the surrounding maids. Lowering his voice, he added, “It’s about the Palace Master.”

Hearing this, Yi Chengying raised her head and said, “Everyone, leave us.”

As a strong cultivator herself, she didn’t need the maids for protection. Soon, only Qin Gou and Yi Chengying remained in the room.

“Now, what is it?” Yi Chengying asked curiously.

Without a word, Qin Gou’s figure blurred as he reverted to his male form.

“You…” Yi Chengying’s eyes widened in shock. “It’s you, Qin Yue!”

Pulling out a chair, Qin Gou sat across from her and got straight to the point. “Tell me, what is Ye Qishuang looking for? Does it have anything to do with me?”

“How dare you address the Palace Master by name!” Yi Chengying’s expression turned cold as she slammed her hand on the table.

Qin Gou’s gaze remained calm. “I like the name Qin Yue, but you should call me Qin Gou.”

“What?!” Yi Chengying’s mind reeled as if struck by lightning. The simple statement echoed in her head, shaking her to the core.

“You’re the Heav—”

Before she could finish, the Heavenly Master’s Presence talisman activated, enveloping her in an aura of ancient, godlike majesty.

“Silence,” Qin Gou commanded.

Without hesitation, Yi Chengying clamped her hands over her mouth, her wide eyes filled with fear. She sat frozen in her chair, not daring to move.

Seeing this, Qin Gou chuckled. “Smart choice. Otherwise, you’d already be dead.”

Yi Chengying’s body trembled, her eyes watery as she stared at him with a mix of terror and helplessness.

“I’ll ask, and you’ll answer. No lies,” Qin Gou said with a calm smile. “What is Ye Qishuang’s goal? Has she realized I’ve entered the Mystic Maiden Palace?”

Yi Chengying hesitated, her hands twisting nervously. She opened her mouth but couldn’t bring herself to speak.

“Answer me!” Qin Gou’s voice turned stern.

“I… Heavenly Master… I don’t dare!” Yi Chengying stammered, her face pale. “Please don’t make things difficult for someone like me. I’m just a little chair—I don’t know anything!”

“Quite loyal, aren’t you?” Qin Gou raised an eyebrow, his imposing aura pressing down on her like a mountain. “You should know, I’m Ye Qishuang’s master. My methods are a hundred times more terrifying than hers. Are you sure you want to hide the truth from me? Are you not afraid of death?”

To his surprise, Yi Chengying gritted her teeth and said, “Of course I’m afraid of death, but I truly don’t know anything!”

“Is that so?” Qin Gou asked, his gaze sharp.

“It’s true,” she insisted.

“Fine,” Qin Gou said, his lips curling into a cold smile. “Then I’ll show you something worse than death!”

Yi Chengying’s face turned ashen, her body trembling like a leaf. Her wide eyes were filled with despair, and her shoulders shook as if she were a prisoner about to face execution.

“Give me your hand,” Qin Gou demanded.

“Huh?” Yi Chengying blinked, confused.

“Are you deaf? Give me your hand. I don’t have all day,” Qin Gou said, his tone as commanding as a king’s, though his words were far from dignified.

Baffled, Yi Chengying hesitantly extended her soft, pale hand. Qin Gou grabbed it firmly, gently rubbing it as if inspecting it.

Blushing furiously, Yi Chengying stammered, “Heavenly Master, what are you doing? My hands are dirty from woodworking. Should I wash them first?”

“Shut up,” Qin Gou snapped, glaring at her. “Say one more word, and I’ll touch something other than your hand. Don’t mistake my gentlemanly restraint for an invitation to act out.”

Yi Chengying quickly clamped her mouth shut, though her brows furrowed in frustration. While she no longer looked terrified, she couldn’t understand how holding her hand and rubbing it counted as “gentlemanly.”

—

What Yi Chengying didn’t know was that in Qin Gou’s mind, the system notifications were ringing non-stop.

“Ding. Congratulations, Host. Direct contact with ‘Lone Shadow Saintess’ Yi Chengying has triggered the Enlightened Body ability. Familiarity with her physical structure has increased by 3%.”

—

Twenty minutes later, Qin Gou finally released her hand, looking satisfied.

Yi Chengying cradled her hand, pouting as she rubbed it. She felt as if her hand had been worn smooth from all the rubbing.

Qin Gou, however, was now focused. He stared intently at her face but couldn’t find any red marks like the one behind Gu Feiyan’s ear. “Stand up and turn around,” he ordered.

Though confused, Yi Chengying obeyed, spinning gracefully in her floral dress. The hem of her skirt flared slightly, creating a pleasing sight.

That’s when Qin Gou noticed a faint red glow on her right toe.

“Sit down and take off your shoes,” Qin Gou said.

Yi Chengying hesitated but complied.

“Now the socks,” Qin Gou added, coughing awkwardly. “Put your foot on the table.”

“What?!” Yi Chengying’s face turned crimson. “Heavenly Master, are you into that sort of thing? I… I can’t go along with this!”