Chapter 1107 - 607: The Warmth of a Gaze (Double-Length) (2)

It’s important to understand that she didn’t detect even the slightest trace of Xu Chang’an’s presence. The young man’s methods of concealing his presence were becoming increasingly unrestrained. Nowadays, Xu Chang’an, as long as he’s not seen with one’s own eyes, can’t be found even if Shi Qingjun used her Divine Sense to cover the entire Beisang City. Let alone spying on his every move.

"How did you know he wasn’t being controlled?" Shi Qingjun asked.

"Eh..." Ah Qing was taken aback, then her face flushed even deeper. She turned her head: "That’s none of your concern."

Shi Qingjun: "...?"

Ah Qing lowered her head, ignoring Shi Qingjun’s curiosity.

How did she know Xu Chang’an wasn’t being controlled and when did she know it?

Of course, it was right from the start, right after the Barrier was set up. She realized the young master wasn’t affected, so... she kept blushing, talked with Shi Qingjun about various topics to stall time, thinking of a way to respond, and precisely because she knew the young master was watching her the entire time, she was filled with thoughts of him, and wasn’t too disheartened by Shi Qingjun in front of her.

As for how she knew Xu Chang’an was watching her...

Of course, it was because from the moment she performed the Sword Dance, under the young master’s gaze, her body would feel a slight sensation... her fair skin, under his gaze, would bloom with a hue... after getting used to this feeling, when Ah Qing set up the Barrier, yet found the prickling sensation of being watched wasn’t the least bit diminished, she knew Xu Chang’an was still watching her.

"..." There was a tint of red on Ah Qing’s earlobe.

It’s over.

Something even Shi Qingjun couldn’t detect, yet her body would automatically respond, or perhaps her body had completely adapted to the exclusivity of the young master’s gaze.

Having become such a sensitive constitution... she had probably completely fallen.

She took a deep breath.

"Anyway, this meeting has nothing to do with me."

Ah Qing put away her shyness, maintained a gentle smile as she looked at Shi Qingjun: "I’m just a half-demon who had an unusual opportunity, so... Shi Qingjun, don’t make things difficult for me in front of the young master."

"Make things difficult for you..." Shi Qingjun expressed she completely didn’t understand Ah Qing’s meaning.

Ah Qing shook her head.

Shi Qingjun had the personality of absolutely not concealing her identity, so as long as Shi Qingjun became interested in Xu Chang’an, she would eventually expose her identity as the Sect Leader Chaoyun.

Then at that time, what the young master saw today might reveal her true identity — after all, besides that one from the Demon Sect, there was no second person in the world who could converse as equals with Immortal Chaoyun.

And she was different from Shi Qingjun, she had no so-called pride, so she could conceal her identity, and didn’t want Xu Chang’an to know about her past deeds — Ah Qing hoped Xu Chang’an could get to know her first, not from the perspective that she was the Demon Sect Leader, this wasn’t deception, it was the same as Zhu Pingniang hiding her half-demon identity, it was a forced matter.

"It’s difficult for you to understand," Ah Qing looked at Shi Qingjun: "After all, you wouldn’t conceal your identity for a task, would you."

Shi Qingjun: "..."

She said nothing.

Concealing one’s identity...

She had done it before, for instance... the ’Senior Sister Shi’ who tended flowers in the Steward East Wing, as Xu Chang’an had seen, was her disguise.

To approach Xu Chang’an with a slightly younger appearance was something she had done.

Shi Qingjun didn’t think there was anything significant about it, so she was puzzled why Ah Qing felt she couldn’t do such things, however, she didn’t question this insignificant matter, only asked in return: "So, what do you want to say."

"What do I want to say... of course, it’s all you, and it has nothing to do with me." Ah Qing smiled.

This was the best choice she could come up with.

Her Sword Dance was an ancient Sword Dance, even if Zhu Tongjun couldn’t recognize it, Li Zhibai certainly could...

Then, perhaps she had received an ’opportunity’ from Shi Qingjun in the past, would be a good excuse.

Ah Qing wouldn’t say such things directly, but it didn’t stop her from wanting Xu Chang’an, who would later understand Shi Qingjun’s identity, to think this way.

There was a half-demon in the brothel who received an ’opportunity’ from Immortal Chaoyun — it’s a good rationale, isn’t it.

Ah Qing lowered her eyes, she felt the young master’s gaze on her as if it could scorch her body, lightly bit her lip, murmured: "Besides, I originally received some opportunity from you, so you are worthy of my courtesy."

"Courtesy?" Shi Qingjun was taken aback, and then immediately saw Ah Qing elegantly step back three steps, with both hands placed at her waist, bending her body slightly to perform a maid’s礼.

"I, greet Miss Shi."

"...?"

Shi Qingjun’s eyes narrowed for a moment.

She didn’t understand what kind of maid’s courtesy this was, but she knew it wasn’t a ritual of equal status.

Ah Qing was also in the Qiankun Realm, right.

At this moment, Shi Qingjun, who hadn’t fully understood Ah Qing’s intention, just felt her heart seemingly empty for a moment, her first response was... the only woman in the world who could speak to her on equal terms, also seemed to fade away.

After slightly recovering, Shi Qingjun took a deep breath, looked at the woman still saluting her, frowned: "What are you... doing."

"Hard to understand?" Ah Qing slowly straightened her body, she stood with her back towards the banquet stage, with a slight smile on her lips.

"Easy to understand?" Shi Qingjun retorted.

"Odd." Ah Qing looked somewhat puzzled at the frowning Shi Qingjun: "Miss Shi, actually mind such trivialities?"

Ah Qing was intrigued.

In the past, even if she saluted Shi Qingjun, even kneeling in worship, Shi Qingjun wouldn’t give her a second glance... essentially, being mindful of others’ rituals is already a reflection of caring about others’ thoughts.

Shi Qingjun, does she care about what others think?

"...Enough." Shi Qingjun met Ah Qing’s gaze, without explanation.

Indeed.

Ah Qing was inherently afraid of her, so a礼wasn’t much.

Unknowingly, because of Ah Qing’s maneuvering, Yun Qian’s position in Shi Qingjun’s heart elevated slightly.

"Hmm, it’s better this way." Looking at Shi Qingjun, who wasn’t curious, Ah Qing had a justified look.

This was the Immortal Chaoyun she knew after all.

Otherwise, she really would have thought she had fallen.

Hmm...?

Fallen too?

Bah, she wasn’t fallen.

Having a beloved, this was clearly an elevation, not a downfall.

Even if it were, she would willingly fall into the abyss of eternal night, hoping this dream could continue forever, that would be best.

And also.

She had already said, she wasn’t merely using Shi Qingjun, her礼was indeed sincere... Shi Qingjun had illuminated the path numerous times in the past, from any angle, she deserved Ah Qing’s礼.

About the use though...

It’s actually quite understandable.

In all likelihood, when the young master on stage saw her bow to Shi Qingjun, he would clearly distinguish the primary from the secondary, and as for the previous equal dialogue, it could be treated as a special manner of conversation between two people, completely irrelevant.

After a respectful and heartfelt gesture of gratitude that followed their conversation, the young master would surely understand, wouldn’t he.

She had purposely turned her body to expose her expression within the young master’s line of sight.

To make the young master perceive her as Shi Qingjun’s ’disciple’, ’student’, was Ah Qing’s intention.

She certainly wanted the young master watching everything from the stage to realize that, in truth, she and Shi Qingjun were not equals. Whether it was the Barrier, the conversations, it was all led by Shi Qingjun and had nothing to do with Miss Ah Qing.

This way, when Shi Qingjun’s identity was later revealed to Xu Chang’an, it wouldn’t affect her image in his heart, quite perfectly...

As for when she set up the Barrier, her movements were subtle enough that Xu Chang’an wouldn’t know if it was her or Shi Qingjun who acted...

A Senior in the Cultivation Realm and a silly girl who only lived through performing Sword Dance in the brothel and dazing in the rain during rainy days, Ah Qing preferred the latter’s positioning.

Her goal was to be a maid, if she became a Senior, that would be an error.