The Ancient Gods' Whisper

Snap, the motion-sensor light in the hallway turned on.

"Mom and Uncle Su aren't home?"

When Gu Jianlin stepped inside, he noticed that the windows of the courtyard were dark, clearly indicating no one was home.

Su Youzhu softly murmured in acknowledgment and pulled out her keys: "Dad's been really busy these past few days; it seems like something happened at the company. Mom went to stay with Grandma in the hospital. She'll probably be back in the middle of the night. I'll go visit her tomorrow too."

Gu Jianlin's heart stirred slightly. Honestly, he should go with the girl to visit the elderly lady, but given his current circumstances, it would be better to stay as far away as possible. Instead, he could use the resources he currently had to bring over some secret medicine.

It wasn't that he was being overly cautious.

It was just that the pressure on him was too great right now. He might possess the authority of the Qilin Venerable, but restoring his strength would take a long time. On top of that, he had to bear the karma of that Supreme as well.

Whether it was the Ghost Car Ancestor or the Candle Dragon Venerable, they both imposed an overwhelming sense of oppression on him.

Even with the King of Qing backing him, it was still better to be prudent.

After all, no matter how powerful they were, they couldn't always be by his side.

Gu Jianlin had to take responsibility for his family in this matter.

Su Youzhu opened the door to the house and stepped inside to change her shoes.

She suddenly noticed that the boy stood at the doorway, motionless, showing no intention of coming in.

"What's wrong?"

She asked softly.

Gu Jianlin hesitated for a moment: "I've got something to deal with, so I won't be staying home for now."

Hearing this, Su Youzhu stared at him expressionlessly, her clear, bright eyes showing no emotion in the darkness.

But to Gu Jianlin, it was as if he could see her pouting face in her silence.

"Give me your homework. I'll find time to finish it for you and get someone to deliver it."

Without another word, Gu Jianlin took her backpack, pulling out all her workbooks: "The college entrance exams are coming up. Later, I'll organize some notes for you. Just focus on the subjects you can score in... As for the sciences, your foundation is too weak, so it's better to just let them go."

After all, she was an art student, so the requirements for her academic courses weren't too high.

Su Youzhu let him take out her homework and, after a brief silence, softly asked: "This is about Uncle Gu, isn't it? You still want to get to the bottom of that matter, and you're not planning to come back to school either, are you?"

Gu Jianlin didn't deny it and said, "Yes."

Su Youzhu fixed her gaze on him: "So, you won't come home, and you won't go back to school. Where are you staying?"

Gu Jianlin, uncharacteristically, avoided her eyes and said, "That apartment my dad rented before hasn't been returned."

Su Youzhu pressed her soft lips together: "Can't you drop it?"

Gu Jianlin didn't respond.

But Su Youzhu understood his answer. She softly said, "Uncle Gu really treated you well, didn't he?"

Gu Jianlin didn't know how to phrase it. In truth, their relationship as father and son wasn't anything extraordinary—it was just a standard father-and-son bond. But because that bond had been severed, it became exceptionally significant.

His world wasn't vast; there were just a handful of people in it.

That's why he wanted to stubbornly hold on.

Even though the person was gone, as long as he kept following his father's trail, it felt as though he could still sense his presence.

"If you insist on pursuing this, I won't stop you, and I couldn't even if I tried. But if Uncle Gu really was targeted out of revenge for investigating a case, then it's bound to be dangerous. Make sure you stay safe, or Mom will be heartbroken," she said.

Su Youzhu lifted her right hand, extending her delicate pinky finger: "Promise me."

Gu Jianlin looked at her slender and charming pinky and smiled faintly, silently linking his pinky with hers.

Then he slowly stepped backward, gazing at the petite girl standing in the doorway, and said softly:

"I'm leaving."

Just as he was about to turn around, the girl suddenly spoke up: "I spent the whole day online snagging a black pork chop. I even got all kinds of seasonings ready. Are you really not going to eat before you go?"

For some reason, Gu Jianlin caught a glimpse of the true emotions hidden beneath her stoic expression.

Her gaze was like that of a kitten gently nudging a small fish towards you during your loneliest and saddest moments.

It was truly hard for Gu Jianlin to refuse her. She was so delicately beautiful and skilled in cooking, going to such great lengths to prepare a celebratory feast for him, only for the plan to be delayed into the dead of night because of his tardiness.

Many of her suitors at school didn't even have a chance to speak with her.

Gu Jianlin knew he should cherish her.

But it was already midnight, and by the time they cooked and ate, it would take nearly five hours.

At that point, he would have no choice but to leave.

That would completely spoil the mood—it was better not to stay at all.

"Sorry."

Gu Jianlin suddenly reached out his hand, ruffling her short, pale-green hair. For once, he smiled and said softly, "Next time. When I come back, I'll bring you a gift."

With that, he summoned all the restraint he could muster in a lifetime and forced himself to turn away.

He swiftly walked out of the dimly-lit hallway.

The door closed softly, and lights turned on inside the windows.

Gu Jianlin paused in his steps, as if sensing the gaze from behind the window silently watching him.

He sighed inwardly.

He wasn't oblivious. That girl was a lonely soul as well. Whatever reason her parents had for their divorce, there must be something that shaped her current personality.

On the surface, she was cold and silent, but deep down, she was a fragile little girl.

So desperately longing for companionship.