So this was the potential rival for Lin Lang’s affections… She truly was a peerless beauty.
That was Qin Wanyuan’s first thought upon seeing Ao Xinyu and it was a genuine compliment.
In truth, Qin Wanyuan’s appearance was in no way inferior. But when comparing herself to others, she always focused on her own shortcomings first. And from that tendency arose an unavoidable sense of inferiority.
Yes, she did feel a little insecure.
But Qin Wanyuan quickly pulled herself together. If she lost her composure the moment they met, wouldn’t that be the same as handing Lin Que over on a silver platter?
So she quietly straightened her back and offered a graceful, composed smile.
“Greetings, Pavilion Master Ao. I am Qin Wanyuan, Lin Lang’s Dao companion.”
Lin Lang…
Hearing that intimate title, Ao Xinyu couldn’t help but feel a pang in her chest. She had known Lin Que had found a new Dao companion, but now that they were face to face, she couldn’t hide the tight, sour feeling in her heart.
Looking more closely, Ao Xinyu couldn’t help but be impressed.
No wonder she was Lin Daque’s Dao companion…her beauty went without saying. More importantly, though she might seem at first glance like a gentle and soft-spoken woman…
Yet, upon closer inspection, the woman’s posture was upright and graceful, emanating a sword-like sharpness. She had a determination that could never be subdued, a will that refused to yield no matter what.
It felt as though nothing could ever break her.
Realizing this, Ao Xinyu couldn’t help but feel a little inferior.
She seemed to have caught on to one of Lin Que’s preferences. He admired those who were unyielding like a sword and capable in battle.
Both of Lin Que’s Dao companions, Wang Moqing whom Ao Xinyu knew, and the Qin Wanyuan standing before her….they were cultivators who walked the Path of Battle.
She could only regret how she once dismissed the Path of Battle for being too grueling, and never practiced it at all… Let alone the Path of Battle even her cultivation along the Path of Enlightenment was only half-baked.
The only “path” she’d truly devoted herself to was, perhaps, the art of making money.
In truth, Ao Xinyu had never been in a rush to cultivate like other beings. Even if she did nothing at all, her lifespan far exceeded that of most cultivators.
But after meeting Qin Wanyuan in person, for the first time, she felt a genuine urge to cultivate.
It seemed that only through cultivation could she ease the anxiety in her heart.
Whatever thoughts they each held privately, nothing was revealed on the surface. Playing the role of a gracious host, Ao Xinyu had her two attendants prepare a lavish banquet, then personally brought out the finest spirit tea and the most luxurious pastries to entertain her guests.
At first, the two women exchanged polite pleasantries, their words filled with courteous formality.
Lin Que was slightly surprised by this.
Lin Que knew Qin Wanyuan’s temperament well. She was always gentle and courteous with outsiders. She was calm, composed, and never rushed. But Ao Xinyu was famously bold and carefree, so it surprised him that she could actually restrain herself and observe all these formalities with Qin Wanyuan.
Lin Que himself understood etiquette too, but he wasn’t the type to fuss over it like a diligent scholar. He usually went with whatever felt natural…unless it was a truly important occasion.
In that regard, Ao Xinyu was actually quite similar to him.
However—
It didn’t take long for Ao Xinyu’s true nature to come through. At some point, the tea on the table had been swapped for wine, and all sorts of exquisite spiritual dishes had appeared. The tea gathering had unknowingly transformed into a banquet.
She enthusiastically filled Qin Wanyuan and Lin Que’s cups, urging them to drink with cheerful insistence.
Qin Wanyuan didn’t refuse. As long as Lin Que was beside her and nodded his approval, she felt safe enough to drink. Even if she got drunk, he’d be there to take care of her.
Otherwise, Qin Wanyuan would never drink outside.
Back in those difficult, wandering years, it wasn’t uncommon to hear of women being drugged and taken advantage of after drinking. She had always been extremely cautious, even about the food she ate.
That wariness had carried over into this second life as well.
But wherever Lin Que was present, that was the one exception.
As the wine flowed and the cups were passed around, Qin Wanyuan became slightly tipsy, and a rosy flush bloomed across her delicate cheeks. She felt at ease just by leaning against Lin Que and feeling his warmth.
During the banquet, she and Ao Xinyu chatted about many things. Her impression of Ao Xinyu turned out to be remarkably positive. There was none of that looming sense of threat she’d felt with Jiang Moqing. On the contrary, Ao Xinyu came off as a lively and carefree girl, refreshingly straightforward.
If Lin Que hadn’t mentioned Ao Xinyu’s general age, Qin Wanyuan might’ve thought she was a few years younger than herself.
Of course, during their conversation, Ao Xinyu took the opportunity to share a few embarrassing stories about Lin Que’s past, such as the time he failed to recognize the value of goods and was taken advantage of by a scammer. He only avoided losing money thanks to her intervention. One might call it a lighthearted bit of revenge.
Qin Wanyuan listened attentively, and in her mind, the puzzle that was Lin Que’s personality grew a little more complete. She also began to feel a genuine fondness for this white-haired, blue-eyed little dragon girl.
“In short, Lin Daqie and I are very close friends. If you ever run into any trouble, just come find me. Whether it’s rare resources or influential connections, I can help.”
Her words might’ve sounded exaggerated, but Qin Wanyuan knew Ao Xinyu wasn’t bragging.
She really was capable of backing that up.
By contrast, Qin Wanyuan felt she couldn’t offer much at all.
She wasn’t skilled in managing interpersonal relationships, and to this day, her network of contacts was pathetically shallow.
After thinking it over for a moment, she decided not to dwell on the matter. Comparing would only make her feel worse.
“Then thank you, Sister Xinyu,” Qin Wanyuan said politely and respectfully.
“We’re all family here, no need to be so formal~” Ao Xinyu said with a hiccup, letting out a giggle.
She really did seem drunk. She’d even gotten their relationship mixed up, jumping from being a friend to calling them family.
“By the way, Lin Daqie, did you come looking for me because something’s up again?” Ao Xinyu blinked and turned to ask Lin Que.
“Something like that.”
Lin Que nodded. “I need to buy another three portions of the medicinal herbs from last time.”
“No problem!”
Ao Xinyu made an “OK” gesture with her hand, then, as if worried they wouldn’t understand, explained, “A friend of mine taught me this. It means ‘no problem’. Oh, and she’ll be coming over next month, on the day of the duel at Juqi Tower.”
“Got it.”
Lin Que nodded, but Qin Wanyuan who was listening beside him furrowed her brows.
She had a vague sense of foreboding.
Could Ao Xinyu’s friend be a woman as well? And from the sound of it, it seemed like Lin Lang was the one who wanted to meet her.
Perhaps because he hadn’t chosen to pursue Ao Xinyu for now, the system hadn’t issued a single task throughout the banquet. If Jiang Moqing were here instead, the system might have already issued two or three tasks in a row.
There might even be something like getting Lin Que drunk on purpose, then sending him to Jiang Moqing’s bed…
The moment that thought crossed her mind, Qin Wanyuan immediately cut herself off. Then she mentally spat twice, “Ugh, that wretched system has really corrupted me. I can’t believe I started thinking in that direction without even realizing it!”
To distract herself, she turned her attention back to Lin Que and Ao Xinyu’s conversation. At this point, they were mostly discussing the duel at Juqi Tower scheduled for next month. Since this wasn’t something Qin Wanyuan could help with, she was half an outsider in the matter and naturally had no intention of butting in. She simply listened quietly from the side.
Once the discussion about Juqi Tower wrapped up, Ao Xinyu suddenly placed her pale hands on the table and leaned forward, moving closer to Lin Que.
Her bright blue eyes blinked, a hint of curiosity flashing in them.
“Lin Daqie, you’ve been acting like you want to say something but keep holding back. Is there something else on your mind?”
“I suppose there is. I’m looking for something. I didn’t want to trouble you with it, but after thinking it over, it seems like there’s no one else I can turn to.”
Having disappeared from the Sword Seeking Sect for years, Lin Que genuinely had no idea who else he could ask for help investigating the matter of the flood dragon.
In truth, he wasn’t too keen on asking Ao Xinyu for help in searching for a flood dragon….after all, the creature seemed like it could be one of her distant relatives, which made the whole thing feel a bit weird.
But of the only two people he could possibly ask, An Xiaoyao was still away dealing with the matter of the phoenix egg, and it didn’t seem like she’d be back anytime soon. So, he had no choice but to rely on Ao Xinyu.
“Oh?”
Ao Xinyu tilted her head, suddenly intrigued. She gave her full chest a confident pat and declared, “Lin Daqie, what kind of relationship do we have? Just say the word…whether it’s flying in the sky, swimming in the sea, or buried underground, I’ll find a way to get it for you.”
“Flood dragon,” Lin Que said.
Ao Xinyu’s expression froze for a moment, and even Qin Wanyuan beside her showed a rather dramatic reaction.
If she remembered correctly, wasn’t this Ao Xinyu sister in front of them a member of the dragon race? Why would Lin Lang suddenly be asking her about a flood dragon?
“…What did you say?”
“Flood dragon,” Lin Que patiently repeated.
“You’re looking for a flood dragon… for what?”
Ao Xinyu swallowed hard and asked cautiously, as if she already had a bad feeling about it.
“I’m looking for materials to refine medicine… things like dragon blood, dragon tendons, dragon marrow, that sort of thing.”
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