Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

Xiao Chen conceded gracefully, making no excuses. He didn’t feel embarrassed either. Whether he liked it or not, he’d lost, and that was that.

Watching Xiao Chen apply medicine to his wounds, Li Guanqi asked curiously, “You admitted defeat just like that?”

Xiao Chen put away his Divine Blood Spear and shrugged. “What’s the alternative? Stubbornly insist I didn’t lose? That would be meaningless.”

His eyes flickered with unwillingness as he looked down, almost talking to himself. “I’m not happy about losing, but that doesn’t change the fact that I lost. A man who refuses to face his failures will never amount to much.”

Li Guanqi nodded in agreement and smiled. “I thought you were one of those prodigal sons who think they’re better than everyone. I was wrong.”

But Xiao Chen looked up. “Who said I wasn’t? I’m the number one prodigal son in the Divine Treasure Territory. I do think I’m above everyone.”

He grinned, eyes sweeping across Li Guanqi and Ye Feng. Then he pursed his lips and lamented, “But well, I’m not above you two.”

He looked at Ye Feng’s arm. “You survived the Dungeon Abyss?”

Ye Feng nodded.

Xiao Chen gritted his teeth. “You two are freaking madmen.”His wound was already scabbing over. He approached Li Guanqi, expression solemn. “Wanshu isn’t a prize to be handed to the winner. You won, but that just means I trust you can protect her. As for loving her... I don’t think you’re much better than me.”

Li Guanqi nodded. Xiao Chen had a point. “But Wanshu gets the final say, right?”

Xiao Chen did not disagree. He merely gave a carefree smile. “Can you always be by her side?”

Li Guanqi’s breath hitched. He hesitated because he couldn’t guarantee that.

“Will you always be there when she needs your company?”

Li Guanqi remained silent. Because of Sword Spirit, he’d witnessed how relentless the people from the Upper World could be and how terrifying their abilities were. And they were looking for her.

Cang Lu alone had caused him enough trouble, and he was just one of her enemies from the Upper Realm.

Cang Lu might not have been able to confirm Sword Spirit’s presence, but Li Guanqi knew her enemies wouldn’t stop at testing him once. As long as she was with him, he bore an enormous risk.

Xiao Chen turned and tore open the vital force domain. At the boundary, he paused. “Are you really the one most suitable for her?”

Li Guanqi smiled. “Suitability and love aren’t the same thing. I’ll do my best to address the problems you mentioned. Even if we have to separate temporarily, I trust Wanshu will understand.”

Xiao Chen’s expression stiffened. He jabbed a finger at Li Guanqi. “You bastard! How are you so annoying? I spent ages coming up with those questions! How can you just brush them off like that? Are you so sure Wanshu likes you? That she’ll wait for you? Get off your high horse! I’ve been by her side for over a dozen years. Now you swoop in to take her away? So I’ve wasted my time? I’ll never live this down! Either beat me up or I’ll curse you until sunset!”

Ye Feng quickly pulled Xiao Chen aside. “Alright, alright, that’s enough. He won’t even care. My brother and my sister-in-law are a match made in heaven. I know it’s rough, but there are plenty of fish in the sea. Let me take you to cultivate amongst mortal distractions—you’ll forget all your worries and be happy!”

Xiao Chen froze and turned to Ye Feng.

“Cultivate amongst mortal distractions?” he asked quietly. “What’s that? Some technique for getting over romantic ties? His Sword Heart Realm sword intent... is it related to this? Whoa… why hasn’t my father ever mentioned this technique?”

Li Guanqi’s mouth twitched. Why is Ye Feng bringing this up right now?

He cleared his throat. “Uh, Brother Ye, I’m not going with you this time.”

Ye Feng winked. Xiao Chen calmed down and obediently followed Ye Feng, eager to learn this cultivation technique.

As for Li Guanqi… Xiao Chen wasn’t too worried. Li Guanqi wasn’t even from the Divine Treasure Territory. Later, Wanshu and I can head home together, and this whole thing will fade with time.

For now, his mind was entirely occupied with cultivating amongst mortal distractions.

***

When the domain boundary opened, Meng Wanshu’s worried expression stiffened.

Li Guanqi and Xiao Chen emerged shirtless. Despite Xiao Chen’s obvious injuries, he and Ye Feng were huddled together with their arms around each other’s shoulders, whispering like old friends who brought out the worst in each other.

She leaned in to listen but realized they were speaking through voice transmission. She couldn’t hear a thing.

Meng Wanshu’s gaze lingered on Li Guanqi’s chiseled muscles, and her face reddened. “Hurry up and put some clothes on!”

Li Guanqi grinned and took out some fresh robes.

The elder standing behind Meng Wanshu watched Xiao Chen and Ye Feng rush toward Heavenly Cloud City, his expression stony. As a powerful cultivator in the Combined Body Realm, he could clearly hear their transmissions.

That idiot... Does he really think that’s a special cultivation technique?

He shot a glare at Li Guanqi. If not for Meng Wanshu, he would have kicked the boy. Ye Feng seemed very familiar with “cultivation amongst mortal distractions,” suggesting that Li Guanqi was aware of it and had prior involvement.

A chill ran down Li Guanqi’s spine. He noticed the elder’s unfriendly glare and smiled awkwardly.

Meng Wanshu snorted.

Li Guanqi looked down at Meng Wanshu, who was covering her mouth. “What are you laughing at?”

Meng Wanshu pointed at the other two. “I’m happy. Xiao Chen doesn’t have a single friend, actually. This is my first time seeing him shoulder-to-shoulder with someone like that.”

She looked at Li Guanqi, eyes bright. “I can tell he really respects you, even though he’s very arrogant.”

Li Guanqi shrugged and tapped her nose. “Of course. Can’t let other people look down on me. That’d make you look bad for choosing me, wouldn’t it?”