Chapter 491: Date

“Do you believe in such nonsense too, Madam?”

“Gu Qingcheng” looked towards Madam Yu beside her, seeking her response.

Madam Yu subconsciously adjusted her bangs. Masking her emotions, she replied, “Who knows? But whether it’s nonsense or not, it has nothing to do with a married woman like me.”

Madam Yu sounded calm, yet there was a certain emotion suppressed beneath it.

“Gu Qingcheng” didn’t intend to pursue the matter further and instead asked, “Madam, if you were to recover, what would you want to do most?”

Madam Yu smiled bitterly, feeling that “Gu Qingcheng’s” question was far too whimsical and impossible to achieve.

She knew her own physical condition better than anyone—recovery was absolutely out of the question. Not even Demon Lord Gu Qingcheng, who had only reappeared after more than a decade, could defy the heavens and change her fate.

But as “Gu Qingcheng” showed her rare curiosity, Madam Yu replied, “There are many things, but I don’t think I will ever realize any of them in this lifetime.”

Madam Yu’s response was like a form of evasion, brushing off her previous answer. It seemed she had grown tired from walking and had to sit down to rest for a while.

“Gu Qingcheng” stopped walking before saying, “I will be leaving the day after tomorrow. If there is anything you need assistance with, Madam, you can tell me directly.”

Now that she and Qiao Ni were no longer bound, and Liu Churan had discovered her presence, “Gu Qingcheng” couldn’t linger here.

She needed to move on, even if this progression was merely an act. Staying here any longer would only invite more trouble.

Madam Yu looked at “Gu Qingcheng”, as if thinking that her decision to leave was too abrupt.

She concealed the gloom in her eyes and said, “If it wouldn’t trouble you, there is indeed something I would like to ask of you.”

Madam Yu finally expressed what was on her mind.

“Gu Qingcheng” remained silent, waiting patiently for her to continue.

Feeling a bit embarrassed under “Gu Qingcheng’s” steady gaze, Madam Yu hesitated for a moment before speaking again. “I hope you could accompany me to a certain place, Demon Lord.”

“Gu Qingcheng” had expected Madam Yu’s desires to erupt, but to her surprise, Madam Yu remained as ascetic as ever.

With a sigh, “Gu Qingcheng” realized she still couldn’t coax out the truth from Madam Yu, but she nodded and said, “Alright.”

Madam Yu couldn’t help but cover her mouth and laugh quietly. “Gu Qingcheng”, somewhat puzzled, asked, “What, is it funny when this lord agrees to help someone?”

“No. I just think that the Demon Lord is much easier to deal with than I imagined. But for someone like you, how is it that you still don’t have a Dao companion?”

Madam Yu continued to probe, hiding her true feelings, though the tenderness in her eyes was undeniable.

Gu Qingcheng pretended to ponder.

“Perhaps I just haven’t met the right one yet. After all, I can be quite bad.”

This small attempt at humor from “Gu Qingcheng” made Madam Yu laugh even more, teasing, “Demon Lord, you are indeed the most wicked person in this world.”

It was clear that this was no mere joke, but “Gu Qingcheng” didn’t mind.

Seeing that Madam Yu had finally relaxed a bit, “Gu Qingcheng” raised her eyebrows slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips.

“So, you’re not afraid of me?”

Their eyes met, and Madam Yu’s smile grew even gentler.

“I am, but I no longer fear death.”

Madam Yu’s answer drew a chuckle from “Gu Qingcheng”.

She had encountered many cultivators, and even more geniuses, but for “Gu Qingcheng”, these people were never the most difficult to deal with.

The most difficult to deal with were those who were heartless, and those unafraid of death. It made their attacks more reckless. Like Fairy Fengya, and now, like Madam Yu.

Madam Yu had a gentleness about her, a feeling that made people comfortable. Perhaps, during that time when “Gu Qingcheng” had succumbed to Qi Deviation, it was this very gentleness that had saved her.

Obscene images flashed through her mind, and “Gu Qingcheng” forced herself to ignore them. She couldn’t allow herself to dwell on such thoughts at a time like this.

Even if there had once been feelings between them, things had long since changed.

“Then it’s settled. Tomorrow, it’ll just be you and me.”

Madam Yu smiled, revealing a rare expression of girlish delight. It was a genuine display of emotion in front of the person she loved—a smile that came after such a long period of waiting.

Without Qiao Ni around, Madam Yu—no, Liu Siyu—could finally enjoy time alone with Gu Qingcheng.

Free of their involvement with the immortal and demon sects, and the burdens that came with their identities.

“Very well.”

Hearing Madam Yu speak so plainly, “Gu Qingcheng” naturally nodded slightly in agreement.

Madam Yu then glanced at “Gu Qingcheng’s” coarse black robes.

“If the Demon Lord doesn’t mind, I’ll prepare your clothes as well.”

“Gu Qingcheng” nodded again, and the two parted in the hallway, heading towards their respective quarters.

Whether Madam Yu slept soundly that night was unknown, but “Gu Qingcheng” certainly did not.

She couldn’t sleep after all that had happened tonight, and she also felt empty without Sword Ghost and Ghost Mother.

The most troubling issue, however, was that the peach blossom demon seemed to be draining her vitality once again.

“Gu Qingcheng” couldn’t shake the feeling that the peach tree behind her would soon give birth to some new life.

Regardless of her unease, when dawn broke, “Gu Qingcheng” put on a simple mask and made her way to Madam Yu’s room.

She knocked on the door.

The door opened quickly, and to her surprise, there were other people inside.

Jin Xiaoqin was among them.

Madam Yu seemed to be asking Jin Xiaoqin to take care of Qiao Ni in her absence. Naturally, Jin Xiaoqin didn’t refuse. As they walked towards the door, they saw “Gu Qingcheng” standing there, waiting.

Qiao Ni blinked at “Gu Qingcheng”, before running up to hug her.

Madam Yu, startled, tried to stop Qiao Ni from acting so brazenly, but “Gu Qingcheng” didn’t resist.

She could feel Qiao Ni’s small body against hers, as well as the hurried way in which the girl slipped something into her hand.

Although she didn’t know what it was, “Gu Qingcheng” instinctively felt it would be of some use to her.

Soon after, the servants left, and the only ones remaining in the room were Madam Yu and “Gu Qingcheng”.

Madam Yu, slightly embarrassed, handed a set of red robes to “Gu Qingcheng”.

“Gu Qingcheng” hesitated briefly, but Madam Yu had already stepped behind the partition, leaving her with some privacy to change.

Feeling a bit resigned, “Gu Qingcheng’” eventually put on the robes.

The world believed that “Gu Qingcheng” preferred red, but in truth, she favored black.

Black clothing was practical for hiding dirt and bloodstains. Yet red was in line with Demon Lord Gu Qingcheng’s reputation, and provided visual impact.