Why Is This Map of Yan Kingdom So Damn Long?

About two hours passed, and Jiang Bai's movements had basically taken shape. Though he was still far from proficient, at least his stance looked convincing.

At that moment, a sly glint flashed through Qian Renxue's eyes again.

Holding her wooden sword, she walked to the center of the clearing and crooked a finger at Jiang Bai, who was still repeatedly practicing thrusts. A sweet smile appeared on her face, yet it somehow made Jiang Bai feel a sense of danger.

"Alright, you've more or less got the basic movements down. Come on, Junior Jiang Bai. Use the moves I just taught you against me and let's see what you've learned."

She stood still and casually assumed an easy, relaxed opening stance, her wooden sword angled toward the ground.

"Let me see how much real skill you managed to learn in these two hours."

Jiang Bai stopped, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and looked toward Qian Renxue. Though she smiled brightly, there was a faint sharpness in her bearing that made alarm bells ring in his mind.

This... probably wasn't going to be a simple "test of results," was it?

Had this map of Yan Kingdom finally reached the end?

Before Jiang Bai could react, Qian Renxue tapped the ground with her foot. Her figure was light as a swallow, yet she carried an imposing sharpness as she rushed straight at him with her wooden sword!

There was no small talk and no warning. Her sword moved with her body, a simple and swift thrust aimed directly at Jiang Bai's centerline!

Jiang Bai's pupils contracted. In his haste, he could only rely on the little bit of fundamentals that had just been drilled into his head and instinctively raise his sword horizontally to block.

Clang!

Jiang Bai felt his wrist jolt as a considerable force came through, forcing him to stumble half a step back.

Qian Renxue's strike missed, but her sword momentum did not pause in the slightest. With a slight turn of her wrist, the wooden sword slid downward, changing from a thrust into a slash that swept toward Jiang Bai's waist and abdomen!

The transition was fluid and natural.

Jiang Bai panicked and hurriedly stepped back, raising his sword upright. By the narrowest margin, he managed to catch the slash.

However, in Qian Renxue's eyes, this hasty defense of his was riddled with openings from head to toe!

His footing was unsteady, his center of gravity unstable, and even the angle of his block was somewhat stiff.

A triumphant smile curled at Qian Renxue's lips, and a gleam flashed through her violet eyes.

She did not use any Soul Power, relying purely on her physical strength, speed, and technique.

Just as Jiang Bai barely caught the slash, when his old strength had been exhausted and his new strength had yet to emerge, her left hand shot out like lightning. She did not attack, but lightly brushed across the wrist holding his sword!

The brush seemed gentle, but it cleverly knocked Jiang Bai's sword off course, leaving his chest completely exposed.

Immediately afterward, Qian Renxue drew in and relaxed her wooden sword with her right hand, then smacked the flat of the blade solidly beneath Jiang Bai's left shoulder blade.

Smack!

The strike was not loud, but it was more than clear enough.

"Hiss—"

Jiang Bai sucked in a breath. It was not particularly painful—the wooden sword had no edge, and Qian Renxue had controlled her strength, so she had not truly injured him.

But the feeling... was like being back in school in his previous life, getting lightly rapped on the palm or back with a ruler by a stern teacher for zoning out or answering a question wrong!

She gave Jiang Bai no chance to catch his breath or think. Her wooden sword swung again, thrusting, chopping, or lifting. Her attacks were not lethal, but they came like a violent storm, targeting only Jiang Bai's weak defenses and clumsy transitions.

Every time Jiang Bai exposed an opening, the wooden blade inevitably struck him with precise accuracy.

His shoulders, arms, back, outer thighs... Jiang Bai felt as though he had become a moving human punching bag.

He could only desperately recall the few basic movements he had just learned—lifting, blocking, parrying, dodging—and struggle to defend himself in utter disarray.

Sweat poured down like rain. His breathing grew ragged, his arms became heavier and heavier, and his footwork more and more chaotic.

This kind of suppression through pure technique and basic physical fitness was even more helpless than a clash of Soul Power.

Jiang Bai keenly realized just how clumsy and fragile he was before genuine combat technique without the support of soul skills and Soul Power.

A quarter of an hour felt as long as a century to Jiang Bai.

Finally, after Qian Renxue struck his calf with the flat of her sword and made him stagger, nearly falling over, Jiang Bai could no longer hold on.

He suddenly jumped back, opening up distance. He planted his wooden sword on the ground and panted heavily, waving his hands again and again.

"I can't, I can't! Let me rest! I really can't do this anymore!"

After saying that, he simply fell backward and lay spread-eagled on the grass. His chest rose and fell violently, and every muscle in his body seemed to be protesting. His waist and back ached, especially the places that had received Qian Renxue's "special attention," which burned with pain.

Even moving his arm slightly to stretch made him grimace.

Seeing this, Qian Renxue flicked her wrist and spun a beautiful flourish with her sword before sheathing her stance. Her posture was elegant and composed, her breathing steady—a stark contrast to Jiang Bai, who lay sprawled on the ground.

Holding the wooden sword, she walked over to Jiang Bai's side. Looking down at his miserable state, she wore a bright smile tinged with a little smugness.

"You can't take it already? Junior Jiang Bai, didn't you keep saying you wanted to become stronger quickly? We've barely even started. Your senior hasn't had enough fun yet today!"

She deliberately waved the wooden sword in her hand.

Though she said that, she actually knew her limits very well.

During their spar, she had controlled both her strength and where she struck the entire time, ensuring that Jiang Bai would only feel pain and muscular fatigue, without suffering any real injury.

If she really broke such a precious Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda prospect, she would be far too reluctant!

With a thought, she stored the wooden sword in her storage Soul Tool. Then she took out an exquisite silver water flask and casually tossed it beside Jiang Bai.

"Drink some water. From now on, you need to train your physical fitness and these basic techniques more. Even if you're a support-type soul master, having some ability to protect yourself is never a bad thing."

Jiang Bai struggled onto his side, picked up the flask, unscrewed it, and took several huge gulps.

The cool, sweet liquid slid down his throat, slightly relieving the dryness in his throat and the heat in his body.

He let out a long breath and felt some of his strength return.

At that moment, Qian Renxue asked seemingly casually.

"By the way, do you have anything else to do later?"

Without even thinking, Jiang Bai answered instinctively, "Yeah..."

"I mean besides cultivation!"

Qian Renxue immediately cut him off, glaring at him with her beautiful eyes. She had anticipated his answer.

She knew this guy's nature far too well. Other than cultivation, did he even have anything else in his eyes?

Jiang Bai choked, then blinked.

"...No," he admitted honestly.

Qian Renxue nodded with satisfaction. With both hands behind her back, she leaned forward slightly and said in a tone that allowed no refusal, "Mm, then go shopping with me later!"

Shopping? Going shopping with Qian Renxue?

Hearing that, Jiang Bai did not agree immediately. Instead, his eyes shifted as he quickly considered it.

Accompanying this young lady on a shopping trip definitely would not be as simple as merely "accompanying" her. There might be trouble, or perhaps she was simply bored and wanted someone to order around.

He had just been "tormented" by her, and his entire body was aching. Now he was supposed to be her errand boy?

That was a losing deal. He could not agree to that.

Thus, under Qian Renxue's expectant gaze, Jiang Bai slowly sat up. Then he extended his right hand, pressed his thumb and index finger together, and rubbed them lightly in front of her.

"?"

Qian Renxue looked at the strange gesture. Her lovely brows furrowed, and her violet eyes were full of confusion. "What does that mean?"

Jiang Bai looked completely matter-of-fact as he said clearly, "Pay up!"

"???"

Qian Renxue froze. Then her violet eyes slowly widened, filled with disbelief.

"You... you want me to pay you?"

She pointed at her own nose, her voice rising.

"And only then will you agree to go shopping with me?"

Wasn't something wrong with that logic?

Shouldn't someone be grateful beyond measure when she, a senior of noble status and peerless beauty, invited them out, eagerly following along behind her?

How did he dare ask for money instead?!

"Of course, Senior."

Jiang Bai was utterly righteous, even putting on an expression as though he were the one being wronged.

"Look, I was just... uh, instructed by you, and my whole body hurts. I'm exhausted to death. Later, I'll still have to run around after you as your attendant... Isn't that extra effort beyond normal friendship between classmates? Giving me a little hardship pay, some labor fees, is perfectly reasonable, right?"

As he spoke, he tried to look pitiful. Unfortunately, his acting was not convincing enough, and he looked more like a crafty merchant haggling over a price.

Qian Renxue was left speechless by his twisted reasoning. Her chest rose and fell slightly, clearly because she was angry.

Yet strangely, she did not immediately get angry or turn and leave. Instead, she found it... somewhat novel?

Jiang Bai was definitely the first person who dared to openly and unabashedly discuss money with her, treating her as an employer who needed to pay compensation.

This blunt, almost rude mercenariness instead gave her a sense of genuineness unlike anything she usually encountered.

She stared at Jiang Bai for several seconds. Then she suddenly raised an eyebrow and said, "Fine!"

"As long as you can satisfy me, you certainly won't lack benefits!"

What kind of wild statement was that?!

Jiang Bai immediately felt his scalp tingle.

Was the future Angel God this... bold when she was young? Or did she simply not understand the ambiguity of those words?

Jiang Bai steadied himself and forced himself to ignore the easily misconstrued remark as he pushed his luck.

"Senior, can you help me obtain a Spirit Ring of excellent quality, with the highest possible age?"

A trace of surprise flashed through Qian Renxue's eyes.

She had not expected Jiang Bai to make such a request.

Obtaining Spirit Rings was not difficult for Spirit Hall Academy students; the academy had its own arrangements.

But requirements such as excellent quality, the best possible fit, and the highest possible age were different.

For her, though, it was not too difficult to accomplish.

"Sure." Qian Renxue agreed readily, without much hesitation.

To her, this kind of interaction seemed... more interesting, and more real.

Jiang Bai had not expected her to agree so readily. He paused, then a sincere smile bloomed across his face.

He sprang up from the ground, no longer caring about his aching body. Pressing his hands together, he gave her an exaggerated bow.

"Senior, you're so generous! It's a deal!"

Seeing his money-grubbing expression, Qian Renxue could not help letting out a laugh. The slight displeasure from their spar and bargaining seemed to dissipate as well.

"Alright, stop fooling around. Get yourself together. We're leaving."

After changing clothes, the two took a carriage to Spirit City.

Once they arrived, Qian Renxue treated Jiang Bai to a lavish meal.

After that, they began wandering around aimlessly.

Qian Renxue did not buy anything. She merely walked around and looked, leaving Jiang Bai thoroughly puzzled.

During that time, Jiang Bai spotted an apothecary. Under the strange looks of Qian Renxue and the shop clerk, he spent eighty-nine Gold Soul Coins to buy a piece of century-old Whale Rubber.

Under Qian Renxue's gaze, Jiang Bai felt a little creeped out, so he explained.

"Uh... when I went back to the dorm to change clothes, my roommate saw that I was heading out and asked me to buy it for him..."

"Who?"

"Yan..."