Chapter - 6
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Qiao Han felt that someone as gentle and magnanimous as Xiao Jiuci surely wouldn’t think much of his petty and unforgiving behavior.
Just earlier, when Xiao Jiuci had asked him what he wanted to say, it probably wasn’t meant as permission to stir up trouble and vent his frustrations.
It was just his momentary impulse, acting recklessly.
That’s what had led to the male lead’s displeasure.
But despite feeling aggrieved, when Qiao Han saw the system help him exchange his single emotional point for a bit of extra lifespan, he couldn’t help but feel relieved.
Now, he could accompany the male lead for a year and fourteen days. How delightful!
In just that brief moment, Qiao Han’s mood shifted again. Seeing Xiao Jiuci looking at him—even though Xiao Jiuci’s gaze carried a naturally warm and tender quality—Qiao Han was convinced that it was only due to the male lead’s inherent charm. In reality, it must have been a disapproving scrutiny.
Being looked at disapprovingly by his idol, what else could he do? Qiao Han quickly flashed a sheepish yet ingratiating smile, as if he were just short of saying, "I’m sorry."
Xiao Jiuci blinked and then averted his gaze. It seemed that as long as he looked at Qiao Han, the latter would get nervous and uncomfortable. This was completely different from how he used to act at the beginning.
Just as Xiao Jiuci was pondering this, he suddenly felt a wave of dizziness. His expression subtly changed, but since the people from Wanren Sect hadn’t left yet, he remained still, standing firmly in place.
At that moment, Qiao Han was already being warned by the system in his mind.
[You are the villain, maintain your character!]
Qiao Han pretended not to hear it. After experiencing the first mission and realizing how much freedom he had, he felt more confident in dealing with the tasks his own way.
In the end, the six members of the Wanren Sect, now left wearing only their disciple robes, rode their swords and left in utter disgrace.
Even the armor provided by their sect had been taken to cover their debts.
Jiang Yin was quite a talent. According to his calculations, not only was everything justified and fair, but if no discounts were given, they could have even stripped those disciples of their last undergarments. It was a perfect way to vent the frustrations of the disciples of Qingyun Sect.
Jiang Yin happily approached Xiao Jiuci, “Senior Brother, how should we distribute these?”
But Xiao Jiuci didn’t answer right away.
Qiao Han, who was always paying close attention to the male lead, immediately noticed something was off. Just as he turned his head to look, he saw Xiao Jiuci sway slightly.
However, the fellow disciples around him didn’t seem to react at all.
Xiao Jiuci’s consciousness was already starting to blur. Out of habit, he tried to summon his Ice Soul Sword to steady himself and sought help, but it seemed he was too weak to act immediately.
Suddenly, someone approached from in front of him, and a fresh scent of green leaves and grass filled the air. Xiao Jiuci didn’t dislike the smell, but the proximity made him uncomfortable, and his instinct was to step back. Unfortunately, he found himself unsteady on his feet.
His body wobbled, and Xiao Jiuci felt a bit awkward. He thought he might actually fall.
Almost instantly, though, someone grabbed his arm to steady him. "Xiao Jiuci! What’s wrong?" a voice called out.
Xiao Jiuci’s heart skipped a beat. He was confused—how had someone noticed his condition so quickly? Had he shown signs of weakness?
Was that... Qiao Han’s voice?
...
Outside the gates of Qingyun Sect, the six men, still wounded and without spiritual stones to use for healing, had no choice but to walk back miserably, recovering as they went.
"Damn Qingyun Sect, damn Xiao Jiuci!" one cursed.
"And that sharp-tongued pretty boy!"
"He’s not from Qingyun Sect, is he? Who was that? Some kind of Xiao Jiuci supporter?"
"I remember hearing a rumor..."
"What rumor?"
"You remember Qin Xiu Zhong's fiancée, don't you?"
"Ah! The one from the Qiao family who came to break off the engagement? Why's he here at Qingyun Sect again?"
"I heard a while ago that Xiao Jiuci recently marked a marriage contract with the Qiao family's Luoyan Profound Body inheritor. So, it's him!"
"Hah, just picking up what our Wanren Sect discarded. Once this news spreads, let's see how Xiao Jiuci can still hold his head up with that smug attitude."
...
Xiao Jiuci's consciousness returned quickly, though his body was still unable to move. He faintly heard the sound of crying in the room—it was unmistakably Jiang Suwei.
Then came the distinct voice of Elder Mei. "Oh, stop crying! You're going to drown my spirit plants. If I step in, how could anything happen to Jiuci? There's really no major issue."
"If there's no problem, then why did he suddenly pass out?" Ou Zanrui asked anxiously.
"He went to the Purification Array too late, so the toxins weren't fully removed, plus there are still untreated internal injuries. Suddenly fighting six Golden Core stage cultivators naturally took a toll on him. I've already given him the best pill, and he’ll wake up soon," Elder Mei continued in a lighthearted, patient tone, explaining with a laugh.
Suddenly, a crisp voice broke through, "Why are you glaring at me?"
Xiao Jiuci's fingers twitched. He's... awake.
Ou Zanrui immediately yelled angrily, "If it weren't for you, Senior Brother wouldn't have been delayed! The toxins would’ve been cleared long ago. And I remember the last time, it was because you were being arrogant, causing the opponent to strike, which forced Senior Brother to fight again. If it weren’t for that last fight, Senior Brother might not have collapsed at all."
"Hey, hey, just because you don't like me doesn't mean you can pin the blame on me for the final straw that broke the camel's back," Qiao Han replied defensively.
"Of course I can blame you! Get this straight—we are fellow disciples of Qingyun Sect. Senior Brother can do anything for us, but not for an outsider like you," Ou Zanrui asserted with self-righteous confidence.
Listening to her twisted logic, Qiao Han couldn't help but be in awe. Though he really wanted to refute her, technically speaking, he wasn’t an outsider—but the words "Dao companion" felt too humiliating for the male lead, and he just couldn’t bring himself to say it.
Luckily, even though he didn’t want to speak, someone else stepped in for him.
Elder Mei, ever eager to stir the pot, chimed in, "Huh? Aren’t they Dao companions? Doesn’t that make them the insiders, and us the outsiders?"
Ou Zanrui and Jiang Suwei, who had been crying non-stop, suddenly froze, their breathing hitched.
Ou Zanrui was just about to argue back when Elder Mei added, "And I heard from the disciples down below that if it weren't for him stepping up today, Qingyun Sect would've been thoroughly taken advantage of."
KO!
Qiao Han looked at the two little girls in front of him, their faces turning blue, and he really wanted to give Elder Mei a thumbs up.
At that moment, the person on the sickbed moved.
Ou Zanrui and Jiang Suwei immediately leaned in.
Qiao Han was completely squeezed to the outside and could only look up to see.
Xiao Jiuci sat up easily, just as Elder Mei had said.
It was said to be an excellent elixir, and Elder Mei's heart had ached so much that his face had crumpled like a little daisy. If it weren't for today’s incident, he definitely wouldn't have taken it out.
Xiao Jiuci reassured the two anxious junior sisters and turned to look at Qiao Han.
When their eyes met, Qiao Han blinked, wanting to smile, but he was again pained by the reminder in his mind.
What’s this? Not even allowed to smile? As a loyal fan of the male lead, it was already a sign of good fan etiquette that he didn’t rush up to him. Just seeing the male lead made his lips automatically curl up. Could he be blamed for that?
【This is a friendly reminder.】
Qiao Han: We have no friendship, just a heartless relationship of forced labor and being forced.
【……】
Meanwhile, Jiang Suwei had already begun to admit her mistakes, although her words sounded a bit strange.
“Senior Brother, I’m sorry. I just wanted to ease the situation for everyone's good. In the cultivation world, the weak are preyed upon by the strong, and killing and plundering are inherently ugly. I didn’t want our Qingyun Sect to be rumored to be robbing others' resources. Sometimes, even if it's not true, it can still bring trouble. Those petty people just need to be dealt with, and I never intended for everyone to suffer. I really...,” she said, on the verge of tears again.
As a result of her crying, Ou Zanrui, her protector, glared at Qiao Han again. “I see some people are taking personal revenge. Clearly, they could confront the enemies directly, yet they still want to drag their own people down with them.”
Qiao Han: For heaven's sake, if you hadn’t stopped me back then, I wouldn’t have snapped at you!
Just as Qiao Han was about to speak, he saw Xiao Jiuci looking over.
His heart skipped a beat. Surely, he wasn’t going to get scolded?
However, Xiao Jiuci only glanced at him before calmly educating Jiang Suwei, “Suwei, you’re not a child anymore; you should understand. Although our Qingyun Sect must maintain the dignity of a large sect, we also can’t lose our pride. I understand you want to handle this peacefully and minimize the matter, but today’s incident is not our fault. We can choose whether to be lenient or not, but we absolutely cannot be forced to compromise by the other side.”
“Senior Brother! How can you say that about your junior sister?” Ou Zanrui exclaimed anxiously. Although Xiao Jiuci’s tone was very gentle, Jiang Suwei still ended up crying from the scolding.
“If you’ve done something wrong, it needs to be addressed; otherwise, how will you correct it in the future? Young Master Qiao has a point: being kind isn’t about compromising for our own people or pleasing others. I hope you remember today’s lesson and think more carefully when dealing with matters in the future.”
Jiang Suwei didn’t seem to absorb his words at all, as she ran away in tears.
Ou Zanrui stamped her feet in anger. “Senior Brother, you’re being biased toward outsiders!”
Xiao Jiuci shook his head with a light laugh. “I’ve never been partial to anyone. Ou Zanrui, you shouldn’t blindly protect Suwei without distinguishing right from wrong. That’s not good for her. Sometimes, it could harm her. If she’s made a mistake, as her good friend, you should point it out, not just cover for her.”
As the sect’s senior brother, he often took the time to educate his junior siblings. Whether it was about cultivation or life lessons, Xiao Jiuci never held back, using his knowledge and experience to pave the way for them as much as possible. When they were younger, they followed his guidance without question.
But as they grew up and their hearts became more complicated, they didn’t always listen.
Take the two girls now: not too old, yet not too young, barely sixteen. They were probably in a rebellious phase, completely unwilling to listen, and stormed off in anger.
Once the two had left, Xiao Jiuci turned his attention back to Qiao Han.
In this atmosphere, Qiao Han felt a tightening sensation all over, as if he were a student waiting to be reprimanded.
Xiao Jiuci’s scholarly seriousness was more intimidating than a loud scolding.
Qiao Han couldn’t shake the feeling that after scolding those two, it was his turn next.
He inexplicably felt a little excited; he was about to be educated by the male lead. He promised to be obedient and never defy him.
“Thank you for today.”
“Ah?”
Qiao Han was taken aback, staring directly at Xiao Jiuci.
At this moment, Xiao Jiuci was sitting by the bed, casually arranging his clothes, once again exuding an air of a celestial being. But unlike a distant immortal, his inherent gentle aura made one want to draw near.
Qiao Han couldn’t help but focus on the mouth that was speaking to him. The lips were full and rosy, with a naturally warm and friendly curve at the corners. However, combined with the sharp jawline and long neck, it added a hint of strength, further enhancing his rugged charm.
Qiao Han thought he must have misheard; why was the male lead thanking him? Didn’t the emotional point just increase earlier?
Oh, he understood now. Dislike aside, credit was due. Truly, as expected of the male lead—he distinguished between kindness and grievance, never treating someone carelessly based on personal preferences.
Realizing this, Qiao Han quickly shook his head. “I just couldn’t stand them.”
Xiao Jiuci smiled lightly, like a warm spring breeze. “Also, I’m sorry.”
“Huh? Why are you apologizing?”
Qiao Han widened his eyes in confusion as he looked at Xiao Jiuci. After experiencing both a thank you and an apology from the male lead, he felt as if his little heart was bearing an unbearable weight.
Xiao Jiuci said seriously, “The two junior sisters have shown you much disrespect; please forgive them.”
Qiao Han realized he genuinely hadn’t expected Xiao Jiuci to apologize for such trivial arguments. In fact, he hadn’t cared at all and understood the situation with those two girls. However, Xiao Jiuci noticed something was off and chose to apologize.
“I won’t hold grudges against little girls,” Qiao Han replied directly.
Xiao Jiuci nodded, acknowledging his gratitude.
In truth, Xiao Jiuci had initially wanted to clarify things with his junior sisters and hoped they would apologize to Qiao Han, but since they had run off, he had to take their place.
At that moment, Elder Mei suddenly interjected, “Hehe, little Han Han, I heard you secured quite a sum of spirit stones for us. I want to thank you too.”
“That name, little Han Han…” Qiao Han felt a chill run down his spine.
“What about ‘little Qiao’?”
Qiao Han: ...
“Can’t you just call me by my name?”
“It makes us seem closer!”
Qiao Han looked puzzled; when had they ever been close?
Elder Mei smiled even more broadly, looking like a benevolent Buddha. “How about considering becoming a medical practitioner?”
Qiao Han was taken aback.
Then he heard Xiao Jiuci suddenly say, “Oh right, I forgot to congratulate you on your advancement.”
With just a sweep of spiritual vision, it was clear that Qiao Han was not only in the late stage of Qi Refinement but had also cultivated a Wood Spiritual Root. Most practitioners with a Wood Spiritual Root specialized in medical cultivation, which is why Elder Mei had made that suggestion.
But should his sudden shift in direction after years of cultivation be interpreted as a sudden awakening?
Qiao Han also realized that he did want to become a medical practitioner. This way, he could give the male lead those excellent elixirs without being as stingy as Elder Mei.
Feeling pleased with himself, Qiao Han nodded. “I do have the intention of becoming a medical practitioner.”
Elder Mei smiled, “Then come by here often. Anyway, Jiuci is usually busy and has no time to keep you company; you can come here to cultivate instead.”
Qiao Han also felt that cultivating here was the best, and he happily agreed.
However, Xiao Jiuci was slightly taken aback as he suddenly realized that Qiao Han was currently living with him on Wuzheng Peak. If there were no missions, they would be spending day and night together, cultivating their relationship. Later, when the Sect Leader emerged from seclusion, they might even have to hold a wedding ceremony.
He couldn't quite remember what he had originally thought, but at this moment, the person in front of him...
Xiao Jiuci lowered his eyelids, concealing his myriad thoughts.
The two bid farewell to Elder Mei and got up to head back to Wuzheng Peak.
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Mc seems absolutely lovable, right, ML? You just want to hug him, right???? Thanks for the translation!
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