Chapter 484: Qin Jian's White Moonlight

"Huh? Teacher, why are you here too?"

After sending Tang San away, Qin Jian caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye and suddenly saw Jian Douluo, who was leaning against a pillar like a wooden statue.

"Me?"

Jian Douluo walked over, shot him a sideways glance, passed by his side, and headed straight out the door.

"No choice, my precious disciple only has eyes for Rongrong and none for his teacher, so the teacher had to follow along to see for himself."

These words were truly sour to the extreme...

Teacher, oh teacher, my Asura Field is already crazy enough; you old man, take it easy, don't play with me...

"Teacher, teacher, my eyes are full of you, look, look."

Qin Jian walked up with a grin and pointed at his own eyes, saying, "If you don't believe me, Teacher, look at me now and see if it's all you."

Ning Rongrong let out a soft laugh and followed behind.

"Don't give me that nonsense. Do you think your teacher is one of those little girls who can be coaxed with sweet talk?" Jian Douluo glared.

Sigh, stubborn is as stubborn does, if you're so capable, stop that corner of your mouth from turning up...

Qin Jian secretly curled his lip, then leaned in beside Jian Douluo and said, "I heard Teacher has reached level 97, how amazing!"

Old folks, you know—a bit of banter and some flattery never go wrong.

Sure enough, the corner of Jian Douluo's mouth began to turn up again, though he quickly gave a dry cough to pull it back, saying in a very indifferent tone, "It's nothing much, just so-so."

"Teacher, you are truly too humble. There aren't many Title Douluo on the Dalu higher than level 97!" Qin Jian continued to flatter him.

Jian Douluo shook his head: "Not enough. I'm only two levels ahead of that old ghost, I need to be two more levels ahead of him."

Ning Rongrong could barely listen anymore behind them.

Two more levels ahead of Gu Douluo—wouldn't that be level 99?

Jian Yeye, oh Jian Yeye, I've never heard you talk so big before; have you really been carried away by Brother Jian's flattery?

"Jian'er, five years have passed, and while I won't hinder your reunion with Rongrong, I must test your sword path."

By now, the three of them had walked out of Yuexuan, but Jian Douluo stopped in the middle of the street and pointed his right-hand sword finger at Qin Jian: "This is the reason the teacher followed you here."

Not sure who was just enjoying the gossip so happily...

Qin Jian stopped his steps opposite Jian Douluo and said softly to Ning Rongrong, "Rongrong, move aside a bit."

Ning Rongrong nodded and moved to the side of the street.

"No soul power, just condensing Sword Qi—let the teacher see your current cultivation of the sword path!"

Without even retracting his sword finger, Jian Douluo had sharp Sword Qi swirling around it, and he moved slowly forward, thrusting toward Qin Jian.

Though the Speed was slow, it felt as if ten thousand sharp blades were aimed at his body, sending a chill through Qin Jian.

"Chi!"

The next moment, Sword Qi gathered on Qin Jian's body; instead of countering his high-quality finger with quantity as Jian Douluo had anticipated, he did the same, condensing it onto his own finger and thrusting forward slowly and firmly.

"Hmm?"

Jian Douluo let out a soft sound of surprise, his hand suddenly accelerated, and it violently collided with Qin Jian's sword finger.

"Zheng zheng zheng..."

Suddenly, sword shadows darted rapidly between the two, clashing repeatedly and exploding with ten thousand strands of Sword Qi.

Yet, both simultaneously protected themselves, remaining unharmed by any of the shockwaves.

"Good!"

Jian Douluo's eyes widened, his sword finger swept up toward the sky, and then he slashed down abruptly.

"Chi—"

A piercing whistle of Sword Qi arrived, but Qin Jian suddenly withdrew his hand, his whole body retreating three steps in a flash, then he stepped back and lunged forward again, his body's Sword Qi surging as he gathered all his Sword Qi into his sword finger to clash fiercely with Jian Douluo.

"Pu pu pu!"

Contrary to Ning Rongrong's expectations, this final collision, which looked like it would be intense, actually leaked very little Sword Qi, and the momentum was even less than the previous one.

But this time, Jian Douluo's expression changed.

Originally, he had been delighted to see that Qin Jian's sword path cultivation was no longer inferior to his own, but at this moment, he clearly sensed that Qin Jian's Sword Qi possessed greater flexibility, and it was actually slowly shredding his own Sword Qi!

"How could it... be like this..."

The Sword Qi gradually calmed between the two.

Jian Douluo, however, seemed to have turned into wood, standing dazed on the spot, motionless.

"Brother Jian, what's wrong with Jian Yeye?" Ning Rongrong ran over and asked with some concern.

Qin Jian took her small hand and walked in the direction opposite Jian Douluo, saying with a chuckle, "It's nothing, Teacher just saw a bigger world; perhaps he will stand there and digest it for a few days..."

"Ah? What? A bigger world?"

Ning Rongrong opened her mouth wide: "Brother Jian, do you mean Jian Yeye has realized something new? About the sword path?"

"Mm."

Qin Jian nodded affirmatively and said, "Teacher was able to reach level 97 these past few years because he realized the Guardian Sword Intent. Teacher has lived his life without burdens, so he must have realized it that year to protect me, but that was still a bit off... I just showed him what the true Guardian Sword Intent is."

"The sword intent Jian Yeye has studied his whole life is actually not as good as yours, Brother Jian?" Ning Rongrong widened her eyes.

Qin Jian shook his head slowly: "Not at all. In terms of the accumulation of the sword path, I am not as good as Teacher. I was just fortunate enough to see the correct direction, while Teacher is still exploring."

"Brother Jian is so amazing!"

Ning Rongrong immediately looked at him with starry, admiring eyes.

Qin Jian scratched his head: "This... talent is innate, not something earned through one's own hard work. You praising me for this makes me feel quite ashamed."

"That just means Brother Jian is favored by the heavens," Ning Rongrong said with a grin, hugging his arm.

Qin Jian reached out to flick her nose and smiled lightly: "Favored, but also coveted. In this world, everything is relatively balanced. If I didn't have these..."

Speaking of this, he suddenly lowered his eyes, a flash of guilt crossing them.

He knew that if he were not the Love Flower, and if he did not have something like a God Trial on him, but had simply awakened a Sword Martial Soul and been favored by Jian Douluo, then he would likely have known, loved, and spent his whole life with Ning Rongrong.

Instead of being like this now, with his heart shattered into petals...

It was evening, the time of dusk when the setting sun hung across the sky, clouds of sunset glow drifted by, a cool breeze blew, and a faint, pleasant fragrance filled the air.

The two walked hand in hand along the streets of Heaven Dou City, their long shadows trailing far behind, gradually merging into the shape of a single person...

"Brother Jian, stop thinking about those 'ifs'. Have you forgotten?"

Ning Rongrong gripped his hand and said with a beaming smile: "A long time ago you told me that it is okay to have regrets, but one should not be remorseful; hypothetical pasts are meaningless, and if you feel that the present is not yet good enough, it is only because..."

"It is not the end yet!"

The afterglow of the setting sun fell upon her smooth profile, refracting into tiny, shimmering specks of light.

In this instant, Qin Jian felt as if he were looking at an Angel radiating holy light all over.

Na'er said that Rongrong was the white moonlight in his heart, and that statement...

Was truly correct.

(End of this chapter)