Chapter 43: The Lucky Bastard

Back in the Demonic Beast Garden, Gu Yuan found Lin Hao and his women waiting in front of the Teleportation Array.

They looked tense, clearly hesitating over whether they should enter the array or continue waiting.

"Brother Gu?"

Seeing him return completely unscathed visibly eased some of their tension.

"Senior Brother." Gu Yuan cupped his hands toward Lin Hao. "Thank you for standing up for me earlier, even though you didn’t have to."

He was genuinely grateful. Lin Hao had risked his position within the sect by defending him earlier, and that wasn’t something just anyone would be willing to do.

"Don’t worry about it. That’s what friends are for." Lin Hao waved his hand, brushing the matter aside before asking, "More importantly, what happened in the sect?"

My twin Dao Companions really are taking over the sect... Gu Yuan had no idea how he was supposed to explain that.

"It’s probably better if you go and see for yourself."

Lin Hao exchanged a glance with his women before stepping into the Teleportation Array. The others followed him, leaving Gu Yuan alone in the Demonic Beast Garden.

So, who’s going to become the next Sect Master? After calming down, Gu Yuan found himself wondering about it again.

Ji Yue, right?

With that thought in mind, Gu Yuan sat down cross-legged and began meditating.

One incense stick later, Lin Hao and his group returned, their expressions clearly showing that they were still stunned by what they had witnessed.

"The Heavenly Twin Stars really are something else," Lin Hao said with a sigh.

"Not only are they stunningly beautiful, they’re incredibly powerful too."

"Husband, please restrain yourself." Mu Qingya, the cultivator Lin Hao had pursued back when he was still a mortal and his first Dao Companion, gave him a helpless look. "I still don’t want to become a widow."

Gu Yuan’s gaze, which had somehow become noticeably sharper, turned toward Lin Hao.

"Hahaha, don’t worry. I know my limits." Lin Hao laughed before his expression became a little more thoughtful. "Besides, they probably have a Dao Companion already."

"Really?" Mu Qingya immediately became interested. "Wait, how did you find that out?"

"Intuition?" Lin Hao shrugged. "It’s hard to explain. They just gave me the feeling of women who already have a man."

The women seemed satisfied with that explanation, but Gu Yuan, who knew the truth, was left amazed.

What kind of intuition is that?

"Just what kind of lucky bastard managed to get both of them..." Lin Hao muttered, clearly envious.

"Maybe..." Gu Yuan seemed unable to stop himself from joining the conversation. "Maybe he’s not as lucky as you think."

Lin Hao immediately looked at him.

"Brother Gu, do you know something?"

"No, nothing like that." Gu Yuan coughed lightly. "It’s just... you can imagine how domineering the Heavenly Twin Stars are, right? So wouldn’t being their Dao Companion be... difficult?"

"And what’s wrong with a little hardship?" Lin Hao replied without hesitation. "To have those two gorgeous women as his Dao Companions, he should be thanking his lucky stars every day."

"Yeah..." Gu Yuan awkwardly nodded. "You’re right."

Finally, the team of five returned to the pavilion to continue their mission. After all, there was still one month left.

"Brother Gu, you didn’t tell us what happened to Yu Cheng and the others." Lin Hao seemed to remember the incident only now and asked about it.

"I don’t know. Maybe because I ran to the inner sect and they saw what happened to the Sect Master, they decided to give up on the mission themselves?"

"Oh? Is that so?" Lin Hao said playfully, clearly not believing him, but he decided not to pry any further.

Gu Yuan knew his excuse couldn’t deceive anyone, but he was fine with that.

What he wanted to conceal wasn’t his strength. He didn’t mind displaying it when necessary.

What he wanted to conceal was his cultivation speed. He didn’t want to attract unnecessary attention by allowing others to realize just how quickly he was advancing. Otherwise, he would have displayed his true cultivation from the beginning.

Gu Yuan glanced at Lin Hao before turning his attention back to their surroundings and checking on the demonic beasts. They had calmed down somewhat after the blood and killing aura disappeared, but the Secret Realm still seemed to be filled with tension.

For the remaining month of their mission, they probably wouldn’t be able to relax as much as before.

Gu Yuan could only hope that nothing unexpected would happen.

Fortunately, nothing did.

One month later, after reporting to the Mission Hall that their mission was complete, Gu Yuan noticed that some clear changes had taken place within the sect. With the Sect Master and a group of elders having lost their lives, the atmosphere of the Mission Hall was noticeably different from before.

Gu Yuan decided to find out what had happened later.

For now, he returned to his residence.

Two women were waiting for him inside his room.

"Why did you run away one month ago?" Ji Yue asked, her tone gentle yet somehow chilling at the same time.

"What do you mean, run away, Senior Sister? I simply returned to continue my mission."

"I had left my post to confirm your safety, and after doing so, I determined that it would be better not to interrupt you."

Gu Yuan spoke in a righteous tone, and this time, every word he said was actually truthful.

He didn’t want to interrupt them.

He also didn’t want to become the center of attention.

Those had genuinely been his thoughts.

Ji Yue took a few steps toward him until her soft body pressed against his chest. She then raised a hand and gently caressed his cheek as she spoke.

"Even so, I feel like you should be punished for that behavior."

"What do you think, Yan?"

"I think it’s fine. There’s no need for punishment."

Ji Yan, who was sitting cross-legged on the mat where Gu Yuan usually cultivated, answered without hesitation.

Her response surprised both Gu Yuan and her twin sister.

Did she actually injure herself in the battle one month ago?

Gu Yuan couldn’t help but start worrying.