Chapter 4
After thinking it over carefully last night, Gu Jiuge concluded that “breaking off the engagement” was currently the best way to help restore Lian Yunjin’s characterization.
However, the man in this engagement was nominally her older brother.
Undermining her brother’s relationship and encouraging Lian Yunjin to break off the engagement…
Gu Jiuge could not help finding it strange.
That strange feeling remained even after breakfast ended.
After the housekeeper, Aunt Liu, cleared away the bowls and chopsticks from the table, Gu Jiuge picked up a napkin and wiped her mouth, calmly breaking the frozen atmosphere at the table.
“Sister Lian, since I’m interning at the company today, can I ride there with you?”
Before Lian Yunjin could speak, Gu Chengze, who was sitting opposite her, smiled casually and said, “Jiuge, go to your internship by yourself today. Sister Lian and I need to confirm our places in the Four Great Families’ selection tournament.”
Spiritual energy was relatively scarce in the secular world, making it unsuitable for cultivation.
The cultivation grounds abundant in spiritual energy had long since been divided among the mighty Four Great Families.
To encourage the younger members of their collateral branches and subordinate families to cultivate diligently, the Four Great Families jointly held a cultivation selection tournament every three years. The top three competitors would be permitted to cultivate alongside the direct descendants of the Four Great Families in places abundant in spiritual energy.
After receiving guidance from the old man, Gu Chengze’s first step into the cultivation world was becoming engaged to Lian Yunjin, who possessed a tournament slot. Through the engagement, he successfully obtained a place in the selection tournament.
Gu Jiuge had also read this part of the plot before dropping the novel.
Once the participants were confirmed, the tournament would begin immediately. With the journey there and back, she would not see the two of them for nearly a month.
With this garbage constitution that sent her into heat once a week, how was she supposed to survive?
Besides, if she was separated from her mission target, Lian Yunjin, how could she find an opportunity to complete her mission?
“I don’t want to do the internship. I want to go with you,” Gu Jiuge volunteered.
“Your constitution is unusual. It would be best if you didn’t enter the cultivation world.” Lian Yunjin paused before continuing, “I’ve already given the HR department instructions regarding the company. You only need to complete the paperwork and register your fingerprints, and you’ll officially be employed.”
“Sister Lian, you also know that my constitution is unusual.” Gu Jiuge coughed awkwardly. “If neither of you is with me, what am I supposed to do when my arousal period comes and no one is there to regulate my spiritual energy? What if someone abducts me again?”
She was currently powerless and possessed such a constitution. If she encountered danger, she could only allow herself to be slaughtered at another’s whim.
Gu Chengze smiled and reassured her, “Trust me. Nothing will happen to you in the secular world while we’re away. I’ll send one of my underlings to protect you.”
An underling…
This underling was a lackey Gu Chengze had recruited before his engagement. He was currently only at the middle stage of Qi Refinement and could not withstand even three moves against Gu Chengze, who was at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.
He was strong enough to handle ordinary criminals from the secular world, but if he encountered a cultivator, there was no guarantee that he could win.
“Brother, I still feel safer beside you and Sister Lian.” Gu Jiuge put on a pitiful expression and stared pleadingly at Gu Chengze.
Gu Jiuge had always obeyed him. Her persistence this time surprised Gu Chengze slightly, and a trace of displeasure appeared between his handsome brows.
If the original character were here, she would undoubtedly have stopped while she was ahead after seeing her brother’s displeased expression and would no longer have insisted.
Since her life was more important, Gu Jiuge ignored her newly acquired brother’s displeasure. Instead, she blinked and turned an expectant gaze toward Lian Yunjin.
Lian Yunjin remained silent for a moment before saying indifferently, “Fine. We’ll take you with us.”
Hearing this, Gu Jiuge beamed with satisfaction.
Seeing the situation slipping somewhat beyond his control, Gu Chengze furrowed his brows and reminded them, “We’re going there to participate in a tournament, not on vacation! Someone with Jiuge’s constitution will cause a lot of trouble if she enters the cultivation world. It will be dangerous.”
Lian Yunjin replied coldly, “She’s your younger sister. Does that mean you won’t protect her if she brings trouble or encounters danger?”
“The trouble and danger could clearly be avoided…” Gu Chengze said. “I’m doing this for her own good!”
“Since Gu Jiuge calls me Sister Lian, I don’t mind helping you protect her.”
After saying this, Lian Yunjin gave Gu Jiuge a meaningful look and left the dining table first.
Seeing that the male lead’s expression did not look good, Gu Jiuge turned her head away with an awkward smile and followed Lian Yunjin toward the parking area.
“Sister Lian, thank you,” Gu Jiuge said gratefully. “Without your help, I definitely wouldn’t have been able to go.”
“You don’t need to thank me. I simply don’t want to spend this entire journey alone with your brother,” Lian Yunjin said coolly.
“You dislike my brother so much. Why haven’t you considered breaking off your engagement with him?” Gu Jiuge carefully observed her. “Once the selection tournament ends and my brother no longer needs the Lian family’s status, you can break off the engagement, can’t you?”
Lian Yunjin’s steps faltered. She glanced back at Gu Jiuge, then curled her lips into a self-mocking smile without answering her question.
…
Naturally, a mysterious cultivation tournament detached from the secular world would not be held somewhere filled with reporters.
The three of them boarded a private helicopter with neither a known flight nor identification number. After two and a half hours, it slowly landed halfway up a mountain in a lush forest.
Since the tournament was being held in a forest, Gu Jiuge had assumed they would have to endure harsh conditions, eating in the wind and sleeping beneath the stars.
However, after leaving the helicopter’s landing site, she was stunned by the scene before her.
Against the backdrop of various green plants in the distance stood tall, imposing buildings with strikingly beautiful designs. The crowded streets were filled with the blaring of car horns and vendors hawking their wares. Most astonishing of all were the familiar advertisements beside the shops.
Was this truly a place detached from the secular world?
No matter how she looked at it, it resembled the bustling modern city where she had always lived!
“As times develop, cultivators naturally keep pace with them,” Lian Yunjin explained from beside her. “Once the selection tournament begins, this place becomes lively.”
Gu Chengze looked around, a confident smile curling across his lips. “Competitors must be under twenty-five and have reached the Foundation Establishment stage. Although there are many people here, very few are qualified to compete…”
“Let’s go to the hotel and check in first.” Lian Yunjin interrupted his self-satisfied speech.
Gu Chengze was not annoyed. With both hands casually tucked into his trouser pockets, he turned his head and continued speaking to Gu Jiuge. “Jiuge, do you believe I can take first place in this selection tournament?”
She believed him! Of course she did!
With the male lead’s halo protecting him, could Gu Chengze still be called the male lead if he did not take first place?
“Of course I believe you!” Gu Jiuge declared, doing her best to act like an adoring little fangirl. “Brother, you’ll definitely take first place. I believe in you!”
Suddenly, Gu Jiuge glanced at the calm Lian Yunjin, curious about which of them was stronger.
[Lian Yunjin will be severely injured during the tournament and miss the finals, leaving her without a ranking.]
Oh, that was rather unfortunate.
Just as Gu Jiuge was feeling regretful, she heard the system’s voice again.
[It is precisely this serious injury that causes Lian Yunjin’s character deviation to reach fifty percent. Host, you must prevent this accident from occurring.]
While Gu Jiuge was still startled and uncertain, she realized that the three of them had already arrived side by side outside the only hotel on the mountain.
The hotel stood proudly at the end of the street. Its solemn and luxurious European-style décor made the building look magnificent and resplendent. Spiritual energy faintly fluctuated around everyone entering the hotel.
The three of them entered side by side and headed directly to the reception desk.
Lian Yunjin took out their identification documents and handed over her bank card. “Hello. We’d like three single rooms.”
The receptionist accepted the documents and searched the computer before saying apologetically, “The selection tournament is currently underway, so rooms are in short supply. The hotel only has one single room and one twin room remaining.”
Hearing this, Lian Yunjin frowned slightly.
“That’s fine. Give us the room cards.”
Gu Chengze stepped forward and lightly rested his fingers against the counter, revealing a handsome, captivating smile.
The receptionist seemed mesmerized by the male lead’s halo. She lowered her head shyly, quickly prepared the room cards, and handed them to him.
“Thank you.” Gu Chengze accepted the room cards with a relaxed smile.
Looking at the room card for the twin room in Gu Chengze’s hand, Lian Yunjin spoke before he could say anything. “You’ll sleep in the single room. Gu Jiuge and I will take the twin room.”
“Jiuge is very restless when she sleeps. If you share a room with her, I’m worried you won’t get enough rest.” Gu Chengze raised his eyebrows at Gu Jiuge.
Gu Jiuge keenly realized that he wanted her to act as his wingwoman.
But…
She was currently worrying about how to make them break off their engagement. How could she possibly act as his wingwoman?
“Brother, you don’t know what you’re talking about! I’ve been very well-behaved in my sleep lately!” Gu Jiuge pretended not to understand his implication. “I promise I’ll let Sister Lian rest properly! I won’t disturb her sleep!”
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