"Sect Master, the investigation is complete."
Inside the Ancient Flame Sect's great hall, a disciple knelt on one knee and spoke respectfully to Gu Xun'er, who reclined languidly on an exquisite, lavish sect master's throne, resting with her eyes closed.
The disciple looked very young. Dressed in white robes, he had an exceptionally handsome face with soft contours and a refined air, rather like an elegant young scholar.
The aura faintly emanating from him was far from weak, either. He had reached Peak Dou Ling. To possess such strength at his age spoke of extraordinary talent; even in the Central Plains, he would have been considered a promising genius.
His name was Chang Qing, and he was among the first group to pledge themselves to Gu Xun'er. When she first heard his name, she had been rather surprised and found it somewhat amusing. His talent was quite good, too.
After some consideration, Gu Xun'er had kept him around and given him slightly preferential treatment when distributing cultivation resources. It was a small gesture of favor toward a genius whose name sounded the same as a certain person's. After that, she had paid him little further attention.
It was not until yesterday, after exchanging blows with that certain person, that she returned and immediately ordered an investigation into when Hun Changqing had arrived in the Black-Corner Region, who had accompanied him, and what he had done here. Chang Qing had promptly stepped forward and taken the entire task upon himself. Only then had Gu Xun'er remembered that her sect even had such a person.
Now, Chang Qing knelt on one knee, his face full of respect. Yet beneath the awe in his eyes as he gazed at Gu Xun'er, a few traces of fervor and adoration lay hidden.
From the very