At first, Ning Xiang had been deeply touched by her dad's gift. After listening to his message, though, she could only fall to her knees.
Before she formed her core, her dad had kept a strict guard against every man around her, forbidding any early romance that might interfere with her cultivation. Now he was getting anxious?
Fine. Although Ning Xiang would have loved to find herself a few more men, everyone knew webnovels no longer allowed one wife to have multiple husbands. She could only dream.
Early the next morning, Ning Xiang headed to Chengfeng Courtyard.
First, she saw two skinny, completely bald immortal cranes.
Then she saw two plump, completely bald kakapos.
The cranes were catching fish in the cold pool, while the parrots were climbing trees.
Hmm. It seemed these stupid birds had enjoyed quite a rich assortment of recreational activities over the past few days.
Soon, Lu Qingchen came out.
Looking at his cool, aloof features and his impeccably arranged clothes, Ning Xiang could not help sighing inwardly.
Even though he's covered up so tightly, in my eyes, he might as well be wearing nothing.
Lu Qingchen gave her a cool glance.
Ning Xiang found it strange. Why was her master looking at her like that?
"Practice your swordplay."
Ning Xiang summoned the Azure Sea Sword and devoted herself to her practice without a distracting thought.
The morning breeze was slightly chilly, yet the young woman's Sword Qi drove the icy chill from Chengfeng Courtyard.
Lu Qingchen stood beneath the covered walkway with his hands behind his back.
After practicing the entire Fire Dance Sunflame Sword Art, Ning Xiang caught sight of Lu Qingchen out of the corner of her eye and suddenly felt like playing a prank.
Her Sword Qi slashed toward a tree beside Lu Qingchen, its branches glittering like jade. The snow piled on them showered down over his head.
"Master, I didn't mean to! My slash just went astray!"
Ning Xiang had already flown several yards away.
Her bright, clear voice echoed through Chengfeng Courtyard.
Lu Qingchen followed with the Canglang Sword in hand. "Let's exchange a few moves."
Ning Xiang had also been hoping to experience Lu Qingchen's swordsmanship, so she said, "Then please excuse your disciple's poor showing."
The two began exchanging blows in midair.
One was graceful and vigorous; the other, bold and dashing.
Lu Qingchen had watched Ning Xiang practice several times and had long since gauged the full extent of her abilities.
They remained locked in combat for a long time, neither gaining the upper hand.
Ning Xiang deliberately left an opening, but that fellow Lu Qingchen actually refused to take the bait.
She landed lightly on the tip of a green bamboo stalk and raised her brows at him. "Why didn't you fall for it?"
Standing opposite her, Lu Qingchen revealed a rare hint of a smile. "Your swordsmanship has already reached perfect mastery. How could you possibly leave such an obvious opening?"
"I'll take that as a compliment, then. Master, do you have so little confidence in your own swordsmanship? You think I couldn't possibly falter under your attacks?"
Lu Qingchen said, "Or perhaps you lack confidence in your own swordsmanship."
Ning Xiang would have liked to be confident, but what could she do? In the original novel's setting, Lu Qingchen was the foremost master of swordsmanship.
While her mind was wandering, a biting gust suddenly swept toward her.
She raised her eyes, only to see white snow cascading over her head and face.
Through the swirling snow, she saw that fellow Lu Qingchen's serene, distant features-and the teasing glint in his eyes.
The snow dyed her ink-black hair frosty white. With a mouthful of faintly bitter snow, Ning Xiang spat twice, then laughed aloud. "Master, if you treat your disciple like this, she'll have to pay you back!"
With that, she formed seals with both hands. The ice and snow in Chengfeng Courtyard floated into the air, then drifted down thickly like goose feathers.
Snow whirled on the flowing breeze, a sight too beautiful to take in.
Ning Xiang got another mouthful of snow.
Careless! I should have made the snow fall only on Lu Qingchen's head!
She flew down from the bamboo tip and stood beside Lu Qingchen.
Ning Xiang summoned the Starcloud Umbrella and raised it overhead, tilting her head to look at him. "Master, you lost this time."
Beyond the umbrella, the snow lay gleaming white.
Beneath it stood a slender beauty, lovely as jade.
The young woman's bright eyes sparkled with intelligence and mischievous charm.
A thick layer of snow covered both their heads and shoulders.
Ning Xiang suddenly remembered a line of poetry she had once read.
Though longing keeps us in two places, the same snow falls upon our heads; in this life, we may count that as growing white-haired together. Hmm, that needs changing. Clearly, this longing is all in one place.
Growing white-haired together?
Lu Qingchen gazed at the young woman's delicate, lively features, and something stirred in his heart. That seemed to be a very lovely prospect.
At that thought, Lu Qingchen moved his fingers. A gust blew in, nearly tearing the Starcloud Umbrella from Ning Xiang's grasp. She had no choice but to put it away and stand in the falling snow with him.
When it was time for the morning lesson, Ning Xiang stared at the several heads that had suddenly appeared in the classroom, unable to react for a moment.
"Senior Sister Ning! Cuddles!"
Ning Xiang gritted her teeth. "What are you all doing here?"
Good grief. Zhou Ruoxue, Bai Yueguang, and the others sat there in a neat row, making Ning Xiang think she had transmigrated again.
And why was Wen Maimai here too? Were they planning to tear Solitary Light Peak apart?
Zhou Ruoxue looked thrilled. "After our trip to Thousand Calamities Valley, the sect leader of the Luo River Sect felt that our sect's specialization was too narrow and our prospects were worrying, so he sent elite disciples to learn from the Profound Heaven Sect. Uncle Su assigned me to Solitary Light Peak so Senior Brother Su could look after me a little. But don't worry, Senior Sister Ning. I have a new idol now. Senior Brother Su is already a thing of the past."
After speaking, Zhou Ruoxue even gave Su Lang an apologetic look and offered a sincere apology. "Senior Brother Su, you have countless fans. Losing me shouldn't matter. Besides, when it comes to making people feel safe, you're still a little behind Senior Sister Ning."
Unfollowing him and taking a parting swipe, too. You really are something.
"Elite disciples?" Ning Xiang was speechless. "I think only half that phrase has anything to do with you."
She looked at Bai Yueguang. "And you? Don't tell me you're here for the same reason?"
Bai Yueguang nodded emphatically. "Yes!" He clenched his fists and declared passionately, "Besides that, I've also come to pursue my literary dreams."
Ning Xiang said, "Huh?"
"To tell you the truth, Senior Sister Ning, you inspired me to write a novel. But after I returned to the Ten Thousand Swords Sect and couldn't see you anymore, I discovered I had writer's block. So I asked my master to let me study at the Profound Heaven Sect as an exchange student for a year."
You bastard, Bai Yueguang. I was just worrying about how to find a chance to kill you, and here you are, delivering yourself right to my door.
Ning Xiang then looked at Wen Maimai.
Wen Maimai hurriedly said, "I'm not like them. I really want to attend Uncle-Master Lu's lessons!"
Ning Xiang thought, Just destroy it all!
By the time Yu Tingchao came in, every seat around Ning Xiang-front, back, left, and right-was taken. His face was full of resentment, and he was unhappy.
[Dear host, please don't have so much fun that you forget to return to your duties. You still have an unfinished side quest.]
Only when the damned system's voice sounded did Ning Xiang remember that stupid quest.
Eldest Senior Brother is as noble as a pure breeze. I can hardly respect and love him enough. How could I bear to mock him?
She was still wrangling with the damned system when Su Lang's gaze landed on her.
Ning Xiang sat up straight, cast him a sidelong glance, and sneered, "Eldest Senior Brother, have you never seen a beauty before? Why do you keep staring at me?"
Before you continue