Fairy, you call this repaying a debt of gratitude?

On November 7th of the 23rd year of the Yuan Sui era, a cold wind swept through the palace walls. It had been exactly one month since the entire Gu family had been wiped out.

The candlelight flickered in the Zichen Palace, illuminating the deep expression on the face of the man seated above. Emperor Yuan Sui lightly tapped the table with his fingertips, making a soft sound.

His voice was low, with a hint of barely perceptible curiosity in his tone: "You mean... the entire Gu family was wiped out?"

His Highness stood a tall, slender figure, his voice androgynous, as he slowly replied:

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yuan Sui stood up, put his hands behind his back, chuckled lightly, and then said sternly:

"Hmph, willingly serving as lackeys of the immortal sects, aiding and abetting evil, they deserve this end!"

He paced back and forth in the hall, then asked:

"Where is the murderer? Have the Imperial Guards found out? I'd like to see who has the audacity to defy the pressure from the Immortal Sect and wipe out the entire Gu family!"

"There are no leads yet..."

Qiu Huan bowed slightly, then raised his eyes slightly, observing the man in the dragon robe before him without making a sound. Only after Emperor Yuan Sui's expression softened did he continue, adding:

"There's another matter worth reporting. Imperial Guard Jing found this in the ruins of a side room in the Gu residence that was burned down."

After Qiu Huan finished speaking, he slowly took out an ancient-looking token from his pocket and presented it to him with both hands.

Emperor Yuan Sui reached out and took it. The moment his gaze fell on the token, his pupils dilated sharply, his fingers tightened abruptly, and his voice unusually became trembling:

"This was found inside the Gu residence?!"

"Your Majesty, it is absolutely true."

"So many years..." Emperor Yuan Sui murmured, his eyes surging with rage, before he roared, "These remnants still haven't given up their treacherous intentions!"

Qiu Huan spoke up at the opportune moment, his tone calm: "Your Majesty, this matter is most likely the work of those immortal sects. They have long been dissatisfied with Your Majesty's reforms, so they have been secretly..."

Upon hearing this, the man in the dragon robe froze for a moment, then burst into laughter, his laughter tinged with an undisguised bitterness and resentment.

"So, this is a hint to me!?"

"..."

Qiu Huan dared not respond, but after a long while, Emperor Yuan Sui calmed down and continued speaking in a suppressed voice:

"They think they can scare me like this? They think they can make me wary? I'll do the opposite!"

Over the years, he has compromised and yielded on these matters in order to stabilize the court and accumulate strength, but this has really touched his sore spot!

He will not give up on this matter easily, no matter what!

He suppressed his anger, noticed Qiu Huan's hesitant expression, and asked in a deep voice.

"Is there anything else? Tell me everything at once, don't hold back."

"There is indeed one more strange thing worth mentioning."

He paused, carefully choosing his tone, and slowly said:

"Gu Hanfeng's youngest and most mysterious daughter, the Imperial Guards searched the ruins of the Gu family mansion but could not find her body, not even a trace of bones. She must have escaped by sheer luck."

Emperor Yuan Sui frowned, his tone turning somber: "You mean...?"

"Looking back now, this possibility is quite high."

Qiu Huan nodded slowly, her tone resolute.

"Moreover, it's possible that they didn't escape by sheer luck, but were taken away by someone who coveted them."

"Then go investigate!"

Emperor Yuan Sui issued a stern order!

"Have the Imperial Guards investigate with all their might! I clearly forgave them after that incident, yet these lackeys of the immortal sects are still clinging to the remnants of the previous dynasty! Since that's the case, then I'll see what kind of trouble they can stir up!"

The shouts of the man in the dragon robe echoed throughout the hall and lingered for a long time.

"Yes... Your Majesty!"

******

At the entrance of the courtyard, Shen Wei glanced lightly at Gu Lengyue, whose expression was subtle, before turning his gaze back to the group of children.

He smiled gently, slowly squatted down, and said, "Big brother believes in you. You will definitely be able to buy a big house in the future."

Seeing that Shen Wei didn't react in any particular way, Gu Lengyue's blushing face gradually turned cold again.

She stood quietly to the side, observing Shen Wei's actions, and the thoughts she had previously had resurfaced in her mind:

That night, he was a demon who personally annihilated the entire Gu family, leaving them stained with blood. But now, he is a kind older brother who patiently comforts children and speaks gently.

She couldn't help but feel a little curious about him. How could this cold-hearted man still have a gentle heart after being stained with blood?

After saying this, Shen Wei took out a few taels of silver from his pocket and distributed them to the four children.

The children received the silver and instantly beamed with joy. They chatted and laughed around the silver, their previous shyness and restraint vanishing, and their focus shifted entirely to what to do with the few taels of silver.

After arguing for a while, they finally decided to take a portion and enjoy it to their heart's content, then divide the rest equally and hand it over to their parents.

This city is remote and rarely visited by cultivators. Ordinary people mostly trade with silver, which is more practical than the spirit stones commonly used by cultivators.

Watching the children skip and hop away, Shen Weicai slowly stood up and turned to look at Gu Lengyue.

"Let's go back."

The two quietly pushed open the wooden gate to the courtyard and entered the main house.

Shen Wei raised his hand and touched the storage ring on his fingertip. With a flash of inspiration, the square cyan jade box appeared in his hand.

He placed the jade box on the table, pushed it in front of Gu Lengyue, and said in a flat tone, "Open it yourself."

Gu Lengyue nodded gently, took a few steps forward, her fingertips trembling slightly, and with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation, carefully lifted the lid of the jade box.

The next second, a clear blue light burst forth from the jade box, illuminating the room as brightly as the courtyard outside.

A moment later, the jade light dissipated, revealing a soft brocade covering the inside of the jade box, with a long sword lying quietly on top.

Its color is like the moon and jade, lustrous and translucent, with a faint blue light flowing over its blade. Even when it is not drawn, it exudes an extraordinary aura.

This was the spirit sword she had longed for.

Shen Wei stood to the side, his gaze fixed on her profile, and asked in a calm tone:

Do you like it?

Gu Lengyue withdrew her gaze, concealing the emotions in her eyes, and replied in a cool tone:

"It's acceptable."

Let's give it a name.

"No need."

To her, the sword was merely a tool for revenge; whether it had a name or not was irrelevant.

"what ever."

After saying that, Shen Wei left without lingering.

Gu Lengyue raised her hand, took the long sword out of the jade box, and gently swung it.

The longsword moved nimbly and lightly, its movements smooth and effortless, perfectly matching her temperament and swordsmanship, as if it were an extension of her.

The girl sheathed her sword, thinking to herself, "The swordsmith has never even seen her. How could this sword be so perfect for me?"