Chapter 234 - 233: Long Time No See

Chapter 234: Chapter 233: Long Time No See

Gu Qingyin stared intently at the array, her eyes filled with anticipation, but also a hint of unease.

Her feelings were a tangled mess. She hoped for success—it would mean the array was a complete triumph. But if she really did succeed, she wasn’t sure how she would face this world’s Gu Ziqian.

While Gu Qingyin wrestled with her thoughts, the array continued to operate steadily. Its faint red glow pulsed, brightening and dimming, until at one moment, as if in response to something, it suddenly erupted with light.

"Who’s there?" A familiar voice came from within the array.

Gu Qingyin’s mind went blank, and she blurted out, "Master!"

The moment the word left her lips, her own face flushed red. ’Isn’t this basically cross-dimensional mooching?’

"No, what I meant was..."

Before she could finish explaining, Gu Ziqian’s voice sounded again. "Qingyin?"

"Huh?" Gu Qingyin froze. ’How could this world’s Gu Ziqian possibly know me?!’

Gu Ziqian didn’t explain. He simply instructed, "Wait for me right where you are. I’ll be there soon."

Gu Qingyin was in a daze. It took her a long moment to come to her senses. With a head full of questions, she erased the array, then left the study with that same head full of questions.

The two adults and one child were waiting just outside the door. When they saw her emerge, they all crowded around.

"How did it go?" Dongfang Lingjun asked first.

Gu Qingyin blinked. "He said... to wait for him to come over."

Dongfang Lingjun sucked in a sharp breath. "Master Gu is coming over?" The eighty-year-old man was so flustered he spun around on the spot, then abruptly lifted his head and shouted, "Qiu!"

A middle-aged man in a tuxedo appeared as if from thin air. He placed a hand over his chest and bowed. "Your orders, sir."

"An honored guest is arriving! Tidy up the house, quickly!" Dongfang Lingjun said grimly. "And I mean quickly!"

Housekeeper Qiu replied with unruffled composure, "Of course. Please, sir, do not fret. It is most important to remain emotionally stable. Your blood pressure has been a bit high recently."

Dongfang Lingjun took several deep breaths, then waved a hand, gesturing for Housekeeper Qiu to hurry up and get to it.

Once Dongfang Lingjun had calmed down a bit, Gu Qingyin said, "It’s really not necessary to go to so much trouble. I doubt he’ll care about such things."

Gu Ziqian was a hermit who lived in a wooden cabin on a mountain year-round. A palace and a hovel were probably all the same in his eyes.

Dongfang Lingjun shook his head. "Master Gu may not care, but that doesn’t mean I can neglect my duties."

Gu Qingyin understood. She smiled. "You’re always so considerate."

Under Housekeeper Qiu’s direction, the manor’s staff sprang into well-trained motion. They started by cleaning the main gate and worked their way inward, tidying the reception room first, then moving on to areas the guest was unlikely to visit, proceeding step-by-step in a methodical fashion.

In contrast to the staff’s composure, Dongfang Lingjun, knowing full well who was coming, couldn’t sit still, even though his initial excitement had subsided. He decided to simply stand by the door and wait.

As guests, Gu Qingyin and Huo Yunjing naturally had no choice but to accompany him.

Of course, no one made any demands on the little one, Huo Xingchen, but he still stuck by Gu Qingyin’s side and asked in a low voice, "What did Grandmaster say?"

Gu Qingyin picked up her son and whispered, "He just said he was coming, nothing else. When he gets here, don’t call him Grandmaster. Call him Grandpa Gu."

Huo Xingchen acknowledged her. "I know, Mom. Don’t treat me like a little kid."

Gu Qingyin stared at his fair, round little face. She tried to resist, but couldn’t, and leaned in to plant a kiss on his cheek. Her voice overflowed with affection. "My son is just too cute."

Huo Xingchen’s little face turned red. He hugged Gu Qingyin’s neck, buried his face in her shoulder, and fell silent.

Gu Qingyin chuckled at the sight. ’Human cubs are born with a charm skill! It’s completely irresistible! Especially my own little cub!’

After about ten more minutes, a low-profile black car drove in.

Dongfang Lingjun’s eyes lit up. Just as he was about to step forward to greet them, the car stopped, and a woman in a Tang suit stepped out. It was none other than Zhang Qiuyan, whom Gu Qingyin had met once before.

Zhang Qiuyan was also a bit baffled. She walked up to Dongfang Lingjun, gave a slight bow, and greeted him respectfully, "Master."

Although Dongfang Lingjun was somewhat disappointed, he still smiled and nodded. "Let me introduce you. This is Gu Qingyin, and this is her son, Huo Xingchen. They are our clients this time."

Zhang Qiuyan looked at the mother and son and said with a smile, "We meet again."

Huo Xingchen waved happily.

Gu Qingyin set her son down and remarked with a smile of admiration, "No wonder you’re so knowledgeable about arrays at such a young age. So you’re Senior Dongfang’s disciple."

Zhang Qiuyan’s face flushed slightly. "I’m merely fortunate that Master doesn’t find me lacking."

Dongfang Lingjun couldn’t stand hearing his disciple be so modest. "Qiu Yan’s talent is one of the best of the younger generation. She truly has a gift when it comes to arrays." He lifted his chin. "This old man doesn’t just take anyone as a disciple."

They all couldn’t help but laugh.

After a bit of conversation, Zhang Qiuyan couldn’t hold back her curiosity. "Why are we all standing at the entrance? Are you waiting for an important guest?"

Dongfang Lingjun rubbed his hands together. "That’s right! A truly honored guest!"

The words had barely left his lips when the atmosphere in the courtyard abruptly changed. A man in a long cyan robe appeared out of nowhere.

No one knew how he had gotten in. By the time they noticed him, he was already standing at the foot of the entrance steps.

Gu Qingyin’s eyes lit up as she carefully studied this world’s Gu Ziqian.

He looked much the same as he did in her memories. His shoulder-length hair was tied back in a half-ponytail, the rest falling stylishly around his shoulders. His face had a few more fine lines, which only made his features seem deeper. The corners of his lips were perpetually curved in a gentle smile, as if he were very approachable.

But in reality, Gu Ziqian’s sense of detachment was bone-deep. He could lower himself to chat with anyone, making them think they were close, but upon reflection, they would realize that for all the talking, nothing of substance was ever shared. His guard was always up.

Huo Xingchen was also sizing him up. After comparing first impressions, he still thought his own Grandmaster was more handsome.

"Master Gu!" Dongfang Lingjun excitedly rushed over. He extended a hand before he even reached the man. "Do you remember me? Ten years ago, I served with you as a judge for the Special-level Heavenly Master examination."

However, Dongfang Lingjun was just an ordinary judge who had to do the work. Gu Ziqian had been a special guest, there only to serve as a mascot and boost the prestige of the examination.

Gu Ziqian extended his hand and gave Dongfang Lingjun’s a light shake. "Hello. I apologize for the imposition today."

Dongfang Lingjun beamed so widely his eyes disappeared. "Not at all, not at all! I couldn’t be happier that you were able to come."

Gu Ziqian gave a polite smile, but when he turned to look at Gu Qingyin, that sense of detachment instantly vanished. "Qingyin, long time no see."

Gu Qingyin blinked, growing even more confused. "Have we... met before?"

Gu Ziqian was still smiling, but his gaze turned somewhat wistful. He gestured with his hand at chest-level. "The last time I saw you, you were only this tall."

Gu Qingyin was even more baffled now. Her brow furrowed involuntarily. ’Had Gu Ziqian met the original owner of this body before?’

As if he knew what she was thinking, Gu Ziqian added, "I once spent some time in another world."

At his words, Gu Qingyin’s eyes suddenly flew wide open.