I Was Afraid Senior Brother Jiang Would Get the Wrong Idea

As soon as Jiang Tian said that, Tan Hongyu's baby-fat cheeks turned deathly pale.

This was something only she and Zhou Mu knew. How could Jiang Tian know?

But she had no time to dwell on it now. Jiang Tian had far greater potential than Zhou Mu. She absolutely couldn't let him get the wrong idea.

"Senior Brother Jiang Tian, you've misunderstood." She hurried to explain, her voice growing softer and softer as her head gradually bowed. "There's nothing between Junior Brother Zhou Mu and me. We're only fellow disciples..."

After saying that, Jiang Tian ignored her and simply raised his fists, continuing to practice.

Tan Hongyu stood where she was, biting her lip. Gradually, her gaze grew resolute.

Senior Brother Jiang Tian definitely didn't like women who were fickle. Then from today onward, I'll stop paying attention to Zhou Mu and devote myself to him alone.

From now on, she wouldn't pay Zhou Mu any mind.

With that thought, she stopped bothering him, sweetly said, "I'll take my leave," and turned back to practice.

Night fell.

After the medicinal bath, the disciples said their farewells to Yuan Long in small groups and left the Martial Arts Hall.

At that moment, only a handful of people remained in the courtyard, practicing beneath the dim lights.

At the entrance to the Martial Arts Hall, Li Batian kicked a pebble across the road and peered inside impatiently. "Why hasn't Jiang Tian come out yet? He's been Body Tempering for three days and he's still working this hard? Isn't good enough good enough?"

"Think about it, Boss." Follower One sidled up with a grin. "Isn't it precisely because he works so hard that he managed to temper his body in three days?"

"Hmm..." Li Batian pondered for a moment, then nodded. "You've got a point. But we're about to miss the fun. Go hurry him up."

"Sure."

Follower One trotted into the Martial Arts Hall.

As soon as he left, a figure cautiously crept out of the shadows.

Zhou Mu.

"Brother Batian." Zhou Mu came over with a big smile. "Didn't you say you'd take me out for a good time today? So, what do you think...?"

"Enough, enough." Li Batian frowned and glanced at him sidelong, waving him off impatiently. "Some other day. I don't have time today."

The smile on Zhou Mu's face suddenly froze, and a flash of hostility darted through his eyes. But he didn't dare show any discontent. He quietly said, "I'll take my leave," then stepped aside.

Just then, Tan Hongyu came out of the Martial Arts Hall.

She had planned to speak to Jiang Tian alone and explain things between herself and Zhou Mu, but since Jiang Tian showed no sign of finishing his practice, she gave up and decided to find another chance tomorrow.

If I could marry Senior Brother Jiang Tian one day, I'd never have to worry about the rest of my life.

As she was thinking this, a figure suddenly blocked her path.

Zhou Mu.

He wore a faint smile, his tone flippant. "Junior Sister Tan, didn't we agree to go admire the lanterns by the river tonight? Why are you coming out so late?"

As he spoke, he reached for her shoulder.

"Smack!"

Tan Hongyu mercilessly slapped the back of Zhou Mu's outstretched hand. Her brows shot up, and her voice was cool and distant. "Junior Brother Zhou, how come I never noticed before that you had no respect for your seniors? I joined two months before you. Why do you keep calling me 'Junior Sister Tan'?"

She paused, then raised her voice. "Don't be so frivolous, putting your hands on me right away. I'm afraid Senior Brother Jiang will get the wrong idea."

With that, she walked away without looking back.

Zhou Mu stood frozen in place. Only after Tan Hongyu's figure vanished into the night did he come to his senses. His face turned purple, then green, his features twisting together.

Jiang Tian again.

Jiang Tian again!

Li Batian had sent him away because of Jiang Tian, and now Tan Hongyu had turned on him because of Jiang Tian too!

A short while later, Follower One came running out of the Martial Arts Hall with a bitter look and hurried over to Li Batian. Panting, he said, "Young Master Li, Jiang Tian wouldn't listen to me at all... No matter what I said, he just ignored me. I even told him you'd sent me. Isn't he making you lose face? We gave him lunch for nothing!"

"Hiss—" Li Batian sucked in a sharp breath, his brows knotting together as his expression shifted uncertainly.

Just then, Follower Two sidled up, his eyes darting around. "Young Master Li, do you think Jiang Tian is a genius?"

"You idiot, what kind of nonsense is that?" Li Batian kicked Follower Two to the side of the road and snapped, "He tempered his body in three days. There isn't a second person in all of Blackwater County who could do it faster! If he's not a genius, then what are you?"

Follower Two hurriedly scrambled to his feet, rubbing the spot where he'd been kicked. With a big grin, he said, "Think about it. Geniuses are bound to think differently from ordinary people, and they're proud and aloof too. If you invite him so abruptly, he's obviously going to refuse. Why not give it a few days? Bring him lunch every day, and if that still doesn't work, add a Blood Vitality Pill to the food. After a few days, he'll agree on his own."

Li Batian's eyes shifted as he thought it over. It did seem to make sense.

What genius wasn't arrogant, with a temper of his own? Jiang Tian had tempered his body in three days, and Li Batian thought one meal would be enough to get close to him? That was unlikely.

"Good idea!" Li Batian patted Follower Two heavily on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Go collect a Blood Vitality Pill from the accounts office later."

"Will do!"

In Blackwater County, inside a dim alley.

Xiao Shan followed silently behind Jiang Tian, his gaze fixed on the figure ahead, excitement beyond his control shining in his eyes.

He'd gone to scout things out specially that day, catching a distant glimpse of Jiang Tian's sister-in-law. Well, she really was as voluptuous as Zhang Qingfeng had said.

Just thinking about how he'd be able to go and... after finishing this job—

A lewd heat rose in his lower belly, and he quickened his pace.

But as he followed, he suddenly felt that something was off.

This wasn't the way home!

He'd gotten Jiang Tian's home address from Zhang Qingfeng, but Jiang Tian was heading in the complete opposite direction.

Had that brat spotted me?

Just as the thought crossed his mind, Jiang Tian suddenly quickened his pace and turned into an even narrower alley. Xiao Shan hurried after him, but when he rounded the corner—

The alley was empty. There wasn't a soul in sight.

"Where'd he go?"

Xiao Shan stood at the mouth of the alley, looking left and right with a deep frown.

A whole grown man had vanished in the space of a few seconds?

"Forget it. I'll go straight to his house." He muttered, turning to leave.

Thinking of Jiang Tian's sister-in-law's figure, he couldn't help but snicker again.

Xiao Shan was so blinded by lust that he didn't notice one thing: Jiang Tian had only joined the Martial Arts Hall a few days ago. How had he managed to shake off a seasoned Body Tempering practitioner like Xiao Shan?

"Going to my house? Who told you where I live?"

A voice, icy cold, suddenly came from behind him.

Xiao Shan's pupils contracted. He spun around.

At the dim alley entrance, a tall, slender figure emerged from the shadows.

Jiang Tian.

He leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, his expression blank as he stared at Xiao Shan. His eyes were as cold as the bitter winter frost.

Xiao Shan was startled at first, but then the corners of his mouth slowly curled upward, and a cruel smile spread across his face.

"Brat, since you're not running and have come right to me—"

He rolled his neck, his joints cracking sharply, and advanced toward Jiang Tian one step at a time.

"Then I'll take care of you first, and go have my way with your sister-in-law!"