Some time later, the inspection trip came to an end.
Before Xu Jiujiu left, she took out a deck of cards, tore open the packaging, drew a card, and held it between her fingers as she said:
"You once promised to help me thirty times."
"Although you said it would be after you became a Titled Douluo, helping me hunt for my Fifth Soul Ring now shouldn't be difficult for someone of your strength, should it?"
Chu Qing took the card, somewhat puzzled.
"The Soul Power fluctuations from you haven't reached level fifty yet, have they?"
Xu Jiujiu smiled sweetly.
"As long as you agree."
"In a few months or so, I'll be able to break through."
"I'll come for the second batch of goods then and find you while I'm here."
After seeing Xu Jiujiu off, Tang Wutong, who stood beside him, immediately began speaking in a mocking tone:
"Thirty cards in a deck. Wow! How romantic!"
Chu Qing was speechless. He said:
"What could I do? She helped me sort out the Star Luo Empire business and asked for this. What could I do?"
"If you help me sort out the area around your Clear Sky Sect, I'll do the same for you."
He knew the Clear Sky Sect was deeply secluded. The closest place was Heaven Dou City, the capital of the Heavenly Soul Empire, and there was no way she could clear the way for him in that area.
Sure enough, Tang Wutong puffed out her cheeks and said:
"Hmph!"
"I don't care for your help anyway."
Chu Qing was happy to have her act that way and finally had a relatively quiet stretch of time to cultivate.
Tang Wutong went shopping with Xue Li, returning to her lazy habits.
While trying on custom-made clothes at the tailor's shop, Tang Wutong couldn't stop complaining.
Xue Li was a little angry too. She said:
"Hmph, Xiao Wu, you've only just come back, so you don't know yet."
"After a while, when Shrek's on break, another bunny girl will be coming."
"Who? What bunny girl?"
"You'll know when she gets here. I'm telling you, she's such a green tea bitch. What's with her pretending to be a pure little white flower every single day..."
After hearing that, Tang Wutong joined in the complaining.
Time passed, and when Jiang Nannan came to work for the summer, Tang Wutong went up to greet her curiously, joining Xue Li in putting on a false show of warmth.
Xu Sanshi, who had accompanied Jiang Nannan on the way, pulled Chu Qing aside and questioned him:
"Chu Qing, I understand that a friend's wife is off-limits."
"Tell me honestly, do you have feelings for Nannan?"
"If you do, I'll let you have her. Otherwise, I'm going to pursue her."
Chu Qing shook his head.
"I don't like her."
Xu Sanshi immediately clenched his fist and cheered with excitement. Patting Chu Qing on the shoulder, he said:
"I knew I was right about you."
"Don't worry, it's not like I won't compensate you."
As he spoke, he pulled a Swan Grand Hotel room card from his pocket and grinned sleazily.
"I'll introduce you to an awesome girl."
Chu Qing pushed it away.
"Not interested."
"I love cultivation, and cultivation loves me."
The smile on Xu Sanshi's face grew increasingly strange as he said:
"Hehehe, trust me."
"You know her. She said you'd be very pleasantly surprised to see her."
"She also said that ever since you parted last time, she hasn't stopped thinking about you for a single moment."
Chu Qing found that strange.
Not far away, however, the sharp-eared Tang Wutong pricked up her ears and began eavesdropping.
"Would I set you up?"
"If she really were a songstress, would I need to go out of my way to tell you about her?"
With that, he stuffed the room card into Chu Qing's hand.
Chu Qing didn't refuse again. Xu Sanshi turned around, immediately spotted Jiang Nannan, and forced his way into the conversation with Xue Li and the others.
Without the slightest restraint, he glanced over to see that Chu Qing had gone far away, then said in a low voice:
"Let me tell you some gossip on the quiet. Don't breathe a word of it, or Chu Qing will definitely beat me to death!"
All three women were immediately interested and listened intently.
"Keep a close eye on him. That guy just told me he's going to room 520 at the Swan Grand Hotel for a secret meeting with an old flame."
Xue Li frowned.
Tang Wutong cried out in surprise:
"Is it really that juicy?"
Jiang Nannan grew a little doubtful and said:
"Senior Sanshi, are you talking about Jin Su?"
"Secret. I have to show a little loyalty."
Xu Sanshi suddenly picked his scruples back up and began standing on principle.
Elsewhere, Chu Qing, still completely unaware, looked at the room card for 520. He could rack his brains all he liked and still couldn't think which girl he and Xu Sanshi both knew might be waiting for him.
Could it be some little fangirl who had accidentally been struck by his handsomeness?
"Hehehe, with my charm, it's not impossible."
He began to look forward to it. By the next day, Chu Qing finally couldn't hold back and found a random excuse to go out.
The others all understood without a word. A whole crowd, among whom the news had long since spread, followed him with mischievous grins.
Xu Sanshi comforted himself.
Brother! It's not that I'm setting you up. You're the one who couldn't resist temptation.
There's no other way. I'm doing this so Nannan can see what kind of person you really are.
Chu Qing, still unaware of how treacherous people could be, noticed nothing. Instead, on the way there, he kept wondering what she would look like.
Inside the room, Jin Su had long since polished the Golden Dragon Spear until it gleamed and was waiting, rubbing her fists and palms together.
She stood by the window, keeping a constant watch on the square below.
By then, Chu Qing had reached the square as well. He looked up and saw a beautiful figure suddenly pull back out of sight.
"Is she shy?"
"She probably isn't ugly."
Excited, he couldn't help quickening his pace.
Jin Su also activated Golden Perception and sat down on the edge of the bed to wait.
Before long, she sensed Chu Qing standing outside the door, straightening his clothes.
After a while, he started fixing his hair.
Jin Su frowned and cursed him inwardly for taking so long.
Chu Qing cleared his throat and opened the door with the room card. Click.
He pushed the door open and entered, only to see a beautiful figure from behind.
Jin Su wore a silver-white, backless fishtail dress, and her golden hair shone in the sunlight streaming through the window.
Beneath her golden hair, her snow-white skin was half concealed and half revealed, like a mountain peak covered in fresh snow, beautiful and pure.
The elegant curve of her back was smooth and strong, like a dancer's figure, full of movement.
Below that, the skirt around her hips outlined her perfect figure to the fullest.
Chu Qing was captivated at first sight. In his eyes, the silver-white gown made her as sacred and beautiful as a bride.
This trip really hadn't been for nothing.
He prayed inwardly that she wouldn't turn out to be beautiful only from behind.
He walked up, trying his best to act like a gentleman, and asked:
"You were looking for me?"
"Have we met before?"
Jin Su nodded stiffly, not gently enough.
But Chu Qing noticed nothing amiss. Instead, he found her a little clumsy and cute.
His curiosity had reached its peak. He walked forward, wanting to get a clear look at her face.
Finally, when he reached her, the Golden Dragon Spear appeared in Jin Su's hand. She turned and thrust it back at him.
In that instant, Chu Qing saw her face clearly too.
It was Jin Su!
A triumphant smile appeared on Jin Su's face. Her attack erupted, instantly piercing Chu Qing's chest.
"Have you been well since we last met?"