Chapter 3: Illusory Spiritgrass

“Beautiful home?” Xiao Qi stared at Gu Qingyu with confusion. Gu Qingyu gently patted Xiao Qi’s head, “I misspoke… but that’s not the point! Are you helping me or not, Xiao Qi?”

Xiao Qi nodded hesitantly. “Um, as long as you are happy, Young Miss. Xiao Qi will help you!”

“You’re the best, Xiao Qi!” Gu Qingyu hugged Xiao Qi affectionately, then spilled all the beans of her plan. “We will do this…”

Evening at the Gu Residence.

Gu Qingyu gently opened Jia Qizhe’s door with a knock. Dressed in a blue robe, Jia Qizhe stood at the doorway while leaning against the door frame. His eyes scanned Gu Qingyu, “How can I help Ms. Gu?”

“Hero Jia!” Gu Qingyu “sincerely” looked at Jia Qizhe, “I know you are super strong!”

“Yes, so?” Jia Qizhe looked at Gu Qingyu, a hint of amusement tugged at his lips.

Gu Qingyu gave her best puppy eyes, “Since I’ve helped you before, why don’t you take me with you?”

“And where do you plan to go?” Jia Qizhe shaked his head as he shrugged, “And ‘helped’? I was fine on my own, you’re the one that wanted to come along. I’ve always heard that the Gu Family’s heir is willful and stubborn, and with what I can see now, the rumors are quite true.”

“You!” Gu Qingyu restrained her anger and squeezed out a smile, “Hero Jia! We can talk this out! If you promise to bring me along, I will give you anything!”

“Oh? Anything?” His eyes narrowed into slits.

Gu Qingyu nodded sincerely.

“I’m a lone traveller; there really isn’t anything I want.” He slightly raised his eyebrows, “Though, lately, I seem to be in need of something...”

“What is it? Tell me!” Gu Qingyu exclaimed with excitement.

Jia Qizhe gestured for Gu Qingyu to come closer, Gu Qingyu immediately plastered her ears to him and he whispered a few things to her.

Gu Qingyu nodded as she listened, “Oh! As long as I get that for you, you will take me with you?”

Jia Qizhe nodded.

“Oh yeah! Just wait and see, Hero Jia, I will bring that thing back for you!” Gu Qingyu hopped away in jubilation.

Jia Qizhe returned to his nonchalant demeanor, but the corners of his lips seemed to hide a smile.

He requested for the Illusory Spiritgrass. The Illusory Spiritgrass was capable of creating hallucinations, a sentient herb, but it was really hard for regular people to find it, much less, obtain it. He does not want this Lady Gu to follow him, but since she did help him earlier, it was not polite to refuse her outright. With an excuse like this, surely he can turn her down now…

Night.

Gu Qingyu hummed as she walked to the dining hall. Everyone was already seated, yet they were still waiting.

“Father, your daughter is late, do forgive me.” Gu Qingyu bowed.

“Yu’er, come, sit down.” The man pointed to a seat and Gu Qingyu sat in it.

The nerve-wrecking meal was finally over, everyone seemed to keep quiet, Gu Qingyu breathed a sigh of relief. But, just then, right before she could escape...

“Yu’er, the day after tomorrow is the annual talent competition, you need to prepare well for it.” Gu Qingyu’s mother looked at her with sweet loving eyes.

Gu Qingyu nearly choked, “Talent??”

“Yes, you didn’t go all the past years. But this time, you must go, as a Young Miss of the Gu Family!” One of the aunts chimed in ‘sincerely’.

What’s with that face ofschadenfreude? Why don’t you go?!

Gu Qingyu really wanted to retaliate, but she held it in, and replied, “Indeed, I cannot bring shame to my status as the next heir to the Gu Family.” She was reminding her aunt that, regardless, she will remain the legitimate daughter.

Her aunt was stunned, she didn’t think the current Gu Qingyu would retaliate, much less render her speechless…

After her meal, Gu Qingyu decided to head to the rooftops to practice her martial arts, and test how powerful her cat demon powers were.

She walked near a roof ledge and gently jumped…

Her body became as light as a feather and she flew up to the roof! Something grew out of the top of her head and out of her lower back. Gu Qingyu subconsciously reached up.. There were two fluffy ears and a long tail!

Really? These are considered the characteristics of a cat?

Gu Qingyu felt speechless, but her perspective quickly turned positive; with Feather Feet that allows me to climb with ease, surely it wouldn’t be a problem to find the Illusory Spiritgrass.

She had asked Xiao Qi and found out there was a mountain not far from here, full of rare herbs. So Gu Qingyu went through a few simple routines and jumped back down, returned to her room and went to bed early. After all, she needed to wake up early to harvest those herbs.

She didn’t notice the figure that watched her from the shadows. After Gu Qingyu left, he stepped out of the shadows and into the moonlight. The figure was dressed in a blue robe, with a fleeting smile on his face.