Chapter 150 - 149: Fishing

Chapter 150: Chapter 149: Fishing

"Who gave you this wicked cultivation method? Who was it?" Gu Qingyin stared into her eyes, her words quickening. "What’s your relationship with Lin Wu?"

Dongfang Ran’s pupils contracted sharply. Although she relaxed quickly, Gu Qingyin still noticed something was off.

Gu Qingyin said with certainty, "So you *are* connected to Lin Wu!" As she spoke, her mind raced. ’No wonder he wasn’t afraid of being captured by the Mystic Association. It’s because you’re around to ensure his safety.’

Gu Qingyin’s expression shifted slightly. "Where is Lin Wu now? You didn’t secretly let him go, did you?" Then, a flash of insight hit her, and she realized, "The person who rescued Lin Wu from me back then—it was you!"

Seeing that she couldn’t hide it anymore, Dongfang Ran dropped the act and sneered, "So what if it was me? People can be good or bad, but power isn’t. As long as I can get stronger, who cares if the path is wicked or not?"

Gu Qingyin didn’t quite understand. "Your mind has clearly been affected. Can’t you feel it? Besides, it’s common knowledge that evil power amplifies a person’s desires and malicious thoughts."

Dongfang Ran looked disgusted. "Stop acting like you know me so well! You hypocrite!"

"What is evil? What is justice? Who draws that line? And what gives them the right?" Dongfang Ran was self-righteous. "What’s wrong with following my heart? Since the heavens granted me this power, it proves I’m destined for greatness!"

Gu Qingyin felt an urge to slap her. ’With an ego that big, why don’t you just ascend to the heavens? Never mind other countries, can you even count how many Mystic Masters there are in this country alone? "Destined for greatness"... you really think you’re one of a kind, don’t you?’

Dongfang Ran wasn’t listening at all, sneering, "Just watch. I’m destined to surpass everyone and stand at the pinnacle of the Mystical World!"

Gu Qingyin rolled her eyes, not bothering to waste any more words on her.

’The woman’s clearly gone mad. She only believes her own logic. Unless she gets a thorough beating, she won’t listen to anyone else.’

Gu Qingyin had the power to do it, but she had no obligation.

’Someone from the Mystic Association should be handled by the Mystic Association. Otherwise, after I deal with her, they might accuse me of overstepping my bounds and meddling. They could even turn it around and say I was settling a personal score. I wouldn’t be able to explain myself then.’

"Let’s go," Gu Qingyin instructed. "Be careful not to let her escape."

Huo Yunjing nodded. "I’ll see you out first."

Gu Qingyin gave him an appreciative look, then closed her eyes. After a wave of dizziness, she opened them again to find she had woken from the dream.

Huo Xingye and Huo Xinghai’s faces lit up. "Mom! How are you feeling?"

Gu Qingyin stood up and stretched a bit, smiling. "Perfectly fine." She started for the door. "I’m going to see Dongfang Ran."

"She’s in the next room. Xingchen is watching her."

Gu Qingyin chuckled. "Alright, thanks for your hard work. Nothing else is going on, so go back to sleep."

「Next door.」

Huo Xingchen had been staring intently at Dongfang Ran. The moment her brow furrowed and her eyes opened, his own eyes widened, and he immediately activated a Thunder Talisman.

Just as Gu Qingyin reached the doorway, a flash of lightning blinded her. Her eyes stung, and tears streamed from their corners.

She never would have imagined that after not shedding a single tear during her wedding, she’d be crying uncontrollably after it was over.

For a full five seconds, the surroundings were plunged into darkness again.

Gu Qingyin blinked, trying to peer inside. It took several seconds for her vision to clear and make out the scene in the room.

Huo Xingchen was sitting on the edge of the bed, his once-smooth hair now standing on end like a porcupine’s quills. Lying on the bed, Dongfang Ran was a blackened figure with white smoke rising from her body. If not for the occasional twitch, Gu Qingyin would have thought she was looking at a charred corpse.

"What happened?" Gu Qingyin walked cautiously into the room. "Son?"

Huo Xingchen slowly turned his head and exhaled a puff of black smoke. "Mom, Dongfang Ran’s still here! She didn’t run!"

It took Gu Qingyin a couple of seconds to process, then she said thoughtfully, "Ah... Thanks for your hard work. Are you okay?"

Huo Xingchen shook his head, flashing a grin of stark white teeth. "I’m fine. I’m used to it."

The next moment, Huo Yunjing’s form appeared beside Gu Qingyin. He was about to speak but was shocked into silence by the scene before him.

He looked at Huo Xingchen, then at Dongfang Ran on the bed, and marveled, "What a talent." He had seen cases of ’injuring the enemy by one thousand while losing eight hundred yourself,’ but he had never seen someone manage to injure themselves when the enemy was lying there motionless.

Huo Yunjing couldn’t help but ask, "Couldn’t you have moved a little farther away?"

Huo Xingchen: "...I was afraid I wouldn’t be in time."

Huo Yunjing was speechless. ’My wife and I are both so smart. How did we end up with such a blockhead for a son?’

Huo Xingye and Huo Xinghai were also standing at the door. Peeking inside, they couldn’t help but grin before giving Huo Xingchen an admiring thumbs-up.

Gu Qingyin rummaged through her shoulder bag, took out a rope, and tied up the still-unconscious Dongfang Ran on the bed, grabbing her phone in the process.

She had wanted to find Tuoba Yan’s number, but she discovered the phone had been struck by the lightning and wouldn’t turn on.

Gu Qingyin tutted, then took out her own phone and sent a message to Liu Ergou, asking him to call her the next morning.

"Everyone, go on back," Gu Qingyin said with a wave of her hand. "Don’t worry, she’s trapped here and can’t escape. No one needs to watch her."

Huo Xingye’s eyes were filled with worry. "She’s not going to die, is she?"

"She won’t," Gu Qingyin said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "Heavenly Masters aren’t that fragile."

"Where’s Mao Mao?" Huo Xinghai looked around. "We could have Mao Mao watch her."

Gu Qingyin shook her head. "I haven’t seen him since the banquet. He’s probably drunk and fell asleep somewhere."

"I can watch her," Huo Xingchen said. "I’ll just sleep here tonight."

"No need." Gu Qingyin glared. "Look how dirty you are. Go home and take a shower, now!"

Huo Xingchen shrank back, then got up and left.

Gu Qingyin brought up the rear. The moment she closed the door, she narrowed her eyes, thinking, ’I wonder if the person backing Dongfang Ran will show up. Tonight is the best chance to rescue her. It all depends on how important she is to them.’

Gu Qingyin returned to her own room. As soon as she entered, Huo Yunjing sidled up to her. "Honey, tonight is our wedding night..."

"Wedding night, my foot." Gu Qingyin ruthlessly pushed the ghost away. "Someone might come by later tonight. I’m not planning on sleeping. If you’re tired, go back to the pendant and rest."

Huo Yunjing was clearly unhappy. All his resentment was directed at Dongfang Ran. It was all this uninvited woman’s fault for causing trouble. Otherwise, he would be holding his wife and sleeping soundly right now!

The more Huo Yunjing thought about it, the darker his mood became. A storm brewed in his eyes, just waiting for an outlet.

Finally, at a little past three in the morning, when most people were in their deepest sleep, a sound came from outside the castle.

Huo Yunjing and Gu Qingyin, who was meditating on the bed, opened their eyes at almost the same instant.

’Our punching bag—and our big fish—has arrived!’