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Translator: Fate
Translation Checker: Silavin
“That’s good to hear. I was worried that Young Master Changge would turn me down because of it.” An Yan patted her chest in relief while beaming sweetly, revealing a pair of her canine teeth.
At that, Gu Xianer fixed her gaze on An Yan, who found the former’s expression peculiar. There seemed to be hints of anger and unreconciled resignation but mostly envy.
Followingly, she sized Gu Xianer up and quickly realised where she was coming from. While finding it amusing, she also felt smug. [To think the usually otherworldly Gu Xianer would have times like this!]
As An Yan considered her figure to be one of the best among her peers, she was confident she could overwhelm Gu Xianer without even breaking a sweat.
Gu Xianer, on the other hand, seethed with rage as she sensed An Yan’s gloating.
Subsequently, An Yan shifted backwards, sensing that she seemed to have infuriated Gu Xianer. “Xianer, why are you looking at me like that?”
Gu Xianer regained her composure at once, and she snorted inwardly. [Well, that’s all there is to it.]
That said, she still couldn’t help asking, “Do you take some sort of magical herb or supplement?”
An Yan shook her head dazedly, pretending to not understand what Gu Xianer meant. “I usually just take the mystical herbs required for cultivation or meat products. Is that what you’re referring to?”
Gu Xianer listened attentively, but gradually, she thought something didn’t add up. She swore she ate those things all the time, and it was all thanks to those products that she could gain such a terrifying physique. But how could there be such a stark difference between them?! The difference was so massive that she was green with envy!
Nevertheless, she naturally couldn’t humble herself enough to ask in detail. So instead, she cussed her dear cousin, for if it weren’t for him, how could she pay any attention to something like this!?
“Forget it.” Gu Xianer’s countenance returned to being lofty as always.
“Xianer, why don’t you accompany me to toast? You can introduce me in the meantime. That way, it wouldn’t be too abrupt.” An Yan blinked and pulled the most harmless smile she believed she had to appear innocent.
“You’ll do fine without me.” Gu Xianer refused. She wanted nothing to do with Gu Changge at all, right then. If anything, it’d be days after then she was willing to see him.
“Oh…” An Yan mumbled disappointingly.
“On second thought. I’ll join you,” Gu Xianer interjected with a frown, sensing something amiss. She stood up, seeming a little doubtful. She had a feeling An Yan approached her with an agenda from the very beginning, and she should watch it play out a little.
“Yay!” An Yan seemed to be even happier after seeing that Gu Xianer reconsidered. At that, she hurriedly got up, seemingly worried Gu Xianer would reconsider again.
The young woman’s behaviour made Gu Xianer even more doubtful. Then again, she couldn’t ask An Yan anything either.
Followingly, the two headed towards the throne, catching many people’s attention, whose countenance shifted subtly in response. Many were familiar with Gu Xianer. In fact, many prodigal damsels would actively befriend her in hopes of getting closer to Gu Changge. She was the Immortal Gu Family’s little princess, and even Gu Changge would spoil her.
For instance, she would rebuke Gu Changge unforgivingly right in his face sometimes. If it were anyone else, Gu Changge would have undoubtedly already crushed them to dust; only Gu Xianer would dare behave so audaciously. And because of the relationship, many youths revered the young woman.
In fact, sometimes, Gu Xianer’s opponent, whom she asked to duel with, would surrender seconds into the match, not daring to spar with her at all. After all, Gu Change’s protectiveness towards his friends and family was no secret in the Upper Realm. They wouldn’t even dare Gu Changge’s followers, so what more his close family and friends?!
“That’s the princess of the Hidden An Clan. I’m surprised she’s so close with the Gu Family’s princess.”
“I wonder what those from the An Clan will think about this.”
Ambiguity flashed across many cultivators’ eyes and especially of those who had crossed paths with the Hidden An Clan, and knew a thing or two about An Yan.
She was the daughter of the leader of the Hidden An Clan, the matriarch. If nothing happened, she would share a similarly venerable position as Gu Xianer in the Hidden An Clan. However, she had an older sister named An Xi, who was born from a concubine. The young woman was no simple character. Be it cultivation and talent or means and schemes, one would find her iron-willed.
An Yan’s mother passed away long ago for an unknown reason. That said, she had left An Yan a handsome inheritance. Sadly, An Yan’s father only had his mind on cultivation and cared nothing for the clan’s issues, causing serious infighting among the Elders, whom most of An Xi had won over. There was even word that An Xi would send her men to give An Yan trouble every now and then and also seize the inheritance An Yan’s mother had left.
Moreover, the clan An Yan’s mother belonged to wasn’t as influential and had never concerned themselves with the young woman. Hence, it all resulted in An Yan’s incredibly sensitive position within the Hidden An Clan—having far less power than An Xi despite being the eldest daughter born from the wife. In fact, she was even more powerless than many family members of the other branches.
Nevertheless, many cultivators started getting ideas when they saw what they were seeing.
Sure, An Yan’s position in the Hidden An Clan was sensitive, but the young woman was harmless and always wore an innocent, brilliant smile. And because of that, she managed to survive peacefully until this day.
“Doesn’t matter whether it’s her facade or it’s who she is, it’s her savoir-faire.”
“Now that she has befriended Gu Xianer, she might get to know Gu Changge later. Looks like that one from the An Clan will have to keep her eyes peeled now.”
Many of the older generation had seen most things life had to offer. Thus, they could capture the agenda at once. That said, they felt humoured right then and even wanted bigger drama.
Meanwhile, Gu Changge sat upright on the throne dressed in black, looking majestic and enigmatic as slivers of glow surrounded him. He quirked a brow with great interest as he watched An Yan and Gu Xianer approach him.
“A toast to you, Young Master Changge, from An Yan of the Hidden An Clan, for without you, we couldn’t have defeated the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains Army so easily.” An Yan, with a liquor cup in her hand, beamed with just-right innocence, making it impossible for anyone to sense malice from her.
Behind her, Gu Xianer stood absolutely begrudgingly and even glared back at Gu Changge when she saw him looking in her direction.
“The Hidden An Clan, huh?” Gu Chagge smirked as he glanced negligently at An Yan. Though he raised his liquor cup in reply, he made nothing of the young woman’s gratitude. Instead, he looked towards his little cousin. “Are you here to give me a toast too?”
Gu Xianer snorted and explained, “I’m just keeping An Yan company. What makes you think I even want to see you?”
“I thought it was obtrusive of me to meet you so imprudently. That’s why I asked Xianer to accompany me,” An Yan explained with a smile. “Though I’ve had the honour of meeting you earlier, Young Master Changge, I’m certain you don’t remember me.”
“How can I forget? You were next to Xianer at the time, An Yan of the Hidden An Clan.” Gu Changge smiled plainly, well aware of An Yan’s agenda. After all, it wasn’t his first time seeing a woman approach his friends and family to get to him. He would have no trouble finding out An Yan’s current social status if he really wanted to know. If it weren’t for the fact that she was Gu Xianer’s friend, he couldn’t be bothered to entertain her at all.
Meanwhile, An Yan’s expression stiffened after hearing Gu Changge’s words, for she sensed impassiveness in his attitude, and it baffled her. In her head, Gu Changge supposedly wouldn’t hate her when she was Gu Xianer’s friend.
“Can’t you at least be nice to my friend?” Gu Xianer glared displeasingly at her cousin. Though she knew An Yan might have approached her with a purpose, the two were still genuinely good friends. Especially when An Yan would tell her about her life in the clan, causing Gu Xianer to sympathise with her, as she thought she found a bit of her past self in An Yan.
“She’s your friend, huh? Well, it’s good to see that you’re making friends. It won’t help that you’re alone all the time.” After overcoming the slight surprise, Gu Changge smiled and reached for Gu Xianer’s cheek, wanting to pinch it when he saw her expression. But too bad for him, the young woman evaded his hand with narrow eyes.
Meanwhile, great envy surged within An Yan as she watched the cousin’s interaction.
“Am I not allowed to have friends?” Gu Xianer thought her cousin implied that she had a poor personality that kept people from befriending her.
“Of course you do. My Xianer’s so pretty; how can no one want to be friends with you?” Gu Changge smiled.
“Shush! Not another word!” Mortified, Gu Xianer blushed and wished to seal Gu Changge’s lips up. [Damn you! I’m getting goosebumps! What do you mean by my Xianer!?]
The young woman knew Gu Changge had deliberately said it in front of an outsider to make it look like he treated her well.
But, of course, An Yan was clueless about Gu Xianer’s thoughts. The way she saw it, Gu Changge would only say something like that because he adored and spoiled her to no end. Nowadays, in the Upper Realm, even True Daoists would be careful with their words towards Gu Changge, unlike Gu Xianer, who still dared to act rudely towards Gu Changge.
Because of this, she was even more determined to be on Gu Xianer’s good side.
Sometime later, the banquet that had lasted several days finally came to an end, and all the ancient beings and cultivators retired to their ancient battleships to prepare for the upcoming battle. Meanwhile, Gu Changge asked An Yan to stay.
Though bewildered, Gu Xianer didn’t ask any questions, she knew her cousin would tell her what she needed to know. That said, she still shot Gu Changge a warning glance, worried that the man would bully An Yan.
Uneasiness crept up on An Yan as she remained in the majestic, quaint, yet empty palace. Cold sweat had even gathered on her back at that. Little did she think that Gu Changge would ask her and her alone to stay after the banquet.
“I’m happy for Xianer to make another friend, but she’s a little simple. If I learn that she has been bullied or suffered any grievances…” said Gu Changge with a smile as he had his back to An Yan, but his tone gradually turned cold towards the end.
An Yan’s heart skipped a beat. Though she was still wearing her innocent facade, whiteness laced her face. She knew Gu Changge was warning her of the dire consequences if she dared exploit Gu Xianer.
