Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Five: Think About How Undercover Agents in Crime Movies Would Act
After watching two or three movies,
Sang Zhe specifically chose lighter films, selecting a few romantic comedies instead of heavy dramas.
Gu Yingmian didn’t react much this time, calmly watching the movies alongside Sang Zhe.
When dinner time rolled around, Gu Yingmian mentioned that she felt cooped up all day and wanted to go for a walk.
Sang Zhe accompanied her, and they strolled through the square.
During dinner, many disciples who had just finished sword practice were heading to the cafeteria in small groups. Several disciples noticed Gu Yingmian and Sang Zhe walking side by side, greeting them with respect before gossiping quietly among themselves.
Gu Yingmian and Sang Zhe acted as if they didn’t hear anything and continued walking.
As they moved past the crowd, the square gradually became less crowded. The sunset cast long shadows from the sword-testing stone, with the two of them seemingly treading on shadows like a tranquil pond.
“How did you feel today?”
Sang Zhe, noticing the atmosphere was a bit heavy, asked, “Do you find watching movies all day tiring or boring?”
“Not at all,” Gu Yingmian shook her head lightly, “Like practicing swordplay. Once you get immersed, time flies by.”
“It didn’t feel tiring at all; rather, it was quite relaxing.”
“That’s good,” Sang Zhe breathed a sigh of relief, “I was worried that Sister Gu wouldn’t enjoy watching movies.”
“I actually quite like them.”
She quietly added, “Most of my time used to be spent practicing swords on the mountain; I haven’t experienced many fun things down below.”
“If it weren’t for you taking me to watch these movies, I might have still been stuck in that boring, sword-obsessed personality.”
“I didn’t know there were so many interesting things aside from swordplay.”
“I think I’m starting to understand,” Gu Yingmian gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and whispered, “Why can’t we just focus on the sword? We should also lift our heads and see people.”
“After all, it’s people who wield the sword.”
“If I can’t understand people’s joys, sorrows, desires, and feelings, then no matter how dedicated I am to swordplay, it will just be a stagnant pool.”
Sang Zhe couldn’t help but sneak a glance at her profile.
Gu Yingmian looked particularly soft and gentle while sharing her thoughts, her lips curled into a faint, tender smile.
It seemed like she was sharing her happy experiences.
Previously, Sang Zhe had a stereotype that someone so obsessed with swordsmanship, like Gu Yingmian, would be quite introverted and taciturn.
But after spending time together, he realized it wasn’t like that at all.
She could talk non-stop just like any normal person.
Perhaps her previous silence was just because she hadn’t found someone to share with.
“I’m really getting more and more curious about that special feeling called ‘love’ that my brother mentioned,” Gu Yingmian dreamily said, “It sounds so beautiful.”
“Is it even more enjoyable than practicing swordsmanship?”
After a moment of silence, Sang Zhe quietly asked, “But what if love isn’t beautiful at all, but rather a bittersweet feeling?”
“Would you still want to experience it?”
Just like in movies.
Gu Yingmian pondered for a moment.
Then she turned to Sang Zhe and playfully smiled.
“Then I’d say we should try it at least once first.”
Sang Zhe fell silent.
Gu Yingmian’s gaze seemed to flutter over him softly.
Suddenly, she became a bit shy, whispering, “Um… Sister has a question.”
“Among regular lovers… what actions usually create special feelings?”
“Uh, hand-holding, hugging, kissing, that kind of thing…”
As Sang Zhe spoke, he felt a bit bashful and blushed.
Gu Yingmian also shyly lowered her head.
After a brief awkward moment, Gu Yingmian quietly ventured,
“Then, shall we try holding hands first?”
Sang Zhe nodded awkwardly and extended his hand.
Gu Yingmian hesitated for a moment before gently taking his hand.
“How… how does it feel?” Sang Zhe scratched his head awkwardly, “Does it feel special?”
“Hmm…”
Gu Yingmian tilted her head in confusion, gently shaking it, “It feels a bit strange.”
“Is this the feeling of love?”
“Well, not necessarily. It might just be that you aren’t used to being touched by the opposite sex.”
Feeling the soft, delicate hand that made him want to caress it gently, Sang Zhe hurriedly shifted his gaze away.
“As long as you don’t mind, we can hold hands for a little longer.”
“Mm…” Gu Yingmian slowly lowered her eyes.
The two walked hand in hand slowly across the square under the setting sun.
The atmosphere didn’t seem as ambiguous as Sang Zhe had imagined.
But it still made both feel incredibly calm and relaxed.
——
——
At the edge of the square,
Chun Lan hid in a secluded spot, wide-eyed and incredulous as she watched the two holding hands.
They—they actually got to this point already!?
Damn it, this guy is moving fast!
Based on what Chun Lan learned about love from novels,
Since they’ve already held hands,
The next step would probably be the banquet for the child’s first month.
The thought of their master being so easily fooled by this scumbag made Chun Lan feel inexplicably frustrated inside.
No way.
Someone like this man doesn’t deserve the master or her sister. She must conduct a thorough review.
Hence, she fixed her gaze on their retreating figures.
Watching as Sang Zhe and Gu Yingmian strolled for half an hour in the square.
Then they headed back together for a bite at the cafeteria.
Finally, Sang Zhe escorted Gu Yingmian back to her quarters, said their goodbyes, and then he returned to his living quarters alone.
Fortunately, the two didn’t engage in any further exchanges during the entire process.
Chun Lan only stealthily followed Sang Zhe when he was finally alone, tailing him back to his home.
Once Sang Zhe entered, she stealthily climbed over the wall and came to his window.
She intended to listen and see if this guy had any other secrets.
……
“Ah, I’m so tired.”
Back at his place, Sang Zhe exhaustedly tossed his mask aside and flopped onto his bed, immediately going limp.
“In the end, I ended up being dragged into this.”
“Spent an entire day talking about love, yet I still don’t know how to actually talk about love.”
“…What a joke.” Sang Zhe sighed silently.
Nian Nian sat at the bedside, lightly swinging her slender jade feet: “Host chose this path for yourself. Who else can you blame?”
“It’s all your fault; you made me do this.”
In his moment of gloom, Sang Zhe activated the communication device, starting to plan how to let Gu Yingmian experience this so-called feeling of love in the coming days.
Just as he opened the communication device, he suddenly received a call.
It was from Tang Yubbing.
“Sang Zhe, dear, we need to speed things up. Come back as soon as possible.”
Speed it up? Sang Zhe muttered in confusion, “What’s happening? Is something going on in the Demon Cult?”
“It’s not a big deal,” Tang Yubbing’s voice maintained its usual flirty charm; there was little urgency in her tone, “Just focus on your tasks. But it would be best if you could come back quickly.”
“So what is it, exactly?”
“The Sect Leader is missing.”
Sang Zhe: “?”
You call this a ‘not a big deal’!?
Shocked, Sang Zhe bolted upright: “What the heck! How did the Sect Leader just disappear?”
“Sang Zhe, calm down.”
Tang Yubbing soothed him, “You know the Sect Leader’s personality; sometimes, she just wanders off to have fun. No one knows where she goes.”
“Maybe she just went to Fusa Pavilion to buy comics.”
That does fit his impression of this unreliable Sect Leader.
Nian Nian suddenly looked at Sang Zhe, hesitating to speak:
“Um, Host…”
But Sang Zhe didn’t give her a chance to finish: “If the Sect Leader is absent from the Demon Cult, will it have a big impact on you?”
“Not small,” Tang Yubbing sighed, “You know, we have just ascended to Sacred Ground, and various troublesome matters are still not resolved.”
“At this critical moment, having no Crossing Tribulation Stage cultivators in the whole Demon Cult is a bit too risky.”
“If something goes wrong, we might have to borrow Master Yu Xia from you to help hold the fort.”
That would be quite troublesome.
Although under the coercive power of the Lord of Hell, not many forces dared to conflict with the Demon Cult,
The newly ascended Demon Cult was already under a lot of scrutiny.
Countless eyes were fixed on the Demon Cult right now.
At such a crucial time, it is essential to have a crossing tribulation stage cultivator overseeing things. Otherwise, if any conflicts arose, the enemy might see the Demon Cult as a hollow shell, and all their hard work might go down the drain.
“I understand,” Sang Zhe felt a bit of a headache, “I’ll head back as soon as possible.”
“For now, you head to my home and let Yu Xia temporarily represent the Sect Leader to deal with surrounding sects. Just be cautious in your actions; don’t leave them any incriminating evidence.”
“Mm.”
Tang Yubbing added with concern, “Be careful over there, dear. Don’t let yourself be wronged; I’ll feel sorry for you.”
Uh.
Tang Yubbing probably thinks that every day here is filled with tension and danger.
Who knows how she would feel if she knew that right now, his daily task was to date the Sword Flower Palace Master?
After hanging up, Sang Zhe sighed deeply, shaking his head, “It’s just so worrisome.”
“Leaders’ troubles always fall on their subordinates, no matter which world it is.”
Nian Nian looked at him, hesitating to say something.
“What’s wrong?” Sang Zhe finally realized, “You seemed like you wanted to say something just now.”
“I want to say.”
Nian Nian looked out the window and quietly said, “Next time you go undercover, you should be more alert.”
“Think about those undercover agents in crime movies; who would boldly call their friends in the enemy’s base?”
“…Huh?”
Sang Zhe’s face went blank for a moment, then he suddenly turned his head.
Outside the window, there was a stifled gasp.
In the next moment, Chun Lan’s awkward figure was desperately running out of the courtyard.
“Holy crap!”
