As Jian Xingzhi spoke, the gentle evening breeze ruffled his soft hair, and his normally cool features softened somewhat.
Qin Wanwan couldn’t help but freeze for a moment. In that brief instant, Nanfeng, Cuilu, and Xie Gutang rushed over with a crowd of people. Many sword cultivators squeezed Qin Wanwan into the center, shouting like celebrity fans: “Fellow Daoist Qin, give us an autograph!”
“Fellow Daoist Qin, touch my sword and share some of your good fortune!”
“Fellow Daoist Qin! Look at me, Fellow Daoist Qin!”
Moving quickly, Cuilu and Xie Gutang protected her on both sides, with Nanfeng clearing a path ahead. Cuilu grabbed her hand, excitedly exclaiming: “Wanwan, you were outstanding! I’ve never seen fighting techniques like that before!”
“Stop pushing!” While channeling spiritual power into her, Xie Gutang raised his hand to hold people back, clearing a path for her. “She’s injured, stop pushing!”
Qin Wanwan smiled at the people around her. Sword cultivators had always treated the strong this way—she understood. She’d heard that back in the day when Jian Xingzhi traveled, countless devoted fans would rush from afar to watch him fight.
She walked happily through the crowd, smiling as she signed autographs, making her way to the rest area to begin bandaging her wounds.
Jian Xingzhi crouched by the river stacking stones, watching his little disciple from afar.
He felt both sentimental and bitter. He was so happy that Qin Wanwan could grow this quickly, yet so sad that her rapid growth meant she’d ascend quickly, and quick ascension meant their life-or-death battle was drawing ever closer.
At the thought of having to fight Qin Wanwan to the death—either he would die or she would perish—his heart ached terribly.
Jian Xingzhi’s stones had piled into a small mountain by the riverside. He crouched on one knee before the pile, gazing at the high-spirited Qin Wanwan, when suddenly a thought struck him—why not just run away?
He had never been a deserter in his entire life. Whenever someone issued a challenge, there was no fight he wouldn’t dare to take.
But on this day, he suddenly found someone he didn’t want to draw his sword against.
If Qin Wanwan was the Jishan Female Sovereign, she didn’t need his help to ascend at all—it was only a matter of time.
He wouldn’t return to the Immortal Realm. He’d stay in this small world. From then on, she could be the Jishan Female Sovereign in the Immortal Realm while he remained in the small world, continuing to wander and drift.
Occasionally when he thought of her, at least they would have loved.
Thinking of this plan, Jian Xingzhi was instantly moved by his own nobility.
He made up his mind: “That’s it. I’ll get the Paired Hearts Talisman and leave her immediately! Never to see each other again.”
“Why leave now?” 666 felt Jian Xingzhi’s idea was dangerous and hurried to stop him. “You could help her ascend first, then run!”
“No.”
Jian Xingzhi refused decisively. 666 didn’t understand: “Why not?”
Jian Xingzhi glanced once more at Qin Wanwan, radiant among the crowd. Even with her bruised face and disheveled appearance, he still felt she glowed with every glance.
Jian Xingzhi turned his head with difficulty, his neck stiff, reluctantly admitting what he didn’t want to admit: “I’m afraid I’ll grow to like her more and more.”
666: “…”
666 calculated briefly and felt relieved. Someone who said things like that definitely couldn’t escape.
Jian Xingzhi was a man of action. Having thought of a way out, he raised a smile and walked toward Qin Wanwan.
Qin Wanwan was signing autographs while injured. The sword cultivators were too enthusiastic, giving her no time to heal.
Fortunately, they were all minor wounds that didn’t matter much.
Jian Xingzhi stood outside the crowd and waved his hand. A sword intent flew horizontally across the sky, transforming into a transparent sword that circled above the sword cultivators’ heads. All the sword cultivators gasped in shock, crying out in amazement: “Such magnificent sword intent!”
With that, the sword cultivators chased after the sword, scattering to the sides. The area around Qin Wanwan suddenly emptied. She was still signing autographs and hadn’t reacted yet when she felt someone’s shadow fall over her.
Qin Wanwan looked up in surprise to see Jian Xingzhi kneeling on one knee, crouching down and smiling at her: “Shall I heal you?”
Remembering they’d been fighting that morning, and looking at Jian Xingzhi’s smile, Qin Wanwan felt a bit scared: “You… what scheme do you have?”
“Praising your excellent fighting.”
Jian Xingzhi pulled her hand over and channeled spiritual power to heal her, praising her: “Today’s battle was very spirited. Wanwan, you’ll definitely become a first-rate sword cultivator in the future!”
“Thank… thank you.”
Qin Wanwan stammered, not daring to move. After Jian Xingzhi finished healing her and looked down, he helped her up: “Go back and rest.”
The finals were in ten days, leaving time for Qin Wanwan and the others to recover from their injuries. This final round included four people: Qin Wanwan, Yan Wushuang, and two other unfamiliar contestants.
When Qin Wanwan returned to the Ning residence, she received congratulatory gifts sent by Ning Buyan. Jian Xingzhi accepted the gifts, sent the messenger away, and only then could Qin Wanwan rest.
After Qin Wanwan went to rest, Jian Xingzhi sat in the room. He began thinking—he had to formulate a foolproof plan to ensure he could get the Paired Hearts Talisman this time, then regain his freedom and fly far away.
While Jian Xingzhi racked his brain devising this grand plan, elsewhere, the people from Giant Sword Manor gathered together.
“Senior Brother, that woman is really too formidable,” one disciple sighed. “You definitely can’t beat her.”
“You’re talking nonsense!”
The Golden Sword Boy sat on the table, angrily declaring: “If Yan Wushuang can’t beat her, he should just kill himself!”
“You didn’t beat her either,” hearing this, Yan Wushuang immediately retorted. “Why do you only tell me to kill myself?”
“You’re the senior brother,” the Golden Sword Boy said as if it were obvious. “Isn’t it natural that I’m worse than you? Besides, I didn’t lose today because I couldn’t win—it’s because I…”
“Because you stepped on her face.” Yan Wushuang got a headache just thinking about it.
The Golden Sword Boy nodded: “Right, so you just don’t step on her next time.”
Yan Wushuang said nothing, his face showing sorrow. Everyone looked at him, and one disciple said tremulously: “Senior Brother, for the sake of our food supply for the second half of the year, maybe we should break the rules just once.”
“What rule-breaking do you have in mind?” The Golden Sword Boy turned to look.
That disciple swallowed hard: “On competition day, we go intercept her beforehand!”
“Isn’t that too brazen? Besides, she has so many bodyguards—could you even intercept her?”
These words made everyone fall into contemplation. Yan Wushuang drummed on the table: “Actually, I’ve already been preparing this plan.”
All the disciples looked over, their eyes full of doubt. Yan Wushuang put on a mysterious air, slowly turning his head to look at the temple’s main entrance: “I’m waiting for someone, and that person has finally arrived!”
As he spoke, a disciple led an old man into the ruined temple. The disciple was overjoyed; the old man wore servant’s clothes but had an imposing bearing. Standing at the entrance, his face was written all over with bitter grievance.
“Who’s this?”
The Golden Sword Boy looked confused. Yan Wushuang raised his hand: “Bring him up.”
The disciple led the old man into the ruined temple. Everyone from Giant Sword Manor stared at this old man.
“State your name!” Yan Wushuang spoke with authority.
Jun Shu raised his hand and bowed to everyone: “Nameless.”
“What’s your current occupation?”
“Professional floor sweeper at the Ning residence.”
“You understand my requirements, right?” Yan Wushuang narrowed his eyes.
Jun Shu nodded: “That fellow daoist just told me. You want someone to drug Qin Wanwan, correct?”
“Exactly.” Yan Wushuang nodded, taking out a bottle of medicine and placing it on the table. “On the evening before the finals, you give her this bottle of medicine. She’ll sleep for a full day and night, and no method will wake her. So rest assured, we’re not asking you to kill anyone.”
“I understand.”
Jun Shu snatched up the medicine bottle.
“How much money?” Seeing Jun Shu so straightforward, Yan Wushuang couldn’t help feeling nervous. “You agreed so readily—are you trying to raise the price?”
“No.” Jun Shu shook his head. “I’ll do it for free.”
“Free?” Yan Wushuang’s eyes widened. “Why?!”
“Because,” Jun Shu’s eyes were full of hatred, “Qin Wanwan and I have an irreconcilable blood feud!”
Hearing this, Yan Wushuang became even more frightened. He exchanged glances with the Golden Sword Boy, then emphasized to Jun Shu: “We really don’t kill people.”
“I understand. Don’t worry, I just want to let her taste the flavor of defeat. But I should warn you first,” Jun Shu frowned, “her cultivation method seems different from ordinary people. Will this medicine work?”
“No problem,” Yan Wushuang quickly explained. “She and I practice the same method—I know. This medicine could knock out even a Tribulation Crossing stage cultivator. And it’s colorless, tasteless, and harmless, with no drawback except being expensive. Just one-fifth will make someone sleep for a day. If you use the whole bottle, she could sleep for five days. So you can try several times,” Yan Wushuang earnestly requested, “just make sure you succeed.”
“Don’t worry.”
Jun Shu’s expression was cold: “I will definitely succeed. That’s all. I still need to go back and sweep—farewell!”
With that, Jun Shu clutched the medicine bottle and turned to leave.
The people from Giant Sword Manor watched the old man’s thin figure and all felt uneasy.
“Is… is there no problem?”
Yan Wushuang couldn’t help muttering.
The Golden Sword Boy delivered a strike to his head: “If there’s another problem, you should kill yourself in apology!”
Jun Shu clutched the bottle and walked out of the ruined temple. Holding the bottle, he gave a cold laugh.
He had originally been waiting at the Ning residence entrance for ‘Qin Wan’ to return, wanting to see her one more time, when unexpectedly he encountered someone sneaking around, offering him money to do a job. This person was very foolish—in just a few sentences he’d extracted information that they wanted to harm ‘Qin Wan’.
Though ‘Qin Wan’ was currently fickle and unfaithful, she was still his person. Anyone wanting to harm her had to get past him first!
So he deliberately cooperated, infiltrating the enemy from within, finally learning their plan.
He wouldn’t give this medicine to Qin Wanwan. If Qin Wanwan wanted to take first place, of course she should take first place!
He could still give her this much favor.
Jun Shu thought for a moment, his mind quickly deciding the medicine’s destination. If not Qin Wanwan, then he’d give it to Xie Gutang!
Jian Xingzhi probably hated Xie Gutang to the bone by now, just never having had a chance to act. Now he’d create an opportunity for him. This time, Jian Xingzhi would definitely succeed.
Jun Shu made his plan and went to the courtyard, crouching in the spot he and Jian Xingzhi had agreed upon and calling “Cuckoo, cuckoo.”
Hearing Jun Shu’s call, Jian Xingzhi knew the old man had something for him. He went out listlessly, opening lazily: “What is it?”
“Daojun, last time at the Matchmaker Temple when you didn’t kill Xie Gutang, was it because you didn’t have the opportunity?”
As soon as Jun Shu saw Jian Xingzhi, he immediately assumed a serious expression. Jian Xingzhi went along with his words and nodded: “That’s right, what about it?”
“Daojun, I’ve obtained a good item for you.” Jun Shu held the medicine up before Jian Xingzhi. “This bottle of medicine—even if a Tribulation Crossing stage cultivator drinks it, they’ll fall into deep sleep. Just one-fifth will make them sleep for a full day without waking. If you feed this medicine to Xie Gutang, you’ll have the opportunity to kill him silently!”
Hearing this, Jian Xingzhi said nothing. He stared at the medicine bottle, suddenly thinking—if this medicine worked on Qin Wanwan and was harmless to the body, then stealing things would be much more convenient!
Thinking of this point, Jian Xingzhi was suddenly filled with gratitude toward Jun Shu.
He snatched away the medicine, patted Jun Shu’s shoulder, and nodded: “Thank you. I definitely won’t disappoint your expectations. Next time you have any good items, be sure to find me.”
“Good, then I wish Daojun a triumphant start—kill Xie Gutang!”
“Mm.” Jian Xingzhi nodded. “I definitely can! The leaves have fallen over there again—hurry and go sweep.”
“Alright, then I’ll get busy. Farewell, Daojun.”
With that, Jun Shu took his broom and left.
Jian Xingzhi held the medicine bottle and took it out to smell it.
Indeed, it had no harmful ingredients, but he still wasn’t reassured. After thinking, he decided to test it first. Only after confirming it was harmless would he use it on Qin Wanwan.
—
**Author’s Notes:**
[Mini Theater]
Yan Wushuang: “I obtained a bottle of medicine. I’ve decided to drug Qin Wanwan. Jun Shu, I’m counting on you.”
Jun Shu: “I obtained a bottle of medicine. I’ve decided to drug Xie Gutang. Jian Xingzhi, I’m asking you.”
Jian Xingzhi: “I obtained a bottle of medicine. I’ve decided to drug Qin Wanwan. No need to ask anyone else—I’ll do it myself!”
Qin Wanwan: “??? Are you really the male lead?”
PS:
Chapters 63 and 64 have been revised by me. I apologize—after thinking for several days, I still felt the timing at that point wasn’t quite natural enough, so I pushed it back a little bit.
It will happen in the next few chapters following the natural development of the male and female leads’ feelings. The new scene I’m envisioning feels sweeter to me personally. After all, a first kiss is very important—doing it confusedly lacks a sense of ceremony.