In The End They Were All Bodyguards

Grandmistress Qian wrapped the whip around her waist, then expressionlessly threw her back into the fray.

Qiu Qiu: "…"

She was currently unarmed. Her long sword had broken in half when she tried to defend herself against a concealed weapon. Now, as she fell back into the circle, weapons from all directions became directed towards her. Qiu Qiu was not proficient in magic; she, wooden-faced, could only dodge out of the way and tear into the people around her. Although she did not suffer any major wounds, her minor injuries were not few.

Qiu Qiu wanted to go back and kneel while admitting her mistakes to Grandmistress Qian.

The battle at first had been leaning towards the side of the cultivators. However, this was the entrance of the demonic world. Demonic cultivators came out in unceasing waves to join in the fight. Though the righteous cultivators fought as hard as they could, they were gradually surrounded by demonic cultivators.

The new demonic cultivators who arrived were not the Qian family's people. Their robe sleeves were emblazoned with the character "Qing (清)". Towards this character, Qiu Qiu had some impression; in the previous world, Grandmistress Qian had been friends with the head of the demonic cultivator's Qing clan, Grandmistress Qing.

Qiu Qiu could still remember that Qing Ruo was a rarely seen demonic cultivation genius. Her talent was one that even Grandmistress Qian perhaps could not compare to.

Except, in the end, she had lost her cultivation because of Qiu Qiu.

Now that the cultivators had been trapped, the demonic cultivators ceased their attacks. Qiu Qiu returned back to Grandmistress Qian's side, who only glanced at her coldly, but said nothing more.

At this time, the demonic cultivator disciples near the gate suddenly parted and created a pathway. Qiu Qiu suddenly understood that Qing Ruo had likely personally appeared to pay a visit.

A woman in a white robe appeared from the crowd on a double-edged long sword. She was obviously of exceedingly high birth. Her hair was like ink, with three thousand silk strands billowing in the wind. In her hair was a single jade hairpin, much like the pristine whiteness of her skin. Her entire appearance seemed to emulate the image of a spirit fox, giving her an extremely unique character.

Qiu Qiu was extremely familiar with the hairpin. Qing Ruo's young female lover, who she was unable to marry, had personally made it.

Qing Ruo stopped near Grandmistress Qian. To Grandmistress Qian's ice sculpture-like face, she gave an exceedingly gentle smile.

However, Qiu Qiu knew that apart from the smile Qing Ruo gave to that little wife she was unable to marry, all other smiles fell short of her eyes.

"I heard reports that you privately went to the cultivation sects to kill some people. I didn't believe it at first, until one of your guards came to me personally begging for more troops. You caused such a ruckus I'm afraid that even the Qian clan has heard about it," Qing Ruo said in a gentle tone.

Those who didn't understand her would even think that she was concerned for the other party. However, Qiu Qiu felt that she was purposefully mocking Grandmistress Qian…

Grandmistres Qian did not say anything. Silently, she pulled out from her storage ring all the precious medicinal herbs she had collected, to Qing Ruo's pleasant surprise.

Qing Ruo's little wife was called Hua Meng. Since childhood, she had possessed a weak body. As her meridians were blocked, she was unable to cultivate. She grew up relying on medicinal herbs to survive. For her, Qing Ruo personally scoured far and wide for all kinds of medicine. Grandmistress Qian's medicinal herbs could be considered to be an extremely precious present.

Grandmistress Qian was clearly asking her to conceal this matter from the Qian Clan. Qing Ruo was the kind of person who would not have done so either way, but she accepted all of the herbs nonetheless and thanked Grandmistress Qian.

Seeing this, the nearby Qiu Qiu's eyes began to gleam.

Her Grandmistress Qian knew how to bribe people?!

My Grandmistress is so amazing!

The cultivators from the sect, seeing that the situation was unfavorable, began preparing to break out of the entrapment. Qing Ruo had only come here to save Grandmistress Qian, and so did not pursue them as they fled.

Although Qing Ruo was a demonic cultivator, she rarely involved herself in the matters of demonic cultivators and righteous cultivators. After taking over the Qing Clan, she separated her faction from the alliance led by the Qian Clan, whole-heartedly devoting herself to Hua Meng and Hua Meng alone.

And so, Qiu Qiu and the others entered the Demonic Realm without a hitch.

The only way to pass through the blood pools was flying on swords at a low altitude. After the blood pools was a cliff, below which was a bottomless abyss. There were enchantments here that made it impossible to travel on a flying sword. However, this was not difficult to pass for most cultivators. What stopped many people was the forest yet ahead, which was filled with fierce demonic monsters. These only recognized demonic cultivators — all others would be instantly hunted to death.

Qiu Qiu remembered that very long ago, the eight factions of the cultivation world had united to attack the Demonic Realm together. However, the demonic cultivators effectively used the terrain to their advantage. The first few levels alone had caused the cultivators to suffer huge casualties. Afterwards, in the forest, even more viciously died at the hands of the demonic beasts. Finally, the few who at last managed to reach the Demonic Realm were easily killed by the demonic cultivators who were waiting for them ahead. Not a single one remained.

Afterwards, in the past hundred years, not a single person had ever brought up the topic of attacking the Demonic Realm.

Qiu Qiu was brought to the Qian Clan. After returning home, Grandmistress Qian threw Qiu Qiu to the maid to take care of. The maid arranged for her to live in a small room in the outer courtyard.

Along the way, many people gave Qiu Qiu strange looks. After all, it was rare for Grandmistress's personal maid to suddenly bring a person to the outer courtyard.

Qiu Qiu remembered that the previous Grandmistress Qian had consorts, both male and female. However, this was something that Grandmistress Qian herself was not aware of. It was said that this was something the old madam had arranged in Grandmistress Qian's earlier years. However, these people had not been sent to Grandmistress Qian's bedside, and were instead arranged to live by the maid in the outer courtyard.

So that maid saw through my intentions??!

Qiu Qiu was silent.

After the maid threw her to the outer courtyard, she ruthlessly walked away. Seeing this, Qiu Qiu was a little unhappy. In her previous life, she had been severely injured in the Demonic Realm. Grandmistress Qian had placed her in the main courtyard for treatment, so she had therefore never been to the outer courtyard before.

Furthermore, she was afraid that Grandmistess Qian would turn around and forget her…

Although Grandmistress Qian was a face-con, she was really too beautiful. She didn't know if there was another Grandmistress Qian liked. Right now, the partition separating them was too far. It was impossible to seize information about the enemy camp.

the -con suffix is a loanward from Japanese — you've probably seen this in weeb terminology like siscon or lolicon. Basically saying Grandmistress Qian has a fixation towards pretty faces.

Therefore, she decided to break into the main courtyard at night. She would go visit Grandmistress Qian, then conveniently make some noise to attract Grandmistress Qian's attention.

She was extremely familiar with Grandmistress Qian's bedroom. When night had fallen, she hurriedly snuck out. Then, concealing her qi as she did last time, she arrived at Grandmistress Qian's room. Hearing no movement inside, she immediately leaped inside.

Inside the room, it was pitch black. She estimated that right now Grandmistress Qian was probably not resting or cultivating. As before, she carefully suppressed her qi and slowly, one step at a time, made her way toward the bed.

Then, then… all the candle lights suddenly lit up…

Qiu Qiu was scared into taking a step back. She looked up at the bed.

Grandmistress Qian hadn't even taken off any of her clothes. She sat on the side of the bed, coldly staring at her.

"Grandmistress Qian," Qiu Qiu called out hoarsely.

She had originally planned to make some noise, but to be noticed by Grandmistress Qian directly was extremely embarrassing.

Grandmistress Qian stared coldly at her. She did not seemed to be moved at all. In contrast, her gaze became colder and colder.

Grandmistress Qian: "Barging into my room at night, what did you want to do?"

Qiu Qiu uneasily smiled. Then, her eyes brightening, she said, "I want to be Grandmistress Qian's pet!"

Qiu Qiu intended to use this excuse to the very end.

Grandmistress Qian's gaze focused intensely onto Qiu Qiu. Her eyes swept across Qiu Qiu's entire body.

Not fearing death, Qiu Qiu slanted her head to stare back at the other party.

Grandmistress Qian, staring at Qiu Qiu's eyes, saw her own face reflected inside. Finally, after a long pause, she spat out a single word: "Okay."

Ah?

Without waiting for Qiu Qiu to react, Grandmistress Qian's voice sounded out again. "Go out, keep watch."

Ah, ah??

Afterwards, once again without waiting for Qiu Qiu's reaction, Grandmistress Qian threw out her palm and tossed Qiu Qiu outside the door. Then, retracting her palm, she slammed the door closed.

Qiu Qiu, finally reacted, stared wordlessly at the sky. So what Grandmistress Qian did understand when she said "pet"??

Her beloved and pampered bodyguard?

A bodyguard pampered and loved like a beloved pet?

A beloved pet who was also able to function as a bodyguard?

Hehe.

In the end, they were all bodyguards.