Jian Xingzhi looked rather provocatively at Young Master Wuyou in the distance, completely blocking Qin Wanwan’s line of sight.

Young Master Wuyou on the opposite side smiled, his peach blossom eyes gazing gently past Jian Xingzhi: “I presume this young lady must be this year’s Gentleman Sword?”

This voice was gorgeous and noble, making one’s heart itch upon hearing it.

Qin Wanwan hadn’t looked carefully at the young man’s specific appearance earlier, only vaguely seeing a rather handsome silhouette. Hearing this voice, she couldn’t help wanting to see him, immediately poking her head out from the left side.

Jian Xingzhi immediately raised his left hand, using his sleeve to block her view.

Qin Wanwan poked out from the right side. Jian Xingzhi immediately raised his right hand, blocking her view again.

Qin Wanwan realized Jian Xingzhi was doing this deliberately. She stepped forward and ducked under his sleeve, pressing down his hand that wanted to grab her, appearing before Young Master Wuyou: “If the person who won the competition is the Gentleman Sword, then that’s me.”

As she spoke, she finally saw Young Master Wuyou’s appearance and couldn’t help but freeze.

The finest appearance she’d seen in this lifetime was none other than Jian Xingzhi, yet the man before her was not inferior to Jian Xingzhi in looks.

It’s just that Jian Xingzhi’s appearance had more of a clean and dashing quality, like white plum blossoms and cultivated bamboo in its spirited elegance. This man had added layers of the gentle scholarly refinement unique to scholars.

In layman’s terms, compared to Jian Xingzhi, he looked much more cultured.

Moreover, somehow, though they had completely different features, Qin Wanwan always felt the person before her had an indescribable similarity to Jian Xingzhi.

She couldn’t help fixing her gaze on Young Master Wuyou’s face, examining him carefully.

Young Master Wuyou seemed oblivious to everything, only smiling as he let her study him. The two gazed at each other wordlessly. Seeing her staring blankly at Young Master Wuyou, Jian Xingzhi laughed in irritation: “If you’re going to receive the award, receive it. What are you spacing out for?”

Only with this reminder did Qin Wanwan react, realizing it was indeed rather impolite to keep staring at someone. She immediately blushed, quite embarrassed: “I… I…”

“I apologize,” Young Master Wuyou suddenly spoke up proactively, helping Qin Wanwan out of the awkward situation: “The young lady has celestial beauty. At first sight, I couldn’t look away. I’ve been presumptuous.”

Anyone with eyes could see it was Qin Wanwan who had been staring at him in a daze earlier, yet as soon as he spoke, he actually took all the responsibility upon himself. Jian Xingzhi looked at this man incredulously, instinctively wanting to correct him, but the instant he opened his mouth, 666 timely reminded: “If you don’t want to go back and get beaten to death, shut up!”

The man had already given Qin Wanwan an out. If he continued to undermine her, Qin Wanwan would surely kill him when they got back.

These words made Jian Xingzhi shut his mouth. He held his breath as the host came forward to ease the atmosphere, chattering: “It seems not only do we love Fairy Qin, Young Master Wuyou loves her too!”

“Can you just properly present the award?”

Unable to find a place to vent his anger, Jian Xingzhi turned to look at the host. Having been rebuked, the host held it in for a long time, then turned and said: “Fine, then we announce that this year’s Gentleman Sword goes to contestant Qin Wanwan. Please have Young Master Wuyou present the prize!”

As he spoke, celebratory music sounded. Two attendants came up carrying the prize list. Young Master Wuyou took the prize list and handed it to Qin Wanwan. After Qin Wanwan received it, Young Master Wuyou courteously said: “Congratulations.”

“Congratulations!”

The host led the applause. The entire venue erupted in celebration.

At that moment, a “ding” sounded in Jian Xingzhi’s mind. Cheering sound effects accompanied 666’s happy voice:

“Congratulations on completing [Task Ten: Assist the female lead in becoming the Gentleman Sword of Desolate City and obtaining the Exquisite Jade], Points +2000, Character Role -1000, Total Points: 5235]”

Jian Xingzhi wasn’t dazzled by the arrival of points. He kept his eyes fixed on Qin Wanwan and Young Master Wuyou.

“You’ll collect the specific prizes at Moon Ascent Tower tonight,” the host turned to explain to Qin Wanwan. “There are quite a lot of prizes, so you might need to bring a few more people.”

“Then,” Qin Wanwan looked toward Young Master Wuyou, “where will Young Master answer my three questions?”

“Moon Ascent Tower,” Young Master Wuyou raised his hand to point at the tall building in the distance, his voice gentle. “In a while, I’ll have someone send over clothes and jewelry. The young lady should tidy up first. I’ll be waiting for you there.”

“Alright.”

Qin Wanwan breathed a sigh of relief. She raised her hands in salute: “Thank you for your trouble, Young Master. Then Wanwan will go down first to treat her injuries.”

“Wait.” Young Master Wuyou suddenly spoke.

Qin Wanwan looked up curiously to see Young Master Wuyou looking at Jian Xingzhi, extending his hand with a smile: “This young master, you can return my lark now, can’t you?”

Jian Xingzhi knew what he wanted. He pulled out the tightly bound lark from his sleeve and tossed it toward Young Master Wuyou.

“Take it.”

Saying this, Jian Xingzhi reached out to grab Qin Wanwan and pulled her off the stage.

Behind them, the lark, having its silencing spell removed by Young Master Wuyou, immediately began cursing: “Jian Xingzhi, you villain! Screw you! You…”

Hearing the lark’s curses, Young Master Wuyou raised his hand to pinch its beak shut.

The lark looked at Young Master Wuyou with red eyes. Young Master Wuyou waved his hand once, and the injuries on its body disappeared.

“There’s a kingfisher down there staring at you,” Young Master Wuyou glanced at Cuilu below the stage, who was coldly glaring at the lark, and reminded with a smile, “Keep cursing, and when that bird comes up, you’ll be in trouble.”

The lark aggrievedly shut its mouth and turned its head away.

He couldn’t beat that kingfisher.

As Qin Wanwan and Jian Xingzhi descended from the stage, she couldn’t help turning back to look at Young Master Wuyou again.

Jian Xingzhi raised his hand around her shoulder and forcefully turned her face back from that direction.

Her face squished to one side, Qin Wanwan tilted her head to look up at him, speaking unclearly: “What are you doing?!”

“Keep looking,” Jian Xingzhi glanced meaningfully at Young Master Wuyou, then turned back to threaten her, “keep looking and I’ll knock your head clean off!”

Qin Wanwan stiffened. For a moment she couldn’t tell whether he meant to knock off her head or Young Master Wuyou’s head.

But regardless of whose head, she hoped it could stay nicely where it belonged.

She coughed lightly and explained: “I just think he looks a bit like you.”

Jian Xingzhi didn’t believe her nonsense. He’d seen that person clearly just now – his eyes, nose, mouth, and eyebrows didn’t resemble him in the slightest. Saying he looked like him – might as well say he looked like that fortune-telling scholar from the night market before.

Thinking of that scholar, Jian Xingzhi couldn’t help turning back to glance at Young Master Wuyou again.

Young Master Wuyou just happened to look over. The two made eye contact for a moment. Young Master Wuyou smiled and nodded at him. Jian Xingzhi coldly looked away, pretending not to have seen, dragging Qin Wanwan away.

The two returned to where Cuilu and the others were waiting. Seeing Qin Wanwan, Nanfeng came running over. He was still in ant form, standing up to less than Qin Wanwan’s knee height, hugging her leg and crying: “Master! You’ve suffered, Master!”

“Hey,” Jian Xingzhi gently kicked him with his foot, “no tears came out.”

Nanfeng’s movements froze. Qin Wanwan bent down to pick him up, patted the dust off his shell, and comforted him: “It’s fine, I came back safely.”

“What exactly happened?” Cuilu frowned. “Earlier you ran off with that blue pearl, then after a long while this Young Master Wuyou suddenly appeared, took the pearl back, and then you suddenly appeared again.”

“Let’s talk about it when we get back.”

Jian Xingzhi scooped Nanfeng from Qin Wanwan’s arms, holding him as he said: “Too many eyes and ears here.”

The five people turned and walked down the red carpet’s exclusive passage. Exiting the competition grounds, they saw the Ning family’s carriage at the door. Ning Buyan lifted the carriage curtain, smiling at the group: “Hearing you won the Gentleman Sword and thinking you’d have trouble returning, I specially came to pick you up.”

“Thank you, Daoist Ning.”

Qin Wanwan thanked Ning Buyan and led the group onto the carriage.

After boarding, Ning Buyan poured tea for Qin Wanwan: “I heard something happened at the competition grounds. What was it?”

Now in the carriage, Qin Wanwan finally had time to tell everything that happened in the secret realm.

“So that Jun Wuyuan was Shen Zhiming. Shen Zhiming was infected with a demon seed over two hundred years ago, later discovered by Jun Shu…”

“After Shen Zhiming died, the demon seed went to Jun Shu’s body. Both their obsessions seemed to be with me, so they came to the secret realm wanting to kill me. You don’t know how dangerous that battle was. At first, the earth shook and mountains trembled, heaven and earth reversed,” Qin Wanwan recalled the dangers of the secret realm, took a sip of water, still shaken. “Then there was actually True Samadhi Fire burning, and lightning striking down, plus extreme yin cold ice. At that point, Jun Shu wasn’t even the problem anymore – this secret realm nearly killed me! Fortunately, Master found the method to break the secret realm in time!” Qin Wanwan looked gratefully at Jian Xingzhi.

Jian Xingzhi coughed lightly, guiltily turning his head away, saying stiffly: “As I should.”

“He promptly stopped this secret realm’s perverted behavior, then came in to save me. Then we did this and that, that and this…”

Qin Wanwan recounted their battle process with Jun Shu in exaggerated terms. By the end, everyone was listening raptly.

“So,” Cuilu asked curiously, “did Jun Shu really die?”

“Dead.”

Jian Xingzhi was certain: “I confirmed it.”

“But Shen Zhiming was at the Tribulation Transcendence stage with a thousand years of cultivation. His demon seed… could it really be eliminated?”

The higher the cultivation level, the stronger the evil thought energy produced. So even though Shen Zhiming’s divine soul was completely destroyed, the demon seed could still remain and parasitize Jun Shu’s body.

“Wanwan’s sword intent is different from ours. No matter what our sword intent is, the essence is actually stopping killing with killing,” Jian Xingzhi explained. “But Wanwan’s sword intent doesn’t focus on killing – it focuses on life and goodness. This is precisely the demon seed’s natural enemy. And Jun Shu’s own body couldn’t withstand the combined cultivation of Jun Wuyuan and Shen Zhiming. If he didn’t become a demon, he could only die.”

Having reached this point, everyone felt the topic was getting heavy. Cuilu sighed: “Let’s talk about something happier.”

“Like what?”

Ning Buyan turned to look at Cuilu. Cuilu’s eyes lit up: “I think Young Master Wuyou is so handsome!”

“You think so too?”

Speaking of this, Qin Wanwan immediately got excited, happily saying: “He’s really so good-looking, so refined. Did you see that fan he was holding? I…”

“I don’t find this topic happy at all.”

Jian Xingzhi interrupted the two women’s conversation, expressionlessly saying: “Next topic.”

“Not happy?”

Cuilu looked at the four men around her: “Don’t you all think he’s very handsome?”

“No.”

The four men spoke in unison. Xie Gutang took the lead: “I think sword cultivators look better.”

“Indeed.” Ning Buyan nodded. “I think so too.”

“Mm,” Jian Xingzhi praised them, “you have good taste.”

Cuilu and Qin Wanwan: “…”

They watched these three sword cultivators sell and praise themselves, deciding to maintain silence.

The group returned to the Ning residence. Qin Wanwan saw a young man holding several sets of clothes and jewelry in the room. He bowed to Qin Wanwan, respectfully saying: “These are gifts from Young Master to the young lady. We hope the young lady will honor us with her presence tonight.”

Hearing this, Qin Wanwan quickly bowed to the young man: “Young Master is too kind.”

The young man smiled and returned the bow. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he turned and left.

Looking at these various things, Jian Xingzhi spoke mockingly: “Meeting someone and making it like getting married – does this man have a problem with his brain?”

“Wow,” just as Jian Xingzhi finished speaking, Cuilu exclaimed, “these clothes are so beautiful!”

Hearing this, Qin Wanwan looked over curiously to see the clothes seemed to be made of the same material Young Master Wuyou wore today – red with gold thread, looking extremely luxurious. Besides the clothes, there were gemstone shoes – everything one could need.

Seeing these things, Qin Wanwan felt deeply moved.

Since coming here, she hadn’t seen such large gemstones or worn such fine fabric in a long time!

If she’d known fighting had such rewards, she should have fought more!

She and Cuilu chattered away evaluating these gemstones and fine clothes. Jian Xingzhi stood with arms crossed leaning against the doorway watching. After a while, he scoffed lightly and turned to leave.

Hearing him slam the door, Qin Wanwan belatedly looked up holding a hairpin, turning to Cuilu: “Is he unhappy?”

“When is he ever happy?”

Cuilu glanced outside, then picked up another hairpin: “I think this hairpin matches this outfit better. Use this one tonight.”

Qin Wanwan held the hairpin, somehow feeling it burning in her hand. She smiled reluctantly: “It is quite nice.”

Just as she finished speaking, Nanfeng happily ran in: “Master, many people from the Ning family have come to offer congratulations. Will you see them?”

“See them.” Qin Wanwan smiled. “Of course I’ll see them.”

Saying this, Qin Wanwan went out to receive the Ning family members who came to congratulate her. By nightfall, when it was almost time to go to Moon Ascent Tower, Qin Wanwan still hadn’t seen Jian Xingzhi. She looked for him in his room but couldn’t help feeling uneasy.

“Where’s Jian Xingzhi?”

She asked everyone. Cuilu, painting her nails, didn’t know. Xie Gutang shook his head. Only Nanfeng answered: “Daoist Jian said he was troubled and went out.”

“Then…” Qin Wanwan became even more anxious, inexplicably feeling somewhat wronged. “He’s not accompanying me to Moon Ascent Tower?”

“Daoist Jian said if he hasn’t returned, to have Sister Cuilu accompany you.”

Nanfeng answered matter-of-factly. Qin Wanwan paused, then nodded with forced composure: “Mm, I understand.”

Though she said she understood, thinking about going to Moon Ascent Tower alone – not knowing whether that Young Master Wuyou was human or ghost – and Jian Xingzhi being so at ease letting her go, she inexplicably felt unhappy.

But thinking about it, Jian Xingzhi didn’t owe her anything. It was she who had grown too accustomed to this person.

She adjusted her mindset. After simply washing up, she applied light makeup before the mirror, then glanced back at the fine clothes laid on the table. After thinking, she still decided to just wear her own clothes.

She was about to stand when she heard a lazy voice from the window: “Not wearing the new clothes?”

Qin Wanwan instantly turned her head to see Jian Xingzhi leaning casually against the window looking at her. She was quite pleased: “You’re back?”

“Mm.” Jian Xingzhi nodded, then asked again, “Someone sent clothes – wouldn’t it be impolite not to wear them?”

“What’s polite or impolite?” Qin Wanwan smiled. “I’m just going to ask some questions.”

Jian Xingzhi pursed his lips, suddenly tossing a storage pouch from behind him. Qin Wanwan caught it in one hand, then heard Jian Xingzhi say: “Change into something good so people won’t look down on you. It’s not like we can’t afford it.”

Qin Wanwan was stunned. Jian Xingzhi had already turned and walked away.

She hesitated a moment, opened the storage pouch and shook it out, spilling out many clothes and jewelry. It felt like this person had packaged up the entire street.

“Why did you buy so much?”

Qin Wanwan asked in surprise, calling out loudly to him standing outside.

Jian Xingzhi said impatiently: “How would I know which set you’d like? So I just bought them all.”

“Where did the spirit stones come from?”

Qin Wanwan frowned. Jian Xingzhi said unhappily: “Took them from the tomb. Why do you care so much?!”

Qin Wanwan was speechless. Looking at the pile of clothes, her heart felt inexplicably joyful, though she also felt this happiness was somehow inappropriate.

Feeling awkward, she picked out a set. After dressing up, she finally walked out the door.

Jian Xingzhi was waiting outside with Xie Gutang, Cuilu, and Nanfeng. Hearing her finally emerge, he turned back about to complain: “What were you doing in there, hatching…”

Before finishing his words, seeing the young lady who walked out, he froze in place.

Qin Wanwan wore a white dress with blue trim and wide sleeves, with a cinched waist and chest wrap. A jade hairpin held up half her hair. Though not luxurious, it appeared exceptionally gentle. The colors matched his blue Daoist robe, inexplicably making his heart skip a beat.

Seeing him not speak, Qin Wanwan felt somewhat anxious: “Not… not suitable? Should I change to another set?”

“No,” Jian Xingzhi pretended to be calm as he looked away, “looks quite good. Let’s go.”

Qin Wanwan couldn’t help glancing at Cuilu and Xie Gutang. Cuilu happily tapped her arm once with her fan: “So beautiful. Let’s go.”

Qin Wanwan pressed her lips together, quite pleased. She walked to Jian Xingzhi’s side, wanting to talk with him.

She hadn’t worn such nice clothes in a long time. Somehow she felt awkward. She coughed lightly to ease the atmosphere: “Haven’t worn this kind of clothing in so long, still feel a bit unaccustomed. After roughing it with you for so long, I’ve discovered simpler clothes are more comfortable.”

Jian Xingzhi didn’t speak. After a moment, he said awkwardly: “My Dao Palace in the Immortal Realm is built in a blessed land. Though not as big as your Jishan, in terms of unit price it’s much more expensive than Jishan. Calculating the total, the price should be about the same as Jishan.”

Qin Wanwan was confused. Why was he suddenly comparing whose house was worth more?

She felt somewhat indignant: “That’s because my parents like peace and quiet, not because they can’t afford it. If you want to compare wealth, few people in the Immortal Realm can compare to my parents!”

“Well,” Jian Xingzhi felt his pride wounded and immediately retorted, “I’m young. Let me live a few thousand or tens of thousands of years, and I’ll definitely be richer than your parents!”

“So what!” Hearing him belittle her parents, Qin Wanwan immediately got angry. The happiness the clothes brought earlier was completely useless now. She only said, “Anyway, you don’t have it now!”

“You… just you wait!”

Jian Xingzhi was at a loss for words, only saying: “You just wait!”

The two couldn’t agree on half a sentence. After cold snorts, they decided not to acknowledge each other anymore, turning away to sulk.

They cold-warred all the way to Moon Ascent Tower. The lark and the previous host were already waiting at the door. Seeing the group arrive, the host enthusiastically came forward: “Which of you will come with me to collect the prizes?”

“Me!” Nanfeng eagerly raised his hand. The host looked at the others: “No one else?”

“Are that many needed?” Xie Gutang asked curiously. The host nodded, “There are many prizes. One person definitely can’t carry them all.”

“Then let’s go together.”

Cuilu spoke, glancing at Xie Gutang.

“I’ll protect Wanwan.” Jian Xingzhi assigned himself a task. After the five people divided up duties, the host led three of them away.

The lark looked coldly at Jian Xingzhi, then turned to bow to Qin Wanwan: “Fairy, please.”

Qin Wanwan and Jian Xingzhi entered the door together. The door could only permit one person to pass. The two got stuck in place together. Qin Wanwan immediately glared at Jian Xingzhi. Seeing Qin Wanwan’s fierce gaze, Jian Xingzhi involuntarily stepped back a pace, letting Qin Wanwan enter first.

One before and one behind, led by the lark upstairs. Reaching the top floor, the lark spoke respectfully: “Young Master, the fairy has arrived.”

Young Master Wuyou’s voice came from inside: “Please enter.”

Saying this, the door opened with a creak. Qin Wanwan led Jian Xingzhi into the room. Just as they entered, the door slammed shut with a bang. Qin Wanwan instinctively looked back, then heard Young Master Wuyou’s voice ring out from the inner room: “Come in and sit.”

Qin Wanwan hesitated a moment. Jian Xingzhi stepped forward, not forgetting to mock her as he passed: “With this little courage you still want to charge ahead.”

Qin Wanwan felt indignant but also felt he was right.

She should let him charge ahead.

Following Jian Xingzhi into the room, she saw that aside from a table, there was nothing else in this room. It had no roof – moonlight poured directly in. Young Master Wuyou had his back to them, standing before a phantom of the starry sky, raising his hand to move the stars.

“Please sit.”

He spoke with his back to them. Qin Wanwan and Jian Xingzhi sat down together. Young Master Wuyou turned around, calmly sitting across from them, speaking with a smile: “What questions do you two have?”

Qin Wanwan suddenly had an illusion that she and Jian Xingzhi were like a couple coming to see a doctor about infertility.

Meanwhile, Jian Xingzhi looked at Young Master Wuyou’s practiced fortune-telling manner, at his constantly smiling peach blossom eyes, and couldn’t help frowning: “Have we… met somewhere before?”

Young Master Wuyou’s movements paused. Jian Xingzhi suddenly remembered, speaking in surprise: “It’s you!”

Qin Wanwan looked confused. Jian Xingzhi said with certainty: “I remember you now – the fortune teller from the night market!”

Young Master Wuyou smiled as he took a sip of tea, calmly raising his head.

“Long time no see, Young Master. Did you find love?”

—

**Author’s Notes:**

The night market fortune telling was in Long Aotian – Chapter 59.

A little flirtation and bickering – next Long Aotian – Chapter continues the plot.

**[Mini Theater: “How to Crash and Burn While Saying Nice Things”]**

Qin Wanwan: “After roughing it with you for so long, simple clothes are more comfortable.” — Jian Xingzhi, I don’t mind that you’re poor

Jian Xingzhi: “My house in the Immortal Realm is more expensive than yours.” — I’m not poor

Qin Wanwan: “…Why are you belittling my family’s house? My family has lots of property!”

Jian Xingzhi: “Why are you looking down on me? I’m young now, but I’ll definitely be rich later. Don’t bully the poor youth!”

Qin Wanwan: “…You dare bring up age with me? You think I’m too old?”

Jian Xingzhi: “That’s not what I meant…”

Qin Wanwan: “I’m too old. Go find someone young and beautiful.”

Jian Xingzhi: “Are you still saying I’m poor?”

Qin Wanwan: “…”

Jian Xingzhi: “Fine, you go find someone rich.”

Qin Wanwan: “You really do think I’m too old.”

Jian Xingzhi: “You really do think I’m poor.”

Bystanders: “…Could your language comprehension skills be any worse?”