He was from the He family. If the Hes found out he had stood by and done nothing while someone was in danger, the Jiang family would undoubtedly face their retaliation.
Deep down, Jiang Feng didn’t want He Jingnian to die here.
“Don’t panic. With me here, He Jingnian won’t die. Jiang Feng, you carry him. When I shout ‘run,’ you need to get out of the cave immediately.”
Li Qiao’s instructions were firm, and the two men’s expressions turned serious.
“Got it. I’ll do exactly as you say.” Though Jiang Feng didn’t fully understand, now wasn’t the time for questions. Whatever she said, he would follow.
As long as He Jingnian didn’t die here, he’d do anything!
Jiang Feng, being young, struggled a bit carrying the fully grown He Jingnian.
Meanwhile, Li Qiao and Taoist Master Qingxu whispered to each other. In just a few seconds, the Taoist master’s expression shifted through a myriad of emotions.
Li Qiao pulled out her peachwood sword and held five talismans between her fingers. She sat cross-legged on the ground and began spinning rapidly. With a flick of her wrist, she sent the five talismans flying, each landing at one of five points marked by red threads.
Suddenly, her eyes snapped open, and she shouted at Jiang Feng: “Run!”
In an instant, Jiang Feng bolted out of the cave with He Jingnian on his back. The moment they cleared the entrance, five consecutive bolts of lightning struck from the sky!
Jiang Feng’s face paled with fear.
With the final thunderclap, the cave shattered, collapsing in an instant.
“Li Qiao… Taoist Master…”
Jiang Feng coughed violently as dust filled the air. Squinting through the haze, he searched for any sign of the two. Had they been buried under the rubble?
His worry was overwhelming.
Finally, as the dust settled, Li Qiao and Taoist Master Qingxu emerged. The Taoist master coughed but couldn’t hide his excitement. “Little friend… little friend… you can actually summon the Five Thunders?! Can you teach me?”
His tone was eager, almost pleading.
Li Qiao looked at him in disbelief. “Master, you don’t know such a basic Five Thunders technique?”
Taoist Master Qingxu: “…”
Damn, that stung.
Putting on an awkward smile, the Taoist master explained, “Little friend, you don’t understand. Not every practitioner in the mystical arts can master the Five Thunders technique. Even the most powerful mystic master in the current era can only summon three.”
“The mystical arts have declined,” Li Qiao remarked with a complicated expression.
Taoist Master Qingxu: “…”
You’re not wrong, but must you say it like that?
Talented individuals still existed, but true geniuses were rare. And Li Qiao? She was a prodigy among prodigies.
Expansion talismans, speed talismans… she could whip them up effortlessly. Meanwhile, others would spend months researching just one.
“Little friend, we’ve been through so much together. How about we… study this together sometime?” The Taoist master grinned, his wrinkles deepening with enthusiasm.
He clearly wanted to learn but insisted on calling it a “joint study.”
What a prideful old man.
Li Qiao raised an eyebrow. “Have you figured out the expansion talisman yet?”
“…”
Why bring that up now?
“Still working on it,” he admitted sheepishly.
“Oh.”
“…”
“Li Qiao, Taoist Master, enough studying! Come check on He Jingnian—is he dead?!” Jiang Feng was still carrying the man on his back.
Li Qiao stepped forward and examined He Jingnian, finally letting out a relieved sigh.
“He’s fine.”
Good. Jiang Feng relaxed.
After making their way down the mountain, they considered finding a decent hotel, but the area only had budget inns. In the end, they returned to the same one from before and booked two rooms.
Taoist Master Qingxu and Jiang Feng exchanged glances.
Two rooms? How were they supposed to split that?
Their eyes then landed on Li Qiao. The Taoist master coughed awkwardly. “Little friend, as a young lady, you should… maintain some propriety.”
“‘We’ should?” Jiang Feng eyed the Taoist master skeptically.
“Slip of the tongue.” This kid really knows how to pick apart words.
Li Qiao immediately understood. With complete seriousness, she said, “Master, empty the water from your brain. I’m only keeping He Jingnian with me to ensure his safety. Tonight, it’s best if he stays by my side.”
Who knew what else might come after him?
Realizing his mistake, the Taoist master chuckled awkwardly. “Of course! I knew our mystical arts disciples wouldn’t be so… casual.”
Jiang Feng: “…”
Inside the inn room, there were two beds.
After settling He Jingnian down, Taoist Master Qingxu and Jiang Feng went next door.
Li Qiao closed the door and walked over to He Jingnian’s bedside, murmuring, “Mr. He… when you wake up, you better repay me with loads of merit. All this merit of yours… I’m seriously in love. Mr. He, I adore you so much.”
Just then, He Jingnian’s eyes fluttered open, meeting hers directly.
Li Qiao’s smile froze. “Mr. He… you didn’t hear anything strange, did you?”
Suddenly, his hand grasped hers. His gaze softened with affection. “Qiaoqiao, I know you love me. I never expected you to confess here, and I certainly never thought you’d be the one to say it first. But… I understand.”
“…” No, you don’t.
Oh no. This is a huge misunderstanding. What do I do now?!
“Mr. He, actually, I didn’t—”
“Qiaoqiao, there’s no need to explain. Some things are better left unsaid. I get it.”
“…” You really don’t!
And just like that, a perfect misunderstanding was born. Li Qiao quickly changed the subject.
He Jingnian sat up. “My mother’s remains are here. He Yi found the person responsible.”
“Who?”
His voice carried bitterness. “My own uncle.”
He Yi had used Li Qiao’s talisman—it would grow hot when near the person who stole He Jingnian’s mother’s remains.
While tracking the culprit, he finally uncovered the mastermind: He Huaisen.
When He Yi confronted He Huaisen here, they walked straight into an ambush. The man had anticipated their arrival and set a deadly trap.
In truth, He Jingnian had heard everything in the cave.
When he realized Li Qiao had come to save him, he knew he’d survive.
After listening, Li Qiao felt a pang of sympathy. The He family was vast, its interests tangled in complexity.
Who wouldn’t want control of the He conglomerate?
He Jingnian had lost his mother young. His useless father quickly remarried, bringing in a stepmother and a half-brother just a year younger—proof of his infidelity. What a scumbag. Li Qiao couldn’t help but scorn him.
Raised as the He family’s heir, He Jingnian had faced countless schemes, both overt and hidden. That he’d survived this long was nothing short of a miracle.
Oh no.
She was actually starting to feel sorry for him. No, absolutely not! Romance novels had taught her one thing: pitying a man is the beginning of a woman’s downfall.
She stared at He Jingnian, forcefully shaking off those dangerous thoughts.
But… was He Jingnian really the same?
Suddenly, He Jingnian’s expression shifted. “Qiaoqiao, I think I forgot something.”
Li Qiao hesitated. “He Yi?”
Right—that guy! Li Qiao quickly did a mental calculation and smiled. “He’ll be fine. Tough luck, but nothing serious. Taoist Master Qingxu and Jiang Feng can handle it.”
