Gu Li Sure Is Fair-Skinned...

Amid rounds of uproarious laughter, Gu Li sheepishly finished getting dressed and stepped outside. Hunching his shoulders, he glared exasperatedly at everyone and scolded them with a laugh, "You lot are way too shameless! Who squats right beside someone just to watch them change?" Li Guanqi smiled. Ye Feng had been the first to wander over with a handful of melon seeds, followed soon after by Cao Yan and Xiao Chen. Xiao Chen had been wrapped up in sweet, flirtatious banter with Ye Qing'er over the past two days. That had infuriated Ye Feng so much that he dragged Xiao Chen over no matter what. In Ye Feng's words: *I treat him like a brother, and he wants to be my brother-in-law!!* Knowing Gu Li was about to wake up, Li Guanqi had come along as well. A playful smirk played across Li Guanqi's lips. "Still, Brother Gu... you really are fair-skinned. Hahahahaha!" The corner of Gu Li's mouth twitched. Habitually, he pulled out his talisman brush and began drawing inscribed talismans, as if only that could bring him some semblance of calm. Li Guanqi looked at Gu Li, who cut an elegant, dashing figure once properly dressed, and then glanced at Xiao Chen, who exuded the charm of a handsome pretty boy. Stroking his chin, Li Guanqi grinned mischievously. "If the two of you went to work at a brothel, you'd be the star headliners at the very least." Both men rolled their eyes in unison, shooting Li Guanqi looks of absolute contempt. Li Guanqi roared with laughter. Gu Li, looking a bit worried, glanced back at the snow-white-haired Li Congxin. Li Guanqi gently reassured him, "Don't worry, he's fine. The power of the medicinal pool is more than enough to nourish his origin soul. He should wake up in a few more days. Let's first—" Suddenly! The space within the Purple Spirit Grotto-Heaven trembled slightly, and the void before them warped incessantly. Immediately after, a woman clad in a flowing blue gown stepped out from the spatial rift. Her world-toppling beauty left them momentarily dazed, and her otherworldly, transcendent aura inspired involuntary awe. Gu Li was completely dumbstruck at the sight of her. He stood frozen where he was, his brush piercing straight through the talisman paper without him even noticing, drool practically hanging from the corner of his mouth. Xiao Chen hastily stood up in a fluster, not forgetting to straighten his clothes and tidy his appearance. Cao Yan, who had just stepped onto the ground, simply offered a gentle, cultured smile, looking every bit the refined young noble. Yet Meng Wanshu's eyes, brilliant as the stars, held only Li Guanqi. Her tall, slender figure approached, and she wrapped her left arm around Li Guanqi's waist while her right hand gently caressed his cheek. Tilting her head up slightly, she gazed into Li Guanqi's eyes, her own glistening with emotion. She already knew everything that had happened recently—the wager matches, the arena... A pang of guilt tugged at her heart. If only she had broken through sooner, Li Guanqi would not have had to endure such hardship. Their eyes met, neither speaking a word. Meng Wanshu quietly rested her head against Li Guanqi's chest. Seeing this divine, immaculate maiden acting like a tender, vulnerable young woman, Ye Feng threw his arms around the other men's shoulders and shoved them out of the domain boundary. As he left, Ye Feng turned back and gave Li Guanqi a wink. Li Guanqi pretended not to notice. Once the others were gone, Li Guanqi's palm gently stroked Meng Wanshu's cool back as he asked softly, "When did you break through?" Meng Wanshu's cheeks flushed slightly. Resting against his chest, she looked up and chided him tenderly, "Stop that." Yet despite her words, she made no move to pull away. Still leaning against him, she murmured, "I just broke through, and then I took a trip to the Ethereal Immortal Domain." Li Guanqi's brow instantly furrowed. "You went to the Ethereal Immortal Domain?" Meng Wanshu felt she ought to tell him about Song Zhi'ang. Straightening up, she said, "Yes. After arriving in the Ethereal Immortal Domain, I visited the Nine Dragons Immortal Sect. Guess who was behind Zhao Bin's death?" With her hands clasped behind her back, a hint of slyness flickered in Meng Wanshu's beautiful eyes. She assumed Li Guanqi would guess Ye Bingxin. Yet seeing her expression, Li Guanqi grew even more certain of his suspicion. Calmly, he answered, "Song Zhi'ang." A trace of surprise visibly flashed through Meng Wanshu's eyes. She had not expected him to guess correctly right away. Her brow relaxed, and she stretched lazily, the form-fitting gown accentuating every line of her flawless figure. Meng Wanshu said softly, "She was taken away by members of Sha. Her power has become very strange, seemingly tied to her unique physique. In such a short time, she had already broken through to the Void Refining Realm. I came very close to killing her." Li Guanqi keenly caught the underlying danger in her words and stepped behind her with concern. He wrapped his arms around Meng Wanshu's slender waist. Sometimes, he could not help but wonder how her figure could possibly be so perfect—slender without an ounce of excess, fitting just right in his embrace. A gentle current of primal energy circulated through her body. Only when he confirmed she was unhurt did he finally relax. Leaning close to her ear, he said softly, "Don't do something so dangerous next time." Feeling his warm breath brushing against her ear, Meng Wanshu's fair cheeks flushed crimson. She gave a soft, obedient hum of agreement. As his hands shifted, Meng Wanshu shivered slightly, her entire body growing taut. Their eyes met, and everything went unspoken. *** An hour later. Atop Yuhu Peak, everyone sat in a circle, drinking wine. Gu Li looked around, clicking his tongue in marvel. Clearly, he had noticed what made the Great Xia Sword Sect's three thousand wondrous peaks and eight hundred scenic streams so extraordinary. Gu Li and Cao Yan got along splendidly. Both possessed exceptionally powerful mental energy, though their areas of expertise differed. The more Gu Li looked at Cao Yan, the more he liked him. He had even secretly contacted Gu Changsheng, saying he wanted to accept a disciple on his father's behalf! Gu Changsheng had not agreed, but neither had he refused! A sharp gleam flashed across Gu Li's eyes. *There's a chance!* "Ahem. Brother Cao, your insights into the Dao of Alchemy are indeed superb, but I can't help feeling what you've learned is a bit too broad and jumbled." Cao Yan did not argue. With a smile playing on his lips, he sent a voice transmission to Ye Feng: *Second Brother, Second Brother! This kid is a top-tier seventh-rank talisman master!!! Think of a way to swindle him over to our side, quick! If we do, we'll never have to worry about resources again!!* The corner of Ye Feng's mouth twitched as he watched the two clink glasses and drink. Both of them were smiling so wide their eyes curved into crescents, the abacus beads clattering in their heads loud enough to bounce off his face. Still, Gu Li had risked his life to block that terrifying strike for Li Guanqi. For that alone, Ye Feng held him in high esteem. Even so, when it came to matters like recruitment, Ye Feng was like Li Guanqi: he preferred to let nature take its course. His gaze casually drifted toward Zhou Shiyu, who sat a short distance away. In this lively drinking gathering, Zhou Shiyu seemed rather out of place. He had actually wanted to return to the Six Ancient Sacred Sect earlier, staying only because he had yet to bid farewell to Li Guanqi in person. *Buzz!!* A refined, elegant figure abruptly appeared atop Yuhu Peak. Ye Feng started slightly, then rose to his feet with a smile. "Brother Ji, what brings you here to see us?" Gu Li's pupils contracted, and he slowly stood up as well. Ji Yuchuan smiled and said, "I have some business with the Pavilion Master, so I thought I would wait here for a while." Then, turning his gaze toward Gu Li, Ji Yuchuan gave a warm smile. "Young Master Gu, it is a pleasure to finally meet you."