Chapter One Hundred Sixty-Two: Don’t Go
That night, Young Master Sang still went to Qiu Ju’s house for dinner.
At the dinner table, Qiu Ju was as enthusiastic as ever, listening intently to Young Master Sang’s tales from the mountain, completely absorbed in the stories.
Nian Nian, disguised as Chun Lan, was calmly eating her meal, occasionally showing her true colors by throwing a jab at Young Master Sang, but she didn’t reveal any flaws.
Instead, the real Chun Lan remained silent in Young Master Sang’s mind.
It wasn’t until after dinner, when Qiu Ju went to wash the dishes, that Chun Lan suddenly asked Young Master Sang to call in the fake Chun Lan.
“What’s up?”
“Let me go back,” Chun Lan said calmly, “I won’t tell anyone your identity.”
Young Master Sang raised an eyebrow in surprise and glanced at Nian Nian.
Nian Nian nodded at him.
“…Alright then.”
Young Master Sang thought for a moment and asked, “Don’t you need to keep an eye on me?”
“I do.”
“But you can supervise from afar,” Chun Lan seemed disgusted, wrinkling her nose, “I’m not interested in hanging out with a man all the time. It’s kind of gross.”
Pfft.
What’s wrong with being a man?
We drool over hot beauties in revealing outfits.
Didn’t you secretly watch me drool while I was taking a bath?
We’re all just a bunch of perverts. Who’s superior here?
Young Master Sang pouted but still let Nian Nian switch her consciousness back.
Moments later, the real Chun Lan opened her eyes, stretched, and looked lightly at Young Master Sang.
“…Thank you.”
“Hmm?”
“I could tell when we were eating,” she said softly, “Qiu Ju was very happy.”
“She seems to be smiling more than before.”
“Looks like she really enjoys being with you.”
Young Master Sang’s mouth twitched.
…So girls should go out and see the world more often.
Otherwise, they might get fooled by scumbags.
How could she possibly enjoy being with me?
I have no charm.
I’m just sharing some new stories from the mountain to fool a little girl.
“And you?”
“Me?” Chun Lan blinked, huffed, and turned her head away, “I don’t like being around men.”
“It’s all just to ensure you don’t do anything to my sister. Don’t misunderstand.”
Sure, whatever you say.
“Sis, Young Master Sang, what are you doing?”
“Coming!”
Before Chun Lan left, she shot Young Master Sang a glare and then happily rushed over to Qiu Ju, grabbing her hand tightly, leaving Qiu Ju utterly confused.
Young Master Sang watched the two sisters whispering to each other and mentally murmured:
“Nian Nian, welcome home!”
“No thanks.”
Nian Nian’s familiar, crisp voice rang in his ears: “Aren’t you just dying to know how the sisters’ strategy is progressing?”
“It’s already over 95%. The sisters now only have positive feelings for you.”
“With that level of affection, Chun Lan won’t sell you out in front of the Sect Leader.”
Young Master Sang sighed dramatically.
But honestly, he didn’t seem to do much for the sisters.
At least compared to the girls he wooed in the Demon Cult prison, each one being thoroughly tortured first.
For Chun Lan and Qiu Ju, he merely smoothed over their sibling conflicts and offered some pointers on swordplay.
The affection levels were nearly maxed out.
“What about Gu Yingmian?”
“Gu Yingmian is a bit tricky,” Nian Nian’s tone faltered a bit, “Gu Yingmian’s affection level reached 99% after you two came back from shopping yesterday.”
“But the last 1% has been stubbornly stuck. We don’t know why it hasn’t increased.”
Young Master Sang blinked.
Actually, Gu Yingmian had already made herself very clear yesterday.
Even though at first, he only wanted to accompany her in a little act.
But the deeper you go into a role, the more entrenched you become.
Who’s really acting here, it’s hard to say.
He now felt somewhat at a loss on how to face Gu Yingmian.
But he couldn’t afford to drag this out.
With the Sect Leader lost in the Demon Cult, he needed to hurry back and check the situation.
His time at Sword Flower Palace was running out.
“Ugh.”
Young Master Sang suddenly sighed deeply.
“Looks like this task can only end in failure.”
Nian Nian cast him a long, deep stare.
Who knows what she was thinking.
——
——
The next day.
“What?!”
Young Master Sang looked surprised at Gu Yingmian, who called for him first thing in the morning: “Sister Gu, you’ve broken through in swordplay?”
“Yep.”
Gu Yingmian smiled gently: “I’ve finally understood what you meant by ‘watch the person, not the sword.’”
“This time, I think I should be able to handle ‘The Clear Peaceful Floating Life Sword.’”
“Please, brother, accompany me for another sword practice.”
Saying this, she slowly picked up her wooden sword, her graceful figure poised and silently gazing at Young Master Sang.
Young Master Sang didn’t show any signs of happiness.
Since Gu Yingmian had perfected her swordplay.
That obviously meant.
His mission had failed.
Even though he had already expected it, this once-in-a-millennium swordsmanship genius might very well find a way to crack ‘The Clear Peaceful Floating Life Sword’ with her outrageous talent.
But now that the moment had come.
Young Master Sang felt an inexplicable sense of defeat.
For the first time in years of diligent work, he was experiencing the pain of failure.
Sigh.
Looks like after finishing this fight, he could pack his things and go home.
“So, are you ready, Sister Gu?” Young Master Sang slowly raised his sword and asked, as per the usual.
And this time.
Gu Yingmian nodded seriously: “I’m ready.”
The two stood sword in hand in the cool shade of the backyard.
The next moment, the light of their swords danced lightly.
Their figures intertwined, rising and falling.
But amidst the sword light crossing, there wasn’t even a whisper of wind.
It was like a silent comic strip.
Young Master Sang’s strikes were still as natural and smooth as ever, leaving no room for resistance.
But this time, Gu Yingmian was finally able to keep up with Young Master Sang’s pace.
One sword after another, each responding to the other.
She no longer fixed her gaze on the sword.
Instead, her heart and eyes were entirely focused on Young Master Sang, almost storing his figure deeply in her gaze.
None of the strikes, however, could easily touch her throat as before.
Even if at times, she felt a bit flustered and increasingly struggled to maintain the pace.
But after a stick of incense had passed and Gu Yingmian was already slick with sweat…
Young Master Sang suddenly halted.
He paused for a moment, deeply bowed.
“Sister Gu. Congratulations.”
“I have nothing more to show you, Sister Gu.”
Gu Yingmian froze suddenly.
She lowered her sword in confusion, momentarily speechless.
“Just right, I actually have something to tell you today, Sister Gu.”
He looked at Gu Yingmian and said: “I’m going down the mountain.”
In that instant.
Young Master Sang clearly saw.
Gu Yingmian’s hand gripping the sword trembled slightly.
“Today is a good day to say goodbye to Sister Gu.”
“I hope there will be more opportunities to spar with Sister Gu in the future—”
Before Young Master Sang could finish his sentence.
“…Don’t go.”
Gu Yingmian suddenly blurted out.
Young Master Sang watched her drop her wooden sword.
With her head down, biting her lip.
Cautiously.
She clutched at her sleeve.
“…Don’t go. Please.”
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