"You..." Gu Tang looked up, meeting the other person's eyes, and asked, "What is your name? Can you tell me?"
He finished stating his question in one breath and then silently looked at the other person.
But he probably didn't even realize that his hand, hanging by his side, was trembling slightly uncontrollably.
A note from the author:
Haha, I think you guys will definitely enjoy this! ^_^
Chapter 47 The Imperial Preceptor's Unparalleled Brilliance (3)
"Qin Junche," the Imperial Advisor replied with a smile almost without hesitation.
Gu Tang suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.
His hands stopped trembling, and the anxiety that had been tormenting him seemed to have completely disappeared.
Gu Tang himself found himself a bit ridiculous. Did his name really matter?
It's just a code name.
But he seemed to be under a spell, subconsciously feeling—
Hmm, his name is Qin Junche. Well, we can still try this task again.
Even if the other person's demeanor and tone of voice are too similar...
"Your Highness, if you still have the time, why don't we continue our discussion in another place?" Qin Junche said with a smile to Gu Tang.
His eyebrows and eyes were relaxed, and he looked upright and calm.
Although he had not yet reached the peak of his cultivation, his ethereal and otherworldly aura made him appear just like the immortal being described by the people of the capital.
Qin Junche stood up as he spoke, his green robe fluttering slightly: "Please."
Gu Tang followed behind him, leaving the spacious and tall main hall and heading towards the back garden.
The garden of the Imperial Preceptor's residence was decorated very elegantly.
There aren't many flowers and trees, but every single one is uniquely crafted.
This Imperial Preceptor's residence was bestowed upon Qin Junche by Gu Tang's father, the Emperor of Chu.
It's clear that they put a lot of thought into trying to match the other person's status.
In the still of the night, only a crescent moon remains on the horizon.
The lotus pond was shrouded in moonlight, carrying a touch of ethereal and mysterious beauty.
Qin Junche had tea and snacks prepared in the small pavilion in the center of the lotus pond.
Gu Tang sat down opposite him.
Under the moonlight, listening to the chirping of insects, and smelling the cool night breeze, the two began to discuss books and philosophy.
Qin Junche seemed to be in a good mood.
Perhaps it was because he felt that Gu Tang, who had been obsessed with his feelings for three years, was finally willing to break free from his obsession and begin to focus his mind on cultivation.
This is a good start.
Qin Junche even took the initiative to tell Gu Tang about some of his cultivation experiences.
That selfless demeanor of being willing to share insights—no matter how you look at it, it's just like the person deep in Gu Tang's memory.
Several times, Gu Tang looked at Qin Junche's profile and felt somewhat dazed.
He couldn't remember how much of what the other person said had actually been heard.
All I know is that I listened from the moon rising above the willow branches until the moon was high in the sky, and then the night was deep.
Gu Tang listened intently as someone who had progressed far less and reached a higher level on the path of cultivation than he had before slowly recounted his insights into cultivation.
In the end, Qin Junche's voice sounded like a beautiful mountain stream to Gu Tang.
The content is no longer important; it's something he's kept hidden deep in his heart, so deep that it's a string he's forgotten for thousands of years.
In a daze, it seemed as if someone gently touched something.
“Imperial Preceptor,” Gu Tang suddenly spoke, interrupting the other party.
"Hmm?" Qin Junche looked at Gu Tang with a smile.
His smile was gentle and warm, and his eyes were incredibly clear.
Under such gazes, Gu Tang opened his mouth.
“If Your Highness has anything to say, please speak frankly.” Qin Junche explained with a smile, “I have never had any prejudice against Your Highness, and burning the letter you sent was by no means intended to humiliate Your Highness.”
He paused, his eyes cool and clear: "I only hope that Your Highness understands that love turns to ashes in the blink of an eye, and is ultimately not as important as cultivation."
Gu Tang: "..."
That makes so much sense!
He used to advise people like this.
After Qin Junche said that, he swallowed back all the words that he had almost blurted out.
Gu Tang has a way of dealing with Qin Junche, no matter what his personality is.
Whether it's ruthless, charming, or domineering, it doesn't matter...
But this is the Qin Junche before my eyes.
He was scared.
They backed down.
Gu Tang stood up and bowed to Qin Junche, saying, "Thank you for your guidance and help today, Imperial Advisor. It's getting late, so I should take my leave."
"Please." Qin Junche did not try to keep him.
As Gu Tang strolled back along the path built over the lotus pond, he couldn't help but turn back to look at Qin Junche, who was standing in the pavilion with his back to him.
The other person stood tall, letting the moonlight envelop their entire body.
They looked as if they were floating on air, as if they would ascend to heaven at any moment.
Gu Tang turned around and continued walking towards the outside of the Imperial Preceptor's residence.
"Your Highness." He had only taken a few steps when Qin Junche's voice suddenly came from behind him again.
Perhaps it was across a lotus pond, carried by the sound of the night breeze and water.
This time, Qin Junche's voice no longer sounded as gentle as before.
Instead, his tone turned cold as he said, "Please wait."
Gu Tang stopped as instructed and turned back to look at Qin Junche.
Now we're quite far apart, and the moonlight isn't as bright.
He couldn't see Qin Junche's expression clearly, but he could hear him say from afar, "Your Highness, you seemed to have something to say but hesitated just now."
As Qin Junche spoke, he slowly walked towards Gu Tang.
He put his hands behind his back and stared straight at Gu Tang's face.
However, the warm smile that had been playing on his lips had completely vanished.
"Since you have something to say, Your Highness may speak frankly," Qin Junche said. "Your Highness should know that some inner demons arise from within."
Gu Tang had already sensed that something was wrong.
The Qin Junche he just saw reminded him exactly of his former friend.
Gentle, kind, and with a heart for the world.
He is always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone who is in distress, as long as he encounters them.
For example, Gu Tang back then.
He never pressured anyone and was very gentle with everyone.
It seems that nothing in this world ever troubles or angers him.
Except for...
Gu Tang frowned, stopping himself from getting lost in his memories.
But now Qin Junche is like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath.
Its sharp edge was fully revealed.
He walked towards Gu Tang step by step, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.
Staring at Gu Tang felt like a cheetah lurking in the dark, finally catching its prey.
That expression concealed a hint of bloodthirsty danger.
“So, Your Highness…” Qin Junche stood in front of Gu Tang.
He was slightly taller than Gu Tang, and when he looked at him, his gaze naturally carried a condescending tone: "Speak frankly."
Gu Tang took a step back.
The spiritual energy in his hands, which hung at his sides, had already begun to gather.
Although he could not detect Qin Junche's cultivation level.
However, having recovered one-fifth of his cultivation, Gu Tang had absolutely no problem protecting himself.
Qin Junche suddenly smiled.
That smile was no longer as warm and gentle as it had been before.
Instead, she was aloof and proud.
"Ninth Prince..." Qin Junche reached out and affectionately twirled a strand of hair on Gu Tang's shoulder, "Want to fight me?"
No sooner had Qin Junche finished speaking than Gu Tang's palm swept across.
The way spiritual energy is used in this world is no different from the world that Gu Tang is familiar with.