CHAPTER 44: CHAPTER 44: NOT YET BEGUN

Ji Nanhong thought that Chen Guan’s mind must have a problem; it was simply absurd.

Is this something that can be acted out? The shadows are not fools; even if they can act, whether the shadow believes it is not something they can control.

"If you want dual cultivation, then just do it. What’s the use of saying all this? In the end, isn’t it just about wanting to dual cultivate with me? I’m not unwilling, so why the trouble? A man should be a bit more straightforward and domineering, shouldn’t he?" Ji Nanhong pursed her lips but said nothing.

"What do you think about my proposal?" Chen Guan proactively asked.

Ji Nanhong reached out and pulled down one side of her collar, revealing her smooth, fair shoulder, and looked towards East Watch, speaking in a soft voice, "Is this how it’s acted, my lord?"

Chen Guan saw Ji Nanhong’s picturesque eyebrows, watery eyes, and charming figure, rendering him motionless for two seconds.

"This is quite good." Chen Guan snapped back to reality and reached out to embrace Ji Nanhong in his arms.

Ji Nanhong’s body stiffened for a moment, her heartbeat accelerated, and her cheeks felt like they were burning. She tilted her head slightly to look at Chen Guan, who was holding her.

From this angle, Chen Guan’s eyebrows couldn’t be fully seen, which only added a couple of roguish charm to his handsomeness. The more she looked, the shyer she felt, to the point where she was too embarrassed to look him directly in the eye.

Chen Guan noticed Ji Nanhong’s dreamy eyes and her rosy cheeks resembling peach blossoms and couldn’t help but feel moved, leaning down to kiss her.

This kiss was like a heavenly thunder stirring earthly fire, like a river’s dike breaking and becoming unstoppable.

"Ji Nanhong’s background must be closely related to the Celestial Court Army. If I can hide under the wings of her backing, it would be much harder for others to investigate my background." Many thoughts flashed in Chen Guan’s mind, but he ultimately couldn’t resist the impulses of youth, and the flames in his heart grew fiercer.

"My lord..." A tender gasp completely shattered Chen Guan’s thoughts, making him indulge in it without reservation.

When the two calmed down, Ji Nanhong nestled in Chen Guan’s arms, a softness in her eyes that wasn’t there before.

"It seems we’ve fooled that shadow." Ji Nanhong played with her fingers on Chen Guan’s chest, speaking softly.

"We haven’t even started acting?" Chen Guan said with a strange expression.

"How did we not start? Didn’t we just take the first step in the dual cultivation technique? Although the actions were a bit unorthodox, the acting should still be okay, right..." As Ji Nanhong spoke, a blush crept up her cheeks again, and she couldn’t continue. After all, she was just under twenty, only a year older than Chen Guan. Even though her family had been grooming her, her thinking wasn’t comparable to an ordinary girl, but she still had some girlish thoughts.

"When I said impersonate, I didn’t mean acting as Emperor Ancestor and Lady Afang." Chen Guan said.

Ji Nanhong was stunned, looking at Chen Guan blankly: "How do you impersonate without acting?"

"If the shadow has vision and hearing, all the things we’ve said and done would have been observed long ago. How could he not know we aren’t who he’s waiting for? So no matter what we say or do, it’s useless. He has his own identification method, and we need to do something specific." Chen Guan explained.

"Then what was all that just now? Why didn’t you say this earlier?" Ji Nanhong bit her lip, her almond-shaped eyes glaring at Chen Guan, every word seeming to be squeezed out through her teeth.

"Ahem, I saw that you enjoy role-playing, so I cooperated with you a little." Chen Guan said with a light cough.

"You... are really... very good at cooperating..." Ji Nanhong said angrily, pinching Chen Guan’s waist, her fingertips returning to rub along with her words.

Chen Guan, feeling the pain, hurriedly caught Ji Nanhong’s hand and continued seriously: "I observe that the shadow probably lacks five senses. I think there are two possibilities: one possibility is that he has a specific identification method, and the other possibility is that he isn’t actually something the Emperor Ancestor left here."

"If not left by the Emperor Ancestor, how could there be such a terrifying presence here? It makes no sense. I’ve traveled the island, and the strongest Secret Spirit here is only level 10. A presence like that shadow is definitely not the original Secret Spirit of the island." Ji Nanhong said.

Chen Guan nodded slightly: "It’s certain that the shadow isn’t a native Secret Spirit of the island, but I think he may not have been intentionally left by Emperor Ancestor, or maybe not intentionally left."

"Why do you say that?" Ji Nanhong slightly frowned.

"Important places in the Ancestral Court, like treasuries, use multiple passwords and verification methods. This shadow lacks five senses and has only a single verification method. If you were Emperor Ancestor, would you choose such a Secret Spirit to guard this place?" Chen Guan explained.

Ji Nanhong nodded slightly, finding some sense in Chen Guan’s words, but special circumstances couldn’t be ruled out.

Chen Guan continued: "In my view, we don’t need to bother with him. We just do what we need to do. He probably won’t attack us."

"Are you sure?" Ji Nanhong gritted her teeth, looking at Chen Guan.

"Nobody can be 100% certain, but there’s a high probability," Chen Guan said.

"So you think even if we climb up the Bone Chain now, he won’t attack us?" Ji Nanhong bit her lip and said.

"Probably not." Chen Guan nodded.

"Then why didn’t you say this earlier?" Ji Nanhong said, so angry she was gnashing her teeth.

"I couldn’t be sure earlier, but we caused such a commotion just now, and he didn’t react, that’s why I could solidify what I was thinking." Chen Guan responded calmly.

"You..." Ji Nanhong gritted her teeth: "Can we go now?"

"We can’t go. Didn’t I just say I can’t reach the Bone Chain?" Chen Guan shook his head.

"I’ll lift you up." Ji Nanhong was already exhausted and didn’t want to say more.

"Outside might not be safer than here. Let’s treat your foot injury first." Chen Guan was unwilling to take the risk, even if there was a tiny chance, he didn’t want to gamble.

Ji Nanhong saw through Chen Guan’s thoughts: "I see you’re afraid your assumption is wrong and don’t dare take the risk."

Chen Guan smiled and said: "The Divine Land awaits liberation, and the Secret Spirit hasn’t been eradicated. Naturally, I must take care to preserve a useful body to work towards that peaceful grand event."

Ji Nanhong gave him a side-glance. These words were hollow and false, and she knew Chen Guan was just teasing her, not really expressing his heartfelt thoughts, so she didn’t say more.

"So, should we treat the injury?" Chen Guan asked.

"Yes." Ji Nanhong assessed Chen Guan’s face and suddenly laughed: "But before that, there’s something else we need to do."

"What thing?" Chen Guan frowned, staring at Ji Nanhong. After thinking for a moment, he couldn’t think of anything necessary to do.

"First, we’ll fix your eyebrows." Ji Nanhong pulled out a small dagger and, smiling sweetly, said to Chen Guan.