Martial Saint with Passives

But Jiang Che didn’t let his guard down.

He had a feeling that tonight would be anything but calm.

That Xie guy was definitely plotting something.

With that, Jiang Che ducked into his small tent.

Instead of lying down, he sat cross-legged and heightened his five senses to their absolute limit.

While circulating his Cultivation Technique to regulate his breathing, he strained his ears, listening for any suspicious sound outside the tent.

Just as he expected.

Before long, a rustling sound broke the silence.

It was followed by the sound of a deliberately hushed conversation.

’Those voices...’

’It’s Tang Qiaoqiao and Su Wan!’

...

”Qiaoqiao? Why are you up?” Su Wan’s voice was laced with sleepiness and confusion.

”I... I need to relieve myself.” Tang Qiaoqiao’s voice was noticeably hesitant, and she lowered it even further.

”Absolutely not! It’s pitch black out here, far too dangerous. I’ll go with you!” Su Wan was instantly on alert.

”No, no! Really, it’s fine! I’ll be quick on my own!” Tang Qiaoqiao hurriedly refused.

”Qiaoqiao,” Su Wan’s voice turned serious. ”Something’s not right with you. Are you hiding something from me?”

”I... n-no, of course not.” Tang Qiaoqiao’s denial was utterly unconvincing.

”You’re a terrible liar,” Su Wan sighed, her tone softening slightly. ”Just tell me. What’s really going on?”

”If I tell you... will you let me go?” Tang Qiaoqiao’s voice held a pleading note.

”...Tell me first,” Su Wan said warily.

”It’s... It’s Brother Xingwen,” Tang Qiaoqiao’s voice was a mixture of shyness and eagerness. ”He said... he has something he wants to tell me in private...”

”What could he possibly have to say that has to be said in the middle of the night? Can’t it wait until tomorrow?” Su Wan’s voice rose for a moment before she quickly lowered it. ”Qiaoqiao, you’re not thinking of...”

”Oh, Senior Sister Su!” Tang Qiaoqiao sounded both flustered and annoyed. ”Please, just let me go! Don’t you want me to be happy? Don’t you want me to find my own happiness?” She was playing the sympathy card.

”Well...” Su Wan was clearly hesitant, but finally gave in with a helpless sigh. ”Fine... alright, fine. But you have to be quick! And remember, don’t do anything stupid! I can’t face your mother otherwise!”

”Okay, okay! You’re the best, Senior Sister Su!” Tang Qiaoqiao’s voice instantly filled with joy as the sound of her footsteps hurried away.

...

Inside his tent, Jiang Che listened, speechless. He couldn’t help but curse inwardly:

’This Tang Qiaoqiao is completely bewitched! Sneaking off for a secret rendezvous in the middle of the night, out in the desolate wilderness... What good could possibly come of that?’

’And after I went out of my way to warn her that Xie Xingwen might be connected to the Demon Sect attack... A complete waste of breath!’

’And Su Wan... She goes soft the moment matters of the heart are mentioned. Forget it. I can’t count on them. I’ll have to follow her myself and see what’s going on. Never a moment’s peace with these people!’

Having finished his internal rant, Jiang Che suppressed his aura and activated his [Invisibility] Talent.

His figure instantly became like a shadow melting into the night. He slipped out of the tent without a sound and followed in the direction Tang Qiaoqiao had gone.

...

Tang Qiaoqiao stumbled along the pitch-black forest path.

A thick fog filled the air, and the trees cast looming shadows. The occasional CRUNCH of a twig underfoot made her heart jump, and her imagination began to run wild.

Just then, a familiar, moon-white figure appeared not far ahead, shrouded in the hazy mist.

It was Xie Xingwen!

Tang Qiaoqiao’s heart eased, and she broke into a trot, throwing herself into Xie Xingwen’s open arms and burying her face in his chest.

They held each other for a moment, sharing a tender embrace.

Tang Qiaoqiao finally lifted her head, cheeks slightly flushed, and spoke in a shy voice:

”Brother Xingwen... what was so urgent that it had to be said right now?”

The gentle look on Xie Xingwen’s face faded, replaced by a pained, conflicted expression, as if he were struggling to find the words.

In the end, he only let out a long sigh, saying nothing.

Tang Qiaoqiao’s heart immediately leaped into her throat. ”Brother Xingwen, what is it?” she asked worriedly. ”What’s happened?”

Xie Xingwen met her anxious gaze and, as if having made a great and difficult decision, said in a low voice, ”Qiaoqiao... I’m afraid... we can’t see each other anymore.”

”What?!” Tang Qiaoqiao felt as if she’d been struck by lightning. She grabbed his arm. ”Why? What happened?”

”I... I suffer from a hidden ailment...” Xie Xingwen’s tone was heavy.

”A hidden ailment? What kind of ailment?” Tang Qiaoqiao said urgently. ”My mother is the best physician in all of Cangzhou! Tell me, and I’ll have her treat you! I’m sure she can cure it!”

”It’s no use...” Xie Xingwen shook his head in anguish, his eyes full of despair. ”This illness... it’s very unusual. It’s the very reason my Cultivation has been stuck at the Late Stage of Bone Forging, preventing me from breaking through to Refining Organ. The physician said...”

”What did the physician say?” Tang Qiaoqiao’s heart clenched.

Xie Xingwen took a deep breath, as if finding it difficult to speak. ”The physician said... it’s because the Yang Qi in my body is too excessive. It’s imbalanced and running rampant, which is causing my Qi Blood to fall into disarray and preventing my Qi Force from circulating smoothly.”

”Excessive Yang Qi?” Tang Qiaoqiao looked completely baffled; she had never heard of such a condition. ”Then... then how do you treat it?”

Xie Xingwen seemed to summon all his courage and looked her straight in the eye. ”The only cure... is to unite with a woman, to balance the yin and yang. Only then can the root of this ailment be removed. But... if I spend too much time with a woman I admire, and feelings begin to grow, yet we cannot truly... unite... it will only accelerate the buildup of Yang Qi and make my condition worse...”

Tang Qiaoqiao’s face instantly turned crimson, like a ripe apple.

She was so embarrassed she lowered her head, nervously twisting the hem of her clothes. She couldn’t bring herself to look at Xie Xingwen, stammering and unable to form a single word.

Seeing her reaction, a flicker of triumph, almost imperceptible, passed through Xie Xingwen’s eyes, but his tone became even more sorrowful. ”So... I’m sorry, Qiaoqiao. For your own good, and for mine... we... shouldn’t see each other anymore.”