The next day.

Qin Lu, who had been busy for three days on East Head Ridge, slept in for the first time in a long while.

It wasn’t until Chu Xiaoyi knocked on his door with breakfast that he was finally roused from his bed.

After a quick meal, Qin Lu went to the courtyard and lay down lazily on the wooden rocking chair, basking in the sun.

His wealth had now exceeded five thousand Spirit Stones. As a reward to himself, he planned to take it easy today.

Stealing a half-day of leisure from a busy life.

It was already April. A gentle spring breeze played with his drifting hair, accompanied by the intermittent chirping of cicadas. Qin Lu quietly bathed in the morning sunlight.

“Right…”

As he lay there, he suddenly remembered yesterday’s events. He sat up, shifted his focus to his [Storage Bag], and began searching through it.

Among the many items he had picked up as bargains, aside from some magical tools and talismans, there were quite a few miscellaneous things, including over a dozen books.

After a quick glance, Qin Lu retrieved a small booklet from his [Storage Bag].

The booklet wasn’t thick, only about ten pages or so. On its simple, ancient-looking cover were three large characters: Longevity Scripture.

Holding this booklet, Qin Lu instructed Steward Chen to bring Feng Xi over.

Through their interactions during this period, Qin Lu had gained some understanding of Feng Xi’s background.

It was said that her family had been wiped out by a locust plague. She had ended up in Wuji Market later by sheer coincidence.

Her personality was straightforward and carefree, naturally optimistic. She worked very hard and was quite clever and quick-witted.

Overall, she was a very good girl.

Before long, Feng Xi stood before Qin Lu and performed a proper bow. “Greetings, Immortal Master Lord.”

“No need for such formalities.” Qin Lu smiled as he looked at the girl in the yellow dress before him. “Feng Xi, do you know why I called you here?”

A trace of panic appeared on Feng Xi’s face. She widened her eyes pitifully and said, “Lord… you’re not going to sell me, are you…”

“Sell?” Qin Lu was momentarily stunned. A look of amused exasperation crossed his face as he couldn’t help but ask, “Why would I sell you?”

“I suppose it’s because we’re short on food lately, so Lord wants to sell me to get some Spirit Stones,” Feng Xi murmured with her head lowered.

“Hahaha!” Qin Lu threw his head back and laughed heartily. “Nonsense! You’re not worth that much.”

“I called you here today to give you this immortal cultivation technique. Take it back and study it diligently. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can come ask me.”

“Me?” Feng Xi looked utterly bewildered, standing frozen in place.

“That’s right. You… you possess spiritual roots!”

Qin Lu used his [Object Control Technique] to float the Longevity Scripture over to Feng Xi.

Feng Xi took the booklet in a daze, her face completely blank.

Just as Qin Lu was about to speak again, Steward Chen suddenly entered the courtyard from the gate. “Reporting to Lord! There is an Immortal Master at the gate asking for you!”

“Who?”

“It seems to be Fairy Gu from next door.”

Gu Yue!

Qin Lu’s expression turned serious as he immediately recalled the information he had secretly discovered yesterday. He quickly stood up.

“Feng Xi, return to your room first,” he said to the little maidservant standing dumbfounded nearby.

“Yes!” Feng Xi hurriedly replied.

Qin Lu stood still for a moment in contemplation before striding quickly toward the gate.

At the entrance of the estate.

Qin Lu saw Gu Yue dressed in a white gown, her demeanor delicate and frail. She was accompanied by two maidservants, each carrying several gift boxes in their hands. Her expression was calm and composed.

“My apologies for not welcoming you properly! Fellow Daoist Gu, please come in quickly!”

“Fellow Daoist Qin… pardon the intrusion…” Gu Yue bowed slightly and spoke softly.

Qin Lu led Gu Yue all the way to the reception hall. They took their seats as host and guest, respectively. Soon after, Chu Xiaoyi served spiritual tea.

“Fellow Daoist Gu, please have some tea,” Qin Lu promptly offered.

“Thank you.” Gu Yue took a small sip gracefully and gently.

She paused briefly before continuing, “Yesterday, thanks to Fellow Daoist Qin’s assistance in saving my younger brother’s life, I am endlessly grateful. Today I’ve brought some humble gifts specifically to express my thanks.”

“Fellow Daoist Gu is too polite. I hardly did anything yesterday; I merely carried Little Fellow Daoist Gu back… By the way, how is Little Fellow Daoist Gu’s injury now?”

“He took some healing pills yesterday and looks much better already. However, due to the severity of his injuries, he is still asleep.”

“That makes sense. Such injuries indeed cannot heal quickly…” Qin Lu remarked with slight emotion.

“Fellow Daoist Qin… about yesterday’s events… could you tell me about them?”

“Of course.”

Qin Lu organized his thoughts slightly before recounting everything about his encounter with Gu Can yesterday from beginning to end. He maintained an objective stance, clearly laying out all the details of the incident.

“So it really was Sunset Valley…”

After listening to his account, Gu Yue nodded lightly. Her expression showed no change whatsoever; she didn’t seem surprised by this outcome at all.

Qin Lu glanced at Gu Yue thoughtfully before asking softly, “Previously… Little Fellow Daoist Gu seemed to have some dispute with Sunset Valley… Could it be because of that?”

The scene of Gu Can severely beating three Sunset Valley disciples at the gate was still vivid in Qin Lu’s memory.

“That’s most likely it; they must have sought revenge. I just never imagined that over what was originally just a minor conflict… they would actually gather so many people for an ambush… That is truly despicable.”

As she finished speaking, Gu Yue’s brows furrowed slightly as if she felt anger rising within her.

“Well…” Qin Lu hesitated for a moment before asking tentatively, “So what do you plan to do? Leave the market immediately now?”

After all… they had provoked Sunset Valley—one of the four major powers within Wuji Market—a formidable force possessing Foundation Establishment cultivators!

The Gu siblings were merely two Qi Refining stage cultivators; having offended Sunset Valley now… perhaps fleeing immediately was indeed their best course of action?

“This matter… does not require Fellow Daoist Qin’s concern; we have our own ways of handling it.” Gu Yue rose gracefully and bowed slightly once more.

“I thank Fellow Daoist Qin once again for your life-saving kindness yesterday! In the future… if there is anything you need done… please do not hesitate to ask!”

“You’re too kind!” Qin Lu stood up and clasped his hands together respectfully.

“This humble woman shall take her leave now, then.” Gu Yue lowered her head politely while speaking softly.

Seeing this scene caused something within Qin Lu’s heart to stir slightly uncontrollably. Gazing upon those familiar eyes and brows belonging to Gu Yue… He couldn’t help but call out.

“Wait…”

Hearing this, Gu Yue raised her head, smiling faintly. “Does Fellow Daoist Qin have something else?”

“Uh…” After much internal struggle and hesitation, he finally asked quietly, “Fellow Daoist Gu… Have we met before, perhaps?”

“Met before? My cultivation level is low, and I usually stay secluded within my chambers, rarely venturing outside… This should be our first meeting, Fellow Daoist Qin.”

“Is that so? Looking at your face, Fellow Daoist… I always feel like you’ve visited my home before somehow…”

“Fellow Daoist must be joking; this estate here is my first time entering.”

“No…” Qin Lu spoke slowly. “The home I speak of lies northwest within Wuji Market near the city walls—a remote courtyard—that place used to be my old home.”

Upon hearing these words… The smile slowly faded from Gu Yue’s face. Her gaze gradually turned cool and indifferent.

Qin Lu continued speaking. “I remember one night when a black-clad intruder broke into my home back then… She could pass silently through the breath-concealing formation, terrifying me greatly… So that night, I remembered those particular eyes and brows extremely clearly…”

“If my guess isn’t wrong, Fellow Daoist Gu… That black-clad intruder back then… Was actually you, wasn’t it?”

As soon as these words left his mouth, silence fell heavily around them both—only their gazes meeting mid-air remained.

An aura filled with killing intent permeated through the surrounding air silently.