Chapter 165: The Biggest Taboo in Relationships is Deception
Later, quite a few worried disciples from Sword Flower Palace arrived, each wearing a anxious expression.
Including Chun Lan and Qiu Ju.
They were all scared, thinking something had happened to Gu Yingmian.
In the end, Gu Yingmian simply stepped out and explained that she had made a breakthrough in her swordsmanship.
Most of the disciples sighed in relief and went back.
Only Chun Lan and Qiu Ju remained, looking half-convinced as Gu Yingmian kept them behind.
——
——
“What?!”
Hearing that Gu Yingmian wanted to go down the mountain with Young Master Sang, Chun Lan and Qiu Ju were stunned, eyes as wide as saucers: “The Palace Master is going home with Young Master Sang?!”
“Yep.”
Gu Yingmian calmly responded, “I need to go see his family first.”
“During this time, you sisters will take care of things in the palace.”
Chun Lan and Qiu Ju gasped in disbelief.
“No way! What will happen to Sword Flower Palace without the Palace Master?” Chun Lan thought.
“No way! The Palace Master is going home with Young Master Sang and not taking me and my sister along?” Qiu Ju thought.
Only Young Master Sang stood aside, looking innocent and a bit guilty.
Chun Lan shot a murderous glare at Sang Zhe and gritted her teeth: “Think twice, Palace Master! Young Master Sang is not a good person! He—he’s a…”
“Demon Cultivator. I know.” Gu Yingmian chuckled lightly.
“Huh?” Chun Lan was dumbfounded.
“He already told me.”
Gu Yingmian softly said, “Whether he’s a Demon Cultivator or not is just a title. A title doesn’t define a person.”
“I will see for myself what kind of person he is.”
Qiu Ju was still shocked by Sang Zhe’s status.
And Chun Lan still felt it was all too bizarre.
Their perfectly fine Palace Master just suddenly ran off with someone else.
Who can accept that?
Thinking about this made Chun Lan so mad that her teeth itched, and she couldn’t help turning to confront Sang Zhe:
“Sang Zhe! What kind of soul-sucking potion did you feed the Palace Master?!”
“Don’t throw around accusations.”
Sang Zhe retorted confidently, “You saw it too, I and Gu Jie are on… on very affectionate terms…”
He got a bit shy at the end, and Gu Yingmian’s cheeks turned a rosy hue.
Chun Lan was frantic, pleading with her sister for help.
“Qiu Ju, you have to talk some sense into the Palace Master!”
“Yeah, Palace Master.” Qiu Ju also said softly, “It’s not okay to just leave like this.”
Chun Lan nodded vigorously.
“With the long journey ahead and no one to serve you, it’s bound to make things uncomfortable for the Palace Master and Young Master Sang.”
Chun Lan: “?”
“How about the Palace Master leave palace affairs in the hands of a few Senior Sisters and bring along the disciples and her sister instead?”
Chun Lan: “???”
Seeing Gu Yingmian look thoughtful, it seemed she was somewhat convinced.
Chun Lan felt like she was losing her mind.
She nearly despaired, wailing: “Wake up! Don’t fall for that Demon Cultivator’s charm!”
“He’s just a lustful Demon Cultivator who uses his looks to seduce women, aiming to make you spells of affection for his own nefarious purposes!”
…Doesn’t that make him sound like a succubus?
Sang Zhe felt a bit speechless.
“Alright, relax.”
Gu Yingmian, feeling a headache coming, rubbed her temples: “I’m just going home with him for a visit, I’m not not coming back.”
“You sisters should just stay and manage palace affairs, no need to serve me.”
Chun Lan sighed in relief, while Qiu Ju looked glumly regretful.
“Make sure everything in the palace is in order in the next couple of days, and I will head down the mountain the day after tomorrow.”
“Yes…”
Even if she wasn’t happy about it, Chun Lan had to agree.
Just as she and Qiu Ju prepared to take their leave, Gu Yingmian suddenly called them back.
“Wait a moment, you two.”
“Young Master Sang, you head back first. I have something to discuss with them.” Gu Yingmian winked at Sang Zhe.
Sang Zhe was momentarily taken aback, sensing some unease.
But he obediently returned to his quarters.
——
——
After returning, Sang Zhe simply packed a few things in preparation for the trip.
Fortunately, he didn’t have much baggage, and it didn’t take long to finish.
Once done, he happily soaked in the bath, enjoying life.
Just the thought of this long business trip finally ending was enough to fill him with mixed emotions.
“Sigh. Who would have thought I would bring back a mouth to feed on a work trip?”
“Now if I don’t get promoted and a pay raise, it’ll be a crime.”
But he wondered if the Sect Leader had returned yet.
If he got back and she was still out wandering, who would he ask for that promotion?
“Nian Nian, how’s the favorability rating from Gu Jie looking?”
“…Hmph. Don’t you already know?” Nian Nian’s voice came back with hesitation.
“I just wanted to confirm it for peace of mind,” Sang Zhe laughed.
Actually, when he heard that Gu Yingmian’s favorability had stopped at 99%, he had a hunch.
That remaining 1%…
Was because of the lies he told.
From the beginning, she knew he had ulterior motives for coming to Sword Flower Palace but refrained from exposing him because of his strength.
But as things progressed, they both became invested, while Gu Yingmian began to feel anxious.
What if he had truly deceived her?
What if there wasn’t even a hint of genuine feeling—only lies?
What then?
That sliver of unease was the reason Sang Zhe finally decided to be honest, with a cotton candy approach.
Even if Gu Yingmian didn’t bring it up, he would still reveal his true identity.
He truly didn’t want to keep deceiving Gu Yingmian anymore.
The biggest taboo in relationships is deception.
“100%. The system rewards of 50,000 points have been credited.”
Nian Nian’s voice seemed to carry a hint of dissatisfaction as she mumbled, “Does your Gu Jie really trust you that much? She won’t chop you up, will she?”
“Actually, I’m not sure.”
Sang Zhe suddenly chuckled self-deprecatingly: “If Gu Jie really swings a sword, I have no way to stop it.”
“After all, I did deceive her first.”
“But hey, didn’t Zixia sort things out with Zhizunbao like that?”
…That sword was merely 0.01 cm from my throat.
…But a quarter of an incense stick later, the sword’s mistress would fall deeply in love with me.
But this time…
It wasn’t because I told a perfect lie.
It was because I chose to tell her the truth.
“Gu Jie might not believe me. But I believe in her.” Sang Zhe smiled softly.
Nian Nian fell silent.
After a while, he could faintly hear her mumble: “Just go with your Gu Jie.”
Sang Zhe wasn’t sure what was going on with her.
But hearing that the points for conquering Gu Yingmian were a whopping 50,000 made him break into a huge grin.
50,000 points!
He had never seen so many points in his life!
That’s like having free rein in the system marketplace!
Just as Sang Zhe was about to enjoy a spree in the system store…
“Uh… Young Master Sang?”
“Can me and my sister come in?”
Suddenly, a timid voice came from the door.
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