【046】 Heading to the Imperial Capital

Gu Juan left the school, hailed a car, and headed straight for Guanghua Building. Fortunately, the snow on the ground was not thick, so the road was not difficult to walk on. It didn't take long to reach Xi Lang's company.

The operator on the first floor recognized him, smiled and nodded at him, and didn't stop him.

Gu Juan asked her not to tell Xi Lang that he was coming.

When he arrived outside Xi Lang's office, he saw Xi Lang coughing with his fists clenched. He frowned and deliberately kept silent, waiting to see when Xi Lang would notice him.

Xi Lang was reading a document with a frown on his face. He noticed a pair of eyes on him and looked up to see Gu Juan. He stood up and asked, "Xiao Juan, why are you here?"

The surprise in his eyes and the smile on his lips instantly dissipated Gu Juan's anger. He walked over and said unhappily, "I found it strange to hear Xiao Sun's hesitant speech. There was also something wrong with your voice on the phone, so I guessed you must have a cold. How many days has it been?"

Xi Lang pulled him to sit down. "The night before last, I stood on the balcony for a while and got caught in the wind. It's not a big deal. Why are you wearing so little?"

"I'm not cold." Gu Juan took out the thermos from his backpack and said, "This is the medicine I made for you. Drink it."

Xi Lang opened the lid and took a sip. The temperature was just right.

Gu Juan raised his hand and then put it down, turning his head to look at the glass wall. "Your office is not well designed. I can't do anything I want to do."

Xi Lang was startled and asked with amusement, "What do you want to do?"

"Just talk." Gu Juan waited for him to finish drinking the medicine, and then took out a small porcelain bottle with a white background and blue flowers and gave it to him.

This was already the third bottle of medicine Xi Lang had taken. At this point, he couldn't help but ask, "Xiao Juan, what exactly is this?"

Gu Juan looked into his eyes and asked seriously, "Xi Lang, do you believe me?"

"Of course." Xi Lang frowned, feeling that Gu Juan's question was unnecessary. If he didn't trust Gu Juan, he wouldn't have eaten any of the food he gave him.

Gu Juan smiled gently and explained, "You've been focusing on your health these past few years, and your physique is indeed excellent. However, when I took your pulse the other day, I saw that your body suffered severe damage in childhood. Despite careful care, the internal damage hasn't been fully repaired. These medicines of mine are slowly helping you heal." Gu Haojie said Xi Lang was his weakness, so he turned this weakness into a strength. He was determined to allow Xi Lang to cultivate, and the "Slaughtering the Sun Immortal Record" was a perfect fit for him. However, with Xi Lang's initial constitution, taking the Foundation Establishment Pill directly would have a more severe impact on his body than when he first established his foundation. Therefore, he first used the mild Guyuan Pill to help Xi Lang recuperate, and once his body was fully recovered, he could then establish his foundation.

Xi Lang nodded. Over the past two months, he'd felt a profound improvement in his physical fitness, and his energy was higher than before. He'd previously felt exhausted for two or three days after staying up all night, but now, he felt like he could go without sleep for three days and nights without any problems.

"I'm sorry to have worried you."

Gu Juan felt a little disappointed. He had thought that if he mentioned Xi Lang's childhood, Xi Lang would explain to him what happened, but Xi Lang didn't.

But Xi Lang said, "Some unpleasant things did happen back then. I will tell you slowly later."

Gu Juan felt relieved again. That must have been a rather bad memory. Who doesn't have a secret? Wasn't he hiding something from Xi Lang as well?

Secretary Wang knocked on the glass door and walked in. "Boss, it's time for the meeting."

Gu Juan stood up and said, "I'm going back to school."

"I'll let Xiao Sun take you there."

Gu Juan waved his hand, "No need, it's very convenient to take a taxi downstairs."

Xi Lang had no choice but to let him go. After sending him into the elevator, he glanced at the glass wall, a faint smile curled up at the corner of his mouth, and instructed Secretary Wang, "Find someone to replace the glass wall as soon as possible."

"yes."

…

Amidst the hectic pace of life, the first half of the twelfth lunar month arrived, and Congzhou University ushered in final exam week. Because Gu Juan was double-majoring, he took exams over six days, traveling to nearly ten different testing centers before completing all his subjects. After the exams, winter break began, and school resumed on the twelfth day of the first lunar month.

Gu Juan finally had time to practice again. Although he was busy studying during this period, he usually absorbed the spiritual energy in the space and refined it while sleeping. Over time, the effect was not bad.

Before going into seclusion, he called Xi Lang and told him that he was going out for some fun and asked him not to worry if he couldn't contact him.

As soon as he entered the space, spiritual energy surged towards him, as if it had been waiting for him. He raised his head, accepting the energy as it came, and couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. It felt like a few sips of a refreshing drink on a scorching summer day. Because the spiritual energy was so abundant and constantly compressed, it soon formed a huge white cocoon, enveloping him. As he continued to practice, the cocoon gradually shrank, like a snowman slowly melting in the sun.

There is no time in cultivation.

When Gu Juan came out of retreat, he looked at the electronic clock on the wall and saw that it was already six days later. Fortunately, the spiritual energy he cultivated could alleviate hunger to a certain extent, otherwise it would be impossible to go so long without eating.

He called Xi Lang, who happened to be at home. He decisively took his vegetable and fruit baskets and went to eat.

At the dinner table, Xi Lang said, "If you hadn't called me, I would have called you tonight. I'll be back in the capital the day after tomorrow. I bought two plane tickets. You can come with me and celebrate the New Year together. Han Lin and the others have also invited you to visit the capital."

Gu Juan had detailed plans for the entire winter vacation, so she could only refuse him and lied, "No, my uncle called me a few days ago and asked me to spend the New Year with them. He probably wanted to save my relationship with his family, so I couldn't refuse."

Xi Lang was a little disappointed, "Okay."

Two days later, Gu Juan sent him to the airport.

Before boarding the plane, Xi Lang hugged Gu Juan and said, "Call me if you have anything."

"I will." Gu Juan laughed, "Don't always treat me like a child."

Xi Lang smiled and shook his head, "Let's go."

After Xi Lang's plane took off, Gu Juan did not leave the airport. Instead, he found an Internet cafe and checked the market prices of the stocks he had bought.

More than four hours later, he also boarded a plane to the imperial capital.