First Love...

Qin Yi sometimes could not quite understand why he had spoken to the king with such utter decisiveness, saying things he would never have been able to say before. Was it entirely his own true intention, or had it been mixed with the feeling that he had no choice but to do so?

Was it because he could not let Li Qingjun marry Mang Zhan and had to fight for this chance, or because he truly loved her to this extent?

He did not know.

He even felt that if he were to marry Li Qingjun right now, his heart still would not be ready for it...

But at least he could be certain that he truly liked Li Qingjun very much.

It was not only because of her beauty that could topple cities, but because he liked her courage and chivalrous spirit, that dashing, heroic air of independence and strength. Though he teased her as a reckless, flat-chested, empty-headed girl, he forgot it in the blink of an eye and instead thought—she was adorable.

It was rather strange. Their personalities were poles apart, even calling them two extremes would not be an exaggeration, yet it was precisely that contrast that held such great attraction for him.

In a daze, he recalled what he had told her back in Zhang Family Village: "The dream of righting wrongs on the road and roaming the martial world in high spirits—Qin has it too."

Perhaps that was it. In her, he had seen the dream this salted fish had once dreamed.

Just as she had seen, in him, the dream of seeking immortals and asking the Dao.

And so they were drawn to each other.

"Y-you... why aren't you saying anything?" Li Qingjun, waiting at the door until even her shyness had vanished, stamped her foot. "Are you trying to say that was only to deal with Mang Zhan?"

"No." Qin Yi finally spoke. "I meant it."

"Ah... ah?" Li Qingjun, who had just jumped up, suddenly had nowhere to put either hand. She was completely at a loss.

Qin Yi slowly walked over and stopped in front of her. Li Qingjun, always so strong and resolute, actually took half a step back instinctively. "B-but I..."

"You're not ready yet, are you?" Qin Yi smiled. "I know."

Li Qingjun froze for a moment, then finally raised her head and looked directly into his eyes. Qin Yi's gaze was very gentle.

In truth, they felt exactly the same...

Her emotions gradually settled as well. She murmured, "I-I think I like you, but... isn't this too fast... We've only known each other for a little over ten days... I haven't even asked exactly how old you are..."

"Mm." Qin Yi held out his hand. "Want to take a walk?"

Li Qingjun hesitated for a moment, then slowly reached out as well and took his hand.

There was none of the electric current from when they had held hands yesterday, nor was there the nervous helplessness from moments ago. Instead, she felt increasingly calm.

"I'm sixteen this year. In two or three months, I'll be seventeen." Qin Yi spoke slowly. That was this body's age; the whole village knew it, so he could only answer that way. In truth, in his previous life he had been a university student in his early twenties. Apart from class, he spent every day squatting in his dorm room, peacefully playing games, reading novels, watching videos, and happily serving as a human repeater in all sorts of chat groups—a salted fish through and through.

Qin Yi actually felt that many senior transmigrators were exactly the same kind of bird as him. He had no idea why, the moment they transmigrated, they could become decisive killers and completely cast aside even their speech habits...

That was not important.

What mattered was that, across both lives combined, this was still his first love.

Qin Yi suddenly felt a little proud. You people filled school every day with the rotten stench of romance, stuffing dog food down single dogs' throats—what was so impressive about that? His first love was a Princess.

"Oh... sixteen. One year older than me." Li Qingjun answered somewhat blankly. She did not even know why she had asked his age. Was there really a difference between sixteen and seventeen? Could she really have taken him for some demon that had rejuvenated with age?

She only felt that strolling hand in hand with Qin Yi through this small flower garden was very comfortable. As long as they held hands like this, she was happy. Whether they spoke or not was no longer important...

When had she gone from resenting him to feeling close to him?

Was it the several times he had helped her on the journey back to the Capital City? Or was it because of the tender, amorous atmosphere in the underground cavern, and the tacit understanding he had shown afterward by knowing how to behave? Li Qingjun thought about it in confusion and realized she could not find the true watershed where her attitude toward him had changed.

It was as though it had happened without her noticing, a natural attraction.

She finally could not help asking, "Qin Yi..."

"Mm?"

"Did you used to hate me?"

"Nothing of the sort." Qin Yi smiled. "From the beginning, I thought you were quite good."

"Even when I barged into your courtyard so recklessly, you thought I was good?"

"Because you looked reckless, but you were very reasonable. You did not pester me unreasonably afterward."

"That's all..." Li Qingjun seemed a little disappointed.

Qin Yi looked at the sky and said as though savoring the memory, "I will never forget that silver glint stabbing toward the Spider Demon amid the wind and rain, nor those words: 'They are my people.' I think that no matter how many lifetimes I reincarnate through, I will never meet another Princess like you."

A smile blossomed across Li Qingjun's face.

"Qing Jun..."

"What is it?"

"You said you did not want to be some noble lady in the Capital City, trapped here for your whole life. I do not want to spend my days cautiously in this Capital City, where everyone schemes against everyone else, either. When we... well, once matters here are settled, let's seek immortals and visit the Dao together, roam the martial world in high spirits, and slay demons and eliminate devils. What do you say..." Before he finished, Qin Yi tapped his own head, somewhat annoyed.

Wasn't that stupid? This was a goddamn flag... Could he just plant one at random?

Li Qingjun had no idea what he was annoyed about and asked curiously, "You really are willing to drift through the martial world? Wouldn't it be more like you to hide comfortably in the mountains and never leave?"

Qin Yi came back to himself, stopped walking, and said seriously, "If it's with you, I am willing."

Li Qingjun stopped as well and raised her head to look into his eyes.

Qin Yi lowered his head and looked at her.

Their gazes gradually became hazy.

Li Qingjun truly was beautiful. Qin Yi had realized that countless times. At this moment, a faint blush had spread over her jade-like cheeks, while her red lips were bright and luscious, utterly irresistible. Her misty eyes were like whirlpools, pulling him deep inside as he slowly leaned closer, unable to restrain himself.

Li Qingjun lightly pressed one hand against his chest. She seemed nervous and wanted to push him away, yet found she had no strength at all. She wanted to retreat, yet her feet seemed rooted in place.

Her long lashes trembled slightly, and she finally closed her eyes slowly.

At that very moment, a plume of black qi shot straight into the sky from within the residence. Qin Yi abruptly turned his head. It was Ye Ling's courtyard.

"What's happening?" Li Qingjun quickly pushed him away as well, her expression puzzled. "How could there be something so ominous in my brother's residence?"

The residence erupted into chaos, footsteps ringing out everywhere. Qin Yi could even hear shouts coming from outside the residence as people rapidly approached.

Qin Yi urgently asked, "After the funeral, your brother didn't return with you?"

Li Qingjun said, "No. He took some people and went somewhere mysterious. I don't know where."

"Then..." Qin Yi drew a deep breath and said solemnly, "Go to the residence gate. Stop anyone from outside who tries to force their way in. We absolutely cannot let them enter while your brother is absent. You must hold them off until he returns."

Li Qingjun also knew this was not the time to investigate what was inside her brother's residence. Dealing with outsiders was the first priority. She had always acted decisively, so she did not ask another question. After saying, "Take care," she immediately turned and left the courtyard.

Qin Yi let out a breath. That was the advantage of a valiant girl—if she started playing some Qiong Yao drama at a time like this, with "You're hiding something from me" and "You don't love me," that would truly make him cough up blood. He did not pause for even a moment. Turning back into the room, he grabbed the Wolf Tooth Club and raced toward Ye Ling's courtyard.

Liusu was sighing. "What a pity. A Good Show like that—I haven't seen one in tens of thousands of years..."