Chapter 24

She did not hesitate, swallowing the "Face-Restoring Pill" immediately.

In an instant, as if time itself had reversed, her ugly visage transformed within moments, restoring her to the breathtaking beauty that had once crowned the world.

At the same time, the content on the diary instance's title page refreshed—

[Character: Qiu Qiu Lingsu]

[Appearance: 10]

[Favorability: 9]

Qiu Qiu Lingsu stared blankly at the appearance score above, feeling a surreal sense of separation from her past life, as tears once again streamed down her face.

Inn guest room.

Jiang Sishui rubbed his slightly sore wrists.

Apart from the first day requiring over three thousand words, the diary thereafter only demanded over a thousand words daily.

Having written so much today, he felt somewhat mentally exhausted.

[Congratulations on completing the fourth diary entry. Reward: Talent – Lang Lang Fanyun Talent Template]

[Congratulations on completing today's diary entry. Reward: Martial Arts Experience +500]

"Hmm?"

Jiang Sishui was momentarily stunned, then his spirits lifted.

After "Cicada Awareness" and "Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Art," the system was rewarding him with something else again!

"Lang Lang Fanyun Talent Template!"

Jiang Sishui's pupils constricted; turbulent waves surged in his heart, and it took a long while before he could barely calm himself.

He hastily merged the reward.

At the same time, he also noticed that today's Martial Arts Experience reward had increased.

So this was... double happiness?

The 500 Martial Arts Experience points were naturally added to "Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Art."

[Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Art (Heavenly Art): Entry Level (1700/**

Just as he finished, a guard came to summon Jiang Sishui downstairs for a meal.

Jiang Sishui acknowledged him, washed up, and went downstairs.

Upon encountering Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying, with Zhao Zhao Tianhao present, the two merely exchanged greetings without further conversation, appearing exceptionally proper.

At the dining table, Jiang Sishui ate his meal but was clearly distracted.

There were extra rewards on the first and fourth days, but none on the second or third.

Was there anything special about those two days?

"Could it be that the next one won't occur until the ninth day?" Jiang Sishui wondered, feeling as though the system was playing a pattern-finding game with him.

As for the amount of Martial Arts Experience, it seemed related to the quality of the diary entries he wrote.

It appeared that the more substantial the content, the higher the reward.

Once everyone had eaten and drunk their fill and everything was properly arranged, the group set off once more.

As the escort convoy moved forward, Zhao Zhao Tianhao glanced around, frowned, and asked his second daughter beside him, "Where is your eldest sister?"

On this escort mission, besides Zhao Zhao Tianhao and Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying, Zhao Zhao Zhao Mengjiao had also come along.

Hearing Zhao Zhao Tianhao's question, Zhao Zhao Zhao Mengjiao pursed her lips and jerked her chin toward the carriage behind: "There, Big Sister is meeting her old lover."

Zhao Zhao Tianhao's expression turned stern, and he scolded in a low voice, "Stop talking nonsense! She is your eldest sister; how can you be so unrestrained in your speech! How have I taught you all these years?!"

Scolded like this, Zhao Zhao Zhao Mengjiao immediately lowered her head, daring not to meet Zhao Zhao Tianhao's eyes.

Yet in her heart, she remained unconvinced, muttering, "Fine, fine, everything Big Sister does is right. She was unwell yesterday, unwell today; I suppose she'll be unwell tomorrow and the day after as well."

Zhao Zhao Tianhao was suddenly at a loss for words; he wanted to lecture his second daughter again, but the words stuck in his throat, and he didn't know what else to say.

He glanced back at the carriage, unable to suppress a growing suspicion in his heart: "Could it be that Zhao Zhao Qiying has truly taken a liking to this young man?"

Through their interactions over the past few days, Zhao Zhao Tianhao had formed a favorable impression of Jiang Sishui.

Handsome and refined, with a steady demeanor and the bearing of a noble family, at least outwardly, he could find no fault with him.

Pity that this young man possessed no martial arts skills.

Was an ordinary person truly suitable to become the son-in-law of an escort agency?

Zhao Zhao Tianhao vaguely felt something was amiss, yet he trusted his eldest daughter's judgment and respected her choices, so he did not wish to intervene just yet.

If the two truly cherished each other willingly, he would not wish to play the role of the one who "beats apart the mandarin ducks."

Seeing that Zhao Zhao Tianhao had no intention of pursuing the matter further, Zhao Zhao Zhao Mengjiao grew even more displeased.

"Hmph, what good is looking handsome? A good-for-nothing who knows no martial arts is ultimately nothing but a decorative pillow!"

Zhao Zhao Zhao Mengjiao felt contempt in her heart, yet for some reason, she also felt a tinge of jealousy.

Inside the carriage.

Just as yesterday, Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying was teaching Jiang Sishui about acupoints and meridians.

Perhaps due to having merged the "Lang Lang Fanyun Talent Template," Jiang Sishui comprehended the material with incredible speed this time; basically, once Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying explained something, he remembered it firmly.

But precisely because of this, with ample spare capacity, Jiang Sishui involuntarily began to let his mind wander.

The girl's slender jade-like fingers constantly touched various parts of his body, while Jiang Sishui's gaze occasionally drifted over her graceful, undulating curves.

Gradually, from some point onward, the air became filled with an ambiguous atmosphere.

Suddenly, as if possessed by a spirit, Jiang Sishui reached out and grasped one of Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying's soft hands!

The sound of Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying's explanation ceased abruptly; her entire body stiffened. She exerted a little force but failed to pull free from Jiang Sishui's palm.

By rights, she should have been flustered, yet at this moment, Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying was instead exceptionally calm, a smile appearing on her face as she spoke gently, like an elder sister from next door: "What is wrong with you?"

Hearing her voice, Jiang Sishui regained some clarity and realized that, swept up by emotion, he had committed an improper act.

He was just about to let go when it occurred to him that Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying's struggle earlier had not been forceful; she did not seem particularly resistant...

"Could it be..."

An astonishing idea sprang to Jiang Sishui's mind, making his heart beat several notches faster.

Meeting Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying's inquiring gaze, he said, "Miss Zhao, I have memorized everything you mentioned. Thank you."

"You say you memorized it all?" Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying stared in surprise.

Although Jiang Sishui's learning ability far exceeded that of ordinary people, it was not so shocking as to be beyond her comprehension.

But today she had only spoken once; how could he have memorized it all?

Knowing she did not believe him, Jiang Sishui pointed to the acupoints on his own body and recited them from beginning to end.

Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying clicked her tongue in wonder; she could not help but believe him now.

Then she glanced down at her slender hand still grasped in Jiang Sishui's palm, her eyes shimmering as she said with a half-smile, "Then why have you been holding my hand all this time?"

"Ah, just now, because I was thrilled to have learned it all and remembered Miss Zhao's kindness, I acted improperly. It's just... it's just that holding Miss Zhao's hand felt so comfortable that for a moment... for a moment I forgot to let go."

"If you let go of my hand before saying that, I might believe you."

"...My apologies, I will release it immediately."

Jiang Sishui could find no further excuse to keep gripping it tightly and reluctantly withdrew his hand.

But before he had pulled it back halfway, Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying suddenly reversed her grip and held his hand fast.

Jiang Sishui turned his head to look at her; though joy filled his heart, confusion predominated.

Tilting her lovely head, Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying's usually serene and intellectual features gained a touch of playful cuteness as she whispered softly, "You do not know how to ride a horse, do you?"

Something stirred in Jiang Sishui's heart, and he nodded honestly.

"Then I will teach you. Will you learn?"

"I will! Of course I will!"

"Good, then follow me."

Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying smiled gracefully, lifted the carriage curtain first, and stepped out.

Jiang Sishui followed closely behind.

Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying leaped onto a tall steed, her posture elegant and her movements as smooth as flowing clouds and running water, exuding the heroic spirit of a knight-errant.

Then, bending slightly at the waist, she extended her palm toward Jiang Sishui: "Come up."

Jiang Sishui glanced at the space behind her; feeling both nervous and excited, he did not stand on ceremony but stepped forward directly and took her hand.