Chapter 495: The Eighth-Rank Sword Cultivator is Terrifyingly Powerful

Chen Shu turned on the computer and inserted the Crystal Disk.

He loaded "Wide and Narrow Alley".

Qingcai Baiyu Tang: Brother Mao, how have you been?

Qingcai Baiyu Tang: I saw the news about Duqin, congratulations to Brother Mao on your victory.

After about a few minutes, he received a reply.

Mao Xiansheng: Many thanks.

Mao Xiansheng: It is rare for you to come online specifically.

Chen Shu scratched his head.

It had indeed been a long time since he had been online.

It must have been over a year?

Qingcai Baiyu Tang: As long as you are still alive, that is good.

Mao Xiansheng: I am doing very well.

Mao Xiansheng: Just a bit busy.

Qingcai Baiyu Tang: Peace is hard-won.

Mao Xiansheng: Indeed.

Mao Xiansheng: But it has nothing to do with us.

"As expected..."

Chen Shu whispered to himself.

Mao Xiansheng truly held a high position in Duqin, and the people of Duqin truly knew the real reason for the Lanya withdrawal.

It must be quite poignant to think about it; so many people fought and died, racked their brains, acted with fearless heroism, and sacrificed their hot blood, only to be like insects blocking a carriage, and in the end, because of a reason no one could have imagined, Lanya suddenly withdrew its troops...

Qingcai Baiyu Tang: In any case, it is good that peace has arrived.

Mao Xiansheng: It seems you know as well.

"..."

Chen Shu could not help but smile; it seemed that while he was guessing Mao Xiansheng's identity based on his information, Mao Xiansheng was doing the same thing.

As for the phrase "It seems you know as well," it was likely more of a probe, and Chen Shu could have simply asked "What?" to make the probe fail, but there was no need for Chen Shu to do that now.

He chatted with Mao Xiansheng for a while, but not too much; they hadn't talked in so long that there wasn't much left to say, which was quite a poignant feeling.

Chen Shu quickly turned off the computer, shook his head to restore his good mood, and walked downstairs.

As he walked, his long hair swayed, feeling ticklish and soft.

"In the cold wind and light rain, how much prosperity is like a dream..." Chen Shu could not help but hum a song, singing with Qingqing's voice, which had a unique flavor; regardless of whether it sounded good or not, it was at least fresh, "Once there were ten thousand flowers, drifting away with the wind..."

Was it drifting away or blown away? He couldn't remember clearly.

Chen Shu hummed as he walked, thinking at the same time.

Swapping bodies with Qingqing was something that could be met by chance but not sought, so he had to cherish it well.

Therefore, he set a few plans for today—

He wanted to sing a song using Qingqing's body, at least one, he didn't even need to sing the whole thing, then record it to use as his own Mobile Phone ringtone later;

He wanted to wear black silk suspenders again using Qingqing's body;

He wanted to take many intimate photos with his own body using Qingqing's body, the kind she previously refused to take with him, like a little bird leaning against a person, sweet and cute.

He only set these three for now.

"Looking back suddenly, love and joy are like smoke and clouds, the years flowing like water, leaving no trace behind~~"

The more Chen Shu thought about it, the better his mood became.

In the room next door, two figures, one big and one small, came out with water cups to get water again, one after the other, their movements and expressions exactly the same.

Zhang Suannai had discussed techniques for a Sword Cultivator to fight a Spirit Cultivator with her senior brothers and sisters until midnight last night before sleeping, and it was very cold this morning, so she lingered in bed for a while, only leaving the warm quilt when her stomach growled to go next door and take a look.

Usually, there would be some leftovers next door that no one bothered to throw away.

Zhang Suannai climbed directly over the wall and walked into the dining room.

Sure enough—

A carton of milk, two boiled eggs, and a potsticker were left for her on the table, along with tomato and potato beef brisket with only the beef and soup remaining—usually, Xiaoxiao would leave her as many types of dishes as possible, even if a dish only had one shred of meat or one vegetable left, she would save it for her, because this way, Xiaoxiao could clean one less bowl, saving a bit of effort, and leave that bowl for her to clean.

But today she didn't see Xiaoxiao and Taozi; they were probably in the room upstairs.

Only Chen Shu was wiping the dust off the liquor cabinet.

"Morning, Lao Chen."

"Morning."

Chen Shu glanced at her indifferently: "There is porridge in the pot."

"Oh, oh..."

He seemed very cold.

Lao Zhangtou didn't mind, walking to the kitchen with familiar ease, finding the remaining half-pot of century egg and lean meat porridge in the rice cooker; she took a large basin to hold it, then ate while staring at Chen Shu working: "Oh my, so diligent today?"

Chen Shu ignored her.

"Where is Qingqing?"

Chen Shu still ignored her.

Zhang Suannai scratched her head, feeling something was wrong: "Why are you acting so strange today, as if you've been provoked by something... Did you and Qingqing have a fight?"

"Eat your food."

"Hmm?? Did I guess right?"

"..."

"Holy crap, no way? You two actually fight?"

"Shut your mouth."

"It really is true!?"

Zhang Suannai was first incredibly shocked, then she observed Chen Shu's expression, quickly slurped twice, licked her chopsticks clean, and said to him with a serious face:

"It's not that I'm lecturing you, but you only know how to make Qingqing angry every day; you've finally caused trouble, haven't you?

"I knew it, you're so annoying, you were bound to stir up trouble one day.

"How is it now? Where did Qingqing go?

"Hurry and tell me what happened, I'll help you persuade her."

Regardless of what was said in daily life, it was all just joking; in fact, after these few years, she had developed deep feelings for both Chen Shu and Ning Qing. At such a critical moment, she naturally should help them maintain their relationship instead of continuing to giggle and make sarcastic remarks.

Consequently, Lao Zhangtou even stopped his chopsticks.

"Hm? Why aren't you saying anything?"

"Shut up."

"Hiss..."

How much of a setback would it take to make a heartless, brainless, silly dog become this cold?

It seems the matter is no small thing.

Zhang Suannai became serious and fell into deep thought.

That's right, the person standing in front of her is ultimately Chen Shu and not Qingqing; if she keeps blaming him blindly, he certainly won't be happy to listen.

She must change her strategy.

Zhang Suannai smacked her lips, and her tone shifted again: "But you also know, Qingqing's temper is very strange, and she doesn't seem to be able to take a joke very well. If you really made her angry, no matter whose fault it is, you should just be more tolerant... What's the big deal? So many years of feelings, right?"

As the words fell, she saw Qingqing lift her eyes and glance over:

"Is that so?"

That is indeed how it should be!

Zhang Suannai's eyes lit up.

Profound persuasion techniques are definitely not just about picking out the other party's faults and pointing at their nose to make them change, but about finding the right method. Just like now, blindly picking at Chen Shu's faults will only make him resentful and resistant, so one must first go along with his thoughts, build mutual trust, lower his guard, and then naturally make him accept one's own meaning to achieve the effect of persuasion.

"Isn't that right!" Zhang Suannai widened her eyes, "Does that even need to be said? Everyone knows it."

"Very strange?"

"Very strange! And cold and heartless!" Zhang Suannai spread her hands, "In the whole world, perhaps only I and you can stand her."

"Continue..."

"So you have to be more tolerant! Don't sulk with her, don't bicker with her!" Zhang Suannai said, "If even you can't stand her, I reckon she'll definitely be alone for the rest of her life, how pitiful, right?"

"..."

Ning Qing continued to wipe the wine cabinet.

Zhang Suannai peeked secretly, feeling it was effective, and decided to add more fuel to the fire: "Oh, actually, I don't even need to say these things. You have spent so many years together, you are already very familiar with each other, and your feelings are deep. Even if I don't say these principles, you both understand them..."

Perfect rhetoric!

Even if they had already broken up, as long as there was still love in their hearts, hearing her say this, they would surely reconcile instantly, right?

Not to mention they were at most just having a small spat.

Wouldn't this be brushed aside in an instant?

After they reconcile, they will probably always remember her persuasion today, constantly keeping her good intentions in mind, and their friendship value will shoot up.

Zhang Suannai thought as such, feeling extremely proud.

It was just that whenever the deep feelings that Qingqing and Chen Shu had accumulated since childhood were mentioned, she couldn't help but associate it with the few silly things she had done in the past because she was unaware of it, and then she felt a sense of weirdness in her heart.

Just at this moment, she suddenly heard a string of singing.

"I see the flowers in the water, da-la, holding onto a touch of red, but alas, tossing and turning in the wind, no longer having the colors of the past..."

This voice sounded like Qingqing's timbre, yet it was completely devoid of the usual coldness and indifference, having become much softer. The lingering singing drifted over, seemingly coming from very, very far away, but listening closely, it was right upstairs, and getting closer and closer to her, closer and closer.

Melodious and pleasant, incredibly beautiful.

Except for the middle part where she seemed unable to remember the lyrics and mumbled through two lines, everything else was absolutely perfect.

Zhang Suannai stretched her neck, staring blankly over there.

An unbelievable thing happened—

Qingqing walked down gracefully.

"These scattering flowers have already fallen, the deep affection of the past has already become empty, this flowing water passes leisurely and hurriedly, who can hold onto it for a moment..."

"Clatter!"

Lao Zhangtou's chopsticks fell to the ground, his eyes wide round.

Qingqing... is singing? Qingqing can sing!?

Am I still in a dream?

"Morning, Lao Zhang."

That Qingqing greeted her, her smile radiant.

That was a smile she had never seen before, and it was also a Qingqing she had never seen before, which left her stunned for a moment, and she couldn't help but think back to a few years ago—when the ignorant her first saw what Qingqing looked like in front of Chen Shu, she was just as shocked.

Some memories were missing, unable to withstand deep thought.

But this time it was even more shocking—

Now she was more familiar with Qingqing, and the established concepts she had built were more solid; having them shattered this time naturally felt much more intense.

"What's wrong?"

"You..."

"Your chopsticks fell..."

"Oh, oh..."

Zhang Suannai hurriedly bent down, picked up the chopsticks, and subconsciously licked them to clean them off.

After finishing this action, she realized something was wrong and immediately lowered her head to stare at the chopsticks.

"Lao Zhang has some smooth moves!"

"You... how did you..."

"Oh, it's like this."

Chen Shu was already very skilled at using Qingqing's body; he walked over naturally, hooked his arm through the arm of Qingqing, who was wiping a flowerpot, and smiled sweetly: "Because of the Secret Sect's messy cultivation methods, Qingqing and I swapped bodies today..."

"Clatter..."

Zhang Suannai's chopsticks fell to the ground again.

"Your chopsticks fell again."

"Oh, oh..."

Zhang Suannai picked up the chopsticks once more; her body reacted before her brain did, and she subconsciously gave them a lick.

After licking them, she froze again.

An Eighth Stage Sword Cultivator, Fear such as this.

Immediately after, Zhang Suannai sat there blankly, watching "Qingqing" affectionately hook her arm through "Chen Shu's", and when "Chen Shu" pushed her away, she hooked it back again; the two of them walked toward the living room just like that, leaving her sitting there with her mind almost completely blank.

Right in front of Qingqing... speaking ill of her?

And saying it so seriously?

Zhang Suannai gradually turned red in the face, her fists clenched tight, her toes curling against the soles of her shoes, unable to snap out of it for a long time.

An Eighth Stage Sword Cultivator, Fear incomparable.

Zhang Suannai's brain had already crashed, but her body stubbornly finished this breakfast on its own, cleaned up the bowls and chopsticks, and even knew how to use the dishwasher.

Wouldn't you say that's amazing?

Until another figure arrived at the small courtyard.

"Hi!"

Chen Banxia carried a bag of ingredients and immediately saw her little friend busy in the kitchen, greeting her with a grin: "So diligent? Washing dishes and wiping the stove first thing in the morning..."

Zhang Suannai turned her head mechanically.

"!"

Chen Banxia was startled: "Oh! What are you doing? Why are you acting like a walking corpse?"

"..."

"??"

Chen Banxia put down the ingredients, opened her eyes wide, and walked to her side to check on her affectionately:

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing..."

The concern from her little friend finally made her regain her senses, and she waved her hand.

"It's nothing..."

"Really?"

"Really..."

"Then why are you acting so strange?"

"A bit dazed..."

"Oh! Then I'm relieved..."

"What are you carrying..."

"Oh! I bought some top-quality free-range chicken to bring over for my younger brother to taste..."

"It's raw..."

"Yeah! Make him cook it!"

"..."

Zhang Suannai couldn't help but stare at her blankly—

You really are the best at mooching meals.

"I'll go tell him."

Chen Banxia placed the chicken in the kitchen sink and walked toward the living room; she saw her younger brother sitting on the sofa at a glance. She was in an excellent mood today, so as she walked over, she casually patted her brother's head, ruffled his hair, and then grinned as she said:

"Haha! Did you miss me?"

"No..."

"So cold? And here I specifically bought free-range chicken to come see you today."

"..."

"Make some Big Plate Chicken later, and get some flatbread, ah, just thinking about it is wonderful."

"Wait for her to come back..."

"Her? Where did she go?"

"Grocery shopping."

"Eh! She's actually the one grocery shopping today?"

Chen Banxia felt quite Surprise; usually, it was either her younger brother who went grocery shopping, or the two of them went together, and it was rare for Qingqing to go grocery shopping alone.

However, it was only rare, not that it had never happened before.

Chen Banxia scratched her head, stopped dwelling on it, and instead turned her attention to her younger brother...

"Why are you acting so strange today?"

"..."

"Hm? Speak up!"

"..."

"What's wrong?"

"..."

Chen Banxia continued to scratch her head, thinking of how the expression on her little sister's face just now had also been very strange, and feeling that her little sister might know something, she turned her head to look outside.

Zhang Suannai stood in the courtyard, motionless, quietly listening to the conversation between the little sister and Qingqing.

Before long, she saw the little sister walk over.

"What is going on with Chen Shu? Why is he acting so strange today, as if he's not in a very good mood?"

"..."

Zhang Suannai was silent for a moment, half-dazed and half-awake, and said honestly: "I guess he and Qingqing had a fight..."

"You guess?"

"Mm..."

"Did you see them fighting?"

"No..."

"But it's very likely, eh." Chen Banxia nodded, turned around, and walked away, "I'll go ask, comfort him, and try to guide him."

"..."

Zhang Suannai watched her back, opened her mouth, but in the end, said nothing.

Standing quietly in the wind and snow, listening to the conversation in the living room.

About two minutes later.

Chen Shu came back from grocery shopping while humming a song and even greeted her; she told him that Chen Banxia had come, so he put down the groceries and walked into the living room with a grin.

"3, 2, 1..."

Zhang Suannai counted silently in her heart.

She heard a cry of Surprise from the little sister.

Another half a minute later.

The little sister walked out, looking dazed, and came straight up to her, using a tone of questioning and blaming: "You... you did this to mess with me on purpose, right?"

"No..."

"Then why did you say you guessed they were fighting?"

"..." Zhang Suannai said in a daze, "I did guess they were fighting..."

"It was wrong!"

"I was wrong too..."

"You made me lose so much face!"

"I lost face too..."

"..."

Chen Banxia was speechless for a moment and could only keep taking deep breaths, her chest heaving sharply.

Zhang Suannai stiffly turned her head, stared at her for a few seconds, and said: "But I feel much better now, what about you?"

Chen Banxia:...

221,000 words updated this month.

Truly amazing, truly amazing.