Chapter 121: Blown Toward a Girl

Qin Xuan was puzzled. If she wasn’t jealous, then why did she keep looking at him with such a resentful gaze? It seemed women truly were creatures beyond understanding.

“All right, Qianqian, don’t scold him like that,” Dongfang Qingwan said with a gentle smile, her voice soft and tender. “If you want to scold him, wait until we get home.”

Liu Qianqian glanced around and noticed that passing students were all giving Qin Xuan disdainful looks, evidently assuming he had done something utterly despicable to her. They stopped to watch, whispering among themselves. Being called “crazy” and “pervert” by a girl pointing a finger in one’s face required a certain skill.

“Ahem, Brother Fu is here. Let’s head home first and talk later,” Qin Xuan coughed lightly and swiftly dashed out of the school gate.

Liu Qianqian exchanged a knowing smile with Dongfang Qingwan, and they followed him. Along the way, Dongfang Qingwan whispered, “Qianqian, if you really like Qin Xuan, you’d better make your move early.”

“Qingwan, why are you saying that too?” Liu Qianqian protested, poking her lightly.

“Isn’t it obvious? Every time Teacher Su comes to see him, you get upset. Isn’t that jealousy?” Dongfang Qingwan nodded confidently.

“That’s not it at all. I’ll tell you a secret, but don’t tell anyone,” Liu Qianqian leaned close and whispered mysteriously, “Actually, it’s a bet between me and my master.”

“A bet with your master?” Dongfang Qingwan’s eyes widened. “Is it related to Qin Xuan?”

“Yes, it’s related,” Liu Qianqian said with a troubled expression. “If I lose, my master will drag me back to the mountain.”

Dongfang Qingwan, always understanding, though full of questions, saw that Liu Qianqian wasn’t willing to elaborate, so she let it go. At least now she knew it wasn’t jealousy; it was the fear of losing a bet and being taken back to the mountain.

“Finally, this blasted military training is over,” Qin Xuan sighed as he sat in the front passenger seat on the way back.

“Yeah, it’s even more boring than training in the mountains,” Liu Qianqian chimed in from the back seat.

“You two are the only ones who think that. Everyone else looks like they’re half dead from exhaustion,” Dongfang Qingwan smiled quietly. She had become much brighter these days, no longer so gloomy because of her Yin Shadow Constitution.

“That’s not fair. They’ve only been exhausted for a few days, but we’ve been tired since we were kids,” Qin Xuan sighed.

As a child, he had carried buckets of water up the mountain, crossed ridges, chopped wood—every basic training was brutally hard, something ordinary people couldn’t even imagine. Not to mention the formal cultivation later on, or traveling with his master to exorcise demons, living in dilapidated temples and huts, starving and exposed to the elements. There were even times when he nearly died; how could a few days of military training compare?

“Hmm, that makes sense,” Dongfang Qingwan nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly grew curious. “In the mountains, besides training, what else do you do? Classes start tomorrow...” She meant, of course, would they even understand those courses after coming from the mountain? But she didn’t dare say it outright, lest it sound condescending.

“There’s plenty else to do,” Qin Xuan smiled knowingly. “Especially that stubborn master of mine. He insists that a swordsman must keep up with the times, so he prepared all kinds of books for me from a young age, covering everything from astronomy and geography to humanities and economics. I’ve basically completed courses from middle school through university by now.”

“Really?” Dongfang Qingwan was surprised.

“Of course. Not just English, but Russian, Mongolian, even Iraqi—I’m proficient in them all,” Qin Xuan boasted.

Without a solid skill set, no matter how great one’s background, it would be impossible to get into Jinling University, the top comprehensive university in Jinling.

“That’s amazing!” Dongfang Qingwan exclaimed.

Liu Qianqian quickly scoffed, “Qingwan, don’t listen to his bragging. If it’s English, maybe I’d believe it, but Russian and Mongolian? Where would he have the time to learn all that?”

“Ah, you understand me, girl,” Qin Xuan sighed.

“Ha?” Dongfang Qingwan suddenly realized she’d been fooled and stomped her foot in mock anger. “I didn’t expect you to brag too, Qin Xuan.”

“Well, my master once said, a little bragging is harmless, but too much is bad for you. A bit of boasting now and then isn’t so bad—it might even help you win a girl...” Qin Xuan grinned.

“Pah, to win a girl with bragging? That’s shameless,” Liu Qianqian scorned him further.

Dongfang Qingwan couldn’t help but laugh. “Qin Xuan, I didn’t expect your master to be so cheeky.”

“Hehe. If my master hears that, I’ll get a spanking,” Qin Xuan chuckled.

“Why?” Dongfang Qingwan asked curiously.

“Ahem. Little Qin Xuan’s master isn’t an old man,” Liu Qianqian coughed to remind her.

“Not an old man?” Dongfang Qingwan looked confused. Weren’t masters of cultivators usually old men, like that so-called Golden Light Master last time?

“Well, if you ever meet him, you’ll understand...” Qin Xuan said, just as the car stopped in front of a villa gate. He looked out the window, stunned—speak of the devil.

Perched on the villa’s gate was a snow-white little dove, leisurely preening its beautiful feathers.

“Wow, such a lovely little bird,” Dongfang Qingwan exclaimed as she got out of the car, immediately captivated by the dove’s pure white wings.

“Qingwan, that’s not a bird,” Liu Qianqian smiled, taking her hand. “That’s purely condensed from true energy. Qin Xuan, did your master send for you?”

“Yeah,” Qin Xuan nodded. He had informed his master about the Soul Refining Pearl last time but hadn’t expected a reply so late.

Brother Fu greeted them and drove off. Dongfang Qingwan had been staying here for two weeks without incident and had grown much cheerier thanks to Liu Qianqian, which pleased Brother Fu and Dongfang Jingtiao greatly. The entire Dongfang family felt much more at ease.

“You two go in first. I’ll see what my master wants,” Qin Xuan said as he opened the door. The white dove flapped its wings and flew up—not toward Qin Xuan’s hand as expected, but straight to Dongfang Qingwan.

Caught off guard, Dongfang Qingwan reached out excitedly to touch the dove’s feathers.

Suddenly, a card shot out from the dove, landing precisely in her hand.

“Huh? Qin Xuan, your master even prepared something for Qingwan?” Liu Qianqian was curious and leaned over to look, her eyes widening in shock.

Qin Xuan was equally puzzled. What could his master have prepared for Dongfang Qingwan? Might it be some treasure to protect her? He leaned closer as well, but as soon as he glimpsed the card, his expression stiffened, his composure shaken…