In essence, this was just painting a rosy picture for Gu Yuan. Whether in the celestial realm or the mortal world, leaders always like to dangle carrots in front of their subordinates, making them seem so enticing that one feels as if they're in paradise even in the midst of hardship.
Long Jin saw that Gu Yuan wasn't buying it. Just a moment ago, he was all smiles and fawning, but now his expression changed. He let out a cold snort with a fake smile. "Humph... I've conveyed the message. If you defy the imperial order, you'll bear the consequences."
Saying that, he turned around and was about to leave. Gu Yuan lowered his eyes, as if thinking of something, and immediately called out to Long Jin.
"Uncle Long Jin, wait a moment."
Long Jin was clearly impatient about having to lower himself like this. With his hands behind his back, he didn't even turn to look at Gu Yuan.
"I'd like to ask, Uncle, has Xue Liang already returned to the celestial realm to report?"
Gu Yuan mentioned Xue Liang. Right, this person had disappeared without a trace after Bai Xiangjun's true face was exposed. This person was related to Gu Qingcheng's death. Whether he was dead or alive, I had to find him.
Unexpectedly, Gu Yuan had always been thinking about this. I turned my eyes and looked at him gratefully. He tightened his grip on my hand, responding to my gaze.
"Yes, he has returned to the Heavenly Court to report."
"Good. If you want me to return to the Heavenly Court, I'll do it, but I'll definitely take Xue Liang's life." As Gu Yuan spoke, his eyes were filled with hatred. It seemed that like me, he hated Xue Liang to the core.
Long Jin had thought his persuasion had failed and was about to return to the celestial realm in disappointment.
Unexpectedly, Gu Yuan really agreed. His gloomy face instantly brightened, and the wrinkles on his face seemed to smooth out a bit.
"I'll wait for you in the Eternal Night City of the Underworld in three days."
"Good. In three days, I'll lead five thousand troops to welcome Crown Prince Gu Yuan back to the Heavenly Court to resume his position." After saying that, Long Jin clasped his fists and bowed to Gu Yuan, then slowly stepped back until he disappeared from the large classroom.
Suddenly, the classroom fell silent as if dead, with only Gu Yuan and me left. Gu Yuan now looked no different from an ordinary mortal. I had thought we could grow old together until I died of old age.
But it didn't last long. Just half a year had passed, and he was once again involved in the power struggle in the celestial realm.
I stood there in a daze. If Gu Yuan hadn't called my name, I wouldn't have realized I'd been standing there for so long.
"Lan Lan... Are you angry?" Gu Yuan changed his cold tone and his voice became gentle and pleasant.
"Ah?" I came back to my senses and grinned at him.
"No... I'm not angry. Why would I be angry?"
Gu Yuan pulled my hand and dragged me into his arms. His chin buried itself in my neck.
"I know Gu Qingcheng's death is a hurdle you can never get over in your heart. I feel the same way. So, no matter what, we must avenge her."
"But now you have no magical power. If you agree to return to the Heavenly Court, you'll be openly against Long Lin. With Long Lin's current power, even the Heavenly Emperor can't compete with him. Aren't you just going to your death?"
I tilted my head and looked at Gu Yuan. My worry was evident.
Seeing me so worried about him, Gu Yuan planted a kiss on my cheek.
"Do you still remember the tiger amulet Granny Liu left for me?"
I almost forgot about it if Gu Yuan hadn't mentioned it. That tiger amulet was still lying under the coffee table in our house. No one had touched it for half a year.
"But... You know what your father, the emperor, is like. Do you really want to help him?" I still had many concerns in my heart.
"Now... I've been pushed to the forefront. I can only use this delaying tactic for now. When I come up with a better plan, I'll naturally take you away from this place of right and wrong."
I bit my lower lip and thought for a moment. As a couple, no matter what the result was this time, I must stand by Gu Yuan's side. As long as I could fight side by side with him, I would fear neither life nor death and move forward bravely.
"You have the tiger amulet, and I have the Twelve Demon Maidens. I'll accompany you in this battle, no matter life or death."
Seeing that I agreed, Gu Yuan turned my body around. My reflection was in his deep, black eyes like a deep pool.
"Okay."
He lowered his eyes, and his slightly cool lips slowly landed on mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck and responded to his long kiss.
I swore that from now on, every time we were intimate, we would cherish it as if it were our last day.
Just as we were passionately kissing, we were suddenly interrupted by a cough.
Uncle Zhang at the door was really everywhere. He used to guard the school gate on the playground, and now he was cleaning the large classroom.
When I saw him, my face instantly turned red to the tips of my ears.
This time, Uncle Zhang wasn't serious but smiling. "It's okay. I just want to remind you that there are surveillance cameras here. If you want to kiss, it's better to go to the small woods where you used to date."
After saying that, Uncle Zhang picked up his broom and left.
Gu Yuan and I stood there in the classroom in a stalemate. I held it in for a long time before finally bursting out laughing.
...
Gu Yuan led me out of the classroom. As soon as we stepped out, he looked up at the sky and calculated with his fingers. It seemed that he had noticed something wrong.
"Did you calculate something?" I asked softly.
Gu Yuan heaved a heavy sigh. "The Purple Star appears during the daytime. It seems that a major change is really coming."
"The Purple Star? The star of the emperor. Does it mean that an emperor is going to fall? Is it the Heavenly Emperor?" I asked eagerly.
Although my combat value had soared, I was still inferior to Gu Yuan when it came to fortune - telling.
"Indeed, there is a risk of an emperor falling, but it has nothing to do with us. Right now, we have to go to the Underworld immediately to meet up with Jun He. We'll definitely need Jun He's help this time to lead troops from the Underworld."
I nodded slightly. I thought Gu Yuan was going to take me to the Underworld, but after waiting for a while, Gu Yuan didn't move.
"Lan Lan, call Ji Xiang over to take us to the Underworld."
Four black lines instantly appeared on my face. I almost forgot that Gu Yuan had no magical power now. It was hard enough for him to go to the Underworld alone, let alone taking me with him.
Could we really compete with Long Lin like this? I couldn't help but feel a bit worried.
"Don't worry. If our strength is not enough, we still have this." Gu Yuan tapped my forehead, indicating that he still had his wits.
Gu Yuan saw through my thoughts. Who was Gu Yuan? His ability to fathom people's hearts was no less than that of the current Heavenly Emperor.
I didn't think anymore. I took out three incense sticks from my bag and bowed to the four directions.
I silently recited the incantation to summon my helpers, hoping to call Ji Xiang to take us to the Eternal Night City of the Underworld.
After I finished reciting the incantation, I opened my eyes and looked at the incense in my hand. Instead of summoning Ji Xiang, I saw a bad omen of two short and one long incense sticks.