The banquet dispersed, and everyone returned to their respective blessed realms to recuperate.
Jiang Wen walked outside the Shennong Hall, enjoying the rare tranquility as he felt the night breeze.
However, outside the Shennong Hall, he still saw a familiar figure, sitting alone on the steps, gazing at the night sky.
Walking over and sitting down, Jiang Wen smiled and said, "What's wrong? Still upset about the martial arts competition?"
"Brother Taixu…" The person raised her head, her long hair floating in the wind. She looked at Jiang Wen, her delicate face showing a hint of frustration. "I didn't expect myself to be so useless, not even making it into the top three of the martial arts competition."
"You are not worse than others," Jiang Wen said.
"But, Brother Taixu, you are the champion. And what about me? I couldn't achieve anything. Mother gave me a magic weapon, but I was defeated by an inner disciple. I'm really useless, good for nothing." Jiang Rong said with some sadness, still dwelling on her failure in the Mountain and River Realm. She had thought she could challenge the top three, but who knew she would be defeated when there were still twenty-some people left.
She felt very lost and a little discouraged.
Perhaps it was as her mother said, she was of no use at all. No matter what she did, she couldn't succeed, unworthy of being a direct descendant of the Heavenly King.
"It's not that you're not good enough," Jiang Wen comforted her. "It's just that you lack the accumulation of time compared to them. Think about how many years they've cultivated, and how many years you've cultivated. Being able to enter the Mountain and River Realm means you've already surpassed many people. Being able to reach the top thirty with the help of a magic weapon makes you a remarkable genius in Taicang. Think about how vast Taicang is and how many people there are in all the races. You were able to spar with the most powerful talents in Taicang and even enter the top thirty. You should be proud of yourself. With your strength, you're probably the envy of most immortal cultivators. Look, even the young patriarch of the Tuoba clan is not as good as you; he was the first to leave the Mountain and River Realm."
"So you're better than that Tuoba Baxuan?"
"Pfft, Brother Taixu is talking nonsense again. How can I compare to him? If he hadn't met Brother Taixuan, he would definitely have made it into the top thirty." Jiang Rong chuckled, and her mood immediately improved. A smile bloomed on her face, and the melancholy look was gone.
She stretched lazily, letting the night breeze blow. She looked up at the moonlight, then mustered her strength and said, "Brother Taixu is right, I'm already very good. But I want to be even better, just like Brother Taixu. Perhaps Mother is right, as direct descendants of the Heavenly King, we cannot be less diligent than others."
"Thank you, Brother Taixu. I feel much better now."
"It's good that you understand. On the path of cultivation, it's not about starting late, but about having an unwavering heart." Jiang Wen looked at Jiang Rong's happy appearance and couldn't help but be infected by it. He smiled, as if remembering something.
"Oh right, I have something else for you," Jiang Wen said, then took out the Asking Heart Sword. This sword had been nurtured by many people, and the sword intent within it was intelligent. Using it to practice swordsmanship and observing the sword intent would surely lead to progress in the way of the sword. And Jiang Rong happened to need this sword, so he prepared to give it to her.
The Asking Heart Sword was handed to Jiang Rong, who first looked at the sword, then looked at Jiang Wen. Pointing at her face, she asked, "Brother Taixu, do you really want to give me this magic treasure? Isn't it your reward? And this is the Asking Heart Sword! It's Shennong's personal magic weapon."
"It's useless to me now," Jiang Wen said with a smile, placing the Asking Heart Sword in Jiang Rong's hand. He gave her an encouraging look, letting her understand his good intentions.
Jiang Rong tightly gripped the Asking Heart Sword, her bright eyes slightly moist. Biting her lower lip, she looked at Jiang Wen and said seriously, "I will definitely not disappoint Brother Taixu's kindness."
"The path of cultivation is long, and you need to remember your original intention," Jiang Wen instructed.
"Yes!" Jiang Rong nodded vigorously.
"Oh right, Brother Taixu, I also want to give you a gift. But you have to close your eyes first," Jiang Rong said with a grin, her big eyes blinking.
"You're giving me a gift?" Jiang Wen was curious when he heard this, then closed his eyes and waited for the little girl's gift.
Without the slightest defense, a gentle touch came. He opened his eyes and saw Jiang Rong's eyes were shy and evasive.
She stood up and wiped her lips with her hand, shimmering in the moonlight.
Her fair cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were filled with spring water.
"This is the gift I give to Brother Taixu. I, I'm also doing this for the first time," she said, then ran away with the sword, leaving Jiang Wen sitting there, staring blankly at the moon.
He didn't expect to be taken advantage of, and even ambushed. It was really unexpected.
She waved her hand desperately, and then left with the guards.
Jiang Wen was speechless when he heard this. He rubbed his forehead, feeling a little dumbfounded. This was not the result he wanted.
"She likes you," Xue's voice came. Dressed in white, she was like a celestial fairy.
"I am destined to have no fate with her," Jiang Wen shook his head and said. "It's just the initial opening of a young girl's heart; she will forget it later."
"You don't understand," Xue sat down, side by side with him. "Some things, once encountered, are unforgettable for a lifetime."
"Is that so? But I think time is the best grindstone. No matter how dull the knife, it will always be polished away the rust."
"Maybe, I don't know either," Xue shook her head. Then she handed him something.
"Use this when you are alone with the Heavenly King, so that half of our plan will be completed."
"Aren't you afraid someone will hear? Such a blatant conspiracy," Jiang Wen quipped as he took the thing.
"Don't worry, I have already set up a soundproof formation," Xue said calmly. "Besides, the Heavenly King is so arrogant that she never thinks anyone is plotting against her. With her current strength, she has already surpassed the cultivators of the immortal sects. Even a saint is far inferior to her in her presence."
"Why don't you do it yourself? I see the Heavenly King is very fond of you," Jiang Wen asked, voicing a question that had been lingering in his mind.
Hearing this, Xue lowered her head in silence. She looked at Jiang Wen and said quietly, "I can't do it myself because I can't break my promise."
"Promise?" Jiang Wen asked in confusion.
"Yes, I promised my master something. No matter what happens in the future, I can't personally rebel against her." Xue's words brought Jiang Wen's memories flooding back. He did remember this, but he had long forgotten it. After all, it was just his last wish before dying, and he didn't think Xue and Xiuqi would really turn against Jiang Wenji. The promise he wanted back then was just comfort before death.
"So you came to me?" Jiang Wen asked, puzzled. "Aren't you afraid the plot will be exposed? Besides, isn't this also considered rebelling against the Heavenly King?"
"I'm not rebelling, I just want her to let go of her obsession," Xue said, looking at Jiang Wen. "From the first moment I saw you, I felt that this plan would not fail. I have looked for many people, but you are the most suitable one."
"You… only this once," Jiang Wen said, looking at Xue seriously. "If you really want the Heavenly King to let go of her obsession, you should speak frankly."
"I know, it won't happen again."
Xue shook her head, feeling a little flustered. She was like a child caught doing something bad by an adult, feeling this way for the first time in ten thousand years.
The person in front of her was too much like her master. Every word and action had the shadow of her master.
"What's your favorite food?" Xue suddenly asked.
"Hot pot," Jiang Wen said subconsciously, then met Xue's eyes, realizing he seemed to have let something slip.
He felt a sense of distortion coming, as if the world was rejecting him.
Jiang Wen's heart sank, and just as he was about to do something, he felt the divine statue in his consciousness shining with golden light, as if it had come to life.
After a moment, the world stabilized, and the sense of distortion disappeared. He came back to his senses and saw Xue leaning close and staring at him.
"You, eat hot pot?"
