The Leng Family.
"I'm off to school, Sister!"
Leng Ling'er shouted up to the upstairs while shouldering her small schoolbag, then promptly closed and locked the door before dashing out.
In the study.
Leng Qingqiu, as usual, was reading a book.
However....
Her mind kept wandering—today marked the second day Gu Yan was absent.
Thud!
Leng Qingqiu collapsed onto the book, her expression somewhat embarrassed. What was she doing, thinking about such things? She shouldn't be obsessing over him! She should be focused on vengeance!
"Leng Qingqiu, have you forgotten about vengeance?"
"Men will only slow down your path to vengeance. With Gu Yan gone, you won't be bothered, so you should be happy."
"Stop thinking about him. It's just a few days. Didn't you find him annoying when he was always by your side? At least now you have some peace!"
Leng Qingqiu tried to hypnotize herself, and it seemed to ease her mind a bit.
She then resumed reading, reminding herself that there was no end to learning.
However....
Normally, Gu Yan would be sitting beside her, watching her read....
Even though she had always been alone before, after Gu Yan arrived, she had somehow grown accustomed to having someone by her side.
Ugh! This was so annoying!
Bang!
Leng Qingqiu slammed her head against the book once more.
When she opened her eyes, a blush of embarrassment spread across her face.
She had previously told Gu Yan that she "liked" him, though she quickly corrected herself by saying she liked éclairs instead.
She unconsciously clenched her hands.
But did that guy realize what she meant?
Was it because he had figured it out that he chose to visit his grandparents, avoiding her?
Or did he not realize it at all?
Of course, she hoped he hadn't. After all, she was the leader of the Night Organization.
Liking someone... liking...
Swish!
A flashback suddenly appeared in her mind.
Blood, corpses, and severed limbs.
One by one, her familiar and beloved family members lay dead before her.
Her parents had hidden her and Ling'er under a bed.
"Qingqiu, don't come out! Don't ever come out!!"
"Protect your sister, Qingqiu. Your father and I will come back for you soon after dealing with the enemies!"
...
...
"Qing...qiu... I'm sorry... Run..."
...
...
"No... this shouldn't be happening."
Leng Qingqiu's face contorted with pain.
Her fists clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.
Was she... being too lax? Fantasizing about living like an ordinary girl...
Had she... forgotten her true path?
Vengeance... vengeance was what she should be pursuing.
Leng Qingqiu sat up straight and opened her book again, her expression now calm and composed.
Leng Qingqiu, you shouldn't be dreaming of such unrealistic things.
Gu Yan is merely a tool for your path of vengeance. Use the power of the Gu Family behind him to fuel your quest for revenge.
That's right... that's what you should do.
To fall in love like a normal girl? How could you ever face the souls of the Leng Family and your parents if you did that?
You only need to protect your sister; everything else is insignificant.
Yes, this is perfect. Use these days without Gu Yan to reclaim the person you once were.
...
...
The Gu Family Manor.
Gu Yan suddenly clutched his chest, feeling a sense of alertness.
He looked around.
Old Gao glanced at him, puzzled. "Young Master, what's wrong?"
Gu Yan didn't respond.
He just held his chest.
Taking a deep breath, he couldn't explain why, but a wave of sadness suddenly surged within him.
Why?
Why was he feeling this way? Earlier, he had felt as though Leng Qingqiu was scolding him, as if she was very angry.
Then came a wave of loneliness.
And now... this overwhelming sadness and complexity.
"It's nothing, Old Gao. Let's go find Grandmother and Grandfather."
Gu Yan shook his head, feeling hesitant.
Could something have happened to Qingqiu? Should he rush back to see her?
But... no, that wouldn't do. If he couldn't inherit the Gu Family, how could he gain its power?
And how could he protect Qingqiu? He didn't want her to become corrupted or stronger through darkness.
The only way was to strengthen himself. He had to use the Gu Family. Only by uniting all the forces from the original story could he ensure a happy ending.
Only then could he turn the tragic ending into a happy one!
...
...
Time passed slowly, and the complex emotions in Gu Yan's heart did not ease. Instead, they seemed to grow more intense.
After dinner.
Gu Yan, still burdened with complicated feelings, aimlessly strolled with Grandmother and Grandfather.
Noticing Gu Yan's confusion and turmoil, Grandmother smiled gently. She took Gu Yan's hand and began to tell him a story about her past with Grandfather: "Hehe, Little Yan, do you know your Grandfather was such a blockhead back then?"
"He liked me, but he never said it. It wasn't until he saw other boys confessing to me that he finally decided to express his feelings."
"Don't let his quiet demeanor fool you. During our courtship, he did many unexpected things."
Gu Yan listened with some surprise. He glanced at Grandfather, whose expression had stiffened, and couldn't help but chuckle. "So Grandfather had that side to him, too."
Grandmother nodded. "Indeed..."
Her eyes seemed to reminisce about something: "That's what love is... Love can change a person. It can change so much."
Love. Love, huh?
Gu Yan's mind echoed the word.
He loved Qingqiu, but did Qingqiu love him?
He was certain he liked her, but did Qingqiu truly like him?
Like... like...
As Gu Yan thought about this, he unconsciously slowed his pace.
His expression also turned peculiar.
Wait, wait.
Love... love... love...
Huh... love?
Gu Yan suddenly froze. In his mind, a prompt from the system flashed after he left the Leng Family:
【Make the Pure Love target fall in love, and earn 100,000 points~~】
Gu Yan wasn't bragging, but ever since he had bound the Pure Love target, he seemed to sense any emotional fluctuations from Leng Qingqiu.
Like now, his emotions were incredibly complex.
Gu Yan blinked. Could liking éclairs really earn 100,000 points?
No... surely not?
Gu Yan seemed to realize something. He covered his mouth. Wait, could it be...?
A surge of inexplicable excitement and passion burst through Gu Yan's chest.
He stopped in his tracks.
"Young Master?"
Old Gao looked at him, puzzled.
"Grandmother, Grandfather, I think... I need to go back."
Gu Yan looked up, his face revealing a joy he had never shown before.
"Alright, be careful on the road."
Grandmother seemed to have already sensed something and nodded kindly.
With permission, Gu Yan quickly turned to Old Gao, his tone urgent and excited. "Old Gao! Hurry! Take me to the Leng Family!"
"Oh, oh!"
Watching the two rush off, Grandmother Gu smiled contentedly. Youth was truly wonderful.
...
...
The Leng Family.
"Sister, aren't you going to rest?"
Leng Ling'er looked at Leng Qingqiu, who was still seated at her desk, with concern.
Her sister seemed a bit strange, as if... she had returned to the person she was before.
"Yes, Ling'er, lock the door downstairs. No one will be coming to our house recently."
Leng Qingqiu nodded calmly, then instructed, "Close the study door tightly."
Leng Ling'er hesitated but eventually replied, "Alright, Sister... but don't overwork yourself. That would make Brother-in-law worry."
With that, she closed the door and left.
Upon hearing this, Leng Qingqiu's eyes remained calm.
Brother-in-law...
Heh, was she referring to Gu Yan?
It didn't matter. It didn't matter at all.
She had already recognized her path. No matter what, she wouldn't let him affect her emotions anymore...
That was good. Her life had been like walking on thin ice; only the path of vengeance was left to her.
Gu Yan was merely a tool on her path of...
The next second.
Click!!
Clatter clatter clatter!!
As the window was opened, a gust of cold wind blew in.
"Hah... Hah... Hah..."
"Sorry, Qingqiu, the main door downstairs was locked."
"You won't blame me for climbing through the window, will you?"
!!!
Hearing this hurried voice, Leng Qingqiu's heart trembled.
She stared blankly towards the window, where a blazing, seemingly brighter than ever life force appeared outside.
Wha.. What's going on? Gu Yan??
Leng Qingqiu subconsciously asked, "Aren't you visiting your Grandfather and Grandmother?"
"Yeah, I am. Being filial, you know!"
Gu Yan climbed in through the window and gradually approached Leng Qingqiu.
"You weren't supposed to stay there for a few days?"
Leng Qingqiu inquired.
Why.... Stop asking, don't ask anymore...
Pretend it doesn't matter...
"Because I suddenly had some things to take care of, so I won't stay."
Gu Yan took a deep breath, as if preparing himself mentally.
"Things? What things?"
No, why can't I help but respond.
I was almost back to my normal self, why....
"This thing is.........."
At that moment.
Gu Yan had already reached Leng Qingqiu.
He looked at her, stretched out his hand, and buried her head in his chest.
And his gentle yet affectionate voice reached Leng Qingqiu's ears: "This thing is, I missed you, Qingqiu."
In an instant.
Leng Qingqiu was stunned.
【Thump!】【Thump!】
Then, an inexplicable emotion surged from her chest.
She gently pursed her lips, giving up on thinking.
She buried her face in Gu Yan's warm chest, inhaling deeply the scent of him.
Why... Why did you come back at this time...
You scoundrel... scoundrel... scoundrel... scoundrel... scoundrel...
Gu Yan...
You're such a wicked scoundrel....
You're making it impossible for me to forget you... How can I bear to use you...
【Pure Love Object Likes, Points +10,000~】
【Pure Love Object Really Likes, Points +20,000~~】
【Pure Love Object Very Much Likes, Points +30,000~~~】
【......】
........
........
The Ancient Martial World.
At a round table in a certain space.
"Hmm, the Night Organization has reappeared."
"The leader of the King of Hell Palace is dead."
"Yan Huang is dead? The Night Organization has indeed reappeared....."
"Well, I think everyone understands now."
All eyes turned to the person sitting at the head of the table.
That person stood up, radiating an intimidating aura, and slowly said, "From today onwards, all forces will head to the secular world!"
"We must find the traces of the Night Organization!"
"And then... completely eliminate them!"
"Even if it means exposing the Ancient Martial World, it doesn't matter!"
"The world cannot be destroyed because of the Night Organization!"
"We.... must protect this world!"