Competitors? A Fair Lady, a Virtuous Gentleman's Pursuit!

Under the night sky.

The sly moonlight spilled down.

Like a hazy veil shrouding the world.

Dreamlike mist coiled through the mountain forest.

The aloof maiden's eyes were slightly lowered.

She kept her head down, clutching her sword, walking swiftly through the woods, her heart pounding wildly, her clear, flawless face already flushed crimson...

Ahead.

By the time Lu Xueqi realized what had happened.

She had frozen on the spot, a thick wave of embarrassment crashing over her like a tide, the teasing gazes of her senior sisters nearly making her flee in shame...

Oh, she was already fleeing in shame now.

To be honest.

Lu Xueqi didn't know what was wrong with her.

If you asked whether she hated Wang Quan Yan? Not really—it was just that some of his actions truly made her flustered and annoyed.

Take this morning, for instance.

Her master said she would play matchmaker for him, and he immediately looked straight at her.

Or again.

During the meal earlier.

He couldn't even eat properly, just kept staring at her...

So annoying.

Lu Xueqi pouted.

Actually, she understood everything.

Wang Quan Yan's series of direct moves was just expressing one thing—he liked her.

But.

Lu Xueqi was running away.

If she didn't feel disgust? Then there was only one possibility—she thought the pace was too fast.

As for that.

Wang Quan Yan naturally understood too.

When chasing a girl, you can't rush things.

You have to take it step by step.

So.

He decided to stop here for today.

After all, he had already left an extremely deep impression in Lu Xueqi's heart. Next, he just needed to wait for the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament to deepen that impression further.

Then everything would be accomplished.

Is chasing a girl really that hard?

Not really.

At least, that's what Wang Quan Yan thought.

Right now.

He was strolling leisurely outside Jingzhu Xuan, waiting for his master's wife Su Ru to come out, after which he could leave Small Bamboo Peak and return to Grand Bamboo Peak.

But—

The first person he waited for wasn't his master's wife.

Instead, it was an aloof maiden he hadn't expected at all.

Wang Quan Yan stood still.

He stared in surprise as the aloof maiden, clutching her sword, head down and face shy, rushed out of Jingzhu Xuan.

Lu Xueqi?

Why was she coming out?

Wang Quan Yan was a bit startled.

He didn't step forward to disturb her, thinking it wasn't suitable to keep interacting with Lu Xueqi today. But who would have thought—

He didn't go to Lu Xueqi.

Lu Xueqi instead came charging straight at him.

"Tap-tap-tap~"

The aloof maiden carried her sword, head down, her flawless face flushed crimson. She charged forward without looking where she was going, and then...

And then, as expected, she collided straight into Wang Quan Yan's arms.

"Eh?!"

Lu Xueqi was stunned for a moment.

She only felt herself crashing into a very warm embrace, then dazedly looked up, and immediately saw a very familiar face.

The youth was half a head taller than her.

She had to tilt her head up to see him.

As she looked up.

The hazy moonlight spilled from behind the youth's head, casting him in an air of mystery, making him appear exceptionally aloof.

But—

Lu Xueqi knew in her heart.

Aloof? That was never Wang Quan Yan's trademark!

He was just...

The aloof maiden's lips pouted for a long while.

She didn't know how to describe Wang Quan Yan either.

"So—"

"How much longer do you plan to stay in my arms?"

The youth's slightly teasing voice rang out.

"Eh?"

The aloof maiden snapped back to reality in a daze.

She immediately reacted, hurriedly stepping back a few times with a clatter, a flush of red suddenly climbing onto her pretty face, even the tips of her crystal-clear ears turning red.

"Y-you you..."

"Why are you here?"

Lu Xueqi's speech even stammered.

She didn't know what was wrong with her today. Wasn't she usually cold and aloof? Why was she blushing so easily today?

Hmm—

It must be because this bastard Wang Quan Yan was too infuriating!

Right!

Exactly!

Why did he have to stand in the middle of the road for no reason?

With that thought.

Lu Xueqi seemed to find her usual composure again.

She put on a cold face, looking at Wang Quan Yan with indifferent eyes, but...

To be honest, It was really hard to take her seriously right now!

Can you imagine it?

An aloof maiden half a head shorter than you, face red, looking up at you with cold, piercing eyes...

Ahhh!

How could anyone be serious in the face of that!?

It only increased the critical hit rate!

Wang Quan Yan had to admit.

When he saw Lu Xueqi in that state, his heart skipped a beat.

At that moment.

There was no Tian Ling'er in his mind.

Only the aloof maiden before him.

"You haven't answered me yet."

"Why were you standing in the middle of the road."

The aloof maiden said coldly.

It inexplicably gave off a sense of distance.

Only—

you'd have to ignore how red her face was getting.

Wang Quan Yan smiled lightly. "Senior Lu, I've been waiting for you."

This was the first time he'd called her "senior."

It was also the first time he'd thrown a straight ball at Lu Xueqi in the form of a "conversation."

Waiting for her?

Why wait for her?

Lu Xueqi was stunned.

Her face, flushed with crimson, could no longer stay cold. She froze on the spot.

"You..."

The aloof maiden's heart pounded wildly.

It seemed she wanted to speak? But she didn't know what to say.

Right.

What could she say now?

Respond to Wang Quan Yan's confession?

Clearly impossible.

So.

She could only stay silent.

Because she truly didn't know what to say.

"Senior Lu..."

Wang Quan Yan called out softly.

Lu Xueqi didn't speak.

She didn't respond either.

Only—

she secretly lifted her head to glance at Wang Quan Yan.

"The Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament is three months away. Have you set any goals?"

The youth began to change the subject.

He wouldn't claim to know Lu Xueqi extremely well.

But he had some idea of what this girl was thinking.

She was very stubborn.

She was set on winning the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament's top prize.

To repay her master's kindness in raising her.

So.

Wang Quan Yan planned to approach from that angle.

Hearing this.

Lu Xueqi was silent for a moment.

This time she didn't choose to avoid the question, because she had an answer in her heart—and it was very clear.

"Goal?"

"I'm going to take the top prize of the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament!"

The aloof maiden's voice was exceptionally firm.

Having said that.

She seemed to think of something, lifted her eyes to look at Wang Quan Yan, and said, "And you?"

"Me?"

The youth grinned. "I'm going to take the top prize of the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament too!"

As soon as the words fell.

The scene fell into silence.

Lu Xueqi's expression turned cold.

The flush on her face slowly faded.

Because she knew that she and Wang Quan Yan had become enemies—since his goal was the same as hers, she could not yield an inch.

"Then we'll settle it with our swords!"

The aloof maiden spoke thus.

And with that.

Wang Quan Yan had once again left a deep impression in her heart—he was both a suitor and a rival.