Zhu Xian: They've all been reborn

Wenmin looked him up and down carefully.

The boy had grown up and, although not as robust as Song Daren, was still tall and slender, dressed in a clean and refreshing Taoist robe.

Her face still retained a touch of childishness, but her features were delicate and her eyes were clear. At this moment, her eyes widened slightly in bewilderment, making her appear somewhat...dazed.

But Wen Min's eyes were incredibly sharp. She could see the complex and bewildered look in the depths of the boy's eyes that was incongruous with his age, as well as the pure spiritual power that flowed around him, carrying a chilling aura and subtle thunderous intent. Moreover, his foundation was exceptionally solid, and he even carried a certain peculiar charm.

A knowing and meaningful smile flashed in her eyes, a smile different from the one she had given Song Daren earlier. It carried a hint of scrutiny, curiosity, and... a subtle teasing that belonged to a "family member."

She spoke softly, her voice still gentle, yet it sent a chill down Jiang Xiaochuan's spine:

"You must be Jiang Xiaochuan, Junior Brother of Dazhu Peak?"

Jiang Xiaochuan froze, then quickly cupped his hands in greeting, his voice dry and slurred, "Yes, it's me. Hello, Senior Sister Wenmin."

"Hmm, indeed a handsome young man." Wen Min nodded, her tone gentle, but the implication in her words made Jiang Xiaochuan's heart pound. "I often hear Xueqi mention you. She says you are diligent, hardworking, and kind-hearted, a... very good cultivation partner."

She paused slightly on the words "a very good cultivation partner," her smile deepening.

The disciples of Dazhu Peak and Xiaozhu Peak all perked up their ears, and He Dazhi and Du Bishu exchanged a knowing look.

Standing not far away, Tian Ling'er's face darkened when she heard the name "Xueqi," and her fingers clenched the hem of her clothes.

Jiang Xiaochuan's face flushed, and he stammered, "Senior Sister Wenmin, you flatter me... I... I'm not very talented, and I'm very grateful for Junior Sister Lu's kind guidance..."

"Guides?" Wen Min tilted her head slightly, as if deep in thought.

"Xueqi is a bit aloof, and she is usually polite but distant towards her fellow disciples."

But you seem to be treated differently, Junior Brother Jiang.

Not only did they provide meticulous guidance, but they also helped find materials and craft magical artifacts…

Her gaze swept meaningfully over Jiang Xiaochuan's back before settling back on his embarrassed face. Her voice was softer, yet each word was clear: "This 'brotherhood' is truly enviable. Junior Brother Jiang, you must cherish it and not... let it down."

The teasing and innuendo in those words couldn't be clearer. Jiang Xiaochuan's face flushed red, and he didn't know what to do with his hands and feet. He could only nod repeatedly, then quickly shake his head.

"No, no! I... I will definitely cherish it! No, I mean, I will never forget Junior Sister Lu's kindness..."

"Who said you can't forget me?" a crisp, displeased voice interrupted.

Tian Ling'er walked over at some point, stood next to Jiang Xiaochuan, and looked at Wen Min with her chin slightly raised.

She forced a smile, but there was no joy in her eyes, and her tone was stiff:

"Senior Sister Wenmin, Xiaochuan is honest but not good at talking."

He naturally remembered how kind Senior Sister Lu was to him and would find a way to repay her.

But helping each other among fellow disciples is only natural; there's no question of betraying or failing each other, right?

On the surface, her words were meant to help Jiang Xiaochuan out of a difficult situation, but in reality, they were drawing a line between them. She emphasized the word "fellow disciples" and brought up the topic of "repayment," making it clear that she shouldn't try to bind him with this small favor.

Wen Min was incredibly intelligent; how could she not hear the hidden meaning in Tian Ling'er's words?

She smiled slightly, her gaze sweeping over Tian Ling'er's face, which was clearly filled with protectiveness and hostility. Then she looked at Jiang Xiaochuan, who was even more embarrassed and wished he could disappear into the ground. She gained a clearer understanding of the relationship between these people.

Just as she was about to say something more, a clear, emotionless voice, like an icy spring splashing onto jade, abruptly broke the delicate standoff:

"He doesn't need to repay me."

Everyone was taken aback and looked in the direction of the sound.

A streak of azure sword light flashed across the sky like a shooting star, then gently descended. As the sword light faded, a graceful figure was revealed.

Her moon-white Taoist robe was spotless, her Tianya Sword shone with a deep blue light, her black hair cascaded down her back, and her beauty was unparalleled. It was none other than Lu Xueqi.

She arrived at some unknown time, standing a few steps away. Her cool eyes first swept over Wen Min, and she nodded slightly as a greeting. Then her gaze fell directly and unequivocally on Jiang Xiaochuan.

His gaze was calm, yet it carried an invisible pressure, and a kind of... familiar, unsettling focus that Jiang Xiaochuan recognized.

Lu Xueqi stepped forward, ignoring Tian Ling'er, whose body tensed instantly and whose eyes blazed with anger, and also ignoring the disciples of Dazhu Peak and Xiaozhu Peak who suddenly fell silent and had different expressions. She walked straight to Jiang Xiaochuan.

They were very close, close enough that Jiang Xiaochuan could smell her cool, refreshing fragrance and see her long, thick eyelashes.

Then, to everyone's astonishment, Lu Xueqi reached out her right hand and grabbed Jiang Xiaochuan's wrist.

Her fingers were slightly cool, but the force was considerable, carrying an unquestionable, almost forceful quality.

"Talk to me for a bit." Lu Xueqi looked into his eyes, her voice soft but clear enough to reach everyone's ears, "I'm a little nervous."

Jiang Xiaochuan: "...?"

Tian Ling'er: "...!!!"

Everyone: "...???"

nervous?

Lu Xueqi?

Lu Xueqi, who is at least at the eighth level of the Jade Purity Realm, possesses the Heavenly Jade Sword, and is known for her aloofness and coldness, is said to be nervous?

Does she need someone to chat with her?

Or should we use this... almost kidnapping method?

Tian Ling'er was the first to react. Her pretty face turned pale with anger. She stepped forward, trying to pull Jiang Xiaochuan's hand away from Lu Xueqi's. Her voice was sharp with anger:

"Lu Xueqi! Let him go! He needs to wait with us! You're nervous? Nobody believes you're nervous!"

Jiang Xiaochuan was also stunned. His wrist was being held by Lu Xueqi, and the slightly cool touch made his heart race and his mind go blank.

He looked at Lu Xueqi's calm and expressionless face, which was so close to his own, and in her unfathomable eyes, there seemed to be... a very subtle and imperceptible fluctuation.

Could it be... that she's really nervous?

After all, the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament is a gathering of many masters, so it's normal for her to feel a lot of pressure.

The thought flashed through my mind absurdly.

Lu Xueqi ignored Tian Ling'er, only looked at Jiang Xiaochuan, and repeated it again, her voice even carrying a hint of...softness?

It sounded like a request, yet also like a statement of fact: "Stay with me for a while, okay? Just for a little while."

Seeing her like this, Tian Ling'er became even more furious, stepped between the two, and glared at Lu Xueqi:

"I told you, he can't go! You need someone to go with you, right? I'll go with you! I'll 'chat' with you! How about it?"

Lu Xueqi then turned her gaze to Tian Ling'er, her eyes instantly returning to their usual cold and aloof expression, her tone flat:

"Junior Sister Tian, ​​I'm not familiar with you."

These words left Tian Ling'er speechless, her chest aching with anger. Not familiar? What a fine way to put it, "Not familiar!"

"you--!"

"Alright, alright, Ling'er, that's enough."

Seeing the situation getting increasingly tense, Song Daren reluctantly stepped forward to smooth things over, even though things were still in disarray on his own side.

"Since Junior Sister Lu has something to discuss with Junior Brother Jiang, let them talk for a while. Anyway, it's still early before the event begins..."

"Senior Brother!" Tian Ling'er called out in dissatisfaction.

He Dazhi, Du Bishu, and the others had their eyes shining, looking at this and that, feeling that this was even more exciting than a play.

Wenmin watched with great interest, a smile playing on her lips. She gently tugged at her junior sisters who still wanted to watch the excitement, signaling them to tone it down.

Jiang Xiaochuan was caught in the middle, looking left at Tian Ling'er who was full of anger, and right at Lu Xueqi who was holding his wrist with a persistent look in her eyes (although she had a blank expression). He felt like he had a splitting headache and was about to break out in a cold sweat.

What kind of mess is this?!

In public, under the watchful eyes of everyone...

Just as the situation reached a stalemate and the atmosphere became extremely awkward, Lu Xueqi suddenly looked past Tian Ling'er's shoulder and towards a spot not far behind her. A very subtle expression appeared on her face, as if she had seen a familiar face. Her voice also rose slightly, carrying a perfectly measured hint of respect and surprise:

"Uncle Su? What brings you back?"

"Hmm? Mother?"

Almost instinctively, Tian Ling'er immediately turned around and looked behind her.

The people from Dazhu Peak, including Song Daren and He Dazhi, all subconsciously followed Lu Xueqi's gaze.

However, behind him were only the disciples of other branches coming and going, making a lot of noise; there was no sign of Su Ru.

In that split second that Tian Ling'er and the others from Dazhu Peak turned their heads and looked away, Lu Xueqi made a move.

She gripped Jiang Xiaochuan's wrist tightly with one hand and then quickly gave him a gentle push from behind with the other.

Before Jiang Xiaochuan could react, he felt a gentle yet firm force pull him along, and he was involuntarily dragged by Lu Xueqi, staggering as they walked quickly in the opposite direction from the crowd.

When Tian Ling'er realized that no one was behind her and that she had been tricked, she turned around in a fit of anger. She only saw Lu Xueqi pulling Jiang Xiaochuan, and their figures quickly disappeared behind a huge jade pillar carved with auspicious cloud patterns at the edge of the square. The moon-white Taoist robe and the blue hem of the robe flashed and disappeared without a trace.

"Lu Xueqi! You—! Childish!!"

Tian Ling'er stomped her feet in anger, her pretty face flushed red, and shouted in the direction they disappeared, but there was nothing she could do.

With people coming and going around, she couldn't very well chase after them and forcibly take them away.

He Dazhi adjusted his glasses, shook his head, suppressed a laugh, and whispered to Du Bishu beside him:

"I never expected Junior Sister Lu... to have this trick up her sleeve."

Luring the tiger away from the mountain, feinting to the east while attacking in the west...tsk, brilliant, truly brilliant.

Du Bishu chuckled, rubbing his chin. "It's just a bit... well, childish. But, as long as it works, that's fine."

Song Daren and Wen Min exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of amusement and helplessness in each other's eyes.

Song Daren scratched his head and said sheepishly to Tian Ling'er, who was still sulking, "Ling'er, forget it, Junior Sister Lu probably just... really wants to talk to Seventh Brother. She'll be back in a bit."

Tian Ling'er glared at him fiercely, then stared in the direction where Lu Xueqi and Jiang Xiaochuan had disappeared. Her chest heaved violently, and finally she let out a heavy "humph," turned her head away, and stopped talking.

However, her tightly clenched fists and slightly reddened eyes revealed her inner turmoil.

Some of the disciples from various sects who were watching the spectacle couldn't help but laugh out loud and whisper among themselves.

Who would have thought that Lu Xueqi, the renowned ice queen of Xiaozhu Peak, would resort to such a childish and direct tactic in order to "capture" a seemingly ordinary male disciple from Dazhu Peak?

This matter is likely to become the first, albeit minor, topic of conversation at this year's Seven Veins Martial Arts Tournament.

Meanwhile, on the other side of Yunhai Square, near the area where the disciples of Luoxia Peak gathered.

A young female disciple, dressed in the iconic light orange Taoist robe of Luoxia Peak, with delicate features but somewhat dull eyes and slightly slow movements, stood alone in the shadow of an inconspicuous corridor.

She lowered her head slightly, seemingly looking at the tips of her shoes, oblivious to the noise around her.

Only upon close inspection can one discover that beneath her lowered eyelashes, her eyes, which should have been lively or shy, are now rapidly and subtly scanning the entire square.

His gaze swept across the direction where the group from Dazhu Peak had gathered in the distance, lingering briefly on the small commotion that had just occurred, especially on the azure figure being pulled away by the moon-white figure, freezing for a very short moment.

A fleeting, extremely complex emotion flashed in the depths of his eyes—longing, urgency, pain, and a sense of certainty—so quickly it seemed like an illusion, before returning to a blank stare.

She (or rather, Biyao, who possessed this body) gently clenched the hand hidden in the wide sleeve of her robe.

She could still feel the cold, heavy touch of the Soul-Devouring Staff in her palm, and the ferocious power that was connected to her bloodline.

They've snuck in.

Although the methods used were not exactly honorable (they knocked out the real female disciple of Luoxia Peak, fed her a "Dream Sinking Pill" that could put her to sleep for seven days, and then used a secret technique of the Ghost King Sect to temporarily simulate her aura and appearance), they still managed to get in.

She raised her head and looked at the towering Yuqing Hall in front of her, which symbolized the supreme authority of Qingyun Sect. She glanced at the direction where Jiang Xiaochuan and Lu Xueqi had disappeared, and a cold and resolute smile slowly curved her lips, which were hidden under the disguise mask.

The real show has only just begun.

Wait for me, Xiaochuan.

This time, I won't just watch from afar.