Although Wang Quan Yan and Lu Xueqi had only met once in total, and when they met back then...
Lu Xueqi had only been twelve or thirteen.
But...
Wang Quan Yan really was not a beast.
He had heard of the name Lu Xueqi in his previous life. The title of Zhu Xian's Number One Beauty was exceedingly renowned. She was such a stubborn and extraordinary woman—it was truly hard not to like her...
Same old saying.
Wang Quan Yan had never hidden his feelings.
If he liked something, he liked it.
If he did not, he did not.
That was the code by which a Sword Cultivator acted.
Free-spirited and decisive.
That was probably Wang Quan Yan's defining trait.
Just like when Tian Ling'er proposed breaking off their engagement. He did not like Tian Ling'er anyway, so since that was the case, they might as well decisively end it.
From now on...
You and I would each go our separate ways.
Other than the relationship of senior sister and junior brother...
There would no longer be any other connection between them.
It was that simple.
Wang Quan Yan thought Lu Xueqi had a good personality, exceptional talent, and a beautiful face. He liked her, so he would pursue her...
You could say he was driven by lust at first sight.
You could say he had planned it all along.
It did not matter.
Because—you would not be wrong.
As they entered Jingzhu Xuan...
The aloof Taoist nun took the seat of honor first.
Su Ru had once belonged to Small Bamboo Peak as well, so she did not stand on ceremony and sat down beside her.
Wang Quan Yan, on the other hand...
Did not take a seat. Wen Min was still standing nearby. As Small Bamboo Peak's foremost disciple, she had not seated herself, so neither did Wang Quan Yan.
"Master, you wanted to see me?"
At that moment, a cool voice sounded from outside the hall.
At the sound of it...
Wang Quan Yan instinctively looked over.
An aloof maiden walked in with light, graceful steps. Her white dress fluttered around her, her glossy hair swayed in the air, and though her flawless face still carried a trace of youthful immaturity, it could not conceal her splendor. She fully displayed the bearing of the Number One Beauty...
Her figure was slender, graceful, and tall.
She held an azure divine sword in her hand. Her lovely, cool face was fair with a rosy tint, while calm light flickered within her frosty eyes.
The newcomer was none other than Lu Xueqi.
"Qi'er, you are here?"
A hint of warmth crossed Shui Yue's face.
Lu Xueqi was the disciple she was most proud of in her life, someone she already regarded as the heir to her legacy. After all...
She had even passed down the Tianya Divine Sword to her.
"Perfect timing—"
"Min'er, Qi'er, you have both met this person before. He is Wang Quan Yan of Grand Bamboo Peak."
Shui Yue introduced Wang Quan Yan to Wen Min and Lu Xueqi.
In truth, there was no need for an introduction.
They had met before, after all.
It was just that...
That had been five years ago.
"Wang Quan Yan of Grand Bamboo Peak greets you both, Senior Sisters."
Wang Quan Yan gave a slight salute.
At his words...
Lu Xueqi and Wen Min instinctively returned the salute.
"Whoosh!"
Just then...
Lu Xueqi lifted her eyes slightly.
She looked at the young man before her, and their gazes met.
"Bzzzz!"
The next instant, the atmosphere turned somewhat strange.
It was as though an indescribable aura had silently risen between them in confrontation.
Lu Xueqi was looking at Wang Quan Yan.
Wang Quan Yan was also looking at Lu Xueqi.
Two pairs of clear eyes stared into one another.
Seeing this...
Shui Yue and Su Ru exchanged glances.
Shui Yue understood her disciple very well. She knew Lu Xueqi was stubborn, even fiercely competitive.
She was unwilling to fall behind anyone.
Suddenly...
At that moment...
Lu Xueqi spoke.
Her voice was crisp and cool. "That sword strike last night—was it yours?"
"Yes."
The young man nodded slightly.
Then...
There was nothing more.
After a brief silence, Lu Xueqi said, "Heaven and Earth One Sword? An excellent sword technique."
At that...
Wang Quan Yan raised a brow slightly. "How did you know?"
He had not told anyone besides Tian Buyi the name Heaven and Earth One Sword.
How did Lu Xueqi know?
Hearing that...
The aloof maiden lowered her eyes slightly.
She glanced at the Sovereign Sword in Wang Quan Yan's hand and said evenly, "Your sword told me."
With that...
She said nothing further.
Though she quite wanted to fight Wang Quan Yan...
The current setting was clearly not suitable.
Wang Quan Yan nodded.
He did not say anything.
For a while...
The scene fell quiet just like that.
Shui Yue watched everything from the side. She stared blankly at the young man and woman before her, suddenly feeling that they were inexplicably well matched...
Because...
She saw Wan Jianyi's shadow in Wang Quan Yan, and her own shadow in Lu Xueqi.
"Heh—"
What am I thinking?
Shui Yue laughed inwardly.
Xiao Yan already had a fiancée.
Only—
Did that not make them even more alike?
Back then...
She had liked Wan Jianyi, but Wan Jianyi had liked Su Ru.
Now...
She thought Wang Quan Yan and Lu Xueqi were a good match, but Wang Quan Yan had an engagement with Tian Ling'er.
How similar was that?
At that thought...
Shui Yue's heart gave a jolt.
"Senior Sister?"
Su Ru called softly from beside her.
For some reason...
She felt that her senior sister's attention had been on Wang Quan Yan all day. Was it because of Ghost Slaying God...
Su Ru sighed inwardly.
"Hm?" Shui Yue came back to her senses.
Realizing it belatedly, she smiled and said, "Junior Sister, remember to bring that girl Ling'er over next time. I have not seen her in quite a while—I rather miss her..."
At the mention of Tian Ling'er...
Su Ru instinctively glanced at Wang Quan Yan.
Seeing that the young man's expression remained unchanged and that he was still utterly unmoved...
She finally relaxed inwardly.
At the same time, she felt somewhat helpless.
"Junior Sister, what is wrong?"
Shui Yue noticed that something was off with Su Ru.
"Senior Sister, do not mention it."
Su Ru hesitated for a moment.
In the end, she told them outright about Tian Ling'er and Wang Quan Yan breaking off their engagement.
"What?!"
Shui Yue was somewhat surprised at the news.
Even Lu Xueqi and Wen Min, who had been quietly standing to the side, were startled. They looked at Wang Quan Yan in astonishment, only to find that the young man's expression had remained calm throughout.
He stood there silently, holding the Sovereign Sword.
As though Tian Ling'er had nothing whatsoever to do with him.
"He..."
"Broke off his engagement with Junior Sister Tian?"
Lu Xueqi was somewhat stunned.
She did not have any other feelings about it. She simply had not expected Wang Quan Yan to break off his engagement with Tian Ling'er. Was this not something Uncle-Master Tian had personally arranged?
How could it have been called off?
Shui Yue wanted to ask about the details.
But—
Su Ru chose to remain silent.
This matter had been Tian Ling'er's fault to begin with. Telling others would only damage her daughter's reputation, so it was best not to say anything.
But...
There still had to be a solution to this matter.
Left with no choice...
Su Ru could only make up a lie.
She said Tian Ling'er and Wang Quan Yan were not very compatible.
This lie was full of holes. Any clever person could see through it, but precisely because they were clever, no one would press for details.
Shui Yue did not pry any further.
Looking at Wang Quan Yan before her, she felt more and more that he resembled Wan Jianyi. Now that she had learned he was no longer engaged, she simply made him a promise.
"Xiao Yan."
"If there is someone you like in the future, come directly to your Martial Aunt. I will arrange the match for you!"
Before you continue