Xu Qing gazed at the painting before her, her mind gradually drifting. After a long while, she said softly, “You paint so beautifully.”
“Right? Better than the real person, right? I think so too,” Jiang Huai accepted Xu Qing’s compliment without a hint of guilt.
Mu Yao, whose attempt to stir up trouble had failed, stared at the painting for several seconds. In the end, she said nothing more, merely pouting and ignoring Jiang Huai. She sidled up to Xu Qing, “Why are you here to see me?”
“I was bored alone in the courtyard, and I thought Jiang Huai had already left you…”
“I was just about to leave,” Jiang Huai ruffled his hair. But Mu Yao stepped in front of him, stood on tiptoes, and reached out to pinch his face, “You’re not allowed to leave.”
“I’ve finished painting for you, what else do you want?”
“I still have questions for you.”
“Ask away.”
“About my acupoints, Sister Qing’er is here… can I ask?” Mu Yao’s words were quite direct as she sought Jiang Huai’s opinion. Jiang Huai nodded gently, “Of course, just ask.”
“The evil spirits in my acupoints were not only forced out by you, but the innate blockages in my acupoints were also opened. Can you also open acupoints for others?”
“Sort of, but this is a secret, you can’t tell anyone,” Jiang Huai thought seriously before adding, “If you tell, I won’t admit it, and you know the consequences.”
Xu Qing glanced at him sideways.
Her talent was exceptional; forty-two of the acupoints in her body had been opened, with only seven remaining closed. Jiang Huai noticed her gaze, but he said nothing, and Xu Qing asked nothing.
“I remember you and Sister Qing’er have a very good relationship, right? You survived from Daoji Ancestral Land together.”
“Yes,” Jiang Huai nodded lightly.
“Then can you also open Xu Qing’er’s acupoints?” Mu Yao’s tone sounded particularly innocent, but before Jiang Huai could reply, Xu Qing spoke softly, “It’s okay, I don’t need it.”
Mu Yao suddenly leaned closer, cupping Xu Qing’s face in her hands and winking at her, “Sister Qing’er is always too polite to everyone, that’s why she barely has any good friends. But relationships grow closer through mutual effort. Instead of rejecting him right away, why not ask him first?”
Xu Qing turned her gaze to Jiang Huai. He looked at her eyes and said softly, “It’s not troublesome, it’s just… it might require a little… how to say it? It might require shedding some clothing and touching Miss Xu Qing’s skin.”
“Ew,” Mu Yao looked up at Jiang Huai, “You talk so hypocritically.”
“Hypocritically?”
“Sister Qing’er is shy. Saying it like that, she’ll naturally want to refuse. But it’s just applying medicinal liquid to the skin and then using a silver needle to prick it. Does Sister Qing’er want to try?”
However, Xu Qing still looked hesitant. Mu Yao seemed to guess her thoughts, “Don’t worry, he doesn’t look unwilling.”
Jiang Huai was momentarily speechless. The tips of Xu Qing’s ears flushed with a slight blush. She wanted to say something but couldn’t. Jiang Huai cast a helpless glance at Mu Yao, then said to Xu Qing, “Let’s talk outside.”
Xu Qing obediently followed Jiang Huai as they left Mu Yao’s room together.
***
Jiang Huai closed the door gently as he left.
Xu Qing seemed a little flustered. Jiang Huai thought for a moment, softened his tone, and said gently, “Opening acupoints isn’t a troublesome matter. You just need to apply some medicinal liquid to the blocked acupoints and then use a silver needle with a secret technique to open the innate blockages. It’s inevitable that skin will be touched in the process. If you want, you can tell me anytime, and I’ll open them for you.”
Jiang Huai always felt a sense of unspoken debt towards Xu Qing.
“I… I’ll think about it carefully,” Xu Qing nodded lightly.
Xu Qing seemed to drift off again until Jiang Huai waved his hand in front of her. She came back to her senses. Jiang Huai looked at her, puzzled, “What are you thinking about?”
“That painting… it’s really well done,” Xu Qing said softly.
“If you want it, I can paint one for you too.”
Xu Qing’s eyelashes trembled slightly. A surge of unspoken anticipation welled up in her heart, yet it was tinged with a sense of fear. After a moment, she said softly, “Then… can you draw it for me tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow?”
“Mhm…”
Although Jiang Huai wanted to ask why not now, he didn’t. Instead, he nodded gently and agreed, “Okay, then tomorrow, after I finish cultivating that soul secret technique with Mu Yao, I’ll come to your courtyard to find you?”
“Mhm…”
“I heard from Mu Yao that you know her very well?”
“Mhm, we’ve known each other for a very, very long time.”
“I see…” Jiang Huai suddenly didn’t know what to say. He and Xu Qing always seemed to fall into such silences. Perhaps it was because he didn’t talk much, and Xu Qing wasn’t good at initiating casual conversation.
“Then… should I go back now?”
“Mhm,” Xu Qing nodded lightly.
Until Jiang Huai left through the courtyard gate, Xu Qing stood there blankly. Mu Yao, who had been eavesdropping behind the door, now opened it and came to Xu Qing’s side. Her cheeks were flushed with a smile, and she waved her hand in front of Xu Qing, “Sister Qing’er, what are you thinking about?”
“Nothing,” Xu Qing shook her head.
“Could it be that Sister Qing’er has really fallen for him?” A hint of playfulness flickered in Mu Yao’s eyes. “I heard his name from Sister Qing’er a long time ago.”
“He doesn’t like me,” Xu Qing didn’t avoid Mu Yao’s question, merely answering softly, her eyelashes gradually drooping.
“That’s not necessarily true,” Mu Yao shook her head. “In terms of appearance, Sister Qing’er is no less than his two Dao Companions. If he’s the type of man who is devoted to one woman, he wouldn’t have two, oh wait, three Dao Companions. Perhaps Sister Qing’er is just not good at it. How about I give you a couple of tips?”
A spark of light appeared in Xu Qing’s eyes, but after a moment, she still shook her head gently, “No need.”
“Mhm? Why?” Mu Yao clearly saw the change in her eyes and asked, confused.
“Even with tips… I might not be able to do it well in front of him… Even if I trick him, I can’t trick myself… Perhaps… it’s just that my personality isn’t to his liking… There’s nothing I can do.” Her voice grew softer and softer, and the more she thought, the tighter her chest felt.
“Sigh,” Mu Yao sighed helplessly. “Sister Qing’er is a year older than me, but she always fantasizes about love between men and women in such a pure way. I admit there is love in this world that seems predestined, but most of the time, it’s just human effort. If Sister Qing’er is unwilling, then I really want to have some fun.”
“You…?” Xu Qing was slightly stunned.
“He’s very fun,” Mu Yao winked at Xu Qing. “I don’t particularly like him, but he’s just very fun.”
***
On the way back to her courtyard, Jiang Huai finally had the leisure to check the system missions he had just released.
[Mu Family’s eldest daughter, Mu Yao, appears pure and cute on the outside, but is actually scheming and enjoys a good laugh deep down. She has now developed a slight interest in you, and finds joy in teasing you. As a master of theoretical emotional intelligence, how can you bear to endure this humiliation?]
[Take the offensive and make her fall deeply in love with you, unable to extricate herself. After having your way with her, say “Mediocre, I’m bored,” and make her sob in bed.]
[Mission Reward: Innate Exquisite Heart, High-level Experience Scroll * 5, Points 30000.]
Jiang Huai was at a loss for words. Forget Mu Yao; his system also had pending missions for Xu Qing and Gu Ci. The system seemed to issue a mission whenever it encountered a woman. He stopped looking at them. These missions were impossible to complete; he could only interact ambiguously with his Master to gain some Experience Scrolls.
Jiang Huai walked towards Luo Yueguan’s courtyard and gently knocked on the door. The door opened, and Luo Yueguan, who seemed to have just bathed, was wearing a loose purple nightgown and sitting under a jacaranda tree.
Night had fallen, and the hazy sky in the distance seemed to carry a faint, dim purple hue. Jiang Huai walked to her side and took out the Thousand-Year Ice Heart Flower, presenting it to her.
Luo Yueguan accepted it and then blinked at him innocently.
“Not even a thank you?”
“Do we need to be polite given our relationship?” Luo Yueguan chuckled.
“…” Jiang Huai pouted, “Then take your time to refine it. I’m leaving.”
“Why are you in such a hurry to leave? Keep me company and admire the moon,” Luo Yueguan pointed to an empty chair beside her. Jiang Huai sat down, leaning back in the chair, and looked up at the distant moon.
Luo Yueguan said softly, “Fang Qingmu and Xia Wanyu will both die after the Eastern Region Grand Competition ends.”
Jiang Huai turned to look at Luo Yueguan’s profile, suddenly not understanding what she wanted to say.
“You saw what happened that day. They were also master and disciple.”
“What are you trying to say?” Jiang Huai scratched his head.
“Chu Xianning is heartbroken,” Luo Yueguan said softly. “Aren’t you going to take this opportunity to chat with your Master?”
“That makes sense, I’ll go now.” Jiang Huai suddenly started to stand up, but a moment later, Luo Yueguan turned from her chair, her slender legs extending from under her skirt and resting on his lap. “I’m telling you such good news, give me my reward first.”
“Don’t I already have the Thousand-Year Ice Heart Flower for you?”
“That was what you were supposed to give me anyway,” Luo Yueguan snorted. “Rub my legs.”
Jiang Huai was speechless. Her skirt wasn’t long, and with her legs resting on his lap like this, her snow-white thighs were right before him. Jiang Huai’s fingertips lightly brushed against them before slipping away. He had to use some force to knead them properly. Her skin was incredibly smooth and tender. He earnestly began to rub Luo Yueguan’s legs. Luo Yueguan looked at him lazily and suddenly asked, “I suddenly thought of something I want to ask.”
“Ask.”
“Have you ever had lust for my body?”
Jiang Huai thought for a moment, “I probably have.”
There was no need to lie about this. Jiang Huai admitted he definitely had. Luo Yueguan glanced at him sideways, “What about now?”
“It’s much better now, isn’t it? No one is perfect. You can’t expect me to be a saint, can you? Based on my understanding of you, if I said no, you’d coldly scoff and call me a hypocrite. Hmph, Luo Yueguan, I’ve seen through you.”
Luo Yueguan suddenly smiled and gently lifted his chin with her hand, leaning closer. “When you no longer have such lust and greed, I can agree to Dual Cultivation with you to heal your injuries.”
Jiang Huai immediately understood Luo Yueguan’s meaning and chuckled, “Then if neither of us is doing it anymore, how will you heal me?”
“Then we’ll fight until you do it,” Luo Yueguan winked playfully at him. Jiang Huai gave her a long, meaningful look.
“I’m talking about lust in your heart,” Luo Yueguan corrected herself slowly.
“Why are we suddenly talking about this?” Jiang Huai looked at her, confused.
“Anyway, the method you’re researching to heal your body is still far off. Perhaps this Eastern Region Grand Competition will be relatively easy for you, but by the time of the Five Regions Grand Competition, it will be full of elites. This world is never short of geniuses. I know you’re participating in the Five Regions Grand Competition for your Master’s old injury, so I should help you once. It’s helping you, and it’s also helping Chu Xianning.”
“Aren’t you forgetting that even if I dual cultivate with you, I’m still missing the Flower Spirit Physique?”
“Do you know?” Luo Yueguan suddenly smiled playfully at him. “You still don’t understand your Master, Chu Xianning.”
“What do you mean?”
“As long as you can tell her a convincing lie, she might be willing to Dual Cultivate with you.”
“I don’t understand,” Jiang Huai shook his head.
“If you’re only lacking the Flower Spirit Physique, and you coax Chu Xianning into agreeing to Dual Cultivate with you purely for the purpose of healing, out of master-disciple affection, just like a doctor wouldn’t avoid a patient, rather than romantic love, she might agree.”
Jiang Huai’s eyes twitched involuntarily. “What is this called? A gentleman judges the heart, not the deed?”
Luo Yueguan reached out and rubbed Jiang Huai’s head. “A teachable child.”
Jiang Huai, however, just shook his head and turned to look at Luo Yueguan’s playful eyes. “It’s not like that.”
“Mhm?”
“Although I also covet Master’s body, I desire her heart more.”
Luo Yueguan’s smile grew more unrestrained. “If you get her body, then her heart will also be yours sooner or later, won’t it?”
Jiang Huai was momentarily unable to refute, yet unwilling to accept it. He reached out and covered his ears.
“I don’t want to hear it, I don’t want to hear it!”
