You're So Great, You're So High and Mighty

Xiao Chen conceded defeat without hesitation, displaying not the slightest awkwardness or shame. Perhaps in his eyes, while he might not be convinced by Li Guanqi, a loss was a loss. Watching Xiao Chen apply medicine to his wounds, Li Guanqi asked softly with a hint of curiosity, "You're just giving up like that?" Xiao Chen put away the Blood God Spear, shrugged, and snapped petulantly, "What else? Act stubborn and claim I didn't lose? That's pointless." Though his head was bowed, a flicker of indignation lingered in Xiao Chen's eyes as he muttered to himself, "Just because I'm not convinced by you doesn't mean I can't admit I lost. If a man can't even face his own failures, he'll never achieve anything significant in this life." Li Guanqi nodded in profound agreement, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "And here I thought you were just another haughty, insufferable young master looking down your nose at everyone. Seems I was mistaken." To his surprise, Xiao Chen looked up and retorted, "Who said I'm not a haughty young master? I'm the number one profligate of the Shenbao Domain! My standards are sky-high." At that, Xiao Chen grinned. He glanced at Li Guanqi and then swept his gaze over to Ye Feng standing beside them. Curling his lips, he mumbled, "Though the two of you actually manage to meet my standards." He fixed his eyes on Ye Feng's arm. "You walked out of the Purgatory Abyss?" Ye Feng gave a nod, not denying it. Seeing him confirm it, Xiao Chen bared his teeth in a wince. "Both of you are bloody lunatics." Xiao Chen's wounds closed and scabbed over at a visible pace. Stepping slowly before Li Guanqi, he took on a solemn expression and spoke earnestly. "Wanshu... isn't some prize to be claimed by whoever wins. Even though you beat me, all you've proved is that you have the strength to protect her. As for love, I don't believe your feelings run any deeper than mine." Li Guanqi nodded silently, finding wisdom in Xiao Chen's words. "Still, the choice is Wanshu's to make, isn't it?" Xiao Chen did not dispute that. Instead, he flashed an easygoing smile. "Can you stay by her side forever?" Li Guanqi's breath hitched. Faced with that question, he hesitated. He genuinely could not guarantee that he would always be able to remain at her side. Xiao Chen pressed further. "Can you be there for her, always, when she needs your company the most?" Li Guanqi remained silent. Because of the sword spirit, he had already witnessed the obsession the people of the Upper Realm harbored for her, as well as the terrifying power lurking behind them. Cang Lu alone had caused him this much trouble—and he was merely one among many enemies from above. Perhaps Cang Lu hadn't fully confirmed the sword spirit's presence, but Li Guanqi knew without a doubt that this would not be their only probe. Staying by his side would bring immense danger. Xiao Chen said nothing more. Turning away, he tore open the origin energy domain, then halted and looked back over his shoulder. "So, are you truly the one best suited for her?" The corners of Li Guanqi's mouth curved slightly, and he replied softly, "Keep this in mind: being suitable isn't the same as loving someone. Everything you just said—I will naturally do everything within my power to resolve those problems. Even if we must be separated temporarily, I believe Wanshu will understand." Xiao Chen's composed facade shattered in an instant. Pointing a trembling finger at Li Guanqi, he burst out cursing, "You absolute bastard! Why do you have to be so bloody infuriating? I racked my brains forever to come up with those questions, and you just rattle off an answer without even blinking? You're banking entirely on the fact that Wanshu loves you and is willing to wait for you, aren't you? You're so great! You're so high and mighty!" He fumed, red-faced, "I spent well over a decade by her side, and you swoop in and pluck the peach right off the branch! Does that mean all my effort was for nothing? Dammit! No, I can't swallow this! Come on, fight me! Unless you bash this mouth of mine to pieces today, I'm going to keep cursing you until nightfall!" Seeing this, Ye Feng hurriedly grabbed Xiao Chen and tried to soothe him. "Alright, alright, stop cursing! He doesn't take any of it to heart anyway. My boss and sister-in-law are a match made in heaven. Why must you go hanging yourself from this single tree? Come with your brother to temper your heart in the mortal realm. Won't casting away your worries be far more delightful?" Xiao Chen froze, turning toward Ye Feng and asking in a bewildered whisper, "Tempering the heart in the mortal realm? What the hell is that? If you go, can you sever your emotional attachments or something? Does his Sword Heart Realm sword intent have something to do with tempering the heart in the mortal realm? Hiss... tempering the heart in the mortal realm... I've never heard my father mention such a cultivation method..." Li Guanqi's mouth twitched. He had never expected that Ye Feng would still be trying to drag someone off to 'temper their heart in the mortal realm' at a moment like this. "Cough, cough... Well... Old Ye, only the two of you can go this time." Ye Feng gave him a conspiratorial wink that clearly said, *I got it.* Xiao Chen stopped throwing his tantrum and obediently trotted behind Ye Feng, his mind filled with grand expectations for the so-called 'tempering the heart in the mortal realm.' As for Li Guanqi... there was no rush. The man wasn't from the Shenbao Domain anyway. Once he and Meng Wanshu returned to their domain, time would naturally wash away these feelings. For now, his thoughts were entirely consumed by this newfound cultivation technique. When the barrier parted, the anxious expression on Meng Wanshu's face turned distinctly strange. Both Li Guanqi and Xiao Chen emerged bare-chested, and it was evident that Xiao Chen had been injured. Yet now, Xiao Chen was pulling Ye Feng along, murmuring intently. The two of them had their arms around each other's shoulders, whispering into each other's ears like scoundrels who had caroused together for years. When she tried to listen in, she discovered they were using voice transmissions right beside their ears, keeping everything completely hidden from her. Catching sight of Li Guanqi's lean, well-chiseled physique, Meng Wanshu blushed, scolding petulantly, "Hurry up and put some clothes on!" Li Guanqi chuckled, retrieving a fresh set of robes and slipping them on. Meanwhile, the old man standing behind Meng Wanshu wore an ashen expression as he glared at the pair heading straight toward Yuntian City. As an expert of the Body Integration Realm, their hushed transmissions sounded as clear as bells right beside his ears. *That foolish brat... he actually thinks it's some kind of special cultivation method?* He then cast an unfriendly glare toward Li Guanqi. Had it not been for Meng Wanshu, he would have kicked Li Guanqi into the distance long ago. With that blond kid being so well-practiced, was it even possible that Li Guanqi hadn't indulged in such places himself? Li Guanqi suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. Sensing the old man's hostile gaze, he offered an awkward smile. Meng Wanshu looked at Li Guanqi and suddenly burst into a soft giggle. Looking down at the young woman covering her mouth in laughter, Li Guanqi couldn't help asking, "What are you laughing at?" Pointing at the departing figures in the distance, Meng Wanshu said gently, "I'm just happy. Xiao Chen... actually doesn't have a single friend. Seeing him walking with his arm around someone like Ye Feng today—it's the first time I've ever seen it." Her beautiful eyes turned to Li Guanqi, shimmering with warmth. "I can tell he truly acknowledges you. That fellow has always been terribly proud and arrogant." Li Guanqi shrugged, reaching out to gently pinch her nose with a laugh. "Of course. I couldn't let anyone look down on me and doubt your taste, could I?"