Chapter 197: Brother Cixian and the Temptress
After reaching level 220, Qiao Wan was the first disciple of the Wenshi Hall to record her achievements.
Qiao Wan asked, "What happens next?"
The elder martial sister of the Wenshi Hall raised her eyes and replied, "We just have to wait for further instructions."
Qiao Wan sighed.
It seems like she shouldn't get too excited too soon.
Since the matters here have been temporarily resolved, it is now Zhou Yan's turn. When Qiao Wan thought of Zhou Yan, she paused for a moment, then turned to Jia Yin and said, "Your Majesty... I still have some matters to attend to, please understand." Jia Yin was very generous and didn't inquire further.
Unlike those cautious and suspicious emperors, everyone has their own secrets. He didn't want to investigate, and he has never been curious. Qiao Wan stood in place and bowed to Jia Yin, Gan Nan, and the others, then immediately turned around and walked outside.
But halfway there, she suddenly bumped into a familiar figure. A young girl stood in front of Wenshi Hall, her gaze falling on Qiao Wan in the crowd. After hesitating for two seconds, she took a step forward and said, "Younger martial sister."
Mu Xiaoxiao said, "Master, I would like to invite you to go to Yuqing Peak." As she spoke, she lowered her eyes.
In front of the young girl, the dried bloodstains on her body had formed into small pieces, but her strong and determined aura made her feel uneasy.
She had already rejected the preparations to be rejected by Qiao Wan, but unexpectedly, after Qiao Wan looked at her for a while, she suddenly spoke: "Please ask Taoist Friend Mu to tell the spiritual master that I will come later."
Zhou Yan called Qiao Wan over, not for things like the White Tower or the Xiao family.
When Qiao Wan came in, there were two pieces of fabric placed beside him.
It seemed that Zhou Yan didn't really expect Qiao Wan to come, and he was slightly surprised.
"You came?"
He misunderstood her, underestimated her abilities. He had looked at her with bias and underestimated his disciple. Unconsciously, his disciple, who had been trapped in shadows and corners, suddenly broke free from the cage and restraints, growing into someone with a strong and confident spirit, standing proudly in front of him, although... but the shining light in her eyes made him somewhat distracted.
As the most powerful swordsman in the cultivation world and also the Yuqing Spiritual Master of Kunshan, Zhou Yan rarely bowed his head.
"This was sent from Yunlang Pavilion yesterday," Zhou Yan explained with a frown when he saw her approaching. "It's of no use to me. You and Xiaoxiao can each choose one to take back and wear."
Yunlang Pavilion is a well-known fabric shop in the cultivation world. Zhou Yan had previously received favors from Yunlang Pavilion, and every year they would send some gifts up the mountain.
Zhou Yan usually didn't care much about food and clothing, so he was quite surprised when Yunlang Pavilion sent these two pieces of fabric. Since there were only Mu Xiaoxiao and Qiao Wan, his two female disciples, under his command, he decided to call them both over.
Especially when his gaze fell on Qiao Wan, who was wearing a worn-out and sweat-stained shirt after just coming down from the arena.
The girl smiled sweetly, as if nothing had happened, and greeted her warmly. "Martial Sister Qiao Wan, you've arrived."
She was shorter than Qiao Wan, with a softer voice, and appeared more like a younger martial sister than Qiao Wan.
Qiao Wan nodded and said, "Hello Taoist Friend Mu."
"I am the elder martial sister, and you are the younger martial sister, Wan'er," Mu Xiaoxiao said softly, "Let the younger martial sister go first."
She had never deceived anyone's feelings before.
Qiao Wan felt a bit hesitant, but she knew that it might be a good opportunity to improve her relationship with Zhou Yan.
After thinking for a moment, she said, "I am no longer a disciple of Yuqing Peak, so Taoist Friend Mu should go first."
She didn't refuse to choose the fabric.
Mu Xiaoxiao looked a bit distressed and said, "The younger martial sister saved my life before, and I still don't know how to thank her. The younger martial sister should go first."
Zhou Yan put an end to their hesitation with one sentence.
"Wan'er, you go first."
Qiao Wan looked up at Zhou Yan.
She had already shown a sign of reconciliation, and Zhou Yan should have noticed it.
Zhou Yan did notice, but his cold eyes didn't show any other emotions.
Since Zhou Yan had already spoken, Qiao Wan couldn't refuse any longer. She walked up to the table and looked at the two pieces of fabric on it.
One of the fabrics was a beautiful shade of crimson, soft and elegant like clouds at sunrise. The other piece, with its light blue lotus pattern, seemed to ripple like water, creating a shimmering light. Each petal of the lotus floated and danced in the water's glow.
Coincidentally, Qiao Wan recognized both of these fabrics. One was called "Smoky Sunset Brocade" and the other was called "Frosty Ice Silk". It was true that wearing either of them would make Zhou Yan look a bit stylish.
Qiao Wan's gaze shifted from the Smoky Sunset Brocade to the Frosty Ice Silk.
It was well known in the Kunshan Sect that Mu Xiaoxiao liked the color blue.
Having spent so many years in the Kunshan Sect, even if Qiao Wan hadn't actively inquired, she had learned a lot about Mu Xiaoxiao from others. What she liked, what she disliked, and what she feared - Qiao Wan had thought about it while keeping herself amused and wondered if she knew more about Mu Xiaoxiao than Pei Chunzheng did.
The Frosty Ice Silk was not only a beautiful sky-blue color that Mu Xiaoxiao liked, but it was also more valuable than the Smoky Sunset Brocade.
Zhou Yan and Mu Xiaoxiao were both waiting for her to choose.
Qiao Wan's gaze swept over the two fabrics, and she said with her head down, "I want this one."
She was pointing at the beautiful aqua-colored silk fabric.
Zhou Yan's eyebrows slightly furrowed, almost imperceptibly.
Mu Xiaoxiao seemed surprised, her expression frozen for a moment.
Qiao Wan had a reason for choosing this fabric. She wanted to find out how much she mattered to Zhou Yan, as it would determine her course of action.
The air around them suddenly became tense.
"Well, then I'll take this one called 'Misty Rose Brocade'," Mu Xiaoxiao said cheerfully as she walked up to Qiao Wan. She lifted her little face and continued, "I had my eye on this fabric just now. I was worried about what I'd do if younger martial sister chose it. Thank you for letting me have it."
After speaking, she turned to Zhou Yan and smiled, "I really want to wear a dress made of this Misty Rose Brocade right now."
Zhou Yan looked at his two disciples.
The girl's eyes sparkled, and her smile held no blame or disappointment.
And next to her stood a girl, half-closed her eyes, unable to see her expression clearly.
Zhou Yan had no objections, and after the two each took the fabric, he suddenly said to Qiao Wan, "Wan'er, come with me."
"I know you're still angry with me." Zhou Yan paused for a moment. "But Xiaoxiao is innocent. You are younger martial sisters, if you have any grievances, you can vent them to master, and I won't complain."
Does this mean she deliberately competed with Mu Xiaoxiao for the fabric?
Suddenly, Qiao Wan understood.
Although she felt guilty towards her, Zhou Yan undoubtedly favored Mu Xiaoxiao more.
Although she was very aware of her position in the eyes of the master, when faced with this blatant reality, Qiao Wan couldn't help but smile bitterly, feeling a bit awkward and heartbroken.
She hugged the pale blue fabric tightly in her arms and looked at the man in front of her.
A face as cold and remote as the snowy peaks, with a straight nose, eyebrows, and a stern and indifferent expression.
But she already weighed the balance and now she needed to figure out how to add the weights to it little by little.
Then she needed to find a way to obtain the sword manual.
When Qiao Wan thought of this, she didn't argue and calmly said, "Okay."
Zhou Yan's furrowed brow relaxed slightly and he said, "Wan'er, I'm sorry."
"It's getting late, let's stay and rest on Yuqing Peak today."
Qiao Wan remained calm and replied, "Okay."
Suddenly, Zhou Yan paused and asked, "Are you still blaming me?"
Qiao Wan shook her head and looked at Zhou Yan, "I understand now. Spiritual master... you are still my master, like a father to me. These past few days, I was foolish and caused trouble for you. From now on, I will stay and behave well on Yuqing Peak."
Zhou Yan clearly didn't believe her, but still asked, "Do you really mean it?"
Qiao Wan scratched her head and said, "Disciple... I will try my best to do so."
The credibility of her words was noticeably higher than before.
Zhou Yan looked at the calm girl in front of him, and suddenly his heart skipped a beat. He felt a little bit anxious, as if something had completely changed. But he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was, so all he could do was let out a sigh.
"It's good that you've figured it out."
He then instructed Xiao He to prepare a room for her.
When Qiao Wan suggested staying at Yuqing Peak, she also proposed going back to her dwelling first to get some things.
Zhou Yan didn't object.
Just as they were leaving the side hall, Qiao Wan once again took out the communication jade slip from her pocket.
The idea of getting things was just a pretext. The real purpose was to go and meet Lu Cixian.
Yes, "Lu Cixian."
After rushing and hurrying for these past few days, they finally arrived at the gates of Kunshan Mountain with a few people from Buping College in tow.
The journey had been more difficult than Qiao Wan had imagined.
Mainly because "he" still had the Wen Si Xing Zhu Sword with him, one of the renowned Five Great Swords of the Confucian School.
Although Buping College fell into decline, and as a result, Wen Si Xing Zhu Sword was no longer considered one of the top five swords in the Confucian school, it doesn't mean that there aren't others interested in this sword and plotting to get it.
After all, it was still one of the top five swords in the Confucian school!
Qiao Wan hurriedly read the contents of the message jade slip in her hand, as it kept making rattling sounds.
The message roughly talked about how there were many men around her, and they were fickle in their affections. It seemed like they were trying to rescue her from her current situation. Despite her high cultivation and reaching a level over 200, what the common people were most concerned about was some "black secrets."
Qiao Wan remained calm in her response.
What's wrong with men being fickle in their affections?! Having charm means having many people pursuing you, right?! It's their own choice, so why should it matter to others? After all, she never cheated or intruded into someone else's relationship. Even if she kept backup options, it was consensual.
Although her current situation of having "many men" and being "fickle in affections" was all an illusion.
If this were true, it would be great.
Qiao Wan patted her bald head and felt sad.
But when Lu Cixian arrived, he successfully diverted a lot of attention for her.
After Jiuyue Mountain's famous battle in the same cultivation sect, there have been many speculations about Lu Cixian in the cultivation world, including Kunshan.
This young boy, with handsome looks, has good relationships with Meng Canglang, Bai Shanhu, and others. Although he was defeated by Xie Xingzhi, he cleanly and decisively cut off his thumb in the ghost market, earning a chance to survive for his cultivation peers.
The most talked-about thing is Lu Cixian's identity. It is said that he comes from overseas and is a descendant of dragons. By chance, at a young age, he became the head of a school. Some people admire him, some are jealous of him, and many female cultivators secretly have a crush on him, especially since he had a legendary affair with Chu Tongzheng from the Enchanting Sect. It would be worth it if they could sleep with Lu Cixian.
Now, he has come to Kunshan, carrying the famous Wen Si Xing Zhu Sword, one of the five famous swords of the declining Confucian school.
Lu Cixian moved, and many disciples of Kunshan also followed suit.
Regardless of the situation, Lu Cixian was undoubtedly the rising star of Kunshan Fellow Practitioner Meeting, causing chaos with his own power in this supposedly balanced event.
And Qiao Wan .
She expressionlessly received the jade slip and tucked it into her sleeve.
Since that's the case, she will prove that she is indeed deserving of the title "fickle as a willow"!
