Led by Elder Bai Shu, the disciples filed into the training grounds.
In the original novel, this sparring match barely mentioned the minor characters like them, so Qu Xiangxiang had no idea whether her opponent was originally Yun Qingqing.
The author had only written in passing that Qu Xiangxiang lost, flew into a rage, and smashed several of Qu Weiran’s precious medicinal treasures.
She also knew that in this match, Mu Hanzhang had drawn Ruan Qingtao as his opponent—and deliberately lost to her in front of everyone. His reasons were obvious. First, he didn’t want to reveal his true strength too early, lest it draw unwanted trouble, since the restraints in his body weren’t fully broken yet.
And second… well, that hardly needed explaining. Of course, it was because he liked Ruan Qingtao.
Come to think of it, Mu Hanzhang had even arrived at the cultivation hall with Ruan Qingtao today. Just one night had passed, and their relationship had already advanced this far?
Truly worthy of being the male and female leads, Qu Xiangxiang thought wryly. At this rate, they’d have three children before Mu Hanzhang even ascended to Emperor.
“Your opponent is Yun Qingqing?”
Qu Xiangxiang nearly jumped out of her skin. Mu Hanzhang had appeared behind her without her noticing.
“You…” She glanced around uncertainly, pointing at herself. “Are you talking to me?”
Mu Hanzhang gave her a look reserved for idiots. “Who else?”
Why ask that? Was he concerned about her? The terrifying thought was immediately strangled in her mind. The chance that Mu Hanzhang would care about her was smaller than the chance that her allowance would not be docked.
Qu Xiangxiang nodded. “Yes, it’s her.”
Mu Hanzhang frowned, about to say something, when Ruan Qingtao walked up and interrupted. “Little Senior Sister, I heard your opponent is that Senior Sister Yun who drew her sword at you just now?”
What was with these two? Why were they suddenly so interested in her opponent?
“Yes,” Qu Xiangxiang replied.
“I heard her cultivation is quite advanced,” Ruan Qingtao said with a gentle smile. “Senior Sister, you must be careful. Even if you can’t hold out, no one will laugh at you. After all, Senior Sister Yun’s level is much higher than yours.”
Qu Xiangxiang: “…” Why did that sound so condescending?
“Ruan Qingtao,” Lin Zheng snapped, glaring at her, “the match hasn’t even started. Xiangxiang might not lose. What are you implying?”
“I only meant to remind Senior Sister kindly,” Ruan Qingtao said, stepping closer to Mu Hanzhang and gazing tenderly at his face. “I and Senior Brother… we were only being considerate. Isn’t that right, Senior Brother?”
Mu Hanzhang slowly turned his head, displeasure plain on his face. His thin lips pressed together before he spat out two cold words: “We?”
Ruan Qingtao’s smile faltered for a moment, then quickly returned. “Is there a problem?”
Mu Hanzhang raised a finger, pointing first at her, then at himself. “You are you. I am me. There is no ‘we.’”
Ruan Qingtao’s face went pale. Lin Zheng couldn’t help but snicker.
“Looks like someone’s been imagining things,” Lin Zheng drawled.
Sensing Ruan Qingtao’s resentful gaze and mindful that she was the heroine, Qu Xiangxiang discreetly patted Lin Zheng’s waist. “Let’s head over there instead.”
She had, admittedly, considered helping Ruan Qingtao with Mu Hanzhang, but judging from Ruan Qingtao’s expression now, she clearly didn’t want to see them. Why bother forcing herself into that mess?
Forget it—complicated matters of love were best left for those two tragic leads to wrestle with themselves.
For Qu Xiangxiang, the most pressing issue was how to handle Yun Qingqing in the upcoming match.
Lin Zheng looked at her with frustration. “But aren’t you…” She glanced at Mu Hanzhang, hesitated, then muttered, “Don’t you see it?”
Ruan Qingtao’s feelings for Mu Hanzhang were so obvious—how could Qu Xiangxiang not notice? How dense could she be?
Lin Zheng was practically choking on her exasperation. It had taken her days to accept the fact that Qu Xiangxiang was entangled with this half-demon Mu Hanzhang. And now, some Ruan Qingtao had appeared out of nowhere, coveting him too. Did Qu Xiangxiang really have no sense of crisis?
“What are you talking about?” Qu Xiangxiang was dizzy from Lin Zheng’s broken, cryptic words. Not only did she fail to see it—she couldn’t even understand what Lin Zheng was saying.
Lin Zheng nearly had a heart attack from sheer frustration. But with Mu Hanzhang and Ruan Qingtao standing right there, she didn’t want to embarrass her friend, so she swallowed her anger.
“Let’s go over there.” Mu Hanzhang looked at Qu Xiangxiang and pointed toward a golden velvet tree, heavy with clusters of bell-shaped berries.
“Me?” Qu Xiangxiang pointed at herself uncertainly.
Mu Hanzhang gave her the look one reserved for idiots.
Qu Xiangxiang nodded quickly. “…Alright.” She waved to Lin Zheng, signaling she’d go speak with Mu Hanzhang first.
Lin Zheng’s expression was complicated, but she nodded.
Ruan Qingtao watched their backs, bristling, and tried to follow. But Lin Zheng blocked her. “The whole of Cangxuan Mountain already knows they’re a pair. What are you trying to do?”
Ruan Qingtao shoved her hand away, shouting, “They’re not!”
Lin Zheng snorted. She still didn’t think much of Mu Hanzhang, but in front of others, she would always side with Qu Xiangxiang. “Even if you chase after him, that Mu brat won’t give you a kind look.”
Much as she hated to admit it, Mu Hanzhang’s attitude toward Qu Xiangxiang was visibly different from how he treated her and Ruan Qingtao. Whatever their relationship had become, it was clearly distorted. In Lin Zheng’s eyes, Mu Hanzhang was worthless—except for his face.
Ruan Qingtao clenched her fingers tight, glaring hatefully at the pair beneath the golden velvet tree. She had never failed to obtain what she wanted. If she couldn’t have him, she would rather destroy him than let Qu Xiangxiang take him.
…
“Mu Hanzhang?” Qu Xiangxiang called softly.
What was wrong with this man? He summoned her over, then said nothing, waiting for her to speak first.
Mu Hanzhang’s gaze lingered on the golden berries. “Yun Qingqing’s cultivation is above yours.”
“…I know.”
Had he called her over just to mock her?
“But…” His eyes shifted from the berries to her face. “You won’t lose.”
“Huh?” Qu Xiangxiang’s eyes widened. “Wh-why?”
“In Shiling Village, you defeated the demon puppets.”
“No,” she stammered, shocked. “I mean—why are you telling me this?”
Mu Hanzhang lowered his thick, crow-feather lashes and turned his face aside. “Compared to you, I’d rather not see Yun Qingqing win. So if you lose…” He didn’t finish, but Qu Xiangxiang could feel the threat in his unspoken words.
“…Just because you threaten me doesn’t mean I’ll win, you know.”
The golden berries gave off a sweet fragrance in the breeze. Sunlight filtered through the branches, casting sharp light across Mu Hanzhang’s angular profile. Qu Xiangxiang turned away, uneasy, her heart stirring with a strange feeling.
“…Fine. I… won’t lose,” she said.