A Perfect, Flawless Image — An Old Acquaintance Reunited
A Perfect, Flawless Image — An Old Acquaintance Reunited
The pavilion was grand and majestic, immortal mist curling around it. Numerous beautiful and enchanting women of the Demon Race danced gracefully, their movements lithe and elegant, like startled swans in flight, carrying an ethereal, otherworldly air.
The faint fragrance of tea drifted through the air, making one’s pores relax in comfort. This was an elegant private room.
A woman in green robes sat with her legs folded, the fabric outlining her straight, slender, flawlessly delicate legs.
She was exceedingly beautiful — a light dusting of powder on her face, exquisite features, skin like congealed cream, so tender it seemed it might break at a touch, her hair flowing like clouds.
Even her loose robes could not conceal her figure — tall and graceful, with curves in all the right places.
Across from the woman sat a young man, legs crossed, his expression relaxed and natural, wearing a warm smile like a spring breeze.
Many of the dancing girls couldn’t help stealing glances at him, their eyes filled with envy and admiration.
“This is tea I just brewed. What does Young Master Changge think of it?”
Jun Yao’s face carried a trace of shyness, utterly different from the proud and domineering demeanor she usually showed before outsiders.
If anyone familiar with her were here right now — like Jun Fan — they would be absolutely flabbergasted, finding it unbelievable.
Hearing this, Gu Changge picked up the white jade teacup before him and took a light sip, then couldn’t help but praise, “As expected of Miss Jun Yao. This is the first time I’ve ever tasted tea like this.”
“Bitter with a hint of astringency, sweetness hidden within the astringency — and if you savor it carefully, you can sense the myriad states of all living beings, the seven emotions and six desires. Truly marvelous.”
Hearing such praise from Gu Changge, joy bloomed across Jun Yao’s face, making her appear even more bashful.
“Young Master Changge flatters me. As long as you like it, that’s all that matters.”
Her fingers pinched the corner of her skirt — she was not nearly as composed as she appeared on the surface.
For today’s meeting with Gu Changge, she had prepared for a full three days, barely sleeping a wink.
Not only that, she had dressed up with great care today; even her makeup was completely different from usual — refined and lovely, yet without losing the bearing of a proper noble lady.
“Of course I like it. I never expected that on this trip to the Demon World, I’d get to witness tea artistry like Miss Jun Yao’s. It makes up for one of my regrets.”
Hearing this, Gu Changge smiled and said with some emotion, “I had heard before that Miss Jun Yao’s tea artistry was extraordinary, and I harbored some doubts at the time. Seeing it today, I can only say it truly lives up to its reputation.”
“Young Master Changge overpraises me. I’ve just enjoyed studying these things since I was little... that’s all. Besides, this is just some trivial skill not fit for the grand stage.”
Jun Yao hurriedly waved her hands at his words. “There are plenty of masters far more skilled in the tea arts than I am.”
Gu Changge shook his head, looking at her. “Why should Miss Jun Yao belittle herself? Since ancient times, all things can enter the Dao — the Dao of Tea, Dao Drawing, the Dao of Chess... these are all Great Daos. How could there be any talk of being unfit for the grand stage?”
“In my view, in the future of the Dao of Tea, there will surely be a place for Miss Jun Yao.”
Jun Yao felt Gu Changge thought far too highly of her, praising her so much that she felt embarrassed — though mostly, she felt joy.
Normally, even when other young prodigies fawned over her and tried to please her, she wouldn’t give them the time of day.
Yet today, just a few words of praise from Gu Changge filled her with delight.
After that, the two chatted for a while longer. Then, as if remembering something, Gu Changge found an excuse and prepared to take his leave.
“If Young Master Changge likes it, Jun Yao will brew tea and wait for you every day from now on. Whenever you have time, you can come here...”
Seeing this, though reluctant to part, Jun Yao knew that with her status, being able to sit across from Gu Changge and share tea was already something she wouldn’t have dared imagine before.
How could she dare hope for anything more?
Yet at this moment, she didn’t know where she found the courage to suddenly blurt out those words to Gu Changge.
The moment she finished speaking, rosy clouds bloomed across Jun Yao’s face.
She felt she had been far too bold, her heart pounding thump thump thump.
Hearing this, Gu Changge seemed somewhat surprised, then smiled warmly. “In that case, let me thank Miss Jun Yao in advance.”
With that, he left the pavilion directly, his figure gradually disappearing from sight.
“Take care, Young Master Changge.”
Jun Yao felt she could barely even speak properly anymore, her voice trembling and stammering.
Before this, she had never imagined there would come a day when she could come into contact with Gu Changge — let alone sit across from him and converse like this.
After parting with Gu Changge, Jun Yao still felt as if she were in a dream.
She felt her heart still racing, even now going thump thump thump without stop.
For a moment just now, she had thought Gu Changge would refuse her, and tell her not to let her imagination run wild.
But she truly hadn’t expected that in the end, Gu Changge would say those words.
“Still, what Young Master Changge said just now... was that acceptance, or rejection...”
Jun Yao’s brows knitted together, her heart full of joy and entanglement, of gains and losses, terrified that everything today would turn out to be an illusion.
In the days that followed, Gu Changge would come looking for her from time to time, his excuse naturally being to discuss and appreciate the tea arts with her.
Jun Yao naturally could not refuse — she was too happy and delighted for that. At certain moments, she even felt that she might actually have a chance.
Gu Changge’s speech and conduct, in her eyes, were the height of grace — gentle and refined, never putting on airs because of his status, approachable and easygoing.
This fit all the more perfectly with the flawless image in her heart.
This feeling grew ever... stronger. If not for the fact that her father and her younger brother Jun Fan had already departed with the great army to campaign against the Life Forbidden Area, she would have wanted to share this wonderful news with them.
“Judging by the Fortuity on Jun Yao, she’s different from the rest of the Jun Family.”
“Presumably, Jun Fan must care quite a bit about this cheap sister of his.”
Gu Changge naturally had no real interest in Jun Yao — at most, he planned to use her to scheme against Jun Fan.
A proud daughter of heaven like her, with high self-regard and lofty standards, a goddess in the eyes of ordinary people, dazzling in her brilliance — ordinary prodigies no longer caught their eyes.
They had their own set of standards in their hearts, which made it all the easier to make them throw themselves at someone.
One only needed to satisfy the beautiful fantasy in her heart.
The Fortuity points on Jun Yao were far greater than those on Qing Zhu. In Gu Changge’s view, this was because of Jun Yao’s relationship with Jun Fan.
Even Jun Fan’s father in this life, the Quelling Chaos King, didn’t have many Fortuity points on him.
This showed the closeness of Jun Fan’s relationships with Jun Yao and with his father, the Quelling Chaos King.
In the days that followed, the Demon World gradually returned to calm.
After experiencing the assassination attempt some time ago, Empress Yao Xi now kept an even tighter grip on the confidants at her side.
The high-ranking powers throughout the court were all purged once over. Though it caused a period of panic and tension, things gradually settled down.
The great clans of the Demon World all felt endangered, fearing they would face Empress Yao Xi’s reckoning.
Because of Gu Changge, the great clans of the Demon World held far deeper awe for Empress Yao Xi than before.
“You seem to have been avoiding me lately.”
At that moment, within the palace, Empress Yao Xi was handling memorials when she suddenly heard Gu Changge’s voice out of nowhere.
At some point, Gu Changge had already appeared inside the hall, wearing a look of mild interest.
It was as if he had appeared out of thin air, without the slightest ripple.
If Gu Changge hadn’t spoken, she wouldn’t have noticed him at all.
“Greetings, Young Master Changge.”
Seeing this, Qing Mei, Qing Lan, and the others hurriedly paid their respects, then kept their eyes on their noses and their noses on their hearts, obediently lowering their heads.
“I’ve been very busy lately. What, have I been neglecting you?”
Hearing this, Empress Yao Xi glanced at Gu Changge. After a moment of slight surprise, she quickly regained her composure and went back to reading the memorial in her hands.
“Her Majesty the Empress is occupied with myriad affairs of state — truly busy. Since you wouldn’t come see me, I had no choice but to come over myself.”
Gu Changge smiled, then waved for Qing Mei, Qing Lan, and the others to withdraw.
Empress Yao Xi felt very uncomfortable under his gaze.
Although the two of them had already shared the most intimate of relations, the thought that all of it had been deliberately orchestrated by Gu Changge — that he wasn’t sincere toward her — made her heart deeply uncomfortable, even inexpressibly miserable.
So she had been deliberately avoiding him, never expecting that today Gu Changge would come looking for her of his own accord.
“Is there something you need?”
Empress Yao Xi asked, still looking down at the memorial in her hands.
Gu Changge lowered his head to look at that stretch of snow-white neck, graceful as a swan’s, then smiled, bent down, and wrapped his arms around her. “I’ve come to help you solve a problem.”
“A problem?”
Empress Yao Xi’s body stiffened, then quickly recovered. She asked, though she already knew the answer.
“Naturally.”
Gu Changge said.
“Can you be certain that Jun Fan is... Jun Bufan?”
Looking at Gu Changge’s smiling face, Empress Yao Xi turned her head and shot him a sidelong glance, though she also naturally leaned back into his embrace.
She had been doubting this matter all this time, but unfortunately couldn’t find the slightest shred of evidence.
She felt that Gu Changge must know something, yet he simply wouldn’t tell her.
Thinking this in her heart, Empress Yao Xi’s face remained perfectly calm.
“What use is my certainty? Aren’t you the one who’s the Empress?”
Gu Changge smiled. “Don’t ask me about everything. You have to think for yourself sometimes.”
Empress Yao Xi shook her head. “If I knew, would I still ask you? What did you say that day? That after tricking me out of my body, you’d just wash your hands of it?”
“That was mutual consent. How can that be called tricking?”
Gu Changge denied it with a smile. “The matter of Jun Fan will soon have its conclusion. When the time comes, you’ll know what to do once you see it.”
Hearing him say this, Empress Yao Xi nodded and asked no more about the matter.
In the days that followed, Gu Changge would occasionally go to the imperial palace to give her instructions on various matters.
After discovering Gu Changge’s true nature, though Empress Yao Xi harbored misgivings in her heart, within the vast Demon World of today, Gu Changge was nonetheless the person closest to her.
So she never showed these feelings, and naturally would not refuse any of Gu Changge’s various requests.
She also very much wanted to know — what exactly did Gu Changge plan to do? What influence would Jun Bufan and Jun Ruoxi have on Gu Changge...?
Hong long long!!
A great army crushed its way forward. The heavens trembled, the ground quaked, ten thousand beasts roared, and birds scattered in fright.
This was a boundless and flourishing ancient forest, thick with mist, with colorful clouds billowing and surging in many places.
Countless gnarled trees stood like mountain ridges, blotting out the sky. Spirit herbs and medicinal fruits could be seen everywhere, flying springs and waterfalls, deep and dense thickets — all exuding vastness and immensity.
If they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes, many people would never have believed that this was actually a Life Forbidden Area of the Demon World. For over six thousand years, every living being that had mistakenly entered this place had vanished without a trace, like stones sinking into the sea.
From the outside, it looked more like an immortal holy land.
“Ahead lies the Life Forbidden Area. Everyone is to set up camp where they stand. No one is to move about.”
The vast, mighty army of the Demon World appeared here, baleful aura soaring to the heavens, killing intent billowing.
The Quelling Chaos King appeared atop a mountain peak, gazing into the distance as he spoke.
He was clad in bronze armor, a great axe in hand, his eyes gleaming jade-green and flowing with radiance. Countless runes interwove around him, transforming into rolling divinity, exuding a suffocating pressure.
“Father, are we really going to purge this place?”
Beside the Quelling Chaos King, Jun Fan frowned slightly as he looked at the Life Forbidden Area before him, a thousand measures of reluctance and unwillingness rising in his heart.
This was the secluded dwelling of his true elder sister, Jun Ruoxi.
Even having lived a second life, he had never come here, because he didn’t want to disturb Jun Ruoxi, didn’t want to drag her into these affairs.
But now, the choice was no longer his.
Even he had been dispatched to purge this place, with no say in the matter.
“Isn’t that stating the obvious? Her Majesty the Empress personally gave the order. Besides, this place very likely hides Jun Bufan—the mastermind behind the plot to assassinate Her Majesty the Empress.
If we capture him, why worry that our Jun Family won’t rise to overwhelming power?”
The Quelling Chaos King glanced at Jun Fan and spoke with deep meaning.
His gaze brimmed with ambition as he stared at the vast ancient forest ahead, as if he could already see his glorious future within it.
Hearing this, Jun Fan fell silent. He had thought of many ways to stop all of this, but none of them were of any use.
With his current strength, trying to oppose Gu Changge’s will was simply impossible.
He refused to believe Empress Yao Xi would do something like this—this was absolutely Gu Changge issuing orders under Empress Yao Xi’s name.
Its true purpose was... to force him to reveal himself.
He saw through all these reasons with perfect clarity.
And the problem before him now was how to rescue Jun Ruoxi, to keep her from being captured.
“Six thousand years ago, sister was already on the verge of stepping into the Sacred King Realm. Now, six thousand years later, even if her talent doesn’t match mine, she should still be at the cultivation of a Perfect Prodigy.”
“If she wants to escape safely, that will indeed be troublesome.”
Jun Fan’s brows knitted tightly. Before he was even born, his sister had already been at the Sacred Realm cultivation. After all these years, it was impossible she hadn’t advanced in the slightest.
To him, Jun Ruoxi was far more important than his cheap father, the Quelling Chaos King.
In this life, the people he truly cared about, besides... Jun Yao, were... Jun Ruoxi.
Though, speaking of coincidences, both of them happened to be his sisters.
“Father, I’ll scout around the area first and investigate the situation here. If anything unusual comes up, send me a message.”
Then Jun Fan spoke, planning to break away from the main force first, intending to enter the Life Forbidden Area from another direction and find Jun Ruoxi before the Quelling Chaos King did.
Hearing this, the Quelling Chaos King didn’t suspect anything. He nodded and asked, “Do you want me to assign you a squad?”
“No need. It’s much more convenient for me alone.”
Jun Fan refused, and without waiting for the Quelling Chaos King’s consent, his figure flashed, transforming into a divine rainbow streaking off in another direction.
The Quelling Chaos King paid Jun Fan no further mind and began issuing orders for the army to set up camp, while dispatching people to survey the area.
After breaking away from the main force, Jun Fan transformed into a divine rainbow and headed deep into the mountain range. Although this place had designated itself a Life Forbidden Area, no great number of Restrictions had been laid down. As long as one paid attention to certain fluctuations, it was quite easy to make one’s way inside.
Weng!! However, as he rushed onward, faint ripples suddenly spread through the void, followed by an inexplicable fluctuation.
“Who’s there?”
Jun Fan noticed this anomaly. His expression shifted slightly, and he stopped warily. He summoned his weapon—a snow-white longsword flowing with a sharp, keen aura.
“Long time no see. Is this how you treat an old friend?”
A fluctuation emerged in the void, and then a figure stepped out—her features bewitching and coldly beautiful, possessing a stunning allure.
“You’re... Lian’er?”
Seeing this figure, Jun Fan was first stunned, then his eyes widened in disbelief, growing somewhat agitated.
“Long time no see.”
“I never imagined you’d be here. How did you find me?”
However, Jun Fan quickly calmed down. Looking at Bai Lian’er’s calm, indifferent expression, he couldn’t help but ask.
He had never imagined that after more than six thousand years, he would reunite with an old acquaintance like this.
That said, Bai Lian’er’s appearance had changed drastically compared to before.
If he didn’t know Bai Lian’er so well, he might not have recognized her just now—that this was actually the same... frail little girl who used to follow behind him like a little tail.
For a moment, Jun Fan’s heart was filled with emotion, but what he was more curious about was how Bai Lian’er had found him, and how she knew his true identity.
“Meeting an old friend, and this is the look on your face. Jun Bufan, after more than six thousand years, you really haven’t changed.”
Bai Lian’er spoke flatly, her demeanor quite cold.
Hearing this, Jun Bufan frowned, sensing something off about Bai Lian’er’s attitude—cold as a block of emotionless ice.
Then he realized the reason and couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
He also knew that certain things in the past had hurt Bai Lian’er. He had paid no heed to her earnest advice, and had even believed Xi Yao’s words, maliciously slandering her.
Toward... this woman who had once been like a little sister to him, he actually felt some guilt in his heart.
“The past is in the past. What hurdle in this world can’t be crossed? Lian’er, how did you learn my identity, and how did you find me?”
Jun Fan gave a bitter laugh, then remembered the important matter and asked with a serious expression.
At his words, Bai Lian’er merely gave a cold laugh, then said flatly, “I came to find you because I have business with you. As for how I found you—you’ll have to ask yourself that. Assassinating Xi Yao so brazenly—did you really think everyone was as much of a fool as she is?”
Jun Fan’s expression shifted slightly. He wasn’t quite used to Bai Lian’er’s mocking tone, but he still understood her meaning.
When he had assassinated Empress Yao Xi back then, Bai Lian’er had already learned his true identity.
“So all this time you’ve been hiding near the Quelling Chaos King’s residence, and only now, with the opportunity, have you appeared alone?”
Jun Fan couldn’t help asking, quickly piecing together the whole sequence of events, quite curious about... why Bai Lian’er had come to find him.
“It seems you’re not entirely stupid.”
Bai Lian’er gave a cold laugh, then said flatly, “I need you to help me rescue my father.”
“Your father?”
Jun Fan’s expression shifted slightly. He actually knew about Bai Lian’er’s father, Bai Kun, falling into Gu Changge’s hands.
But with his current abilities, how could he possibly be Gu Changge’s match? Let alone rescuing Bai Kun—he couldn’t even contend against Gu Changge’s current will.
Unless he overthrew Empress Yao Xi’s rule and became the new master of the Demon World, everything else was empty talk.
Thinking of this, Jun Fan’s expression shifted subtly, and his heart began to waver.
Bai Lian’er was his childhood sweetheart, and Bai Kun was an elder who had watched him grow up. By all reason, he couldn’t stand by and watch him die.
But in his current state, he could do nothing—how could he possibly leave the Demon World and go to the Beyond to rescue Bai Kun?
Wasn’t this asking the impossible?
“Don’t be so quick to refuse. You may not be Gu Changge’s match now, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be later.”
Seeing his expression, Bai Lian’er instantly saw through what he was thinking and couldn’t help saying flatly, “Back then, your Imperial Father entrusted my father with something, to be handed to you when the time was right. But my father was captured by Gu Changge, so he passed that thing to me, instructing me to come to the Demon World to find you and deliver it to you.”
Hearing this, Jun Fan’s heart trembled slightly. He remembered what the Solar Demon Overlord had told him—that someone would come looking for him and hand something over to him.
At this moment, he no longer harbored the slightest doubt about... Bai Lian’er’s words.
“No problem. Lian’er, rest assured—your business is my business. There’s no way I could stand by and watch Uncle Bai Kun die.”
Thinking of this, Jun Fan let out a breath and gave his assurance.
He knew that if he didn’t agree, Bai Lian’er definitely wouldn’t hand that thing over to him.
Hearing this, Bai Lian’er nodded with some satisfaction, then took out a Brocade Bag from within her sleeve.
It looked utterly simple, without any patterns or designs, the fabric extremely plain, nothing remarkable about it.
This Brocade Bag was the very one Gu Changge had given her...
Along the way, she had tried to open it, but discovered it likewise contained a terrifying power.
If she forced it open, not only would the Brocade Bag be destroyed, she herself might even be injured.
“This is...”
The instant he saw this Brocade Bag, Jun Fan’s heart trembled, and an intense urge welled up within him, as if the bag contained something that belonged to him alone.
This feeling was incredibly strong, making his expression shift repeatedly, finally revealing deep delight.
“Thank you, Lian’er. You took such a... great risk to deliver this to me. I don’t even know how to repay this kindness.”
Jun Fan said with a smile, reaching out to take it from Bai Lian’er’s hand. But Bai Lian’er gave a cold laugh and didn’t hand it over, instead withdrawing the Brocade Bag once more.
“Lian’er, what do you mean by this?”
Jun Fan’s expression stiffened slightly. He hadn’t expected that after six thousand years apart, the once obedient and docile Bai Lian’er would have become like this.
“I want you to swear on your Dao Heart that you will rescue my father from Gu Changge’s hands. Otherwise, I won’t give you this Brocade Bag.”
Bai Lian’er looked at his expression, a strange glint flashing through her eyes. She thought of Gu Changge’s instructions, and felt... some pity for Jun Fan.
The man was being toyed with in the palm of another’s hand, completely unaware.
Gu Changge had long since learned Jun Fan’s true identity, yet Jun Fan knew nothing of it, even believing he held all the winning cards.
Hearing this, Jun Fan frowned, not expecting Bai Lian’er to distrust him. But this also dispelled the last trace of doubt in his heart.
Then, he swore upon his Dao Heart. When he finished, Bai Lian’er nodded in satisfaction and finally handed the Brocade Bag to him.
However, Jun Fan did not open the Brocade Bag in front of Bai Lian’er.
Instead, he carefully put it away.
Bai Lian’er didn’t mind this. Jun Fan was no longer the foolish... boy of six thousand years ago.
The current him had means, schemes, and depth. Though he believed her words, he did not believe her as a person.
“What are your plans now?”
After putting away the Brocade Bag, Jun Fan couldn’t help but ask, because he had noticed that the current Bai Lian’er’s aura was extremely powerful—at the very least a Perfect Prodigy.
With such a powerhouse before him, he naturally had to find a way to make her useful to him.
“Right now, I have no plans. I’ll simply wait for you to rescue my father.”
Bai Lian’er said coldly.