39: Chapter 39 Murong Si: Keep a close eye on him and protect Youyou!

At that moment, an extremely hidden sound transmission reached the ears of Murong Si, who was secretly gnashing her teeth.

"Miss Murong, before I leave, I'll give you a small gift!"

This voice was like a stone thrown into water, causing Murong Si's heart to leap violently!

"Is he crazy?!"

A surge of anger instantly rushed to Murong Si's head.

She jerked her head up, her icy gaze stabbing fiercely toward Duan Gujin, who was surrounded by the crowd and looking righteous.

"Duan Gujin! You are simply too shameless!"

She cursed him in her heart, nearly failing to keep her facial expression in check.

"Look at what kind of occasion this is!"

She was frantic inside.

The surroundings were filled with grief: the Baicao Valley Elder was holding a Disciple and crying, and the people from the Xuanyin Pavilion were still mourning their fallen comrades!

The air was thick with sorrow and tragedy!

"And you, kid, are actually busy hitting on girls! And you're going after two at once! You're something else..."

"You just finished flirting with Qin Youyou from Baicao Valley, and now you turn around and dare to provoke me?!"

Her teeth itched with hatred!

After a moment, Duan Gujin walked up to Murong Si and presented her with a hairpin.

"This is the top-grade Spirit Treasure, Fuyao Lanyue! It suits you very well! Put it on!"

Murong Si only felt that the top-grade Spirit Treasure Fuyao Moon-Grabbing Hairpin in her hand was scalding hot.

This wasn't a gift at all; it was a branding iron Duan Gujin had thrown at her in public!

She really wanted to throw it back at his hypocritical face immediately, along with all the treasures he had given her before!

She said coldly, "Young Master Duan, this item is too precious, I cannot accept it. Please also take back what you gave me previously."

As she spoke, she reached for her Storage Pouch.

The gentleness on Duan Gujin's face vanished instantly.

He stepped forward quickly, stopping Murong Si's movements, and said:

"Murong Si, I never take back things I've given away! Once I give it to you, it's yours. If you want to destroy it or throw it away, feel as you wish! But for me to take it back? No way!"

These words were domineering to the extreme.

Murong Si's hand, which was reaching for her things, froze.

She looked up in astonishment and met Duan Gujin's eyes.

They didn't hold their usual warmth, nor the flippancy he showed when flirting with Qin Youyou; there was only a stubborn seriousness, and even... a trace of being hurt?

He refused to take back what he gave, even if it meant her destroying it? What was this? Domineering? Or some kind of persistence?

While she was dazed, Duan Gujin seemed to sense her wavering.

The sense of pressure from him vanished instantly, and he returned to being an elegant Young Master. The corners of his mouth even carried a slightly soothing smile, and his voice softened: "This hairpin is called 'Fuyao Lanyue,' it suits you well. Keep it, do not let it go to waste."

Murong Si's heart skipped a beat.

"He... is actually quite good to me?"

This thought popped up on its own, and even she found it absurd.

Just a moment ago, she wanted to tear off his mask!

But now, feeling the warm Spiritual Qi of the hairpin, hearing his "no way," and seeing his slightly pleading eyes, the vanity and softness of being treated specially actually took the upper hand.

He insisted on giving such a precious gift in this kind of setting despite the gossip, with such a firm attitude. Did that mean that in his heart, she was more important than that Qin Youyou, who would blush just from his casual coaxing?

The thought made her feel ashamed, yet she couldn't shake it off.

The surrounding cries seemed to be cut off for a moment.

She gripped the hairpin tightly; the cold touch reminded her, but the bit of warmth in her heart stubbornly refused to dissipate.

She lowered her eyes, avoiding his gaze, her voice so low it was almost inaudible:

"Th-thank you, Young Master Duan."

Compared to her previous politeness, there was a bit more complexity this time.

"He does care about me after all, doesn't he?"

This thought grew wildly, overriding all reason.

A flash of success quickly crossed Duan Gujin's eyes, and he smiled with satisfaction: "As long as you like it."

But soon, she saw Duan Gujin turn around and walk toward Qin Youyou.

"Shameless! Too shameless!" she cursed in her heart.

Duan Gujin's gesture was so grand that it actually made her feel he was even more suspicious.

Dumping heavy treasures on her, then turning around to trick the simple Qin Youyou?

The Valley Master of Baicao Valley was still mourning the death of his Disciple, and he was already in a hurry to help the man's biological daughter with her Physique Awakening?

Seeing Duan Gujin walk up to Qin Youyou and speak gently, while Qin Youyou nodded ignorantly with tears in her eyes, she was clearly very dependent on him.

"No way!" Alarm bells rang in Murong Si's head.

Qin Youyou was innocent and kind, the easiest to deceive.

Duan Gujin's methods were strange; who knew if the Physique Awakening he spoke of was real or fake?

If it were real, the process would be dangerous. Would he take the opportunity to take advantage of her?

If it were fake, the consequences would be even worse! They absolutely could not be left alone!

Murong Si suppressed her anger, gripped her hairpin, and stepped forward in a few strides:

"Wait!"

Both of them looked at her.

Duan Gujin's gaze was somewhat playful, while Qin Youyou looked a bit timid.

Murong Si didn't look at Duan Gujin and spoke directly to Qin Youyou: "Sister Youyou, Awakening a Physique is very dangerous."

"My Xuanyin Pavilion is proficient in the art of music, which can harmonize Qi and blood and stabilize the mind."

"Since Young Master Duan is going to help you, I will act as a Protector by your side. At the critical moment, I can use music to help stabilize you, just in case."

What she said was perfectly reasonable.

It both pointed out the risks and made it seem like she was doing it for Qin Youyou's own good.

Upon hearing this, Qin Youyou's eyes lit up, full of gratitude: "Really? Thank you, Sister Murong!"

She immediately felt much more at ease.

Duan Gujin smiled and nodded readily: "That's great! Miss Murong's music can indeed be of great help."

"With you here, Miss Youyou's Physique Awakening will be much safer."

"Then let's find a quiet place to start now! I'm quite eager!"

He agreed so readily that the words Murong Si had prepared were all choked back.

She looked at Duan Gujin suspiciously, feeling even more stifled in her heart.

Was this guy really not afraid of being watched? Or did he have other plans?

Murong Si suppressed her doubts and nodded expressionlessly: "Yes, that's right! The smell of blood is heavy here, and there are cries everywhere; it's impossible to calm the mind."

"Miss Murong is right." Duan Gujin said gently to Qin Youyou, "Miss Youyou, come with me. I know of a quiet valley nearby."

Qin Youyou looked at Duan Gujin, then at Murong Si, nodded vigorously, and followed closely behind Duan Gujin.

Murong Si fell a step behind, her eyes fixed firmly on Duan Gujin's back.

She was determined to keep a close eye on Duan Gujin and see what tricks he was up to!

She absolutely could not let him harm Qin Youyou!

After the three of them arrived at a valley, a weary and alert voice came from the entrance: "Youyou!"

The three of them looked over to see the Baicao Valley Master, Venerable Qin, walking over quickly.

His eyes were red and swollen, clearly having just experienced the pain of losing a Disciple.

Venerable Qin said: "Young Master Duan! This old man thanks you for your previous help! But Youyou's matter is too important! What is this method of Awakening the Physique you speak of? What proof do you have? I must watch personally!"

Duan Gujin said calmly: "Valley Master Qin. Please look!"

His right hand brushed over the Spatial Ring on his left hand.

A life aura so thick it was suffocating suddenly erupted!

A pile of emerald-green, transparent stones brimming with Spiritual Qi appeared in his hand!

innate wood spirit stones!

And it was a whole pile of them!