Chapter 25

She didn't hesitate, and directly swallowed the "Huiyan Pill."

In an instant, as if time were rewinding, her ugly face was restored in the blink of an eye to the beauty that once outshone the world.

At the same time, the content on the title page of the diary copy refreshed—

【Character: Qiu Lingsu】

【Appearance: 10】

【Favorability: 9】

Qiu Lingsu stared blankly at the appearance score above, feeling an unreal sense of being in a different world, her face once again covered in tear stains.

Inn guest room.

Jiang Sishui rubbed his somewhat sore wrist.

Apart from the first day requiring more than three thousand characters, the diary only demanded over a thousand characters per day thereafter.

Having written so much today, he was also a little weary at heart.

【Congratulations on completing the fourth diary entry, reward talent — Lang Fanyun Talent Template】

【Congratulations on completing today's diary entry, reward Wu Gong experience +500】

"Mm?"

Jiang Sishui was first stunned, then his spirit lifted.

Following "Chanjue" and "Heavenly Sword Drawing Technique," the system rewarded other things again!

"Lang Fanyun Talent Template!"

Jiang Sishui's pupils shrank, and a storm surged in his heart; only after a long while did he barely calm down.

He hurriedly fused the reward.

At the same time, he also noticed that today's Wu Gong experience reward had increased.

So this is… a double blessing?

The 500 Wu Gong experience naturally went toward "Heavenly Sword Drawing Technique" again.

【Heavenly Sword Drawing Technique (Heavenly Art): Entry (1700/**

Just as he finished these, a caravan hand came to summon Jiang Sishui downstairs to eat.

Jiang Sishui responded, washed up, and went downstairs.

Encountering Zhao Qiying, and with Zhao Tianhao present, the two merely exchanged greetings and stopped talking, appearing especially proper.

At the dinner table, Jiang Sishui ate but was absent-minded.

The first and fourth days had extra rewards, but the second and third days did not.

What was special about those two days?

"Could it be that the next one is only on the ninth day?" Jiang Sishui thought, always feeling this system was playing a pattern-finding game with him.

As for the amount of Wu Gong experience, it seemed related to the quality of the diary he wrote.

It seemed the more substantial it was, the higher the reward.

Once everyone had eaten and drunk their fill and everything was tidied up, the group continued setting out.

As the escort caravan advanced, Zhao Tianhao looked around, frowned, and asked his second daughter beside him: "Where's your big sister?"

On this escort trip, besides Zhao Tianhao and Zhao Qiying, Zhao Mengjiao had also come out.

Hearing Zhao Tianhao's question, Zhao Mengjiao pursed her lips toward the carriage behind: "There, big sister is meeting her old flame."

Zhao Tianhao's expression turned stern, and he rebuked in a low voice: "Stop talking nonsense! She's your big sister—how can you be so loose-lipped! How does your father usually teach you?!"

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

But she was still unconvinced in her heart, muttering: "Fine, fine, big sister is always right no matter what. Yesterday she wasn't feeling well, today she's not feeling well either—I bet tomorrow and the day after she'll be unwell too."

Zhao Tianhao was suddenly rendered speechless; he wanted to lecture his second daughter some more, but the words reached his lips and he didn't know what to say.

He turned to glance at the carriage, and couldn't help suspecting in his heart: "Could Qiying really have taken a fancy to this young man?"

Through these few days of interaction, Zhao Tianhao's impression of Jiang Sishui was not bad.

Handsome and elegant in appearance, steady in temperament, with the bearing of a great family—at least from the outside, he couldn't find any fault.

It's a pity this young man had no martial arts skills.

Could an ordinary person really be suitable as the escort bureau's son-in-law?

Zhao Tianhao vaguely felt it was improper, but he trusted his eldest daughter's judgment and respected her choice, not wanting to interfere for the time being.

If the two were truly willing, he didn't wish to play the part of one who "beats apart the loving mandarin ducks."

Zhao Mengjiao, seeing Zhao Tianhao had no intention of pursuing it, grew even more displeased.

"Hmph, what's the use of being good-looking? A good-for-nothing who doesn't know martial arts is ultimately just an embroidered pillow!"

Zhao Mengjiao was disdainful in her heart, yet for some reason, also felt a twinge of sourness.

……

Inside the carriage.

Zhao Qiying, just like yesterday, imparted knowledge of acupoints and meridians to Jiang Sishui.

Perhaps because of fusing the "Lang Fanyun Talent Template," this time Jiang Sishui comprehended extremely fast—basically after Zhao Qiying said something once, he firmly committed it to memory.

But precisely because of this, Jiang Sishui, with plenty of leisure, couldn't help letting his mind wander.

The young girl's slender jade fingers kept touching parts of his body, and Jiang Sishui's gaze also occasionally wandered over her graceful, undulating curves.

Gradually, from some unknown moment, the air became filled with an ambiguous atmosphere.

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

Zhao Qiying's lecturing voice stopped abruptly, her whole body stiffening; she exerted a little force but couldn't break free from Jiang Sishui's grip.

Logically, she ought to have panicked, but at this moment, Zhao Qiying was instead extraordinarily calm, a smile appearing on her face; like an elder next-door sister, she said gently: "What's wrong with you?"

Hearing her voice, Jiang Sishui sobered up a little, realizing that in the heat of the moment, he had overstepped the bounds of propriety.

He had just been about to let go, but then recalled that Zhao Qiying's earlier struggle had not been forceful, as if she did not really resist...

"Could it be..."

A startling thought sprang up in Jiang Sishui's mind, and his heart immediately beat several times faster.

Facing Zhao Qiying's questioning gaze, he said, "Miss Zhao, I've remembered everything you said, thank you."

"You say you've remembered everything?" Zhao Qiying was taken aback.

Although Jiang Sishui's learning ability far surpassed that of ordinary people, it could not be called earth-shatteringly extraordinary, and was still within her range of acceptance.

But today she had only said it once—how could he have remembered all of it?

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

Zhao Qiying clicked her tongue in wonder, and only then had to believe it.

Afterward, she glanced again at the slender hand still held in Jiang Sishui's palm, her eyes rippling, and said with a half-smile: "Then why do you keep holding my hand?"

"Ah, just now I was so excited from learning it all, and I thought of Miss Zhao's kindness, that I lost my manners. It's just... it's just that Miss Zhao's hand felt so comfortable to hold that for a moment... for a moment I forgot to let go."

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

"... Sorry, I'll let go right now."

Jiang Sishui could no longer find a reason to keep clinging on, and reluctantly withdrew his hand.

But just halfway, Zhao Qiying suddenly gripped his hand in return.

Jiang Sishui turned his head to look at her; though his heart was joyful, he was more at a loss.

Zhao Qiying tilted her lovely face, and between her usually serene, intelligent brows there appeared a touch of playfulness and charm, as she said softly: "You can't ride a horse, can you?"

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

"Then I'll teach you. Will you learn?"

"Learn! Of course I'll learn!"

"Good, then come with me."

Zhao Qiying smiled Ren Yingying, and was the first to lift the carriage curtain and step out.

Jiang Sishui followed closely behind.

Zhao Qiying leaped onto a tall, big horse, her bearing dashing and carefree, her movements flowing like clouds and water, full of heroic chivalry.

Then, she bent slightly and extended her palm toward Jiang Sishui: "Get on."

Jiang Sishui glanced at the spot behind her, his heart both nervous and excited. Without false modesty, he stepped forward and took her hand.