Chapter 022: The Young Lady is Ruthless, The Carrot and the Stick

An intelligent, rational woman like Su Qingge knew the rules. Since she had chosen to follow Gu Changge, she had to sever all ties with Ye Chen.

There was no middle ground.

As a fellow woman, Yan Ji understood Su Qingge’s choice. In her position, she would have done the same.

But understanding only made the situation more tragic. Why does Little Chen have to harbor such irrational hostility toward Young Lord Gu?

“Qingge… you’re lying to me, right? How could this possibly be true?”

Inside the grand hall, Ye Chen clutched his head in agony.

He couldn’t believe it. The Su Qingge he knew—aloof, transcendent, pure as snow—would never say such things. She would never debase herself to pursue a man.

“Every word I said is true. If you don’t believe me, that is your problem,” Su Qingge said, her voice devoid of warmth.

“Do not come to pester me again. If Young Lord Gu sees you here, I will have to explain myself, and I do not wish to do that.”

Her ultimatum was delivered with merciless calm. She had said everything she needed to say. If Ye Chen persisted in his delusion, she would have no choice but to act.

“No! Gu Changge must have cast some evil spell on you! He’s from the Upper Realm—he definitely knows dark arts!”

Ye Chen suddenly shouted, his eyes reddening with madness. He stared at her like a cornered beast, refusing to accept reality.

“You’ve fallen into a heart demon, Little Chen! Calm down!”

Inside the ring, Yan Ji panicked. She immediately channeled her Qi, flooding his mind with cooling energy to suppress his hysteria.

“I don’t believe it…”

Ye Chen roared in anguish. Why? Why has my goddess become like this?

Su Qingge’s expression hardened.

He won’t listen.

Her longsword slid from its sheath with a sharp hiss. She prepared to strike.

Knock, knock, knock.

Suddenly, a rhythmic knocking sound echoed from the heavy doors of the hall, followed by a light, amused chuckle.

“Is Holy Maiden Qingge present?”

The doors creaked open.

Gu Changge stood in the entryway, clad in black robes that accentuated his tall, slender frame. He looked like a jade statue come to life—perfect, elegant, and terrifying. A peculiar smile played on his lips.

It was time for the final blow. But he wouldn’t be the one to deliver it.

Hearing the voice of his nemesis, Ye Chen’s face twisted with killing intent and hatred.

“Little Chen! Run! Now!”

Yan Ji shouted in his mind. Although Gu Changge had promised not to harm her, they were currently escaped fugitives. They had no moral high ground here.

Su Qingge froze. A chill ran down her spine.

Why is Young Lord Gu here?

No… given his strength, he must have been here for a long time. He was watching.

This is a test.

He wants to see where my loyalty lies.

Su Qingge didn’t hesitate. Her decision was simple.

She raised her sword.

The vast Qi of a Transcendent Realm cultivator surged. Her sword light was cold and biting, flashing through the void like a streak of white lightning.

Schlick!

“Argh—!”

Ye Chen, who was just turning to flee, let out a scream of agony. He hadn’t expected Su Qingge to attack him—let alone with lethal intent.

The sword pierced his chest, aiming straight for his heart.

If not for his honed combat instincts forcing him to twist away at the last microsecond, the blade would have skewered his heart.

“Not good!”

“This little girl is ruthless!”

Even Yan Ji was shocked by Su Qingge’s decisiveness. She wasted no time, wrapping Ye Chen in a surge of Qi and blasting through the window, escaping into the night.

“What happened here?”

Gu Changge walked into the hall, a look of mild surprise and confusion on his face. He pushed open the doors fully, surveying the scene.

“Young Lord Gu…”

Su Qingge turned to him, sheathing her bloodied sword. Her expression was calm, but her heart was pounding.

“Qingge has disappointed you.”

She knew his confusion was an act. He had been watching from the shadows the entire time.

Her back was soaked in cold sweat. If she had hesitated for even a second—if she had shown Ye Chen any mercy—she would have fallen into an abyss from which there was no return.

This man was terrifying.

“Disappointed?” Gu Changge smiled, his mood visibly bright. “No. How could you disappoint me?”

“Really?”

Su Qingge was skeptical. She had intended to kill Ye Chen, but he had dodged the fatal blow. She worried Gu Changge might think she had held back on purpose.

“Naturally,” Gu Changge chuckled. If the Son of Providence could be killed so easily, he wouldn’t be the protagonist.

“The next time you meet, it will be a fight to the death. Do you have any regrets?”

Su Qingge shook her head firmly. “Since I chose to follow the Young Lord, I have long prepared for this day.”

“Good.”

Gu Changge nodded, his smile remaining gentle.

Now that Su Qingge had completely broken with Ye Chen—becoming his mortal enemy—there was no need to be harsh with her anymore.

The stick had done its job. Now, it was time for the carrot.

Su Qingge possessed immense Providence. Her future potential was limitless. Gu Changge wanted her to serve him sincerely, not out of fear.

“Relax,” he said softly, stepping closer. “This wasn’t a test. From the beginning, I have trusted you completely. I simply… wanted to watch a good show.”

He reached out and pulled her into his embrace.

Su Qingge stiffened. Her body trembled slightly as she blinked her flawless, jade-like eyes in shock.

This was the first time she had been this close to a man.

And hearing such gentle words from the usually cold, terrifying Gu Changge…

For the first time, her heart was thrown into chaos.