Chapter Twenty-Three: Zhu Rong

Chen Jiaojiao fell asleep on Gu Liuyun's back without even realizing it. By the time she woke up, Gu Liuyun had already brought her back to his home.

"Awake?" Hearing her stir, Gu Liuyun walked in carrying a glass of water. "I don't have any women's clothing here, so you'll have to make do with this." He gestured toward a white shirt resting at the foot of the bed.

"Thank you." With a faint flush on her cheeks, Chen Jiaojiao took the shirt and stepped into the bathroom. Moments later, she emerged. Though the shirt was a bit loose on her, it could not hide her exquisite, curvaceous figure. Her long, slender legs, smooth as jade, overlapped as she walked, a sight that could easily stir one's heart.

"Does it look strange on me?" Noticing Gu Liuyun's gaze, she felt a burning sensation in her face.

Gu Liuyun smiled and shook his head. "You look beautiful in it."

Chen Jiaojiao lowered her head, feeling shy yet secretly delighted.

"You're injured; you should stay here and recover for a few days," Gu Liuyun said. "However, I'm quite busy lately and might not be able to look after you properly."

Chen Jiaojiao nodded obediently. "It's alright, I can take care of myself."

Because of him, the Ye family had been targeted by the evil cultivation organization. Ye Qingqing, lacking mental fortitude, had been exploited by them and fallen into the path of evil. He felt responsible and needed to help the Ye family bring her back. To find further clues, he had to contact that person.

...

At Filo Cafe.

"I didn't expect you to come looking for me so soon," Bai Xiyu said, crossing her legs elegantly while holding a cup of coffee.

"Ye Qingqing has been taken by them," Gu Liuyun stated. "I need your help."

Bai Xiyu's grip on her coffee cup tightened instinctively, a flash of unreadable emotion crossing her eyes. "Who is Ye Qingqing?"

"She is the sister of my fiancée," Gu Liuyun replied.

"Oh..." Bai Xiyu remarked with a meaningful tone. "So, that makes her your former fiancée?"

Gu Liuyun paused, then nodded.

"Young Master Gu, your romantic life truly is in full bloom. First the sister, now the sister-in-law..." Her words were laced with bitterness.

Gu Liuyun felt baffled by her sudden mood swings. It seemed he wouldn't get any leads from her, so he would have to rely on himself.

"If there's nothing else, I won't disturb you further." Not wanting to waste time, he prepared to leave.

"Wait!" Seeing he was about to go, Bai Xiyu called out to him.

Gu Liuyun stopped and looked at her, puzzled. Bai Xiyu bit her lower lip slightly, staring at his impassive expression, wishing she could rush over and shake him to see if he still remembered their childhood promise. Alas, times had changed and people had drifted apart. No matter how unwilling she was, she had to endure it in silence; she would bury these feelings deep in her heart forever.

With a deep sigh, she composed herself and said slowly, "My father has already found some leads regarding the evil cultivation organization."

Gu Liuyun was surprised to hear this and sat back down.

"Due to the heavy suppression by major factions, their activities had decreased. Recently, however, they seem to have chosen a new leader and are primarily operating in the Hexi region..." Bai Xiyu placed a tablet in front of him. "Take a look; this is intelligence transmitted by the Bai family’s scout team."

Hexi? That was a familiar place. Wasn't that sycophant of Ye Qingqing's he encountered in the secret realm from the Zhu family of Hexi? Something like... Zhu Yan? But that man was already dead.

Gu Liuyun took the tablet and studied it carefully.

"Tonight, our scout team will be laying an ambush in Hexi. Do you want to join us?" Bai Xiyu asked.

"Yes," Gu Liuyun replied decisively.

That night, Gu Liuyun arrived early at the designated spot.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Bai Xiyu walked over. She had changed into a black bodysuit that revealed her graceful curves, her aura entirely different from usual.

"Miss!" the surrounding scouts in black bowed respectfully. They all appeared well-trained and composed.

"Let's move out." Bai Xiyu handed him an earpiece. In the distance, a helicopter approached and landed before them.

...

Hexi, the Zhu estate.

Ye Qingqing was shoved into a sack, her eyes and mouth bound with cloth. After what felt like an eternity, she was finally released.

"Who are you people! How dare you treat me like this!" she growled in anger. Her eyes stung from the sudden light, and she could only make out a blurry figure before her.

"Calm down. I won't hurt you," the man said calmly.

After a while, Ye Qingqing’s vision cleared. She was stunned to see the person standing before her. "Zhu Rong?"

Zhu Rong smiled. "It's me. Don't worry, I’m here to save you."

Ye Qingqing frowned, eyeing him warily. He seemed to have changed significantly in the few days since they last met. It was Zhu Rong who had broken into her boudoir to gift her the curved-waist jade pot.

He gently untied her hands and feet and helped her up. "I had no choice but to bring you back this way. I hope you don't mind."

"What exactly is that thing you gave me? Why have I been feeling so strange lately?" she asked, rubbing her reddened wrists.

"Don't worry about it; it's just a little trinket to help with your cultivation. If you like it, I have plenty more."

Ye Qingqing studied him, feeling that his aura was eerie and indescribable—a far cry from the gentle, refined man she knew. "I heard that you and Zhu Yan confronted Gu Liuyun in the secret realm and encountered a pack of ferocious beasts. How... how did you survive?" she asked cautiously.

A flicker of hidden meaning passed through Zhu Rong's eyes, but he ignored her question. "You must be tired. Go back to your room and rest."

Before she could react, two maids from the Zhu family stepped forward and grabbed her arms. "Miss Ye, please come with us."

Just as she was about to refuse, she felt a numbing sensation, and then her vision went black as she collapsed into the maids' arms. Watching her being carried away, a subtle, imperceptible curve touched Zhu Rong's lips.