Chapter 145: Lin Xian

October 1st.

Today is the day of the duel.

On this day, Gu Qing arrived at an inn based on an address written on a note.

The room was immaculate; when Gu Qing entered, he saw Lin Xian'er waiting inside to greet him.

Gu Qing had met Lin Xian'er before—lively, spirited, yet gentle and virtuous, an utterly flawless romantic prospect—but today, her demeanor had changed: she wore long-sleeved robes, soft and reserved, unmistakably a virtuous woman.

"Why did you bring me here?"

Gu Qing's voice was cold, his eyes never leaving Lin Xian'er as he said, "I'm short on time. Say what you have to say."

Lin Xian'er smiled, her eyes curving, and replied, "If you're short on time, why come here at all?"

On this day of the duel, Lin Xian'er did not want Gu Qing to introduce any variables.

In this martial world, Lin Xian'er feared only Li Xunhuan—a man who completely ignored her charm and, driven by justice, sought to kill her. It was because of Li Xunhuan that she had spent two years in Maple Forest Town.

"I want to see what tricks you're playing."

Gu Qing sat down on a chair without ceremony and said calmly.

Lin Xian'er sat slightly in front of Gu Qing, leaning forward curiously. "I heard you're fond of Lin Shiyin? She's my sworn sister—I must ask you more about her."

Lin Xian'er's attire today deliberately echoed Lin Shiyin's. She asked, "Why would you like Lin Shiyin, who is so much older?"

"She's beautiful."

Gu Qing answered quickly.

Lin Xian'er leaned closer, cheeks flushed, and asked, "What about me?"

Their eyes met. Lin Xian'er's smile grew sweeter.

Lin Xian'er had five layers of tactics with men: first, smiling service; second, obedient compliance; third, adoring flattery; fourth, thoughtful care. If those four failed, she stripped naked and had sex.

With these five layers, Lin Xian'er had always been unstoppable.

Now, she was using the first layer—smiling service—on Gu Qing.

Gu Qing took a breath and said, "Let's skip straight to the fifth layer. Strip." As he spoke, he reached out and tore at Lin Xian'er's clothes.

Though confused, Lin Xian'er knew that whenever a man pulled at her clothes in the right setting, they always came off. With Gu Qing's hands on her, she shed her garments in moments, standing bare before him, unashamed.

Some women had lovely faces but flaws on their bodies when naked—Lin Xian'er had none. She stood there, open and confident, like a work of art.

"Go!"

Gu Qing pointed at the bed and said, "Get on and show me your bed skills first."

"You're such a handful…"

Lin Xian'er covered her mouth, giggling, her finger brushing her red lips, then began performing on her own.

On the day of Li Xunhuan's duel with Shangguan JinHong, Lin Xian'er only needed to delay Gu Qing.

At this moment, Gu Qing watched her performance calmly, observing her every seduction, comparing it in his mind to Yunmeng Immortal's bed skills—and found them vastly different.

This was, in a way, the strongest of the present versus the strongest of history.

As for which was better, only firsthand experience could tell.

Unaware, Lin Xian'er's performance ended. She stepped forward and threw herself into Gu Qing's arms, smiling sweetly. "What are you waiting for?"

Gu Qing smiled. "Actually, you made a big mistake."

Lin Xian'er looked at him, puzzled.

"In the martial world, when two parties arrange a duel, one provides the time, the other the location. Rarely does one person provide both."

Gu Qing said, "Therefore, we can deduce this duel was not orchestrated by Shangguan JinHong."

Lin Xian'er took Gu Qing's hand and placed it on her thigh, smiling. "And then?"

Not long ago, Lin Xian'er had already slept with Jing Wuming, and Shangguan JinHong had acknowledged it.

"Then it's about martial world rules."

Gu Qing's hand wandered over Lin Xian'er's body as he said, "If Li Xunhuan and Shangguan JinHong were to duel, and Li Xunhuan suddenly changed the time and location—do you think Shangguan JinHong would agree?"

Lin Xian'er nodded slightly. If the change wasn't too drastic, Shangguan JinHong would likely agree.

"But Shangguan JinHong has a very unusual habit."

Gu Qing said, "He walks everywhere—no matter the distance. Suppose Li Xunhuan rode a horse, declared the duel moved fifty li away, then galloped off. What then?"

Lin Xian'er's face darkened. She slapped away Gu Qing's hand. "If Li Xunhuan did that, he'd be asking for death—he'd enrage Shangguan JinHong! Shangguan JinHong would attack without hesitation. Even if Li Xunhuan rode a horse, Shangguan JinHong would drag him down."

When Shangguan JinHong was enraged during a duel, Li Xunhuan stood no chance.

"But what if Li Xunhuan was hiding, and Guo Songyang was the one delivering the message?"

Gu Qing asked.

Lin Xian'er fell silent. If Li Xunhuan was concealed, Shangguan JinHong would dare not move—Little Li's Flying Dagger was too terrifying.

In that case, the fifty-li distance would make Shangguan JinHong anxious—perhaps even cause him to refuse the challenge entirely.

After all, with a major duel looming, if Shangguan JinHong had to travel fifty li, the enemy might be resting and waiting—or lying in ambush in the woods, ready to launch a flying dagger. Either way, it was disastrous for Shangguan JinHong and contradicted his cautious nature.

"Could Li Xunhuan do something like that?"

Lin Xian'er asked coldly.

"If Shangguan JinHong had issued the challenge, Li Xunhuan wouldn't. But if you were secretly manipulating things, Li Xunhuan could easily do it."

Gu Qing said, "Then, at this moment, who would Shangguan JinHong's rage fall upon?"

Gu Qing's counter-question sent a chill through Lin Xian'er.

In his fury, Shangguan JinHong would come after Lin Xian'er—and she would have angered both Shangguan JinHong and Li Xunhuan.

"Great Master Gu…"

Lin Xian'er clung to Gu Qing's hand, voice syrupy. "You're mean… you've made me have no choice but to rely on you completely." She gripped his hand tightly.

At that moment, Gu Qing stood up, ignoring Lin Xian'er still seated on his thigh, and shoved her to the floor.

"There's a big difference between us."

Gu Qing looked at Lin Xian'er and said, "I only do this with someone I love. You only do it with someone you don't love."

Lin Xian'er was stunned—"You only do it with someone you don't love"—those words struck deep into her heart.

"Go."

Gu Qing sat back down and said, "Hand over all the martial arts collected by the Plum Thief, and I'll spare you."

Gu Qing was sparing Lin Xian'er only on his own behalf.

Lin Xian'er was the kind who truly gave out blessings—so much so that she gave to anyone who asked. In the martial world, she was a true Bodhisattva of fleshly giving; the Great Joyful Female Bodhisattva paled beside her.

So Gu Qing spared her—considered it a gift to his comrades.

(End of Chapter)