Starting with a blind date with a female constable, you acquire the Nine Swords of Dugu.

Chapter 59: Meeting Xue Fuling, Temporary Farewell to Yunzhou

Since the Wulin Alliance was officially established, it has been operating at high speed, and its branches in various prefectures have been established in a very short time.

The entire martial arts landscape of Yunzhou underwent a top-down rewriting, with various trade routes and territorial divisions becoming clearer. In particular, many of the legacy issues in the original martial arts world were very complex, requiring consideration of numerous and complicated aspects when dealing with them.

Not only do we need to consider order and peace, but also the balance of power, the division of trade routes among the martial arts alliance in various places, and the distribution of interests within the martial arts alliance itself. All of these issues must be addressed with a plan as soon as possible.

Therefore,

In theory, Gu Guanqi should be very busy.

However, in reality, An Yi took over almost all of his affairs. Except for certain major matters that required Gu Guanqi's approval with his seal, Gu Guanqi practically became a hands-off manager.

An Yi's management skills are indeed very strong. She handles all aspects of things with ease and manages everything in an orderly manner, so Gu Guanqi doesn't need to worry about anything.

Time flies by,

The Martial Arts Alliance quickly got back on track.

The sun was shining brightly at noon that day.

Gu Guanqi, An Yi, and Han Youniang were having dinner in the courtyard.

While eating, An Yi reported some matters concerning the Martial Alliance to Gu Guanqi.

Gu Guanqi felt a headache coming on. She waved her hand and said, "Good senior sister, you can handle these things yourself. If you need my help, just let me know."

An Yi looked helpless and said, "Junior brother, you are the leader of the alliance. Do you know that people in the alliance are making fun of you, saying that I took over your position as the leader of the martial arts alliance as soon as you became the leader?"

Gu Guanqi laughed and said, "I can be yours, Senior Sister, let alone the leader of the martial arts alliance! Senior Sister, you do your best. My dream is to bask in the sun and fish every day, and then live off your money!"

An Yi's cheeks flushed instantly, and she said coquettishly, "You're just talking nonsense!"

Gu Guanqi laughed and said, "I'm not talking nonsense. I've thought it all through. From now on, Senior Sister, you will manage the Martial Alliance, and You Niang will focus on her cultivation. Once she has mastered her martial arts, the two of you can work together, one in literature and the other in martial arts, and I won't have to worry about anything anymore."

An Yi chuckled and said, "You've thought of everything, haven't you even asked if You Niang is willing?"

Han Youniang, who was eating with her head down, suddenly raised her head, her little face flushed, and stammered, "Sister An... I... I'm willing. If Brother Gu wants to sunbathe and fish every day, then let him sunbathe and fish. I... I will work hard to cultivate, so he doesn't have to work so hard."

Gu Guanqi smiled slightly, reached out and patted Han Youniang's head, and said, "See, Senior Sister, I'm born lucky. From now on, I'll rely on you all!"

"Brother Gu... I will try my best!" Han Youniang said earnestly.

An Yi asked, "Sister You Niang, how has your cultivation been these past few days?"

Han Youniang whispered, "My physique is special. According to the Supreme Bright King Technique, I am born with an immaculate body. As long as I cultivate normally and absorb enough earth-cold spiritual energy, I will not encounter any bottlenecks and will be able to reach the Great Perfection and enter the realm of Immaculate and Flawless, the ultimate realm of Profound Yin."

An Yi nodded slightly, then asked Gu Guanqi, "Junior Brother, what level does Sister Youniang's Flawless and Immaculate, Profound Yin Supreme Realm stand out in the martial world?"

Gu Guanqi thought for a moment and said, "She can surpass Master Fayuan. Moreover, Youniang has unique advantages. It will take her three to five years, or even a year and a half, to cultivate the Supreme Bright King Skill to perfection. After that, she will have plenty of time to integrate other martial arts and explore the future. Therefore, her future martial arts achievements are immeasurable!"

An Yi suddenly realized, "Then, with your younger sister You Niang helping you oversee the Martial Alliance, you can indeed relax and be a hands-off manager."

Gu Guanqi chuckled, "And there's my dear senior sister too..."

At this moment,

A guard appeared at the door, cupped his hands, and said, "Reporting to the Alliance Leader, Yan Wangchuan, the Assistant Magistrate of the Six Doors of Qingzhou, has come to pay a visit!"

Gu Guanqi raised an eyebrow and said, "Well, it seems Elder Yan is here to confront me." With that, he stood up and said, "Senior Sister, You Niang, you two continue eating. I'm going to see Elder Yan!"

An Yi nodded slightly, then asked, "Junior brother, so... are you going back to Qingzhou?"

Han Youniang also raised her head.

Gu Guanqi thought for a moment and said, "Let's see what Elder Yan says. Maybe Qingzhou thinks I'm the leader of the martial arts alliance in Yunzhou and decides to replace me. Besides, even if I have to go back to Qingzhou, I'll be back soon, don't worry!"

As he spoke, Gu Guanqi gently patted Han Youniang's head.

Han Youniang's cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her head.

Subsequently,

Gu Guanqi bent down and hugged An Yi gently again before turning and leaving.

An Yi blushed deeply when Gu Guanqi suddenly hugged her in front of others.

After Gu Guanqi left the courtyard, she calmed herself down and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Junior brother, he... he's just like a child, so unruly!"

"That's not how it is," Han Youniang looked up at An Yi, then slowly lowered her head and said, "Sister An, actually, Brother Gu is usually very composed, it's only in front of you that he acts like this. I think... I think it's because Sister An is very special to Brother Gu!"

Hearing Han Youniang's words, An Yi was secretly delighted, but said aloud, "He's just good at fooling and deceiving me!"

……

The Martial Arts Alliance, in a large hall.

Yan Wangchuan and several constables from the Six Doors were sitting and drinking tea, with Zhou Wenyuan, the head of the Discipline Hall of the Martial Arts Alliance, accompanying them.

Zhou Wenyuan held a high position in the Yunzhou martial arts world. Although his martial arts skills were not the most outstanding and he was far inferior to those grandmasters, he was a public-spirited and righteous man throughout his life. He was highly respected in the Yunzhou martial arts world and could be considered the number one in Yunzhou in terms of reputation.

Therefore,

When the Martial Arts Alliance was established, he was unanimously elected by all factions as the head of the Discipline Hall.

After meeting Zhou Wenyuan, Gu Guanqi was very impressed with Zhou Wenyuan's character and personally extended an invitation to him.

Among the current high-ranking members of the Martial Arts Alliance, besides An Yi, Zhou Wenyuan and Gu Guanqi are the closest.

"Old Yan, Old Zhou!"

Gu Guanqi entered the hall and bowed to the two of them.

Yan Wangchuan and Zhou Wenyuan both immediately stood up and bowed.

Yan Wangchuan cupped his hands and said, "Alliance Leader Gu..."

Gu Guanqi immediately grasped Yan Wangchuan's hand and said with a chuckle, "Old Yan, are you being too formal with me? It seems you've come here to interrogate me?"

Yan Wangchuan chuckled and said, "You are no longer the same person you were before. You are the leader of the Yunzhou Martial Arts Alliance, appointed by the imperial court and elected by the martial arts world. How dare I, an old man, question you!"

Gu Guanqi chuckled and said, "The resentment in those words is practically overflowing." He then looked at Zhou Wenyuan and said, "Old Zhou, tell me, didn't you hear it all?"

Zhou Wenyuan knew that Gu Guanqi and Yan Wangchuan were good friends, so he naturally wouldn't get involved. He just smiled slightly and didn't say anything.

Gu Guanqi pressed Yan Wangchuan into a chair and said, "Oh dear, Elder Yan, it really wasn't me who broke my promise. You must have heard about what happened at the Yunzhou Martial Arts Tournament. At that time, a catastrophe was about to strike the Yunzhou martial arts world. I couldn't just stand by and do nothing, could I? And then..."

Yan Wangchuan waved his hand and said, "Let's not talk about that. You are already the leader of the martial arts alliance in Yunzhou, and that's an unchangeable fact. I'm here today mainly on behalf of the Qingzhou government to ask if you would like to return to Qingzhou and become the leader of the martial arts alliance as well."

These days, the martial arts world is buzzing with the words of Commander Lu of the Six Doors of Yunzhou: "The capable should do more work," and Gu Guanqi is perfectly capable of shouldering the responsibilities of the martial arts world in two prefectures. After discussing it, the government in Qingzhou also thinks it's quite possible.

"No matter what, you're from Qingzhou. Although Yunzhou beat you to it, it doesn't prevent you from continuing as the leader of the Qingzhou martial arts alliance. In short, you've already taken on the Yunzhou martial arts alliance; Qingzhou is your hometown, will you take it on?"

Gu Guanqi chuckled and said, "Oh, I already agreed to it. As long as Qingzhou doesn't mind, that's fine."

"If you agree, that's fine." Yan Wangchuan chuckled and said, "You don't know, but back in Medicine King Valley, when you agreed to become the alliance leader, I rushed back to Qingzhou to inform the government."

During this time, the state government and the Six Doors have already spread the word about this matter. The location of the Alliance Leader's Mansion, the personnel arrangements, and everything else have been prepared. Local governments and sects have also been notified, and they are just waiting for you to return so that they can immediately convene a martial arts conference.

Instead of your return, we received news that you had become the leader of the martial arts alliance in Yunzhou. The governor of Xuzhou, a mere scholar, stormed into the Six Doors with a large cleaver, chasing after Commander Ma, slashing and cursing, saying that Qingzhou had finally produced a martial arts talent, only to have him lured away by Yunzhou. He had already asked Commander Ma to invite you back long ago.

Gu Guanqi gave an awkward smile and said, "I will definitely apologize to Commander Ma in person when I get back!"

Yan Wangchuan said, "Forget about apologizing. Just agree to go back and become the leader of the alliance. You fought one great battle after another in Yunzhou. Everyone knows that. If you're not the best in the world, you'll at least be a pillar of the martial arts world."

"If someone as talented as you has already gained momentum, and Qingzhou, your hometown, failed to capitalize on it, then Qingzhou will truly become a laughingstock."

Gu Guanqi said, "As a native of Qingzhou, no matter where I am, my roots are in Qingzhou. Naturally, I hope that Qingzhou will become more and more prosperous. As long as I have the ability to contribute to the development of Qingzhou, it is my duty and obligation to do so without hesitation!"

Yan Wangchuan joked, "Being the alliance leader really changes things; your awareness is getting higher and higher!"

Gu Guanqi chuckled and said, "I still need to ask Elder Yan for more guidance!"

Yan Wangchuan laughed and said, "You don't need to learn it; others always tell you this. Hmm, you should make arrangements here as soon as possible and see when we can set off."

Gu Guanqi said, "With Senior Sister An helping me manage the Yunzhou Martial Arts Alliance, I can easily spare some time. However, Elder Yan, before I leave, I need to go to Medicine King Valley first."

Yan Wangchuan couldn't help but chuckle, saying, "You little rascal, you're really something! Medicine King Valley has finally nurtured a top-tier successor, and you've snatched him away. Now, Medicine King Valley has finally found a potential top-tier grandmaster, and you're not letting any of them go!"

Gu Guanqi said, "Old Yan, that's fate."

Yan Wangchuan laughed, "I've seen them. None of the girls you've been flirting with are simple. You'd better watch yourself. But, with your martial arts skills, you should be able to take a beating!"

Gu Guanqi: "..."

……

The next day, early in the morning.

Gu Guanqi ate breakfast with An Yi and Han Youniang.

After finishing the meal,

Han Youniang then fetched a bundle and handed it to Gu Guanqi, saying, "Brother Gu, these are your changes of clothes, silver needles, and medicine. I've packed them all for you. You...go and come back soon!"

Gu Guanqi took the bundle and slung it over his shoulder, chuckling lightly, "I'll probably be back in Qingzhou for quite a while. You need to cultivate diligently, listen to your senior sister, and if anyone bullies you, fight them back... never mind, with Senior Sister An here, no one will dare to bully you!"

"Okay." Han Youniang nodded and said, "I will listen to Sister An."

Gu Guanqi smiled slightly and looked at An Yi.

An Yi smiled and said, "Junior brother, come back soon!"

Gu Guanqi reached out and hugged An Yi, whispering, "Senior Sister, are you really willing to let me leave today?"

An Yi gently patted Gu Guanqi's chest and said, "You just love bullying me. You only feel happy when you see me with red eyes and feeling sad!"

"No," Gu Guanqi quickly replied, "It's because I'm reluctant to part with you, Senior Sister, that I wanted to know if you'd be reluctant to part with me too?"

An Yi pressed herself tightly against Gu Guanqi's chest and said, "You know perfectly well what's going on, so why do you have to tell me? I wish I could be by your side day and night, year after year. Even if I don't see you for just a day or half a day, I feel like I've lost my soul. I even dream about you. How could I bear to part with you?"

I'll be back soon.

Gu Guanqi hugged An Yi tightly.

An Yi also reached out and hugged Gu Guanqi, then said, "Don't forget to go see Fuling, she...she misses you so much!"

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly and said, "I will go see her."

"Okay." An Yi nodded.

"Well, I'm leaving!"

Gu Guanqi looked down at An Yi.

An Yi felt a lump in her throat, quickly turned away, and didn't say anything.

After a long while, Han Youniang said, "Sister An, Brother Gu has already gone far away."

An Yi turned around and looked at the door, feeling a sudden emptiness in her heart.

Han Youniang glanced at An Yi, then lowered her head, thinking to herself: If Brother Gu could hug me when he said goodbye, just like he did when he said goodbye to Sister An, I would be happy even if I died!

……

Gu Guanqi walked outside the courtyard, where two guards were already waiting.

Both of them are now the commanders of the guards of the Alliance Leader's Mansion. They are skilled in martial arts and are considered top-notch experts in the Yunzhou Jianghu.

The older one is named Xu Sheng, who is forty-five or forty-six years old. He was a disciple of Medicine King Valley when he was young. Later, he traveled the world on his own and made a name for himself. Now he serves as the leader of the Alliance Master's Mansion, which was also through the recommendation route of Medicine King Valley.

The younger one was named Pang Mao, just over forty years old. He came from the Mechanical Gate and was considered Tang Yu's junior brother. However, he hadn't made a name for himself in the martial arts world, just doing some small business. His position at the Alliance Leader's Mansion wasn't through the Mechanical Gate, but rather because Tang Yu recommended him to Gu Guanqi on his own behalf.

Both of them were personally assessed by Gu Guanqi, who deemed them suitable before appointing them as commanders.

Gu Guanqi refused the escort team arranged by Zhou Wenyuan when he went to Qingzhou.

For him, the guards served only to make a show of things and sometimes to act as messengers. Since he didn't like making a scene, he only needed two people to accompany him and help with small tasks when needed.

When Pang Mao and Xu Sheng saw Gu Guanqi come out, they clasped their hands in greeting: "Alliance Leader."

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly and said, "Let's go."

The three arrived at the entrance of the Martial Alliance Mountain.

Yan Wangchuan was already waiting there with a team of constables from the Six Doors. When he saw Gu Guanqi come out, he smiled, cupped his hands in greeting, and exchanged a few pleasantries.

Then, the group mounted their horses and galloped away along the official road.

……

Several days later, the group finally arrived at the Medicine King Valley.

When we were still more than ten miles away from Medicine King Valley

From afar, Gu Guanqi could see a large group of people standing at a fork in the road, waiting.

The person at the forefront was Su Qingxing, dressed in a light blue dress, with a smile on her face. Standing beside her was Mu Fenghua, with white hair and beard, and a vigorous spirit. Behind them were the elders and dozens of disciples of Medicine King Valley, lined up neatly and impeccably dressed.

Gu Guanqi dismounted and strode forward.

Su Qingxing and Mu Fenghua, along with many high-ranking members of Medicine King Valley, quickly came to greet them.

Su Qingxing was the first to cup his hands and say, "Welcome, Alliance Leader Gu!"

"Welcome, Alliance Leader Gu!"

Subsequently, Mu Fenghua and other high-ranking members of Medicine King Valley bowed in salute.

Gu Guanqi quickly returned the greeting with a cupped hand, saying, "There's no need for such formalities, everyone."

Then, he cupped his hands to Su Qingxing and Mu Fenghua and said, "Aunt Qing, Elder Mu, what brings you here?"

Su Qingxing smiled and said, "With the Alliance Leader's presence, Medicine King Valley cannot be impolite. We will personally come to greet you!"

Gu Guanqi quickly said, "Aunt Qing, you're being too formal. I wouldn't dare go in. Also, please don't call me 'Alliance Leader' anymore; I can't explain it to you."

Su Qingxing covered her mouth and chuckled, saying, "Alright, alright, Guanqi, you must be tired from your journey." Then, she cupped her hands to Yan Wangchuan and said, "Prefect Yan!"

Yan Wangchuan quickly cupped his hands in greeting: "Valley Master Su, I'm sorry to bother you again!"

After exchanging a few polite words, the group mounted their horses and headed towards Medicine King Valley.

The etiquette of Medicine King Valley was extremely grand. Not only did a group of high-ranking officials travel more than ten miles out of the valley to welcome them, but once inside the valley, even the roads were specially cleared, and a very grand banquet was arranged.

Originally, Gu Guanqi planned to meet Xue Fuling briefly and then leave.

However, the grand welcoming ceremony held by Medicine King Valley forced him to follow the formalities and participate in the banquet.

It wasn't until noon the next day that...

Gu Guanqi finally found an opportunity to ask to meet Xue Fuling.

Subsequently,

Su Qingxing then personally led him into the Four Symbols Cave.

The entrance to the Four Symbols Cave remained unchanged, with sandalwood incense wafting from the stone incense burners on either side. Upon seeing Su Qingxing arrive in person, the disciples guarding the cave immediately bowed in respect.

Su Qingxing waved his hand and said to Gu Guanqi, "Go in, Fuling is inside."

Gu Guanqi cupped his hands in greeting and stepped into the cave.

After passing through that short passageway, the view suddenly opened up before us.

Sunlight streamed down from the natural crack overhead, illuminating the entire mountainside with a bright and warm glow. Exotic flowers and herbs swayed gracefully in the beams of light, their fragrant aromas filling the air and soothing the soul.

Inside the small wooden house, Xue Fuling was sitting on a low stool, holding a mortar and pestle, pounding the medicinal herbs one stroke at a time.

She was wearing a light blue dress, and the sunlight fell on her, making her look very gentle and serene.

Gu Guanqi stood outside the door, looked for a moment, and softly called out, "Fuling."

Xue Fuling's hand stopped.

She slowly raised her head, her gaze falling on Gu Guanqi. Her calm, watery eyes first showed confusion, then transformed into unbelievable surprise, and finally settled into a gentle, faint smile.

"Guanqi, you've arrived!"

She put down the mortar and pestle, and stood up.

She clapped her hands lightly, then walked quickly toward Gu Guanqi, who also walked quickly toward her.

The two met at the door.

Then they reached out their hands and hugged each other.

Xue Fuling leaned against Gu Guanqi's chest, wrapped her arms around his waist, and remained quiet without saying a word.

Sunlight streamed down from above, merging the two figures together.

After a while, Xue Fuling slightly raised her head, pressed her face against Gu Guanqi's neck, and gently sniffed.

Gu Guanqi was slightly taken aback and looked down at her: "What's wrong?"

Xue Fuling smiled gently, her eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief: "Let me smell it and see if it smells like Senior Sister."

Gu Guanqi was slightly taken aback, feeling a little uneasy.

Xue Fuling stepped out of his embrace, took his hand, and walked into the house. As they walked, she said, "It seems that Senior Sister didn't tell you that I know everything about you and her."

Gu Guanqi was puzzled.

Xue Fuling pulled Gu Guanqi to sit down and said, "Senior Sister loves you to the extreme. She knows you need her to help you manage the Martial Alliance, but she can't do what you need and chooses to stand by and do nothing."

However, once she chooses to help you, she will inevitably have to give up her status as the young master of Medicine King Valley. Having gone this far, how could she possibly hide it from me? Therefore, she took the initiative to tell me.”

Gu Guanqi hesitated for a moment, then asked, "So what do you think?"

Xue Fuling sat down next to Gu Guanqi and said, "Actually, I had my suspicions long ago. The last time you came to see me, when my senior sister came to call you to leave, how could I not understand the look in her eyes? That's exactly how I looked at you."

However, if you ask me what I'm really thinking, I'm definitely a little unhappy. But, looking at it from another perspective, I know my own situation well. I don't even know when I'll be able to get out of the Four Symbols Cave, and you'll marry someone else sooner or later.

"Why can't this person be the senior sister? I've always worried that if you marry someone who can't accept me, what will I do? Now I don't have to worry about that anymore. I feel relieved, and I can finally focus on my cultivation and breakthroughs in peace."

As he spoke,

Xue Fuling leaned close to Gu Guanqi's ear and whispered, "In addition, Senior Sister also promised me a favor."

"What are the benefits?" Gu Guanqi asked.

"From now on, we'll address each other differently. I'll call her Senior Sister, and she'll call me Sister," Xue Fuling said with a sly smile. "You don't know, I've always been afraid of Senior Sister since I was little. She's always so serious and never smiles. I'm not afraid of Master, but I'm afraid of her. Now that I think about it, she'll have to call me Sister every day. Hehe, I feel quite accomplished!"

Gu Guanqi: "..."

Your sense of accomplishment comes from a rather strange source.

"Guanqi, may I ask you something?" Xue Fuling suddenly whispered.

"Go ahead and ask."

As Gu Guanqi spoke, he looked at Xue Fuling and noticed that Xue Fuling's cheeks were inexplicably red.

He immediately realized that Xue Fuling might not be asking a good question.

As expected, Xue Fuling stammered, "Senior Sister... when she... when she was with you like that... was she also serious and unsmiling? Did she... did she have any reaction?"

Gu Guanqi looked at him suspiciously and said, "Why would you ask that?"

"I'm just curious," Xue Fuling said, grabbing Gu Guanqi's hand. "Tell me about it!"

"You really want to hear it?" Gu Guanqi asked.

"Hmm," Xue Fuling said, pulling Gu Guanqi's hand and blinking her big eyes, "I'm really curious!"

Gu Guanqi immediately leaned close to Xue Fuling's ear and whispered something.

As she listened, Xue Fuling's face instantly turned bright red. She then stood up abruptly and stammered, "I...I don't want to listen anymore, I...I'm going out to gather herbs, I..."

Gu Guanqi took Xue Fuling's hand and gently pulled her into his arms.

Xue Fuling's cheeks were burning red, the blush spreading from her ears all the way down to her neck.

The two looked at each other,

Gu Guanqi reached out and gently brushed the strands of hair from Xue Fuling's face, his movements light and gentle.

Xue Fuling closed her eyes slightly, her eyelashes trembling gently.

Gu Guanqi leaned down and kissed Xue Fuling's lips.

Xue Fuling's body trembled slightly, then went limp, and she leaned into Gu Guanqi's arms.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and responded to his kiss, initially a little awkward, but gradually letting go.

The two kissed passionately.

Gu Guanqi's hand slowly moved up Xue Fuling's waistline, stroking her back. His palm pressed against her slender spine, and through the thin fabric, he could feel the warmth of her skin.

Xue Fuling's body initially stiffened, then began to soften, her breathing became increasingly rapid, and her chest heaved uncontrollably.

But gradually,

Tears welled up in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.

"Watching the game." Her voice was soft, tinged with a sob. "We met first, and I fell in love with you first."

Gu Guanqi stopped what he was doing, raised his head slightly, and looked at Xue Fuling's moist eyes.

"I know," Gu Guanqi said softly.

He reached out and gently wiped away Xue Fuling's tears with his thumb.

Then, he kissed her again.

Xue Fuling's breathing became more and more rapid, and her hands began to gently caress Gu Guanqi's body.

After a while, she opened her eyes. Her once calm and serene eyes were now shimmering with tenderness and a hint of confusion. A deep blush rose on her cheeks, her lips were slightly pursed, and she whispered...

"Take me, Guanqi!"

Her voice was very soft as she wrapped her arms around Gu Guanqi's neck, and then kissed him again.

Gu Guanqi did not answer, but simply raised his hand and waved, a stream of true energy swept by, and the door closed gently.

He bent down, put one arm around Xue Fuling's waist, and supported her knees with the other, lifting her up horizontally.

Xue Fuling buried her face in Gu Guanqi's chest, her hands tightly gripping his clothes.

Gu Guanqi carried Xue Fuling into the inner room.

The room was simply furnished, with a wooden bed against the wall covered with plain white bedding. Sunlight streamed in through the cracks in the window, casting warm, dappled patterns of light in front of the bed.

He gently placed Xue Fuling on the bed. Xue Fuling lay on her back, her black hair spread out on the pillow, making her blushing face even more beautiful.

She turned her head slightly away, not daring to look at Gu Guanqi, her eyelashes trembling violently, her fingers tightly gripping the bed sheet beneath her.

Gu Guanqi leaned down and kissed her forehead, then her eyes, the tip of her nose, and finally her lips.

Xue Fuling gradually relaxed, her fingers loosened their grip on the bed sheet, and she slowly raised her hand to wrap around his waist.

Sunlight streamed down from above, merging the two figures together.

One by one, the clothes slipped off and scattered around the bed.

Xue Fuling closed her eyes, feeling Gu Guanqi's body temperature and his hands roaming over her body.

Her breathing became more and more rapid, and her body grew hotter and hotter, as if a fire was burning inside her. She bit her lip to keep herself from making a sound, but soft, suppressed moans still escaped from her lips.

Gu Guanqi kissed her earlobe and whispered, "Fuling."

Xue Fuling opened her eyes, which were glistening with tears, a mixture of confusion, shyness, and an indescribable joy.

"Watch the game," she called softly.

She held Gu Guanqi's hand tightly, their fingers intertwined.

The bed curtains swayed gently, and the bedding made a soft rustling sound.

Xue Fuling's low murmur gradually became more rapid, like waves rippling across a lake, echoing in the quiet room.

Sunlight streamed in through the cracks in the ceiling, falling on the bed curtains and bathing everything in a warm, golden hue.

The Four Symbols Cave is quiet, with only the occasional bird calls echoing through the empty mountainside.

……

In the evening, the sunlight was dim and golden.

Inside the Four Symbols Cave, the light became increasingly soft. Sunlight poured down from the natural crack overhead, no longer as bright and dazzling as at noon, but transformed into a warm, hazy yellow, like a thin layer of golden gauze.

Inside the cabin, Xue Fuling slowly opened her eyes, and when she looked at the sky outside the window, her face immediately paled in surprise.

Then, she suddenly sat up, the blanket slipping off her shoulders and revealing a patch of fair skin. She looked down, gasped, and quickly pulled the blanket up to cover her chest, frantically searching for clothes.

"Guanqi, hurry... get out of here!"

Her voice was urgent and soft, tinged with panic and shyness, as she spoke while frantically grabbing the clothes scattered around the bed.

Gu Guanqi sat up, leaning against the headboard, and asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"

"It's getting late, Master will be coming to call you soon!" Xue Fuling urged as she dressed. "With Master's medical skills, if she sees me now, she'll definitely know about you and me..."

As she spoke, her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible, and her cheeks turned so red they looked like they were about to bleed.

Gu Guanqi chuckled, reached out and grabbed Xue Fuling's wrist, pulling her into his arms.

Xue Fuling swayed and leaned into his arms, her clothes, which she had only half-put on, falling apart again.

"Guanqi!" She was both embarrassed and anxious, gently patting Gu Guanqi's chest. "Let go, let go quickly, it won't be good if Master sees us..."

Gu Guanqi lowered his head, gently pecked her lips, then pecked them again, and then took her lips into his mouth.

Xue Fuling's body gradually softened, and her hands, which had been pushing her away, slowly lost their strength, gently resting on Gu Guanqi's shoulder.

Her breathing gradually quickened, and her fingers unconsciously gripped Gu Guanqi's clothes tightly.

After a long while, she pushed Gu Guanqi away and said, "Guanqi, you are now the leader of the Yunzhou martial arts alliance. You can always find various reasons to come here to see me. We...we...there's plenty of time. There's no need to rush."

If Master finds out we're doing something like this in the forbidden area and gets angry, he might not let you come again, and that would be...that wouldn't be good!

"it is good."

Gu Guanqi nodded and released Xue Fuling.

Xue Fuling then broke free from Gu Guanqi's embrace and continued to hurriedly put on her clothes.

This time, Gu Guanqi didn't bother her anymore; he just leaned against the headboard and watched quietly.

Xue Fuling dressed herself, sat on the edge of the bed, and carefully tied her hair back up.

Her movements were much faster than usual, yet she remained meticulous, combing every strand of hair neatly.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, falling on her and casting a gentle, bright glow on her profile.

She fixed her hair in a bun, turned around, looked at Gu Guanqi, and smiled slightly: "Does it look good?"

Gu Guanqi nodded: "It looks good."

Xue Fuling smiled, then stood up, walked to Gu Guanqi, bent down, and gently kissed his lips.

"Take your time getting dressed, I'll go out and keep watch."

After saying this, Xue Fuling turned around and quickly walked out of the inner room.

Gu Guanqi chuckled softly before slowly getting up and dressing.

When he stepped out of the cabin, Xue Fuling was standing in front of it, staring nervously at the entrance of the Four Symbols Cave.

Hearing footsteps, she turned around, met Gu Guanqi's gaze, and immediately lowered her head in embarrassment.

Gu Guanqi walked over and took Xue Fuling's hand.

Xue Fuling did not break free, but turned her face slightly to prevent Gu Guanqi from seeing her flushed cheeks.

Gu Guanqi said, "Don't worry, no one will come in. This Four Symbols Cave isn't very big, and I can sense any movement."

"Okay, I'll take you." Xue Fuling's voice was very soft.

The two held hands and slowly walked out along the path beside the herb garden.

The red glow of the setting sun shone down from above, casting long, overlapping shadows of the two people among the flowers and plants.

The Four Symbols Cave was quiet, with only the rustling of the wind through the flowers and grass, and the soft footsteps of the two people.

When she reached the cave entrance, Xue Fuling stopped.

Dusk poured in from the cave entrance, turning the area around the doorway a dim yellow.

Xue Fuling looked up at Gu Guanqi.

The twilight shone from behind her, casting her face in a soft, half-lit glow. Her calm, still eyes were now filled with a deep sense of reluctance to leave.

"Watch the game," she called softly.

"Mm," Gu Guanqi replied.

Xue Fuling didn't say anything, she just looked at Gu Guanqi and smiled, a very faint and gentle smile.

The two of them just stared at each other in silence, neither of them saying a word.

After a while, Xue Fuling suddenly took a step forward, stood on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around Gu Guanqi's neck, and pressed her face against the side of Gu Guanqi's neck.

Come see me soon.

Her voice was very soft, so soft that it was almost blown away by the evening breeze.

"it is good."

Gu Guanqi reached out, put his arm around her waist, and gently embraced her.

The two embraced quietly for a while. Xue Fuling slowly released her grip, took a step back, and looked up at Gu Guanqi.

The twilight fell on her face, making her eyes shine exceptionally bright.

"Let's go," she said softly. "If we don't leave now, it will get dark."

Gu Guanqi nodded and leaned down slightly to kiss Xue Fuling's cheek.

Then, he turned around, took a step, and leaped onto the cave entrance.

Xue Fuling stood below the cave entrance, watching Gu Guanqi's figure gradually disappear into the twilight.

The last rays of the setting sun shone through the clouds, bathing the entire mountain path in a warm, golden hue. Gu Guanqi's figure grew smaller and smaller, more and more blurred, in that golden light.

Xue Fuling raised her hand and waved gently.

Then, the figure turned around a mountain bend and disappeared into the twilight.

Xue Fuling stood still.

The evening breeze blew by, lifting the hem of her skirt and the stray hairs at her temples.

Dusk rolled in from all directions, swallowing her figure deep into the Four Symbols Cave.

In the distance, after the last rays of the setting sun sank into the mountains, only a dark red remained on the horizon, gradually being swallowed by the night.