Chapter 102: When There's Nothing, Dean Jiang; When There's Trouble, Uncle Jiang

The air in the woods seemed to have frozen from this sudden silence; Yan Qingli's chest heaved violently, flames of fury burning fiercely in her eyes as she stared fixedly at Cheng Xi, her gaze as if wanting to slash the other person into a thousand pieces.

"Cheng Xi, don't get too cocky! A person's life is long; you can't expect everything to go your way every time," Yan Qingli said through gritted teeth, her voice laced with resentment and unwillingness.

"Li Zhi'an, you are a smart person; you should know how to make a choice."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhi'an's gaze sharpened, and he said indifferently, "Dean Yan, I respect you as a senior, but that does not mean you can let your daughter act recklessly. I will protect my fiancée; if anyone dares to touch a hair on her head, I will certainly not sit idly by."

Cheng Xi leaned against Li Zhi'an's chest and spoke with an innocent expression, "Dean Yan, as the Dean of the Wanxing Sect, you should set an example and teach your disciples to be humble and polite. Yet now, your daughter is so overbearing and unreasonable, repeatedly targeting me, a weak woman; if this gets out, I fear it will damage the reputation of Jindu Academy."

"I am merely in love with Li Zhi'an and only wish to live a stable life. Yet your daughter has come to trouble me time and again; I truly cannot understand what I have done wrong."

Hearing these words from Cheng Xi, Yan Qingli was so angry that smoke seemed to pour from her seven orifices; she lunged forward a step and roared, "Stop pretending to be pitiful here! Do you think you can fool everyone with a few honeyed words?"

"An explanation? Who are you to me that I must give you an explanation?" Cheng Xi said with feigned surprise. "I am merely with my fiancé; does this also require an explanation to you? Miss Yan, aren't you overstepping your bounds?"

"You... you..." Yan Qingli was so angered by Cheng Xi that she could not speak; her finger trembled as she pointed at Cheng Xi, her body shaking violently from rage.

Watching his daughter in such a state because of Cheng Xi, Yan Jishu's inner fury grew even more intense. He gave a cold snort and said, "What a sharp-tongued girl! It seems if I don't teach you a lesson today, you really won't know the immensity of heaven and earth!" As he spoke, the Golden Sword in his sleeve shone brilliantly, and a powerful wave of Sword Qi rushed toward them.

Yan Qingli made the first move; her figure was like lightning as she instantly closed in on Cheng Xi, the silk ribbon in her hand like a nimble venomous snake, carrying a whistling wind as it coiled toward Cheng Xi's throat.

Under her control, the ribbon seemed to have a life of its own, shifting into various bizarre maneuvers, every attack aimed directly at Cheng Xi's vital points. Yan Qingli's eyes were filled with killing intent; at this moment, she had only one thought, and that was to make Cheng Xi die here.

"Cheng Xi, go to your death!" Yan Qingli roared, the speed of the ribbon suddenly accelerating, leaving behind trails of afterimages in the air.

Seeing this, Cheng Xi dodged to the side, her footsteps light as a dancing butterfly, weaving freely through the gaps in Yan Qingli's attacks. "Do you think you can hurt me with just that?" Cheng Xi gave a cold snort, a flash of cold light crossing her eyes.

Li Zhi'an shielded Cheng Xi behind him, his spiritual power circulating throughout his body, his robes flapping loudly; he exuded a powerful aura, clashing head-on with Yan Jishu's Sword Qi without retreating an inch.

Li Zhi'an said coldly, "I will reiterate: my bond with Cheng Xi is stronger than gold, and no one can separate us. If you and your daughter continue to pester us, don't blame me for being impolite."

Hiding behind Li Zhi'an, Cheng Xi tugged gently on his sleeve, signaling him not to be impulsive. Then, she poked half her body out from behind him, looking at Yan Jishu and Yan Qingli with an innocent smile on her face.

"Dean Yan, Miss Yan, I know you have opinions about me. But matters of the heart cannot be forced. Li Zhi'an and I are in mutual love; this is a fate ordained by heaven. Why must you force us so bitterly?" Cheng Xi said softly, her voice carrying a hint of grievance and helplessness.

Hearing Cheng Xi's words, the fury in Yan Jishu's heart burned even brighter. The Golden Sword in his hand shone brilliantly, Sword Qi overflowing, and the surrounding air seemed to be torn apart by this powerful Sword Qi. "Hmph, sharp-tongued girl! If I don't teach you a lesson today, you won't know what the immensity of heaven and earth is!" Yan Jishu roared, and the Golden Sword in his hand thrust toward Cheng Xi.

Yan Qingli was not to be outdone; the silk ribbon in her hand danced once more, transforming into streaks of light as it swept toward Cheng Xi.

This time, her attack was even more fierce, every move and stance containing lethal power. She had only one thought in her heart: to make Cheng Xi disappear from Li Zhi'an's side.

Facing the attacks of Yan Jishu and Yan Qingli, Li Zhi'an's expression was stern; he quickly drew his own sword, the blade flashing with cold light, colliding with Yan Jishu's Golden Sword and emitting a crisp metallic clatter. At the same time, his other hand waved a Spiritual Barrier, blocking Yan Qingli's ribbon attack.

"Dean Yan, Miss Yan, since you insist on making a move, don't blame me for being impolite!" Li Zhi'an shouted, his spiritual power surging, his momentum rising abruptly.

Just as the situation was tense and on the verge of breaking out, a figure flew down from mid-air like a shooting star, instantly inserting itself between Yan Qingli and Cheng Xi, forcibly separating the two.

Everyone looked closely and saw the person was none other than Jiang Zhongqiao; his face was solemn, his eyes revealing an unquestionable majesty as he shouted, "What is the meaning of this? All of you, stop!"

Cheng Xi reacted extremely quickly, immediately saying in a pitiful tone, "Dean, you finally arrived. Look, Yan Qingli is relying on her father being the Dean of Jindu Academy to act recklessly; she actually wanted to forcibly snatch my fiancé and just now even tried to kill me. You must uphold justice for us." As she spoke, she took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the corners of her eyes, as if she had truly suffered a great grievance.

Jiang Zhongqiao looked at Cheng Xi with a complex gaze, inwardly sighing at this girl's acting skills and audacity. He was naturally aware of what Cheng Xi had done on Wanxing Mountain and knew well that she was by no means as weak as she appeared on the surface.

Subsequently, he turned his gaze to Yan Jishu and said, "Brother Yan, you are aware that Cheng Xi and Li Zhi'an are betrothed. The child Qingli is confused; why didn't you advise her otherwise?"

Yan Jishu's face darkened, and he gave a cold snort, saying, "Qingli has long admired Li Zhi'an; it's not as if you don't know. The girl is infatuated; as her father, what can I do?"

Hearing this, Cheng Xi sneered and said without showing any weakness, "There are plenty of people in this world who admire my fiancé; does he have to marry them all? Miss Yan, you are gifted and a favored daughter of heaven; why must you insist on hanging yourself from the tree that is my fiancé? Li Zhi'an and I are in mutual love, and no matter what, you will never be able to break us apart; you had best give up sooner rather than later."

Hearing these words from Cheng Xi, Yan Qingli felt as if her lungs were about to explode with anger.

Her finger trembled as she pointed at Cheng Xi, her body shaking violently from rage, and she roared, "Cheng Xi, don't go too far! You are just a wild girl who popped up from nowhere; what right do you have to fight Li Zhi'an away from me! Do you think you can take Li Zhi'an from my side with a few honeyed words? I tell you, I will absolutely not let this go!" As she spoke, she prepared to pounce toward Cheng Xi again.