Under the gentle moonlight.
The evening breeze drifted softly past.
Bamboo leaves rustled in the grove.
The aloof maiden gripped Celestial Evil tightly.
The flush on her face faded, and the chill in her clear eyes truly returned. She looked calmly at the young man and coolly uttered a battle-hungry declaration: "We'll settle this with our swords."
At this moment.
She was the real Lu Xueqi.
Because—
Wang Quan Yan, standing before her, would be her competitor.
In the face of a competitor?
Why the hell would she blush?!
It was already pretty good that she had not drawn her sword and cut him down on the spot.
Hearing this.
Wang Quan Yan nodded calmly.
Perhaps some simps would say at a time like this, "Ah, Senior Sister Lu, since you want first place, I'll go easy on you and let you have it."
Anyone who did that?
Without exception!
Was a complete idiot!
Did they think she would like them for doing that? Dream on!
Not only would she not like them.
She would hate them.
What did they take her for?
Lu Xueqi was stubborn by nature. If she wanted something, could she not get it herself? Did they really think she was some pretty vase?
They were overthinking it.
In this situation.
Only by giving it their all.
Could they earn the respect they deserved.
Idiotic behavior like that should not be brought out to make a fool of oneself.
Wang Quan Yan smiled faintly and said:
"Senior Sister Lu, how about we make a bet?"
Here it came.
The trap had finally arrived.
What did they think Wang Quan Yan had been saying all that for? Was it not all for this moment?!
Hearing this.
Lu Xueqi showed a trace of perfectly timed puzzlement.
A bet?
Bet on what?
She said nothing.
She merely raised her eyes and looked calmly at Wang Quan Yan.
Wang Quan Yan knew her temperament as well. He could see her confusion from her gaze, so he explained:
"We'll bet on—"
"Who will take first place in this Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament!"
The young man's voice was exceptionally calm.
Upon hearing this.
Lu Xueqi froze slightly.
She gently tightened her grip on the Tianya Divine Sword and spoke again. "How... do you want to bet?"
The maiden's voice was clear and cool.
Not the slightest emotion could be heard in it.
This was Lu Xueqi in her usual state.
Her failure to reject the wager meant that she had accepted it.
Wang Quan Yan smiled faintly. "I'll bet that I will be the champion of this Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament. What about you, Senior Sister Lu?"
The aloof maiden raised her eyes to look at him.
Her eyes were as still as the ancient well, so calm that not a trace of emotion could be discerned. Even her voice was detached and cold. "Then I'll also bet that I will be the champion of this Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament!"
"Go on."
"What are the stakes?"
Lu Xueqi asked flatly.
Was she doing this for the stakes?
Of course not.
It was no exaggeration to say—
She had no interest whatsoever in the so-called stakes.
Why had she accepted the wager? It was because she was far too stubborn. Her opponent had thrown down the gauntlet right in her face, so how could she possibly back down?!
You wanted to bet?
Then bet!
Who was afraid of whom?
Did he really think Lu Xueqi was weaker than him?
They were both at the Ninth Layer of Jade Purity. How much stronger could either one be than the other?
He had Ghost Slaying God?
She had Divine Sword Controlling Thunder True Spell too!
At worst, they could fight it out!
The aloof maiden's gaze was exceptionally cold.
These were her truest thoughts.
Hearing this.
Wang Quan Yan smiled and said, "The stakes? I haven't thought of them yet. How about this..."
He pondered briefly.
"Whoever loses?"
"Will agree to one request from the winner?"
"How about it?"
Here it came, the trap had arrived.
Lu Xueqi froze slightly.
She raised her eyes and stared at the young man before her, catching the amusement in his eyes. Clearly...
She had seen through Wang Quan Yan's wolfish ambitions.
The aloof maiden pursed her lips slightly.
But—
She still agreed.
Because Wang Quan Yan had her temperament firmly in his grasp. He knew she was incredibly stubborn and would never yield on this matter. And once she agreed, she had agreed...
Lu Xueqi would not go back on her word either.
Besides.
She did not think she would lose.
Since that was the case.
The mood had already reached this point.
Then she might as well agree.
"Fine."
Lu Xueqi nodded slightly.
One request?
Whatever.
She would agree to it.
"Then—"
"See you at the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament."
Wang Quan Yan noticed Su Ru emerging from Jingzhu Xuan.
He spoke, bringing the matter to an end.
"Fine."
Lu Xueqi was sparing with words.
She calmly watched Wang Quan Yan leave, gripping the Tianya Divine Sword in her hand tightly.
I definitely won't lose!
The aloof maiden was so stubborn inside that not even ten oxen could pull her back.
After leaving Small Bamboo Peak.
While Wang Quan Yan and Su Ru flew back to Grand Bamboo Peak on their swords.
Su Ru suddenly turned around and said:
"Xiao Yan, do you..."
"Have feelings for Xueqi?"
Hearing this.
Wang Quan Yan froze slightly.
He neither hid it nor felt embarrassed. He nodded directly. "Yes, Mistress."
If he liked her, he liked her.
There was nothing to hide.
Besides.
His straightforward move today had been so obvious.
Anyone could see it.
"Ah."
Su Ru sighed inwardly.
By now, she had begun to feel somewhat resentful toward Tian Ling'er, but the engagement had already ended. What else was there to say?
Forget it, forget it.
Children and grandchildren would have their own fortunes.
She did not want to interfere anymore.
Su Ru shook her head and smiled. "Xueqi is Shui Yue's treasured disciple and the inheritor of her legacy. If you want to be with her, you'll have to put in some effort."
Hearing this.
Wang Quan Yan smiled faintly. "Nothing in this world is difficult for one with determination."
"If Senior Sister Lu truly wishes to be with me, how can Martial Aunt Shuiyue stop us?"
As for this matter?
Wang Quan Yan had not taken it to heart at all.
After all.
Based on what he knew about Shui Yue.
Resolving this issue would be incredibly easy.
Su Ru froze slightly.
Seeing Wang Quan Yan's carefree demeanor, she was inexplicably moved as well. Yes...
If two people truly loved each other.
What could possibly stand in their way?
Su Ru thought of her former self, and she also thought of Tian Ling'er now.
Back when she had been with Tian Buyi.
Even though Shui Yue had repeatedly tried to stop them, had it not been useless in the end?
And then there was Tian Ling'er.
If she had truly liked Wang Quan Yan.
She would not have been won over by someone else with a single Cooling Pearl.
Forget it, forget it.
Su Ru smiled gently at Wang Quan Yan. "Xiao Yan, then do your best..."
"Alright."
Wang Quan Yan nodded with a smile.
He could feel that his mistress was sincerely blessing him.
Tian Ling'er had not affected the feelings involved.
After all.
To Su Ru,
Wang Quan Yan was one of her own.
Both sides of the palm were flesh.
That was why Wang Quan Yan had always respected Su Ru and Tian Buyi.
If others treated me kindly?
I would repay them with kindness!
That was Wang Quan Yan's guiding principle.
To be honest,
his views on righteousness and evil were not that strong.
Everything he did depended entirely on his own heart.
As the saying went—
"My heart and actions are as clear as a mirror; everything I do is justice!"
P.S. I'll be staying up late to write two chapters tonight. Remember to read them tomorrow morning~ Thank you!
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