Chapter Seventy-Seven: Qin Qingxuan

With just a single remark, Fang Xiao rendered Daoist Pang completely speechless, leaving him in a state of utter dejection. Watching the deeply affected Daoist, Fang Xiao was at a loss for words. Matters between men and women—he understood nothing of them, and had no clue how to comfort the man.

Yet Fang Xiao had faith. Daoist Pang possessed remarkable powers of self-healing. That was beyond question!

The next morning, Fang Xiao went to the Six Rivers Academy as usual. However, just as he stepped through the doors of the Martial Hall, three tall, robust martial students approached, blocking his way. Before Fang Xiao could speak, one of them said in a deep voice, "Junior Fang Xiao, I am here on behalf of Senior Gao Hong to deliver a challenge!"

A letter was handed to Fang Xiao. On its cover, bold characters proclaimed: "Letter of Challenge," the brushwork fierce and unrestrained.

There was still some time before morning lessons began, and many fellow students were entering the Martial Hall. Seeing the scene unfold, everyone stopped in their tracks, gathering to watch. The atmosphere grew tense and heavy.

Fang Xiao did not hesitate for a moment. He accepted the challenge on the spot. He never feared confrontation, not even when the opponent was a favored son of heaven.

"Excellent," the martial student handing over the challenge sneered. "Junior Fang Xiao, on the tenth of this month at the hour of Si, meet us on the Martial Hall's dueling stage!"

With that, he and his two companions turned and left. The corridor returned to its usual state. Many passing students glanced at Fang Xiao with strange looks—astonishment, curiosity, pity, ridicule... all sorts of reactions.

Fang Xiao had no desire to be gawked at like some exotic spectacle. He tucked Gao Hong's challenge letter into his breast and strode toward the teaching annex to begin his day's martial cultivation.

Perhaps to other martial students, being singled out by Senior Gao Hong for a challenge was a catastrophic event. But to Fang Xiao, it wasn't worth worrying about. He now knew for certain that his strength within the Martial Hall of Six Rivers Academy was not as poor as he had first assumed. As for his standing among his peers, this duel with Gao Hong would be the perfect opportunity to find out.

In fact, Fang Xiao felt a hint of anticipation for the duel just three days away.

Yet his excitement was quickly overshadowed as he immersed himself in practicing his fist techniques.

But today seemed not to be Fang Xiao's day. He had barely practiced for half the time it took incense to burn when a group of youths appeared at the annex gates, clearly there for Fang Xiao.

The leader was a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old youth, fair-skinned and handsome, dressed in indigo robes with a jade medallion at his waist, holding a white paper fan, a smile lingering at his lips, his aura refined and aloof.

With the annex doors wide open, the youth strode straight into the yard and bowed to Fang Xiao. "Junior Fang Xiao, forgive the interruption."

Fang Xiao returned the gesture with a fist salute. "Senior, what brings you here?"

Fang Xiao always responded courteously when treated with respect. Of course, if someone came at him with veiled hostility, he would respond in kind.

The indigo-robed youth snapped open his white paper fan with a flourish. The words "Tranquility Brings Far-reaching Goals" were emblazoned across its surface.

"I am Ning Zhiyuan from the Dao Hall," he said with a gentle smile. "I've heard much of your reputation, Junior Fang Xiao. I currently lack a companion, and wondered if you would be willing to join me?"

A companion? Fang Xiao hadn't expected that this would be the purpose of the visit. He knew what such a role entailed. At its best, it meant traveling together; at worst, it was little more than servitude.

Ning Zhiyuan, being a Dao Hall student, inviting Fang Xiao to be his companion—there was only one implication: a servant. Martial artists held no authority alongside cultivators. Dao always prevailed!

Daoist Pang had once told Fang Xiao that in immortal sects, martial artists mostly served as attendants and laborers. When war broke out, they were cannon fodder.

Ning Zhiyuan cleared his throat softly, seeing Fang Xiao remain silent. The young cultivator spoke with great confidence: "I heard you recently accepted Senior Gao Hong's challenge. I can help you return it—I'm sure Senior Gao wouldn't dare refuse me."

Fang Xiao believed every word. From Ning Zhiyuan's bearing and presence, his background was clearly extraordinary, and as a Dao student in the academy, even Gao Hong, for all his prowess, would not dare offend him.

But the issue was, Fang Xiao had no desire to be anyone's servant, no matter how promising a cultivator they were.

"Senior Ning," Fang Xiao replied after a moment's thought, "thank you for your kindness, but I am not interested."

His final words were delivered with resolute certainty.

Ning Zhiyuan was taken aback. "Junior Fang Xiao, are you sure? In the future, I could take you into an immortal sect!"

Fang Xiao shook his head, saying nothing more. Yet his firm refusal was clear to all.

"You—!" A youth beside Ning Zhiyuan could no longer hold back, feeling Fang Xiao was ungrateful and ready to rebuke him.

But Ning Zhiyuan immediately lifted his paper fan to block him, then offered Fang Xiao an apologetic smile. "Since you are unwilling, I won't press the matter. If you change your mind, you can always find me at the Dao Hall."

With that, he bowed once more. Fang Xiao returned the salute. He sensed that this Dao Hall student bore no ill will toward him—his words were courteous and sincere, worlds apart from the likes of Gao Hong.

Ning Zhiyuan smiled and left gracefully, accompanied by his companions.

Yet one young woman lingered. She was in her late teens, clad in a white dress that could not conceal her tall, graceful figure; her features were coldly alluring, her brows beautifully drawn, with a hint of determination in her gaze. She held a long sword in her slender hand, and the jade medallion on her sash marked her as a Dao Hall student, like Ning Zhiyuan.

What startled Fang Xiao was that her appearance bore a striking resemblance to Lady Qin—almost sixty or seventy percent alike!

She spoke coldly, "Fang Xiao, why didn't you accept Ning Zhiyuan's offer? Is living in that shabby Daoist temple on Little Jing Mountain so comfortable?"

Fang Xiao was taken aback. "You are...?"

A flash of inspiration struck him, and he blurted out, "Huaihua's elder sister, Little Dang!"

Huaihua had mentioned her sister cultivated in the Dao Hall at Six Rivers Academy. Surely it was the girl before him!

"I am Qin Qingxuan!" she replied, her pretty face flushing with anger, gritting her teeth. "Little Dang, Big Dang—those ridiculous names given by that useless Xuan Pingzi, I refuse to acknowledge them! Only my mother believes him! And my stingy little sister, too. She won't use her proper name Qin Feifei, but insists on Huaihua, that rustic name. Truly foolish!"

Fang Xiao paused, then asked, "Is Huaihua really so foolish and stingy? What about you snatching candy from her—how do you explain that?"

He remembered the incident vividly.

No sooner had he spoken than Qin Qingxuan's face turned bright red.

"You know nothing!" She glared at Fang Xiao with resentment, then spun around and left.