I am an incredibly handsome man, and my fiancée refuses to call off the engagement even at the cost

When Gu Yan arrived at the Imperial Hospital, Mu Qinghe had already prepared all the medicinal herbs he needed. Next came the alchemy. While Gu Yan was refining the medicine, the Poison King Pang Tong tried to come and take a look, but was chased away by Mu Qinghe, his mortal enemy.

"You old poisoner, what are you looking at? Get out of here!"

"Can't I even take a look? They have no objections, so what's it to you?"

"Get out of here!"

Mu Qinghe blasted Pang Tong away.

Pang Tong was outside cursing and swearing.

Gu Yan spent the whole day refining the medicine, and as soon as the antidote was finished, she immediately took it to the Empress's palace.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Inside the inner palace, a stunningly beautiful woman dressed in white floated in mid-air with her eyes closed, black mist coiling around her body like a giant python. Silver needles emanated a faint silver light from her body, while golden light surrounded her hands and feet. Her long hair was disheveled, and her exquisitely beautiful face was pale and fragile, like delicate, easily broken porcelain.

With a flick of her finger, Gu Yan caused the stunningly beautiful woman, who was unconscious, to open her cherry-blossom-colored lips. Gu Yan then flicked her finger again, and a pill emitting a red glow flew into the woman's mouth.

Then, the woman's body emitted a dazzling red light, illuminating the entire front hall. To everyone's astonishment, the black mist surrounding the woman vanished. Gu Yan waved his hand, and all the silver needles were pulled out and stored in his sleeve.

"Empress—"

Seeing Shen Lihua's body fall, Chen Quan immediately rushed over and caught her. The dark aura on Shen Lihua's face disappeared, and she slowly opened her eyes in Chen Quan's arms.

"She's awake! She's awake! Her Majesty is awake!"

"woke up!"

Everyone's faces lit up with joy.

When Shen Lihua opened her eyes, she saw her husband, Chen Quan, and softly called out, "Your Majesty..."

"It's me, it's me, Lihua, are you alright?"

Chen Quan said excitedly.

After Shen Lihua woke up, Gu Yan turned and walked outside. Everyone else's attention was on Shen Lihua, but Mu Qinghe saw Gu Yan walking out and followed him. Gu Yan walked to the front hall, and as soon as he came out, the senior priests waiting outside looked over.

The people inside were shouting so loudly that they could be heard from outside.

"Is the Empress alright now?" asked the servant surnamed Jia.

Gu Yan nodded: "I'm fine now, all that's left is to recuperate."

"Mr. Li Bai truly has miraculous healing skills," the retainer surnamed Jia said with a smile.

Gu Yan smiled and looked at Tan Yue standing beside her: "Disciple, you must have been getting impatient. Your master has taken care of things."

Disciple?

Upon hearing Gu Yan address Tan Yue as "disciple," everyone in the front hall was utterly astonished. Tan Yue had taken the lecherous demon Li Bai as her master? Tan Yue, at the early stage of the Spirit Emperor Realm, had taken Li Bai, at the late stage of the Spirit King Realm, as her master? This...this...this can't be right!

Tan Yue stood to the side, looking like she was gritting her teeth, but she didn't refute.

So this is true?

While it's rare for a disciple to surpass their master, it's not unheard of. However, this is impossible between these two. Everyone knows how Tan Yue relentlessly pursued Li Bai, only to fail and end up getting herself killed in the process.

Are these two now master and apprentice?

Those who had their essence drained didn't experience a drop in cultivation level; instead, they advanced a major realm, becoming Spirit Emperors in one fell swoop. Could it be that Tan Yue was taken back to the Myriad Desires Sect by Li Bai, where those old monsters at the Spirit Venerable level placed restrictions on him, forcing him to become Li Bai's disciple?

After thinking about it, this is indeed the most reasonable explanation.

Why did Tan Yue reach the Spirit Emperor Realm so quickly? Because those old monsters from the Myriad Desires Sect helped him. But this came at a price: he became Li Bai's dual cultivation vessel and protector.

The more I think about it, the more reasonable it seems.

Tan Yue, you're really having a tough time!

"My disciple, I heard you also have a residence in the capital. Take me to see it," Gu Yan said to Tan Yue.

Tan Yue looked reluctant and started to walk out. Gu Yan smiled and said to the others, "Tell His Majesty that we, master and disciple, are leaving first."

"OK."

"Brother Mu, please send me a message."

"it is good."

Then, Gu Yan and Tan Yue both transformed into a long rainbow and disappeared.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Tan Yue's residence in the capital was a gift from Chen Quan, and it was in a very good location. Gu Yan rested for one night, and the next day she received an invitation to a banquet at the palace.

A bright moon hung beside the palace wall, and the palace lanterns illuminated the entire palace as if it were daytime.

The banquet had already begun in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and the princes and nobles were all seated. At the highest point, Empress Shen Lihua was dressed in her finest attire. Her exquisite face was like a newly opened peony, radiant and dazzling. If one had not witnessed her near-death experience yesterday, no one would believe that she had just emerged from the brink of death.

Emperor Chen Quan was clearly in a particularly good mood because Shen Lihua was safe and sound, and he frequently clinked glasses with her. Their eyes met, and without a word, their affection was palpable. While others were used to the Emperor and Empress's public displays of affection, the faces of the imperial concubines were not pleased.

Today's palace banquet was actually to thank the infamous lecherous and wicked Li Bai, but several high-ranking concubines also attended. Among them was Yang Guifei, who was Empress Shen Lihua's most favored concubine before she entered the palace.

The imperial concubine was dressed in a purple palace gown. Although she wasn't elaborately dressed, she was still incredibly charming and alluring. However, the emperor didn't even glance at her.

Among the invited guests were sixth-rank alchemists such as Mu Qinghe and Pang Tong, as well as several high-ranking elders. Their presence so complete surprised everyone else, especially since these elders were not usually inclined to join in the fun.

Besides them, there were also the emperor's left and right prime ministers, ministers, grand marshals, and so on. Oh, and Princess An Hui and her brother, Prince Chen Yuxuan of Zhennan, were also present tonight.

"Why haven't Mr. Li Bai and Lord Tan arrived yet?" Shen Lihua asked. She was very curious about Li Bai, after all, he was the one who saved her life.

"We should be there soon," Chen Quan said.

Gu Yan and Tan Yue hadn't arrived yet, but the crowd below was already talking about them.

"Lord Tan is already at the early stage of the Spirit Emperor Realm! My goodness! His cultivation speed is too fast."

"I heard he became a student of Li Bai."

"Really?"

"I heard it from Master Jia, how could it be false?"

"Aren't those two enemies? How could this be..."

The group chatted amongst themselves, their gossip-loving spirits burning brightly.

After a while, Gu Yan and Tan Yue, who arrived late, stepped into the main hall together.

Tan Yue was still dressed in a black robe, and Gu Yan was still dressed in white. All eyes were on Gu Yan.

A young man dressed in pristine white robes, his face partially obscured by a silver mask, revealed an ethereal figure, naturally elegant demeanor, and refined manners—truly extraordinary. Moreover, as others had said, he possessed a kind of magic; once one looked at him, it was difficult to look away.

However, he was wearing a mask, which greatly disappointed those who were curious about his appearance.