Love.

This is love!

All the romance guides he had read suddenly flooded his mind. It was as if he had opened blocked meridians, experiencing a sudden enlightenment.

He wanted to always be with Qin Wanwan, wanted to take care of Qin Wanwan.

He didn’t trust others to take care of her—he should be the one to do it.

He didn’t trust others to practice swordplay with her—he should personally be the one to fight!

Compared to being a master, what identity was better than being a husband to spend life with her!

What nonsense emotional storyline—he should be the one to pursue it!

Jian Xingzhi suddenly saw the light. He abruptly stood up, startling the scholar. “Sir, what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to expel her from my tutelage!”

Jian Xingzhi muttered to himself, raising his hand to slap down a spirit stone. He turned and raced toward the Matchmaker Temple.

The scholar watched Jian Xingzhi leave, waving his fan. He glanced at the spirit stone and let out a cold laugh.

“Get there early,” the fan spun in the scholar’s beautiful hand. The scholar’s eyes revealed a hint of cold malice. “Don’t force me to kill anyone.”

As Jian Xingzhi raced all the way to the Matchmaker Temple, Qin Wanwan, Xie Gutang and the others rushed to a side hall behind the Matchmaker Temple. This side hall had long been abandoned. Normally no one came here at all. After Xie Gutang knocked Yan Wushuang unconscious, he had tied him up here.

Qin Wanwan rushed into the side hall, set up a barrier, and raised her chin at Nanfeng. Nanfeng immediately rushed forward, pulled off the hood from Yan Wushuang’s head, raised his hand and tapped Yan Wushuang’s head. Yan Wushuang instantly became alert. “Hero, don’t kill me! Let’s talk this out! I have elderly parents and young children. Even the dogs at Mighty Sword Manor depend on me! You’re magnanimous and generous. Money issues can be discussed…”

“Yan Wushuang.”

Qin Wanwan interrupted his performance. “Open your eyes and see who I am.”

“I won’t.” Yan Wushuang kept his eyes tightly shut. “The more you know, the faster you die. Don’t worry, I absolutely won’t open my eyes, and I absolutely don’t know you’re Qin Wanwan.”

Everyone: “…”

The silence made Yan Wushuang realize what he had said. He painfully opened his eyes, looked at Qin Wanwan, his face showing grief. “Your master really injured himself. I didn’t hit him.”

“I’m not here to settle scores with you.”

Qin Wanwan stood up and walked to Yan Wushuang. Yan Wushuang nervously watched her, only to see Qin Wanwan crouch down and suddenly tear open his clothes.

Yan Wushuang was stunned for a moment, looking at her in horror. “You… aren’t you still pregnant?”

Qin Wanwan didn’t speak. She carefully stared at the patterns on Yan Wushuang’s body.

Yan Wushuang was tied up and couldn’t move. He looked to Xie Gutang for help. “Daojun, can you please control him? I have principles. This isn’t right. I don’t sell my body.”

“Shut up!”

Nanfeng couldn’t bear to listen anymore and slapped Yan Wushuang on the head. “My master wouldn’t even be interested in you. Just look at yourself—are you more handsome than Jian Daojun or Xie Daojun? What could my master possibly see in you?”

“You’d have to ask your master that.”

Yan Wushuang’s face was full of bitterness. He turned to look at Qin Wanwan who was seriously examining his chest, forcing a smile. “Miss Qin, you…”

Before he finished speaking, Qin Wanwan looked up at him. Meeting Qin Wanwan’s cold eyes, Yan Wushuang instantly yielded. “Are you satisfied with what you see?”

“This formation on your chest—who drew it?”

Qin Wanwan pointed at the formation on Yan Wushuang’s chest, her expression ice-cold. Yan Wushuang’s pupils contracted. After a moment’s pause, he immediately put on a devil-may-care expression. “What are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

“The formation on your chest uses the brushwork technique of Jishan’s formation drawing,” Qin Wanwan’s expression was calm. “Jishan’s mountain master Shangsui specializes in cultivating through formations and divine sense. Although I can’t tell exactly what this formation does, the starting strokes, ending strokes, and patterns all originate from my Jishan. Someone must have learned techniques from my Jishan and then created and drew this formation themselves. Where did you get this formation from?”

“Jishan?”

Yan Wushuang seemed not to understand. “What Jishan?”

Hearing this, Qin Wanwan turned to look at Nanfeng and Xie Gutang. “Elder Brother Xie, Nanfeng, you two go out first. I have something I need to ask him privately.”

Xie Gutang and Nanfeng exchanged glances and nodded. Xie Gutang was somewhat worried. He stepped forward and added another seal, firmly locking Yan Wushuang’s cultivation before leaving with Nanfeng.

After the two left, Qin Wanwan turned to look at Yan Wushuang. “You’re still playing dumb with me?”

“I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t know? Then let’s go through this step by step.”

Qin Wanwan thought through all the information she currently knew, organizing it in her mind before slowly speaking. “Over a hundred years ago, demonic seeds ran rampant. Two immortals came to this small world—one with the Dao title Shangsui, one with the title Taiheng. They assisted this world’s semi-immortal Lin Yanzhi in sealing the demonic seed. Lin Yanzhi came to Desolate City. At that time, Mighty Sword Manor was still the largest sect in Desolate City. You were Mighty Sword Manor’s eldest senior brother and future sect leader. Such a major event—you should know about it, right?”

“You think too highly of me.” Yan Wushuang sighed. “How could I know so much?”

“Later Lin Yanzhi died in Desolate City. The two immortals disappeared without a trace. Then your wife passed away from illness, your cultivation plummeted, and Mighty Sword Manor gradually declined. What happened in between?”

“Fellow Daoist Qin,” Yan Wushuang was somewhat helpless, “just because things happened during the same time period doesn’t mean they’re the same event. Your reasoning needs logic.”

“Then answer me one question.”

Qin Wanwan looked at him. “Spring Life—Lin Yanzhi taught it to you, didn’t he?”

Yan Wushuang pretended not to understand and turned his head. “Hey, Lin Yanzhi was the Clear-Bright Dao Lord. What relationship could he have with me? Teach me the Spring Life cultivation method?”

“You knew his mother?” Qin Wanwan continued guessing. Yan Wushuang sighed helplessly. “I already said…”

“Or his sister?”

Qin Wanwan interrupted him. Yan Wushuang froze. Qin Wanwan observed his expression. “When we came to Desolate City, we mistakenly entered an ancient tomb. In the tomb were twelve Life and Death Gates. If we chose wrong, we would die there. But at that time, a woman’s shadow appeared. She pointed the way for us.”

Yan Wushuang stopped talking. He stared at Qin Wanwan. Qin Wanwan’s heart gradually became certain. She continued describing. “She wore a rouge-colored long dress, had a married woman’s hairstyle, and carried a glass lantern, standing at the doorway. She had an oval face, double eyelids, and looked very gentle. She stood at the door watching Jian Xingzhi, as if looking at an old friend.”

As Qin Wanwan described this woman’s appearance, tears slid down Yan Wushuang’s face.

He just kept watching Qin Wanwan. On his usually devil-may-care face was a rare calmness.

In this moment, he was sharp as a blade’s edge. Qin Wanwan finally felt from him the spirit of that year’s first sword among Desolate City’s young generation.

“What did she say?”

Yan Wushuang’s voice was hoarse.

Qin Wanwan spoke with regret. “She only pointed the way, because she was just a trace of obsession.”

Not even a remnant soul.

Hearing these words, Yan Wushuang turned his head away, not wanting Qin Wanwan to see him cry.

Qin Wanwan observed him and spoke with certainty. “She was your wife.”

With that, she walked in front of Yan Wushuang and stared at him. “Your wife is connected to Jian Xingzhi, but Jian Xingzhi isn’t from this world. Over a hundred years ago, he hadn’t even been born yet. So there’s only one possibility—your wife saw not Jian Xingzhi, but a familiar shadow on Jian Xingzhi, his appearance or his soul. And his appearance is almost identical to Lin Yanzhi’s, right?”

“You’re so annoying.”

Yan Wushuang glared at her fiercely. Qin Wanwan remained unmoved, continuing her analysis. “Lin Yanzhi is the Ning family’s illegitimate child. He became known for his outstanding talent, but if he were just an ordinary person, no one might ever know of his existence—like his sister, who had such a fate. So you’re Lin Yanzhi’s unknown brother-in-law. Spring Life is Lin Yanzhi’s cultivation method. Lin Yanzhi met Shangsui and Taiheng, even had good private relations with them, learned techniques from both, and drew this formation on your body. Isn’t that right?”

When put this way, everything fell into place.

“You don’t need to ask anymore.”

Yan Wushuang took a deep breath. “I won’t tell you anything. I’m only warning you of one thing.”

Qin Wanwan didn’t speak. She quietly gazed at Yan Wushuang. Yan Wushuang’s expression was cold. “Take Jian Xingzhi and your friends and leave Desolate City immediately. Get as far away as you can.”

“What if I don’t?”

“Then stay here.”

Yan Wushuang looked at her. “In any case, I won’t say anything.”

The two reached a stalemate.

Qin Wanwan stared at Yan Wushuang. Yan Wushuang had a tragic expression of sacrificing himself for the greater good.

Qin Wanwan felt she couldn’t let this continue.

Yan Wushuang was determined not to speak. If she didn’t use some harsh methods, she probably wouldn’t get anything out of him.

She thought about it, made a decision, and spoke coldly. “Don’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!”

With that, she pulled out a whip from her storage pouch, stood up, and lashed it fiercely at the ground. “Be careful or I’ll make you unable to beg for life or death!”

As Qin Wanwan was interrogating Yan Wushuang, Jian Xingzhi raced all the way to the Matchmaker Temple. He first searched around with his divine sense and discovered the barrier Qin Wanwan had set up. His heart grew anxious, afraid Qin Wanwan and Xie Gutang would do something foolish like pledging themselves for three lifetimes. He quickly rushed toward the side hall.

As he rushed, he thought—he had it figured out. He would charge in right now and expel Qin Wanwan from his tutelage. After expelling her, he would confess and explain things clearly to her.

He would pursue the emotional storyline! He would earn the points!

Ascension could be postponed, but marriage couldn’t be done carelessly. No matter what, she had to give him a chance!

He hadn’t cared about anyone in a hundred years. This was the first time he liked someone—he couldn’t just have it end without even getting a chance!

He thought about many things, pondered for a long time how to explain to Qin Wanwan. But before he could speak, just as he reached outside the barrier, his overly keen hearing caught the crisp sound of a whip and Qin Wanwan’s voice, completely different from usual, ruthless. “Be careful or I’ll make you unable to beg for life or death!”

This voice, this presence, shocked Jian Xingzhi.

Jian Xingzhi stopped in his tracks. He looked around and discovered Xie Gutang and Nanfeng were outside the side hall’s main hall, while Qin Wanwan was clearly inside the side hall.

Wasn’t this supposed to be a confession? Why was the target outside?

Jian Xingzhi couldn’t figure it out, but he didn’t overthink it. He quietly broke through Qin Wanwan’s barrier and sealed it back up. He tiptoed toward the side hall. When he reached the side hall window, he secretly opened a thin crack and looked at the scene inside.

He was always good at concealing his aura. Unless someone’s cultivation and divine sense far exceeded his, it was difficult to detect him. When he deliberately hid, neither Xie Gutang nor Qin Wanwan noticed there was an extra person outside the side hall.

And this person crouched by the window, using the most primitive method to spy on the scene inside the side hall.

He saw in the pitch darkness, Yan Wushuang bound hand and foot. His clothes had already been torn to shreds, his eyes wet with moisture looking coldly at Qin Wanwan.

Qin Wanwan held a long whip. On her delicate face was an unfamiliar coldness. In the dark night, she displayed a bit of the unbridled aura unique to villains.

“What can you do?” Yan Wushuang scoffed defiantly. “Do you think just with a whip, you can make me yield?”

“Try me.”

Qin Wanwan worked hard to recall all the villains she had seen in TV dramas, pressing the whip against Yan Wushuang’s chest. “I’ve given you enough patience. If you still won’t cooperate, don’t blame me for being impolite.”

“Then come!”

Yan Wushuang looked at her coldly. “If you have the ability, kill me.”

“Kill you?” Qin Wanwan felt she had to overpower him with presence. She laughed maniacally. “That would be too easy on you! I will definitely make you unable to beg for life or death. I’ll make you understand that the greatest revenge in the mortal world has never been physical harm!”

After all, torture and forced confession was really a bit difficult for her.

“Then what is it?”

Yan Wushuang frowned. Jian Xingzhi was also curious.

He watched as Qin Wanwan crouched down, using the whip to lightly tap Yan Wushuang’s handsome face. “I will trample you spiritually, destroy you, humiliate you, and let you know what true harm is!”

When she said this, cruelty and ruthlessness flew together, contempt and disdain danced in harmony. She could be called wickedly arrogant, the ultimate villain.

Jian Xingzhi stared blankly at Qin Wanwan. He couldn’t believe this was actually his little disciple.

He swallowed hard, unable to help feeling a trace of panic.

Reason restrained him from being afraid. He watched as Yan Wushuang fell silent. After a while, Yan Wushuang spoke in a low voice. “Why must you know?”

Qin Wanwan frowned. Yan Wushuang looked up at her. “Shangsui and Taiheng are two immortals. You’re just an ordinary person from the cultivation world. Why do you care so much about them?”

Qin Wanwan didn’t speak. She gripped the whip, lowering her eyes.

Jian Xingzhi heard the two names and frowned.

Shangsui and Taiheng?

Weren’t those the parents of his mortal enemy, Jishan’s Nujun?

Why would he hear these two names here?

“Because…” Hearing her parents’ names, Qin Wanwan’s heart felt somewhat uncomfortable. She hadn’t mentioned their names in so long. She looked up at Yan Wushuang and spoke earnestly. “They are my parents.”

The instant he heard this, both Yan Wushuang and Jian Xingzhi widened their eyes.

After Qin Wanwan finished this sentence, she smiled proudly. “I am not of this world. I am Jishan’s Nujun, Qin Wanwan.”

Lightning suddenly struck, illuminating the scene in the side hall.

The burly man lying on the ground, bound tightly, clothes disheveled and eyes full of shock. The red-clothed woman holding a long whip, coldness mixed with wickedness, wickedness mixed with arrogance.

The Buddha statue wound with spider webs bore cracks. The cold wind made the red clothes flutter.

Everything reflected in Jian Xingzhi’s eyes was like a horror film.

Countless memories instantly flashed through his mind.

On the arena platform, Qin Wanwan going berserk after being stepped on the face, beating someone until their flesh flew everywhere.

In Ghost City, Qin Wanwan desperately selling him out, selling whenever possible, giving away when she could.

In the desert, Qin Wanwan desperately trying to finish him off. He had even thought he’d never seen such a tenacious female immortal…

Qin Wanwan’s earlier words echoed.

“The greatest revenge in the mortal world has never been physical harm!”

“I will trample you spiritually, destroy you, humiliate you, and let you know what true harm is!”

Revenge… harm…

Jian Xingzhi stared blankly at the red-clothed woman in the side hall, remembering the beginning—

“The most important thing about entering my tutelage is to remember my enemy. If you encounter her in the Immortal Realm, kill on sight.”

“Master’s enemy is my enemy. May I ask what her name is?”

“The Immortal Realm’s number one beauty, ranked twenty-first on the combat power rankings, Jishan’s Nujun, Qin Wanwan.”

“When you ascend in the future, you will become the Immortal Realm’s strongest female immortal. Then you and I, master and disciple, will join forces and attack her Jishan. This time, I will definitely flatten her mountain, smash her palace, and leave not even chickens or dogs alive on her Jishan!”

“Master, is Long Aotian really your birth name? What are you actually called in the Immortal Realm? What do you do?”

“My Dao title is Suiheng, my surname is Jian, my given name is Xingzhi. I devote myself to the sword, not caring about worldly affairs. In the martial world, I’m known as Long Aotian.”

Jishan’s Nujun…

She was actually Jishan’s Nujun!!

Moreover, she had known his identity all along!

In the darkness, the woman slowly turned her head to look toward the window.

Terror swept through Jian Xingzhi’s entire body. With a “bang,” he dropped the window and turned to run!

He clearly realized—

He was done for!

He was finished!!

He was completely doomed!!!

—

**Author’s Note:**

【Mini Theater 1】

Question: “Have you ever been afraid?”

Jian Xingzhi: “Never in the past, but in this chapter, I was terrified.”

【Mini Theater 2】

Jian Xingzhi’s Diary: “Today, my first love ended before it even began.”