Martial Cultivator

In the end, Weng Quan bought some things and carried them with Song Lian to his current courtyard. The woman came out to welcome them warmly. She looked at Weng Quan and complained, "If you're coming, just come. Why did you buy stuff?"

Weng Quan replied honestly, "I wasn't planning to buy anything, but Second Uncle insisted. Auntie, must we act so distant as one family?"

Hearing this, Song Lian glared fiercely at Weng Quan. This silly kid, why is he so dumb?

The woman then glared at Song Lian and scolded, "We're all family, why make such a fuss?"

Song Lian felt rather helpless. "Just trying to teach this silly kid a bit about social niceties. Who knew he'd be this clueless."

Weng Quan glanced at his uncle with a sense of grievance but did not dare to say anything.

The woman took the things and went back to the kitchen to start cooking. Weng Quan sat obediently in the courtyard, not daring to speak.

Song Lian glanced at Weng Quan and took the initiative to say, "Why don't you go to the Northern Frontier?"

Weng Quan was taken aback, wearing a pained expression. "Second Uncle, do you really want me to die?"

Song Lian who was just casually mentioning going to the Northern Frontier had a dark expression when he heard this, "Are you fucking scared of death?"

Weng Quan nodded earnestly. "Second Uncle, aren't you afraid of death?"

Song Lian fell silent.

After a moment of thought, Weng Quan continued, "But if the day comes when I'm really needed to die, I won't need you to say it, Second Uncle, I'll definitely go."

"You stinking brat, even if that day comes, it won't be your turn."

Song Lian patted Weng Quan on the shoulder, smiling faintly. "You silly kid, clueless in all aspects, but you're not bad at heart. You're indeed a son of my Song family."

Weng Quan carefully reminded him, "Second Uncle, my surname is Weng."

"Well, you're still part of my Song family!"

Song Lian stood up, truly unwilling to spend more time with this silly kid.

Comparisons between people would really anger people to death.

……

……

On her way back to the academy, Xie Nandu encountered a steward from the Xie Family delivering the official gazette. The steward had initially intended to deliver it to the small courtyard at the academy, but upon learning that Xie Nandu was not there, he began searching for her in the Divine Capital. Given the Xie Family's resources, finding someone was not a problem.

Receiving the gazette, Xie Nandu was about to leave when the steward spoke softly, "Miss, there are some matters the Ancestor wishes to discuss with you at the ancestral home."

Xie Nandu raised an eyebrow. "Is it absolutely necessary to go?"

The steward smiled and shook his head. "The Ancestor made it clear that if Miss doesn't wish to go, you don't need to."

Xie Nandu nodded. "Then I won't go."

The steward was somewhat taken aback by how decisively Xie Nandu refused. After all, the invitation came from none other than the Ancestor.

However, since the Ancestor had said it was up to her, as a mere servant, the steward did not dare to press further. He simply stepped aside with a smile, allowing Xie Nandu to leave.

As Xie Nandu walked, she opened the gazette and quickly furrowed her brows. She already knew quite a bit about the situation at Sword Qi Mountain. His Majesty's decree had personally arrived, forcing Sword Qi Mountain to lower its head. But later, that Eunuch Li had already left the Divine Capital.

It was said that he went to deliver the Thousand Year Glacial Stone to Sword Qi Mountain, but for a single Thousand Year Glacial Stone, it seemed unnecessary for him to go personally.

Xie Nandu slightly frowned. There were definitely some details not mentioned in the gazette.

She continued flipping through it and soon found what she was looking for.

Xie Nandu furrowed her brows again, then put away the gazette, seeing that she was nearly at the academy's entrance.

However, this time, she encountered another acquaintance.

Not exactly an acquaintance.

Huang Zhi.

This young man from the Huang family of Nanxing had been persistently pursuing Xie Nandu, this matter was known by the entire academy. Though he had restrained himself considerably these days due to Xie Nandu's complete indifference, upon encountering her again and noticing that her maid Liu Ye was not present, Huang Zhi stopped and called out softly, "Miss Xie."

Xie Nandu ignored it and kept walking, acting as if she had not heard Huang Zhi speak.

Huang Zhi's face stiffened. Although he had somewhat prepared himself, he still felt a sharp pain in his heart upon seeing Xie Nandu's reaction.

"Miss Xie, must you really be so heartless?"

Watching Xie Nandu walk past him without a glance, Huang Zhi spoke sadly. But the result was the same, Xie Nandu still continued walking alone.

After thinking about it, Huang Zhi quickly caught up and continued on his own, "This Huang's sincere heart, doesn't it move you even a little, Miss Xie? As the saying goes: sincerity can make metal and stone crack. Miss Xie, are you truly so cold-hearted and completely unmoved? This Huang's feelings for you are genuine. For your sake, this Huang is even willing to die."

Xie Nandu suddenly stopped and looked at Huang Zhi. "Then go ahead and die now."

Huang Zhi was stunned, asking huffily, "What are you saying, Miss Xie?"

Xie Nandu said calmly, "The South Lake is right here. Go ahead and drown yourself." Huang Zhi stared at Xie Nandu in disbelief, unable to fathom that she would say something like that.

"Since your willingness to die for me is false, then how can your professed deep affection be believed? Stop wasting your time on me."

With that, Xie Nandu turned and walked away, leaving Huang Zhi standing there in a daze, the last glimmer of hope in his eyes finally extinguished.

By this time, quite a few students had gathered around. The matter between Huang Zhi and Xie Nandu was no secret at the academy. Most thought Huang Zhi had long given up, but no one expected this final, desperate act from him.

Many students looked at Huang Zhi with eyes full of sympathy.

Losing face once was one thing, but doing it repeatedly was truly too tragic.

Xie Nandu could not be bothered with any of this and was about to leave when a voice suddenly called out from behind, somewhat teasingly, "Aren't you afraid that guy will turn his love into hate because of your cruel words?"

As the voice rang out, many students immediately turned their heads in its direction.

Countless people saw a young man in black, carrying a saber, appearing not far away.

That guy came back!

The students' expressions became uneasy. Those well-informed had known that the young Commander Chen had left the Divine Capital early in the spring, and now it was almost autumn.

The Divine Capital had been free of Chen Chao's presence for months, and the students had been feeling quite relaxed.

After all, whether it was the previous verbal sparring at the South Lake or that snowy winter when Chen Chao made mass arrests, even affecting the academy, many students felt uncomfortable whenever they thought about these events, even if some bore no ill will towards him.

But no matter how much they disliked seeing this young man, he had returned once again.

Huang Zhi's face was wooden, he was no longer feeling anything at this moment.

Xie Nandu slowly turned her head, only to see a young man in black, carrying a saber, standing not far away, smiling at her.

Frowning, Xie Nandu said, "How did I not notice you?"

She had nine flying swords and was far more sensitive to sword qi than other sword cultivators of the same level. Yet, compared to Chen Chao, she was still lacking.

Chen Chao replied with a cheerful smile, "I didn't want you to notice me, so how could you?"

Xie Nandu glanced at the tear in Chen Chao's black robe without saying anything.

Chen Chao walked a few steps forward, took out a short sword from his bosom, and handed it to her, smiling as he said, "A gift for you. It's very suitable for peeling fruit."