"Gu Hanxun, you're practically the grand supreme emperor of Cangwu Country, aren't you? No, it should be even more. Except for Gu Zhiruo's generation, the Gu family has basically had only one heir per generation for the past seven or eight generations, right?"
Gu Hanxun nodded.
"The Gu family has had only one heir per generation for eight generations. Maybe it's because of the sins I committed in my early years."
Zhao Shuning continued, "That's not the point. I'm just wondering, you've gone to so much trouble to hold the power of Cangwu Country in the hands of the Gu family. Even though you're no longer the ruler of Cangwu Country, your status and power should be beyond doubt. Why do you want to be my bodyguard instead of enjoying your life as the grand elder of the Gu family?"
Gu Hanxun's eyes showed a hint of hurt.
After all.
Ningning still cared.
She still hated him, it seemed, since she didn't even want to give him a chance to atone for his sins.
"I know you still hate me in the end. It's only natural. What I did back then was really... No one would forgive me so easily."
Zhao Shuning said, "Is that what's been bothering you?"
"Yes."
"No, Gu Hanxun. Have you really thought like this all these years?"
"I was sorry to your teacher and your aunt back then. They were both your closest relatives. I originally wanted to treat you well and make up for my mistakes, but I still used you in the end."
The word "use".
When it came out of Gu Hanxun's mouth, it sounded rather awkward.
Zhao Shuning understood.
At that time, she was extremely angry and confused when she was in that situation. She had done her best to help Gu Hanxun, thinking it was a mutual help, but unexpectedly, this guy had been using her from beginning to end.
But fortunately.
Although he had used her, he never thought of taking her life. Moreover, at that time, the power of Cangwu Country was completely in the hands of the queen consort. He had suffered humiliation since childhood and had even broken his legs. The life he had lived was definitely beyond what Zhao Shuning could imagine. So, he developed such a nature. It was not so much Gu Hanxun's fault as it was the unfairness of fate. Although he was born into the royal family, he had to fight for his own world with his own hands.
"Gu Hanxun, I don't care about that anymore."
"But on the riverside back then, your eyes clearly showed that you hated me deeply. You must have been very disappointed in me, too."
"I was disappointed, but many years have passed, and I've long forgotten that unpleasant time. Gu Hanxun, you're not a bad person at heart. Judging from your current state, I'm afraid you haven't had a good life in these hundreds of years. I've already let it go. You don't have to keep brooding over it."
"But I haven't."
Zhao Shuning felt a bit of a headache.
Time was truly a good medicine. Just look at Gu Hanxun. In the past, he would never have spoken so humbly. His self - esteem had always been placed at the highest position.
"Gu Hanxun."
"I know I was wrong back then. After you left, I regretted it every day. I really wanted to forget what you said to me, but the more I tried to control myself not to think about it, the more deeply it was engraved in my mind. Ningning, I've secluded myself for hundreds of years. The only time I made a move was because Cangwu Country was in danger. If you don't let me do things for you, I might still live such a desolate life in the next few hundred years."
Desolate.
And not even aware of it?
Zhao Shuning sighed.
She could only say, "Then come in with me."
Gu Hanxun was overjoyed and quickly nodded.
A rare smile that he hadn't shown for hundreds of years appeared on his handsome face.
Before they entered the door.
Zhao Shuning suddenly stopped and said thoughtfully, "You won't lie to me this time, will you?"
Hearing this, Gu Hanxun immediately said, "Ningning can plant your spiritual power in my spiritual root. If I have any ulterior motives, you can directly control my life and death."
"You're crazy. I'm just an eighth - rank alchemist. How can I control you, a ninth - rank high - level alchemist?"
"I'll do it myself."
After saying that.
Gu Hanxun suddenly closed his eyes.
By the time Zhao Shuning realized what he was going to do, it was already too late. After all, Gu Hanxun's spiritual power was far above hers. It was really difficult for her to break free.
High - level alchemists basically never acknowledged a master. Of course, no one could control them either. However, there were exceptions. If a high - level alchemist wanted to acknowledge a master, they could accept the spiritual power planted by a higher - level alchemist.
Of course.
There was another way.
However, this way had never been practiced from ancient times to the present.
That was for a high - level alchemist to acknowledge a lower - rank alchemist as their master. You should know that a ninth - rank alchemist's control over spiritual power had reached an almost miraculous level.
Alchemists were all proud. How could they allow a lower - rank alchemist to be their master?
So, since ancient times, such a thing had never happened.
Although such a thing had never happened, it didn't mean it was impossible.
That was for a lower - rank alchemist to have their spiritual power reverse - planted.
The method was different, but the result was the same.
Now, Gu Hanxun wanted to do just that.
Zhao Shuning only felt her consciousness fall into a blur. The next moment, a powerful force suddenly rushed into her body. As this force invaded, a wisp of her spiritual power was carefully wrapped by that force and pulled out of her body.
When that wisp of spiritual power was pulled out of Zhao Shuning's body, her consciousness returned to her body, and then her eyes suddenly opened.
But at this moment.
It was already too late.
She could only watch as her spiritual power rushed into Gu Hanxun's forehead with a whoosh, and then Gu Hanxun's eyes slowly opened too.
He had originally placed his finger on Zhao Shuning's forehead, and now he slowly lowered it.
"Gu Hanxun, you're crazy."
But Gu Hanxun just smiled calmly.
"I don't want Ningning to doubt me."
"I'm not doubting you. I just..."
"I know. It's just that I've done too many wrong things in the past, so it's normal for you to be on guard against me. What I'm doing now is just returning the trust you once had in me. It's okay. In this way, you'll know what's on my mind."
"Gu Hanxun, you're really crazy."
Gu Hanxun just smiled and didn't say a word.
At this moment.
Zhao Shuning felt.
He and her elder brother, Zhao Huai, were actually a bit similar at this moment.
"Ningning, can I go in now?"
Zhao Shuning nodded hurriedly.
She led Gu Hanxun inside.
When they reached the spatial palace, the people coming and going always cast curious looks at them.
Banyue had just come out of the room where Zhao Zheng was.
When she saw Gu Hanxun, she immediately took a defensive stance.
"You bald donkey, how did you get in? Where's Miss Ye?"
Zhao Shuning's face darkened.
She coughed a few times.
"I'm here."
Am I so invisible?