Chapter 268 - 267: Li Qinghe: Master, Do You Think I Have the Potential to Become the Future Gang Leader?

The next morning.

The sky was filled with the pale light of dawn.

A rooster announced the dawn.

Having meditated all night, Qin Yang leisurely opened his eyes, feeling incredibly refreshed. The profound Dragon Qi coiling above his head slowly dissipated, making way for the nurturing purple energy that drifted in through the window.

’Not bad.’

As he sensed the Golden Dragon Illusion dissipate behind him, he realized that over the course of the night, his Life Chart had grown stronger, far beyond what it had been before.

In other words.

His fate had gotten tougher!

With the blessing of the Dragon’s Fortune, he would receive a boost of luck in future battles. A seemingly minuscule advantage could prove decisive!

If he continued at this pace...

In less than a month.

He would be able to reach the Celestial Venerable Realm!

’The Celestial Venerable Realm...’

Remembering the Dharma Body Meng Tianxuan had once manifested, Qin Yang was filled with anticipation, wondering what magnificent spectacle his own Celestial Venerable Dharma Aspect would be once he finally formed it.

...

...

「At noon.」

Outside the Fuhai Villa District, the scorching sun hung high in the sky.

"Sister Qinghe, isn’t it a bit inappropriate for us to disturb Senior Brother so suddenly...?"

Li Zixuan and Li Qinghe walked along the road, Zixuan in an elegant long dress that showed off her calves.

"Everything only just ended yesterday. Senior Brother needs to rest. Isn’t it too intrusive for us to just show up at his door like this?"

"Tch, Xuanxuan, enough of that!"

Li Qinghe pouted and looked Li Zixuan up and down. "You were the one who said we should head out first thing this morning. I wonder who it was that spent so long on their makeup that we were delayed until now?"

With that,

she crossed her arms, lifted her chin, and strode ahead. "Just tell me, do you want to see that Qin guy or not? If you don’t, we can turn back right now."

"I... I do."

Hearing this, Li Zixuan quickly backtracked. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and said sheepishly, looking at Li Qinghe ahead of her, "I’m just... afraid of being a bother."

"What is there to be afraid of? Xuanxuan, you’re just too timid. That’s why that Qin guy has you completely wrapped around his little finger..."

Li Qinghe sighed. "If your admirers found out that the ice mountain goddess of their dreams gets this nervous around a mere librarian... I wonder what they would think?"

"Stop teasing me, Sister Qinghe."

Hearing this, Li Zixuan’s earlobes turned bright red.

...

「A moment later.」

They arrived at the villa’s front gate, crossed the courtyard path, and entered the house, where they found Qin Yang already waiting in the living room.

He had even prepared fresh tea, as if he knew they were coming all along.

"You’re here?"

Qin Yang lifted the teapot’s lid and said casually, "Go ahead and sit. This was a bit last-minute, so I don’t have much to offer."

"Hehe, you’re too kind, Master!"

Li Qinghe plopped down on the sofa without any ceremony and, making herself right at home, picked up a teacup. "Martial Aunt here was just worried about disturbing you and didn’t even want to come."

"Is that so?"

Qin Yang replied dismissively, glancing at Li Zixuan. "What’s there to be afraid of, Junior Sister? You don’t need to be so formal with me."

"..."

Li Zixuan sat down and took a sip of tea. Biting her lip and nervously clutching the corner of her dress, she lowered her head and said, "Senior Brother, you really kept me in the dark. To think you had already reached the Venerable Realm..."

As she spoke,

she looked up at Qin Yang and asked hesitantly,

"Senior Brother, why didn’t you tell me sooner that you were this powerful?"

"The tree that stands out in the forest is sure to be toppled by the wind, Junior Sister."

As if sensing her confusion, Qin Yang took a sip of tea and expertly began his spiel. "When our Master was still with us, he often warned me to keep a low profile. He said that if I were exposed, I would attract the prying eyes of too many people with ill intentions.

Qi Qingshan was a perfect example."

"Is that so..."

Li Zixuan’s expression grew thoughtful upon hearing this. "So you were following Master’s teachings, Senior Brother," she mused. "That makes sense."

"Mm."

Qin Yang continued his bluff with his eyes closed, expertly playing her. "Your Senior Brother has always kept a low profile."

Hearing this,

Li Qinghe, who was sitting nearby, almost spat out her tea!

???

’Low profile?’

’That Qin guy has the nerve to say he keeps a low profile?’

’Where’s this ’low profile’ when you’re busy showing off? Ptooey!’

Li Qinghe thought to herself, just as she was about to open her mouth and expose Qin Yang’s little act...

But at that very moment.

"By the way, Senior Brother, are you free right now?"

Li Zixuan suddenly spoke up, fidgeting with the corner of her dress. She hesitated for a moment before saying, "After you helped me comprehend the Power of Laws last time, I found there were still some parts I didn’t fully understand. My Ice Law has become unstable again... could I trouble you to help me sort it out, Senior Brother?"

As soon as she finished speaking,

Li Qinghe froze on the spot.

’???’

’Power of Laws?’

’Xuanxuan actually comprehended the Power of Laws?’

’Isn’t that something only a Grandmaster can grasp?’

"When did you comprehend it, Xuanxuan?"

Li Qinghe was dumbfounded, feeling as if she had missed something important. "Why haven’t you ever mentioned this before?"

"It happened after my breakthrough, Sister Qinghe. I only managed it by chance," Li Zixuan explained softly, tucking her hair behind her ear. "It’s all thanks to Senior Brother that I grasped it ahead of schedule, but it’s still not very stable."

With that, she looked at Qin Yang again and said:

"If you’re busy, Senior Brother, we can forget about it for today. I won’t insist..."

"It’s fine,"

Qin Yang smiled calmly. He reached out and placed his hand on Li Zixuan’s, slowly connecting with the Heart of Law within his body. "It’s the weekend and the library’s closed. I’m free, so I have plenty of time to help you."

The next moment.

The Heart of Law activated!

HUMMM—

An abstruse Law stirred!

Frost began to spread across the ground at Li Zixuan’s feet, but before it could extend even half a foot, it was tightly contained.

Relying on his Heart of Law, Qin Yang forced the Ice Law to retract.

"Focus and comprehend it well, Junior Sister."

"Mm!"

Li Zixuan nodded and immediately began to focus on her comprehension.

Qin Yang stood guard by her side.

Just then,

a voice suddenly sounded.

"Master, when will you be free?"

Li Qinghe seized the opportunity, avoiding Li Zixuan’s gaze, to secretly send a voice transmission to Qin Yang. "I also have a favor to ask of you..."

"What is it?"

Qin Yang frowned. "Let’s hear it."

"It’s about that Clone Technique..."

Li Qinghe tapped her fingertips together and said shamelessly, "When will I be able to learn it? It seems to be the Heaven-Blasting Gang’s signature move..."

"The Clone Technique?"

Hearing this, Qin Yang raised an eyebrow and glanced at her. ’Well, now,’ he thought. ’She’s already got her sights set on the Blood Clone.’

’Back when I self-destructed, she already figured out it was Heaven and Earth’s Longevity. If she learns this Blood Clone technique on top of that... wouldn’t my whole secret be out?’

"You really want to learn it?"

"Yes, very much so! Master!"

Li Qinghe said excitedly, "As long as you teach me, I’ll do anything!"

"Oh, give me a break."

Qin Yang rolled his eyes. While keeping one hand pressed between Li Zixuan’s brows, he shot Li Qinghe a look that screamed, ’In your dreams.’ "This is an esoteric secret of our sect. Only the future Gang Leader is qualified to learn it."

As soon as he said that,

"Huh?"

Li Qinghe was taken aback but didn’t want to give up so easily. "The requirements are that high? In that case, Master, do you think I have the potential to become the next Gang Leader?"

"..."

Qin Yang was silent, and rolled his eyes.

’Become the Gang Leader? I haven’t even become the Gang Leader yet! You must be dreaming!’

...

...

「At dusk.」

The afterglow of the setting sun painted the horizon.

After his lesson with Li Zixuan was over and the two of them had left, he noted that Li Qinghe had swiped two of his tea caddies on her way out, taking full advantage of the visit.

After they left,

the vast courtyard immediately fell silent...

Fallen leaves spiraled to the ground. Without him realizing it, the heart of autumn had arrived. The weather grew cold and dry. The golden maple tree in the courtyard had already shed most of its withered leaves...

’Time really flies...’

Qin Yang stood at the courtyard gate, watching the two sisters depart. He then casually grabbed a broom from beside the gate and began sweeping the withered yellow autumn leaves into a pile.

He swept leisurely, enjoying the peaceful moment.

The rhythmic RUSTLE of his sweeping filled the air.

He let the courtyard’s plants age naturally.

Birth, aging, sickness, and death are part of the Heavenly Dao Laws.

There was no need to always resist them. In the same way, as he swept the ground, he found himself more focused on enjoying the process, acting without agenda, and caring less about the result.

The pile of fallen leaves in the courtyard gradually grew higher.

The sky gradually dimmed.

However, just as he was halfway done sweeping, Qin Yang suddenly frowned. He looked toward the southeast, where a powerful aura was surging, rushing straight toward him.

’An enemy?’

After sensing the aura, Qin Yang let down his guard.

It wasn’t an enemy.

It was Liu Wushuang.

’What’s this guy doing here?’

Up in the sky,

Liu Wushuang rode in on the wind, his magnificent robes billowing. He spotted Qin Yang from a great distance and called his name via voice transmission before landing softly in the courtyard.

"Elder Wushuang."

Qin Yang yawned and put down his broom. "What brings you here this time?"

"Did your Alliance Leader order you to come put pressure on me?"

As soon as he finished speaking,

"No, no... Qin, don’t get the wrong idea!"

Liu Wushuang quickly waved his hands, his face full of guilt. "I’ve come to apologize to the Heaven-Blasting Gang," he said, lowering his head. "Regarding what happened yesterday... I bear a great deal of responsibility for the fall of your eight Venerables."

"Just for that?"

Qin Yang breathed an inward sigh of relief. "And here I thought you’d come to pressure me again."

"You can rest assured about that."

Liu Wushuang thought back to his previous actions, his guilt deepening. "What happened last time was my fault. I was far too reckless..."

"Alright, let’s just put this behind us."

Qin Yang sighed. "We of the Heaven-Blasting Gang are clear on who our friends and enemies are. Your hands were tied. Since that’s the case... this has nothing to do with you. Let it go."

As soon as he finished speaking,

"Huh?"

Liu Wushuang looked up, stunned. "Just like that? You really don’t blame me?"

Qin Yang’s words were completely unexpected. He had been steeling himself for a harsh reprimand, but instead, there wasn’t a single word of blame.

’...The magnanimity of the Heaven-Blasting Gang is on another level!’

A gust of evening wind blew past.

SHHH~

It stirred the fallen leaves in the courtyard, lifting them with the wind as they quietly slipped over the courtyard wall.

Liu Wushuang was silent for a long time. He stared at Qin Yang, a thoughtful look in his eyes, as if he had just made a momentous decision. Suddenly, he spoke.

"Qin, I... I have a favor to ask you."

"What is it?"

Qin Yang frowned slightly. "Liu Wushuang, the Heaven-Blasting Gang has already forgiven you. Don’t start getting any funny ideas, or I won’t be able to speak on your behalf."

"Rest assured, it’s absolutely not..."

Liu Wushuang scratched his head, hemming and hawing. He looked extremely guilty as he said, "It’s just... I was wondering if you could...

Let me join the Heaven-Blasting Gang too?"

When those words fell,

Qin Yang was utterly dumbfounded!

"???"