“Congratulations on your recovery, Yang’er”, Gu Ling smiled at Zhou Yang, his approachable and cheerful demeanor still firmly in place.
Beside Zhou Yang, Su Yun greeted Gu Ling with a respectful bow. “Uncle Gu, it’s been a while. I hope you’re well.”
Gu Ling chuckled lightly. “Oh, I’ve been fine. But it seems you two were having a nice walk. Did I interrupt anything important?” Zhou Yang shook his head with a small smile. “Not at all, Uncle. I was actually wondering why you didn’t attend the banquet. I didn’t see you there.”
Gu Ling shrugged dramatically. “Crowds aren’t really my thing, Yang’er. They’re loud, chaotic... and, well,” he hesitated for a moment, grinning, “I may have overslept.”
Zhou Yang blinked in disbelief. “You overslept? Seriously?” He couldn’t help but think how much Gu Ling reminded him of Zhou Dan.
Changing the topic, Gu Ling smiled and said, “Still, your progress is impressive. Building your foundation again so quickly is no small feat.”
Zhou Yang waved his hand modestly. “I was already at this realm before. It wasn’t as hard as starting from scratch.”
Gu Ling nodded but added with a thoughtful tone, “Perhaps, but not everyone can recover after having their dantian pushed so close to collapse. You’ve done well.” After a brief pause, Gu Ling clapped his hands lightly. “Oh, and I almost forgot. I’ve prepared a gift for you, Yang’er. You’ll see it tomorrow.”
“A gift, Uncle? You know, I’ve been getting quite valuable gifts lately, so my expectations are rather high,” Zhou Yang joked, flashing a grin.
Gu Ling laughed. “Oh, don’t worry—you’ll love it. I’ll make sure of that.”
Then his expression shifted slightly as he glanced upward, his eyes focusing on a spot to their left as though sensing something unseen. “It’s getting late,” he said with a smile. “I won’t take more of your time. Rest well.” Zhou Yang and Su Yun bowed politely. “Goodnight, Uncle,” they said in unison before continuing their walk.
---
Once they were out of sight, Gu Ling’s demeanor shifted entirely. The cheerfulness faded, replaced by a calm but chilling air of authority. His eyes, now cold and calculating, remained fixed on the roof.
“Today is a day for celebration,” he said softly, his voice carrying an undercurrent of menace. “I’m in a good mood, so get lost before I kill you all.”
---
A Few Minutes Earlier
“W-What’s he doing here?” a trembling voice whispered, the speaker hidden among the shadows of the Zhou manor’s outer grounds. “The informant said Zhou Yang and Su Yun would be alone.”
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Another voice, calmer but still uneasy, replied, “Even the informant couldn’t have predicted this. The Soundless Demon is appearing here...”
“Calm down,” a third voice commanded, though his tone carried its own edge of alarm. “We’ll retreat. There’s no way we can face him.”
“How?” the first voice shot back. “Do you think we can outrun that demon?” Silence hung between them for a moment before the third voice spoke again. “We’ll split up. When I give the signal, run. Don’t look back—just run.” They watched Zhou Yang and Su Yun leave the area, waiting for the moment to make their move. Just as the leader was about to issue the signal, a calm, quiet voice echoed from the ground below.
“Today is a day for celebration, and I’m in a good mood. So get lost before I kill you all.” The group froze in terror, then scattered into the night, their panic leaving no room for hesitation.
---
Gu Ling walked a short distance from where he had stood, then stopped, his calm demeanor returning. He thought for a moment, then sighed. “Yep, this won’t do.” With that, he disappeared into the shadows.
---
Unaware of the danger they had narrowly avoided, Zhou Yang and Su Yun continued their walk through the manor, eventually arriving at a serene pond. The evening air was cool, and the moon’s reflection shimmered on the water’s surface. Small fish darted beneath the surface, occasionally leaping into the air before vanishing again.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Su Yun said, her voice soft.
Zhou Yang nodded, gazing at the tranquil scene.
After a moment, Su Yun turned to him. “Brother Yang, there’s something I’d like to tell you.”
“I’ll be entering my family’s ancestral grounds for a trial once I reach the Nascent Soul realm,” Su Yun said calmly. Zhou Yang nodded in understanding. He knew from his memories that such ancestral trials were significant events for the families or the sects. Even his own family had one, and he would likely face it in the future.
“Then you still have some time before the trial, right?” he asked.
Su Yun shook her head slightly. “Not much. I’m already at the peak of the Golden Core realm—just one step away. I’ll enter seclusion soon to make my breakthrough.”
Zhou Yang looked back at the pond, his expression contemplative. “I have something to discuss with you as well,” he said after a moment.
Su Yun tilted her head slightly. “What is it?”
“I want to annul our engagement,” Zhou Yang said, his voice steady. Su Yun’s expression didn’t change much, but her gaze turned toward the pond. “Is this because of Ye Tian?” she asked calmly.
Zhou Yang shook his head. “No, I wouldn’t make such a decision over something so trivial.” He continued, “I don’t see you as a romantic partner, Sister Yun, but as a good friend. And I think it’s better if we’re honest about that.”
Zhou Yang stood, giving her space to process his words. Su Yun remained quiet for a moment before nodding. “I understand. I feel the same way. You’ve always been more of a close friend to me than anything else.”
Su Yun looked up at the moon, her voice contemplative. “I also wish to see the end of this cultivation path, to know what lies beyond. Perhaps marriage is something neither of us is ready for.”
She turned back to Zhou Yang, smiling faintly. “We’ll need to talk to our parents about this. Let’s discuss it with them tomorrow.”
Zhou Yang nodded and said, "You should head back now—it’s getting late.” After bidding him goodnight, Su Yun left, leaving Zhou Yang alone by the pond.
---
Standing alone by the pond, Zhou Yang stared at the moon’s reflection on the water lost in his thoughts.
After a while, he turned and made his way back to his room. Meng Yan stood outside, bowing as he approached.
“You really don’t need to do that every time,” Zhou Yang said with a small sigh. As he entered the room, he asked, “Where were you? I didn’t see you after the hall.”
“Mistress called me for some work,” Meng Yan replied. Zhou Yang nodded. “I see. Well, you should go rest now, and tell Meng Yao to do the same. You’ve both worked hard today.”
Meng Yan acknowledged the order and left. Alone in his room, Zhou Yang sat on his bed, his gaze falling on the storage pouch. “Shall we take a proper look at the gifts now?”