He could also understand the emotions they represented.
He Sui’an turned her head.
The bone flute on his belt was as smooth as glass. Curious, she touched it briefly before withdrawing her hand, “A Gu master should be able to tell if someone is infected with Gu, right? Quickly check me.”
Qi Buyan said, “A high-level Gu master can use Gu techniques without leaving any trace, undetectable and unnoticeable. Unless the Gu is in my own body, I can’t know.”
Gu masters and ordinary people were different; they were very sensitive to Gu.
Most could dissolve the Gu themselves.
Not to mention he had the Heavenly Silkworm Gu, which made him immune to all poisons. Therefore, Liu Yan wouldn’t and couldn’t use Gu on Qi Buyan, and was more likely to target someone close to him—He Sui’an.
Thinking of this, a flash of murderous intent crossed Qi Buyan’s heart, though his expression remained harmless.
He Sui’an’s eyes widened.
“Okay,” she said, looking dejected.
For Gu to sense each other, they must come from the same Gu master; otherwise, it usually doesn’t work. They can only track people through Gu or by their aura.
Logically, Liu Yan would find it difficult to track Qi Buyan, who was also proficient in Gu techniques, by his aura.
Qi Buyan could also hide his aura.
The problem lay with the Heavenly Silkworm Gu in his body.
Such a powerful Gu could be sensed by all other Gu. They feared the Heavenly Silkworm Gu but also wanted to devour it, so if Liu Yan wished, he could easily find Qi Buyan.
The Heavenly Silkworm Gu was rare and could be accurately located because few Gu masters were willing to trade decades of their life to have a chance to cultivate a Heavenly Silkworm Gu, especially since success wasn’t guaranteed.
Failure meant a short life.
Success or failure, both resulted in a shortened lifespan.
Even if Qi Shu hadn’t committed suicide back then, she wouldn’t have lived long after cultivating the Heavenly Silkworm Gu.
The reason is that cultivating the Heavenly Silkworm Gu requires one’s own essence and life force. Once the Gu is cultivated, the person quickly approaches the end of their life.
Qi Shu didn’t like Qi Buyan, but to suppress his murderous nature, she chose to use her life to cultivate the Heavenly Silkworm Gu instead of killing him. She had initially thought of killing him, but didn’t go through with it.
He Sui’an, who had fully recovered her memory, knew these things.
Because of the Heavenly Silkworm Gu, Qi Buyan could be easily found by Liu Yan. However, if she hid her aura and concealed herself, Liu Yan wouldn’t be able to find her.
Using Gu techniques requires certain conditions.
First, to implant the Gu in someone else’s body; second, for an ordinary person to encounter a Gu master.
Satisfying either condition is enough.
For instance, while she was staying in the princess’s residence, Liu Yan could silently release a Gu into the place. If it entered her body, she might not even realize it.
However, remote control Gu techniques have a time limit. Upon careful consideration, she realized Liu Yan probably hadn’t used it on her yet to avoid it failing at a critical moment and to ensure he could deliver a fatal blow to Qi Buyan.
If He Sui’an stayed by Qi Buyan’s side, Liu Yan, who could accurately locate Qi Buyan, would easily find her and control her remotely.
Remote control, as the name suggests, means being controlled by someone else. He Sui’an, who didn’t know martial arts, would become stronger according to the power held by the person controlling her.
The solution He Sui’an thought of was to hide her aura and stay away from Qi Buyan for a while.
She believed Qi Buyan would also think of this.
But he preferred to face such a danger rather than agree to her leaving for a while. He insisted on keeping her by his side, and He Sui’an didn’t understand what Qi Buyan was thinking.
She stared at Qi Buyan, trying to figure out his thoughts.
Qi Buyan sat leisurely.
She tugged at his sleeve.
He knew that He Sui’an had something to say again. His pale fingertips brushed across her eyebrows, making her blink. Her long eyelashes swept across his fingers, causing a tickling sensation.
Qi Buyan was inexplicably amused by this, “What do you want to say?”
He Sui’an sat up, “It’s about what I talked to you about last night. I’ll leave first, and once everything is settled, I’ll come back.”
Although it might sound like she was afraid of dying and wanted to escape alone, that wasn’t He Sui’an’s intention. If possible, she also wanted to stay and contribute.
But if she was going to be a burden, then forget it.
Qi Buyan lifted the curtain to look at the busy street outside.
He took a glance and then let the curtain fall, “Let’s not mention this again.”
She pressed, “Why?”
Qi Buyan turned to look at He Sui’an, the braid with silver bells falling onto his shoulder, his chiseled features possessing a unique exotic beauty. Suddenly, he called her name, “He Sui’an.”
Startled, He Sui’an quickly put down her hand, which had been waving angrily behind his back, and sat quietly, her courage diminished. The silver ornament at the end of her braid was still shaking violently, evidence of her recent agitation.
“Wha-what is it?” She awkwardly touched her braid.
“I seem to be afraid.”
He tried to express an unfamiliar emotion.
He Sui’an couldn’t imagine the word “afraid” coming from Qi Buyan’s mouth. What could he be afraid of? Failing to deal with Liu Yan? Unlikely, as he wasn’t even afraid of death, how could he be afraid of dealing with Liu Yan?
Before she could figure out what Qi Buyan was afraid of, he explained.
Qi Buyan’s gaze traced He Sui’an’s features, his palm pressing against her cheek, “I seem to be afraid you’ll disappear. But you’re not my Gu, I can’t kill you, and I can’t lock you up.”
Her eyelashes fluttered.
He Sui’an noticed that her heart had been racing more frequently lately. Qi Buyan said he seemed afraid she’d disappear—was that similar to being afraid of losing her?
She started to overthink again.
Stop imagining things.
He Sui’an brushed aside her distracting thoughts, searching for useful information in Qi Buyan’s words. Was he afraid she would disappear and that’s why he didn’t agree to her leaving for a while? It sounded like that might be the case.
But how could she disappear?
She had time-traveled here and didn’t have any of the systems often found in novels. She was here to stay, though she missed her parents dearly. He Sui’an wouldn’t give up her life because of it.
He Sui’an wanted to live, no matter which world she was in or what she encountered. She truly feared death.
To others, He Sui’an might seem very timid.
So be it.
He Sui’an tugged at a small braid in Qi Buyan’s hair, speaking seriously, “I won’t disappear, don’t worry. So just agree with me, okay? I’ll take the red snake with me?”
Qi Buyan avoided the topic, pulling the curtain open, “We’re here, let’s get down.”
He Sui’an, unable to convince Qi Buyan, dejectedly got out of the carriage. Su Yang’s residence was in a narrow alley where the carriage couldn’t enter, so they had to stop at the alley’s entrance and walk in.
Today, there were no guards following them because Qi Buyan said they weren’t needed, so Princess Luoyan had recalled them. He Sui’an also felt it didn’t make much difference whether guards were with them or not.
In front of someone skilled in using Gu, a few guards wouldn’t stand a chance.
Having more than a dozen guards might be worth a try.
However, traveling with so many people would be too conspicuous, drawing much attention. Even the princess didn’t usually take that many people when she left the palace.
So, they decided against it.
The reason they were temporarily staying in the princess’s residence wasn’t because the guards there could fend off Liu Yan, but because they discovered that Liu Yan wasn’t ready to openly break ties with Princess Luoyan. Staying at the princess’s residence was better than staying at an inn.
He Sui’an held up her skirt as she walked into the dimly lit alley, her footsteps light.
She had been to Su Yang’s residence before and remembered the way, so she quickened her pace. Qi Buyan followed at a steady pace, never falling behind. His one step equaled two of He Sui’an’s.
The daytime temperature was higher than at night, and with her quick pace, He Sui’an broke a sweat. She stopped to wipe her brow when they reached the residence.
Suddenly, a warm hand touched her neck.
He Sui’an glanced sideways.
Qi Buyan brushed a drop of sweat off her neck, moistening his slender fingertips.
He Sui’an looked away and raised her hand to knock on the door. She knocked in the same rhythm that Zhong Huan had used last time when he brought them. After a long while without anyone answering, she leaned close to the door and called out softly.
Just as He Sui’an thought they might have made the trip in vain, the door opened, and it was Shen Jianhe.
She was shocked, “Senior Shen?”
The original novel didn’t clearly specify who the main character was, nor did it clearly define the emotional lines. It could be interpreted as familial love, friendship, etc., depending on the readers’ perspective. When she read the book, she only focused on the plot.
“Miss He?”
Shen Jianhe opened the door wider and stepped out, “Are you here to see the princess?”
He Sui’an nodded.
Shen Jianhe said it was unfortunate timing.
Su Yang had taken Zhong Kong and Zhong Huan to the palace to see the emperor early in the morning, and it was unclear when they would return. They hadn’t told him why they were going to the palace; Su Yang was just temporarily hosting Shen Jianhe.
He Sui’an understood; the plot where Su Yang went to see the emperor happened today, so they would have to come back tomorrow as she wouldn’t return tonight.
“Senior Shen, why are you here at Sister Su’s place?” He Sui’an asked curiously.
Shen Jianhe shrugged.
“I ran into the princess on the street earlier. Her place is secluded and safe,” he said honestly, “I did pay her for the accommodation.”
He Sui’an had things to discuss with Su Yang and the others but wanted to wait until everyone was present. She asked Shen Jianhe to relay the message that she and Qi Buyan would return tomorrow.
Shen Jianhe sensed that He Sui’an had something important to say, “Alright, I will definitely pass on the message.”
With their task for the day incomplete, He Sui’an and Qi Buyan had no choice but to leave.
He Sui’an returned to the princess’s residence.
After sweating profusely, she needed a bath. Once she finished bathing, washing away the sticky sweat, and changed back into her thin gauze dress, He Sui’an finally felt alive again.
Although Qi Buyan’s body temperature was high, he rarely sweated, except when he was in an excited emotional state.
At the moment, he was leaning against the bed, twirling his bone flute.
He Sui’an climbed onto the bed as well.
As soon as she got on the bed, she shook her feet lightly, kicking off her embroidered shoes, which fell to the floor. Her hair was still a bit damp, so she pinned it up with a hairpin.
She lay down next to Qi Buyan, persistently trying to convince him to let her leave for a while, chattering away like a little nag.
Qi Buyan looked at the back of her neck, now fully exposed with her long hair pinned up.
There were still droplets of water on her neck.
Her skin was very fair beneath the thin gauze.
What kind of emotion makes one want to be close to someone just by seeing them? Qi Buyan wasn’t sure yet, but he knew he had it for He Sui’an, and it was very strong.
Qi Buyan leaned down and kissed the back of He Sui’an’s neck, kissing away all the remaining droplets.
He Sui’an turned back in a daze.
The thin gauze on her shoulder was loose, naturally slipping down to her arms. He shifted to kiss her shoulder, trailing down her spine. The young man whispered softly, “I want to do the most intimate thing in the world with you.”
