Early in the morning, Xie Qing was forced to visit the Empress. He looked somewhat sleepy and tired.


    "I seem to have overexerted myself... I''ve been training so much with the sword, but I still can''t develop a new technique..." the young man thought disappointedly, cracking his neck and casting ackluster gaze at the tall and luxurious pavilion: "I wonder what she wants?"


    Lu Yin was absent for the time being. She was visiting the branch of the Sect of Nine Pills, apparently wanting to contact the sect master through a convenient method.


    Meanwhile, Xie Qing headed inside under the escort of two eunuchs.


    ***


    "Your Majesty..."


    Upon entering the luxurious garden, Xie Qing was enchanted by the beauty of the flowers and trees for a few seconds. A luxuriant willow swayed gently, like a maiden''s hair in the wind.


    Surrounded by white birds, she sat there - Yu Longfeng. She was not wearing her usual veil or luxurious hanfu.


    Instead, it was a light, thin, long white dress. Her hair was neatly tied into a braid, and her eyes blinked rxedly.


    "Wee to my garden. How are you? Beautiful, isn''t it?" Yu Longfeng spoke, not turning away from the swans swimming in the water.


    "Indeed. I suppose this is one of the most beautiful gardens I''ve seen," Xie Qing answered sincerely, unable to restrain his curious gaze, which studied all the beauty around him.


    "Oh? Was there something more beautiful than my garden?" Yu Longfeng suddenly asked, her gaze literally absorbing Xie Qing. The young man was surprised by such persistence.


    "The Golden Lotus Garden," Xie Qing replied with a weak smile, which seemed empty for some reason.


    "Hm? Never heard of it..."


    Xie Qing furrowed his brow. He suddenly came to his senses, feeling a slight shiver in his spine. Just now... his consciousness had be clouded. This was truly strange.


    However, it seemed that Yu Longfeng did not react in any way and merely snorted, apparently reconciling herself with the fact that her garden was inferior to someone else''s.


    "Come, sit on the bench, let''s talk about something..."


    The young man came to his senses upon hearing her voice and headed towards the bench, which was located right under the willow tree. This created a pleasant shade.


    Yu Longfeng stroked the head of a swan and released it into the river. She, folding her hands on her knees, looked at Xie Qing and uttered a few words that possessed enough power to shock him:


    "The disciple of the Resting Eagle Sect''s leader is a spy for the devilish cultivators."


    "What?"


    Xie Qing was surprised. This news would definitely rm the entire cultivation world. However, he had heard nothing about it, not even from Lu Yin.


    He narrowed his eyes. This could only mean that this matter was under a strict confidentiality seal.


    The Empress was satisfied with his reaction and, nodding, continued.


    "It seems we have truly underestimated the devilish cultivators. Even a representative of the cultivation world''s geniuses turned out to be their spy. Do you understand the situation? This is bing too serious," Yu Longfeng said, surprisingly talkative today.


    The woman furrowed her brow: "The worst part is that this bastard is so mad that he erased his memories, and when Xu Mei tried to retrieve his soul, he self-destructed. This is madness."


    "Madness, indeed..."


    Xie Qing furrowed his brow. He could not remember the appearance of this guy, which indicated certain methods of the devilish cultivators. No wonder he always seemed inconspicuous to him.


    "Feng Gu... the master of the Resting Eagle Sect. What reaction did he show?" Xie Qing asked with a gloomy face: "Public outrage will surely fall upon him. After all, as a Master, he failed to keep an eye on his disciple. This is the greatest sin."


    "Feng Gu... oh. This guy ended up in a difficult situation. Although the news has not spread, he feels ashamed. If it weren''t for the fact that we now need as much military power as possible, this guy was ready tomit suicide," the Empress replied, shrugging her shoulders. She looked somewhat disappointed.


    The young man fell silent. He was indeed somewhat... disappointed in the Righteous Path. It seemed that their loud speeches never ceased. They persistently ignored the devil''s whisper.


    This was a disgrace. They were being yed with, as if they were children. Xie Qing bit his lower lip, feeling ashamed. As a cultivator, he was proud and, of course, although he did not admire the philosophy of the Righteous Path, he also did not like the devilish path.


    "Killing for the sake of killing, living for the sake of cultivation. The philosophy of the devilish path has never changed since ancient times," the Empress said and looked directly into Xie Qing''s eyes: "But you, boy, need to understand for yourself which path is the best. After all, after reaching the Dao... evil and good will no longer matter."


    Above the heavens, there are other heavens. Above the clouds, there are other clouds.


    ***


    "Xie Qing?"


    In the garden of the estate assigned to the young man and Lu Yin during their stay in the capital, the young man was swinging his sword.


    Leaves fell from the tree. However, before they could even touch the ground, they were suddenly cut into a hundred pieces and disintegrated into tiny particles.


    The girl apuded admiringly. This was the level of sword mastery to which Lu Yin aspired.


    Only after Xie Qing returned his sword to its scabbard did he turn to Lu Yin. His gaze, which had been cold and detached a second ago, softened.


    "Are you done?" he asked, taking a towel out of his spatial ring and wiping his forehead with it.


    "Yes. I contacted the Master, and she gave me a short answer that she is ready to meet with you and discuss not only the me cultivation technique but also what you asked her about," Lu Yin said, and, finishing, she curiously tilted her head to the side: "By the way, what did you ask her about? Maybe I can help you?"


    "A... no, everything''s fine."


    The young man smiled and shook his head. He looked at the sky and clicked his tongue:


    "It''s already sunset. I got carried away."


    "You''ve been training a lottely. Although this is good, don''t overdo it. Health is always more important."


    "That''s true," Xie Qingughed.


    Lu Yin pursed her lips. She felt that this guy was hiding something from her, but seeing that he did not want to talk about it, the girl did not insist.


    "It''s getting cold. Let''s go inside," he said, throwing the towel over his shoulder.


    "Am I not good at changing the subject?"


    "Hehe."


    ***


    The next day, Xie Qing and Lu Yin left the capital. The young man did not visit the Empress before leaving, considering it pointless. In any case, this woman could see everything happening in the capital.


    For the past two days, Xie Qing''s mood had been neutral, and his facial expression showed nothing in particr.


    Even his usual chatter was now a rarity. It would be a blessing if he exchanged a few words with Lu Yin during their flight.


    The girl found this too suspicious. It seemed that after visiting the Empress, Xie Qing was always deep in thought and silent.


    Although she was worried, she was helpless. Considering this guy''s character, he would never talk about what he didn''t want to, and there was no point in forcing him.


    But even so, after so much time in silence... Lu Yin was getting bored.


    She swayed on the spot, humming something to herself. Xie Qing blinked and looked at her.


    "You look bored," he said, his eyshes fluttering.


    "That''s because you''re not talking to me. So I have to entertain myself somehow," Lu Yin replied, distorting the corners of her mouth.


    "I''ve run out of ideas for conversation," Xie Qing replied nonchntly and stretched. He suddenly fell silent and looked at Lu Yin, or rather, at her thighs.


    "Ch-what?"


    The girl felt ufortable under such a scrutinizing gaze, and Xie Qing''s subsequent request made herpletely lose her speech.


    "Can I sleep on your thighs? I''ll pay."


    "..."


    In her more than twenty years of life, Lu Yin had never encountered such a request. Therefore, she was stunned.


    But seeing Xie Qing''s serious face... she felt a slight shiver for some reason and, thinking for a moment nodded.


    "Y-you can..."


    "Thank you. How much should I pay?"


    "No need! I''m doing this for free!"


    Lu Yin waved her hands and then suddenly grabbed Xie Qing and pressed his head against her thighs. She blushed.


    The feeling of his soft hair on her thighs, which had be exposed due to the awkward position, was something else.


    Moreover, it so happened that Xie Qing fell face down right on her reproductive area, giving him a view of the endlessnds.


    The girl blushed deeply, but it was toote to back down. She could only sit there meekly, epting her fate.


    And Lu Yin, lost in thought, was brought back to reality by soft snoring. She looked at her knees in surprise and barely held back a scream.


    "Milo!"


    On her knees, with a rxed expression on his face, Xie Qing was sleeping! His usually serious and gloomy face looked gentle and cute.


    "Awawawa..."


    Lu Yin regretted not taking a special device for photography. All she could do was remember this moment and firmly etch it into her memory!


    Unconsciously, her hands began to stroke his smooth ck hair, and Xie Qing mumbled something under his nose and turned over.


    "Eek!"


    Lu Yin let out a quiet scream when Xie Qing''s nose, well... came into contact with what it shouldn''t have.


    "This position... it''s too embarrassing!" Lu Yin''s cheeks burned with shame.


    She wanted to sink into the ground to somehow get rid of her embarrassment. But...


    "Such a valuable opportunity... he never allowed anyone to touch his head and hair... ugh..." The girl sighed and then thought seriously: "Calm down, I need to set my priorities right. So, as a proud heiress of the sect..."


    Hey...


    As a proud heiress of the sect, are you still stroking him? And why are your hands trying to slip inside his clothes? Hey!