"Yes, Young Master. You may rest assured."
The white-bearded elder offered a faint smile as he replied. Though he was a high-ranking Martial King, his tone toward Sikong Ran remained exceedingly respectful.
Meanwhile, Gu Qingli led Gu Qingche straight to the main courtyard of the Gu family patriarch.
Gu Qingli had never voluntarily come here before, so Gu Yifeng was rather taken aback.
When he saw Gu Qingli with a face like still water, and Gu Qingche covered in bruises and swelling, he rose to his feet at once, shock evident in his gaze.
"What… what on earth happened to you two?"
Gu Qingli's expression was cold as frost, her rose-red lips tightly pressed together—offering no reply.
Gu Yifeng, somewhat embarrassed, turned to Gu Qingche instead.
"Qingche, speak. What happened? Are your injuries serious?"
On the way back, Gu Qingli had already applied medicine to Gu Qingche's wounds. In truth, they were not severe—merely disfiguring on the surface.
After all, Gu Qingche had not been the main target. They had only struck his face to make a show of cruelty.
Gu Qingche cast a helpless glance at Gu Qingli's impassive profile, then reluctantly opened his mouth.
"Patriarch, allow me to report what happened…"
His voice was even and unembellished. Having seen Gu Qinglin's true nature today, he no longer wished to make excuses for her. He recounted the events plainly, without exaggeration.
Gu Yifeng's expression grew darker with every word, like thunderclouds gathering before a storm.
As the patriarch of the Gu family for many years, he could see the truth behind the tale with frightening clarity.
Enraged beyond measure, he hurled his teacup to the ground.
Just at that moment, Gu Qinglin entered—and the shattered porcelain scattered right at her feet, making her jump in fright.
"Grandfather…"
Gu Qinglin bit her lip with a guilty heart. She had indeed seen Gu Qingli and Gu Qingche seated within, and resentment flared in her chest.
"You still have the audacity to call me grandfather!"
Gu Yifeng's fury had reached its zenith. Seeing her guilty face laced with defiance, his heart brimmed with bitter disappointment.
For all these years, even though Gu Qinglin's talent had been mediocre, he had raised her with great care, grooming her as the heir of the Gu family.
And yet now, she revealed herself to be nothing more than an ungrateful, venomous child.
"Grandfather, please listen to me—I was deceived by Li Ke'er! And besides, it's just that Little Li is too powerful… I feared you would focus only on her and no longer care for me…"
Gu Yifeng's heart sank completely. Even now, she remained blind to her own faults.
He turned to glance at Gu Qingli, who sat nearby with a glacial expression. She had not once looked in their direction, yet the frost radiating from her body was palpable. Her lips curled faintly into a mocking smile.
Ah…
A heavy sigh stirred in Gu Yifeng's chest. He knew full well that if today's matter wasn't handled properly, Gu Qingli would only drift further and further away.
"Gu Qinglin—kneel!"
His voice thundered through the hall, the weight of finality in every syllable. In that instant, he had made his decision.
In the past, he would never have dreamed of discarding Gu Qinglin. She was a rare Spirit Illusionist, raised at great cost.
But now… things had changed.
Gu Qingli was not only gifted beyond comparison—she was an alchemist. For the first time in generations, the Gu family had a true hope of rising.