Chapter 1567

In her eyes, brimming with coquettish springtime allure, there was suddenly a great deal of dejection.

"My lord… but in your heart, between Su Qin and us, whom do you trust more?"

"Huh?"

Gu Qing was Zhao Chi's first woman.

But because she seemed to possess the traits of a succubus, she not only did not oppose Zhao Chi taking other women, but actually helped him gather them and even offered him ideas.

Gu Qing had also never made Zhao Chi compare who he treated better, her or the other women.

In this respect, she could be said to be exceptionally perfect.

But now this sentence…

carried a very strong sense of comparison within it.

And what was being compared was not whom Zhao Chi loved more, or liked more, but whom he trusted more.

This rose a dimension higher than a single emotion.

It was also a more important comparison.

Gu Qing gently added, "Whom do you trust the most? You don't need to answer—just think it in your heart."

This question truly stumped Zhao Chi.

If he were made to answer, he would of course say he trusted them all equally.

But…

But…

The answer in his heart was on the verge of spilling out.

Su Qin was a good woman—Zhao Chi was very certain of this.

Whether in character or in conduct, she was beyond reproach.

Her temperament was even decent, and her appearance was beautiful too.

Previously, after all, she had been on her own, so she had picked up the tiny flaw of occasionally swearing, but now she had corrected that as well.

Zhao Chi could give her a hundred points.

If Gu Qing and the others did not exist, Su Qin would absolutely be the person Zhao Chi trusted the most.

However…

Things had no "ifs."

Gu Qing and the others did exist.

And Su Qin was independent.

She was an independent individual.

No matter how perfect she was, no matter how well she treated Zhao Chi, no matter how much Zhao Chi trusted her, she was still independent.

Deep in Zhao Chi's heart, the one he actually trusted most was still Gu Qing.

This was not a matter of who came first; it was because Gu Qing was not independent—she was completely dependent on him.

The same went for Tang Ruan and the others.

Zhao Chi immediately understood what Gu Qing was worried about.

Gu Qing asked softly, "My lord, you should be able to understand my worry, right? I understand the trust you have in me now, but once I become independent, it will no longer be something you and I can control. Even if we remain as close as before afterward, we will still be two people. And my previous dependence on you only made me half a person—that's the only way you could fully trust me. But now… but in the future… please take back the territory, won't you?"

Her tone carried a plea.

This was extremely rare.

It seemed that the status of a lord, and the ability to come and go freely in the Greater World, held absolutely no appeal for Gu Qing.

What she wanted was still Zhao Chi's complete trust.

Zhao Chi could understand.

Gu Qing continued, "Can you not see my Loyalty now? Nor my Submission and Affection either, right?"

Of course—Gu Qing already independent…

Hm? He could see them?

Zhao Chi looked at the system in surprise.

Gu Qing's character panel—he could still see it himself.

Loyalty was still 10 points of "Willing to Die a Thousand Deaths," Submission was also the maximum 10 points of "Worshipped as a Deity," and Affection was also Tier 5, "Heart Bound in Dreams."

Just like a woman in the throes of passionate love, throwing her entire body and soul—one hundred percent—at Zhao Chi.

Letting her go free now would be like saying "let's break up"—she would go mad.

What the system showed was not limited to these.

Gu Qing's other information—including attributes, stat allocation enhancements, hero attributes, and so on—Zhao Chi could see all of it.

In theory, this should not be visible.

It also had nothing to do with permissions.

Su Qin had already opened all permissions on her side to the maximum.

Zhao Chi could directly influence anything in Clear Bamboo Town.

But Zhao Chi still could not see Su Qin's personal panel.

Yet on Gu Qing's side, the situation seemed to be different…

Zhao Chi opened the territory interface.

He discovered that at the very end there was actually still data for Affection Thread Village?

Is this territory ultimately mine or Gu Qing's?

"Gu Qing, close the permissions you've opened to me for a moment—I want to try something."

"Permissions?" Gu Qing was a little puzzled: "I never opened permissions for you."

"Never opened them? Then try and see if you can close them."

"Okay."

Gu Qing operated for a while, then asked: "My lord, in my permissions list, I can't locate you."

"Huh? Can't locate me?"

"Right."

"Are there other people? Try Tang Ruan and the others."

Gu Qing nodded: "Tang Ruan and the others are fine, I can find them all, and I can find Su Qin, but I can't find you."

What is going on?

Zhao Chi tried other aspects again.

After a round of operations, he found that this Qingsi Village was completely transparent to him, and also open to him.

He could also use items on Qingsi Village.

He could even change the permissions of Qingsi Village — Zhao Chi could directly make Tang Ruan serve as the village head of Qingsi Village.

It's just that Zhao Chi likewise couldn't find Gu Qing's information, nor could he close Gu Qing's permissions.

Just as Gu Qing couldn't close Zhao Chi's permissions.

One could say, this territory jointly belongs to Gu Qing and Zhao Chi.

But Gu Qing herself still falls under Zhao Chi's jurisdiction.

That's not bad.

For Zhao Chi, it's absolutely wonderful news.

For Gu Qing, it's also very happy news.

Zhao Chi smiled slightly: "Understood. Gu Qing, you don't need to worry. Just settle down in this Qingsi Village with peace of mind. The highest authority is still mine, and you are still… completely my person."

"Really?"

Gu Qing's eyes visibly lit up.

"Really."

Zhao Chi told Gu Qing everything he had just discovered.

The more Gu Qing listened, the happier she became.

"It won't affect your trust in me?"

"No, you will always be the person I trust most."

"That's wonderful!"

Gu Qing cheered with joy and threw herself at him in a soft, bouncy rush.