Lu Xueqi is the MVP! Wang Quanyan is a freeloader!

Lu Xueqi was indeed telling the truth.

She genuinely cared about Tian Ling'er—after all, look at every word she said; wasn't it all for Tian Ling'er's sake?

It was just that the other party didn't appreciate it.

But.

Not appreciating it was one thing.

Lu Xueqi and Tian Ling'er had met many times, and there was some connection between them. Even setting aside everyone else's face, just for Martial Aunt Su Ru's sake...

Lu Xueqi still needed to show concern for Tian Ling'er.

So—

Her concern for Tian Ling'er was real.

Her disgust for Qi Hao was also real.

Everything Lu Xueqi said was the honest truth; it just sounded like she was cursing someone out, but she really wasn't...

How could our Fairy Lu ever curse anyone?

She never cursed, alright!

"Alright, alright."

Wang Quan Yan stopped Lu Xueqi, who was about to keep going. He didn't even glance at Tian Ling'er or Qi Hao, simply pulling Lu Xueqi away and leaving...

It wasn't that he was afraid of them.

Rather, Wang Quan Yan was helping Lu Xueqi convey one message: not a single one of them was worth fighting!

This round?

It was a total stomp!

And Lu Xueqi had soloed both of them!

Wang Quan Yan never even got a chance to step in.

Sigh.

All he could say was that Xueqi was just too dominant.

MVP of this match—Lu Xueqi!

Wang Quan Yan?

A carried mutt!

The aloof maiden kept her pretty face cold as Wang Quan Yan pulled her away. As she left, she shot a glare at Tian Ling'er and the others, her icy eyes practically cursing them out...

Tian Ling'er's delicate frame trembled slightly.

Her eyes red, she rubbed them, sobbing pitifully as she said, "Senior Brother Qi Hao, I'm going back first..."

With that.

Tian Ling'er turned and left.

She cried as she walked.

Leaving only Qi Hao standing there dumbfounded. He clearly hadn't snapped out of it yet, his whole mind nearly scolded stupid by Lu Xueqi.

By the time he came to his senses?

Tian Ling'er was already far away.

For a moment.

Qi Hao ground his teeth.

"Fine!"

"What a fine Wang Quan Yan!"

"Hiding behind a woman—what kind of skill is that?"

"Just wait! When we meet in the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament, I'll show you a thing or two!"

Qi Hao's expression darkened.

He didn't dare hold any grudge against Lu Xueqi—after all, Martial Aunt Shuiyue's fierce protectiveness of her disciples was well-known throughout the entire Qingyun Sect. Even his own master wouldn't get any good out of crossing her.

Of course.

Part of it was also that he didn't want to bother with Lu Xueqi. After all, they were both disciples of Qingyun Sect, no matter how much Qi Hao liked to play mind games.

Deep down, he still held the thought that "a good man doesn't fight a woman."

Mm...

Though it seemed he couldn't win even if he tried?

He'd been silenced the entire time.

Qi Hao didn't know what he could say. It felt like he couldn't say anything at all, because...

Lu Xueqi had spoken nothing but the plain truth.

Qi Hao stood rooted in place for a very, very long time.

In the end, he slunk away in disgrace, departing alone in solitude.

The next morning, at dawn.

On the square outside Jade Purity Hall, several fighting platforms had already been set up early.

Disciples of Qingyun Sect gathered together one after another, chatting and buzzing with excitement, eagerly awaiting the official start of the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament.

Wang Quan Yan appeared alongside his fellow disciples from Grand Bamboo Peak.

He hadn't slept a wink all night.

After all, his courtyard stank to high heaven.

Last night, after he'd pulled Lu Xueqi away, the two of them hadn't exchanged much conversation—as if their fighting side by side against Qi Hao and that pair of dogs, Tian Ling'er, was perfectly normal behavior.

Lu Xueqi had taken her leave from Wang Quan Yan right then.

Just as he'd said, and just as she'd thought, there was nothing between them but clear skies and bright moons—even if they'd just duo-queued and clashed with others moments before, that still meant nothing...

Of course, in Wang Quan Yan's view?

That so-called clear skies and bright moons were only temporary.

Lu Xueqi ((●`●)): I treat you as a comrade-in-arms, and you're thinking about getting in my robes?!

As more and more Qingyun disciples gathered, the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament soon began.

"Dong—"

An elder from Tongtian Peak struck the bronze bell on the platform, and the crowd instantly fell silent.

"Shua!"

At the same time, the seven peak masters all appeared.

True Person Dao Xuan emerged on the high platform, cheerfully spouting a few platitudes, then declared the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament officially underway.

Right now, Wang Quan Yan swept his gaze through the crowd.

He immediately spotted the group from Small Bamboo Peak below Martial Aunt Shuiyue, and among that group, he found his good comrade Lu Xueqi.

The aloof maiden wore a white dress, her graceful figure standing out strikingly in the crowd. As if sensing something through a silent connection, she turned her head slightly and looked back...

"Shua!"

Their eyes met.

Then, as if by unspoken agreement, they both looked away.

As if no words were needed to express anything.

Tian Ling'er stood behind the Grand Bamboo Peak crowd, her eyes red-rimmed. She'd thought long and hard last night, feeling that her performance had been utterly pathetic...

If only she could do it over?

She definitely wouldn't have been so flustered!

It was a bit like an elementary school kid realizing after a fight that they'd forgotten to use a move they knew...

Pretty funny, really.

"Ling'er, why are your eyes so red? Didn't sleep well last night?"

Song Daren asked with concern.

"Y-yeah..." Tian Ling'er nodded awkwardly.

With that, She stole a cautious glance at Wang Quan Yan.

To be honest.

Tian Ling'er was rather afraid that Wang Quan Yan would go tattle to her father. If Tian Buyi and Su Ru found out she had gone to meet Qi Hao last night, her legs would probably be broken...

But.

Wang Quan Yan clearly wouldn't do something like that.

Because he was lazy.

Tian Ling'er could do whatever she wanted.

What did it have to do with him?

At this moment.

Over at Dragon Head Peak.

Qi Hao had dark circles under his eyes.

He stared coldly at Wang Quan Yan among the Grand Bamboo Peak crowd, thinking: You'd better not get matched against me, or else...

Don't blame me for being ruthless!

Wang Quan Yan noticed Qi Hao's icy glare.

He yawned and paid it no mind. At this stage, before he had truly shown his strength, any random cat or dog could jump around in front of him.

But that was fine.

Once the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament ended?

Everything would change!

Because—the master of this era would stun the world with a single brilliant move at the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament!

By then.

Those random cats and dogs wouldn't be able to keep jumping around in front of him.

"Dong—"

The sound of a bell rang out.

An elder of Tongtian Peak stood on the arena platform and called out name after name, signaling that the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament had officially begun...

Wang Quan Yan's gaze flickered.

Not far away, Lu Xueqi remained unmoved. Clearly, this round had nothing to do with her.

As he withdrew his gaze.

Lu Xueqi's heart stirred as well.

She stole a glance at Wang Quan Yan from the corner of her eye. Seeing that he hadn't moved either, she understood that this round had nothing to do with him...

Neither of them knew that the other was secretly watching them.

Tsk.

P.S.: Please keep reading!!!