Lu Li, you're ruthless!

Wait, was this woman really that rich?

Five million?

How many zeros was that...

"No need for that much. The full price was 3.3 million Spirit Crystals." The long-legged beauty gave a professional smile.

Lu Li nodded. "Exchange the rest for treasures of equal value."

Ye Qiu's mouth went dry.

The long-legged beauty asked, "Do you have any particular requirements?"

Lu Li glanced at Ye Qiu. "Body Refinement materials will do."

The long-legged beauty immediately set to work.

Fifteen minutes later, Lu Li and Ye Qiu walked out of the Star Pavilion.

"I won't accept them," Ye Qiu said.

"I didn't say they were for you," Lu Li replied.

Ye Qiu: "..."

The two headed toward the Academy. Outside its gates, Ye Qiu took a deep breath, caught up with Lu Li, and said, "We need to talk."

Lu Li stopped. "Go ahead."

"Miss Lu, you're so talented and beautiful. I imagine countless people are pursuing you?"

"Too many to count," Lu Li said softly.

"If so many people are willing to fawn over you, why do you keep coming after me?"

"Because you're my fiancé. Aunt Wen arranged it herself."

"My mother is gone now. That engagement... back then, it was just a joke. You don't have to take it seriously!"

Lu Li shook her head. "We have it in writing. We both put our fingerprints on it."

With that, she took out a marriage contract and unfurled it.

Ye Qiu fell silent. He had torn up his copy long ago.

"Besides, you said you'd acknowledge our engagement if I defeated you."

Ye Qiu opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Lu Li added, "I defeated you three times."

Ye Qiu: "..."

Back then, he had seen a delicate little girl and run his mouth without shame.

I only need one hand...

Well, the result had been a slap in the face!

He took a deep breath and said earnestly, "Honestly, I'm doing this for your own good.

"You know I'm a wastrel who likes visiting brothels. I've gone far too often over the years.

"It's a little embarrassing to admit... but I'm sick. I can't really perform anymore..."

"That's all right," Lu Li said softly. "My teacher knows an Alchemist, and so do I. As long as it hasn't been severed, it can be fixed!"

Ye Qiu's face darkened. "What exactly do you see in me? Tell me, and I'll change it, all right?"

Lu Li looked at him. "You're handsome and have a good figure!"

Ye Qiu slapped himself twice across the face. That's what you get for having such a damn handsome face!

Serves you damn well right!

"A real man honors his wagers," Lu Li added. "You should keep your promise!"

Then she stepped closer. "Or am I not beautiful enough? Do you find me completely unattractive?"

Ye Qiu was about to nod when Lu Li moved another step forward. They were close enough to hear each other breathe.

Lu Li's softness pressed against Ye Qiu's chest.

Ye Qiu stepped back.

Lu Li followed him.

Ye Qiu: "..."

With her face so close and her alluring scent in the air, he could not bring himself to say it.

The top beauty on the looks ranking—not beautiful enough?

His body reacted instinctively.

Lu Li felt it...

Ye Qiu stepped back again.

The corner of Lu Li's mouth twitched upward, but before a smile could form, it fell away, and her cool composure returned.

"Or is it simply that you can't beat me, so you're afraid to face me and choose to run away?"

Under the setting sun, the young man's face flushed with anger. "Me, run away? Go ask around! I, Ye Fengzi, crawled out of a pile of corpses..."

But as soon as he finished, he hurried into the Academy.

Lu Li watched his retreating figure and smiled faintly. It seemed she had found Ye Qiu's weak spot.

Inside the Academy, Ye Qiu strode ahead. No matter how fast he went, Lu Li stayed steadily beside him, matching his pace.

Mastering an Artistic Conception was terrifying. It gave a person control over themselves down to the finest detail.

Whatever they studied—movement techniques, Fist Techniques, sword techniques—they learned it exceptionally fast.

Along the way, many Academy disciples stared in shock.

After all, Lu Li was so famous that everyone knew her name.

But she was also known as an icy beauty.

Many, many people had pursued her, yet not one had ever been allowed within three feet of her.

Not even the prodigies of the great Aristocratic Clans.

She had even drawn her sword and crippled several of them.

But now, a man was beside her.

No—

He wasn't following her. She was actively following him.

Whenever he tried to move away, she pressed close.

It looked for all the world as though she were pursuing him...

"My Heaven! Senior Sister Lu Li is pursuing that young man?"

"It's over. There goes my dream!"

"When the senior brothers find out, their hearts will shatter all over the ground!"

"So Senior Sister Lu Li cares about looks too... I knew it!"

By the time they reached the foot of the mountain, dusk was falling. Ye Qiu charged up the peak in one breath, with Lu Li close behind.

Nan Qingyue was not there.

"I think I know what's bothering you," Lu Li said. "I promise I'll use my fists less from now on."

Ye Qiu shot her a glare.

She added, "And if I really can't resist hitting you, I'll try to go easier on you."

Ye Qiu ground his teeth and clenched his fists.

His eyes were red.

Woman, you're humiliating me!

"Like you did when you hit me as a child. Hold back a little, all right?"

Ye Qiu: "..."

Case solved!

She was getting revenge!

I tormented you once, so you're going to torment me for the rest of my life?

"You also said that if I wasn't as skilled, I had to learn to behave. When I took a beating, I had to stand at attention!"

Ye Qiu let out a long breath.

Fine, fine.

Impressive.

Really impressive!

I slapped your backside a few times and lectured you when you were five. Was that all it took?

You held on to it for all these years?

Do you really have to go this far?

Ye Qiu was so angry his eyes nearly watered.

"You also told me, 'Why are you crying? How pathetic!'" Lu Li said.

Ye Qiu gritted his teeth. "Lu Li, you're ruthless!"

At last, Lu Li smiled.

She smiled with unguarded delight.

Her mouth was small as a cherry, her eyes bright, her teeth white.

When she smiled, she was like a spring flower bursting into bloom, eclipsing every other color!

Years ago, Aunt Wen had brought her to the Wen Family. She had been timid, weak, and quick to cry... and that little fat boy had encouraged her in exactly this way.

"I haven't seen you this happy in a long time." Sword Light flashed like a meteor through the night and landed on the mountaintop. Nan Qingyue stepped out.

Lu Li put away her smile and bowed slightly. "Teacher."

Nan Qingyue came forward. "How did your seclusion go?"

"I was fortunate enough to comprehend an Artistic Conception," Lu Li said.

Nan Qingyue smiled, then stroked Lu Li's long hair with a pang of concern. "Don't work yourself so hard from now on. Look at you—you've even gained weight and gotten darker."

Lu Li nodded obediently.

Nan Qingyue turned to Ye Qiu. "What are you standing around for? Hurry up and make dinner!"

Ye Qiu stared at her. "Do I owe you two something?"

Then he turned and headed for the stove.

Don't think I'm afraid just because you drew your sword.

My grandfather said long ago that a true man stands tall and upright, knows when to bend and when to stand firm, doesn't fuss over trifles, doesn't argue with women, doesn't... Anyway, I don't want to deal with you!