This Gift Is Still Too Soon
Xie Qingyu knew that the person in front of him was a powerful being beyond his comprehension.
Just looking at it makes the air feel stagnant and makes it hard to breathe.
But Xie Qingyu did not back down. Instead, he swallowed hard, secretly gathering his Spiritual Power while counting down in his mind.
5
4
3
2
"Ah--!"
The countdown hasn't reached 1 yet.
Xie Qingyu let out a near-collapsed roar, as if being whipped by an invisible lash, and suddenly strode forward!
He did not overcome his fear; on the contrary, it was the overwhelming fear that completely crushed his reason and drove him to a desperate situation—like a trapped beast.
The boy poured all his will and strength into his right fist and unleashed a desperate blow at that unfathomable figure!
This is no longer a challenge, but a last-ditch, almost instinctive counterattack driven by fear.
But how could his fists possibly outrun Qin Wangchuan's sword?
In the blink of an eye, before he could even see the Sword Light clearly, Xie Qingyu felt a chill on his waist, and his lower body instantly lost all sensation.
He remained in his punching stance, subconsciously looking down.
A thin line of blood was slowly spreading along his waist.
The next moment, the boy lost his balance and fell heavily to the ground, blood gushing from the corner of his mouth, staining the dust beneath him red.
"Qingyu!" Xie Qingshang exclaimed in shock and rushed to his younger brother's side.
However, in her panic, she realized that her brother wasn't looking at her at all.
Xie Qingyu's still clear eyes were now clearly reflecting Qin Wangchuan, who was slowly walking forward.
Qin Wangchuan raised his hand, and a talisman radiating a gentle, life-giving aura was precisely placed on the wound on his waist.
A warm current immediately spread, stopping the bleeding and stabilizing the injury.
Then, Qin Wangchuan's calm voice rang out again:
"Take a deep breath."
Xie Qingyu did as instructed, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. The intense pain seemed to lessen somewhat as a result.
"Xie Qingyu, you've lost." Qin Wangchuan looked at him, his tone resolute. "But this isn't the end. Remember today; you will become stronger."
After saying that, he turned and left.
He left everyone with only his receding figure.
Xie Qingyu gazed at that retreating figure, her eyes swirling with complex emotions—resentment, frustration, and a burning passion.
I instinctively reached out, my fingers trying to grasp something, but it was all in vain.
It was right in front of me, yet it felt like there was an insurmountable chasm between us.
My fingertips trembled unwillingly in the air.
Finally, a wave of dizziness and disorientation washed over me, and my vision was quickly swallowed by darkness.
In the moment before his consciousness completely faded, he only managed to catch his sister's heart-wrenching cry.
Chu Wujiu looked at Xie Qingyu, who was lying unconscious on the ground with blood splattered around his waist, and his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
He then looked at Qin Wangchuan's retreating figure, his voice tinged with a mixture of confusion and inquiry as he whispered, "Was that necessary?"
He's just an arrogant young man who doesn't know his place.
They were clearly very vulnerable.
It could have been ignored.
Is it really necessary to take action?
And so serious...
Qin Wangchuan didn't stop walking, but suddenly turned around, his deep gaze calmly landing on Chu Wujiu's face, and asked in return, "Isn't that necessary?"
"The courage to challenge those who can crush you is itself a form of strength, and it deserves to be taken seriously."
This seemingly casual remark left Chu Wujiu speechless for a moment.
He consistently ignored the provocations of such insignificant ants.
But Chu Wujiu recalled the boy's punch, which he had thrown with desperation despite being overwhelmed by fear, the indomitable flame burning deep in his eyes, and Qin Wangchuan's rare, almost solemn, serious demeanor.
This idea, however, began to waver at this moment.
Is it really unnecessary?
Each member of the group had their own thoughts. They hadn't gone far when they saw a fine and luxurious carriage quietly blocking their way.
A woman sat upright by the carriage window.
She wore an elegant white dress, like snow falling under the moon, exuding a cool and ethereal aura.
Seeing the group approaching, the woman closed the book she was reading, her lazy and tired gaze sweeping over them before finally settling on Qin Wangchuan.
"Did you gain anything from this trip?" Li Qingluan's voice carried a hint of weariness, yet remained clear and melodious.
Qin Wangchuan met her gaze and nodded slightly.
He stepped forward slowly, and in his hand appeared a simple and elegant jade Jade Hairpin, its tip adorned with tiny, star-like sparkles.
Without saying a word, he simply raised his hand and naturally inserted the Jade Hairpin into the girl's ink-black hair.
Li Qingluan was slightly taken aback, and a look of joy appeared in her eyes.
Just as I was about to say something, I suddenly realized the deeper meaning behind this gift.
The thought surged through his body like an electric current, his languid expression suddenly changed, and a blush quickly spread from his ears to his cheeks.
She almost frantically took off the Jade Hairpin, handed it to the maid beside her, and whispered an instruction.
The maid immediately brought a Brocade Box and carefully placed the Jade Hairpin inside.
After she finished doing all this, she looked up and met Qin Wangchuan's gaze.
The blush deepened, and she turned her head slightly, her voice barely audible yet carrying a hint of shyness and insistence. "It's not the right time yet."
After speaking, she seemed to calm herself down, looked at Qin Wangchuan again, and extended an invitation. "Get in the car."
Just as Qin Wangchuan was about to take a step, Ye Lingchuan, who had been silently following behind the group, suddenly spoke, breaking the brief silence:
"Qin Wangchuan!"
"Wandao Academy, you'll go there, won't you?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Wujiu, Zhao Lingyun, Yun Zexuan all turned their gazes toward him, their expressions questioning.
The Wandao Academy is Holy Land for cultivation throughout the Three Thousand Provinces, offering countless fortuitous opportunity and a wealth of knowledge to be learned.
But for people at their level, it's not a place they absolutely must visit.
However, if Qin Wangchuan were to go... then the meaning would be entirely different.
Upon hearing this, Qin Wangchuan immediately recalled everything his Future Self had instructed him to do.
Without almost any hesitation, he nodded immediately, his tone certain:
"Certainly."
Upon hearing this, Ye Lingchuan smiled knowingly, a smile tinged with anticipation and fighting spirit, "Very well, Wandao Academy awaits you."
Zhao Lingyun grinned, crossed his arms, and said, "The old man at home has been urging you for a while now, and he was really worried you wouldn't go. Wandao Academy is waiting for you."
Chu Wujiu remained silent, as he had already promised his family to visit Wandao Academy.
I feel much more at ease right now.
"It seems this trip to the Academy won't be boring." Yun Zexuan glanced around, his eyes sparkling with interest.
Qin Wangchuan's gaze swept over the familiar faces, and finally he nodded slightly to Ye Lingchuan.
Without lingering, he turned and boarded Li Qingluan's luxurious carriage.
The carriage curtains were drawn, blocking out the outside world and leaving the two of them alone.