195.3 – Gong Manor
Then, Gong Jing looked at Xue Qilin. As if she sensed something, Xue Qilin looked back at him immediately.
Without saying a word, both of them just stared at each other with a serious expression, as if trying to dig something out of each other"s eyes.
Qi Qiqi and Lian Gui looked at each other. They don"t really understand why the two, who just met for the first time, a.s.sumed such a stern posture.
“Great General of the North — Gong Jing?”
“Natural Disaster — Xue Qilin?”
Xue Qilin and Gong Jing asked in a deep voice almost at the same time.
If a pa.s.serby witnessed this, they would think they are dissatisfied with each other. In the next second, however, they both smiled at the same time. But unlike Xue Qilin"s grin, Gong Jing only slightly raised the corners of his mouth into a faint smile.
“This old one is the Great General of the North — "North Sweep" Gong Jing. This one greets Lady Xue.”
Gong Jing clasped his hands and raised them slightly and introduced himself solemnly.
Xue Qilin imitated Gong Jing"s tone and actions and returned the greeting.
“Merak Temple"s Young Ancestor — "Natural Disaster" Xue Qilin. This o — this girl greets Great General Gong.”
Seeing Xue Qilin almost call herself “this one”, Qi Qiqi felt her heart in her throat. Fortunately, the other party corrected herself in time, not making a fool of herself. Qi Qiqi released a sigh of relief.
Next, she stepped forward with an embarra.s.sed look on her face and said apologetically, “This girl apologizes for visiting late at night and disturbing Great General Gong.”
“That"s all right.”
Gong Jing waved his hand calmly.
“The Gong Clan is happy to welcome Temple Master Qi. Furthermore, it is far from being late in the night.”
Gong Jing glanced at Xue Qilin, and then carried on with a tone of satisfaction, “Besides, this old one long since wanted to meet Lady Xue, who stormed into the Heavenly Sword Gate by herself and erased her enmity with a sword in hand.”
“Oh, such a thing did indeed took place! It"s really a pleasure to meet you!”
Xue Qilin cast Qi Qiqi a pleased look, and then responded elegantly in a neutral tone, which prompted Qi Qiqi to look at her askance, dissatisfied.
“This old one has long since heard that the Merak Temple"s Young Ancestor Xue Qilin is pure and innocent! Today, this old one ascertained it to be the case! Lady Xue doesn"t need to be too polite, just be you usual self.”
Uh, pure and innocent? Xue Qilin faced Gong Jing with a queer expression.
Gong Jing noticed her reaction and let out an “um” in surprise.
“Did this old one say something wrong?”
“Uh, no, it just came as a surprise… They say that I"m "willful and reckless". No one has ever a.s.sociated me with the words pure and innocent.”
“Young Ancestor, how can such a thing be said in front of Great General Gong?”
Qi Qiqi reprimanded Xue Qilin, who has no sense of propriety, and then apologized to Gong Jing, “Great General Gong, this girl is really sorry. This girl"s elder has always been reckless –”
“No harm has been done. Temple Master Qi, it"s not necessarily a bad thing that your esteemed sect has such a reckless ancestor.” Gong Jing sighed abruptly, “At least, there"s no need to guess her intentions…”
It seems that despite being in a high position, he still has his difficulties and worries… Xue Qilin couldn"t help thinking so.
In the next moment, having noticed that his words were improper, Gong Jing smiled apologetically.
“Sorry, this old one misspoke.”
Qi Qiqi shook her head uneasily. As for Xue Qilin, she said indifferently, “It"s okay.”
“The two Ladies shouldn"t have eaten yet?”
Gong Jing started with the word “right”, and then asked rather politely. Qi Qiqi shook her head embarra.s.sedly when she heard that.
“I"m long since hungry!” Xue Qilin winked, “Right, would you please give me a meal?”
Xue Qilin just finished speaking, when Qi Qiqi shouted discontentedly, “Young Ancestor –!”
“That"s all right.”
“This girl is really sorry, Great General Gong. This girl"s elder…”
Gong Jing smiled, and then looked at Lian Gui, who has been quietly standing aside, and gave him an order.
“Manager Lian, have the kitchen prepare food and wine, and be sure to tell the chef not to be negligent and oversee everything himself.”
“Yes, Lian Gui understood.”
With that, Lian Gui nodded at Qi Qiqi and Xue Qilin, and then turned around and walked away rapidly.
“Great General Gong, in fact, we came this time to figure something out.”
As soon as she took her gaze away from Lian Gui"s back, Xue Qilin heard Qi Qiqi say this nervously.
Qi Qiqi, who should be anxious to learn of Gong Tianqing"s whereabouts, got straight to the point.
“Great General Gong –”
Before Qi Qiqi could finish her question, Gong Jing raised his hand to interrupt her.
“Temple Master Qi"s purpose in coming, this old one is well aware of it.”
A lot of emotions suddenly rippled on Gong Jing"s emotionless face.
There is comfort, but also helplessness and bitterness.
His expression, which has many emotions mixed in, has a muddy shade.
“– Qing"er is indeed here.”
“Really?”
Upon hearing Gong Jing"s words, Qi Qiqi asked urgently.
“Yes.”
This word made Xue Qilin and Qi Qiqi breathe a sigh of relief. The large weight that has been weighing on their minds for several days was finally lifted, and they looked at each other with joy.
However, Gong Jing —
“This old one will send someone to inform Qing"er, though, it is uncertain whether she will agree to see you.”
What did he mean with that? Little Qing doesn"t want to see us? That"s impossible. Xue Qilin was taken aback for a moment.
At that time, Xue Qilin didn"t believe that Gong Tianqing would avoid seeing her and Qi Qiqi.
— it"s probably the will of Heaven playing tricks.
Her expectation and belief weren"t met.
That night, Xue Qilin and Qi Qiqi didn"t see Gong Tianqing.
Although the reason is unknown, but Gong Tianqing did refuse to see them.