Chapter 0: 18. Take Me With You?
Qin Gou’s status in the Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace was extraordinary. He was a male paragon in the eyes of all disciples, the renowned ‘Little Demon Master’. He no longer needed to be as cautious and secretive as he had been before.
While offering a kind smile to the female disciples who occasionally saluted him, Qin Gou openly entered Ye Qishuang’s chambers in his male form. After all, he was the only male master of the entire Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace with such a qualification.
Upon entering the chambers, Qin Gou was quite surprised to find Ye Qishuang staring blankly to herself. He immediately spoke up, “Qishuang Wench, what are you spacing out about?”
“Ah, Master, n-nothing. I didn’t expect you to return so soon. Did everything go smoothly? Why didn’t Eldest Senior Brother return with you?” Ye Qishuang’s previous emptiness and melancholy vanished the moment she saw Qin Gou. She stood up, her face breaking into a smile.
Ye Qishuang clearly had something on her mind, but she not only refused to speak about it but deliberately changed the subject. Qin Gou didn’t press her, instead informing her of the plan he had been contemplating for several days.
“What? Master, you intend to go to the Purple Extreme Demonic Sect alone, posing as Eldest Senior Brother? But you’re currently in a peculiar state akin to the ‘Mortal Transformation Stage’, your immense cultivation has regressed to the mid-stage of the Hidden Weapon Realm. This is too risky. How about this: Master, please wait a bit longer. After I finish some trivial matters within the Mystic Maiden Palace, I’ll accompany you myself? With me there, no one would dare disrespect you, Master.” Ye Qishuang didn’t negate Qin Gou’s decision but still expressed her deep concern and worry.
Qin Gou waved his hand with a calm expression. “No need. I have my own plans. You know this trip will be a long one. Those little girls in your Mystic Maiden Palace are not ones to be trifled with. Without your restraint, who knows what chaos they’ll stir up. Besides, if I encounter any trouble I can’t handle, can’t I still summon your mental consciousness through the ‘Spirit Blood Seal’?” Furthermore, Qin Gou now possessed the ‘Celestial Master’s Soul’s’ ability to substitute for death once, allowing him to act more boldly.
Ye Qishuang nodded helplessly.
Qin Gou said calmly, “The reason I’m informing you of this so quickly is because I intend to merge the Purple Extreme Demonic Sect and the Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace. While Zhao Xinting is trapped in the Mortal Transformation Stage during this long period, you will be the ruler of both sects.”
Hearing this, Ye Qishuang’s expression immediately turned serious. “I will not fail Master’s expectations.”
Qin Gou smiled gently.
“I have one more matter to report to Master. Just a few days ago, Sixth Junior Sister Mu Man’er left the Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace, taking Chi Yu from Blood Drinking Slope and that fatty menial laborer Chen Keshua, who came with you, Master.”
“What?” Qin Gou was aghast. “How did those three end up together? Qishuang, why did you let them leave so easily?”
“Sixth Junior Sister said she didn’t want to constantly take from the Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace and trouble her senior sister. She also said she wanted to team up with the other two and create a minor power of her own to share Master’s burdens.” Ye Qishuang said earnestly, “I believe this is a good thing.”
“That’s because you don’t know the nature of that little fox, Mu Man’er, too well. Saying it so nicely, that she doesn’t want to cause trouble, is just her being restless and asking for a beating!” Qin Gou gritted his teeth in anger. “Fortunately, I can contact her anytime, otherwise, heaven knows what kind of mess she’d make. And as for Chi Yu and Chen Keshua, they’re both idiots, why follow Mu Man’er of all people? They’d probably be sold off by that wench and still help her count the money!”
After Qin Gou left, Ye Qishuang let out a wistful chuckle. “If only Master had agreed to take me with him, it would have been a good way to distract me from thinking about that… The day snow falls, Arc-Moon Mountain.”
After resting for a few days in the Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace, Qin Gou found Yi Chengying before his departure.
“Lord Qin, is there anything Little Chair can help you with? It’s not impossible for you to take Little Chair with you, as long as you can persuade the Palace Lord.” Yi Chengying said with a playful smile, her hands behind her back.
A wicked smile spread across Qin Gou’s lips. “Little Chair, you’ve been in contact with me for quite some time. You should know my temper. In the end, I’m a person who remembers grudges.”
For a moment, Yi Chengying thought of many things. Finally, her countless words condensed into one sentence: “Little Chair has always regarded Lord Qin as a father figure and loves him dearly, never daring to do anything to betray Lord Qin.”
Qin Gou chuckled amusingly. “Look how scared you are. I’m not talking about you, but about that Xi Hua Saintess who has been deliberately hiding since the Blood Oath Great Array was completed!”
“Sister Caihe was rude to you, Lord Qin, back then only because she didn’t know your true identity. She was also thinking for the Palace Lord’s sake. Ignorance is no excuse. Lord Qin, please be magnanimous and forgive her,” Yi Chengying said timidly.
“Oh?” Qin Gou smiled playfully. “Such sisterly devotion. Little Chair, you’re almost moving me. Since you’ve put it this way, I’ll only lightly punish Gu Caihe. Let this be the only time.”
As he spoke, Qin Gou took a Silhouette Lamp from his Nas Void Ring. “Haven’t you always wanted this?”
After carefully examining the patterns on the Silhouette Lamp, Yi Chengying’s eyes sparkled, and she nodded like a pecking chicken. “Lord Qin, please bestow this Silhouette Lamp upon Little Chair, who has always been so obedient and sensible.”
Then, Qin Gou took out two small porcelain bottles from his Nas Void Ring and handed them to Yi Chengying. “This bottle contains a top-grade Sleeping Pill. Even if Little Chair were to accidentally ingest one, you would be asleep for at least twelve hours. And this other small porcelain bottle contains a full bottle of Profound grade Enlightenment Tea Leaves, yes, the same kind you had before. I later realized that your deep sadness back then was due to the excellent diuretic effect of this Profound grade Enlightenment Tea… So, do you understand what I mean? Do you know what to do?”
Yi Chengying’s little face suddenly turned red, and she said in disbelief, “This, Lord Qin, you are too wicked.”
Qin Gou smiled slightly, dangling the Silhouette Lamp in his hand. “What? You’re unwilling?”
Yi Chengying snatched the small porcelain bottles from Qin Gou’s hand. “But Little Chair likes it when Lord Qin is so wicked! I guarantee I’ll complete the mission and won’t disappoint Lord Qin.”
“Are you not showing sisterly devotion anymore?” Qin Gou was somewhat surprised that Yi Chengying agreed so readily.
Yi Chengying chuckled. “Between sisters, we share fortunes and hardships. Little Chair has endured such ‘pleasures,’ how can Sister Caihe not enjoy some to make it up to me?”
Qin Gou was stunned speechless by the girl’s peculiar train of thought.
