“Then what is narcissism?” He had not forgotten the tirade Xiao Qianyin had hurled at Bei Wuxuan last time. One of the words she had used was narcissism—what did it mean?
“How do you know about narcissism?” Xiao Qianyin frowned. That seemed to be the word she had used to describe that fellow Bei Wuxuan, right? Could it be… She abruptly lifted her head. “So you were there that day too?”
Though it was phrased as a question, her tone was certain.
“I was there. I simply didn’t show myself! After all, being able to watch Bei Wuxuan suffer a setback is quite an amusing thing, is it not?”
On the surface, the crown princes of the four nations appeared to get along in perfect harmony, but in truth, they secretly competed with one another. Aside from Ji Ce, who was truly close to him, the other two were merely maintaining harmony on the surface.
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. What was with this guy’s gloating expression?
“And you just watched them press me step by step? Strike so viciously?”
How cold-blooded. At the very least, they had once been classmates, hadn’t they? Couldn’t he have drawn his blade to lend a hand?
“You have that backwards, don’t you? It was clearly you who pressed them step by step and struck viciously. Bei Wuxuan’s prized attendant was crippled by you! He was at the intermediate Sword Master level, someone Bei Wuxuan had personally put great effort into training. Not to mention, half the rockery is still missing, and the academy head is even planning to buy a new one.”
“Narcissism—so-called narcissism. Let me give you an example. Long ago, there was a young man who was extremely beautiful. He was very proud of his own beauty, so every day he looked at his reflection by the water. He discovered that he was becoming more and more beautiful, and in the end, he turned into a narcissus flower. That is why he was very narcissistic.”
“Oh? If Bei Wuxuan turned into a narcissus flower, I wonder what he would look like?”
Following Qin Xiaoran’s words, Xiao Qianyin began to imagine it: a black narcissus flower, with Bei Wuxuan’s face growing on top of it. She instantly shuddered. Damn it, did it have to be that terrifying? It felt like some kind of monster.
“You had best recuperate over the next few days and do your utmost to resolve the inner force in your dantian. Perhaps your swordsmanship will be able to advance another level.”
His own level was already that of an advanced Sword Immortal. Among those his age, he could already be considered outstanding; even Bei Wuxuan and the others might not necessarily have reached this stage. Thus, he had seen at a glance that the young girl was an advanced Sword Master, so it was only to be expected that Bei Wuxuan’s attendant would lose to her.
He had not expected her to be another prodigy. In the past, she had clearly seemed to be only an elementary Sword Warrior, yet after returning, she had already leapt to advanced Sword Master. There were many ranks in between that countless people could not cross, and yet she had managed it. His interest in her was growing stronger and stronger.
“Thank you for tonight. I owe you a favor, and naturally I will not go back on my word. If you have need of me in the future, I will brave boiling water and raging fire without hesitation.”
“There is no need for you to brave boiling water and raging fire. I am not so vicious a person that I would ask you to risk your life.”
Qin Xiaoran smiled faintly. If he let a girl risk life and limb for him, would he still be a man?
Xiao Qianyin found it somewhat difficult to grasp this person’s thoughts. Say he was poised and noble, yet he had a bit of a scoundrel’s air. Say he liked scheming against people, yet he carried himself with composure and elegance. A contradiction! An absolute contradiction!
The next day—
Ye Mo had not emerged from seclusion. Clearly, he had once again become so immersed in swordsmanship that he could not extricate himself. Xiao Qianyin did not find it strange. After all, this master of hers was a sword fanatic. He was like this from time to time, and she had long since grown used to it.
As for her Longevity Art, it required one to follow the natural course of things. If she acted like Ye Mo, she would instead suffer qi deviation. In truth, the Longevity Art was similar to Daoist mental cultivation methods, emphasizing non-action.
She walked in the direction opposite the courtyard. Although there was no sound of the zither today, when she thought of what had happened yesterday, she still felt somewhat displeased. She might as well keep out of sight and out of mind.
Strolling leisurely, she walked without haste. It could be said that she was the most idle person among them all. Bearing the title of the beloved disciple of the Mohist Juzi, she did not need to attend any classes; it was enough for her to listen to Ye Mo’s guidance on ordinary days.
“Hit him! Beat him to death! Beat him hard for me!”
A clamor came from up ahead, mixed with the vicious curses of several people, as well as the muffled thuds of fists and feet landing on someone’s body.
She quickened her pace and walked over. Rounding a large tree, the space before her suddenly opened up.
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Thank you, dear, for sending Xiao Qi a red packet. This is the first red packet Xiao Qi has received, and I will definitely remember it well, hehe…