369: Chapter 369 Gu Qingcheng

Murong Wan looked into her daughter's eyes; there was unease in them.

Murong Wan was silent for a moment.

"Nothing. What could Mother possibly be keeping from you?"

Murong Xue leaned on her shoulder.

"That's good."

The mother and daughter sat for a while, then Murong Xue stood up.

"Mother, I'm heading back. Get some sleep early."

She left.

Murong Wan closed the door and leaned against it, her legs feeling weak.

Qin Lin came out of the closet and walked up to her.

"Qin Lin, how much longer do we have to keep this a secret?"

Qin Lin reached out and pulled her into his arms.

"When the time is right, I will tell her."

Murong Wan pressed her face against his chest without speaking.

Days passed by, one after another.

Su Han began to speak with Murong Wan, though not much—just a few words at a time.

"Morning," "Thank you," "Okay."

Murong Wan didn't mind; she knew Su Han's coldness wasn't directed at her.

Yun Shu set up a Formation in the living room, saying it could gather Spiritual Qi. Everyone tried it, and it was indeed effective.

Bai Zhi saved an injured survivor in the Medical Room, and Han Qing praised her, saying, "You are improving very quickly."

The relationship between Qin Lin and Murong Wan continued in secret.

In front of Murong Xue, they were mother-in-law and son-in-law; in front of others on The Ark, they were passenger and captain.

Only when they were alone were they just a man and a woman.

The door to Room No. 15 remained closed, but Qin Lin hadn't checked on it for a long time.

He didn't know when that woman would wake up, but he was not in a hurry.

There was still Murong Wan on The Ark, many new passengers, and many things to do.

The Ark continued to cruise through the interior of the Central Region.

Qin Lin stood in the Bridge, looking at the star map on the holographic screen.

Murong Wan stood beside him, holding a cup of hot tea.

"Qin Lin."

"Hm."

"Where is the next stop?"

Qin Lin tapped a light spot on the star map.

"There. There is a survivor with a comprehensive rating of 97. It's not far; we can arrive tomorrow."

Murong Wan looked at the light spot.

"97 points. Higher than Su Han."

Qin Lin nodded.

"Hm."

Murong Wan was silent for a moment, then said, "You are going to pick up a new person again."

Qin Lin looked at her, the corner of his mouth curling up. "You are getting jealous again."

Murong Wan glared at him.

"I am not."

Qin Lin reached out and took her hand.

Murong Wan did not pull away.

The Ark continued its voyage through the starry sky, flying toward that 97-point light spot.

The Ark flew under the grey-black sky of the Central Region's interior for several days and finally arrived at the coordinates of the 97-point survivor.

It was a ruin surrounded by an energy storm, the intensity of which was more violent than any The Ark had traversed before. Black and white energy intertwined and swirled in the sky like two mating Dragons.

Qin Lin turned the power of the protective shield to the maximum. The Ark entered the storm, the hull vibrating violently, and the light on the surface of the protective shield flickering crazily.

The women in the living room grabbed the handrails beside them. Han Yurou hugged Qin Yue and crouched behind the sofa, while Li Ying leaned back in the massage chair with her eyes closed, her expression as calm as if she were sunbathing.

The Ark passed through the storm and hovered above a pile of collapsed buildings.

The scanning array showed that the target was in a basement beneath the ruins, with stable vital signs and strong Spiritual Qi fluctuations.

After Qin Lin went in, a woman walked out.

She was wearing a white dress, which had been stained grey by dust, but the nobility of the fabric was still evident.

Her hair was long and black, held up by a white jade hairpin.

Her face was small with a pointed chin, and her skin was so white it was almost transparent, like a piece of carefully polished mutton-fat jade.

Her features were so exquisite they didn't look real, and there was a cold arrogance between her brows that kept people at a distance.

Her cultivation was very high—Golden Core Perfection—the highest cultivation Qin Lin had ever seen in the Cultivation World.

[Target: Gu Qingcheng]

[Age: Approx. 26 years old]

[comprehensive rating: 97]

[Identity: Eldest Young Miss of the Gu family in the Central Region]

[Status: Healthy, abundant Spiritual Qi, hungry]

Gu Qingcheng looked up at The Ark, its silver-white hull shimmering under the grey-black sky.

There was no fear or curiosity in her eyes.

Qin Lin walked out of The Ark and stood on the gangway, looking at her.

Gu Qingcheng's hand rested on the hilt of the sword at her waist, but she did not draw it.

"Who are you?" Her voice was cold and clear, like the winter wind.

Qin Lin looked at her.

"Qin Lin, owner of The Ark. It is very safe on The Ark; there is food and water, and I can take you away from this world. Do you want to come up?"

It was still a very direct and simple inquiry, without any superfluous words.

What Qin Lin wanted was efficiency; as for whether the other party was willing to leave, that was her own business.

Anyway, there were already many women on The Ark, and one more didn't matter. He only asked because her rating was high; otherwise, he would have just taken her.

Gu Qingcheng looked at him in silence for a long time, then released the hilt and walked up the gangway.

It was mainly because there was food. Now, there was no food at all in this world. If it weren't for her deep cultivation, she would have starved to death long ago. Who would turn down food?

Besides, The Ark did indeed look very different.

She did not stop when she walked past Qin Lin, but her gaze lingered on his face for a moment.

Qin Lin smelled the fragrance on her; it wasn't perfume, but the faint, clean scent of spiritual plants, like snow lotus.

He stepped aside to let her in. Gu Qingcheng walked into The Ark, passed through the corridor, and arrived at the living room.

She stood in the center of the living room, looking at the glowing screens, automatic doors, and silver-white walls, with no expression on her face.

Qin Lin arranged a room for her on the east side of the corridor, next to Murong Wan's.

Gu Qingcheng walked into the room, closed the door, and said nothing.

Murong Wan saw this scene in the corridor.

She leaned against the wall, holding a cup of tea, watching Gu Qingcheng's back disappear behind the door.

Qin Lin walked over and stood beside her.

"97 points. Eldest Young Miss of the Gu family."

Murong Wan's voice was not loud.

"She is truly beautiful."

Qin Lin looked at her.

"Auntie Wan, you are jealous again."

Murong Wan shook her head.

"No, I am just stating a fact."

She took a sip of tea, turned, and left.

Qin Lin watched her back, the corner of his mouth curling up.

He chased after her and grabbed her hand at the stairs.

"Auntie Wan."

Murong Wan stopped but did not turn around.

"What is it?"

"I will come to see you tonight."

Murong Wan was silent for a moment, then gave a soft "Mn" and left.

That night, Qin Lin went to Murong Wan's room.

Murong Wan sat by the window, looking at the starry sky outside. She was wearing a light purple nightgown, her hair was loose, and she wore no makeup.

She did not turn around when she heard the door open.

Qin Lin walked over and sat down beside her.

"Still thinking about Gu Qingcheng?"

Murong Wan turned her head to look at him.

"No, I am thinking about Su Han."

"What about Su Han?"

"She met Gu Qingcheng in the corridor today, and they locked eyes. The look in Su Han's eyes changed; it wasn't hostility, but… the same kind."

Murong Wan paused.

"They are both people abandoned by the world; it's just that Su Han chose silence, and Gu Qingcheng chose arrogance."

Qin Lin reached out and took her hand.

"Auntie Wan, your analysis is truly thorough."