"Old Man Tian, honestly—even if your looks have improved a little, you needn't weep so dramatically,"
Sikong Ran remarked with undisguised scorn.
His sharp words snapped Old Man Tian out of his melancholy in an instant.
"Though your new appearance isn't bad, you're still leagues behind me, young master that I am. But don't lose heart—there's always room for improvement."
Gu Qingli, too, couldn't help but sigh inwardly. This was the stark contrast between youth and age.
Previously, Old Man Tian had looked like a wretched, lecherous old man. But now, even if traces of that unseemly aura lingered, his renewed appearance lent him a touch of cleverness—or perhaps a hint of poetic melancholy.
"Thank you, Sixth Miss."
Old Man Tian addressed Gu Qingli with deep solemnity, his expression unusually grave. To him, this favor was no less than a gift of rebirth.
Gu Qingli responded with a faint smile.
"While you were absorbing the effects of the pill just now, we saw a red light pulse within your body."
Poor Old Man Tian—he hadn't even known all these years that he harbored a parasite inside him.
"A red light? Was that the parasite? Where exactly in my body is it located?"
Sikong Ran let out a wicked chuckle and glanced pitifully at a certain part of Old Man Tian's anatomy. The moment their eyes met, Old Man Tian's face changed dramatically—colors flashing like a shifting kaleidoscope, his expression utterly twisted in dismay.
Even He Zhongyi, typically cold and composed, nearly broke into a laugh.
Gu Qingli rubbed her forehead in helpless frustration. She had known all along that Sikong Ran was a born jester—and poor Old Man Tian had actually fallen for his antics!
"D-Don't tell me… it's true?"
Old Man Tian looked as though he might cry.
"Hahahaha! I can't believe you actually believed that!"
Sikong Ran was nearly out of breath from laughter, completely ignoring Old Man Tian's furious, smoke-billowing glare.
"Ahem! But jokes aside—we did indeed catch a glimpse of the parasite in your body just now,"
Gu Qingli said, bringing the matter back to seriousness.
She gave Old Man Tian a brief description of what they had seen.
"It seems the pill has a suppressive effect on it. Otherwise, it wouldn't have surfaced like that."
Though Old Man Tian had never encountered such a creature before, he was still a royal-grade alchemist. His sensitivity to such things was naturally keen.
"I thought the same. The pill contains powerful vitality—it nourishes the skin and alters one's appearance. The parasite must be absorbing life force slowly, and it seems to act upon the skin first."
Gu Qingli frowned as she spoke.
"You mean to say… this parasite will eventually begin feeding on my lifespan?"
Old Man Tian had long harbored this suspicion. As he aged, he had often wondered whether his lifespan had been draining away prematurely.
"Yes. That's why this Beautifying Pill is more than just cosmetic for you—it not only preserves your youthful looks but also provides supplementary life force to feed the parasite. While it's not a cure, it does serve as a temporary relief."
Gu Qingli couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. Though everything looked fine on the surface, harboring a hidden time-bomb inside one's body would leave anyone deeply unsettled.
"To me, that's more than enough. If not for you, Sixth Miss, I would've continued stumbling through life, unaware that I was slowly wasting away."
A warm smile appeared on Old Man Tian's face, his expression filled with resilience and optimism.
Few could have endured what he had for so many years.
Gu Qingli handed him the remaining pills.
With only a few days left until the Youth Martial Tournament, both Gu Qingli and Sikong Ran treasured every moment of preparation.
Gu Qingli spent the following days entirely in seclusion. It wasn't until the day the tournament opened in Loulan City that she finally emerged from her room.
Outside the small courtyard, the first golden ray of morning light gently crept over the horizon. The warm glow bathed everything in gold, while emerald leaves shimmered with life beneath its touch.
Taking in the vibrant scene, Gu Qingli felt a lightness in her heart.
She exhaled a long breath—the days of retreat had not only solidified her previous cultivation level but had also greatly enhanced her spiritual strength.
Though the Li family was full of tricks, her own power was nothing to scoff at.
Still, Gu Qingli wasn't one to be careless. She had brought along a pill refined by Old Man Tian as a hidden ace—her trump card in case of unexpected peril.
She had no plans to use it lightly, however. While it could boost strength in an emergency, it also came at a cost to the body. And until she uncovered the true identity of the strange beast Li Ke'er was hiding, she needed every safeguard she could muster.
"Xiao Li, you're up early."
Gu Zhan's voice came from behind. As he looked at his daughter—once cradled in his arms, now tall, poised, and radiant—his heart filled with pride, tinged by a trace of wistful sorrow.
After all, his daughter had grown up—and surpassed him in both talent and strength. She had already spread her wings and was ready to soar.
"Father, you're up early too?"
"How could I sleep? I've been thinking about today's tournament."
"Don't tell me… you don't have any faith in me?" Gu Qingli pouted in mock indignation.
"How could I relax if I wasn't there to keep an eye on you?" Gu Zhan sighed softly.
"Don't worry, Father. Come on, I'm sure the clan leaders are already waiting."
She quickly steered the conversation, lest her father say something to try and stop her again.
"Very well."
For today's event, Gu Qingli had chosen a simple yet elegant outfit: a pure white dress that flowed gracefully with her movements. A small pink tassel hung at her waist—delicate and charming.
Her long, jet-black hair was tied high with a pink silk ribbon, giving her an air of crisp vitality and youthful vigor.
The pure white ensemble, accentuated by touches of soft pink, made her look utterly adorable—radiating a fresh, girlish energy.
Though it was still early, a large crowd had already gathered in front of the Gu family estate by the time she and Gu Zhan arrived. Everyone was abuzz with excited chatter about the Youth Martial Tournament.
Gu Qingli clicked her tongue in mild surprise—so many people! The event clearly carried great significance in Loulan City. Today, it would be a city-wide spectacle, with every street likely empty.
No wonder the Gu and Li families treated it with such gravity. The Youth Martial Tournament didn't just showcase a family's new generation—it foreshadowed the clan's future and shaped its reputation for years to come.
"Sixth Miss, you're here!"
"Sixth Miss, we're counting on you today!"
"Good morning, Sixth Miss!"
Wherever Gu Qingli and Gu Zhan passed—be it strangers or familiar faces—everyone greeted her with smiles and respectful enthusiasm.
Even Gu Zhan received warm greetings from many.