The news that Fei Wu had been kicked unconscious at Fuchun Restaurant by Fang Xuan, and that his subordinates had scattered like startled birds, reached Sword Peak before dawn.
Naturally, it also reached the ears of Shen Qingqing.
She was sitting in her lavishly decorated side hall, slowly combing through her long black hair in front of a bronze mirror.
After listening to the hushed report from her trusted maid, the hand holding the jade comb paused for a moment.
"Void Core Realm?" she whispered, setting the comb down.
Fang Xuan... was actually at the Void Core Realm already?
How many days had it been since he joined the sect? This level of talent was unheard of.
It was no wonder a useless person like Fei Wu, even with a crowd behind him, couldn't touch him and was instead dealt with so miserably.
Far from finding the situation difficult, the desire to have Fang Xuan firmly under her thumb began to grow wild in Shen Qingqing's heart.
Such a young, handsome, and terrifyingly talented unpolished jade.
If he could become one of her devoted followers, what a massive boost he would be for her.
He was tens of thousands of times better than a fool like Fei Wu.
She clenched her fingers.
As things stood, if she wanted Fang Xuan to stop being an obstacle and instead serve her, there were only two paths to take.
First, she could make him fall for her beauty and charms.
She was confident in this.
She wasn't worried that a wooden beauty like Ning Xian could pose any threat.
What was the point of being beautiful if one spent all day with a cold, lifeless expression, unable to smile, act cute, or please a man?
In the decade or so she’d been at Sword Peak, when had Ning Xian ever spoken a normal sentence to a male disciple unless it was for necessary sect business?
She was like a mute, completely boring.
When Ning Xian first arrived at Sword Peak, Shen Qingqing had immediately noticed the orphaned girl.
She was indeed pretty, but her personality was withdrawn and silent.
With no parents and no background, she was clearly the best type to manipulate—the perfect stepping stone.
Over the years, she had proven to be exactly that.
It likely wouldn't be long before a young man like Fang Xuan grew utterly weary of Ning Xian's lifeless, stiff, and overly aloof attitude.
When that time came, with just a little effort on her part, would he not come crawling to her?
Thinking of Fang Xuan's handsome, refined face and his eyes that were sometimes clear and sometimes cold, Shen Qingqing felt a surge of excitement.
Such a top-tier specimen belonged to her!
As for the second path...
If Fang Xuan really didn't know what was good for him, or if he learned too many things he shouldn't...
For instance, the blood-exchange bone-restoration plan for Ning Xian.
That plan was vital for stabilizing her spirit bone and improving her aptitude; she could not allow any mistakes.
In that case, the obstacle would have to be completely cleared away.
It would just take a bit more effort and resources.
However, weighing her options, Shen Qingqing felt the first path was most likely.
After all, since childhood, she had never failed to capture any man she set her sights on, whether they were senior brothers from the sect or scions of great families.
She knew her advantages all too well and understood exactly how to use them.
She would have to try again next time.
Shen Qingqing looked into the mirror, a smile of certain victory slowly spreading across her face.
But before that, she had to visit her father, Shen Chen.
The spirit bone backlash had been flaring up again recently, and she needed her father’s spiritual power to help suppress and soothe it.
Furthermore... she heard that her father had recently acquired a powerful dual cultivation technique passed down from ancient times...
Shen Qingqing's mind raced.
She stood up and walked to the wardrobe to choose her outfit carefully.
She needed to wear something light and easily adjustable for her meeting with her father today.
It would be much more convenient for the treatment if she kept things simple.
Thinking of the potential effects of that secret technique and her father's usual indulgence, a faint blush appeared on Shen Qingqing's face.
She hoped her father would be able to fully soothe the turbulent power within her.
.......
The bamboo hut in the valley.
Early in the morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten.
The birds in the valley chirped incessantly.
Fang Xuan was still fast asleep, clutching Ning Xian’s fragrant quilt.
He wasn't a particularly still sleeper; one leg was sticking out from under the covers, and his hair was a bit of a mess.
But his features were relaxed, and a faint, silly smile played on his lips, making him look like he was dreaming of something sweet.
"Chirp chirp—tweet tweet—"
The birds were persistent.
Fang Xuan frowned in his sleep, subconsciously rolling over and pulling the quilt up to cover his head.
He lingered in bed for about the time it took to drink half a cup of tea.
"Knock knock."
A soft sound came from the door.
Then came Ning Xian’s characteristically cold voice.
"Junior Brother, it is chenshi."
Fang Xuan finally opened his eyes groggily and poked his head out from the quilt.
The light in the room was already bright enough to see clearly.
He blinked, adjusting to the morning light, and then gave a long, deep stretch.
Ah... having a senior sister to wake him up followed by breakfast.
Life was looking pretty good.
He scrambled out of bed, threw on his outer robe, tidied his hair into a ponytail, and pushed open the door.
The cool morning air instantly refreshed his spirit.
In the yard, Ning Xian was already up, standing by the stone table near the small kitchen.
She looked as though she had just finished washing up; her profile was exceptionally fair in the morning light.
"Morning, Senior Sister."
Fang Xuan greeted her with a smile and naturally walked to the corner of the yard to splash his face with cold stream water, fully waking himself up.
By the time he dried his face and walked over to the stone table, Ning Xian had already brought out a simple breakfast.
Fang Xuan looked at the spread and blinked.
So much...
On his side of the table sat a basin-sized bowl.
A whole vat of spirit rice porridge, the surface sprinkled with chopped green vegetables and a few drops of oil.
Next to it was a small dish with a high stack of pickled vegetables and two boiled eggs.
Meanwhile, in front of Ning Xian was only a small porcelain bowl, barely three-quarters full of porridge, a tiny portion of pickled vegetables, and no egg.
The contrast was a bit too stark.
Fang Xuan rubbed his nose, feeling a little embarrassed.
"Senior Sister... I can't eat all this..."
He could eat a lot, but this massive bowl was a bit much.
Ning Xian had already sat down. She picked up her spoon and looked up at him, her tone calm and natural.
"Your cultivation has progressed, and your blood and qi are vigorous. Your energy consumption is naturally higher. Eat more so you have the strength to practice your sword."
She paused, then added, "There is more in the pot."
Fang Xuan: "..."
Did his senior sister have some kind of misunderstanding about him? Did he look that much like a glutton?
He really wanted to eat some meat...
Though he had ordered meat dishes at Fuchun Restaurant yesterday, Fei Wu’s gang had interrupted them before he could truly enjoy the meal.
Of course, it was just a passing thought; he wasn't actually complaining.
He scooped up a large spoonful of porridge.
The spirit rice was cooked perfectly—soft, sweet, and rich with spiritual energy.
The pickled vegetables were crisp and refreshing, a simple but delicious accompaniment.
He began to work his way through the mountain of porridge, his cheeks bulging as he ate at a rapid pace.
Ning Xian occasionally looked up, seeing his somewhat boyish eating habits, and a flicker of softness passed through her cold eyes.
He really was hungry. She shouldn't have let him hide away and eat spirit buns by himself before.
She ate slowly, and her small bowl was soon empty. She sat quietly, waiting for Fang Xuan to finish.
Seeing that he had finished his bowl, she stood up to get him another serving.
Fang Xuan: "..."
He really wanted to say, "Senior Sister, if you keep feeding me like this, I’m going to turn into a pig..."
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