Granted the Orthodox Yang Sword and Ordered to Hunt Down the Bandits

"Your humble subject Gu Yuan greets Your Majesty."

Gu Yuan admitted that he was a little confused.

He had just been informed that he had been promoted again, this time to commander of the Mystic Shadow Guard, a full Third Grade post. The Mystic Shadow Guard were the people the empress trusted most!

Was there no background check for a promotion to commander?

"I never expected you to be so capable and bold, Commander Gu!"

?

Gu Yuan had the feeling there was something else behind the empress's words, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"Your Majesty, I have always been timid."

"..."

He was already planning to raise an army in rebellion, yet he still dared claim to be timid...

"You dared to offend the King of Qingzhou's heir, yet you call yourself timid?"

"I have Your Majesty's favor, don't I? Your Majesty's divine might is unmatched, and you have no equal under heaven. Why should I fear a mere King of Qingzhou?"

Such a smooth talker...

Qi Yueli gave a quiet huff inwardly.

In truth, Gu Yuan had not originally wanted to offend Xiao Chen. After all, the male lead was a key figure in driving the plot forward.

But after meeting Xiao Chen, he had changed his mind.

The deep-seated aversion he felt was more than he could bear.

And with Xiao Chen provoking him, Gu Yuan had no choice but to give him a sound beating.

If he hadn't been afraid that Xiao Chen's disappearance would cause major changes to the plot, he would even have dared to cut him down on the spot!

"Gu Yuan, I have an assignment for you."

An assignment?

Great!

He loved assignments more than anything.

"Your subject would gladly die ten thousand deaths to carry it out!"

You'd better.

Qi Yueli raised the Orthodox Yang Sword and placed it in Gu Yuan's hands.

"The bandits who ambushed and killed the Heir of Mozhou have shown themselves. I want you to take the Orthodox Yang Sword, kill the bandits, and recover the festival gifts."

?!

They found the Heavenly Calamity Sect so quickly?

Gu Yuan was surprised. The empress's methods were even more formidable than he had imagined.

Still, there was also some chance that the Heavenly Calamity Sect had deliberately leaked the information. After all, their real goal was to tamper with the festival gifts and plunge the empress into a demonic obstacle during the Heavenly Longevity Festival.

Whichever it was, the trip wouldn't be very dangerous.

Besides, the Heavenly Calamity Sect had no shortage of treasures, as well as plenty of materials for forging magical artifacts.

The Exploitation of the Works of Nature recorded numerous powerful magical artifacts, but even the cleverest cook couldn't make a meal without rice. Without the raw materials, he couldn't make them.

Now, a trip to the Heavenly Calamity Sect would let him kill two birds with one stone.

Still, he had to take every precaution...

"Your Majesty, I am only at Sixth Grade and have meager strength. Without help, I fear I may never return..."

"Shangguan Weiming and Dong Wuj iu will accompany you."

Two Third Grade experts!

This was in the bag!

Gu Yuan gripped the Orthodox Yang Sword tightly. "I will not fail Your Majesty."

Qi Yueli murmured her assent.

"There is no time to lose. Set out today."

So soon?

"Your Majesty, since I'm leaving on an assignment, I would like to inform my family."

Gu Yuan mainly wanted to tell Lin Yao. If he could get his senior sister to come along, wouldn't he be able to take whatever he wanted?

"Granted."

Qi Yueli gave a slight nod.

The Gu residence.

Gu Yuan was a little puzzled to see Lu Zhaoming and Lu Ling standing at the entrance.

"Heir Lu, Miss Lu, are you here to see me?"

"Heir Gu, our eldest sister sent us to help you hunt down the bandits. We just don't know whether you need us," Lu Zhaoming said with a smile.

"News certainly travels fast to you," Gu Yuan said, somewhat surprised.

"Actually, eldest sister guessed it."

"Eldest sister said the strength you displayed outside the city was so astonishing that plenty of factions would want to recruit you. Since the empress made an exception to promote you to commander of the Mystic Shadow Guard at a time like this, she naturally wants you to leave Qi Capital for a while and stay out of the way."

"And the most reasonable excuse for leaving the capital would be to search for the Heir of Mozhou's missing festival gifts."

Gu Yuan marveled inwardly.

She really was the person who had once left him at his wits' end, puzzling over her for a whole month!

She had guessed the empress's intentions from news of a single promotion.

There was no real problem with taking Lu Zhaoming and Lu Ling along. He could also use the chance to build their relationship and sound out Lu Yunshu's thoughts.

"My thanks to you both."

Lu Ling stepped forward and gave a graceful bow, her voice gentle:

"There's no need to be polite, Heir Gu."

"I know a little medicine. If anyone is injured, I can treat them."

Lu Zhaoming: ???

So gentle. Was this really his sister?

"Little sis, have you been possessed?"

"Hiss, that hurts!"

Lu Zhaoming's face went pale.

On his back, the jade silkworm had taken a fierce bite, warning him not to talk nonsense.

"Heir Lu, are you feeling unwell?"

"It's nothing. I bit my tongue..."

Gu Yuan smiled. "Come inside and have a seat. Once I've taken care of a few things, we'll set off."

Lu Ling secretly glared at Lu Zhaoming.

"Today I'm a refined young lady from a distinguished family. Don't you dare give me away later, or I'll tell eldest sister and make you pay!"

Was she smitten?

Lu Zhaoming observed a moment of silence for Gu Yuan.

"Heir Gu really is pitiful..."

Lu Ling: ???

"I don't think Gu Yuan likes the type you were pretending to be just now."

"When has your intuition ever been right?"

"If Gu Yuan liked graceful, gentle women, he'd like eldest sister, not a little brat like you."

Lu Ling: ?????

"That sounds like it makes a little sense... Then what kind do you think he likes?"

"Do you even need to ask? Of course it's a noble princess. He's already been in the princess's carriage. Isn't that obvious enough?"

"The princess..." Lu Ling was a little downcast.

She was at the age when young love first blossomed. Having seen Gu Yuan's dashing bearing and formidable strength, it was impossible for her not to be attracted to him.

"Give up. You're a little poison creature who only knows how to play with bugs and snakes. Gu Yuan would be too busy trying to stay away from you."

"Lu! Zhao! Ming!"

"Think carefully. This is the Gu residence. If Gu Yuan sees your brutal side, you won't have another chance."

"You... Hmph! I'll have eldest sister deal with you when we get back!"

Inside the house.

Gu Shu and Meixiang were helping Gu Yuan pack his clothes.

"Little brother, how long will this assignment take?"

"Three or four days, I expect."

"It's dangerous out there. Take good care of yourself." Gu Shu was somewhat worried.

In the past, Gu Yuan had been simpleminded and had never left Qi Capital. Now her younger brother had suddenly become a martial arts genius and was even going away on an assignment. Gu Shu found it hard to adjust all at once.

"I know, sister."

"One more thing. There'll probably be quite a few visitors soon. Remember to turn them away for me."

"No problem, little brother. Don't worry." Gu Shu nodded.

"Oh, and if they bring gifts, accept them all."

"They're free treasures. It would be a waste not to take them."

"Don't worry, little brother. I'll record them for you?"

Gu Yuan smiled. "There's no need to record them."

"I'm not planning to return them anyway. Why keep a record?"

Pfft.

Meixiang couldn't help laughing aloud.

"Xiang'er, remember not to go out for the next few days."

"Especially don't meet that fellow from Qingzhou. I just beat him up, and I'm afraid he might harm you."

Meixiang nodded obediently. "Brother Yuan, I understand. If anyone from Qingzhou comes to the Gu residence, I'll stay far away."

"Good girl."

Gu Yuan went to his room and was about to leave a note for his senior sister.

Just then, a familiar voice rang out.

"Are you going out?"

"Senior sister!"

Gu Yuan looked back and saw that figure in white. His eyes lit up with delight.

"The empress ordered me to go wipe out some bandits."

"Be careful. If anything happens, don't try to force yourself."

"I have other matters to attend to," Qi Yueli said slowly. "I can't go with you this time."

"This magical artifact is called the Cloud-Peering Mirror. It can track things down and should be of help to you."

Gu Yuan took the simple, antique bronze mirror engraved with white cloud patterns.

Without a doubt, it was a top-tier magical artifact.

"Don't worry, senior sister. I'll be perfectly fine. I won't lose a single hair."

Qi Yueli pursed her lips and smiled. "That would be best."

"When you return safely, I'll help you refine your sinews and bones and break through to Fifth Grade."

Gu Yuan was briefly taken aback.

"Doesn't refining the sinews and bones require bathing together? Senior sister... we...?"

Qi Yueli's face reddened slightly as she said:

"In your dreams."

"There are other ways, of course!"

"You'll find out when you return!"

With that, Qi Yueli vanished.

The corners of Gu Yuan's lips lifted slightly.

"Senior sister, you blushed...!"