Chapter 43 Restoring Memories

As the hour of Xu approaches, the moon begins to rise.

The back of Xueji Peak is even more secluded than the front peak, and the location of the spiritual spring is shrouded in a light layer of natural mist, making it seem like a fairyland.

Gu Yunqing quietly crept to the vicinity of the spring. Through the misty water vapor, he could see a blurry yet upright figure in the pool.

The spring water reached his waist, revealing his smooth, well-defined back. His soaked, dark hair clung to his neck, and water droplets rolled down his taut muscles.

The chat in Gu Yunqing's live stream was scrolling:

"Is this something I can watch without paying?"

"Gu Yunqing, you are truly a brave warrior."

"Jun Xiangbei has such a great figure... *slurp*..."

Gu Yunqing adjusted her facial expression, making herself look innocent yet somewhat uneasy, and then deliberately made some footsteps before walking out.

"Master?" he asked timidly.

Jun Xiangbei's figure in the spring suddenly froze.

He didn't even turn around, but his aura instantly became chilling, and a tiny ripple spread across the pool water centered on him.

"What is it?" Jun Xiangbei's voice carried a clear displeasure and a sense of dismissal.

If it were an ordinary disciple, they would have been terrified out of their wits by that tone.

But Gu Yunqing was no ordinary disciple.

Instead of backing away, he took a few steps closer and stood by the pool, his tone innocent: "Disciple heard that Master is going to participate in the Great Competition of Prodigies?"

"Um."

"Master... take me there~" Gu Yunqing began his performance, his tone carrying a hint of coquetry.

"This disciple has never seen such a grand event before; it will surely broaden my horizons! I promise I will behave well and will not cause you any trouble!"

As he spoke, his gaze "casually" swept over the clean towels and clothes placed on the stones by the pool.

Jun Xiangbei did not answer; the pond remained silent, with only the faint sound of flowing water.

Seeing that he remained unmoved, Gu Yunqing's eyes lit up and a plan came to mind.

He feigned a sudden realization, his tone becoming even more sincere: "Ah, disciple understands. How could Master be bathing without anyone attending to him? This was truly my oversight!"

As she spoke, Gu Yunqing bent down and reached for the bath towel, muttering to herself, "Let this disciple do my filial duty and serve Master as he bathes and changes his clothes!"

His hand reached out towards the white bath towel.

Jun's finger, submerged in the water to the north, twitched almost imperceptibly.

Jun Xiangbei could have easily used his spiritual power to shake Gu Yunqing away instantly, or forced him back with a sword aura, which would have been enough to stop this absurd behavior.

But he didn't.

Jun Xiangbei stood quietly in the water with his back to Gu Yunqing, like a silent jade sculpture.

The misty water vapor blurred his expression.

Gu Yunqing's hand was only inches away from the bath towel.

Just as his fingertips were about to touch the bath towel, Jun Xiangbei finally spoke.

The voice remained flat, revealing neither joy nor anger, yet it carried an undeniable sense of finality.

"Nonsense."

Two simple words interrupted all of Gu Yunqing's actions.

Then, Jun Xiangbei's voice rang out again, still without any emotional fluctuation: "Go if you want, leave now."

Did you... agree?

Gu Yunqing paused, somewhat surprised.

He succeeded?

Not only did they achieve their goal, but they also tested Jun Xiangbei's bottom line once again. It seemed that he was a little more lenient with himself than they had imagined.

Gu Yunqing immediately dropped her "filial piety" act, a smile appeared on her face, and her voice was clear and crisp:

"Thank you, Master. You are the best! Then I will not disturb your meditation any longer."

He was satisfied and didn't linger any longer. He turned around and left the spiritual spring with light steps, his figure quickly disappearing into the hazy mist.

Only after the light footsteps had completely faded into the distance did Jun Xiangbei slowly turn around.

Moonlight filtered through the moisture, illuminating his incomparably handsome face. In his usually calm and serene eyes, a complex and unfathomable emotion was now surging.

He looked in the direction Gu Yunqing had left and remained motionless for a long time.

The viewers in Gu Yunqing's live stream were shocked by what they saw:

"He agreed! He actually agreed!"

"Not only did they agree, they didn't even throw Gu Yunqing out."

"The person who tried to curry favor in the dungeon last time was directly knocked away by Jun Xiangbei with a single sword strike."

"Jun Xiangbei, you're finished. You've fallen in love."

Gu Yunqing didn't care whether Jun Xiangbei was in a state of confusion or not; he returned to his little bamboo hut in a very good mood.

Lying in bed, he recalled the scene by the spring and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

This master is really interesting.

Even though they were incredibly nervous, they insisted on putting on a calm and composed demeanor.

That suppressed indulgence is more irresistible than a direct response.

The Grand Competition of Prodigies... He stroked his chin, a hint of excitement flashing in his eyes.

On the day of departure, the area in front of the Sword Sect's mountain gate was quite lively.

Disciples from all peaks participating in the competition gathered together, and the leading elders were giving final instructions.

Jun Xiangbei was still wearing that spotless moon-white Taoist robe, his posture as upright as a pine tree, making him stand out in the crowd, and he exuded an aura that kept strangers at bay.

Gu Yunqing changed into a set of the same moon-white disciple's uniform, which made his skin appear even whiter. His black hair was simply tied up, giving him a more youthful and lively look.

He followed closely behind Jun Xiangbei, his eyes darting around curiously, finding everything around him fascinating.

A few lines of comments floated across Gu Yunqing's live stream:

"Let's go! Let's go! A publicly funded trip (not really)!"

"Gu Yunqing looks so refreshing in this outfit, like an innocent junior brother."

"Am I the only one who knows how much 'bad intentions' this junior brother is hiding?"

As the enormous cloud boat slowly descended onto the plaza in front of the mountain gate, Gu Yunqing let out a soft gasp.

He tugged at Jun Xiangbei's sleeve, his voice filled with amazement: "Master, is this... is this the flying magical artifact we're going to ride? It's huge!"

Jun Xiangbei lowered his eyes, glanced at the cuff of his sleeve that had been pulled into wrinkles, but did not smooth it out, only giving a faint "hmm".

"Stay close, don't get separated," he instructed succinctly, then strode towards the cloud boat.

Gu Yunqing immediately followed obediently, like a little puppy afraid of being left behind.

The stairs were quite high when boarding the boat.

Gu Yunqing cried out "Oops!" as her foot "accidentally" slipped and her body leaned backward.

Almost simultaneously, a gentle yet firm force supported his back.

Jun Xiangbei had stopped walking at some point, one hand lightly supporting him from behind, while the other hand naturally reached out to him: "Be careful."

Gu Yunqing took his hand, using it to steady herself, a perfect blush rising on her face, and whispered, "Thank you, Master..."

Jun Xiangbei did not immediately pull his hand away, letting him hold it until Gu Yunqing "felt embarrassed" and let go. Only then did he continue walking forward with a normal expression, but the fingertips of the hand that had been held curled up almost imperceptibly.

The interior of the cloud boat is spacious and divided into different areas.

As the senior disciple of the Sword Sect, Jun Xiangbei naturally had his own quiet room.

However, he did not go in immediately. Instead, he led Gu Yunqing on a walk around the deck and outer cabin area, giving a general introduction to the structure and precautions of the cloud boat.

Gu Yunqing acted like a very curious child.

"Master, the cloud boat is flying so high, won't it fall off?"

"Master, what are those glowing runes for?"

"Master, how long will it take us to get there? The clouds outside look like cotton candy..."

His questions were childish and trivial; if it were anyone else, Jun Xiangbei probably wouldn't even give them a glance.

But when faced with Gu Yunqing's bright, inquisitive eyes, filled with dependence and thirst for knowledge, he patiently answered all her questions, his tone remaining calm but without the slightest impatience.

During this time, disciples from other peaks came forward to greet Jun Xiangbei with respect.

Jun Xiangbei simply nodded slightly, saying nothing more; his aloofness was completely different from when he was facing Gu Yunqing.

Even female disciples blushed and wanted to chat a bit more, but were deterred by the cold aura emanating from him.

Gu Yunqing stood quietly a little behind Jun Xiangbei, taking in everything.

He could clearly sense that when Jun Xiangbei was talking to someone, he would subtly shield him from those curious or inquisitive gazes.

This subconscious protection, and the patience shown only to him, stirred a strange feeling in Gu Yunqing's heart.

His initial approach to Jun Xiangbei stemmed purely from his unease after losing his memory, his inexplicable familiarity with Jun Xiangbei, and a wicked sense of pleasure in conquering and toying with this "decent person."

Gu Yunqing enjoyed testing the limits of danger and the thrill of watching the other person lose their composure because of her.

All of this is built upon his sober "performance".

But now, this special treatment that belongs only to him, this undisguised favoritism and indulgence in front of everyone, has stirred up some inexplicable emotions in his heart, which is somewhat empty due to amnesia.

Is this special relationship due to the title of "master and apprentice"?

Or is it because... he is just him?

The thought flashed through Gu Yunqing's mind for a moment, leaving her stunned and confused.

He played the role of the dependent, but through Jun Xiangbei's repeated indulgence and protection, he vaguely tasted a little... the secret joy of being cherished.

This feeling, both unfamiliar and comforting, caught him somewhat off guard.

Viewer analysis in Gu Yunqing's live stream:

"Double standards! Blatant double standards!"

Jun Xiangbei said to others: "Don't touch me." To Gu Yunqing: "Baby, come here, Master will tell you something."

"Gu Yunqing's expression is strange. Is he planning another prank?"

"Tired?" Jun Xiangbei's cold voice rang out above her head, interrupting Gu Yunqing's thoughts.

Gu Yunqing looked up and realized that she had been lost in thought and had even slowed her pace.

He quickly shook his head, revealing a well-behaved smile: "I'm not tired, I'm just mesmerized. Master, the world of cultivation is so beautiful."

Jun Xiangbei looked at the pure smile on his face, and his usually cold eyes seemed to soften for a fleeting moment.

"Hmm." He responded, his gaze sweeping over Gu Yunqing's cheeks, which were slightly red from the wind. He paused for a moment and said, "It's windy on the deck. Come back to the quiet room with me."

“Okay~” Gu Yunqing readily agreed, quickened her pace, and followed closely again.

Back in the quiet room assigned to Jun Xiangbei, the furnishings were still simple, but more refined than the bamboo hut at Xueji Peak.

Jun pointed north to the futon beside him: "Meditate and regulate your breathing here, and don't wander off."

Gu Yunqing obediently sat down, but had no interest in meditating.

He secretly glanced at Jun Xiangbei, who was resting with his eyes closed. The sunlight outside the window outlined his perfect profile, his long eyelashes drooping, and his expression was serene and focused.

Gu Yunqing's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.

He quickly looked away, gazing at the sea of ​​clouds rushing past the window, trying to calm the sudden surge of emotion.

Halfway through the voyage, the cloud boat encountered a small but significant turbulence of spiritual energy, causing the ship to rock slightly.

Gu Yunqing was leaning against the window when she was startled by the sudden shaking and swayed to the side.

This time, Jun Xiangbei didn't even open his eyes. He simply flicked his sleeve, and a gentle spiritual force surged forth, supporting Gu Yunqing firmly and preventing her from coming into close contact with the cabin wall.

"Sit tight," he said casually, as if he had only done something insignificant.

Gu Yunqing supported the lingering spiritual energy, her heart pounding wildly.

This time, it wasn't acting; I was genuinely startled.

He lowered his head, concealing the complex emotions in his eyes, and replied softly, "...Yes, Master."

For the rest of the journey, Gu Yunqing was much quieter.

He stopped trying to start conversations and made any physical contact. He just sat there quietly, occasionally stealing a glance at Jun Xiangbei, his mind a jumble of thoughts.

He seems to have... gone a bit too far.

I originally just thought it was interesting and wanted to see what it would look like when the iceberg melted.

But now, he has begun to crave the unique warmth that existed before the iceberg melted.

This is not right, this is very wrong.

Although Jun Xiangbei had his eyes closed, his divine sense always enveloped the entire quiet room, and he naturally noticed Gu Yunqing's unusual quietness.

He was slightly surprised. Wasn't this "disciple" usually the most boisterous? Could it be seasickness? Or was he just frightened?

He opened his eyes, looked at the figure with his head down, who seemed somewhat listless, and unusually took the initiative to ask, "Are you feeling unwell?"

Gu Yunqing suddenly looked up and met Jun Xiangbei's eyes, which were cold yet held a hint of barely perceptible concern, and her heart skipped a beat.

He hurriedly shook his head: "No, no! This disciple is perfectly fine!"

Jun Xiangbei looked at him for a moment, and after confirming that he was alright, he closed his eyes again. However, the subtle feeling of unease that arose in his heart because of Gu Yunqing's quietness did not immediately dissipate.

He seemed to have gotten used to having such a vibrant, even somewhat noisy, presence around him.

The cloud boat traversed the sea of ​​clouds, carrying two people with different thoughts, heading towards the venue of the Grand Prix of the Heavenly Pride.

Several days later, the cloud boat landed smoothly in the designated docking plaza of Tian Shu City.

Tian Shu City, as the venue for this grand competition of geniuses, is far more prosperous than Gu Yunqing had imagined.

Towering buildings stand side by side, the streets are bustling with people, various spiritual lights flicker, and cultivators from different sects and families can be seen everywhere.

After the Sword Sect group disembarked from the cloud boat, they were greeted by disciples who arranged their accommodations.

As one of the team leaders, Jun Xiangbei needs to meet with the sect elders first to handle related matters.

He settled Gu Yunqing in the courtyard of the inn booked by the Sword Sect and instructed her, "Wait here and do not travel alone."

His tone was as indifferent as ever, but the barely perceptible concern he conveyed now had a different meaning to Gu Yunqing, who was regaining her memories.

The live stream chat was flooded with comments:

"Tian Shu City is so lively."

"Wow, a lot of big names are here. I recognized several familiar faces."

"Jun Xiangbei is off to attend to important matters again, leaving his little tail behind."

"Will Gu Yunqing wait obediently? I bet she won't."

Gu Yunqing obediently agreed on the surface, and after watching Jun Xiangbei leave, she began to "stroll" around the courtyard of the inn.

Just then, a slight commotion caught his attention.

A group of people walked in through the moon gate on the other side of the courtyard.

They wore white robes with star patterns, exuding an ethereal and otherworldly aura, completely different from the sharp and edgy nature of the Sword Sect.

They are from the Star Gazing Pavilion.

The person in the lead immediately drew Gu Yunqing's attention.

Her silver hair flowed like moonlight, loosely held in place by a simple jade hairpin.

A white veil covered his eyes. He stood tall and straight, exuding an air of worldly wisdom. He was Gu Yunqing's first alias—Zhuge Jin.

Of course, at this moment, "Zhuge Jin" is hosted by the system and perfectly plays the role of an NPC disciple of the Star Gazing Pavilion.

The moment their eyes met—

It felt as if a thunderclap had exploded in Gu Yunqing's mind.

It was fully triggered.

The massive flow of information, like a flood bursting its banks, surging and breaching the barriers of memory.

Refining Heart Tower, Illusionary Realm, Alias ​​System, Zhuge Jin, Qiu Zangxue, Pure White Game, Jun Xiangbei.

All the memories are crystal clear.

He remembered, he remembered everything!

A tremendous shock swept over her like a tsunami, and even with Gu Yunqing's strong will, she almost lost control of her facial expression.

Gu Yunqing clenched her fingers tightly in her sleeve, her nails digging deep into her palms. With the help of this slight pain, she forced herself to suppress her turbulent emotions.

We must not give ourselves away.

He quickly lowered his eyes to hide the shock that flashed across them. When he looked up again, he had regained his curious and timid demeanor, but deep in his eyes, there was a clear understanding.

Meanwhile, the "Zhuge Jin," the system-managed pseudonym, seemed to "sense" something as well. He paused slightly, and his white eyes, hidden by a white veil, seemed to pierce through the void, landing precisely on Gu Yunqing.

The two stood at a distance that was neither too close nor too far, their eyes meeting in the air.

Gu Yunqing's mind raced with thoughts.

The system-hosted accounts have no self-awareness, but will act according to preset logic.

In the illusion, "Zhuge Jin" is a disciple of the Star Gazing Pavilion, while he is the "female disciple" of the Sword Sect's senior brother. The two are complete strangers.

He broke the silence first, stepping forward and, mimicking a woman's manners, slightly curtsying, his voice soft and carrying just the right amount of admiration:

"This... could he be a senior brother from the Star Gazing Pavilion? I've long heard that the Star Gazing Pavilion's astronomical calculations are unparalleled in the world. Seeing your demeanor today, I can confirm that your reputation is well-deserved."

He deliberately steered the conversation toward a safer direction.

Zhuge Jin nodded slightly: "Fellow Daoist, you flatter me. The Star Gazing Pavilion has only glimpsed a corner of the secrets of heaven."

The system perfectly embodies the image of being mysterious and aloof.

Gu Yunqing took the opportunity to strike up a conversation with "Zhuge Jin," and the topic revolved around mysterious things such as astrology and fortune.

He had already set up a knowledge base for Zhuge Jin, and although he had just recovered from amnesia, his knowledge was still there. He was even able to exchange a few words with him, and they seemed to get along quite well.

He wore a slight smile and spoke in a gentle tone, as if he were just an ordinary Sword Sect disciple who was interested in celestial phenomena.

However, he was calmly analyzing the current situation.

The illusion remains intact, and the game continues.

He has now regained his God's-eye view and possesses absolute informational superiority.

Jun Xiangbei... He looked at the pale figure not far away who had just finished talking with the elder and was walking towards him.

An even more interesting plan quickly took shape in Gu Yunqing's mind.

In his previous amnesiac state, his flirting and probing of Jun Xiangbei were somewhat instinctive and playful.

But now, with his memories restored, he knows clearly who Jun Xiangbei is.

So, this "master-apprentice game" can perhaps be played in a more interesting way.