Before long, she returned carrying a jade tray, upon which sat an exquisite jade pot and three jade cups.
There were only a few tea leaves in the jade pot, yet they emitted an indescribable, hazy dao rhyme that refreshed the mind and spirit.
These were tea leaves taken from the Enlightenment Tea Tree on the island in the center of the lake.
"Fellow Daoists, you have come from afar. Please, have some tea."
Gu Han picked up the jade pot and poured a cup for each of them.
The tea fragrance curled upward as the dao rhyme permeated the air, and the tense atmosphere within the hall seemed to ease slightly.
Empress Qingxuan picked up her teacup, her gaze falling once more on Gu Han's face, her tone carrying a hint of inquiry and concern:
"Sister Gu, when I first arrived, I noticed your complexion seemed... a bit weary?"
She paused, glancing pointedly at Empress Ling Shuang,
"Could it be that lately, your peace has been disturbed by certain tactless individuals?"
Empress Ling Shuang's hand holding the teacup tightened slightly,
"Qing Xuan, are you implying something?"
"This Empress is merely concerned for Sister Gu. How could I be implying anything?"
Empress Qingxuan took a sip of tea and said leisurely,
"On the other hand, by overstaying your welcome here, have you ever considered whether you are causing trouble for others?"
"This Empress is here to discuss the Dao and exchange insights with Fellow Daoist Gu Han. How is that trouble?"
Empress Ling Shuang countered coldly.
"discuss the Dao?"
Empress Qingxuan raised an eyebrow, her smile turning slightly cold,
"I suspect the drinker's heart is not in the wine."
Seeing that the two were about to clash again,
Gu Han set down her teacup and gently rubbed her brow, deciding not to beat around the bush any longer.
"Fellow Daoists."
She spoke, her voice calm but possessing a clarity that went straight to the heart of the matter,
"This Gu established the Jade Pool Immortal Palace seeking nothing more than quiet cultivation and the teaching of Disciples."
"I wonder if you two Fellow Daoists have any other important business for visiting the Southern Region this time, besides discussing the Dao and catching up with me?"
The question was asked politely, but in truth, it was a subtle inquiry: When do you plan to leave?
How intelligent was Empress Qingxuan? How could she not hear the meaning in Gu Han's words?
She set down her teacup, the smile on her exquisite face remaining, though her gaze deepened slightly:
"This Empress came this time, firstly, because I haven't seen my sister in a long time and missed her dearly."
"Secondly, it was because I heard Ling Shuang was here and came specifically to 'catch up.'"
She emphasized the words 'catch up' slightly, turning her gaze toward Empress Ling Shuang with undisguised scrutiny.
"And thirdly..."
She shifted the topic and looked at Gu Han again, her tone becoming more serious,
"Has Sovereign Long Teng also mentioned The Mid-State Pact to you, Sister?"
Gu Han's eyes flickered slightly as she nodded:
"Sovereign Long Teng did mention it, saying it concerns the mystery of the immortal path, and invited me to the Mid-State for a discussion."
"It is precisely that matter."
Empress Qingxuan nodded,
"This matter is of great importance and cannot be explained in a moment. This Empress came this time also wanting to discuss this matter in detail with you, Sister."
She paused, adding meaningfully:
"After all, some secrets are safer discussed in private."
The implication was that she was staying because she had legitimate business.
Upon hearing about The Mid-State Pact and the mystery of the immortal path, a flash of solemnity also crossed Empress Ling Shuang's eyes.
She was naturally aware of this; Sovereign Long Teng had issued an invitation to her long ago.
Her reason for staying in the Southern Region, besides her curiosity about Gu Han herself, was also to discuss this matter with Gu Han in advance.
She just hadn't expected this woman, Qing Xuan, to move so quickly and use it as an excuse.
"Since it concerns the immortal path, this Empress naturally has an interest as well."
Empress Ling Shuang said coldly,
"Fellow Daoist Gu, this matter requires careful consideration."
Great.
Both of them had found a legitimate reason to stay.
The plan to see them off was a failure.
She took a soft breath, suppressing the slight helplessness in her heart.
"In that case, please stay at the Immortal Palace for a few days, Fellow Daoists."
Gu Han regained the composed bearing of a Palace Master,
"Regarding The Mid-State Pact and the mystery of the immortal path, I will discuss them with you in detail another day."
"For today, why not take some rest first?"
Empress Qingxuan and Empress Ling Shuang naturally understood Gu Han's meaning.
The two glanced at each other, and once again, invisible sparks flew through the air.
"Sister is so considerate."
Empress Qingxuan stood up, her purple skirt brushing against the Cloud Bed, bringing with it a waft of fragrant wind.
She walked to Gu Han's side, leaned down slightly, and whispered very quickly at a volume only the two of them could hear:
"The 'debt' for that slap, I have it all recorded."
Her warm breath brushed against Gu Han's ear, carrying a teasing itch.
Having said that, she didn't wait for Gu Han's reaction. She gave Gu Han a sweet smile and turned to walk out of the hall.
Empress Ling Shuang also stood up. She gave Gu Han a deep look, her gaze sweeping over her slightly reddened ear.
In the end, she said nothing more, only giving Gu Han a slight nod before also turning to leave.
The two figures, one after the other, disappeared beyond the hall doors.
Within the Main Hall, Gu Han was finally left alone.
She sat alone on the Cloud Bed, staring at the empty doorway. Only after a long while did she slowly let out a breath.
"What is all this..."
Gu Han rubbed her aching temples and muttered to herself.
"Each of them is an old... Senior who has lived for tens of thousands of years. How can they all be so willful?"
"That woman Qing Xuan... last time in the bedchamber she... and this time she dares to flirt right in front of Ling Shuang?"
"Ling Shuang too. She looks ice-cold, yet her actions are startlingly direct."
"That distance yesterday, that kind of question... and today's confrontational energy..."
The more Gu Han thought about it, the more her head hurt.
She had established the Jade Pool Immortal Palace to complete System tasks, teach her Disciples, and explore the unknown world along the way.
And the result?
She had indeed taken in many Disciples, and they were all very promising.
But as for peace... she hadn't gained a shred of it!
First, she had passively become some 'Yaochi Empress,' her name echoing throughout the Southern Region.
Immediately after, the Empress of the Northern Region came knocking on her door to 'test' her. After the fight, she wouldn't leave, saying she wanted to 'discuss the Dao'?
And now, the one from the Eastern Region had come too, looking as if she wanted to devour her.
These two old rivals, who had fought for tens of thousands of years, had now moved their 'battlefield' directly into the Main Hall of her Jade Pool Immortal Palace!
Caught in the middle, she had to be responsible for mediating, serving tea, and smoothing things over... "What sin did I commit to deserve this..."
Gu Han sighed helplessly and lay back on the Cloud Bed, staring at the starry sky simulated on the ceiling, feeling incredibly weary.
She couldn't send them away, and she couldn't truly fight them (after all, there was no deep-seated hatred). She also had to maintain basic hospitality and the dignity of an Immortal Ascension expert.
Being this Palace Master was more exhausting than taking the postgraduate entrance exams in her previous life!
At least back then, it wasn't this troublesome.
And now?
These two 'distinguished guests' were living right in her Immortal Palace, seeing her every time they looked up.
Especially Qing Xuan... Thinking of that whisper against her ear as she left, the temperature that had just dropped on Gu Han's earlobes seemed to show signs of rising again.
And that bracelet... Gu Han raised her left hand. The Profound Heart Bracelet on her wrist shimmered with a gentle luster under the soft light of the hall.
Qing Xuan had one on her hand too.
They could sense each other... Having this thing on her hand now was practically like holding a hot potato!
If she had even a slight emotional fluctuation on her side, would Qing Xuan be able to sense it over there?
This life is impossible to live!
For a moment, Gu Han really wanted to take off the bracelet and throw it into the deepest part of the System warehouse.
But on second thought, this was a 'Pseudo-Emperor Weapon' grade Magic Treasure that Qing Xuan had solemnly gifted.
More importantly, it was an important token for their possible joint exploration of a void node in the future.
To directly take it off or hide it away would be too rude and would make her look like she had a guilty conscience.
"Forget it, forget it..."
Gu Han sighed again, deciding not to think about these frustrating matters for now.
Regarding The Mid-State Pact and the mystery of the immortal path, Sovereign Long Teng had mentioned it and Qing Xuan had confirmed it; it seemed it was indeed of great importance.
She had to find a time to have a proper talk with them.
Then there was the development of her own Immortal Palace, the training of her Disciples, the follow-up planning for Lingxu Grotto-Heaven... each and every matter required her, the Palace Master, to make a decision.
"Better to Cultivate first."
Gu Han closed her eyes, attempting to suppress those chaotic thoughts as her mind sank into the vast dao rhyme of the Chaos Scripture.
Only within the profundities of this supreme Dao method could she find true tranquility.
Time flowed quietly as Gu Han entered a state of meditative concentration.
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