Chapter 64: Green Tea White Lotus Schemer — Isn't That You?
Bai Suying's expression darkened in anger.
She had never encountered such a rude man.
Gu Qing's gaze made her feel uneasy and embarrassed, her cheeks growing hot. If she hadn't needed his help—and the help of the Star Temple—she would have already ordered her attendants to throw this insolent man out.
Taking a deep breath, Bai Suying ignored his look and forced herself to speak calmly.
"How should I address you, Daoist friend?"
She chose not to use worldly titles; after all, Gu Qing's identity was far too exalted. Even if he offended her, she could only endure it.
"Endure for a moment, and the storm will pass; take a step back, and the sea will open wide," she told herself silently.
What she didn't realize was that stepping back here only led to a cliff.
Gu Qing was doing it deliberately, testing where Bai Suying's boundaries lay—and what kind of heroine she was.
"Gu Qing."
"Daoist Gu, may I ask what you think of the rebels?"
"The nation's decay and the rise and fall of dynasties are but the natural course of heaven and earth," Gu Qing replied indifferently.
"Daoist Gu, aren't you here to assist the Ninth Princess? How can you say such things?" Bai Suying looked displeased but secretly rejoiced inside.
From his words, it sounded like Gu Qing was merely a bystander—not someone who cared about who sat on the throne.
That was a great relief.
Her greatest fear was that Gu Qing would side with Luo Li. The Star Temple's deterrence was immense. It was an existence recorded in ancient chronicles—an unfathomable sect filled with powerful beings, overlooking the heavens and ages.
Its disciples traveled with Supreme Realm protectors; angering them might even provoke a Saint.
But now, Gu Qing had expressed disinterest in intervening—and perhaps even willingness to cooperate. This was a heavenly blessing.
Still, Bai Suying quickly regained composure.
Gu Qing wouldn't have come all this way just to "watch the show."
He must have a reason.
"I, too, wish to assist my junior sister, but she has never been fond of me," Gu Qing said helplessly, then smiled at her with a hint of meaning.
Bai Suying understood instantly—so, he was a lustful man chasing after Luo Li.
Relieved, she began to consider how she could use this to connect with the Star Temple—and perhaps have Ye Hao join it.
In her eyes, Luo Li had become a Saint's disciple only because she'd stolen a Supreme Bone.
Now that Ye Hao had regrown his Supreme Bone—his talent even greater than before—surely he could also become a disciple of the Star Temple.
But first, they had to find the Star Temple.
Floating in the vast cosmos without coordinates, it was nearly impossible to locate.
The best way was for Gu Qing to make the introduction—or at least provide its coordinates.
If Ye Hao became a Star Temple disciple, Luo Li would no longer pose any threat.
Thinking this, Bai Suying decided to drop her pretense. Her red lips parted slightly as she spoke slowly.
"Daoist Gu, to tell the truth, Ye Hao is my nephew—Luo Li's fiancé, from whom she stole the Supreme Bone. His rebellion is an act of desperation."
This wasn't exactly a secret.
After all, who didn't know she was the sister of the world's number one Sword Immortal—and Ye Hao's sister-in-law?
And who didn't know that, back then, when Ye Hao was stripped of his bone, she was the one who saved his life?
As for why the royal family had tolerated her behavior—it was simple. Her father was a Supreme Realm cultivator, residing within the royal capital itself.
"I didn't expect you and Ye Hao to be connected," Gu Qing said, rubbing his chin while pretending to be intrigued.
The fish had taken the bait.
He wondered—if he took Bai Suying into his bed, would Ye Hao cough blood from rage afterward?
Though Gu Qing didn't particularly desire her, the idea of simultaneously vexing Ye Hao and gaining a peerless beauty was far too tempting.
"Compared to mortal power, he seeks immortality. Fortunately, he has regrown his Supreme Bone," Bai Suying said earnestly.
"Daoist Gu, could you perhaps recommend him—or at least tell us the coordinates of the Star Temple?"
Gu Qing smiled faintly. "I don't help strangers."
"Of course, if the Empress were willing to serve by my side, I could immediately have a Saint Elder accept him as a disciple."
He no longer bothered hiding his intentions.
Rather than playing subtle games, he preferred being direct.
"Daoist Gu, I am the mother of a nation, already a married woman. How could a withered flower like me deserve such an honor?" Bai Suying said coldly, her expression turning unpleasant.
So he was after her.
Though Gu Qing was handsome, immensely talented, and of noble status—if word spread, countless proud daughters of heaven would surely rush to his side.
But to her, it was nothing more than vulgarity.
Just another lustful, shameless scoundrel.
"Then forget it—find someone else," Gu Qing said casually, shaking his head. Then he added,
"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. Luo Li and I share the same lineage. My master is the Divine Maiden Zhi Meng—she has already reached the Divine Fire Realm."
"And as a friendly reminder, Luo Li came with twenty King Realm cultivators, five Supremes, and a Saint Elder at the seventh level."
"I don't know why she hasn't acted yet, but I doubt she brought that force just for fun."
Ji Ning's eyelid twitched violently. She had just realized how smoothly Gu Qing could lie when he wanted to.
Bai Suying, however, believed every word—her face turning pale with fear.
The Divine Maiden of the Star Temple was said to outrank even its Palace Lord.
So Bai Suying had no reason to doubt him.
Moreover, Gu Qing might not have known why Luo Li refused to aid the royal family—but she did.
She had long seen through Luo Li's deep, ruthless heart.
The Emperor had caused the death of Luo Li's mother and the annihilation of her maternal clan. She once thought Luo Li didn't care—that she remained loyal to the throne.
But now, it was clear: Luo Li's silence meant revenge.
She no longer needed the royal family's support. Seeking vengeance would only strengthen her Dao heart and clear her inner demons.
So, the weakening of Emperor Luo Ling's soul lamp—it was Luo Li's doing?
Was the Emperor's poison also her work?
Was she planning to let Ye Hao storm the capital, massacre the royals, and then wipe him out as well—avenging her mother and gaining fame in one stroke?
The more Bai Suying thought, the more it all made sense.
Her face turned ashen, her voice trembling. "Daoist Gu, Luo Li intends to kill her own father. Are you not going to stop her?"
"What? Impossible."
"Do you have proof?"
Gu Qing was startled. Though he claimed disbelief, he had already accepted it in his heart.
Luo Li was a great villain—wasn't committing deranged acts exactly what villains did?
"No."
"But Luo Li…"
Bai Suying knew her words were hard to believe, but she still tried to explain. She revealed Luo Li and her mother's tragic past, hoping to show that Luo Li had reason to seek vengeance against the royal family.
"Enough. You needn't say more. Luo Li would never kill her father, nor would she ignore her own family."
Gu Qing interrupted her halfway through her story.
Damn, Luo Li's mother's fate was truly miserable.
She had known the emperor since childhood, fallen in love, entered the palace, then was framed, miscarried, imprisoned in the dungeon, tortured to death, and her entire clan slaughtered.
If it were anyone else, wouldn't they seek revenge too?
So even if Luo Li did commit patricide, Gu Qing would simply pretend he hadn't seen it.
"…" Bai Suying fell silent, unwilling but resigned.
She understood his hidden meaning—it was nothing more than sect loyalty.
True or not, the rumor had to be false.
Especially that last line—"Luo Li would never abandon her family." Clearly, he meant her maternal family, not the royal one.
But if Gu Qing wouldn't interfere, then what of them?
Given Luo Li's ruthlessness, she would never spare Ye Hao.
With that thought, Bai Suying rose and bowed deeply to Gu Qing.
"Daoist Gu, Hao'er is innocent. He has never wronged Luo Li. As long as you are willing to recommend him to the Star Temple, no matter what trials you demand—mountains of blades or seas of fire—Suying will not refuse."
"You exaggerate. No need for fire or blades. Just follow me, eat well, live richly—you'll have endless glory and fortune," Gu Qing said with a faint smile.
"Daoist Gu, I am a married woman…"
"I'm not asking to marry you—just to take you as a concubine. Aren't you overthinking it?"
"…" Bai Suying.
"…" Ji Ning.
She was speechless.
It felt like Gu Qing had become an entirely different person the moment he met Bai Suying.
Even if he wanted to use her against Ye Hao, did he have to be this shameless?
Bai Suying's flawless face flushed crimson, her chest heaving with rage.
Never in her life had she met someone so brazen.
Even the shameless ones she'd known before at least pretended to be gentlemen—Gu Qing didn't even bother.
"Daoist Gu, Luo Li's cruelty knows no bounds. If she's allowed to act freely, she'll plunge the Divine Phoenix Empire into chaos—millions will suffer!"
"That has nothing to do with me."
"Then name another condition! I'll agree to anything!"
"What other condition could you offer? Aside from your beautiful body, what else do you have worth mentioning?"
Shameless or not, so be it.
When dealing with a heroine, it was best to cut clean and deep—straight to the point, leaving no room for retreat.
Roundabout politeness wasn't his style.
"…" Ji Ning.
"…" Bai Suying.
For the first time, Bai Suying regretted being beautiful.
If only she had been born plain.
"Fine, I agree. But you must promise me one thing first," Bai Suying said weakly, despair creeping into her voice.
Gu Qing's earlier lies had terrified her.
That many Supreme Realm cultivators could annihilate the Northern Army dozens of times over—not to mention the Saint.
She had no choice but to agree.
She would never allow her sister's child to suffer again.
"Speak."
"When Luo Li leaves the Divine Phoenix Empire, you must also recommend Hao'er to the Star Temple," Bai Suying said through clenched teeth, her tone resolute.
"Click, click."
"Well, well," Gu Qing sneered, scanning her from head to toe.
"So once Luo Li leaves, your crisis is over, Ye Hao becomes emperor, and then I'm supposed to recommend him?"
"When he's a Saint's disciple and I'm no longer useful, you'll just kick me aside, won't you?"
"You've planned it all perfectly—every benefit yours, no cost to pay."
"Heh. I didn't expect it from you. Green tea white lotus schemer—fits you perfectly, doesn't it?"
"Bai Suying, I'll give you three days. If you don't answer by then, I'll personally lead my people to kill Ye Hao and his father."
"All right, you may go."
A month or two was too long to wait—but three days, he could manage.
Besides, pressing too hard could backfire.
Bai Suying's mind went blank as she staggered out of Moyang Palace.
Who was she? Where was she? What had just happened?
Right—Gu Qing had called her a green tea white lotus schemer.
She didn't understand what "green tea white lotus" meant, but she knew what a schemer was.
Her face turned pale, then red, her teeth gritting tightly.
She was not some green tea white lotus schemer.
She only feared that Gu Qing would break his word—taking what he wanted, then abandoning her.
Given how shameless he was, who could blame her?
That was why she wanted him to fulfill his promise first—then she would serve.
Who could have known that would earn her such an insult?
Utterly infuriating.
"Wait… something's wrong."
Bai Suying suddenly turned back, eyes wide.
Moyang Palace was her own bedchamber—why was she the one leaving?
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