The Dragon

The man didn’t answer. Gu Fuyou asked, “What’s your name?” She had a feeling this person wasn’t trapped since childhood and must have his own name.

As expected, after a long silence, the man replied, “Feng Sui,” gazing intently at Gu Fuyou as if trying to see deep into her eyes, “What exactly are you?”

Gu Fuyou asked, “Have you decided to accept my offer?”

Feng Sui furrowed his brows. Gu Fuyou smiled, “You don’t need to answer now. Take your time to think about it.”

Feng Sui had many questions for her. The sudden appearance of an Azure Phoenix on this moonlit night seemed too surreal, her words too strange, everything felt like an illusion. Before he could say anything, Gu Fuyou, having sufficiently intrigued him, had already left, leaving him to stare at her retreating figure disappearing into the night.

Returning to her room, Gu Fuyou relaxed and rested. Unlike Zhong Michu, who loved to meditate and practice cultivation even while resting, Gu Fuyou preferred to maintain her old habits of eating and sleeping, especially after having changed bodies.

Waking up, she saw sunlight streaming through the window grills into the room. Sitting dazed on the bed for a moment, Gu Fuyou was greeted by Zhong Michu, who entered, drawing back the curtains. Seeing Gu Fuyou with disheveled hair, clad in an ivory-white robe, and looking bewildered, Zhong Michu paused, momentarily struck by her resemblance to the old Gu Fuyou.

Gu Fuyou, hugging her blanket, lazily glanced at Zhong Michu before lying back down and pulling the blanket over herself, completely covering herself.

Zhong Michu walked over, sat on the bed, and gently nudged the lump under the blanket, “What are you doing?” Her tone was light and slightly amused.

“Being lazy in bed.”

“Zuo Yuanrong wants to see you.”

There was silence under the blanket for a while, followed by a pained groan. Gu Fuyou got up, dressed, and made herself presentable before stepping out, with Zhong Michu following. After a few steps, Gu Fuyou turned back, noticing the guard at the door.

Twenty-Three, seeing Gu Fuyou return, became incredibly nervous, half-kneeling, and stammered, “Elder… Elder…”

Gu Fuyou looked back at Zhong Michu. Zhong Michu said, “She came early this morning.”

Gu Fuyou examined Twenty-Three and said, “Lift your head.”

Twenty-Three trembled, struggling to lift her head, as if a thousand pounds weighed upon it, but quickly lowered it again upon meeting Gu Fuyou’s gaze.

Seeing the cold sweat on her neck, Gu Fuyou said, “Are you afraid to look at me? Am I that frightening? Do you think I can eat you?”

Twenty-Three remained silent, too scared to speak.

Zhong Michu softly said, “Don’t trouble her.”

Only then did Gu Fuyou leave with Zhong Michu, laughing along the way, “Do you really intend to take her as your disciple?”

Zhong Michu remained silent. Gu Fuyou continued, “I know you empathize with her, having similar childhood experiences. But she’s too timid, too easily exploited. If you become her master, you’ll surely take responsibility for her, and you’ll probably end up cleaning up her messes.”

Zhong Michu said, “I was like her once.”

Gu Fuyou asked, “In what way?”

Zhong Michu replied, “In temperament.”

Gu Fuyou laughed, “I don’t believe it.” Zhong Michu looked at her. Gu Fuyou said, “Dragons are naturally dominant and fierce. You must have been a lively and aggressive child, climbing and clawing around. It must have been Sect Leader Ji who disciplined you into the Zhong Michu of today.”

Zhong Michu fell silent for a long while, her tone tinged with sorrow: “Perhaps so.”

Gu Fuyou opened her mouth to speak, then sighed inwardly. Mentioning Sect Leader Ji had inadvertently stirred memories of him in Zhong Michu.

Zhong Michu said, “Since I transformed from being dominant and fierce to how I am today, perhaps I can also teach Twenty-Three to change from being timid and submissive to being energetic and assertive.”

Gu Fuyou laughed, “That would make her just like how I used to be, giving you even more headaches.”

Zhong Michu replied, “That’s not a bad thing.”

Gu Fuyou’s expression softened, sincerely saying, “Zhong Michu, you’ll be a good master.”

As they approached the hall, Scholar Zhai, leaning on Yuan Shan, was eating fruit. She was enjoying the privileges of being associated with Gu Fuyou in Bailu City, treated well by its people, and was quite content. Seeing them, she waved them over.

Gu Fuyou approached and asked, “What does Zuo Yuanrong want with me?”

Scholar Zhai replied, “The City Lord is discussing an alliance with Zuo Shaode.”

“That quick?”

Scholar Zhai teased, “Thanks to your efforts, Lady of the Nine Heavens. But don’t celebrate too soon. People like Zuo Yuanrong, who are easily swayed, and there might still be clear-headed people in the city who could persuade him otherwise.”

Gu Fuyou was deep in thought. A group of people, elegantly dressed, emerged from the hall. The young man in the lead had deep furrows between his brows, his face angry. As he passed by them, he shot a cold look and muttered disdainfully, “Troublemaker.”

He strode off, followed by someone calling, “Elder brother, elder brother.” The follower, bearing a resemblance to the first, paused beside Gu Fuyou with an awkward expression, performing a strained courtesy, “Elder,” before hurrying after the first.

The others showed varied expressions, but were all politely deferential to Gu Fuyou, including Zuo Yi. Gu Fuyou called, “Cultivator Zuo.”

Zuo Yi approached, “Does the elder need something?”

“Who were those two leading the group?”

“They are the eldest and second sons. The eldest has a fiery temper. If there was any discourtesy, I hope the elder will forgive us.”

Gu Fuyou nodded. Zuo Yuanrong, known for his hedonism, had many children but no official wife, leading to a lack of a clear heir. As the crowd dispersed, Zhong Michu casually erected a barrier, and Scholar Zhai commented, “So those two were Zuo Hanling and Zuo Peixian, the brothers mentioned by Xiao Zhongting. No wonder they called you troublemaker.”

Zuo Yuanrong, indecisive and pleasure-seeking, contrasted with his sons, who were decisive and loyal to Zuo Yuezhi.

Gu Fuyou watched the brothers leave. Scholar Zhai noted, “With them around, the alliance won’t proceed smoothly.”

Zhong Michu meaningfully said, “The alliance might not even be necessary.”

Understanding her, Gu Fuyou turned to Scholar Zhai, “Tell Xiao Zhongting to…” and whispered instructions.

Scholar Zhai, upon hearing, laughed, “Divide and conquer?”

Gu Fuyou smiled, “Conquer? To Zuo Shaode, these youngsters are hardly a threat. It’s more like throwing a sheep into a tiger’s den.”

“Alright, I’ll go right away,” said Scholar Zhai, calling out to Yuan Shan, who obediently followed her.

With Yuan Shan as her protector, Gu Fuyou was not worried about her safety. When Zuo Yuanrong sent someone to summon her, she left Zhong Michu outside and entered the hall.

Zuo Yuanrong was pacing back and forth in the center of the hall. Upon seeing Gu Fuyou enter, he immediately approached her, exclaiming, “Elder.”

Gu Fuyou deftly sidestepped him, “The City Lord is quite the busy man.”

Agile as the wind, Gu Fuyou’s movements were elusive, her sash slipping smoothly through Zuo Yuanrong’s grasp. He smiled, holding a wisp of her fragrance, “All this is for the alliance with my brother.”

“Oh? The City Lord has decided so quickly?”

“Indeed,” Zuo Yuanrong moved closer to Gu Fuyou. “But there are concerns. Both Zuo Yuezhi and my brother are powerful opponents. If Bailu City gets involved, it will be fraught with danger. Moreover, my nephew Zuo Qingfeng is currently in the city. Any major actions might alert him.”

Gu Fuyou turned, but Zuo Yuanrong was already close. She chided him playfully, “Taking extraordinary actions always involves risks. I didn’t expect the City Lord to be so faint-hearted.”

Zuo Yuanrong, usually indecisive but not considering himself as such, believed in the “middle path.” Surrounded by flatterers and even his children who wouldn’t dare accuse him of cowardice, he felt his face flush with embarrassment under Gu Fuyou’s mocking gaze, “My main concern is about my nephew disrupting plans.”

Gu Fuyou mentioned, “I heard from the Wantong City Lord that he’s in seclusion.”

“…Yes.”

Gu Fuyou smiled, “Once those two start fighting, how can Bailu City stay out of it? You are brothers with the Wantong City Lord. Even if you side with Zuo Yuezhi, he will still have doubts about you, pushing Bailu City to the frontline to prove your loyalty. How can you remain uninvolved?”

Zuo Yuanrong was at a loss for words.

Gu Fuyou gently tugged on his robe, leading him, step by step, up the stairs to the throne.

She scolded Zuo Yuanrong with a glance, “You have no interest in the position of the Sect Leader? They can sit there, but you can’t?” She understood from the way he had constructed the hall that he harbored ambitions of power, only placing them after his pleasures.

Captivated by her touch and gaze, Zuo Yuanrong was swayed by her words. Who doesn’t desire power and beauty? “Sadly, I can’t match my brother and nephew in terms of power.”

Gu Fuyou replied, “Who said you have to fight them directly?”

“What do you mean, elder?”

“When the snipe and clam grapple, the fisherman profits. Ally with the Wantong City Lord, conserve your strength while they fight. You’ve always been unambitious, the least of their worries. When they’re both weakened, with thousands of slaves in Bailu City under your control, can’t you defeat them?”

“…The elder’s words are indeed insightful!”

When Gu Fuyou stepped out of the hall, the sun was shining brightly. She squinted against the brightness, and the heat seemed to lessen when Zhong Michu approached.

“How did it go?”

Gu Fuyou smiled, “He couldn’t resist the temptation.”

Zhong Michu remained silent.

“Don’t think too much about it.” Gu Fuyou reassured. Although she had told Zhong Michu that she now acted without moral boundaries, she felt frustrated if Zhong Michu misunderstood her for things she hadn’t done.

Zhong Michu simply said, “I’m not thinking too much.”

Zhong Michu’s calm response made Gu Fuyou feel even more embarrassed, as if she was trying to hide something obvious, and she felt even more frustrated, unable to express her feelings.

She clearly understood that the longer they spent together, the harder it was to maintain a proper distance in her relationship with Zhong Michu. Being with her was too joyful.

She had shared tears and grievances with Zhong Michu, revealed her ideals and innermost thoughts, and experienced life and death together. The year and a bit they had spent together outshone the rest of her life in brilliance. Now, being with Zhong Michu reminded her of carefree times, as if she were back in the past. This was because many aspects of Zhong Michu remained unchanged, and some aspects had even improved, making her more endearing than before.

With Zhong Michu, Gu Fuyou could laugh genuinely, without any need for pretense.

She was starting to blur the boundaries she had set for herself.

Torn between indulgence and self-restraint, she struggled internally.