Chapter 6: 6. The Intellectual Godmother, Huang Ying

6. The Intellectual Godmother, Huang Ying

Shen Yaoqiao was shocked; she hadn't realized one could play like that.

Soon, she realized something was wrong. "If you check yourself again, won't you know?"

"Have you ever considered that the me in front of you isn't my true self?"

Qin Yuan said in a ghostly tone.

Then, Qin Yuan’s face stiffened: "Hey, why are you poking my face?"

"Just checking if you're a paper-cutout little brother."

As Shen Yaoqiao said this, she sucked on her finger.

She poked Qin Yuan’s face again.

The corner of Qin Yuan’s brow twitched violently.

I’m not a paper doll, damn it, stop poking me.

"Fraud."

Shen Yaoqiao pouted her rosy little mouth.

The next moment, Qin Yuan turned into a mass of gas.

It dissipated into the air.

The ground parted, and Qin Yuan rose up from below.

"So you’re made of gas; no wonder I couldn't poke through you."

"Keep my secret."

Qin Yuan had just finished speaking.

He saw Shen Yaoqiao simply extend her small hand, looking solemn: "I swear."

Seeing no reaction from Qin Yuan, she added: "I’ll swear twice."

Is there even a difference?

Qin Yuan quickly formed seals with his hands and pushed downward.

A red mark landed on the top of Shen Yaoqiao’s foot.

"If you accidentally let my secret slip, your legs will grow thick, black hair."

"What?"

Shen Yaoqiao was horrified.

She was a little fairy; how could she grow thick, black leg hair?

"Take it back!"

She demanded urgently.

"As long as you don't tell anyone, it’ll be fine."

"Don't run, you little thief, stand still!"

One week later.

The morning light was faint.

Qin Yuan, having just returned from a spatial rift, ran head-on into Shen Yaoqiao, who had been waiting expectantly.

Her milky-white skin seemed to reflect the cold morning light.

Her curvaceous figure was highlighted to the fullest by the fierce wind.

"A-Yuan."

Shen Yaoqiao moved to grab Qin Yuan’s arm.

Qin Yuan retreated a step to the side, as guarded as Elder Tang encountering a female demon.

Still not feeling safe, he transformed into a ball of golden flame and flew several dozen meters away before turning back into human form.

"What kind of spell is that?"

Shen Yaoqiao’s eyes were sparkling.

"Divine Fire Avatar, just a trick of the eye."

"Teach me."

"No."

"Ying ying ying ying."

Shen Yaoqiao used a special footwork technique to chase after him.

Qin Yuan’s face darkened, and he barked: "Stop!"

Shen Yaoqiao halted and pouted: "Fine, I won't get close, why be so fierce?"

Shen Yaoqiao looked so endearing that Qin Yuan had to think of a way to resist the temptation of a beautiful woman.

Beautiful women are just poop, beautiful women are just poop...

Qin Yuan repeated this to himself a few times, and sure enough, the beautiful Shen Yaoqiao didn't seem quite as attractive anymore.

"Hey, what’s that in your hand? A heart-shaped stone, is it for me?"

Shen Yaoqiao’s gaze fell on Qin Yuan’s hand, a hint of excitement in her eyes.

What the hell, a heart-shaped stone? I’m not Li Chen.

"It’s just a regular Source."

Source was the currency and energy of this otherworldly realm.

Similar to a spirit stone.

"If you want it, I’ll give it to you."

Qin Yuan handed it over.

Shen Yaoqiao took it and tucked it away happily.

It was as if it were a token of love.

"Did you forget what day it is today?"

What day?

Wedding anniversary... *cough*, forgot I wasn't married yet.

It’s all those Xianxia dramas from my past life that only knew how to focus on romance instead of doing real work.

Seeing Qin Yuan’s confused look, Shen Yaoqiao huffed and poked his forehead with a finger as white as a scallion: "Today is the day the Third Jiangnan Cultivator Conference begins."

Qin Yuan slapped his forehead.

How could he have forgotten such an unimportant event?

He started walking, and seeing Shen Yaoqiao following him again, he warned: "Let’s go separately; I don't want to attract attention."

"How annoying, you’re complimenting me on being pretty in such a roundabout way again."

Shen Yaoqiao lowered her little head, acting shy.

There’s no beating that train of thought.

Qin Yuan looked to the heavens, speechless.

"A-Yuan, what kind of boyfriend do you think I should look for?"

As Shen Yaoqiao asked, she looked at Qin Yuan with a lingering gaze.

Qin Yuan’s first reaction was: why the hell would you want to date? Isn't it better to strive for cultivation, longevity, and freedom?

After a moment of thought, he gave an answer that clearly came from someone who had never dated: "You could look for a man who gives you special consideration and tenderness, can provide care twenty-four hours a day, and would even be willing to lay down his life for you."

Shen Yaoqiao rolled her eyes charmingly; such men were everywhere, like flies that couldn't be shooed away, so why would she need to look for one?

Shen Yaoqiao secretly glanced at Qin Yuan, who remained as saintly as a Buddha whether in public or in private.

She preferred someone different from the rest.

Her attitude toward Qin Yuan had undergone changes.

At first, she only had the care of an older sister for a younger brother.

Someone who had grown up without parents and was so small—it was too pitiful.

Later, as she grew older and a bunch of sycophants appeared around her like flies, Qin Yuan appeared again.

Unlike the others, Qin Yuan never pestered her; he was polite and focused solely on cultivation.

It was like finding a piece of gleaming gold in a pile of dung.

Love is based on sexual desire.

The affection of childhood sweethearts is anti-sexual desire.

Originally, nothing would have happened between Qin Yuan and Shen Yaoqiao, and even if it had, she would have been snatched away by a "heaven-sent" rival, just like Linghu Chong.

Qin Yuan’s deliberate distance actually avoided that possibility.

It’s a pity Qin Yuan didn't know this, otherwise he definitely would have gotten closer to Shen Yaoqiao.

Before long, Qin Yuan and Shen Yaoqiao arrived at the Welcome Pavilion one after the other.

A group of academy teachers were busy receiving guests—literally.

One of them was particularly eye-catching.

She looked to be in her thirties or forties, slightly shorter than Shen Yaoqiao, and shared seven or eight points of resemblance in their features, possessing both the fair skin of a youthful maiden and the allure of a mature woman.

This person was none other than someone else.

It was none other than Qin Yuan’s godmother, Huang Ying.

Besides being a great beauty, she was also the Dean of the Luzhou Cultivator Academy.

Standing with her brought much more exposure than standing with Shen Yaoqiao.

Just as Qin Yuan was about to sneak in unnoticed through the side door, Huang Ying’s gentle voice sounded in his ear: "You two little brats, aren't you coming over here?"

Qin Yuan had no choice but to go over.

In an instant, countless gazes turned toward them.

However, most of them were on Shen Yaoqiao.

Even so, the less than ten-meter walk felt to Qin Yuan like the hundred-thousand-eight-thousand-mile journey to fetch the scriptures.

"Big sister, I'll help you welcome the guests."

Shen Yaoqiao, who had arrived first, hugged Huang Ying’s arm, her eyes curving like crescent moons.

Compared to her stern father, she preferred her mother, who spoiled her almost without limits.

She often made reckless jokes.

She would address Huang Ying with all sorts of messy titles like big sister, little sister, auntie, or Old Huang.

Huang Ying never got angry.

"No need, the guests have almost all arrived; you and A-Yuan go inside first."

Huang Ying patted her daughter’s arm dotingly.

Her husband often said she had spoiled their daughter rotten, but she didn't agree at all.

Compared to how high her daughter’s future achievements might be, she hoped more that her daughter would be carefree for her entire life.

Shen Yaoqiao let go of Huang Ying and instinctively reached for Qin Yuan, but grabbed nothing; the latter, having been on guard, had already dodged two meters away.

Shen Yaoqiao puffed out her cheeks in anger.

A trace of worry, imperceptible to others, flashed through Huang Ying’s eyes.

It was not because her daughter liked Qin Yuan, but for a reason that could not be spoken aloud.

She hoped that Qin Yuan would never know that secret.

She sighed in her heart.