Volume One, Chapter Two: The Chosen One? Merely My New Maid
“Uncle Fu, prepare the carriage. Let’s go for a casual stroll.”
“Remember, keep a low profile.”
Uncle Fu nodded, bowing deeply. “Understood, young master. Absolutely ‘low profile’.”
A quarter of an hour later.
Gu Changsheng sat inside a chariot forged from the core of a star and pulled by nine pure-blooded true dragons, his face dark as iron.
Wherever he passed, even the great paths parted, all living beings knelt in submission.
Countless cultivators trembled with fear, not daring to raise their heads.
“Uncle Fu, is this your idea of ‘low profile’?” Gu Changsheng’s voice was icy cold.
Uncle Fu replied earnestly, “Young master, this is already the most battered carriage in the house! Those beasts pulling it are merely at the Immortal King level, not even qualified to guard the gates. They’re usually used for hauling manure. Any lower profile, and you’d have to walk yourself—surely you wouldn’t wish such misfortune upon this old servant?”
Gu Changsheng was speechless.
Logically, it seemed hard to refute.
As the chariot floated above a mortal city, Gu Changsheng suddenly ordered a stop.
He had spotted, below, a ragged little girl huddled in a corner, clutching a cold steamed bun, shivering with hunger.
For some reason, he was reminded of his past life.
A flicker of compassion welled up in his heart.
He casually picked up a fruit platter prepared by a maid, selected the most ordinary-looking red fruit, and flicked it with his finger.
The fruit shot forth in a stream of light, landing precisely in the little girl’s arms.
“A gift for you,” he said lightly, then urged Uncle Fu to move on.
He did not see what happened next.
The very instant he left, the spiritual energy throughout the city erupted in a frenzy!
That red fruit radiated boundless divine light, a torrent of life essence surged skyward, illuminating the heavens and earth for miles around!
“Heavens! That’s... the Undying Divine Phoenix Fruit! The legendary supreme medicine that allows even an emperor to live a second life!”
An elder from a sacred land, passing by, screamed in disbelief, nearly losing his composure from excitement.
“The Gu family’s young master just gifted such a divine treasure to a mortal girl?!”
“What is he planning?!”
“I understand! This isn’t mere charity, it’s laying a foundation! He’s forging a karmic bond that will shake the ages!”
“That girl must be the reincarnation of some supreme being! The young master saw through her destiny!”
In an instant, countless ancient monsters lurking in the void fixed their gazes upon the little girl, their eyes shifting from pity to awe, and even... fanaticism!
Meanwhile, Gu Changsheng was in a rather good mood from his small act of kindness.
[Ding!]
[Detected: The host’s unintentional action has altered the fate of the ‘future Empress’, triggering an early awakening and greatly skewing the course of karma!]
[Congratulations, host, on achieving the ‘Casual Manipulator’ accomplishment!]
[Reward issued: ‘Forbidden Eye—Great Luo Celestial Pupil’ (automatically fused).]
Gu Changsheng felt a chill in his eyes.
The world before him changed in an instant.
He could see the flow of laws, the threads of karma, and even the terrifying fortune on Uncle Fu that could crush the heavens.
He could even see, across the distant stars, several equally terrifying auras violently stirring because of his recent deed.
“Troublesome.”
Gu Changsheng massaged his brow.
It seems that having a powerful background is not enough to truly keep a low profile.
You also need the vision to see through the roots of all trouble.
The little girl who received the Undying Divine Phoenix Fruit was named Ye Qingxian.
After Gu Changsheng left, her life underwent a complete transformation.
Elders from countless sacred lands and imperial dynasties rushed to her, weeping and clamoring to take her as their disciple, to worship her as their master.
Ye Qingxian was bewildered.
She was just a starving beggar girl.
But she was clever.
She knew all these changes stemmed from that godlike young man in the dragon chariot.
A fruit he tossed so casually had changed her fate.
At last, before the watching multitudes, Ye Qingxian made a decision that stunned them all.
She would go to the Gu family.
She wanted to become that young master’s servant girl.
Even the humblest kind.
For she understood—compared to that young man, the so-called lords of sacred lands, the so-called immortal inheritances, were as insignificant as dust.
Only by staying at his side could she seize her greatest opportunity.
…
The Gu Residence.
Gu Changsheng lay in a rocking chair in the courtyard, pondering life.
Uncle Fu came to report.
“Young master, there’s a girl named Ye Qingxian outside. She says you gifted her a fruit and she wishes to serve you as a handmaid to repay your kindness.”
Gu Changsheng didn’t even bother to open his eyes.
“A maid? Do I look short on maids?”
“Send her away, don’t let her bother me.”
No sooner had he spoken than his newly fused Great Luo Celestial Pupil showed him an interesting scene.
He saw wisps of purple fortune gathering above Ye Qingxian’s head, the vague silhouette of a future empress taking shape.
Oh?
Another protagonist of destiny?
And a female one at that?
“Wait,” Gu Changsheng changed his mind.
To take in a future empress as a servant, to have her pour his tea, massage his legs and shoulders day after day…
That seemed a far more effective way to avoid trouble than simply eliminating her.
After all, who would go against their own servant girl?
This was nipping the plot in the bud, preventing any developments from the very root.
I truly am a little genius.
“Let her in,” Gu Changsheng drawled lazily. “She can be responsible for… trimming my nails.”
Uncle Fu paused, then smiled knowingly.
Brilliant!
Simply brilliant!
The young master’s gesture, seemingly humiliating, was in fact a test and a tempering!
What if she is the destined empress? To truly grow, she must cast aside all pride and start from the humblest of tasks!
To trim the young master’s nails may seem trivial, but in truth, it is a supreme opportunity to come into contact with the great Dao and comprehend true principles!
Ye Qingxian was brought in.
She kneeled before Gu Changsheng, respectful and anxious.
“Servant Ye Qingxian, greets the young master.”
Gu Changsheng opened his eyes and swept her with his Great Luo Celestial Pupil.
Hmm. Good aptitude, brimming with fortune—a promising seedling.
More than qualified to be a nail-trimming maid.
“Rise.”
“From now on, you’ll remain by my side.”
“If you do well, you’ll be rewarded. If not…”
Gu Changsheng paused, struggling to think of a punishment.
“…your wages will be docked.”
Ye Qingxian trembled and kowtowed deeply.
“Thank you, young master, for your boundless grace!”
To her, this was not a threat, but a sign of the young master’s expectations!
To serve such a being was a blessing she could not have earned in ten lifetimes!
Just then, the skies above changed color.
A voice, filled with majesty and fury, resounded through the world.
“Who dares lay hands on one chosen by my Jade Lake Sacred Land?!”
A beam of immortal light tore through the void. A stunning woman, crowned and robed in phoenix regalia, descended upon the Gu estate, radiating imperial might.
The Jade Lake Empress—Ji Ruxue!
One of the few remaining great emperors of the age!
She glared down at the Gu manor, her gaze locked on Ye Qingxian.
“Little girl, you are the successor I have chosen. Come with me to Jade Lake, and I shall guarantee you a smooth path and a promising future!”
Ye Qingxian turned pale, but still firmly shook her head.
She chose to stand behind Gu Changsheng.
Gu Changsheng frowned.
So annoying.
He had just dealt with a male protagonist, and now here was a female protector showing up?
Would there ever be peace?
Impatiently, he waved toward the sky as if brushing away a fly.
“Uncle Fu, we have a guest. The tea has gone cold. See her out.”
Uncle Fu bowed in assent.
“Yes, young master.”
In the next moment.
From that seemingly frail body erupted an aura so overwhelming that even the Jade Lake Empress shuddered.
He simply lifted his eyelids and cast a淡淡 glance at the empress in the sky.
“My young master told you to leave. Didn’t you hear him?”