Chapter 5: Why Did You Come Up?

Inside the small building's main hall.

Jian Douluo Chen Xin leaned back on the sofa, watching the few juniors bicker with great interest.

He was very curious to know how Qin Jian would handle Gu Yue's provocation.

But Qin Jian had no response at all; he simply looked at the other party.

Then, Ning Rongrong actually started speaking up for him.

Although this little girl had quite a princess temper, her heart was kind.

"Everything I said is the truth, why should I apologize?" Gu Yue said unhappily.

Ning Rongrong pouted and said, "You shouldn't attack Qin Jian's shortcomings; that will make him very sad."

Behind her, the corners of Qin Jian's mouth curved upward.

Meanwhile, Gu Yue opposite them was left speechless.

"Gu Yue, let's compete again at the sect selection trials in a few days."

After Qin Jian said this casually, he didn't wait for Gu Yue's reply and turned to continue walking toward his bedroom.

Gu Yue's face was as black as the bottom of a pot: "Don't tell me you still want to defeat me? I am a level 15 Battle Soul Master now."

"Soul power level doesn't represent everything; let's see each other on the competition stage in a few days."

Qin Jian turned around and waved his hand, then said to Jian Douluo, "Teacher, I'm going to rest first."

After seeing Jian Douluo nod, he then walked into his bedroom.

"Qin Jian, you haven't finished telling me the story yet!"

Ning Rongrong suddenly became anxious and ran into Qin Jian's bedroom in two or three steps.

"Hurry and tell me what happened after Zhang Xiaofan's identity was exposed."

Seeing that Qin Jian had already lain down on the bed, she actually kicked off her shoes and hopped up too.

"Hey, hey, this is my bed; what are you doing coming up here?"

Qin Jian's voice reached the main hall, making Gu Yue's expression change upon hearing it.

"If you don't tell me the story today, I'm not leaving; I'm sleeping here too!"

Ning Rongrong's voice also came out, making Gu Yue feel completely uncomfortable.

He stomped his feet and walked out of the small building in a huff, forgetting even to say goodbye to Jian Douluo...

However, Jian Douluo naturally wouldn't hold it against him.

He lay comfortably on the sofa, supporting his head with one hand, while Qin Jian's voice gradually drifted into his ears: "After Zhang Xiaofan returned to the Qingyun Sect, he was placed under house arrest, and even his Fire Stick was confiscated. He had nothing to do every day, so he would wander around the back mountain until one day he met Bi Yao in the bamboo forest..."

Jian Douluo listened intently, a thought flashing through his mind: "To think he lured Rongrong onto the bed so logically; this little guy couldn't have been playing hard to get the whole time, could he..."

This thought didn't last long, because his attention soon sank back into the story...

"What an interesting story indeed..."

I don't know how much time passed.

"Tap, tap, tap..."

Suddenly, light footsteps sounded. Jian Douluo raised an eyebrow, sat up, and then saw Ning Fengzhi walking in from the doorway.

"Jian Shu, I heard from Gu Yue that Rongrong is here?" Ning Fengzhi asked.

"Shh."

Jian Douluo placed his index finger to his lips, then pointed toward Qin Jian's room and whispered, "Rongrong has already fallen asleep."

Ning Fengzhi blinked, his voice also lowering: "She actually fell asleep so quickly today? Jian Shu really has a way."

Jian Douluo stood up and led Ning Fengzhi on tiptoe toward Qin Jian's bedroom.

"This isn't my doing; it's Jian'er who told her stories until she fell asleep..." he whispered.

"Creak..."

The two gently pushed open the door and saw the young man sleeping soundly on the large, soft bed, while the girl... was sprawled out beside him, with one hand and one small leg resting on his body.

Seeing this sleeping posture, black lines appeared all over Ning Fengzhi's head. He stepped forward lightly, pulled the quilt over to cover them both, and then dragged Jian Douluo back out.

"Click."

The bedroom door was gently closed.

Then the two of them breathed a sigh of relief simultaneously, walked into the courtyard, and only then spoke with peace of mind.

"Jian Shu, I heard from that little guy Gu Yue that Qin Jian intends to defeat him in the trials this time?"

Ning Fengzhi asked curiously: "Hasn't his soul power been unable to increase? Why would he want to defeat Gu Yue this time?"

A smile appeared on the corner of Jian Douluo's mouth as he said, "That was in the past. Fengzhi, did you notice Jian'er's soul power level just now?"

"Hmm?"

Ning Fengzhi was slightly stunned: "It seemed to be... level 11? He finally increased by 1 level?"

Jian Douluo smiled and didn't explain.

He wouldn't go so far as to reveal Qin Jian's biggest secret.

"But with level 11 strength facing the level 15 Gu Yue, he shouldn't have any chance of winning, right?" Ning Fengzhi said.

Jian Douluo said seemingly casually, "Isn't there still a few days left..."

"A few days... what can he improve?" Ning Fengzhi was a bit confused.

Jian Douluo said, "Just wait and see when the time comes; just don't get scared."

Qin Jian had increased his soul power by one level just from telling a story for a while; he was very much looking forward to Qin Jian's level after a few days.

"Then I shall wait and see."

Ning Fengzhi smiled and then turned to leave...

Just like that, Qin Jian would hone his Sword Qi in the Mimicry Cultivation Ground during the day and tell stories to Ning Rongrong after she finished her lessons at night.

Because the story was so captivating, this little witch actually ended up staying at Jian Douluo's place, insisting on lingering on Qin Jian's bed every day and refusing to leave until she fell asleep listening to the story.

Soon, the time arrived at the eve of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's partner selection competition.

Jian Douluo's residence, Qin Jian's bedroom, upon the bed.

Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong lay side by side under the covers, telling stories.

"Seeing that Zhang Xiaofan was about to be taken away by Bi Yao, Dao Xuan decided he could not let the tiger return to the mountain, so he brought the sky-covering and sun-blocking Sword of Zhu Xian down toward Zhang Xiaofan!"

"Ah!"

Ning Rongrong let out a cry of surprise, her two small hands involuntarily gripping Qin Jian's arm tightly, asking repeatedly: "What happened next? What happened after that? He surely won't die, right?"

Qin Jian sighed slowly before continuing: "Suddenly, the world went quiet, and even the earth-shattering momentum of the Zhu Xian Ancient Sword held its breath..."

Ning Rongrong also couldn't help but hold her breath.

"A gentle hand, once familiar through the ages, appeared beside Zhang Xiaofan, and with the faint, crisp sound of a Bell, pushed him aside..."

Qin Jian's voice became low and slow.

"A voice that seemed to have been asleep for ten thousand years quietly rang out at this moment, softly chanting for the sake of the lover in her heart..."

"Gods and demons of the heavens, spirits of the nine netherworlds."

"With my blood and body, I offer myself as a sacrifice."

"For three lives and seven incarnations, forever fall into the abyss."

"Only for the sake of love, though I die, I do not regret!"

"..."

Unknowingly, Ning Rongrong was streaming with tears.

Qin Jian stopped there, as he too was immersed in that soul-stirring affection.

Especially since his true form was currently a Love Flower, his sensitivity to emotions was magnified countless times over.

A long while passed.

He turned his head, reached out his right hand, and slowly wiped the tears from Ning Rongrong's small face, saying gently: "That's all for today, go to sleep early, Rongrong."

Ning Rongrong stared blankly at his movements, falling into silence for a moment...

(End of chapter)