Who is spreading rumors that my filial piety towards them has changed?

"I came here with Miss Fengying. I didn't originally plan to come to the Tianji Empire, but it was worth the trip. I unexpectedly witnessed what happened inside the palace barrier."

This will be a major event for quite some time to come.

“Big matters are troublesome to me. If Master Yun doesn’t mind, you can follow our lead for a while. I also plan to go to the Crescent Kingdom in a few days. At that time, Master Yun can go back to Kunlun Mountain on the way. Moreover, I have many things I would like to ask Master Yun for advice.”

“Alright, the journey is long, and flying on a sword will eventually become tiring and boring. In that case, I will stay in an extra room on Your Highness’s floating boat.”

Zuo Qiuchi waved his hand generously and warmly, and said:

"How could it be a disturbance? You sleeping in the same room as me is a good opportunity for you to keep an eye on whether Chu Mingkong intends to run away without paying off his debts."

Yun Nongyu suspected that she would end up being used as a body pillow for her. She sighed and said, "Alright, Your Highness, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask me. There's no need to be shy."

Really? Could you please provide guidance on the practice of the *Xuan Nu Jing* and *Su Nu Jing*? Which of these texts is it again? It seems that it requires instruction and guidance from a direct disciple within your Taoist sect.

Chu Mingkong kept those words to himself, and after bickering and arguing with his master for a while, he figured the elders had probably finished talking and it was time to move on.

Today marks the end of a major battle, and we've only just returned from our escape. After being trapped in the palace for so many days without any news, it wouldn't be good if we didn't go and chat with them.

He crawled out of his master's voluptuous embrace. He was so bored and suffocated in the palace that he forgot he could now break through the time limit after turning into a child and return to his normal body. So he ran out of the room.

Zuo Qiuchi continued to hug Yun Nongyu tightly, then rolled over to lie on her back. The blindfolded female Taoist priest was forced to lie on top of her and be hugged by her. Yun Nongyu was too lazy to resist and seemed somewhat resigned to her fate.

However, Zuo Qiuchi found some clothes in bed. The thick leather material was a bit rough on his back, and upon touching them, he realized that they were clothes that Chu Mingkong had left behind.

"This kid only forgot to wear pants before, now he's forgotten to wear clothes too?"

Zuo Qiuchi considered whether to call him back to get dressed, but then thought better of it. Let him wear it or not; it was impossible for him to personally deliver it to him, and writing a message on a piece of paper was a bit tiring.

The sacred peak beneath their feet had essentially been requisitioned by Chu Mingkong; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it his Elder Peak. Just a short walk from Zuo Qiuchi's house were the houses of other elders.

Chu Mingkong had only taken a few steps out of the room when he realized he had forgotten to put on his clothes. He was still warm and cozy in Zuo Qiuchi's soft embrace and didn't realize it for a moment. Just as he was about to go back to get his clothes, Gu Jungui, who was passing by, picked him up.

Afraid that he would be embarrassed if others saw him like this, she held him close in her arms and gently scolded him as she walked towards her room:

"You little rascal, how come you've shrunk again, and you're running out without even wearing clothes?"

Chu Mingkong had just escaped Zuo Qiuchi's voluptuousness when he unexpectedly fell into a new kind of voluptuousness as soon as he stepped out the door. Aunt Gu was about the same size as Zuo Qiuchi, but Aunt Gu was more plump and soft, like a water bag filled with fine wine, soft and gentle to the heart. Zuo Qiuchi, on the other hand, was much more firm and supple, which complemented her light abdominal muscles and abs perfectly.

In short, both have their own merits.

However, upon reflection, Zuo Qiuchi is a rather rare type. Aunt Gu, Madam Zhen, Empress Pei, and Zhi'er are all busty beauties in the same category, while Master's wife falls somewhere in between.

"I was in a hurry to find Aunt Gu and forgot to put on my clothes. My master is such a bad person, he didn't even remind me." Chu Mingkong sighed in a mature tone, not forgetting to criticize his master.

"Pfft~"

Gu Jun Gui found his mature-for-himself expression adorable. Although she wanted to poke his forehead, she was afraid of poking too hard, so she only tapped his nose. She said, somewhat annoyed:

"Do you need someone to remind you to put on your clothes? Your master wants to embarrass you and teach you a lesson. He's thinking of you. Do you have any spare clothes?"

Chu Mingkong touched his storage ring and found that he didn't have it with him. It seemed to be hanging on his outer clothes, and he had forgotten about it with Zuo Qiuchi.

"No, I forgot."

"Forget it, there's no one here with Aunt Gu anyway, so you can just keep running around with those watermelons!"

The voluptuous, gentle woman returned to her house with her precious baby in her arms. She didn't want anyone to pass by and see Xiao Mingkong there, and then come in to share in the fun. With a selfish little thought of possessiveness, she closed the doors and windows tightly.

She sat down on the mat and let the boy lie on his side in her arms, her arm supporting his head. Chu Mingkong was somewhat familiar with this position; it was the same position used when his master's wife, Shen Xuejun's, original incarnation fed him her power.

Gu Jun Gui pulled him aside and asked about what happened in the palace and inside the palace's barrier. She didn't really want to know the specifics of what happened, because she didn't understand that kind of thing. She just needed to know that Chu Ming Kong hadn't been injured or suffered.

Although he has no visible injuries now, it's hard to say whether he's fully recovered before returning. Just because a wound has healed doesn't mean the pain is gone.

Knowing that he was safe and sound in the palace despite being in a passive position, Gu Jungui breathed a sigh of relief.

"By the way, from what you've said about the emperor and the palace being so wicked, the capital will definitely be unstable in the future, and chaos could break out at any time. With such a mad emperor in charge, it's like a remote and desolate village where the village chief is a tyrant. The villagers there won't have an easy time. Besides, Xiao Qingning is still in the capital, as is Rong'er's family."

Chu Mingkong nodded. He wanted to sit up straight to talk to Aunt Gu, but Aunt Gu thought he was uncomfortable lying down, so she changed his arm and let him use it as a pillow, continuing to hold him in the same position.

He guessed that Aunt Gu was really enjoying being held like this... well, he might as well let Aunt Gu hold him for a while.

The main concern was that from his current perspective, half of his face was pressed against Aunt Gu's soft breasts, and he was worried that something unpleasant might happen later. However, his master's wife still had some of her original spiritual energy, which could barely restrain him.

"I escaped the city and went to their residence. There was no one there, so they must have gone out of the city to hide. I told Qingning before that I was considering returning to Xiling. I guess it's already on the agenda. I'll confirm it again with a note later."

Seeing that Chu Mingkong had considered everything carefully, Gu Jungui felt relieved. Looking at Chu Mingkong's small appearance now, he also remembered how small and cute Qingning was back then, and how she had grown into a capable young woman. But that was just because she had borne a burden that was too heavy for her age. Gu Jungui still hoped that Qingning could live a happier and easier life.

Holding Chu Mingkong, her soft hand suddenly landed on his gradually hardening thigh, and her feet seemed to recall the previous fiery sensation, scalding hot, and... the strange taste in her mouth.

Gu Jungui's heart raced. To hide it, she lightly tapped him, like an elder disciplining a restless, mischievous child, and scolded him playfully:

"If you shrink, can't you also turn some of the oddballs back to their original forms?"

"The technique is incomplete; some parts can't be changed back. How about I keep my head in a normal state, or one arm in a normal state?"

Gu Jungui imagined in her mind a delicate, pink-haired person with the body of a child, but the head of an adult—just thinking about it made her furrow her brows in disgust.

If there really has to be a place that stays at a normal size, then it is indeed better as it is now, although it is a bit abrupt, like a small elephant dragging an elephant's trunk, but it is much easier to accept.

"Fine, let's leave it at that then..."

Chu Mingkong was able to suppress his anger by diverting his attention, but after Aunt Gu shifted the topic, she kept staring at him and even pinched his head. Now, even his master's wife's blessing was useless.

After a while, seeing that Xiao Mingkong remained stiff for a long time without showing any signs of weakening, Gu Jun Gui couldn't help but say:

"Have you... eaten something wrong again recently?"

"No, how could I dare to eat anything in the palace?"

"Then don't tell me you've picked up some weird habit, and Aunt Gu is going to step on you again..."

"No, it's just a slight fluctuation in my physical condition caused by the cultivation technique. Aunt Gu, don't stare at it. It'll be fine in a bit. Let's talk about something else!"

Chapter 149 Aunt Gu: Does he hate me, his elder? (11.6/18)

The master's wife's original spiritual energy was still effective. Although it took longer to work this time, her calm and clear mind was enough to suppress her wicked thoughts.

All I can say is that after being played with in this position by my teacher's wife once, lying in Aunt Gu's arms like this just doesn't feel quite right.

Feeling guilty, he didn't dare to lie in Aunt Gu's arms anymore. The beautiful woman, unaware of what was going on, saw Xiao Mingkong tossing and turning in her arms and finally stopped letting her hold him. She got up and sat down next to her, feeling a little hurt.

It's like watching your favorite child refuse to get close to you.

Especially watching his pent-up anger gradually subside, from his head held high in anger to his subdued and bowed head, it seemed as if he was no longer interested in getting close to you.

Gu Jungui certainly understood that this was the normal way to behave. How could he always be so upright and straightforward when interacting with people? If it weren't for the extraordinary care and closeness between them, he would definitely have given him a hard time!

However... she felt a strange, inexplicable sense of loss.

“Mingkong, why aren’t you being held by Aunt Gu anymore? Did Aunt Gu’s sachet hurt you? Should I take it off?” Gu Jungui pointed to the jade sachet hanging from his waist.

The embroidered sachet is inlaid with a gold-inlaid jade, which is carved with auspicious cloud patterns. The carving is exquisite and the jade is translucent, but if you put your body on it, it might indeed be a bit bumpy.

Chu Mingkong shook his head and began to say flattering things:

"No, I just wanted to sit down. This sachet suits Aunt Gu very well; it's like the leaves that set off the red flower. Aunt Gu is that flower~"

Gu Jungui smiled, but he felt no relief. He wouldn't let me hold him. If it wasn't because of the sachet, could it be because of me?!

Torn between conflicting emotions, Gu Jungui suddenly made up his mind to test the waters a little too much...

She looked around, then picked up a thin blanket from the bed, intending to wrap it around Chu Mingkong to cover him up.

"Always running around like this without any clothes on. If it were in your own palace or the Cui residence, it would be one thing, but here you can't be so casual. Female cultivators fly by in the sky every now and then. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at? I heard Elder Si say that you are now a person of some importance. Whether your reputation is good or bad, it is at least well-known."

Is Taiwu truly worthy of its name...? Chu Mingkong asked modestly.

"Reputation is all just a facade. If I have to maintain a certain air of prestige when I'm with Aunt Gu, then I wouldn't be myself."

Gu Jungui didn't refute him. When she covered him with a thin blanket, her fair and jade-like hands "inadvertently" touched the dormant thing several times, but there was no reaction. It was so obedient, completely different from before!

Her attention was focused on something else, and she didn't notice that Chu Mingkong's expression changed one after another as she touched him, becoming solemn and serious. The icy spiritual energy he used to stabilize his mind was being rapidly depleted, otherwise he would have reacted strangely and made the situation awkward.

He silently prayed, "Aunt Gu, please stop touching me. Although I know you still see me as a child and don't care about the boundaries between men and women, the spiritual energy your master's wife gave me is almost depleted!"

Gu Jungui felt heavy-hearted and her thoughts were complicated. Chu Mingkong was neither letting her hug him nor reacting at all. In the past, Chu Mingkong had embarrassed himself in front of her quite a few times. It was inevitable that he was young and impetuous, and it didn't mean that he had any ulterior motives. But his abnormal indifference now could only mean that he had some dissatisfaction or opinion towards her, right?

The thin blanket was finally draped over him like a cassock, and Chu Mingkong breathed a sigh of relief. Now he didn't have to worry about Aunt Gu accidentally bumping into him again.

Chu Mingkong chatted with her for a while about their future plans.

First, go to Wenqing Pavilion as a transit point, and then return to Xiling. After that, let Aunt Gu live with Princess Chu and the others. Alternatively, you can go back to your home first, since Xiling is relatively safe.

As for her younger sister Wei Qingning, she also needs to keep track of the situation. She will go back to her master to retrieve her clothes and storage ring, and then take out a note to ask about her condition. If the Wei family is interested, she can take her back to Xiling together.

"By the way, Aunt Gu, from now on, Xiaoxiang Qin Academy will be a trustworthy ally. If you and your two sisters-in-law want to cultivate here, just let us know. You are also very familiar with Elder Si, so you don't need to worry about being a stranger or troubling them in the future. This guest peak where we are currently staying will be left to us in the future."

Gu Jungui seemed a little absent-minded. After a while, he nodded and smiled gently, saying:

"Okay, I'll talk to Feihuang and Keqing about it later..."

Chu Mingkong vaguely felt that Aunt Gu's attitude was a bit strange, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what the problem was. After sitting with her for a while, he took off his "cassock" and freed his elephant again.

However, he certainly wouldn't go out so conspicuously. Chu Mingkong took out his colorless shadow mark and stealthily returned.

Unfortunately, his luck was a bit bad; the technique malfunctioned before he even left the room. It seems he really needs to find time to brush up with Feng Ying. He then took out the Annihilation Domain and finally returned to his master's room safely.

Zuo Qiuchi was still holding Yun Nongyu tightly, and he had made her look rather disheveled, with a large expanse of her bare shoulders exposed.

He casually transformed back, changed his clothes, and pondered Aunt Gu's strange attitude just now:

"Could it be that she's worried about Qingning? Most likely so. The situation in the capital is constantly changing. Aunt Gu has a relationship with Qingning's mother, so she must be worried too."

He took out a note and wrote a message to the young woman, asking about her situation:

[Qingning, how are things on your end? The capital is no longer a safe place. Even if you want to wait and see, it's best to leave the capital and observe the surrounding areas first.]

Fortunately, Wei Qingning replied quickly. Judging from her handwriting, things were going well for her, and she seemed to have plenty of time and energy.

[Brother, Qingning received advance warning from Eunuch Cao, instructing the members of the Nightblade Division to take leave and bring their families to visit outside the city. I am with my family now, and only then did I learn from our spies what happened in the palace. Brother, are you alright? Aunt Gu has been secretly contacting me these past few days, trying to find out about your situation. She seems very worried.]

This eunuch Cao actually sent his subordinates to seek refuge outside the city... which was somewhat unexpected for Chu Mingkong.

"My situation is alright. I don't know how much you know about the current situation in the palace, but I'm certain that the capital isn't a good place to stay. The situation could worsen depending on the emperor's mood. I'm planning to return to Xiling in the next couple of days. Since the Wei family is currently traveling, why not take a trip back to Xiling?"

Wei Qingning's reply slowed down, perhaps because she was discussing it with her clansmen, or perhaps she was hesitating, but Chu Mingkong soon received a reply:

Okay, where is my brother now?

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P.S.: Chapters 108 and 111, which were previously censored, have been restored, with some wording changed.