A night passed without a word.
The next morning.
Meng Qingzhou pushed open the door of the guest room and saw that Dongfang Liuli’s bedroom door was tightly closed. He then put a leash on Big Yellow Dog and tied it to a stone post.
Afterward, he took out various flowers and plants from the system warehouse and planted them in the courtyard. These were all rewards from the past three years of signing in.
The system warehouse was piled high with divine medicines and spiritual treasures, but they were of little importance to him.
After working for half a day, Meng Qingzhou even prepared breakfast.
“Big Yellow, it’s time to eat.” Meng Qingzhou took out a bag of celestial-grade immortal beast feed, poured it into the dog bowl, and pushed it in front of Big Yellow Dog.
“…” Sunlight Lord.
I am the Guardian Beast of Great Jin, with a lifespan of 300,000 years. I followed the first founding emperor and once turned the tide when the nation was on the brink of destruction, saving countless lives! And now, I’m being fed dog food?
If it weren’t for a grave mistake that caused my realm to be severed, transforming me into a dog, unable to speak or transmit sound, I would be the strongest in Great Jin!
How could I be so humiliated!
Indeed, I should just bite this blind fool to death.
But on second thought, this blind man is a Sword Saint. Sunlight Lord decided to spare his life for now.
Suddenly.
Sunlight Lord’s nostrils twitched as he caught a tantalizing aroma. He used his paw to pick up a piece of dog food and tasted it.
…
“This… this dog food actually contains the bloodlines of ten thousand spiritual beasts!” Sunlight Lord savored it carefully, his heart shaken, and his dog eyes gleamed with divine light. “It even contains a trace of divine beast flesh!”
Sunlight Lord’s mouth gaped open, stunned for a long while, before he buried his head into the bowl, panting and devouring the dog food.
Delicious! It tastes amazing!
What divine beast dignity? It’s nothing in the face of such gourmet food.
Creak…
Dongfang Liuli, looking exhausted, stepped out in her nightgown. She had tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.
Her mind kept replaying those words of affection.
‘Love at first sight, and still heart-pounding after long acquaintance.’ Dongfang Liuli reminisced, still unable to calm her heart.
From the side room, Su Qingqiu, fully dressed, came out with her long, black hair cascading down her back, exuding a cold and elegant aura. She quietly bowed to the Empress.
As she was about to prepare breakfast for Dongfang Liuli as usual, she saw the dishes already set on the stone table in the courtyard.
Su Qingqiu looked around and saw the flowers and plants in full bloom, shedding dreamlike, luxurious light particles.
“Is that… Nine Suns Burning Heart Lotus?!” Dongfang Liuli noticed a flame-shaped lotus in the pond and almost exclaimed.
“Ghost Emperor Grass, Pure Sky Buddha Hand Flower, Dao Heart Tree sapling…” Su Qingqiu’s almond-shaped eyes widened, seeing an array of celestial-grade supreme spiritual plants!
The courtyard was filled with spring colors, and any one of these plants would cause a frenzy in the cultivation world.
But here, they were merely decorative.
“Am I dreaming?” Su Qingqiu rubbed her eyes, thinking she hadn’t woken up.
Dongfang Liuli took a deep look at the Nine Suns Burning Heart Lotus in the pond. Over the past few days, Meng Qingzhou had repeatedly shattered her understanding.
By now, she suddenly realized she couldn’t see through this man at all…
“Ah?! Lord!” Su Qingqiu exclaimed, covering her mouth, her cold aura completely gone.
Dongfang Liuli turned her head and almost fainted.
She saw the Guardian Beast of Great Jin—Sunlight Lord—tied with a dog leash, with his dog head buried in a dog bowl, devouring the food.
After finishing the bowl, Sunlight Lord was still not satisfied. He sat on the ground, tongue out, looking expectantly at Meng Qingzhou.
More!
The Lord wasn’t full yet!
Sunlight Lord licked his lips, still savoring the taste, and pushed the dog bowl with his paw, whining like a spoiled child.
“Eat more tonight. Control your portion, understand?” Meng Qingzhou advised.
“…”
Dongfang Liuli and Su Qingqiu exchanged glances, both seeing the shock in each other’s eyes.
Is this really our Great Jin’s Guardian Beast—Sunlight Lord?!
“Master, how can you feed it dog food!” Su Qingqiu stomped her foot anxiously.
“It’s not just dog food; it’s very nutritious.” Meng Qingzhou explained.
Su Qingqiu grabbed the dog bowl and threw it aside, then took out a piece of exotic beast meat from her storage ring and placed it on the offering table.
“Lord, you can’t eat dog food. Here’s some meat from specially raised exotic beasts.” Su Qingqiu said as she untied Big Yellow Dog’s leash.
“Go away!”
Big Yellow Dog showed a human-like expression of disdain, glancing sideways at the exotic beast meat on the offering table.
Bah! Trash!
How can it compare to the fresh stuff from the blind man, 99% pure, rare goods!
Then, Big Yellow Dog voluntarily put the leash back on, licking his face and snuggling up to Meng Qingzhou, wagging his tail like a spoiled child.
The Lord couldn’t stand it anymore, just a little more…
“Meng Qingzhou, what kind of bewitching potion did you give the… Big Yellow?” Dongfang Liuli asked in confusion.
A dignified Guardian Beast, merely in the form of a dog, but not truly a dog!
How did it turn into this after just one night, despite having the bloodlines of Glutton and Phoenix Ancestor?
“What?” Meng Qingzhou was puzzled.
Dongfang Liuli rubbed her temples, not knowing how to explain, and said helplessly:
“Forget it, it’s nothing.”
“Then let me ask you, where did the spiritual herbs and plants in the garden come from?” Dongfang Liuli couldn’t suppress her curiosity.
Su Qingqiu also looked over, full of questions.
Meng Qingzhou had already thought of an excuse for this question and said casually:
“Oh! Those were given to me by an old man with white hair I met while wandering the rivers and lakes.”
When in doubt, blame it on an unnamed elder.
In the world of cultivation, there’s no need for so many explanations. If asked, just say it’s a fortuitous encounter!
Su Qingqiu blinked: “I remember, Master, those swordsmanship books were also given to you by an old man with white hair, right?”
“Is the old man really that generous, giving away so many things?”
Dongfang Liuli held her forehead.
What a perfunctory excuse!
But she didn’t plan to pursue it further. After all, both sides had their secrets.
Since Dongfang Liuli was playing the role of a registrar at the Hanlin Academy, she hurried out after breakfast. Su Qingqiu followed, preparing to visit Prime Minister Jiang Canghai at the Ministry of Rites.
“Master, someone from the palace delivered court robes yesterday. Do you want to wear them?” Su Qingqiu asked, holding a third-rank Flood Dragon robe, poking her head out of the room.
Meng Qingzhou thought about his new official position and the need to meet his superior, so he decided to be formal.
The first rule of the King of Caution: [Never stand out, never separate from the crowd, the more you follow the rules and understand etiquette, the less attention you draw.]
“Yes, wear it.” Meng Qingzhou nodded.
Su Qingqiu dutifully played the role of a maid, personally helping Meng Qingzhou change clothes.
Her soft, boneless hands unbuttoned Meng Qingzhou’s clothes, and her fingertips inadvertently touched his firm chest, causing the cold and gorgeous Sword Immortal’s face to flush red as she quickly withdrew her hand.
“How about I do it myself?” Meng Qingzhou felt awkward, not used to being served.
“No! I can do it!” Su Qingqiu firmly refused.
However, the process of dressing was very difficult. Meng Qingzhou felt like a stripped electrical cable, and every time Su Qingqiu accidentally touched his body, she would withdraw her hand.
Finally, after much effort, Su Qingqiu saw Meng Qingzhou’s bare upper body, with his chiseled muscles and perfect proportions, making her almost turn into a steaming kettle.
Then,
Overcoming her shyness, Su Qingqiu held the third-rank Flood Dragon robe but found it difficult.
This thing had a very particular way of wearing it, but she didn’t know how.
“Master, wait a moment, let me figure it out.” Su Qingqiu said seriously.
“…Alright.” Meng Qingzhou felt exhausted.
After a full hour of effort, they finally managed to complete the dressing process. Meng Qingzhou stood with a sore back and knees, while Su Qingqiu was drenched in fragrant sweat, panting.
After resting for a while.
“Let’s go, time to meet the Prime Minister.” Meng Qingzhou picked up his cane and smiled.
Su Qingqiu’s fair face was still flushed, and she didn’t dare look at Meng Qingzhou. She murmured, “Yes.”
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