Ahead of the Meta

The next day.

Lianshan Xin was still on a date with the Duke of Zhou's daughter when He Miaojun interrupted his dream.

"Mom, why are you waking me up so early?" Lianshan Xin sounded rather displeased. "Didn't I tell you last night that I wasn't doing morning training today?"

Lianshan Xin had always been very disciplined. Ever since he turned twelve, he had gotten up at seven to practice martial arts almost every day, come rain or shine.

But now he had decided to take his talents to the cultivation world, and Qi Shiyun had said he had a talent for immortal cultivation.

Who would still get up early to practice martial arts, then?

Discipline was fine. Self-torture was unnecessary.

He Miaojun's cheeks were rosy, and she positively glowed with joy. She looked much healthier than she had yesterday.

Last night, Lianshan Jingcheng had mixed the Millennium Snow Lotus into her medicine and given it to her.

With another month of careful recuperation, she would essentially make a full recovery.

Happy occasions put a spring in the spirit.

He Miaojun was visibly delighted. She did not take issue with the impatience in the voice of the son who had just shown her such filial devotion. Instead, she said proudly, "Xin, you've really done your mother proud."

"What happened?"

"A matchmaker came to propose a marriage."

"Pfft."

Lianshan Xin snapped awake.

"I'm only eighteen!"

"What's wrong with eighteen? Eighteen isn't young anymore. Old Mr. Li down the street has a grandson your age, and his child is already a year old," He Miaojun said dismissively.

Lianshan Xin had no comeback.

In this feudal age, people really did marry and have children early.

Clearly, word had spread that he had been recommended for admission to White Deer Grotto Academy.

He had instantly become a hot commodity.

"Mom, don't go pairing mandarin ducks at random. With your son's looks, aptitude, and talent, I've got a chance of marrying a princess someday," Lianshan Xin said warily.

He Miaojun smiled as she watched him show off, even playing along. "Never mind marrying a princess. Under court regulations, a princess's consort can hold no office higher than the third rank. My son is going to reach the first rank."

"You're right, Mom. My goal is to command armies and serve as chancellor, bringing glory to our ancestors. A princess isn't good enough for me."

"Call you fat, and you start puffing and panting."

Unable to help herself, He Miaojun gave him a knock on the head.

"I've turned away all those unreliable matchmakers for you."

Lianshan Xin breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeking an official career at White Deer Grotto Academy came with risks. He really had worried that He Miaojun and Lianshan Jingcheng would force him to have a child first to carry on the family bloodline.

"Then why did you wake me up, Mom? Yesterday wore me out. I need a good rest today."

Though he had not needed to fight yesterday, it had still taken a great deal of mental effort.

"Your sweetheart came to see you," He Miaojun said.

"Who?" Lianshan Xin froze. "Mom, don't talk nonsense. Why would I have a sweetheart at my age? This is the age when I should devote myself to studying and martial arts."

"Dai Yueying is here."

"Dai Yueying? Teacher Dai's daughter?"

Lianshan Xin frowned. "What's she doing here?"

His reaction puzzled He Miaojun too. "Weren't you two almost a couple before?"

"Mom, I have to correct you. She liked me. I just never explicitly turned her down because her father was Teacher Dai."

Lianshan Xin had, of course, attended school, and Teacher Dai had been his teacher at the private school.

Dai Yueying was Teacher Dai's only daughter.

She and Lianshan Xin had once been very close. He Miaojun and Lianshan Jingcheng both knew about it, and for a time they had thought the two would soon be discussing marriage.

Teacher Dai was a provincial examination graduate, and his family's circumstances were not inferior to theirs. Both He Miaojun and Lianshan Jingcheng had been pleased with Dai Yueying.

But later, for some unknown reason, the two had stopped seeing each other.

Lianshan Xin had offered no explanation, and He Miaojun and Lianshan Jingcheng had not pressed him, afraid of dredging up painful memories for their son.

Now, hearing his explanation, He Miaojun sounded doubtful. "Really?"

Lianshan Xin was offended. "Mom, do you have any idea how outstanding your son is?"

He Miaojun nodded. "With your utterly unremarkable looks, below-average martial aptitude, and middling academic results, the beautiful daughter of a provincial graduate fell for you first? Son, I may be your mother, but your mother isn't an idiot."

Lianshan Xin coughed lightly and explained, "Kong Ningyuan treated me to a meal once, and Dai Yueying saw us. She started liking me after that."

Understanding dawned on He Miaojun. "So that's what happened. That makes sense, then. Why did you two stop seeing each other afterward?"

"She deliberately approached me, and because of Teacher Dai, I didn't dare turn her down. Once, she even gave me a martial arts manual."

"The Falling Goose Sword, the one you practiced for half a month without even grasping the basics?" He Miaojun remembered.

"Yes. After that, she pretty much stopped coming to see me."

He Miaojun looked bemused. "Anyone with even a little martial talent can grasp the basics of the Falling Goose Sword within seven days. The fact that Dai Yueying waited half a month shows she's quite a patient girl."

"Mom, whose side are you on?" Lianshan Xin protested.

He Miaojun immediately switched sides. "Absolutely outrageous. The girl may be pretty, but she's vain. She's no suitable match. Son, if you marry, you must find a woman who can share both your joys and your hardships."

"Of course. If you want to be a general's wife, you have to marry him while he's still a foot soldier. Dai Yueying is too precocious. She's actually a normal person, but I really don't have any special feelings for her."

Lianshan Xin did not have a negative opinion of Dai Yueying.

Vanity was a perfectly normal quality. He was vain too.

But he certainly would not develop anything beyond friendship with Dai Yueying, especially when she was approaching him at a time like this.

Was immortal cultivation not fun, or were martial arts too easy?

At this stage, women would only slow his sword draw.

"Mom, help me send her away."

"You should go yourself. I'm not good at handling this sort of thing. Besides, Teacher Dai does count as something of a mentor to you. You should let the girl save some face."

"All right, then. Have her wait out front for a bit."

Lianshan Xin quickly got up and washed.

A quarter of an hour later, he saw Dai Yueying standing in the courtyard.

Then his gaze sharpened.

Hmm?

Why did she seem different from before?

Her figure had filled out a little, but that was not the point.

The point was her bearing.

Their eyes met.

Lianshan Xin found himself looking into eyes brimming with unspoken affection. Their rippling gaze was clearer than the waters of a stream waking at dawn, yet held a cool, deep green stillness that drew him in almost against his will.

Giving his head a slight shake, Lianshan Xin shifted his gaze to the rest of her. The morning breeze gently brushed her hair and skirt, setting her moon-white dress and pale green sash drifting softly, as though flowing clouds had been wrapped around her. Every step swayed with grace.

"You... seem prettier?"

Lianshan Xin was not flirting with Dai Yueying. He was stating a fact.

The Dai Yueying he had known before had been a modest six out of ten at most, incapable of stirring even a ripple in his heart.

But although her features had undergone no fundamental change, the impression she gave him now far surpassed the old one. She could easily be called an eight-out-of-ten beauty, and even stirred a little desire in him.

Was this what they meant when they said a girl went through eighteen transformations, growing prettier with each one?

Had she grown into her looks?

Dai Yueying smiled gently and brushed back the hair beside her ear. "During all those days when you ignored me, Brother Xin, I was working to improve myself too. You weren't the only one secretly working hard, getting ready to amaze everyone."

Lianshan Xin shuddered. "Talk normally. You're three months older than me. What's with this 'Brother Xin' business?"

Dai Yueying's smile stiffened slightly, and a flicker of surprise passed deep within her eyes.

The Bewitching Art my master personally taught me actually failed to charm this fellow?

Could it be that I haven't mastered my Bewitching Art?

No, impossible. Even Master said I have a born bewitching physique.

Then there's only one explanation:

Lianshan Xin's heart in pursuit of the Dao is iron, unmoved by feminine beauty!

Upon realizing this, Dai Yueying's gaze toward Lianshan Xin unconsciously gained one part admiration and one part respect.

The remaining ninety-eight parts were pure composure.

However firm his will, he was still an eighteen-year-old who had never seen the world.

Compared with a Saintess Candidate like herself, who had seen the wider world and participated in the struggle between the Demon Cult and Nine Heavens, he was still far behind.

"Brother Xin, are you angry because I neglected you before?" Dai Yueying asked.

Lianshan Xin held up a thumb. "First, call me Lianshan Xin. Second, that wasn't neglect. You vanished straight off a cliff. Third, I'm not angry."

Dai Yueying could tell that Lianshan Xin truly was not angry.

How can you not be angry?

You actually aren't angry that I neglected you.

That means you have no feelings for me whatsoever.

You really don't know what's good for you.

And so Dai Yueying became angry. "Brother Xin, I was simply busy with my studies before. Unlike you, I don't know the Sixth Young Master of the Kong Family and can't get a recommendation from him. Father told me to study and practice martial arts diligently. I want to get into White Deer Grotto Academy too, so I didn't have time to come see you. I wasn't deliberately neglecting you."

Lianshan Xin nodded casually. "Got it. Was there anything else?"

Dai Yueying grew angrier still, her little lotus buds, whose tips had only just emerged, swelling an entire dimension with indignation. "Brother Xin, can't we rekindle our old romance?"

Lianshan Xin laughed. "What old romance?"

The two had never even held hands.

Dai Yueying's heart in pursuit of the Dao was not firm enough. Unable to maintain her gentle demeanor, she revealed a trace of anger. "But you accepted my gifts! I compiled Father's Teaching Syllabus for you, and I even gave you his treasured Falling Goose Sword manual. You accepted them all. How can you say there was nothing between us?"

Lianshan Xin looked puzzled. "I did accept your gifts, but accepting your gifts isn't the same as accepting you."

Dai Yueying completely lost her composure. "Lianshan Xin, have you no shame?"

Even we in the Demon Cult aren't this shameless.

Lianshan Xin shook his head helplessly.

A feudal society simply did not understand what it meant to be ahead of the meta.