Fairies Are Fierce

Chapter 22: A Deep Hidden Agenda!

Zuo Lingquan exerted all his strength to strike with his sword, but when he reacted, he found the blade stopped between Wu Qingwan's palms.

And the senior Wu who was standing in front of him just now had somehow transformed into a side-kicking posture. Her long and straight right leg was suspended in front of his head, generating a strong gust of wind that made his cheeks and ears ache. Without thinking, he knew how much power was contained in that kick.

This extremely dangerous scene made Zuo Lingquan break out in a cold sweat. He quickly released the sword handle and took a step back, looking at Wu Qingwan with lingering fear.

Wu Qingwan was also startled for a moment, but in front of her junior, she couldn't show any signs of being caught off guard. After suppressing her surprise, she gracefully retracted her leg and held Zuo Lingquan's long sword in her hand, showing approval in her eyes.

"What a fast sword! I've been in Phoenix Valley for decades, and it's the first time I've seen someone who can draw a sword so quickly."

Although the outcome was determined in an instant, Wu Qingwan could clearly see the intricacies of the situation. Zuo Lingquan's sword was unbelievably fast, but there was no trace of True Qi circulating within it. This sword relied on accumulated experience and muscle reflexes, taking the simplest move to the extreme.

In the absence of cultivation, this sword was already terrifying. If he were to embark on the path of cultivation with surging True Qi supporting him, Wu Qingwan didn't dare to imagine how terrifying his sword would be. Even Jiang Yi's level of swordsmanship would be difficult to defend against.

Therefore, the admiration in Wu Qingwan's eyes was genuine and heartfelt.

On the other side, Zuo Lingquan, still trembling with fear, regained his composure after taking a step back. As he heard Wu Qingwan's praise, he was about to modestly shake his head when his expression suddenly changed and his gaze became strange.

??

Wu Qingwan followed Zuo Lingquan's gaze and looked down, only to find a tear in her clothes.

Zuo Lingquan's lightning-fast sword had already pierced through Wu Qingwan's clothes, right in the center of her chest. Although Wu Qingwan had a deep hidden agenda and hadn't been injured in the slightest, she had clamped the blade with her hands, spun around, and kicked it to the side, causing the small hole that had been pierced to tear open...

Under the setting sun, there was silence on the stone platform.

The elegant woman in a fitted long dress stood there, holding the sword, her head lowered in a daze, feeling a cool sensation on her chest.

With each gentle breath, the tear in her light green clothes fluctuated in size. In the evening sun, one could clearly see the lotus-colored lining inside and the indistinct outline of two large white masses, seemingly bottomless...

!!

Wu Qingwan widened her eyes and quickly covered her chest, looking at Zuo Lingquan.

Zuo Lingquan was also dumbfounded. After realizing what had happened, a chill ran down his spine. He felt as if half of the path to immortality had been severed. However, his expression remained normal, as if he hadn't seen anything, and he walked towards the stone platform on his own.

"Senior Wu, you overpraise me. I was instantly countered by you earlier, and it was only because you held back that I wasn't kicked to death. It can't be considered fast."

"..."

Wu Qingwan's composure was truly extraordinary. With her right hand covering her clothes, her face didn't even turn red for a moment, and her eyes quickly returned to their original state. She shook her head and smiled.

"When sparring, physical contact is inevitable. There's no need to take it to heart. You have achieved such a level with an ordinary physique, which truly surprises me. If you were to embark on the path of cultivation, describing you as a natural-born genius wouldn't be an exaggeration."

As Wu Qingwan spoke, she walked into the nearby wooden house, her words never ceasing.

As for what she was doing inside, Zuo Lingquan naturally didn't have the courage to follow and see. He just looked at the setting sun in the distance and calmly said, "Apart from talent, I think my perseverance should be enough. Until now, I haven't been able to enter the door, and it feels quite unfair."

Inside the wooden house, Wu Qingwan was changing her dress. She softly responded, "There's no need to blame the heavens or others. The threshold for cultivation is not high. It's possible that you haven't made any progress, but it's impossible that you can't even enter the door. Perhaps your method is wrong."

Zuo Lingquan became interested upon hearing this. "What methods do practitioners usually use to cultivate?"

Wu Qingwan moved quickly. In the time it took to say two sentences, she had changed into a warm yellow long dress and walked out of the room, still holding a book in her hand.

Her expression was as gentle and friendly as before. She brushed her hair behind her ear and sat down on the other side of the stone platform, handing the book to Zuo Lingquan.

"This is the cultivation method for disciples of the Qihuang Valley. Take a good look at it. If you have any questions, you can ask me anytime."

Seeing Wu Qingwan return to normal, Zuo Lingquan naturally forgot about the little incident just now. He reached out and took the book, only to see three simple characters written on it: "Cultivating Qi Technique." The book was not thick, with a diagram of the human meridians drawn on it. The important acupoints were marked with red dots, and there were detailed explanations next to them, including how to breathe and what sensations to expect, all written clearly.

Zuo Lingquan was completely absorbed in reading it.

Wu Qingwan picked up her teacup and took a sip. She couldn't help but think of the shocking sword strike just now, and she couldn't understand why Zuo Lingquan couldn't grasp it. After hesitating for a moment, she placed her hand on Zuo Lingquan's wrist.

Zuo Lingquan felt the warmth of her fingertips on his wrist and quickly regained his focus from the book. He saw Wu Qingwan taking his pulse and sat up straight, placing his wrist flat to allow her to examine it carefully.

However, Wu Qingwan's pulse-taking was completely different from that of an ordinary doctor.

Zuo Lingquan felt something invisible and intangible from Wu Qingwan's fingertips, trying to penetrate into his body and spread towards his arm.

Wu Qingwan's fingertips were pressed against his wrist, furrowing her brows as she carefully investigated. Gradually, her brows furrowed even more, and it wasn't until a while later that she opened her eyes.

Zuo Lingquan looked serious and asked, "Senior Wu, how is it?"

Wu Qingwan furrowed her brows and pondered for a moment before shaking her head slowly. "It's strange. There are no blockages in your meridians, but the True Qi that enters your body dissipates after a few steps, as if it's leaking. Did you suffer any injuries to your lungs in your childhood?"

Zuo Lingquan shook his head. "I was well taken care of since childhood and never suffered any injuries."

"Did you accidentally consume any unknown flowers, plants, or fruits when you were young?"

"I have clear memories, and I have always been disciplined in my diet. I never overindulged."

"Do you have any strange objects on your body? Rings, pendants, or anything that has been with you since childhood?"

"No, um... The sword I had was forged by a renowned craftsman, and I have examined all the materials. There shouldn't be any problems."

"..."

Wu Qingwan blinked her eyes, apparently unable to figure out the possible "cause" of the problem. She fell silent for a moment, then shook her head. "You should go rest for now. I'll think carefully and if I find a solution, I'll come to you for confirmation."

Zuo Lingquan had been tormented by this problem for over ten years, so he wasn't in a hurry for a moment or two. Seeing that the sun had already set and it was getting dark, he stood up and took his leave.

"It's getting late. I've troubled Senior Wu for so long. I'll go down first."

"Okay."

...

Thank you to the three esteemed patrons, [肉真好吃啊], [天堂小门], and [NingNingNing], for your generous support!

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(End of this chapter)