141: Master's smile was terrifying

Leaving the Huanhuan Tower, he returned to the Wangyou Inn.

Before Qin Wushang even entered the door, a unique aroma, a blend of rich wine fragrance and fresh Spiritual Qi, rushed towards him, mixed with the clamor of human voices.

The threshold of the Wangyou Inn was practically worn out; the main hall was packed, and tables and chairs had been temporarily set up in the corridors and courtyards, yet it was still crowded with all sorts of guests.

Waiters zipped around carrying trays, upon which glittered wine pots and cups emitting a faint Spiritual Glow.

“Tsk! As expected of the Spiritual Spring Brew, rumored to grant enlightenment in a single sip! The Spiritual Qi, the taste—it's phenomenal!"

“More than that! I've been stuck at a Bottleneck for three years, but after drinking three cups yesterday, I felt signs of loosening this morning! This wine is worth it!"

“I heard the recipe and the core Great Dao Spiritual Spring all came from that True Successor Qin? Truly a Prodigy, even his brewing is extraordinary!"

“Too bad it's limited daily; if you're half a step late, it's gone! I must come earlier tomorrow!"

“Exactly! To drink Senior Brother Qin's wine, my Revered Master specifically sent me rushing over from the Academy!"

“Speaking of which, what exactly is the recipe? It's the same as the one next door, so why does the taste differ so much!"

The discussions were endless; the business at the Wangyou Inn had reached an unprecedented level of popularity.

Qin Wushang was not surprised by this!

Just as he was about to slip quietly into the back hall through the side door, two familiar figures rushed up to greet him.

“Wushang Gege!”

A clear, sweet cry, filled with undisguised joy.

Lin Ziyao, dressed in a purple skirt, bright and heroic, was faster. Completely ignoring Chu Yuer beside her, she directly threw herself into Qin Wushang's arms.

She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist and rubbed her pretty face contentedly against his chest.

Chu Yuer, who was half a step behind, stopped. Dressed in a goose-yellow palace gown, her demeanor was gentle and refined.

She watched the two embracing figures, a flicker of sadness in her eyes, but quickly concealed it, asking softly, “Husband, where have you been busy these past few days?”

“Yu'er has been very worried."

She felt somewhat inferior compared to Lin Ziyao!

Although this Young Miss belonged to the General's Residence, her natural talent was incomparable to that of a mere Princess Consort like herself.

Lin Ziyao's talent was terrifying; she had easily become a Core Disciple of the Academy and was already in the True God Realm.

“Husband?”

Lin Ziyao immediately lifted her head from Qin Wushang's embrace, her willow brows furrowed in anger as she glared at Chu Yuer.

“Chu Yuer! Who allowed you to call him that?”

“You haven't formally married yet! Call him Young Master Qin, or call him Wushang Gege like I do!”

Chu Yuer bit her lower lip, her voice still soft, but she insisted, “The marriage agreement was personally bestowed by His Majesty. The imperial decree has been issued. Yu'er... Yu'er calling him Husband is not inappropriate."

“Don't mention that woman!”

Lin Ziyao looked like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She shouted angrily, “She's just gone crazy from being the Emperor! Meddling in other people's marriages!”

“Wushang Gege and I were clearly destined by our parents and arranged by matchmakers—a match made in heaven!”

“She's the one who stuck her nose in and insisted on causing trouble!”

She resented Chu Yuehua's forceful bestowal of the marriage!

In her opinion, she was Qin Wushang's rightful fiancée, and Chu Yuer was superfluous!

Chu Yuer lowered her gaze, her long eyelashes trembling slightly as she whispered.

“If Sister Ziyao insists on competing... then... Yu'er can be the concubine; it truly doesn't matter.”

“As long as Husband can find a tiny place for Yu'er in his heart, that's enough.”

Lin Ziyao didn't accept this, snorting, “Being a concubine won't do either! Your Aptitude is mediocre; you've only just managed to ignite your Divine Flame. How could you ever be worthy of Wushang Gege's peerless talent?”

“Standing next to him is an eyesore!”

“Worthy or not... I must be matched.”

Chu Yuer raised her head, a glimmer of moisture in her eyes, but she stubbornly looked at Lin Ziyao.

“Your Majesty's command cannot be defied.”

“Yu'er... doesn't want to defy it either.”

Her Royal Father said that she must fight for everything herself!

Clinging to such a Prodigy meant soaring to the sky; she had to be opportunistic, she had to fight for him.

Only then could she walk further down the Dao!

“Just have Wushang Gege divorce you!”

Lin Ziyao blurted it out, holding Qin Wushang's arm even tighter, as if declaring ownership.

“He can only be mine! You don't get a share!”

Qin Wushang, whose head was throbbing from their argument, finally couldn't help but speak, his voice laced with impatience.

“Miss Lin, if you keep whining like this, I think I might as well divorce you first.”

The moment he said this, Lin Ziyao's delicate body stiffened abruptly, and the color instantly drained from her pretty face.

She looked up at Qin Wushang, her eyes filled with panic.

“No! Wushang Gege, you can't!”

“Grandpa said... he wants me to... to definitely bear you children, to continue the good relations between our two families!”

“You can't divorce me!”

She seemed terrified, clutching Qin Wushang tightly, as if he would vanish the moment she let go.

Qin Wushang sighed helplessly and softened his tone: “Then, will you be obedient?”

“Yes! I will!”

Lin Ziyao nodded repeatedly, like a kitten eager to please its Revered Master after being startled.

“As long as it's Wushang Gege's command, I'll listen to everything!”

“Then stop constantly trying to make things difficult for others.”

Qin Wushang glanced at the silent Chu Yuer next to him. “The Great Dao is long and vast. Who can say what the future holds?”

“The matter of Dao Companions should perhaps not be so narrow-minded. If you insist on having only one partner for life...”

He paused, looking at Lin Ziyao's face, which had instantly grown tense again, before uttering the second half of his sentence.

“I think perhaps we should reconsider whether our engagement should continue.”

“No! I disagree! No breaking the engagement!”

Lin Ziyao was so anxious she was almost crying, and quickly made her stance clear.

“I... I won't make things difficult for her anymore! I'll listen to you! I didn't even bully her, I was just speaking the truth. Ye Hongfu doesn't like her either...”

Qin Wushang's lips twitched slightly as he watched her reaction!

Little fool!

Easily managed, right!

Just at this moment!

“Whoosh!”

A brilliant golden light tore through the air, ignoring the Wangyou Inn's Formation barrier, and flew directly in front of Qin Wushang.

“Boom!”

With a loud bang, the golden light exploded.

Then, a woman's voice, cold to the bone and containing supreme majesty, echoed in the ears of the people present.

“Rebellious Disciple! Hurry and enter the Palace!”

Before the voice faded, a terrifying pressure that made the Soul tremble spread out with the sound wave.

Although it lasted only an instant, the entire Wangyou Inn immediately fell silent, and all the guests and waiters felt a wave of heart palpitations.

Qin Wushang's body shook, and his expression changed slightly.

That voice!

That pressure!

Revered Master must have eaten gunpowder!

Lin Ziyao was also startled by the pressure, and then became even more displeased, muttering, “What does she want with you now?”

“A Revered Master, why is she more meddlesome in her Disciple's affairs than a mother... honestly!”

Qin Wushang ignored her complaints and quickly instructed Chu Yuer: “Yu'er, please organize the recent accounts and revenue of the Wangyou Inn. I'll look at them when I return later.”

With that, his figure flickered, turning into a streaking light that sped toward the Imperial Palace... Imperial Palace, Imperial Study.

This place was more solemn and majestic than the sleeping quarters, permeated by a faint scent of ink and Imperial Dragon Qi.

As soon as Qin Wushang stepped into the study, the two heavy palace doors behind him silently closed automatically, isolating the outside world.

A bone-chilling cold instantly spread throughout the room.

Behind the desk, Chu Yuehua sat upright. No emotion could be discerned on her stunning face, only her cold, clear Phoenix eyes sweeping over him.

Qin Wushang's heart seized up. He immediately lowered his head and respectfully bowed: “Disciple greets Revered Master.”

“Rebellious Disciple!”

Chu Yuehua spoke, her voice like ice beads dropping onto a jade plate—clear, yet utterly chilling.

“Do you know your crime?”

Qin Wushang maintained his bowing posture, his mind racing, but he said aloud, “Disciple does not know, please enlighten this Revered Master.”

“You don't know?”

Chu Yuehua repeated softly. The next moment... “Boom!”

A Quasi-Emperor pressure, vast as a sea of stars, descended without reservation, instantly enveloping Qin Wushang!

He felt the space around him solidify, and bone-chilling coldness drilled into him through every pore!

His blood, Spiritual Power, and even his thoughts seemed about to freeze. In the blink of an eye, he turned into a lifelike ice sculpture, only his eyeballs still able to move slightly.

Chu Yuehua slowly rose to her feet.

Today, she was not wearing her formal Emperor's Robe, but a simple, flowing, moon-white Immortal gown.

She was barefoot, her flawless, jade-white feet stepping lightly on the cool, reflective floor, walking toward him step by step.

Her ankles were delicate, her gait elegant, yet she carried an invisible sense of oppression.

She stopped in front of the frozen Qin Wushang, bent down slightly, her cold breath almost brushing the surface of the ice.

“You have immense audacity... Having a concubine personally bestowed by this Emperor wasn't enough? You actually dared to linger in such a filthy, sordid place for seven days.”

Although Qin Wushang was frozen, his mouth and tongue seemed not entirely constrained. He hurriedly used Divine Thought to transmit a difficult defense: “Revered Master, please see clearly!”

“Disciple... Disciple went to gather information and investigate the movements of Prince Tianhais Residence and the Yama Hall, absolutely not to seek pleasure!”

“Gather information?”

A cold curve appeared at the corner of Chu Yuehua's lips.

“You gathered information right into the boudoir of Jiang Chengqiu, the Saintess of the Hehuan Sect? And you were generous enough to casually gift her a world-rare immortal grade dao seed?”

Qin Wushang's Divine Thought stalled: “This...”

He hadn't expected Revered Master to know even this. It seemed Revered Master's control over the Imperial Capital was far deeper than he had imagined.

“Disciple... was blinded by lust and momentarily confused! I beg Revered Master for severe punishment!”

Knowing denial was useless, he immediately changed tactics, adopting an extremely sincere attitude of repentance.

“Bang!”

The moment his voice fell, the profound ice covering his body suddenly shattered, dissolving into shimmering ice crystals that scattered everywhere.

The coldness retreated, and his body regained its freedom!

Qin Wushang secretly breathed a sigh of relief and stretched his somewhat stiff joints.

Chu Yuehua did not impose any further pressure, but simply continued to look at him with that unnerving gaze.

She suddenly asked an unexpected question: “Is that kind of place really that good?”

“Huh?”

Qin Wushang didn't react immediately.

Chu Yuehua shifted her gaze toward the window, her profile appearing somewhat indistinct in the light and shadow.

“This Emperor has observed that you men... seem to enjoy going to those kinds of places.”

“Is seeking pleasure really that entertaining?”

Qin Wushang recovered himself, scratched his head, and chose his words carefully, saying cautiously, “Well... it's not exactly that entertaining.”

“It's just that after leaving the Imperial Palace, I didn't know where to go for a while, so I went there.”

Chu Yuehua countered, “Didn't you open a tavern?”

Chu Yuehua countered.

“Returning to the Wangyou Inn, Yu'er isn't always there. Returning to the Academy, Senior Sister has already left...”

“In this huge Imperial Capital, I know very few people, so I just... wandered around, walked everywhere, looking for some fun.”

This was the truth!

After leaving the Imperial Palace, he genuinely didn't know where he should go!

Hearing this, Chu Yuehua fell silent for a moment.

She turned back around, her beautiful eyes scrutinizing him up and down, her gaze sharp as a knife.

“You feel bored?”

She thought for a moment and said, “Then you can move into the Palace.”

“This Emperor has plenty of unused palaces here; you can choose any one to stay in.”

Qin Wushang's heart stirred. Almost subconsciously, a habitual roguish smile appeared on his lips as he retorted, “Then... can I stay in Revered Master's sleeping quarters?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he sensed trouble.

Sure enough, not only did Chu Yuehua not get angry, but she suddenly broke into a smile.

That smile was breathtakingly beautiful, like ice and snow melting and spring flowers blooming, yet it sent an inexplicable chill down Qin Wushang's spine.

“You don't need to choose somewhere so far away.”

Her red lips parted slightly, her voice strangely gentle.

“Today, you will stay right here in the Imperial Study. That will be perfect.”

Saying this, she flipped her jade-like hand.

A long whip, entirely dark black and emitting a terrifying Dragon Qi, appeared in her hand like a true Dragon.

The whip was slender and covered in fine, barbed runes. With a slight flick, a scalp-tingling sound of rushing air echoed, faintly accompanied by the sound of a dragon's roar.

Chu Yuehua held the handle of the whip, smiling sweetly as she looked at the instantly frozen Qin Wushang:

“This Emperor shall personally teach you what it means to respect your Revered Master and honor the Dao, and what it means to cultivate a pure heart and few desires.”