pledged to each other in life and death

A Qiu's internal energy cultivation is of the same origin as Wan Qiqing's Asura Palm, so her true energy can help Gu Yi absorb Wan Qiqing's cold palm power from his body. However, taming "Assassin Qin" relies on her innate bloodline, which even Wan Qiqing cannot do.

At this moment, her red lips were luscious, her beautiful eyes were brimming with tears, and she leaned against Gu Yi's chest, looking up as she spoke, creating an extremely ambiguous situation.

If Gu Yi hadn't been touched on her acupoint, he would have almost leaned down and kissed her again.

But unable to move at the moment, he could only lazily smile and say, "You really care about me a lot, going to great lengths to help me. I'm a little curious, who exactly are you?"

A Qiu sat up, her face flushed, to circulate her internal energy and dispel the evil spirits from him. But as she stood up, she touched Gu Yi's white hair. She couldn't help but ask again, "Then what happened to your hair? I've seen you with white hair before... but it wasn't like now, all of it has turned white."

Gu Yi looked at her but smiled without saying a word.

A-Qiu asked in a daze, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Gu Yi's thin lips curled into a half-smile as he said, "That's another question. You... really want to know?"

A Qiu realized that he wanted her to kiss him again. Her already red face became even hotter. She said angrily, "I don't want to know!" Then she hid behind Gu Yi, pressed her palm against his back, and channeled the true heat of her bloodline with "Assassin of Qin" into him.

She indeed detected a chilling, sharp aura of ancient weaponry, swirling endlessly amidst the chaotic energy surrounding him. Last time, however, she had been focused on her master's palm strike and hadn't noticed that the true energy damaging Gu Yi's meridians was actually two separate streams, not one.

She was experienced in assassinating the Qin emperor and handled it with ease. But extracting the subtle military energy of "assassination of the Qin emperor" from someone's meridians in such a meticulous way was a first for her. Before long, beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

She couldn't see Gu Yi's expression. Gu Yi's gray eyes, which were originally deep and cold, seemingly indifferent to everything, were now filled with a complex expression.

This time, his experience of awakening in this body was different from all before. He was no longer covered in wounds, waiting alone in a cold, dark room or dungeon, quietly waiting for the long, endless night to pass. Nor did he only have the miserable memories of being driven away and beaten.

He hugged and kissed a woman he instantly liked, though in exchange for his own secret.

But instead of trying to hurt him, she also tried her best to heal his wounds.

In the past, he felt no fear of sinking into endless darkness and sleep; he even felt it was a kind of liberation. The world he faced while awake was far colder and more lonely. Sleeping was fine; he wouldn't feel anything anymore.

But at this moment, feeling the continuous heat flowing into him from behind, he vaguely felt that he was getting sleepy again in this warmth, and was about to fall asleep.

He forced himself to stay awake and said to the people behind him, "You must remember, you promised you wouldn't leave."

A Qiu's hair was damp with sweat, and wisps of white steam rose from the top of his head. Hearing this, he replied, "I won't leave."

She wouldn't leave until Gu Yi was safe.

Gu Yi's eyelids grew heavier and heavier. As his inner energy circulated, the restrictions imposed on his acupoints by A Qiu gradually dissipated. He now had the ability to move, but he was reluctant to be indecent with her again, even though he really enjoyed being close to her.

He grabbed A Qiu's sleeve from behind and said, "You must remember that you promised to repay me with your body."

A-Qiu's face flushed red, but this time she didn't answer.

Gu Yi, however, was relentless. He grabbed her wrist and said in a chilling tone, "I'm afraid you've forgotten. Why don't I take you now?"

Unable to free his hands, A Qiu knew that his power had mostly recovered, and he exclaimed in terror, "I remember! I agree!"

The only thing A-Qiu didn't understand was why Gu Yi's tone when he said those words sounded like he was saying goodbye to her.

A look of satisfaction appeared in Gu Yi's deep eyes as he said, "You must remember, I kissed you. You can't be with anyone else."

His reminder made A-Qiu almost want to crawl into a hole. But with one hand still under his iron grip, she dared not utter a single word of dissent. She could only repeatedly say, "Okay, okay."

Gu Yi suddenly remembered that sometimes when he woke up, it felt like a long time had passed. If this woman waited for him for many years without seeing him, would she have to grow old alone?

His eyes darkened slightly, and he added in a hoarse voice, "If it's been too long, it's fine if you don't remember."

A-Qiu hurriedly replied, "I won't forget. I will remember what I promise others, even if it takes a hundred or a thousand years. This is the promise of an assassin."

I roamed a thousand miles with my sword, daring to utter a single word despite my humble status. Once a guest of the Great Liang, I have not failed the kindness of Lord Xinling.

Lanling Hall Motto: Whatever is promised, we will keep, even in life or death.

Gu Yi finally smiled and said, "That would be perfect. You... what's your name?"

A-Qiu said, "My name is A-Qiu."

Gu Yi seemed to repeat "A Qiu" a few times, as if the name was somewhat familiar. He finally pulled her hand towards him with all his might and said in a hoarse voice, "A Qiu, I'm going to sleep. Next time... I really want to see you again."

He himself didn't know if this wish could be fulfilled.

It's possible that many years will have passed when he wakes up again. It's possible that the person he dreamed of has gone somewhere else with this body. Far and wide, never to meet again. But he has no time, and can do nothing more.

A Qiu finally noticed his abnormality. She didn't understand why Gu Yi's words sounded so desolate, but she still firmly grasped his hand in return.

Gu Yi's eyes were already closed. She spoke clearly in his ear, word by word: "Gu Yi, sleep peacefully. No matter what you become or where you go, I will find you and be with you. As long as A Qiu is alive, she will never let you face anything alone again."

Gu Yi finally released her hand. A smile appeared on his face, as if he had finally received a reassuring promise and was falling into a peaceful deep sleep.

A Qiu carefully laid him down on the bed in the secret room and covered him with blankets.

She curled up at the head of his bed and just kept watching him.

She wanted to keep watching him and staying with him like this forever.

Even when mountains crumbled and rivers dried up, the first person he saw when he woke up was her; even when winter thunder roared and summer snow fell, the last person he saw before he fell asleep was her.

She always wanted to be with Gu Yi, to comfort him in the unknown darkness and loneliness deep within his heart.

May the seas dry up and the rocks crumble, may the earth endure forever.

The military energy and palm force in Gu Yi's body have been mostly expelled. He should be able to recover by circulating his internal energy after waking up.

Exhausted and exhausted, A-Qiu finally fell asleep.

When A-Qiu woke up, it was already broad daylight.

She rubbed her eyes, momentarily confused about where her heart was and where she was.

It was much like waking up one morning. The sky outside the window was ablaze with rosy clouds, and the sun was just rising. The vast sleeping quarters were empty and deserted. Only a few dozen tatami mats, where the dancers slept, had their bedding neatly folded.

After the dream, the pavilion is locked high; upon waking, the curtains hang low. In the dream, I was unaware that I was a guest, indulging in fleeting pleasure.

Her first thought was Gu Yi.

Is he better? Where is he?

How did I get back?

Last night, a white tiger attacked the Emperor, but Gu Yi did not appear. Such a crucial matter ultimately requires his handling. If he delays showing himself, people will surely notice something amiss.

After all, Gu Yi's every move was being watched by hundreds of eyes throughout the court.

He cannot have weaknesses.

A series of hurried and rapid footsteps sounded outside the bedroom, approaching from afar. It was the familiar sound of wooden clogs worn by geisha, and there were two people, one in front and one behind.

At this time, the other dancers should already be practicing in the Xianglu Corridor, so why would someone come over?

Two pretty faces, one tall and one short, peeked out from the doorway. Under the red sun, their faces were covered in sweat from running all the way.

"Great, you're awake!" Zhang Exu and Cui Luzhu rushed in one after the other, grabbed her, and dragged her out.

Faced with such a scene, A-Qiu thought he had done something wrong and was going to be punished.

But upon further reflection, it seemed impossible. Last night, he had performed the White Silk Dance and shielded the Crown Prince from the White Tiger; he was, after all, a meritorious official. Even if he returned to his chambers a little late, surely he shouldn't be dragged off to be flogged?

She slipped on her wooden clogs, and said with a wry smile, "No matter what, please let me get up and wash my face first, okay?"

Zhang Exu and Cui Luzhu exchanged a glance, and the former said decisively, "It's too late. The Emperor has issued an edict to the Music Bureau. Chenghua Ling'an is waiting for you in the Music Bureau's side room. Do you think there's time for you to slowly wash your hair, change your clothes, and put on makeup?"

Cui Luzhu took a handkerchief and rubbed it all over A Qiu's face, then said with satisfaction, "That's enough. Our A Qiu is naturally beautiful, so we're not afraid to take her out like this."

A Qiu was dragged along by them against her will, but she was still thinking about Gu Yi from the previous night.

She hesitated for a moment before saying, "I... I came back last night, did you know?"

As Zhang Exu walked, she said, "We know! Young Master Xiao brought you back. You were sleeping so soundly, like a little pig. Several of us had to work together to get you into bed, but you didn't wake up."

Cui Luzhu said, "Young Master Xiao is really strong, carrying you all the way like this. And you, you even got drunk at the palace banquet and hid in the dressing room of the side hall to sleep. If Young Master Xiao hadn't found you, do you think you would have been swept out as trash by the palace servants cleaning the side hall today?"

A Qiu was speechless, hesitating for a long time before finally asking, "Young Master Xiao...? Who is Young Master Xiao?"

Cui Luzhu said matter-of-factly, "It's Xiao Chang'an, the eunuch who accompanied us on the flute. He's not actually a eunuch, but a descendant of the Hidden Sect of Dawan Mountain. He's only temporarily staying with us because of Lord An's influence. But you can tell at a glance that he's no ordinary person."

Zhang E'xu looked envious and said, "Now he is the 'Green Hawk' among the Four Guards of the Eastern Palace, no longer someone we can even look up to!"

A Qiu asked in astonishment, "What Flying Phoenix Guards? Aren't the Flying Phoenix Guards Consort Chen and the others? When did it become Xiao Xiao's turn?"

Cui Luzhu stuck out her tongue and laughed, "Little Xiao? Ha, I'm afraid only you dare to call him that in the Music Bureau now. That's right, you're about to be promoted. After 'White Silk,' our Music Bureau has indeed had many more glorious and impressive things to do."

Zhang Exu, being the oldest, paid more attention to important court affairs. She said confidently, "Consort Chen and the others were the Flying Phoenix Guards of the previous emperor. The current Flying Phoenix Guards are to protect the current Crown Prince. It is said that this morning, Grand Tutor Gu Yi came to the Eastern Palace to issue an imperial edict, and he also proposed the titles for the four new Flying Phoenix Guards. Look how prestigious that is."

When A Qiu first heard Gu Yi's name, it was as if she had been struck by lightning. For a moment, her heart seemed to be suspended in mid-air, feeling empty and without any foothold.