Chapter 4: I am Ye Qingxian, please enlighten me!

Time rewinds a short while.

【Shall a new task be issued to the owner of the Number One Sub-System?】

【This task issuance can be divided into three parts, with a total reward of 650 Heroic Couple Points, 600 Cultivation Points, and one Low-grade Spirit Returning Pill (can be decomposed). Task details can be generated via mental description, but must include the three elements: 'repel incoming enemies', 'actively lure the Host', and 'build a reputation for the Host'.】

"Issue!"

After finishing the breakfast brought by a beautiful maid, Ning Mu began to ponder issuing a new task to Liu Qingmei.

After clearly understanding the conditions, he immediately issued the tasks containing the three elements required by the system.

【Task One: ……】

【Task Two: ……】

【Task Three: ……】

【Task issued. Once the owner of the Number One Sub-System, Liu Qingmei, completes the tasks, the Host will receive 100 Cultivation Points, an Earth-Grade Movement Technique, and 2% of Liu Qingmei's Loyalty Value respectively!】

"Second Young Master, the Fengmo Sword Sect has come to challenge us. The First Madam wants you to go to the plaza to watch the battle!"

Not long after.

A beautiful maid was seen walking over, speaking respectfully to Ning Mu.

……

Hidden Sword Plaza.

A giant sword crafted from massive stone, facing south from the north, stood at the peak of the plaza.

Its momentum was vigorous and awe-inspiring.

Beneath the giant sword was a high platform.

On the high platform were five thrones built and carved into the shapes of various famous swords.

The main seat was vacant.

On the two seats to the left and right sat the leaders of Cangjian Villa and the Fengmo Sword Sect, respectively.

In the seat of honor on the left sat the plump, mature, and powerful Liu Qingmei, her cold gaze fixed on the middle-aged man opposite her.

The corners of that middle-aged man's eyes held a faint trace of mockery.

Standing to the left and right of Liu Qingmei were a man and a woman, respectively.

The beautiful young girl holding a precious sword was in the bloom of youth, her beauty at its peak; though she appeared slightly inexperienced, her gaze was cold, and her fair, pretty face seemed to be covered in a layer of frost.

Standing on the other side was a youth who was extremely unfamiliar to everyone present.

This youth was none other than Liu Qingmei's newly accepted Personal Disciple, Ning Mu.

By the time Ning Mu arrived.

The atmosphere at the scene was already tense.

The Sword Master of the Fengmo Sword Sect, Li Qingxiao, sat opposite, and in the position below him was his First Disciple, Li Yuzhao, known in the pugilistic world as the Young Master of the Demonic Sword.

The other disciples of both sides stood in a standoff on the plaza, glaring angrily at one another.

"What, has Cangjian Villa run out of men? Must you rely on a woman to be the master of the house?"

Li Qingxiao said sarcastically, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Liu Qingmei and the woman sitting below her.

As soon as these words were spoken, a roar of laughter erupted from the camp of the Fengmo Sword Sect.

Liu Qingmei's expression was gloomy, but she did not speak.

"Sword Master Li is indeed a man, but he was merely a defeated opponent of my brother. Do you think that because my brother was heavily injured in a great battle with a Demonic Path enchantress, you can take advantage of our Cangjian Villa?"

The woman sitting below Liu Qingmei suddenly spoke up.

She was the Seventh Aunt of Cangjian Villa, Ye Qingxian, the younger sister of the current Villa Master Ye Bufan. Her attainments in Martial Arts were extremely outstanding; she rarely appeared in public and spent most of her time in the ancestral hall studying Martial Arts with the various Elders of the clan.

Ye Qingxian was as her name suggested.

A long white dress perfectly set off her figure, making her look like a celestial maiden descending to earth.

Her gaze was cold and clear, her skin delicate and lustrous.

Especially her hair, which was as white as jade, added a touch of coldness to her temperament.

Looking at Li Qingxiao and the others opposite, Ye Qingxian smiled coldly, rose gracefully, and said coldly: "No need for more words. Since your sect has come to demand our sect's foundational technique, let's get straight to the point."

"According to the agreement of previous years, we shall each use our sect's foundational sword technique to decide the outcome. If you lose again this time, you shall offer one thousand taels of gold and one river shipping route."

After she finished speaking.

Ye Qingxian rose from her seat, hands behind her back, and with a tap of her toes, she flew like a fairy onto the distant arena. Then.

She reached out with her right hand, and the soft sword at her waist emitted a 'clang' of air-piercing sound following her slender fingers, the tip of the sword pointing obliquely at the ground.

"I am Ye Qingxian, please enlighten me!"

Watching her graceful, fairy-like silhouette, Ning Mu could not help but feel envious.

He truly wished he could reach such a free and easy realm of lightness, where he could fly whenever he pleased!

At this moment.

Li Qingxiao's disciple, Li Yuzhao, rose, intending to fly to the arena to battle Ye Qingxian.

But he had not yet reached the arena.

Suddenly.

Ye Qingxian flicked her hand, and a massive, invisible gale struck Li Yuzhao directly, throwing him straight back from mid-air.

Accompanied by Li Yuzhao falling flat on his back.

Ye Qingxian shook her head calmly and sneered: "Change the person!"

"A junior like you is not qualified to fight me."

Ye Qingxian's expression was indifferent.

This immediately caused Li Yuzhao's face to turn red, and he glared at her in exasperation.

The two were of similar age; in fact, he was even a few years older than this Qigu of Cangjian Villa, Ye Qingxian.

Yet, the other party actually called him a junior.

This humiliation made it difficult for him to let go.

But he had no words to retort; strictly speaking, Ye Qingxian was of the same generation as the Ye Family Villa Master, and naturally, of the same generation as his Master, Li Qingxiao.

This "junior" label—he had to accept it whether he wanted to or not! "Heh, rumors in the pugilistic world say the Ye Family's youngest daughter is formidable. We have never met, and seeing you today, I never imagined your sharp tongue was what was truly formidable. This Sword Master would like to see if Young Lady Ye has truly inherited her brother's techniques."

Seeing his disciple humiliated and unable to win with words, Li Qingxiao could no longer sit still.

He stood up abruptly and headed toward the arena.

With a flick of his precious sword in the wind, before his words had even faded, he thrust rapidly toward Ye Qingxian in the center of the arena.

Ye Qingxian felt not a shred of fear; instead, she took the initiative to meet him.

Two figures, one black and one white, parried each other's moves, their sword shadows dense as they fought in an inseparable struggle.

Meanwhile, on the main platform.

Watching her sister-in-law suddenly step forward, Liu Qingmei felt a slight tremor in her heart.

Her gaze subconsciously turned to look at Ning Mu, who was standing beside her.

She pondered inwardly: the requirement for Task One is to repel the invading enemy and cause Li Qingxiao to retreat with heavy injuries.

If she did not take action herself, would the task fail to be completed?

She was a bit worried! After all, this task offered a Spirit Returning Pill Fragment!

And just as Liu Qingmei's gaze turned toward Ning Mu.

On the other side.

In the bloom of her youth, vibrant and spirited, the young girl Ye Yin also frowned slightly, casting her gaze toward this strange man beside her mother.

Who is this man? Why is he standing in such an important position?

One must know that her mother rarely makes an appearance; it is only because her father is currently injured that she has no choice but to come out and preside over the situation.

Yet, she has always avoided associating with strange men; even the male disciples under her father's tutelage are rarely able to meet with her alone.

How could she let a strange man stand by her side now? And looking at her mother's expression, she seems to value him quite a bit! More importantly, if not for him, this position should have belonged to Senior Brother Feng Zhien!

Now, Senior Brother Feng can only stand further back.

At this thought, the impulsive Ye Yin could not help herself and asked her mother in a low voice.

"Mother, who is he?"

Ye Yin pointed at Ning Mu, her slender willow-leaf eyebrows slightly furrowed, her expression filled with undisguised dissatisfaction.

Liu Qingmei hesitated for a moment, then waved her hand and said, "He is your brother."

(End of this chapter)