“If you don’t think so, then why haven’t you investigated?”
By the end of the sentence, the Heavenly Qian Emperor’s voice had risen several decibels in volume.
“Yes, Your Majesty! Your servant will immediately assign more manpower to the investigation,”
Wu En, the chief eunuch, quickly bowed in response, startled by the emperor’s angry tone, and then turned to leave the hall.
Just as Wu En was about to step out of the hall, the emperor’s voice sounded again behind him.
“That Jiang Feng had no grudge with Guo Haotian. He shouldn’t have framed Guo Haotian without reason. Check if he found out about Xue’er’s true identity.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Wu En turned back and saluted before quickly leaving the hall.
The Heavenly Qian Emperor looked at Wu En’s retreating figure and murmured to himself,
“Xue’er, it is I who have wronged you. I should have brought you back to the palace earlier—then none of this would’ve happened.”
“I already failed to protect your mother in the past. I cannot let anything happen to you now. If I did, how would I face her in the afterlife?”
“Rest assured, even if I must search every corner of the Heavenly Qian Empire, I will find you.”
———
Zhenbian Prince’s Mansion
Qingfeng Courtyard
Around 5pm
Qiu An lay on a recliner in the courtyard, worrying about how to win over Guo Xue.
Suddenly, he felt a warm current surge through his body out of nowhere, followed by the sound of the system notification:
Ding! Your wife Guo Xue’s cultivation has advanced to the late stage of Martial Master. According to system rules, your cultivation has been upgraded to the late stage of Martial King.
Qiu An sat up with a smile, glancing toward Guo Xue’s room and murmured excitedly,
“Hehe! No wonder she caught my eye—her cultivation speed is insane.”
“Two more advancements and I’ll reach Martial Emperor realm, which completes the first system task. I wonder what the reward will be… I’m a little curious.”
He lay back down again, continuing to contemplate how best to pursue Guo Xue.
In the Qiankun Continent, the cultivation system is as follows:
Martial Disciple → Martial Warrior → Martial Master → Martial Sect → Martial King → Martial Emperor → Martial Venerable → Martial Saint → the legendary Martial God.
Each major realm is divided into four stages: Early, Mid, Late, and Peak.
———
An hour later, just as Qiu An was deep in thought, another warm current surged through his body, followed by the system notification:
Ding! Your wife Guo Xue’s cultivation has advanced to Peak Martial Master. According to system rules, your cultivation has been upgraded to Peak Martial King.
Qiu An sat up in shock, looking toward Guo Xue’s room and murmured,
“Two breakthroughs in one day? Even with the pills I gave her, that’s ridiculous. Her talent is terrifying.”
“No, too much is as bad as too little. She needs rest. It’s getting late anyway—time for dinner. I’ll go find her.”
He stood up and instructed the nearby maid,
“Prepare dinner. This prince will dine here in the courtyard tonight.”
Then he added,
“We’ll have hotpot tonight.”
“Yes, sir.”
The maid bowed and left to make preparations.
Afterward, Qiu An walked toward Guo Xue’s room.
“Wife, my dear wife,” he called softly from outside her door.
Creaaak.
Moments later, Guo Xue opened the door with a bright, excited expression.
“Hehe! My dear, you look radiant. What’s made you so happy? Share it with your husband so I can be happy too.”
“Hmph! I’m not telling you.” Though she tried to appear aloof, her eyes couldn’t hide the gratitude she felt.
If it weren’t for the Qi Condensing Pills he gave her, even with her exceptional talent, there was no way she could have advanced so quickly.
Still, she kept her tone snooty.
Seeing her tsundere demeanour, Qiu An couldn’t help but laugh. That was just as well—marrying a dull woman would’ve been boring.
“Alright, if you don’t want to tell me now, you can tell me later when you feel like it.”
Guo Xue had expected him to keep pressing her. When he didn’t, she felt oddly disappointed, and the smile faded from her face. Her tone cooled.
“Why did you come? Don’t bother me if there’s nothing important—I’m cultivating.”
She turned to close the door.
Seeing her act like a child, Qiu An smiled again.
“Wife, training is important, but so is eating. You’ve been cultivating since morning—time to take a break and rest.”
“Hmph! I’m not hungry.”
Just as she said this, her stomach betrayed her.
Grrrrrrr.
The awkward gurgling made her blush and lower her head in embarrassment.
Seeing her flustered, Qiu An smiled gently.
“My dear, your stomach is more honest than you are. Tonight’s dinner is something special—not the ingredients, but the way it’s eaten. I doubt you’ve had it before.”
“Just try a little, okay?”
“Hmph. Since you’re so sincere, I’ll accept.”
Guo Xue was hungry, and Qiu An gave her a graceful way out, so she accepted.
“Aren’t you going to lead the way?” she asked when Qiu An stood still.
“We’ll be eating here in the courtyard, but dinner still needs some prep. How about we sit and chat in the pavilion for now?”
Qiu An pointed to the nearby gazebo.
“Alright.” Guo Xue nodded. She also wanted a proper conversation—after all, they’d be spending quite a bit of time together.
Qiu An led the way, and Guo Xue followed closely behind.
Neither spoke during the short walk, as if both were unsure where to begin. Once they were seated face to face in the pavilion, Qiu An finally asked,
“Wife, how much do you know about me?”
“Qiu An, son of the Zhenbian Prince, once known as the number one genius of the Heavenly Qian Empire.
Three years ago, at just fourteen, you had already reached Peak Martial Sect and were on the verge of breaking through to Martial King. But on the night of your breakthrough, you were ambushed.”
“Though the mansion guards saved you, your dantian was destroyed and your meridians severed. Your martial path was cut off.”
“Rumor says that, afraid of being attacked again, you haven’t left the estate in three years—just hiding in the Zhenbian Prince’s Mansion.”
Guo Xue spoke without hesitation. She had done her homework before coming.
Hearing that she had investigated him so thoroughly, Qiu An grew even more certain—this woman wasn’t ordinary.
She definitely had her reasons for coming to the estate. But he didn’t say anything and just chuckled.
“Hehe! So tell me, do I seem like a coward who clings to life and fears death?”
Guo Xue glanced him up and down.
Qiu An faced her scrutiny calmly—then, as if in return, began scrutinizing her face, trying to determine if she wore a mask or if her scars were fake.
Even though it was nighttime, the pavilion was well-lit. Guo Xue’s features were clearly visible in the light.
No matter how carefully Qiu An looked, he couldn’t tell if she was wearing a mask or if those two scars were real or fake.
Noticing Qiu An staring at her, Guo Xue blushed and lowered her head, feeling shy.
Seeing her shy expression, Qiu An chuckled.
“So, my dear wife—have you looked long enough? Do I look like a man afraid to die?”
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