Xie Gutang didn’t ask for the reasons. Seeing that Qin Wanwan had made up her mind, he simply nodded without saying more.

“Then I’ll come find you tomorrow,” Xie Gutang instructed. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back first.”

“Rest early.”

Qin Wanwan saw Xie Gutang out. When they reached the door, Xie Gutang pressed his lips together and hesitantly turned back. Qin Wanwan was startled, then felt a refreshing fragrance emanating from Xie Gutang’s body. Her mind wavered for a moment as she heard Xie Gutang say somewhat bashfully, “Then tomorrow I’ll come find you first thing in the morning to practice swordplay, is that alright?”

“Oh.” Qin Wanwan’s heartbeat quickened half a beat.

Was he asking her out on a date?

This was the first time a guy had asked her out so directly to her face—she felt a little nervous!

Not daring to be negligent, she hurriedly nodded. “Of course it’s fine.”

“That’s wonderful,” Xie Gutang smiled. “I just wonder if Senior might come to give us some pointers?”

Her restless heart suddenly calmed. Looking at the youth’s handsome face with its bewitching smile, Qin Wanwan put on a smile and said warmly, “We’ll see how it goes.”

Having said that, she shut the door with a “snap.” As soon as she turned around, she saw the blue-robed youth sitting leaning against the windowsill. Qin Wanwan jumped in fright. When she realized who it was, she patted her chest. “Master, if you’re going to come, can you use the front door?”

“I was afraid of disturbing you.”

Jian Xingzhi sat leaning against the window, glancing around the room. “Xie Gutang’s leaving just like that? Not going to chat a bit more?”

“We finished talking about business, so there’s nothing to keep him for,” Qin Wanwan said, then glanced at Jian Xingzhi still at the window. “Master, instead of resting, what are you doing here?”

“I…” Jian Xingzhi was stumped by the question for a moment. He stammered, “I just came over to see how your injuries are.”

As he spoke, Jian Xingzhi felt he had found an extremely reasonable excuse. He jumped down from the window ledge and pulled over Qin Wanwan’s wound that had been bandaged by Xie Gutang.

These wounds were caused by spells, and Spring Life couldn’t heal them completely. Jian Xingzhi glanced at them with considerable disdain. Without waiting for Qin Wanwan to speak, he decisively unwrapped the bandages, unwrapping while complaining, “A sword cultivator who can’t even bandage wounds properly—what has he been doing for two hundred years?”

As he spoke, Jian Xingzhi rebandaged Qin Wanwan’s wounds. He wrapped them more delicately than Xie Gutang had, and even tied a bow on top. His face full of admiration, he said, “Look, isn’t this much better?”

“Oh.”

Qin Wanwan felt there wasn’t much difference, but she never discouraged people, so she smiled. “Master bandaged it really well.”

“Right?”

Jian Xingzhi became happy. Looking up, he blurted out, “From now on, I should still be the one to bandage you. Other people just won’t do.”

Qin Wanwan was taken aback. Jian Xingzhi also inexplicably felt there was something not quite right about those words and hurried to clarify. “Making do with others isn’t completely unacceptable. What I mean is…”

Jian Xingzhi thought left and right but didn’t know how to express it. In the end, he simply gave up and looked at her earnestly. “Your master will definitely treat you the best.”

“Oh,” Qin Wanwan was a bit confused by Jian Xingzhi’s tangled explanation, but still pretended to be clear-headed. “I know.”

“As long as you know,” Jian Xingzhi breathed a sigh of relief. “You absolutely must not forget your master once you have a man.”

“Don’t worry,” Qin Wanwan understood what Jian Xingzhi meant. Using her hand that was bandaged like a boxing glove, she affectionately pulled at Jian Xingzhi. “I will definitely be filial to you.”

Jian Xingzhi was deeply moved. Hearing about filial piety, he felt somewhat reassured, yet also felt something wasn’t quite right. With one hand behind his back and the other being held by Qin Wanwan, he feigned profundity. “As long as you have this heart, this master can rest easy.”

“Then, Master, if you have nothing else,” Qin Wanwan raised her hand to point at the door, “you should go back to sleep?”

“Mm.”

Jian Xingzhi nodded and without hesitation walked toward the window in the opposite direction from where Qin Wanwan was pointing. He braced himself on the windowsill, jumped up, and flipped over the wall to leave.

Qin Wanwan didn’t quite understand how he had developed this habit of climbing through windows. She was just about to close the window when she saw him return, suddenly poking his head out. At the window, he looked at her earnestly. “Don’t set up barriers against me anymore. It makes me feel really uncomfortable.”

Having said that, without waiting for Qin Wanwan to respond, he flew back to his own room like the wind and shut his window with a “snap,” as if afraid Qin Wanwan would chase after him.

It took Qin Wanwan a moment to realize what Jian Xingzhi was talking about. She rolled her eyes, closed the window, and muttered under her breath, “Childish.”

This kind of elementary school-level possessiveness—she hadn’t had that since graduating from elementary school.

“I think…”

Faced with Qin Wanwan’s assessment, 38 finally spoke up hesitantly. “It might not be childishness. It might be maturity.”

“Hm?”

Qin Wanwan didn’t understand. “What maturity?”

“Just…” 38’s hint was very subtle. “He might have grown up.”

“Speak plainly.”

Qin Wanwan directly commanded. 38 gave up and only told her, “Better just rest. You need to practice swordplay early tomorrow morning.”

Qin Wanwan knew the system had certain limitations and wouldn’t spell some things out. She was too lazy to investigate further. Anyway, whatever Jian Xingzhi was thinking had nothing to do with her grand undertaking of ascension.

She lay back on the bed, and after hesitating for a moment between cultivating or sleeping, she peacefully closed her eyes.

Only by sleeping well would she have the energy to cultivate.

She slept in a daze. Before dawn, she heard knocking at the door outside. “Wanwan.”

Xie Gutang’s gentle voice came from outside the door. Before Qin Wanwan had even opened her eyes, Jian Xingzhi was already wide awake in his bed.

He lay in bed with his eyes open, somewhat flustered as he clutched his blanket.

He didn’t even know what he was flustered about. His mind was filled with nothing but hesitation over whether or not to go out.

Xie Gutang actively inviting Qin Wanwan out was a major development in their relationship, a cause for celebration.

Logically, he shouldn’t interfere, but why did he want so badly to go see?

Jian Xingzhi lay in bed with his eyes open, torn over whether to go out for an “accidental encounter” with Xie Gutang. Qin Wanwan was woken by Xie Gutang, rubbing her eyes as she opened the door. She saw Xie Gutang carrying a longsword, like morning dew at daybreak, smiling gently. “Are your injuries better? Shall we practice swordplay together?”

The cold wind blew and Qin Wanwan’s mind instantly cleared. Thinking about how she still needed Xie Gutang’s help with something, she had no reason to refuse his request. She quickly nodded. “Wait a moment.”

Having said that, she quickly washed up and immediately went out.

Xie Gutang looked longingly at Jian Xingzhi’s door. “I wonder if Senior…”

“Let’s go, let’s go.”

Qin Wanwan thought about how yesterday Jian Xingzhi had circulated Spring Life to repair his entire body. Although Spring Life was a restorative technique, it was actually extremely exhausting. He should rest well. Not wanting to disturb him, Qin Wanwan dragged Xie Gutang away. “Don’t disturb his sleep.”

Jian Xingzhi lay in bed listening to the conversation outside. He heard them walk away, and then heard the “ding-ling” sound of points being credited to his account.

【Congratulations, +5 points!】

Jian Xingzhi: “…”

He always felt that the timing of these points coming in seemed a bit strange.

Jian Xingzhi lay in bed, wanting to let himself sleep a bit more, but after thinking left and right, he still couldn’t help himself.

He had to go see what was happening.

He figured Qin Wanwan couldn’t handle Xie Gutang. He needed to observe them and give Qin Wanwan advice.

Having thought up a reason, Jian Xingzhi didn’t hesitate to get up and hurriedly snuck over. He cast a spell to conceal his aura and crouched behind the flower bushes to watch Qin Wanwan and Xie Gutang practice swordplay.

Qin Wanwan had won the preliminary round. Next, she would need to fight in the finals against those who had won ten consecutive matches to ultimately become the Gentleman’s Sword. Xie Gutang sparring with her now was also a form of training.

After all, the gap between Jian Xingzhi and her was too large. Only by fighting with people of different skill levels could she grow faster.

Jian Xingzhi understood this principle. He crouched silently behind the flower bushes, secretly observing them.

Qin Wanwan’s injuries hadn’t completely healed yet. Xie Gutang mainly wanted to discuss the sword techniques Jian Xingzhi had taught her, holding back on both strength and speed.

As they sparred, they discussed today’s itinerary.

“Today we’ll go out first and quietly follow him. After we’ve figured out what kind of person he is, we’ll decide how to capture him.”

Qin Wanwan discussed with Xie Gutang. The two crossed paths, and Xie Gutang raised his sword, the blade sweeping over her head. “Why not just attack directly?”

“We’re capturing him for information,” Qin Wanwan reversed her sword, weaving it past Xie Gutang’s hand. “If we understand the full situation before acting, the chances of getting answers are higher. Besides, if we can gather intelligence directly, that would be even better.”

“Mm.”

Xie Gutang responded. Their words fell on Jian Xingzhi’s ears, and he listened carefully, then discovered—he couldn’t understand.

He couldn’t help but grip the small twig in front of him.

His disciple and Xie Gutang had little secrets he didn’t know about!

Yet she said her master was most important, said she would be filial to him in the future!

But he knew this wasn’t the time to interfere. He held back his frustration and let Qin Wanwan cultivate their relationship.

The sky slowly brightened. In the early morning, people began getting up one after another.

Jun Shu was the earliest riser. He was responsible for sweeping the courtyard. In the past, he had never experienced this kind of life, but after staying here for several days, he had actually gradually gotten used to it…

He skillfully picked up the broom and bucket. Just as he was feeling tired, he heard the clashing sound of swords. There seemed to be a familiar female voice. Jun Shu thought for a moment and instantly realized—it was Qin Wan!

Yesterday he had heard she was injured, but now he couldn’t see her casually. He also didn’t want Qin Wan to see his current wretched state. He had made up his mind to wait until he restored his status before going to acknowledge her, but he had been worried about her, unable to sleep all night. He hadn’t expected to be able to see her today!

Jun Shu quickly grabbed the bucket and broom and ran over. Just as he was about to squeeze forward to secretly take a look, he saw someone had already beaten him to it, crouching behind the flower bushes spying on “Qin Wan.”

Jun Shu took a closer look and recognized the person crouching there sneakily—it was none other than Qin Wan’s male concubine, “Jian Zhiyan”!

Now he was using the alias Jian Xingzhi, even pretending to be Qin Wan’s master, guarding “Qin Wan” day and night, preventing him from even having a chance to get close.

“Qin Wan” had always deeply loved him, until this “Jian Zhiyan” appeared…

Remembering how “Qin Wan” at the Judgment Platform originally hadn’t wanted to stab him—it was this male concubine who forced her to sever ties with him and Wenxin Sect. Later, it was also this male concubine who took her away from Wenxin Sect. If not for this male concubine, “Qin Wan” would still be the Qin Wan of the past, still be his fiancée, still deeply in love with him…

The more Jun Shu thought about it, the more he hated it. Thinking about how this person was still by “Qin Wan’s” side, he gripped the broom tightly, wishing he could smack him to death with one sweep.

But reason made him restrain his impulses. Back when he was at his peak, he had been played by this male concubine. How much more so now?

He couldn’t be impulsive.

Jun Shu controlled his emotions and observed them. Soon he realized—something was wrong. The situation wasn’t right.

This male concubine seemed very tense, while “Qin Wan” and Xie Gutang were laughing and chatting harmoniously…

Could it be… this male concubine was about to fall out of favor?

At this possibility, Jun Shu immediately realized his opportunity had come.

Xie Gutang cultivated the Heart-Questioning Sword and had no competitive strength to begin with, but this male concubine didn’t know that. Now he was misunderstanding the relationship between “Qin Wan” and Xie Gutang. He was currently suspicious. If Jun Shu went up and did a bit of sowing discord, getting this male concubine and Xie Gutang to kill each other—if he killed Xie Gutang, “Qin Wan” definitely wouldn’t let him off. If Xie Gutang killed him, that would be absolutely delightful, couldn’t be better!

At this thought, Jun Shu became very excited. An ingenious plan quietly took shape. He put down the bucket, gripped the broom, and walked confidently toward Jian Xingzhi.

Jian Xingzhi stared at Qin Wanwan and Xie Gutang sparring. At first, he was lost in wild thoughts, but soon he was drawn in by the sword techniques. All his attention focused on how his disciple couldn’t defeat Xie Gutang with one sword strike.

He watched with rapt attention, watching while thinking about how to formulate further training plans for Qin Wanwan. Just as he was deep in thought, he suddenly felt someone crouch down beside him.

Jian Xingzhi coldly glanced over and saw that “Nameless” person crouching beside him with a bizarre smile on his face.

As soon as he came over, he brought a barrier with him. Jian Xingzhi knew this “Nameless” carried a strange treasure that could conceal his whereabouts, so he wasn’t surprised. He only asked, “What do you want?”

“It’s hard to bear, isn’t it?”

Jun Shu looked at him, his face full of sympathy.

Jian Xingzhi frowned. “Hm?”

“Xie Gutang is the top disciple of Heavenly Sword Sect, of noble status and extraordinary swordsmanship. He’s perfectly suited to Miss Qin. You’re just a country bumpkin rogue cultivator—how can you compete?”

Jun Shu spoke up. He thought Jian Xingzhi’s weakest point was his background. So what if his cultivation was extraordinary? Wasn’t he still just a male concubine? He absolutely had to strike at the pain point and completely destroy his self-esteem.

Jian Xingzhi was full of question marks. “What do you mean?”

He’s anxious.

Jun Shu thought, even more convinced of his own judgment. He continued to fan the flames. “Serving with beauty cannot last forever. Without playing some tricks, how can you keep the one you love?”

Jun Shu spoke while raising his hand to point at Qin Wanwan. “I’ll point you toward a clear path. Do you want to hear it or not?”

Jian Xingzhi didn’t speak. He looked at this crazy old man, then looked at Qin Wanwan. Although he didn’t quite understand what this old man was talking about, he vaguely realized this old man wanted to do something.

“What clear path?”

Jian Xingzhi prepared to figure out this old man’s intentions and went along with his words.

Jun Shu smiled confidently. As expected, this fool took the bait.

“As long as you listen to me,” Jun Shu leaned over, acting mysterious, “I’ll teach you how to defeat Xie Gutang.”

Hearing this, Jian Xingzhi felt this person was an idiot.

Did he need to listen to this old man to defeat Xie Gutang?

Just Xie Gutang? If his original body were here, it would be the work of one sword.

However, thinking about it, this old man seemed to be coming for Xie Gutang. He still needed to figure out what this old man wanted to do. So he adjusted his facial expression and turned around. “Go ahead, let me hear how I can defeat him.”

—

**Author’s Note:** The 3 missing chapters will be gradually made up before Sunday TT

I’ve been too busy lately, sorry *bows*.

Let me sort out the characters for everyone:

**Jian Zhiyan:** The male concubine of the female supporting character “Qin Wan” in the original novel, also the object that male protagonist Jian Xingzhi transmigrated into.

**Jian Xingzhi:** The male protagonist

**Lin Yanzhi:** Clear-Bright Dao Lord, originally named “Ning Yanzhi,” just changed his surname

**Ning Buxiu:** The fish that the original female protagonist Su Yueli raised, the one who could only do it with Su Yueli in her consciousness sea for 15 minutes, Ning Wenxu’s legitimate son.

**Ning Buyan:** Ning Buxiu’s cousin, Tribulation Transcendence Stage cultivator, the one who participated in the male concubine competition in Ghost City, constantly coughing, sickly appearance.

**Ning Wenxu:** Ning family patriarch, Lin Yanzhi’s father

**Ning Family Ancestor:** Currently still unnamed, just called Ancestor, is Ning Wenxu’s father, the old man cursed and saved by the male and female protagonists when they came out of the secret passage

**Huihe:** A name that Ning Family Ancestor called out when the male and female protagonists saved him.

**Shen Zhiming:** Su Yueli and Qin Wan’s master, Wenxin Sect master, carrying a demonic seed

**Jun Shu:** Qin Wan’s fiancé, Young Master of Joy City

**Song Xinian:** Qin Wan’s eldest senior brother, Shen Zhiming’s first disciple