Preserving Form and Living in the World
The reason he wanted to remain in this world was not for the sake of being handsome, but to use this body to fulfill his master's mission.
She stammered, "Then... since he always takes this pill, it must be kept on hand. Why would he suddenly notify Young Master Fusu to prepare it urgently when the time comes?"
Lie Changkong glanced at her again, still looking hesitant to speak, and finally sighed heavily, saying, "Miss, if even the master remains silent, then I am even less inclined to speak ill of others. However, you should still be careful with your own friends!"
A Qiu sped all the way back to Jinlingtai.
The shadows of the trees on both sides kept receding.
Lie Changkong didn't say it explicitly, but since she had mentioned that the "Transformation Pill" was forced to be made on short notice and that it was related to her friend, she couldn't help but take it seriously.
Who are her friends?
A Qiu's first thought was of Zhang E'xu and Cui Luzhu, but he immediately ruled them out of his mind.
They are not martial arts practitioners, so it is impossible for them to be related to the Divine Transformation Pill.
What then came to mind was Shangguan Yuqi's elegant and ethereal figure, dressed in white like snow.
However, she immediately ruled out the possibility that it was Shangguan Yuqi.
The Sword of Shangguan Junzi, passed down for a century. Those who wield the Sword of Junzi have never taken advantage of others' misfortunes or deliberately made enemies.
Mo Yi Mingyue? Gongyi Xiu?
The two senior brothers are still members of the Lanling Hall. If they were to discover the secret that Gu Yi could decide their life or death, judging from Master Wanqiqing's attitude, they would never allow Gu Yi to exist until now.
Seniors like Zhongli Wuyan and An Daoling don't seem like they would want to cause trouble for Gu Yi.
Although Zhongli Wuyan, the "Purple-Clad Immortal," appears harsh and capricious, she actually cares for her juniors and has a kind heart. She treats An Daoling, the "Master of the Flute," like a teacher and father, never shirking his responsibilities, and this is not something that can be faked.
Although Chu Yuanyi, known as "Wind and Thunder Slash," is eccentric, he has a simple personality and wears his heart on his sleeve, making him someone who is not capable of harming others.
As for the others, such as Consort Chen Li Lanxiu, known as "Golden Goblet Moonfall" from the previous generation of the Flying Phoenix Four Guards, and Zhao Lingying, the "Masterful Pen" of the Imperial Library, A Qiu may have met them a few times or received favors from them, but A Qiu asked herself, she could not be considered a "friend" to any of them.
Come to think of it, everyone around her has some connection to Gu Yi. But she really can't think of anyone who has the will and the ability to be Gu Yi's enemy.
This wasn't because Gu Yi was particularly popular. Gu Yi was aloof and never formed factions or tried to win people over. Rather, it was because in the Southern Dynasty, Gu Yi was a symbol of stability and security. Anyone with even a modicum of strategic vision would not easily threaten his safety or put him in danger.
That would undoubtedly put the entire Southern Dynasty on the fire.
This question lingered in her mind until dawn, and she still hadn't received an answer.
In the past, as soon as dawn broke, she would go to the Jixian Palace to wait for the rehearsal of "Yanshi Ning". This was a good habit she had developed when she was a dancer in the Yuefu Dance Department.
One must rise at dawn and not slacken in the slightest during daily practice.
But today, she waited until the footsteps outside the door grew louder and louder, and only after confirming that Gu Yi and Lie Changkong had returned safely did she quietly close the door and leave to go to the Jixian Palace.
She thought her steps were light enough, but as soon as she stepped out, she saw Gu Yi's back as he paused slightly in the corridor.
Seeing the situation quickly, Lie Changkong immediately said, "This subordinate will go and handle other matters first."
Without waiting for Gu Yi's reply, she walked straight ahead and left.
Looking at Gu Yi's tall, slender back, like a solitary pine tree amidst stacked rocks, A Qiu was momentarily unsure whether to move forward or backward.
She gritted her teeth and finally decided to pretend not to see it, turning around and leaving through the other side of the veranda.
Gu Yi's voice rang out calmly at that moment: "Come here."
There was no way to avoid it. She had no choice but to bite the bullet and pretend to be nonchalant as she went forward.
The closer she got to that figure, the faster her heart pounded uncontrollably. Finally, she felt as if all she could hear in her ears was the sound of her own heartbeat.
She lingered for a moment, then walked about ten feet behind Gu Yi and bowed respectfully, saying, "Greetings, Master."
Gu Yi said calmly, "Why are you hiding?"
Ah Qiu's ears burned, and she said, "I wasn't hiding, I just wanted to go..."
Before she could finish speaking, Gu Yi said, "Lying."
He had turned around and was now facing her. A-Qiu immediately lowered her eyes, not daring to meet his gaze.
She wasn't sure how much of last night's events Gu Yi actually remembered.
Gu Yi's gaze swept over her neatly styled hair, the floral decoration between her eyebrows, her exquisite nose like a porcelain sculpture, and her delicate lips like flower petals, finally settling on A Qiu's swan-like neck that peeked out from her collar.
Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, A Qiu couldn't help but raise her head and realize that the place where he was staring was... not quite right. She instantly felt guilty, hurriedly pulled her collar tighter, and lowered her head without saying a word.
Gu Yi took another step forward, almost touching her. At the same time, one of his long, slender hands reached out, as if to touch her collar.
The overwhelming sense of oppression startled A Qiu, and she almost immediately retreated, crossing one hand to protect her shoulder in order to prevent Gu Yi from suddenly lifting her collar to see what was going on.
Gu Yi's outstretched hand froze in mid-air. After a moment, it slowly fell.
A Qiu couldn't discern the emotion in Gu Yi's voice: "Are you afraid of me?"
She then realized that her quick dodge and the way she raised her hands to protect her shoulders and chest were very much like... being afraid that he would molest her.
A-Qiu was speechless, unsure how to answer.
Gu Yi's eyes were expressionless. He stood silently, not moving any closer, simply waiting, as if he were waiting specifically for her to give him an answer.
A-Qiu truly didn't know how to answer. If she said she wasn't afraid, her actions just now clearly showed fear. If she said she was afraid, Gu Yi would definitely ask why she was afraid of him, and how could she explain that?
She also remembered that Gu Yi wasn't like this before.
He wouldn't dwell on things that embarrassed her, but rather, even if he knew the truth, he would let it go as if nothing had happened. This is the magnanimity of a gentleman.
She couldn't help but look up at Gu Yi, only to be surprised to find that Gu Yi was staring intently at her, and for the first time, there was an expression of uncertainty and lack of confidence in his eyes.
Since meeting Gu Yi, A Qiu naturally regarded him as someone to rely on, never imagining that Gu Yi, who was resolute and as steady as a mountain, would also show uncertainty about her.
Looking at Gu Yi's hesitant expression, A Qiu suddenly understood something.
Gu Yi remembered what happened last night.
Whether the memory is clear or blurry, he remembers his "offense" to her, and therefore worries that she will henceforth regard him as... a beast.
Given Gu Yi's almost obsessive self-discipline, if he believed she was afraid of him and constantly worried that he would violate her, putting aside how awkward it would be for a master and disciple to be together, even just out of consideration for potential impropriety, Gu Yi would still ask her to leave his side.
But she didn't want to.
Clearly and truly, I don't want to leave him.
This burning thought shone brightly in her heart, illuminating all her current hesitation and confusion.
Before Gu Yi could speak, A Qiu had already disobeyed his warning once again.
"Don't tease me."
Her words were still ringing in her ears when she bravely stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Gu Yi's waist and back.
She pressed her face against Gu Yi's broad chest, just as she had pressed her face against his back many times before, and said softly but firmly, "I'm not afraid."
Even in the clear daylight at Jinling Terrace.
Even though he and she were both perfectly lucid at that moment.
She wanted Gu Yi to know that she wasn't afraid of him.
No matter what kind of person he is, and no matter what he has done for her, or whether he has done nothing at all.
Gu Yi has never harmed her, never truly hurt her in the slightest, whether he was sober or not.
As she embraced him, Gu Yi trembled violently.
But he did not try to push her away as he had done before.
A-Qiu felt him gently place his chin on her head.
The next moment, his arm rested steadily and gently on her back.
It's a feeling of relief, like a weight has been lifted from my heart.
Ah Qiu heard him above her head and whispered, "I'll tell you everything you want to know later."
On the way back to Jinlingtai, Lie Changkong must have already told him some things.
Suddenly, A-Qiu understood what it felt like to have unconditional trust in someone.
Whether Gu Yi speaks or not doesn't really matter. Her trust in him was almost predetermined from the moment she first saw him.
Suddenly, she felt incredibly happy. She playfully nuzzled against his chest with the tip of her nose and said, "I'm going to the Jixian Palace to practice my skills."
Unexpectedly, Gu Yi did not immediately let go of her, but maintained the posture of holding her in his arms without moving at all.
His voice was a little hoarse: "Wait a little longer."
A-Qiu was puzzled, but she obediently lay still, just like a deer curled up in a warm nest.
After a moment, Gu Yi finally let go, his dark eyes sparkling as he gazed at her and said, "Come back soon."
Ah Qiu, having put aside her worries, cheerfully replied, "Okay."
With the gloom gone from Gu Yi's heart, she naturally felt joy. This joy was without reason, without cause, simply because of another person.
Like the brilliant dawn, the flowing sea of clouds, and the endless light of sunrise.
Ah Qiu was the last one to arrive at Jiying Hall today.
Not to mention Zhang Exu, Cui Luzhu, and Sun Neiren, who were originally dancers, even Shangguan Yuqi, Xiao Chang'an, and An Daoling arrived.
A Qiu looked around and realized that Pei Yu and Fan Liancheng were the only two missing.
Everyone in the hall had a solemn expression.
Among them, Chenghua Ling'an Daoling, who always gave people the impression of being detached from worldly affairs and was the most respected, was the most prominent.
He can be said to be the one in charge of "Yan Shining", and the entire command and control of the performance rests on his shoulders.
After A Qiu entered the hall, he spoke first: "The Marquis of Guannei has been traveling at breakneck speed, and his arrival in the capital is three days earlier than we had estimated. Therefore, the welcoming banquet originally scheduled for three days later will be held tomorrow."
He emphasized, "This means we only have one day left for rehearsals and drills."
Everyone in the hall could only look at each other in bewilderment and said nothing more.
A Qiu quickly made a plan in her mind. Everyone in the "Yan Shi Ning" dance was a master, and even if you took any one of them on stage alone, they would have their own merits. However, suddenly losing three days of joint practice time would inevitably disrupt the smooth coordination of the lineup. But this was the only option left.
But in that case, no one knows whether they can surpass the "Heavenly Palace Music" performed by the Princess Longsui. After all, the opposing troupe has worked together seamlessly and trained in unison for many years. If they were an army, they should be able to command and control the troupe with perfect precision.
After saying this, An Daoling glanced at A Qiu without leaving a trace and said, "There is another matter I would like to inform you all. Although Miss Pei and General Xiao Fan are unable to participate in the training today, it is also unknown whether they will be able to participate tomorrow."
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