14: Chapter 0014 Insider

Gu Huan was dumbfounded.

After hesitating for a moment, he perhaps understood Qin Yao's intentions.

The blood sun pills are harmful to the human body; long-term consumption would only severely damage one's mind and body.

Qin Yao's suggestion that Gu Huan shouldn't eat them showed her gentle side, hoping he could avoid unnecessary pain.

Being a Cauldron was already miserable enough.

With a damaged Foundation, he was destined to be unable to Cultivate.

If he couldn't even maintain the nature of a normal man in the end, it would be a tragedy upon a tragedy.

"Are you worried about me?"

Hearing this, a touch of crimson surfaced on Qin Yao's exquisite face, and she coldly rolled her eyes.

"Eat them or not, I'm just reminding you."

A Cauldron.

From the moment Gu Huan was branded with this label...

His life was predictable to the end; he definitely wouldn't live past three years.

Even if Qin Yao had fallen in love with Gu Huan at first sight, her affection would never be wasted on him, because it was a path with no future.

"Thank you for the kind reminder, Master, but I still want to eat it."

Gu Huan looked calm; even if the blood sun pill was poison, he would swallow it without hesitation.

Qin Yao watched this, her eyes flickering with deep emotion, which she quickly suppressed.

He swallowed the Medicinal Pill.

Gu Huan walked toward the large bed with a vigorous stride.

He held Qin Yao in his arms through the thin silk blanket; she was fragrant and stunningly beautiful.

"Where is yours?"

"What?"

Qin Yao was slightly flustered, not understanding him.

"The pink pill," Gu Huan reminded her with a slight smile.

"It's here." She opened her palm, revealing a pink Medicinal Pill that emitted a strong aphrodisiac scent, hesitating whether or not to eat it.

The next moment.

Gu Huan grabbed the pill and threw it onto the ground, leaving Qin Yao speechless with shock.

"Why did you throw it? It's dirty now." She couldn't understand Gu Huan's intention and struggled to get out of bed to pick it up, only to be held tightly.

"If it's dirty, don't take it. You shouldn't be eating that kind of thing anyway."

Qin Yao was different from Gu Huan.

If she took Medicinal Pills with side effects, the damage would be real and difficult to reverse.

In the long run, it would only damage her own body; while it might extend her survival time, it was more for Gu Huan's benefit.

"But if I don't take it, I'm not confident I can complete the Plucking in one go."

"Do you have to be so eager for quick results? Can't we take it slow and steady, using great perseverance like water dripping through stone, to slowly Cultivate and become stronger?"

Qin Yao was speechless.

She knew such a method of Cultivation existed.

But long-term contact would only make her dependent on this method of Cultivation, leading to feelings developing over time; when the time for parting came, it would surely be filled with sorrow.

"Easier said than done. How long do you think you can live?"

"Haha, if Master knows how to cherish this 'fragrant jade,' perhaps I'll live to be a hundred."

Qin Yao's intention was simple.

To strive for the maximum gain with the minimum number of Plucking sessions.

However...

Haste makes waste; the price of rushing for success was too high. Gu Huan didn't care, but Qin Yao certainly wouldn't last until the end.

"Still wanting to live to a hundred? Do you think I'd be interested in a geezer?"

"What do you mean? Looking down on me? Even if I become a geezer, I can still satisfy you."

Gu Huan looked serious, arguing his point.

He successfully made Qin Yao laugh.

"Keep dreaming! A hundred years from now, if you can still be as powerful as you are now, you won't have to call me Master. I, Qin Yao, will willingly kneel down and be your maidservant."

A pipe dream.

A Qi Refining Cauldron wanting to live to a hundred.

There had never been such an instance in the history of the Hehuan Sect; there wasn't before, and there certainly wouldn't be in the future.

"Are those words for real?"

"My word is my bond."

"Fine, then it's a deal."

Whether other Qi Refining Cauldrons could live to a hundred was hard to say.

But for Gu Huan, ever since he began to Cultivate the Supreme Heavenly Demon Art, his Lifespan had been continuously increasing. If he kept Cultivating, a Lifespan of thousands or tens of thousands was by no means empty talk.

He estimated he wouldn't have to wait a hundred years.

This clever woman would soon see that he was different from the rest.

"Enough nonsense. In the three months I was away, did you properly accumulate the ultimate origin yang?"

A Hehuan Enchantress is indeed a Hehuan Enchantress; some words always make one's heart burn with heat upon hearing them.

"Of course, I've been saving it all for Master."

"Good, good, good!"

Qin Yao said the word 'good' three times in a row, her radiant smile stirring the soul.

Then, with eyes like silk, she stared at Gu Huan, her slender arms actively wrapping around his neck to offer a passionate kiss.

...

Many days later.

One morning, someone knocked on the stone door.

Gu Huan went out immediately to greet them. What met his eyes was a fair and delicate young woman, her expression slightly panicked.

"May I ask for Senior Sister's name? Is something the matter?"

"My name is Liu Zhu. I have urgent business with Senior Sister Qin Yao."

Liu Zhu?

Gu Huan was greatly shocked.

The woman who died by his hands last time had used the name Liu Zhu to lure him away from the Hehuan Sect, attempting to murder him in secret.

The woman before him was the real Liu Zhu, since the person she wanted to see was Qin Yao.

"Do you know me?"

Seeing Gu Huan staring intently, Liu Zhu furrowed her brows in slight confusion.

"No, no, no. This is my first time meeting Senior Sister Liu. Please, come in. Master is freshening up in her room and will be out shortly."

Gu Huan invited Liu Zhu to sit in the living area and brewed a pot of good tea.

She didn't drink any, looking absent-minded.

This situation...

Was so similar to how Qin Yao was when she returned that night, making Gu Huan feel strange.

Qin Yao had said she caused a huge disaster outside; could Liu Zhu be an insider in that matter?

"Senior Sister Liu, there was a fire at Hehuan Peak a while ago. Have you heard about it?"

"Eh! Was there such a thing? I wasn't at Hehuan Peak at the time."

"Oh! Fortunately, the fire was extinguished in time, so it didn't lead to a huge disaster."

At the mention of a 'huge disaster.'

Liu Zhu's pretty face turned pale, and she said no more.

Gu Huan's testing ended; Liu Zhu indeed knew some inside information.

At that moment.

Qin Yao, now fully dressed, came walking out gracefully.

"Senior Sister Qin!" Liu Zhu was exceptionally enthusiastic toward Qin Yao, standing up and calling out excitedly.

"Mm."

Qin Yao nodded in response with a genuine smile. She glanced at Gu Huan beside her, her cheeks turning slightly hot and red. Fortunately, Liu Zhu's mind was elsewhere and she didn't pay extra attention to this detail.

"That matter..."

Liu Zhu started to speak impulsively but stopped immediately, her eyes glancing toward Gu Huan as if worried.

Qin Yao knew what she was worried about and turned to Gu Huan.

"The following matter has nothing to do with you. Go out."

"Yes."

Gu Huan responded absent-mindedly.

Looking at their mysterious behavior, they were clearly discussing the matter related to the huge disaster. To exclude him like this—how boring!

A pity!

That was Qin Yao's command; he had to obey.

Gu Huan went outside the Immortal Cave and pressed his ear to the wall, but he couldn't overhear anything and had to give up.

After some time.

Liu Zhu left in a great hurry, and Qin Yao stood at the door seeing her off with an uneasy heart.

"Gu Huan! Gu Huan!"

She called several times with no response.

Qin Yao was also feeling troubled, so she simply didn't bother further, assuming he had gone to the canteen to fill his stomach.

...

On the other side.

Liu Zhu first returned to her own Immortal Cave, then set out discreetly, leaving the Hehuan Sect.

It was common for Hehuan Disciples to go out, so it didn't attract much attention.

However...

Gu Huan was very interested in this.

He was curious about what huge disaster Qin Yao had caused that made the two women so worried and fearful day and night.

Driven by curiosity, he decided to secretly tail Liu Zhu. The latter was deeply preoccupied, and none of her attention was on her surroundings; she didn't expect anyone to be following her at all.

After traveling for three consecutive days.

Liu Zhu finally stopped in a dark forest.

The environment here was more suitable for hiding. Gu Huan suppressed his entire cultivation aura, even daring to hide in the bushes within fifteen meters of Liu Zhu.

She was very panicked.

She sat down on the spot to meditate and regulate her breathing, trying to stabilize her inner unease.

"With such a mindset, once an accident occurs, she won't be able to handle the situation at all," Gu Huan thought to himself, not thinking much of Liu Zhu's weak behavior.

Time slowly passed.

Half a day later.

A Masked Person entered this silent forest.

The newcomer was dressed in black, their face hidden, clearly having come prepared. From the way they walked, Gu Huan judged the person was likely a man.

"How many people came?"

"One."

Liu Zhu feigned composure and answered calmly.

...