Chapter 215 - 214: Rushing Back to the Country

Chapter 215: Chapter 214: Rushing Back to the Country

The tent was ruined, so they returned to the campsite to pack their things before heading back to the cruise ship.

The cruise ship wasn’t very large, but it was big enough to sleep in. Gu Qingyin and Huo Yunjing took one room, while Huo Xingchen and Chad took another.

The cabin was under three hundred square feet, laid out a bit like a studio apartment. The decor was decent, and it even had a private bathroom.

Gu Qingyin took a quick shower, changed into her pajamas, and sat on the bed drying her hair.

"Xian Yu Fei must have known all along that Amos was unreliable. His so-called transformation method was definitely a lie, too. His goal was just to trick us into leaving the country."

Gu Qingyin’s brow furrowed as she spoke. "What on earth does Xian Yu Fei want to do now that he’s back in the country?"

Huo Yunjing thought along with her. "What business could he possibly have to settle back home?"

Gu Qingyin tried to recall what her master had told her, but there wasn’t much useful information. He had only mentioned that Xian Yu Fei had always been at odds with him...

"Ah!" Gu Qingyin sat up abruptly, looking up at Huo Yunjing. "My master! Xian Yu Fei is after my master! That’s why he needed to get all of us out of the way!"

Huo Yunjing wasn’t familiar with the affairs of the previous generation, and her words left him a bit puzzled.

"Xian Yu Fei was always jealous that my master was more talented. The fact that he’s ended up where he is today is inextricably linked to his rivalry with my master."

A rivalry could have been a good thing—healthy competition, after all. But Xian Yu Fei was too petty. As they competed, he started to harbor crooked thoughts.

In the end, it was Xian Yu Fei’s own narrow-mindedness and inability to tolerate others’ success that was to blame.

"If he’s after your master, we don’t have to worry too much," Huo Yunjing said reassuringly. "Your master is very powerful."

But Gu Qingyin wasn’t so optimistic. "But he’s just a ghost soul now. He can’t move around freely, and he doesn’t have a physical body."

If he got cornered, he wouldn’t even have a place to run. He’d just have to take it.

Gu Qingyin stood up and started packing. "We’re going back right now."

Huo Yunjing didn’t try to persuade her further. He went next door to inform Huo Xingchen and Chad.

Huo Xingchen naturally had no objections; it wasn’t long until dawn anyway.

Chad hesitated. "I’ve never piloted a boat at night. I’m afraid it isn’t safe."

"It’s fine. I can pilot it." Huo Yunjing nodded and headed for the cockpit.

He really had just come to inform them.

After she finished packing, Gu Qingyin came out and sat cross-legged on the deck, not far from Huo Yunjing. She couldn’t sleep, and meditating would help calm her mind.

By the time the cruise ship reached the shore, the sky had brightened.

The four of them split into two groups. One group went to the airport, the other returned to Rote Manor.

Chad hadn’t been able to sleep last night and had already called back everyone he could. The main purpose today was to return to the manor, find his father, submit the evidence, and take down Amos.

Huo Xingchen’s Conductor’s Baton might just be a game-changer!

There was no time to arrange a private flight, so Gu Qingyin simply bought tickets for the earliest available one. By the time she arrived in Yun City, it was the middle of the night.

She didn’t waste a second, taking a taxi straight back to the old residence.

When she saw the old residence was quiet, with soft lights glowing in the courtyard, Gu Qingyin finally breathed a sigh of relief.

On the way back, she had been constantly performing divinations. Even though the results were always good, she couldn’t feel at ease until she had seen it with her own eyes.

Concern clouds judgment. Even Gu Qingyin had a day where she doubted herself.

Once inside, Huo Yunjing took the luggage to their room, while Gu Qingyin went upstairs first to check on her master.

The moment the door opened, Gu Ziqian materialized, asking in surprise, "Why are you back so soon?"

Gu Qingyin didn’t hide anything, telling him everything that had happened abroad, along with her own suspicions.

Gu Ziqian didn’t seem to think it was a big deal at all, but he was still very happy that his apprentice cared about him. "I understand. Now, go get some rest. You’ve got dark circles under your eyes."

After briefing her master, Gu Qingyin relaxed completely. Hearing his words, she touched her own eyes, gave a weary yawn, and waved goodbye to Gu Ziqian before leaving.

Once the door was closed, the gentle smile on Gu Ziqian’s face vanished abruptly. ’That junior martial brother of mine... decades have passed, and he’s still just as stubborn and deluded.’

Just as he was about to leave, Huo Yunjing appeared abruptly in front of him.

Gu Ziqian stopped in his tracks, a faint smile returning to his lips. "Is there something you need?"

"Let’s talk about Xian Yu Fei," Huo Yunjing said calmly. "Since he’s gone to the trouble of coming, he should stay for a while."

Gu Ziqian chuckled, agreeing for once. "You’re right."

...

After a good night’s sleep, Gu Qingyin woke up at ten in the morning. She took a shower, and the feeling of exhaustion was washed away completely.

Downstairs, Hua Xin was helping Huo Yunjing set out brunch on the dining table.

When Hua Xin saw her come down, she smiled and greeted her. "I heard that Madam didn’t eat well while you were abroad, so I had the chef make a little extra. Please, pick what you like. I’ll pack up the leftovers and send them to the pet shelter."

"Wow," Gu Qingyin’s eyes lit up. "This is so lavish! The chef gets a double bonus!"

Hua Xin’s smile grew even wider. "You are too kind, Madam. Chef Huang will have something new to brag about."

Gu Qingyin couldn’t help but laugh, then popped a shrimp dumpling into her mouth. Delicious!

That evening, Miao Yan followed Huo Xingye back to the old residence. He had thought his assignment was over, but to his surprise, Gu Qingyin extended it for another week.

’Wasn’t the situation abroad resolved? Why do I still need close protection?’ Now, even Huo Xingye sensed something was wrong.

Gu Qingyin didn’t elaborate, only telling him to stay in crowded places as much as possible and to avoid remote, dark areas. If he absolutely had to go somewhere like that, he must have Miao Yan stick to him like glue.

After giving him these instructions, Gu Qingyin asked, "Has your Soul-devouring Flower bloomed?"

Huo Xingye answered truthfully, "It’s half-bloomed."

Gu Qingyin nodded. "You should probably carry some with you when you go out." ’Even if it’s only half-bloomed, it might be a huge help at a critical moment.’

"When is Xinghai coming back?"

As soon as his younger brother was mentioned, Huo Xingye couldn’t help but become more talkative. "He’s finished recording the music show. Today he had a magazine cover shoot, and he’ll be back in Yun City tomorrow. For a while after that, he’ll be preparing for his concert tour, so he won’t be leaving Yun City for the time being."

After speaking, Huo Xingye paused. "He probably told you all this already, didn’t he?"

Gu Qingyin smiled and nodded. "But hearing it from you again feels different." She patted her son’s shoulder, her tone full of emotion. "You’re a good big brother."

Huo Xingye pressed his lips together, his expression as calm as ever, but if you looked closely, the tips of his ears had turned red.

The next day, Gu Qingyin and Huo Yunjing went to the airport to pick up Huo Xinghai. The boy was very happy and chatted with them the entire way back.

Gu Qingyin responded patiently, occasionally sharing stories from her trip abroad. But as she was talking, the voice beside her went quiet.

She turned her head and saw that Huo Xinghai had actually talked himself to sleep.

Gu Qingyin’s heart ached for him as she gently stroked his face. "He’s exhausted."

Huo Yunjing took a thin blanket from the storage compartment and covered Huo Xinghai with it, saying softly, "Being tired for your own dream is a happy kind of tired."

When Huo Xinghai woke up, it was already evening. When he later heard that his dad had carried him back to his room, his expression turned strange.

’He couldn’t even remember the last time his dad had carried him. Was I three, or four?’

’I’m so big now, how could Dad still carry me? How did he even do it? It couldn’t have been a princess carry, could it?!’

’Oh god! So embarrassing!’