Chapter 0:44. Receiving Master’s Grace
“This thing actually works on everyone except Xiao Shuang’er?” Qin Gou’s eyes lit up, his tone revealing a hint of surprise and joy.
“Ding. The ‘Celestial Master’s Love’ ring’s power is greatly reduced when used on anyone other than Ye Qishuang, making it impossible for others to empathize and experience the same level of pain as Ye Qishuang.”
“Going by that, if it were truly used on Xiao Shuang’er, how much would it hurt? It seems this ring absolutely can’t be used on Xiao Shuang’er casually… unless I can’t hold back anymore.” Qin Gou mused as he fiddled with the ring.
Just then, Li Yuanzhen came running over, letting out a flustered cry, “A’Qin, do you think this Great Liang Imperial Palace is haunted? I clearly felt someone secretly playing tricks and groping me just now, but I couldn’t find any trace of them after a long while.”
“That’s very possible. After all, it’s a vast imperial palace with countless grudges. Stay close to me from now on and sit beside me obediently. I guarantee no malevolent spirits will dare to come near you.” Qin Gou said with a serious expression.
“Oh.” Li Yuanzhen nodded like a pecking chicken, and then she quickly realized that as long as she sat obediently by Qin Gou’s side, no malevolent spirits dared to bother her. The Demon Master was indeed a man worthy of trust; nothing could stump him.
When Zhao Xinting arrived before Qin Gou, holding Yan Qiaoyun’s hand, Yan Qiaoyun blinked her dark eyes and looked at Qin Gou in disbelief, exclaiming, “How can there be two godfathers?”
Zhao Xinting smiled dotingly and said, “Qiao’er, that’s not your godfather. He is your godfather’s master. You can call him… Master Qin from now on.”
“Indeed.” Qin Gou also nodded with a smile, a pattern flashing in his eyes as he restored his original appearance.
Zhao Xinting said with a smile, “Do you understand now, Qiao’er? There is only one godfather in this world, and that is me, Zhao…”
Before Zhao Xinting could finish speaking, Yan Qiaoyun looked at Qin Gou again and cried out, “Daddy?”
“What?!”
Qin Gou, Zhao Xinting, and Li Yuanzhen were all stunned into silence.
Qin Gou was the most shocked of the three. Could this be another mistake made by Celestial Master at some unknown time?
“No, no, it’s that Qiao’er didn’t explain clearly. Qiao’er just suddenly felt an aura from Master Qin that was very similar to Daddy’s.” Yan Qiaoyun quickly explained.
“Similar? Could it be that Qiao’er belongs to the Abyssal Faceless Hermit clan?” Qin Gou released gentle spiritual power and carefully investigated, finding a trace of an extremely faint Faceless Hermit aura on Yan Qiaoyun, confirming his guess.
A hint of surprise flashed in Zhao Xinting’s eyes, “Does Master know the whereabouts of Qiao’er’s clan? That’s great. Then Xinting won’t have to search desperately in the Abyss like a headless fly.”
Qin Gou shook his head and said, “No, I merely obtained some of the Demon Race’s Faceless Hermit abilities through other means. I don’t know the whereabouts of the Faceless Hermit clan. I’ve also heard that the Faceless Hermit clan has been extinct in the Abyss for a long time, and it was even once suspected that they had migrated en masse to the Human Realm. However, judging from the story you told earlier about Qiao’er’s biological father, that’s clearly not the case.”
“Then that will be difficult,” Zhao Xinting sighed in disappointment.
“Master, Banwei has already severely punished Ye Yaoh,” Ao Banwei pushed open the palace doors and walked in, her eyes slightly red as she looked at Qin Gou, moved by how much her Master had sacrificed for her without regard for his own reputation.
“How did you punish her?”
“Banwei didn’t take advantage of her either. I merely gave her a taste of her own medicine. Now she has agreed to obey Banwei and Master from now on, just in case Banwei truly becomes the main consciousness of the Nine Saint Monarch, she will be given a high position.” Ao Banwei said truthfully.
“Well done.” Qin Gou smiled and rubbed Ao Banwei’s little head, this time remembering his lesson and deliberately using a little force, accidentally messing up Banwei’s hair.
Ao Banwei’s face immediately brightened into a sweet smile, “Banwei finally understands Master’s painstaking efforts and has learned the principle of an eye for an eye.”
Qin Gou nodded with satisfaction, “By the way, although Ao Ai didn’t say, there must be other Little Saint Monarchs in the Demon Race Abyss, right?”
“Yes, Fairy Sister told me there’s more than one.”
“Master, are you planning to…” Zhao Xinting said in disbelief.
“Don’t get emotional yet. I just think the cooperation between the Great Liar and the Sissy has been quite smooth. Traveling together again wouldn’t be impossible,” Qin Gou shrugged.
“Xinting thanks Master for your kind regard!” Zhao Xinting was extremely excited, then quickly took out a delicate little box from her embrace and said, “I almost forgot. After the Heavenless Dharma Aspect was reprimanded by Master, he never mentioned asking for Longevity Fruits again. He must have been intimidated by Master’s might, so these Longevity Fruits are useless to Xinting. I should return them to you. You can see, I haven’t used any of them, and none are missing.”
Saying that, Zhao Xinting opened the delicate little box. Upon a glance, she immediately became furious and roared hysterically, “Why are three missing out of nowhere? Who is the damn fool who is tired of living and dares to frame Zhao Xinting for dishonesty and injustice!”
Exactly three?
Qin Gou immediately smiled kindly at Zhao Xinting and said, “No harm done. I naturally believe you. You should keep some of these Longevity Fruits for unexpected needs. I’ll just take half.” Saying that, Qin Gou reluctantly accepted half of the Longevity Fruits as the bargaining chip for using the ‘Demon Star’ Dharma Aspect.
“Yes, Master truly has the heart of a Bodhisattva.” Zhao Xinting nodded and put away the small box.
The heart of a Bodhisattva, really. Li Yuanzhen glanced at Zhao Xinting with surprise. It seemed Cult Master Zhao was too focused on cultivation and lacked culture, and must have misunderstood the word Bodhisattva.
Immediately after, Qin Gou’s expression gradually darkened, and he thought to himself, “System…”
“Ding. A new mission ‘If I Were a Demon’ has been released. The Demon Race Abyss has a strict hierarchy, unlike the Human Realm. The host needs a convenient identity to travel through the Abyss. Therefore, the host is ordered to become the Lord of the Faceless Hermit clan, ruling the gradually declining Faceless Hermit clan. Reward: Direct promotion to one minor realm, significant growth of Faceless Hermit bloodline, and a secret about the Demon Race Grand Princess Kong Ling. Time limit: one month. Failure to complete the mission will result in a mandatory punishment of the host madly and painfully kissing Purple Extreme Demon Zhao Xinting.”
“If you released this mission not to deliberately change the subject, I’ll grab Little Zhao’s chest right here!”
Qin Gou gritted his teeth in anger and thought, “After all, this mission of yours is clearly unreasonable. I don’t even know where the Faceless Hermit clan is hidden, and I barely understand the Demon Race language, let alone speak it haltingly. To think of becoming the Lord of the Faceless Hermits is like climbing to heaven.”
“Ding. An emergency mission ‘Most Afraid of Sudden Concern’ has been released. The host is ordered to show heartfelt concern for their disciple by vigorously and forcefully grabbing Purple Extreme Demon Zhao Xinting’s chest, showing concern for their disciple’s physical health. Reward: A clue to the whereabouts of a Faceless Hermit, and proficiency in the Demon Race language. Time limit: the duration of one incense stick burning. No punishment for failure.”
“What a good ‘no punishment’. You’ve directly given me two things I need most right now. You don’t even need to use punishment to threaten me. You’re really becoming more profound.”
“Xinting, come closer.” Qin Gou suddenly smiled warmly and beckoned Zhao Xinting.
Zhao Xinting shivered. How could she not know that whenever her old esteemed master Qin Gou revealed that signature smile, it meant someone was about to have bad luck? Zhao Xinting quickly searched her mind, trying to figure out if she had said anything to offend her Master from beginning to end, but to no avail.
“What are you dazing for?” Qin Gou’s tone became even more gentle and approachable, “I just haven’t seen you in a while and want to get a good look at my good disciple.”
With things said this far, Zhao Xinting could no longer retort. She could only obediently walk forward.
And Qin Gou, almost as fast as lightning, struck Zhao Xinting’s chest with a palm, then twisted forcefully.
“Master, you… Ouch!” Zhao Xinting, in the Mortal Transformation stage, had no protective divine power. Instantly, her face turned ashen, and she couldn’t help but scream. Her already androgynous voice had become like that of a terrified young girl.
Qin Gou quickly let go, then gently patted Zhao Xinting’s chest twice, saying, “Hmm, it seems you haven’t slacked off even in the Mortal Transformation stage. Your pectoral muscles are well-trained; you’re truly a stalwart man, and I am very pleased! Moreover, the villain who stole your Longevity Fruits also secretly planted a very malicious spirit charm on you. I just used a special technique to remove it for you. Xinting, you need to be more careful and cautious in the future, as you are no longer what you once were in the Mortal Transformation stage.”
“What? I was planted with a spirit charm? How could this happen? Why didn’t Xinting feel anything before?” Zhao Xinting said with doubt.
“You were too careless. You probably still thought you were the Purple Extreme Demon with the peak cultivation of the Dharma Aspect Realm? You were too complacent.” Qin Gou said confidently, “You know, besides you and Qiao’er, who has no cultivation, we all saw that you were planted with a spirit charm.”
“Really?”
“Yes, Banwei saw it.” Ao Banwei, with Qin Gou’s arm around her shoulder, nodded her little head.
Li Yuanzhen’s smile was clear and her expression serious, “Actually, from the moment Cult Master Zhao walked into the side hall, this humble Daoist saw it. But at that time, A’Qin was also planted with a spirit charm by Ye Yaoh, so I didn’t speak up.”
“So that’s how it is.”
*Thump*
Zhao Xinting suddenly knelt on both knees, filled with gratitude, “I never expected that in this Mortal Transformation stage, every time I see Master, you would unhesitatingly help Xinting avoid disaster, greatly benefiting me. My unworthy disciple Zhao Xinting, receiving Master’s grace, is ashamed and unworthy!”
