I raised stunning young ladies, but they all wanted to possess me.

Come back soon.

Gu Yan looked at her aloof face and her icy blue eyes, and smiled.

"Okay, come back soon. Wait for me at home and don't argue with Sister Jinyu."

Pei Yuran nodded, released her grip on his clothes, and took a step back.

The servant stood by and waited for a while, watching the farewell scene that resembled a family of three, his face expressionless.

After everyone had finished speaking, he took out his phone and sent a message, his fingers moving very quickly.

The screen flashed, and the other party replied instantly. He glanced at it, looked up, and heard the same flat voice.

"Rest assured, all three of you. The Grand Secretary said that Mr. Gu can leave whenever he wants, and we will not force him to stay."

"You can just wait here. Someone will bring Mr. Gu back. He'll definitely be there before dark."

Lin Jinyu stared at the servant, his golden eyes filled with distrust, as if he were looking at a human trafficker.

"You mean what you say. If Xiao Yan loses even a single hair, I'll burn down your Prime Minister's mansion. I mean what I say."

Her voice wasn't loud, but the threat in her tone was unmistakable, and her golden eyes burned with fury.

The attendant remained unfazed, merely nodding slightly as if he hadn't heard the threat, his face still bearing the same expression.

Pei Youyi took Lin Jinyu's hand and gently squeezed it to signal her to stop talking, as it would be impolite to continue.

"Then we'll wait here. Xiao Yan has to be back before dark. I'm waiting for him to have dinner."

Her voice was gentle yet firm; she was speaking to the servants, but also to Gu Yan.

The attendant nodded, turned around and gestured for him to enter, bowing slightly at the waist.

"Mr. Gu, this way please. The car is already waiting outside."

Gu Yan took a deep breath and followed the attendant forward, taking large strides.

After walking a few steps, he looked back and saw that the three people were still standing in the same spot, like three statues.

Lin Jinyu crossed her arms, her golden eyes filled with displeasure, and her lips were pouting so much they could hang an oil bottle.

Pei Youyi stood there, her fingers gripping the hem of her clothes, her gentle face showing unconcealed worry, her brows furrowed tightly.

Pei Yuran stared at him with her icy blue eyes, motionless, like a statue. A gust of wind blew and her skirt fluttered.

Gu Yan waved to them, smiled, then turned and followed the servants without looking back.

He touched the Demon-Suppressing Blade at his waist; the blade was icy cold, and it felt reassuring against his waist, like having a strong backer.

He was still thinking about what had just happened. The Prime Minister knew he was unwell, so who had leaked the news?

The prime minister said he could help, but what kind of help, and how? Could he help extend his lifespan or help him find life-sustaining substances?

And what about Fu Shiwei? How do I unlock the storyline of the Book of the World, and what do I need to do to trigger it?

As he was thinking, the attendant led him across the square and onto a path next to the Marquis's residence.

People were gradually leaving the square. Some recognized Gu Yan and glanced at her a few more times, but no one came up to talk to her.

The path was narrow, with bamboo planted on both sides. The wind rustled through it, and bamboo leaves covered the ground.

At the end of the alley, there was a black car parked. The car was shiny black, and the windows were so dark that you couldn't see inside.

A small golden flagpole stood at the front of the vehicle, with a small flag hanging on it—the national flag of the Great Xia Dynasty.

The attendant quickly walked a few steps, opened the back door, bowed, and made a gesture of invitation, his movements very standard.

"Mr. Gu, please get in the car. The Grand Secretary is waiting for you at his residence. It will take about twenty minutes to get there."

Gu Yan bent down and sat in the car. The seats were genuine leather, so soft that she sank into them.

The car was spacious, with two seats opposite each other, and several bottles of water and a small fruit plate on the armrest in the middle.

The attendant closed the car door, sat in the passenger seat, and told the driver, "Let's go."

The car slowly started, passed through the side road and turned onto the main road, heading towards the center of Jinghai City.

Gu Yan leaned back in her seat, watching the street scenes rushing past the window, feeling a mix of emotions she couldn't quite describe.

I felt a little nervous, a little expectant, a little uneasy, and a little inexplicably excited.

The Grand Secretary wanted to see him—an opportunity that many people would kill for, for the true ruler of the Great Xia.

But he always felt that things weren't that simple.

He glanced down at the Demon-Suppressing Blade at his waist; the patterns on the scabbard left marks on his palm.

Never mind, let's go and see what happens. We'll deal with whatever comes our way.

He closed his eyes and leaned back in his seat, his mind still replaying the last look Pei Youyi gave him.

Gentle, worried, and something else indescribable, like reluctance or something else entirely.

And when Pei Yuran said "Come back soon," her voice seemed different from her usual calm.

And then there's Lin Jinyu, who was clearly extremely anxious, but still spoke harshly.

He sighed, opened his eyes, and looked out the car window at the streetlights and buildings rushing past.

The car turned onto a quiet avenue, lined with old-style courtyard houses on both sides, their red walls and gray tiles exuding a sense of history.

However, Gu Yan dared not underestimate it at all. This courtyard house was shockingly large, especially in a place like Jinghai where land is extremely valuable.

At the end of the avenue stood a vermilion gate, guarded by four men in black uniforms.

The car stopped at the entrance, and the servant got out first, then opened the car door on Gu Yan's side.

"Mr. Gu, we've arrived. The Grand Secretary is waiting for you inside."

Gu Yan nodded to the servant and said she understood.

He got out of the car, stood in front of the vermilion gate, and looked up at it.

A plaque hangs above the gate with the three large characters "Grand Secretary's Residence".

The characters are gilded, with strong and powerful strokes, as if carved with a knife.

The four guards at the entrance stood ramrod straight, their eyes level, and remained motionless.

Gu Yan took a deep breath and stepped forward.

As he walked, he silently said "open the panel" in his mind.

A light screen unfolded before my eyes, and blue words popped up one by one.

Name: Gu Yan

Age: 18

【Charm: 92】

[Special Ability: Eyes of Emotion, Mirror Flower Seal]

[Combat Strength: F to B-]

Skills: Piano (Master), Painting (Professional), Cooking (Professional), Singing (Skilled), Knife Skills (Beginner)

[Rating: Not bad. When it's weak, it can fight a dog; when it's strong, it has a chance to kill a Xiantian martial artist.]

Lifespan: 2 years and 10 months

Special Items: Heart-Shaped Bracelet (Gold), Demon-Suppressing Blade (Gold), Book of the World (Red)

Gu Yan's eyes lit up slightly as she looked at the combat strength section.

B- is equivalent to the peak of the Innate Realm in the martial arts system.

This level of skill is considered quite impressive in the world.

Not the kind of cannon fodder who gets wiped out in one move, but a character who can put up a serious fight.

His special ability was already strong, and the rating panel always considered his overall combat strength.

Now I've mastered the basics of swordsmanship, though it's just the most fundamental chopping, slashing, thrusting, and parrying.

However, when combined with the five senses control of the Mirror Flower Seal, the overall strength increases.