Chapter 10: Breakup.
Inside the phoenix carriage, facing Gu Qingwan’s gratitude, Liu Biqin—who was disguised as “Chu Yunlan”—smiled lightly.
“Fairy Gu is too polite. Being able to help the future Saintess is this subordinate’s honor. This is also Young Master Yunlan’s instruction.”
Gu Qingwan sighed softly, her cherry lips parting.
“Fairy Liu overpraises me. The Demonic Abyss Secret Realm is extremely dangerous. I may not return from this trip. Your young master must think the same, which is why he sent you to impersonate him, right?”
Liu Biqin shook her head.
“Fairy Gu, please do not belittle yourself. This subordinate has never met an immortal as talented and intelligent as you. You will surely take charge of the Medicine King Valley in the future. At the very least, my young master holds you in high regard. To be safe, you should temporarily address this subordinate as ‘Young Master Chu’ from now on.”
Even as she said this, Liu Biqin knew her young master was not betting on only Gu Qingwan.
Over the past few years, Young Master Yunlan had befriended nearly half of the trial candidates.
No matter who among them passed the trial and became the Saintess, they would receive focused cultivation and would most likely become the next Valley Master.
Even if not the Valley Master, they would still hold important positions within the Medicine King Valley.
Making good connections with them would bring far more benefits than drawbacks to Young Master Yunlan’s future development.
And precisely because there were so many Saintess candidates, the young master could not attend to everyone. Although Gu Qingwan was one of his targets, she was not particularly favored. That was why he had sent his subordinate, Liu Biqin, to assist her.
Liu Biqin held great respect for her young master. She knew that Chu Yunlan, as the only son of the Holy Lord, had carried the awareness of a future successor since he was old enough to understand.
During his time in Xuanji City, the young master had visited collateral elders of the Chu family, comforted soldiers guarding the borders, and even personally bought medicine from pharmacies for injured rogue cultivators…
All these actions were undoubtedly meant to maintain good relations between the collateral and main branches.
It was also because of the persona he had carefully cultivated since childhood that even Gu Qingwan had often heard of Young Master Yunlan’s deeds over the years.
Seeing him now, even his subordinate immortal was so humble and courteous. He would surely achieve great things in the future.
It was just that…
Spending time with this female immortal disguised as a man made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Perhaps due to her shy nature, Gu Qingwan felt suppressed by the other party’s presence.
Just like right now.
Liu Biqin’s gaze rested on her with perfectly measured gentleness and concern… yet it made her unconsciously sit straighter, not daring to relax in the slightest.
“Fairy Gu?”
Liu Biqin’s voice pulled her back to the present.
Gu Qingwan looked up and saw her watching.
The smile on Liu Biqin’s lips remained gentle, yet something seemed to flash in her eyes.
“What were you thinking about just now, Fairy Gu? If it’s inconvenient to say, then pretend this subordinate never asked.”
Gu Qingwan sighed.
“It’s nothing. I was just thinking about how A-Yuan will react when he finds out I’m leaving with you—disguised as Young Master Yunlan.”
Three days ago, the blood she had coughed up while visiting the injured Chu Yuan had undoubtedly reminded her how perilous her upcoming trip to the Medicine King Valley would be.
To prevent Chu Yuan from grieving her death in the future, Gu Qingwan had decided to part ways with him decisively, so he could forget about her.
Yet deep in her heart, she still felt reluctant.
Observing the changes in Gu Qingwan’s expression, Liu Biqin lowered her eyes to sip tea, concealing the dark glint that flashed through them.
She had investigated this childhood friend of hers—Chu Yuan.
A neglected collateral descendant of the Chu family. Both parents dead, resources so scarce he couldn’t even afford a decent sword. A youth destined to waste his life away in the city, achieving nothing.
His spiritual roots were inferior. Such a person was fated to remain mediocre.
If not for Young Master Yunlan’s orders, Liu Biqin wouldn’t even spare a glance at this kind of waste.
“Young Master, the Chu Yuan you’re looking for seems to be on the street ahead. Shall we stop the carriage?”
The sudden report from the carriage driver outside made Gu Qingwan’s heart clench violently, her fingers twisting even tighter.
Seeing her reaction, the arc of Liu Biqin’s lips deepened slightly.
“Don’t worry, Fairy Gu. If you cannot bring yourself to say it, leave it to this subordinate later!”
【Biqin!】
At that moment, she also received a voice transmission from her young master.
At this time, Chu Yunlan’s real body was inside the Chu family courtyard, monitoring the situation. He reminded her:
【Although this Fairy Gu is not one of my main bets, do not slack off because of it. Make sure you act well later.】
Liu Biqin nodded.
【Yes, Young Master. This subordinate knows what to do!】
She then spoke to the guards outside the carriage.
“Stop the carriage!”
To Liu Biqin, it was best to finish this boring little drama quickly and leave.
She had no desire to waste too much time on a waste.
On the other side, seeing the phoenix carriage stop in front of the teahouse, Chu Yuan originally wanted to step aside and leave.
Unexpectedly, a warm and gentle male voice came from within.
“You should be Yuan弟, right? What a coincidence~!”
Chu Yuan looked toward the sound. Two figures descended from the carriage.
The woman wore a flowing immortal skirt with exquisite embroidery and dense, neat stitches.
The man was tall and slender, with a face as handsome as jade. His bearing was noble yet not ostentatious.
He simply stood there quietly, yet drew frequent sideways glances from the people on the street.
Chu Yunlan—or rather, Liu Biqin disguised as “Chu Yunlan”—revealed a polite smile.
Seeing an old acquaintance again, Chu Yuan felt a wave of emotion. He cupped his hands calmly.
“If I’m not mistaken, this should be Young Master Chu Yunlan of the Chu family’s main line, correct?”
As soon as these words were spoken, the street erupted in an uproar.
With the Divine Grade Auction approaching, Xuanji City had already gathered many extraordinary figures.
The name 【Grand Void Holy Domain’s Chu Yunlan】 was thunderously famous.
Many cultivators stopped to watch.
“Chu Yunlan? The only son of the Grand Void Holy Lord? I didn’t expect to see him here!”
“Oh? Is he that Young Master Yunlan who is as renowned as our Immortal Dynasty’s Crown Princess Ji Xuanyuan?”
“Yes! Then… who is the person he’s greeting?”
“I recognize him! Seems to be an orphaned collateral descendant of the Chu family. A waste who’s trying to climb up by clinging to Miss Gu.”
“Tsk! What virtue does that waste have to be spoken to by Young Master Yunlan?”
Hearing the surrounding comments, Liu Biqin raised an eyebrow and returned the greeting with cupped hands.
“Yuan弟, I am preparing to go on a spring outing with my Qingwan. Would you like to join us?”
Upon hearing this, Chu Yuan’s gaze fell on Gu Qingwan’s face.
But her eyes shifted away, not daring to meet his at all.
Chu Yuan naturally understood what was happening.
Perhaps due to the professional acting habits from his previous life as a “licking dog,” he subconsciously began to play along with a wavering expression.
“Wan’er, you… you two… what is your relationship?”
Liu Biqin leaned closer to Gu Qingwan’s ear with feigned intimacy and asked.
“Qingwan, shall I speak for you?”
“No!”
What must be cut, must be cut decisively.
Gu Qingwan parted her lips. Her voice was like a taut string.
“I’ll say it myself! Chu Yuan, Young Master Yunlan and I…”
Her voice trembled at the end, as if something was stuck in her throat—unable to be swallowed or spat out.
Before she could continue, Liu Biqin gently raised a hand and hovered it supportively at her waist.
She did not actually touch the girl’s slender waist, but the gesture perfectly displayed a certain intimacy.
In the next moment, Liu Biqin spoke warmly, like spring breeze turning into rain.
“Yuan弟, Qingwan and I fell in love at first sight. Feelings arose naturally, beyond our control. It is not Qingwan’s fault. I hope Yuan弟 will not blame her.”
With those light words, she painted Chu Yuan as an “old flame who cannot give Fairy Gu a future, so he should sensibly step aside.”
Facing this melodramatic scene, the watching crowd whispered.
“I heard Miss Gu and that waste were childhood sweethearts. I didn’t expect it to come to this!”
“Hah! Childhood sweethearts? The Gu family is backed by the Medicine King Valley after all. How could they match with a declining collateral branch…”
“I just didn’t expect Miss Gu to climb up to Young Master Yunlan. These two really are a perfect match of talent and beauty!”
The whispers, soft as mosquitoes, drilled into his ears.
Chu Yuan heard them clearly.
He even recognized a few voices as servants from the main family’s management courtyard—escorts brought by Chu Yunlan.
Looking at this fake young master again, his eyes were filled with appropriate apology and the tolerance of a superior.
Yet hidden within that tolerance was a trace of mockery.
Liu Biqin was waiting. Once this Yuan lost control of his emotions, she could elegantly and helplessly trample this waste thoroughly into the mud.