Chapter 31: Qingqiu, Why Are You Wearing Your Old Clothes?

Days passed in a blur. In Yong’an City, within the Hanyuan Dynasty’s borders, Chu Huaizhou stood in the heart of a bustling ancient city crisscrossed by trade routes.
Did he regret suggesting a stroll alone with Leng Qingqiu?
Absolutely, massively.
Despite his caution, one slip had her dragging him thousands of miles away.
His target: the Yong’an Chamber of Commerce, where one of Emperor Xiaoyao’s soul fragments, disguised as a refining cauldron, was up for auction.
Luckily, the timing matched the game’s plot.
But his influence had shifted things—Yong’an City belonged to another dynasty in the game, and there was no Hanyuan Dynasty.
He hoped the main storyline hadn’t changed too much.

As for how he convinced Leng Qingqiu to come here and what they’d been doing these past days…
Promised a “surprise,” Chu Huaizhou lay on the bed, sighing.
He glanced at his clean, neatly trimmed hands, unable to look at them the same way.
There’s only zero or countless times with this stuff.
Since that forced incident in the sect hall, Leng Qingqiu had been relentless, pushing him whenever she got the chance.
Thankfully, he’d held firm, avoiding anything crossing his底线.
Facing someone far stronger, constantly tempting him, was no easy feat.
Who’d guess the Hanyuan Empress, revered for her icy, untouchable majesty, was like this in private?
It solidified his belief: We’re not partners.
Her endless tricks—where did she even get them? Suppressed too long?
Three hundred years ago, she was a cold, guarded beauty who’d scold anyone calling her pretty as a lecher.
Now, Chu Huaizhou couldn’t help but wonder, Is this something I can see without paying?
Resisting her alone was… exhausting.
Refuse her outright? Impossible. Her obedience was a facade—her yandere nature meant rejection could cost him a limb or two.

He missed silly Bai Li and his other disciples, Xia Baiqian and Meng Yinlu.
Since losing his memories, he hadn’t spoken to them.
When he asked Leng Qingqiu about them, she replied:
“Before you lost your memory, Huaizhou, you told Xiaoqian about rare gu insects appearing in the Far North in a month, so she went there.”
“Yinlu, inspired by your tribulation, felt her cultivation loosening and went into seclusion. If she succeeds, she’ll reach late Great Vehicle upon emerging.”
When they’d return? Leng Qingqiu dodged the question, only saying she’d informed them of his amnesia and they’d come soon.
His instincts warned against pressing further—bad things might happen.

“Huaizhou, my surprise is ready. This one’s special—an apology for misunderstanding you. It’s only for today~”
Leng Qingqiu’s voice carried a teasing lilt. “Come see… hehe…”
Surprise? More like a scare. Her “surprises” these days included conjuring cat ears and nine white tails via illusion, clearly mocking Bai Li.
Wonder what Bai Li would think.

Chu Huaizhou stood, thinking he was prepared, but his pupils shrank at the sight.
Leng Qingqiu reveled in his shock, though her face showed only lowered eyes and unmasked disdain.
“Master.”
She clicked her tongue.
“Staring at your disciple with such vulgar eyes… don’t you feel ashamed?”
Her fingertip grazed her sword sheath.
Chu Huaizhou’s throat bobbed.
She’s doing this on purpose.

Gone was her regal empress attire. She wore the Heavenly Origin Sword Sect’s standard sword robe, a blue sword at her waist.
The loose robe swayed, failing to hide her breathtaking curves.
Slits revealed flashes of snow-white legs, each step tugging at his heart.
Her phoenix eyes, usually warm, were now frosted over, her lips a cold, straight line.
For a moment, she was the aloof disciple from their first meeting.
Yet, three hundred years of majesty blended with youthful pride made her different—her figure, too.
This was her “apology.”
Since his memories were stuck three hundred years ago, she’d face him as her past self.
Master will be touched, seeing I remember my old self.
But she was cunning.
His days of gentle advances had softened him.
Switching to her icy demeanor would catch him off guard, making him yearn for her warmth, slowly molding him into her ideal.
People always crave what they can’t have.
Imagining his eyes only on her, Leng Qingqiu’s breath quickened, cheeks flushing.

“What?”
She lifted his chin with her sword sheath, leaning close, letting him glimpse her snowy skin.
Her voice dripped with icy venom. “Didn’t Master love teaching me grand lessons? Why so dumbstruck now?”

Chu Huaizhou’s breath hitched, throat bobbing again.
The young Leng Qingqiu would never tease like this.
This mature confidence, paired with her old icy demeanor, hit hard.
Seeing him go from unable to look away to utterly stunned, Leng Qingqiu’s satisfaction was indescribable.
Master’s looking at me… only me…
His new gaze set her ablaze.

This is bad.
Snapping out of it, Chu Huaizhou silently recited the Heavenly Origin Clear Heart Mantra.
Thankfully, Leng Qingqiu wasn’t using charm techniques—the mantra worked fast, calming him.
He was about to ask her to change back when he saw her misty phoenix eyes.
Her jade hand pushed, pressing herself atop him.
He thought to resolve it quickly with his hands, like before, but…
Maybe her current look struck too deep.
For a moment, he considered just going with it.
The thought was swiftly quashed, his hands rising.
But Leng Qingqiu grabbed them, interlocking their fingers, sliding them above his head along the bed.
Her icy facade crumbled, replaced by a feverish, yandere expression.
“Master… this time… I don’t want you to use these…”