“Sixth Senior Brother, it’s just a habit. Believe me, just ask Second Senior Brother and Third Senior Sister—they have the same habit,” Feng Qingran said in a crisp voice.
“Being aware of everything around you is the most basic skill for a sword cultivator,” Dugu Jianyi said seriously.
“Observing every minute detail at all times is something Master taught us,” Qin Hanyan said with great respect when she mentioned Ye Wentian.
Bai Li Wenyue felt a headache coming on!
How do you force out a chosen one for cultivation?
You put them right in the middle of a bunch of overachievers!
Bai Li Wenyue gritted his teeth and rubbed the mahjong tiles in his hands. “Stop talking, Little Junior Sister. It’s your turn. Since I can’t beat you guys at cultivation, I’m definitely going to crush you at mahjong.”
“I wish you good luck, Sixth Senior Brother,” Feng Qingran said as she drew four tiles, giving Bai Li Wenyue a knowing smile.
By now, quite a few people had gathered around to watch the four of them play mahjong.
The path of cultivation is usually extremely dull, so when something fun appears, everyone naturally wants to come and take a look.
Some family heads, curious about the novelty, even asked Feng Qingran where they could get mahjong.
The head of the Sheng family took out a messaging token, recorded the scene of them playing mahjong, and directly posted it to his personal journal.
When Feng Qingran heard that some people also wanted mahjong, she suggested, “Uncle, I recommend you go straight to the Qinghe Building to buy mahjong. The mahjong they make there is of good quality, and they even include a mahjong guide.”
After hearing that, several family heads immediately sent people to the Qinghe Building.
Feng Qingran then casually discarded a ‘Four Bamboos.’
Slap! —
Bai Li Wenyue happily said, “Kong! Little Junior Sister, I won’t hold back.”
Bai Li Wenyue joyfully drew an extra tile, but soon became conflicted. Finally, he reluctantly discarded a ‘Five Circles.’
“I win! Sorry about that, Sixth Senior Brother,” Feng Qingran said, her almond-shaped eyes clear and innocent.
“Wait, how did you win already?” Bai Li Wenyue protested.
Feng Qingran pushed over her tiles to show Bai Li Wenyue, and he was stunned.
Dugu Jianyi’s brow furrowed with a hint of helplessness. “Little Junior Sister only wins with the Five Circles, and the only Five Circles in play was in your hand…”
“Whoa! Little Junior Sister, did you cheat? Otherwise, how did you know I had the Five Circles?” Bai Li Wenyue asked, utterly shocked.
“Of course I didn’t cheat,” Feng Qingran said firmly.
How bad would her skills have to be to bother cheating against Bai Li Wenyue?
——————
“Sect Leader Xiao, they’ve been at this for three days now. Aren’t you going to do something?” Xiao Hongyu finally couldn’t take it anymore and sent a telepathic reminder to Xiao Qingfeng.
Xiao Qingfeng, who had been completely absorbed in watching Feng Qingran and the others play mahjong, didn’t react at first. Then he glanced at Xiao Hongyu and remembered that he was supposed to be there to discourage them, not to watch the game.
Ahem, ahem, ahem! —
Xiao Qingfeng coughed a few times, but no one paid him any attention.
Ahem, ahem, ahem! —
Xiao Qingfeng coughed again, and this time a handkerchief was handed to him.
It was actually from Rong Zhuofan. Before Xiao Qingfeng could even be surprised—
Rong Zhuofan said impatiently, “Xiao Qingfeng, if you have something to do, just leave quickly. Don’t disturb me while I’m learning.”
Xiao Qingfeng’s face turned as dark as a pot bottom. He was furious and released his oppressive aura.
Rong Zhuofan glanced at Xiao Qingfeng. “Can you stop letting out that cold air? What if you freeze them?”
Xiao Qingfeng instantly became enraged. Holding in his anger, he looked at Feng Qingran. “How much longer are you going to keep playing?”
“I win!” Feng Qingran called out as she won the hand. Then she looked toward the Heavenly Ladder. By now, no one was left below the hundredth step.
Feng Qingran stood up and replied, “I’m done playing.”
“No way! We can’t stop. In these three days, I’ve only won one round. I’m not satisfied. I have to win one more!” Bai Li Wenyue said, looking utterly defeated.
Feng Qingran felt a little sympathy for him. She patted Bai Li Wenyue on the shoulder. “Sixth Senior Brother, mahjong has its rules. Generally, you don’t win the first round.”
Dugu Jianyi and Qin Hanyan also stood up.
Dugu Jianyi pulled Bai Li Wenyue up from his seat. “Sixth Junior Brother, we can play more after the competition is over.”
Bai Li Wenyue looked at the mahjong table longingly as he reluctantly walked toward the Heavenly Ladder.
“Feng Qingran, wait. What about your things?” Xiao Qingfeng said coldly.
Feng Qingran looked back and said with a cheerful smile, “I don’t want them anymore. You can have them.”
“You…” Before Xiao Qingfeng could finish his sentence, four people had already sat down at the table.
The sound of shuffling tiles filled the air.
Xiao Qingfeng: …
By the time Xiao Qingfeng turned his head again, Feng Qingran and the others had already stepped onto the Heavenly Ladder.
To Xiao Qingfeng’s surprise, in less than fifteen minutes, Feng Qingran’s group had calmly and easily passed the twentieth step.
How is that possible?
The first twenty steps include a test of temptation by beauty. How could these four people be completely unaffected?
Feng Qingran had no idea about any of this. All she knew was that the people who flashed before her eyes weren’t even one ten-thousandth as attractive as her Seventh Senior Brother.
Feng Qingran said in a clear voice, “Second Senior Brother, Third Senior Sister, Sixth Senior Brother, we can walk together for the first three hundred steps. But after that, we’ll each have to walk our own path on the Heavenly Ladder.”
“Remember, only one thing is real: moving upward. Everything else is an illusion. No matter how tempting, it’s all fake in the end.”
