Published: March 8, 2025
Gu Miaoling pursed her lips, looking at the suddenly appeared young man, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She felt a lump in her throat, unable to speak, and lowered her head, softly murmuring an “mm.”
“Cough cough, cough cough…” Gu Yunlan, feeling displeased, coughed a few times and thought, am I so transparent in your eyes, standing here as a living person?
“Cough cough… adoptive father, you… you’re here too.” Gu Duxing finally shifted his gaze away from Gu Miaoling, rubbing his hands together, giving an awkward smile.
“What do you mean by ‘you’re here too’?” Gu Yunlan snapped, “This is my home. If I’m not here, where else would I be?”
“Cough cough… I meant… at this time, shouldn’t you be in the study?” Gu Duxing quickly explained.
“Oh? What? Do you find me a nuisance?” Gu Yunlan rolled his eyes, “Gu Duxing, what do you mean?”
Gu Duxing was dumbfounded, “I didn’t…”
“Didn’t what?!” Gu Yunlan was furious, “You unfilial son, you rebellious child! You returned and didn’t even come to greet me, shouting ‘sister Xiao Miao’ all the way…”
Huffing, the old man was seething with rage, “Even if I'm not your adoptive father, I’m still your father-in-law, right? Is this how you act? Coming to my house to look for my daughter and then saying: ‘You’re here too?’”
Gu Duxing’s face turned red, confessing his guilt.
Gu Miaoling blushed even more, pushing her incoherent father, “Dad… please go out first…”
Gu Yunlan was momentarily dumbfounded, unconsciously nodding, “Alright… I’ll go out first…” Suddenly realizing something, he shouted: “Daughter, you’re kicking me out too?!”
The two exchanged glances with black lines on their foreheads.
“Fine, I’ll go. I won’t be a nuisance here…” Gu Yunlan pretended to be angry but was secretly pleased, stepping out; thinking to himself, if it weren't for not seeing you for so long and wanting to take a look, I wouldn’t be here… hum.
As he reached the pavilion's exit, he suddenly asked casually, “Duxing, what level have you reached now? Have you reached the second tier throne yet?”
He thought it was impossible to be so fast; he had only broken through to the first rank throne last year; that speed was already quite fast; he shouldn’t be so demanding…
Gu Duxing respectfully replied, “By luck, I have not let down my mission; I am now at the peak of the first tier sword emperor, soon to break into the second tier.”
Nodding with anticipation, Gu Yunlan stroked his beard, “The peak of the first tier sword emperor is good; keep it up and break into the second tier throne as soon as possible. I hope you can reach the Imperial Throne within ten years…”
As he spoke, he walked out steadily.
After taking three steps, he suddenly trembled, stiffened, and turned back in shock: “What did you just say? First tier sword emperor? Peak?”
Gu Duxing scratched his head, puzzled, “Yes.”
He thought to himself, the adoptive father is really something; I’m already a first tier sword emperor, and he still wants me to work harder to break into the second tier throne… should I take a step back instead?
“First tier sword emperor… peak…” Gu Yunlan gasped, his hand shaking as he stroked his beard, accidentally pulling out a handful, his expression dazed, turning around and stumbling out.
Suddenly, he shouted, “Sword emperor?!” Now fully awake, he felt a rush of confusion, his body swaying, and with a splash, he fell into the lotus pond, sending water splashing everywhere!
I must be dreaming…
He actually mentioned sword emperor…
Gu Duxing and Gu Miaoling were greatly shocked, hurriedly pulling the old man out of the lotus pond. Gu Yunlan, drenched like a drowned chicken, shivered and asked, “You… are you really a sword emperor? The imperial level sword emperor?”
“Yes,” Gu Duxing nodded seriously.
“Sword emperor…” Gu Yunlan pushed his hand away, dazed and lost, walking out unsteadily, murmuring, “Sword emperor… sword emperor… sword emperor…”