Chapter 140: Chapter 139: A Bountiful Harvest, A Cause for Celebration

Holding the soft, smooth, and slightly cool body in his arms, Gu Zhao felt there was nothing to ask.

In truth, everything had just fallen into place naturally.

Whether it was strolling hand-in-hand with Zhuo Qingyan or studying Arrays together, a tacit understanding had long since formed between them.

Then there was the time they ran into Liu Qingfeng, who mistook Zhuo Qingyan for his wife. Or just yesterday, when Qiao Yunyao had called them a couple in Harmony. Neither he nor Zhuo Qingyan had denied it on either occasion.

It was just that Zhuo Qingyan had a cold and aloof temperament, and Gu Zhao wasn’t one to make the first move, so all they had been missing was a catalyst.

Just as Zhuo Qingyan had said, she had actually planned to use the killing of Yuan Wenrui as this catalyst.

’But why did it happen early?’

Gu Zhao thought for a moment and had a rough idea. ’Maybe it’s because I occasionally showed a hint of desire but never actually acted on it. This restraint made Zhuo Qingyan feel a bit of...’

’Pity?’

’Damn it!’

Gu Zhao couldn’t help but snark internally. ’A Female Ghost taking pity on a virgin? Are we filming a movie? A Chinese Ghost Story?’

’But... damn, it feels good!’

His palm gently caressed her enchanting curves, and another urge surged within him.

Zhuo Qingyan sensed this urge, bit her lower lip, and lay back down again.

Gu Zhao blinked, mustered his courage, and said, "Let’s try a different position this time."

...

"Wake up! Wake up!"

"What’s wrong?"

"Gu Zhao and Zhuo Qingyan are mating!"

"Huh?"

"Zhuo Qingyan really stole your spot as the bed-warming Maid! Is Gu Zhao still going to bring us tasty food? Do Female Ghosts not like to eat?"

"Huh?"

"What do you mean, ’huh’?! This is a very serious problem! Does this mean Gu Zhao isn’t going to let you be his bed-warming Maid?"

"What are you talking about? When did the Master ever agree to let me be his bed-warming Maid?"

"Huh?"

"And... besides... Martial Uncle Yan Song said that only after I turn eighteen can I... can I..."

"Huh?"

"Stop with the ’huh’! Anyway, Sister Zhuo and the Master are a great match. I’m already very happy just being the Master’s Maid."

"You have no ambition! Anyway, you’re going to be the bed-warming Maid whether you want to or not. Besides, aren’t you curious?"

"Curious about what?"

"About mating, of course! Listening to the sounds, it seemed really awkward. It sounded like it hurt, but it also sounded like it felt good. Isn’t that weird?"

"Oh, just go to sleep! We have to get up early to make breakfast!"

...

The next morning, Gu Zhao was refreshed and invigorated. Zhuo Qingyan’s aura was still cool and aloof, but her expression had softened considerably.

Li Erping yawned as he fed hay to the horses, and the Silk Embroideress served breakfast to everyone, plate by plate. Only Bai Ke was squatting on the steps under the old tree in the courtyard, sizing up the pair with a curious look.

Gu Zhao accepted the morning tea from the Silk Embroideress, took a light sip, and asked Bai Ke, "What is it?"

"Does mating hurt, or does it feel good?"

"PFFT!"

Gu Zhao sprayed out a mouthful of tea.

"COUGH! COUGH! COUGH!" Gu Zhao, having choked on his tea, let out a few dry coughs and turned to glare at Bai Ke.

’Damn it, that’s the one bad thing about the Extraordinary World—everyone’s hearing is too good. We were so far away, and Zhuo Qingyan and I did our best to be quiet, but someone still eavesdropped on us.’

’Are there any Arrays that can block out sound?’

While thinking this, Gu Zhao said to Bai Ke, "If you want to know, why don’t you go find a male fox for yourself?"

"I will not!" Bai Ke shook her head. "I’m a Spirit Monarch, about to achieve Transformation. If I’m going to find someone, it’s going to be a human."

Gu Zhao hmphed and took another light sip of his morning tea.

"Anyway, the Silk Embroideress is going to be your bed-warming Maid. Once I transform into a human, I’ll come find you to mate, too," Bai Ke continued.

"PFFT!"

Gu Zhao sprayed out his tea again.

Zhuo Qingyan, who had been feeling a bit self-conscious, couldn’t help but let out a laugh. As for the Silk Embroideress, the tips of her ears turned bright red. She pretended not to have heard and scurried back to the kitchen to fetch more food.

By the time the Silk Embroideress returned, Gu Zhao had already paid the price of five spiced chicken legs to make Bai Ke drop the subject.

After breakfast, Gu Zhao took out the Soul-Stabilizing Seal from within his robes to fiddle with and examine.

’Hm? The Stone King didn’t actually leave his mark on this?’ Gu Zhao scanned it with his Divine Sense but didn’t detect any unique spiritual fluctuations.

He had previously sensed the mark left by the Golden Wind Divine King inside the Golden Wind Divine Statue, and he had also expelled a similar mark from Zhuo Qingyan’s body, so he was quite familiar with these so-called tracking imprints.

However, to cast this kind of Magic, one’s own Spiritual Power needed to reach a certain level. Judging by the fact that the Golden Wind Divine King could do it and the Stone King hadn’t, this Stone King was still not on the same level as the Golden Wind Divine King.

"That kind of mark isn’t easy to place. It damages one’s Divine Sense every time. Even the Golden Wind Divine King only places them on his more important Incense and Candle Divine Statues," Bai Ke said, lazing in a chair by the door and soaking up the sun.

Gu Zhao nodded. "Truth be told, these tracking marks aren’t all that useful. They only work against weaklings. A true master would just erase the mark in an instant. At most, it can serve as an early warning."

Zhuo Qingyan pouted but said nothing.

"Still, it’s good that there isn’t one. It works out in our favor. At least we don’t have to worry about the Stone King tracking us down anytime soon," Gu Zhao said with a laugh.

This wasn’t Daluo Palace. Taoist Yan Song and the others had already split into groups and descended the mountain for Exorcising Demons and Evil Spirits and harvesting Evil Qi. Without any masters by his side, he couldn’t deal with a top-tier expert like the Stone King for the time being.

Speaking of which, Gu Zhao couldn’t help but marvel at how incredibly effective those Daoists were.

Ever since they arrived in Xiuyue County the night before last, the Five Thunders Order in his Sea of Consciousness had been intermittently collecting wisps of Evil Qi. It wasn’t much, and it wasn’t frequent, but the flow, though sporadic, had never once stopped.

It was even coming in last night while he was sleeping with Zhuo Qingyan.

This was true passive income, making money in his sleep. You have no idea how great it felt!

Seeing Gu Zhao studying the Dharma Seal, Zhuo Qingyan asked, "Can you use this Soul-Stabilizing Seal? Can it be used against the Golden Wind Divine King?"

Gu Zhao placed the Soul-Stabilizing Seal in his palm, holding it up for a look.

It was a Little Seal, with a base of only two centimeters and a height of about five or six centimeters, like a calligrapher’s personal chop, and a small one at that.

The seal was entirely black, made of a material that was neither metal nor jade, neither stone nor wood. An unfamiliar Rune was carved into its base, and the seal itself contained an aura that suppressed the Divine Soul.

"It’s mainly about the material," Gu Zhao said, weighing the Dharma Seal in his hand. "This material naturally suppresses the Divine Soul; the refinement technique just helps it better unleash its effect. No wonder it works so well."

A glint appeared in Zhuo Qingyan’s eyes. "The Golden Wind Divine King’s true form is an old ghost. A Magical Treasure that suppresses the Divine Soul is his natural nemesis."

Gu Zhao experimented for a moment. His Taoist True Qi couldn’t activate the Stone King’s refinement technique, but it didn’t conflict with the seal’s material itself.

’In that case, if I re-refine this Soul-Stabilizing Seal with Taoist True Qi, it might be even more effective. And then it would be a true Magical Treasure of the Taoist Sect.’

"Not bad at all. Of course I can use it, and it’ll be even more effective. This gives us another edge," Gu Zhao said with a grin, raising an eyebrow. "This calls for a celebration. Let’s eat out for lunch. When we were strolling around yesterday afternoon, I saw a place in the city called the Guest Reception Building?"

Zhuo Qingyan couldn’t help but smile, only to hear Bai Ke shake her head. "The food at the Guest Reception Building isn’t as good as the stuff you brought. Can you bring back some more five-spice roast chicken and Dongpo pork?"

"No!" Gu Zhao picked Bai Ke up by the scruff of her neck. "All we have at home are vegetable scraps. You eating or not?"

Bai Ke let out a mournful sigh. "There’s no good food out here on the road. When can we go back?"