Since Gu Hanxun claimed to have become a monk, he had abstained from meat. He felt that he was deeply sinful, for he was sorry for his teacher, his aunt, and the girl Ning Ning who had stayed up for several nights just to help him whole - heartedly.
He had let everyone down but won the world. Gu Hanxun originally thought that from then on, he would surely live a carefree life. After all, the only thing he had wanted at the beginning was the throne, and now he had everything he desired. He had also eradicated those he loathed. However, the memory that he once regarded as a disgrace had become the happiest years of his life.
He had lived for over a hundred years, merely keeping company with the green lantern and ancient Buddha, as a way to atone for his sins. The guilt that had settled in his heart had long been weighing him down, making it hard for him to breathe.
He thought that he would never have the chance to make up for what he owed to that girl. All he could do was to punish himself. He chose to seclude himself from the world and give back everything he once cherished.
Years of self - torture had made his once - strong body extremely emaciated. Paired with his monk's robe, he looked more like a hard - working and suffering sweeper monk.
Now, in this place, he suddenly saw the girl from his memory when he was completely unprepared. It was already quite an achievement for Gu Hanxun to remain as calm as he was.
"What? When old friends meet, you don't even look at me now?"
Gu Hanxun's behavior was somewhat similar to that of Luo Qiu in the past. Zhao Shuning understood that most of them felt guilty towards her. However, those things were already like fleeting clouds and she didn't care about them anymore.
Seeing Gu Hanxun's current transformation, Zhao Shuning still believed that her choice back then had been right.
Gu Hanxun finally slowly turned his head. Somehow, in this solemn occasion, with his eyes full of deep meaning and guilt, when Zhao Shuning saw his bald head and thought of how he used to ride a horse with great aplomb, with his long black hair fluttering, the contrast made her think it was a bit comical.
Gu Hanxun's lips trembled slightly. The atmosphere was already a bit strange, and when Zhao Shuning burst into laughter, his expression became even more dazed. For a moment, he opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.
"I haven't formally introduced myself to you yet. Gu Hanxun, I'm Zhao Shuning."
Zhao Shuning? No wonder when he met her in the imperial palace of Cangwu Kingdom, she told him her name was Ning Ning. So, from the very beginning, she hadn't hidden her real name. Had she been honest with him from the start?
Thinking of this, Gu Hanxun felt even more remorseful for having let such a wonderful girl down. He looked a bit uncomfortable. Throughout this time, Zhao Shuning had been smiling. But before he knew that the girl in front of him was the former Luo Feiyan, when Gu Hanxun saw such a smile, he only found it offensive and had no good feelings towards it. Moreover, he thought this girl was shameless. But now, looking at the girl in front of him, he felt that the gentle spring breeze, the red plum in January, the peach blossoms in March, the wisteria in May, the epiphyllum in July, and the hibiscus mutabilis in October were all less charming than her smile at this moment.
The Cangwu Kingdom had always attached great importance to flowers. Since its founding, there had been a Flower - Searching Festival, which later became known as the Hundred - Flower Festival. When they met a beautiful girl, they would compare her with the most beautiful flower in their hearts.
It was the same face, but it gave Gu Hanxun completely different feelings before and after.
"Ning Ning—"
Zhao Shuning nodded.
"It's me." Then she quickly explained, "By the way, I'm returning this to you. Also, I really thought this spatial palace was ownerless, so I brought people here to recuperate. My father is living inside. He can't move now. Could you let him stay here for a while longer? I will definitely take him away immediately after he wakes up. I won't disturb the tranquility of this palace."
Zhao Shuning's explanation made Gu Hanxun blush. He even waved his hand to interrupt her before she could finish speaking.
"No, no. If Ning Ning needs it, I'll give this palace to you. Actually, the origin of this place is not right. I shouldn't have occupied it in the first place."
"Ning Ning, is your father injured? What kind of injury is it? Can I help? If—" At this point, Gu Hanxun paused, hesitating, "If—if you still trust me, I can, I can replace that old man before and help you guard your father."
Gu Hanxun looked rather embarrassed. Obviously, he was afraid that Zhao Shuning would reject his request. So, at this moment, he was walking on thin ice, extremely cautious.
Zhao Shuning casually asked, "If I'm not mistaken, you are now cultivating both spiritual power and mental power, right?"
Gu Hanxun nodded.
Zhao Shuning continued, "If I'm not wrong again, your spiritual power has probably reached the Eighth Phase, right?"
Gu Hanxun replied, "I've been at the Eighth Phase for ten years. I've never been eager to break through, so I'm just at this level."
The Eighth Phase was quite high. The powerful ones were about the same level. Moreover, Gu Hanxun was cultivating both spiritual power and mental power. He really hadn't been idle in these hundreds of years.
Zhao Shuning took a deep breath and then asked, "What about your mental power?"
"Rank Nine."
"Be more specific."
Rank Nine was divided into several stages, roughly lower, middle, and upper. But very few people could reach this level. So, when people heard that someone was a Rank - Nine alchemist, they would think that this person was extraordinary. Let alone to inquire further.
Zhao Shuning knew so much because there was a more extraordinary and "inhuman" existence by her side, Bu Ran. Her master's mental power should be at the upper level of Rank Nine, or perhaps even higher.
"Middle level."
Fortunately, Zhao Shuning managed to steady herself. Otherwise, she would have fallen to the ground at this moment. As far as she knew, Xiao Qiu had remarkable attainments in mental power, but now she was only at the lower level of Rank Nine, and she had been at this level for at least a hundred years. Xiao Qiu's foundation had been unstable in her early years, and most of her mental power came from hunting monsters and obtaining their yuan pills to improve. So, no matter how many years passed in the future, Xiao Qiu's mental power probably wouldn't increase anymore.
But Rank Nine! That was already Rank Nine. Zhao Shuning had been at Rank Eight for so long but still couldn't break through to Rank Nine. Even after taking so many qi - calming pills from Bu Ran, she was still only at Rank Eight.
Gu Hanxun saw that Zhao Shuning didn't respond and said blankly, "Is my ability not enough to protect your father?"
Not enough? Oh, God, are you kidding? Who would dare to ask a Rank - Nine middle - level alchemist to be a guard?