Supreme Sword Exalt

Upon seeing Yun Fan, the man was filled with terror. He trembled uncontrollably, cold sweat poured down. The arrogance, dominance, and insolence he had shown moments ago was nowhere to be found.

Yun Fan moved forward, every step dripping with murderous intent. “Hurry, kill me.”

The man wouldn’t dare lay a finger on Yun Fan even if he could win!

Unable to bear it anymore, he kneeled to the ground. “Little Prince, I-I didn’t know it was you. Otherwise, even if you gave me ten thousand times the courage, I wouldn’t dare say such outrageous words! I was blind! Little Prince, you’re magnanimous, please forgive me just this once!”

Off to the side, the pavilion master’s heart was also filled with anxiety, not daring to say a single word.

Disappointed by his cowardice, Yun Fan lost interest in questioning him. “Boring. What a coward. I thought you might actually put up a fight. Get lost. If I didn’t have important matters, I wouldn’t have let a wretched creature like you off so easily.”

As if pardoned, he sprang to his feet, eager to leave this place of trouble. “Yes! Understood! Thank you, Little Prince!”

Just as he left, his gaze wandered involuntarily, unable to resist stealing a glance at Gu Han.

Gu Han didn’t fail to notice it. “Wait. Do you recognize me?”

The man froze and quickly denied, “No, I don’t!”

Gu Han stared at him. “No. Your eyes are telling me otherwise.”

Although this was their first meeting, the man didn’t regard Gu Han with the curiosity shown by the pavilion master and others. Instead, his gaze was probing, scrutinizing, as if he already knew Gu Han well.

Only Yun Fan and Zhao Mengyou were supposed to be aware of his true identity. Moreover, Gu Han had never once stepped outside the travel palace until today.

Filled with regret, he avoided Gu Han’s gaze and braced himself. “I really don’t know—”

Yun Fan interrupted him. “Stop wasting time! If Brother Gu says you have a problem, then you have a problem. Speak, what exactly—Brother Gu, what’s the problem with him?”

As Gu Han glanced at him, he had a newfound sympathy for his senior sister. Spending so many years with such a fool probably wasn’t easy.

Yun Fan scratched his head and turned to the blue-robed woman. “Sister Xue Yu, do you know this person?”

Xue Yu bit her lip. “H-he is Marquis Song’s steward...”

Yun Fan was taken aback. “Song Jian? Isn’t that Ninth Brother’s lackey?”

He explained a bit to Gu Han. Within the Great Flame Empire, his father was a Saint realm cultivator alongside the Flame Emperor. Below them were nine Transcendent Realm marquises, each having rendered outstanding military service. Song Jie was one of them. Song Jian was his son, who had always been extremely close to the ninth prince, Yun Lie.

The pavilion master smiled bitterly inwardly. Young Marquis? A lackey?

It seemed only the Little Prince dared to call him that. On normal days, no one would dare show the young marquis the slightest disrespect.

Gu Han appeared thoughtful. “Ninth Prince?”

He harbored no good feelings toward Yun Lie, who had constantly antagonized him ever since their first meeting.

Then, he glanced at Steward Song. “Understood. That damn ninth prince told you about me, right?”

The pavilion master was so frightened she shuddered. I didn’t hear that! I didn’t hear anything! Just who the hell is this guy?! How is he even more ferocious than the Little Prince?!

Yun Fan said, “Ninth Brother probably targets you because of my sister. Unlike my uncle, he’s really narrow-minded, yet so stubborn and competitive for no reason. He’s always obsessed with surpassing my sister. Actually, if it weren’t for... Haa. How could my sister have tolerated him for so long?”

Gu Han remained calm, though a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes. “I’m very curious. Why would he tell you about me for no reason at all? Could he have some other motive?”

Steward Song had already collapsed into a trembling heap, but he remained tight-lipped. “No! I-I don’t know you at all, I-I was just curious, just curious...”

Zhao Mengyou watched and shook her head inwardly. The more jittery one was, the more afraid one was, and the bigger the flaw revealed.

Gu Han frowned slightly. Now that his soul power was completely gone, he couldn’t use the Soul-Snatching technique. Otherwise, the truth would be revealed in an instant.

Yun Fan patted his chest. “Brother Gu, leave this to me.”

Gu Han stared at him with disbelief. Where did this blind confidence come from? Could the fearless be brainless?

Yun Fan smiled mysteriously and activated his jade talisman. In an instant, a black-clad figure appeared silently in the room.

Steward Song was already dumbstruck. “S-shadow guard?”

Yun Fan pointed at Steward Song. “You heard all that just now, right? Take him down and question him properly. Make him confess it, every last word.”

The shadow guard acknowledged. “Understood.”

He took Steward Song, who was already in despair, and vanished.

Yun Fan was extremely confident. “Brother Gu, there will be results soon.”

Gu Han nodded. The shadow guards were similar to the Murong family’s hidden guards, but their cultivation and methods were far superior. Having them around saved him a lot of effort.

For the first time, he praised Yun Fan, “Well done.”

In a great mood, Yun Fan waved his hand and shooed the pavilion master away.

He smiled at Xue Yu. “Sister Xue, long time no see.”

Xue Yu gracefully bowed, full of gratitude. “Little Prince.”

Yun Fan’s unexpected arrival had coincidentally helped her out of a tight spot.

Yun Fan pointed at Xue Yu as if showing off a treasure. “Brother Gu, this is the person I wanted you to meet.”

Only then did Gu Han have the chance to size her up for a few moments, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. Though slightly inferior to Zhao Mengyou, Xue Yu was still a rare beauty. Moreover, her demureness made her appear delicate and charming. Compared to Zhao Mengyou’s elegant and refined bearing, each had their own merits.

Zhao Mengyou was also looking at Xue Yu. As if by nature, she inwardly began to compare. Temperament, equally matched. Appearance, I’m a bit better.

Her eyes traveled down Xue Yu’s face. Hmph?

Her mood greatly improved, and she proudly straightened her posture. Was there even a need to compare? It was a complete victory!

Xue Yu blushed under Gu Han’s scrutiny. Still, knowing that someone Yun Fan treated with such respect likely had an extraordinary identity, she quickly bowed. “Greetings, Young Master.”

Gu Han didn’t speak as he still stared at her. He felt that Xue Yu faintly exuded a certain familiar feeling.

Zhao Mengyou bit her red lips, feeling a bit uncomfortable inside. He sure doesn’t act like someone who doesn’t like women...

Recalling how Gu Han didn’t show any aversion to Ah Sha’s intimate gestures, Zhao Mengyou suddenly understood. He didn’t dislike women, he just disliked her!

Upon seeing Xue Yu’s face turn red from Gu Han’s stare, Yun Fan couldn’t bear to watch anymore. “Brother Gu, Sister Xue is different from those women downstairs. She only sells her zither skills.”

Gu Han’s face darkened again.

Yun Fan quickly tried to make light of the situation. “Brother Gu, you don’t understand. Sister Xue’s zither music isn’t something just anyone gets to hear. This is also the reason I brought you here. Maybe you can find that thread of opportunity in her music?”

Zhao Mengyou curled her lip. “So you brought us here just to listen to the zither?”

“Well, what else?” Yun Fan asked.

Zhao Mengyou fell silent, blushing. Inwardly, she was even more unconvinced. Play the zither? I could do that too! If you two wanted to listen—pft! I’m a Divine Maiden, why should I play the zither for them!

After seeing Gu Han’s expression, Yun Fan misunderstood again. “Brother Gu, if you really want to—ahem, I can’t help you with that. I’m a man of principles. If my sister found out, she’d beat me to death for sure. And you as well, to be honest.”

Besides, I thought you didn’t like women? Of course, Yun Fan didn’t dare say that out loud. Actually, saying it or not didn’t matter, Gu Han already wanted to beat him to death anyway.

Feeling anxious, he couldn’t help but advise again, “Brother Gu, let’s make it clear first, you can’t use force, you know—”

Gu Han couldn’t take it anymore and smacked him on the back of the head. His face had already darkened to the color of a pot bottom. “Shut up! We’re going to listen to the zither!”

Afraid that Gu Han would be as lustful as Steward Song, Xue Yu’s heart fluttered, and she quickly bowed again. “Young Master, p-please sit down.”

She sat down gracefully by the desk and took a deep breath, clearing all distracting thoughts from her mind. In that instant, the gentle temperament about her vanished, replaced by an ethereal and elegant aura.

Zhao Mengyou was unconvinced again. Is that all? I can do that too!

At this moment, the jade zither was the only thing in Xue Yu’s eyes.

before Xue Yu’s eyes, there was only the jade zither. A hint of etherealness flashed in her gaze as her delicate fingers slowly plucked the strings.

As the first note sounded, Zhao Mengyou was instantly stunned. What kind of zither music is this?!

The melodious tone seemed to have teleported her right beside a mountain stream. She even had the illusion of spring water tinkling, birds singing, and flowers fragrant. It was an indescribable ease and comfort!

Suddenly, the zither’s melody changed, sweeping her into a boundless blue sea. The clanging notes were like crashing waves on the shore, winds sweeping away clouds, constantly purifying her Dao heart.

The zither music changed again. This time, it was as if she was facing the boundless starry sky. The faint, distant notes seemed to hover between reality and illusion. It was grand and far-reaching, making her fully realize her own insignificance and humility. Her heart was also set on the Dao even more tenaciously.

Yun Fan and Gu Han listened, the latter’s experience much deeper. Though he appeared calm, a trace of restlessness inevitably arose in his heart as time passed.

Under the cleansing of the zither music, his restlessness vanished without a trace, temporarily allowing him to reach a state of tranquility.

Then, he heard other things in the melody. Gu Tian’s care, the clan’s betrayal, Ah Sha’s unwavering loyalty, his senior brother and sister’s protection, the sorrow of losing a close friend, the emptiness after great revenge was exacted...

A soft, nearly inaudible sound came. The divine sense seed had splitted open with an extremely fine, barely noticeable crack.

After the piece ended, Xue Yu gently stood up and bowed. “I’ve made a fool of myself.”

Yun Fan, perhaps thinking of something, had reddened eyes and a dim gaze. “Beautiful... I can never get tired of Sister Xue’s zither music...”

Zhao Mengyou was flushed, and she said nothing. Not only could Xue Yu’s zither music influence the moods of several people, clearly surpassing ordinary music, it also carried a trace of divine power. If she specialized in this, her future achievements would be limitless. Zhao Mengyou felt a bit relieved that she didn’t say she could play the zither.

At that moment, Gu Han exhaled and slowly opened his eyes.

Yun Fan quickly approached with hope. “Brother Gu, did you find it?”

Gu Han shook his head. “No.”

Yun Fan was full of disappointment.

Gu Han changed his tone. “However, I already know what it is. Finding it is actually not difficult at all. I was just negligent before.”