Cohabitation with Sword Spirit-Chapter 203 - 170: Lu Fangchen, the Three-Second Real Man

December 25, 2017

After the match, Wang Jiu left the medical room with his mount wrapped in bandages like a zongzi, under the doctor's eyes as if he were facing a ghost.

All the way, Shen Qingming said nothing, her aura like a vortex of negative energy, drawing everything around her into it. Passersby didn't even dare to greet her and hurried past. A few enthusiastic fans were about to congratulate her on winning the second round with a smile, but when they saw her face covered in plasters and bandages, they deflated like a punctured ball.

Walking beside Shen Qingming, Wang Jiu could tell that the young girl's mood wasn't as bad as it seemed, but it was definitely not good, as if a thin haze hung over her heart.

"I didn't expect the side effects of the battle to be such a burden on you. I thought you would be used to it after being bedridden for so many years."

"Who would ever get used to having over a hundred extra bones suddenly in their body! It hurts like hell! If you like remote control so much, why not help me block out the pain sensation?"

Wang Jiu explained, "That wouldn't be effective training. Only by fully experiencing the entire battle process can you absorb my combat wisdom with maximum efficiency."

"...So I should thank you for your painstaking care!? However, it's not the pain that bothers me." Shen Qingming rubbed her head, "I'm worried about what's coming next. You made the scene so brutal, it's hard to clean up. For example, when we just left, I saw a sneaky little dwarf in the front row of the audience, closest to me, constantly watching me."

Wang Jiu asked curiously, "Are you worried about some perverted fan committing some atrocious act while you're injured? But this is the Aozora Martial Arts Arena, there are many Great Cultivators maintaining order, and the organizing committee promises foolproof security, so if anything happens, you can demand compensation and turn a loss into a profit. What's there to be afraid of?"

Shen Qingming was silent for a moment, then said, "That little dwarf is Lu Xin."

"Then there's even less to worry about. As the matriarch of the Li Family, Lu Xin has control over the family finances. If she were to commit some atrocious act against you, you could sue her to bankruptcy afterward and make a fortune." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Can't you think positively about people for once!" Shen Qingming couldn't help but scold, "Who wants to be subjected to such atrocious acts! I'm worried they're too worried about me."

"Why worry about you?" Wang Jiu asked, "They should know you're fighting bravely under my wise leadership. With me here, what's there to worry about?"

"You dare say that after turning me into this!?"

Before Shen Qingming could finish her complaint, she heard a familiar female voice from not far ahead.

"Little Sister Qingming, how's your injury!?"

Then a fiery figure flashed in front of them. Li Wanqing leaned down with a worried face, looking at Shen Qingming in the wheelchair full of pity.

"You're hurt this badly, how pitiful... Wait, what kind of medical treatment is this? Do the doctors here only know how to use cheap bandages with cheap herbs to fool patients?!"

Shen Qingming said, "It's okay, I have the Unmoving Dominating Divine Techniques, these injuries only look scary. A night's rest and I'll be good as new."

Li Wanqing nodded repeatedly, "Of course, ample rest ensures a smooth third-round competition tomorrow, so I've already made the bed at home, you just need to come over and sleep."

"...Give it up, Sister Wanqing, I will never sleep with you."

Li Wanqing said, "Studies show that sister cultivators sharing the same bloodline have better efficiency when dual cultivating, with examples of breaking through, evolving True Essence. So don't you want to try it? Maybe through dual cultivation, you can have a power boost and no longer need to be battered by that Whiteboard Stupid Sword."

Shen Qingming sighed, "Sister Wanqing, if dual cultivation were that effective, you would be invincible by now. This theory of yours is totally made up, right?"

Just as Li Wanqing was about to argue, Wang Jiu interrupted, "It's not made up. The article from pages thirteen to fifteen in the 2010 issue number five of the Heaven-Reaching City 'Immortal Dao' magazine detailed the pros and cons of blood relative dual cultivation, and the content was very intriguing. However, due to its huge ethical controversy, the article was later retracted citing theoretical flaws."

Shen Qingming was aghast, "You two aren't in cahoots to fool me, are you!?"

"Given the intelligence gap between you and me, there's no need to conspire with others to fool you."

"...That's so true!" Shen Qingming was just about to retort to Wang Jiu but then he switched topics to Li Wanqing.

"On the other hand, although the blood relative dual cultivation theory in that article has its flaws, it has nothing to do with Li Wanqing's abilities. She is, in common parlance, a virgin without any romantic experience, or to use mundane words, she's a 'mystical untrodden valley'."

Before he finished, Li Wanqing hastily interrupted, "Wait, what are you talking about?!"

Wang Jiu continued, "If you don't like the term virgin with its usual connotations, I can change it to maiden or pure lady, or 'a mystical untrodden valley'."

"...After the competition ends, we should have another match! The loser will run naked around the city!"

Wang Jiu frowned and said, "Are you suggesting such a ridiculous wager because you're eager to shed your virgin attributes? Although I personally support subjective freedom in matters of the bed, living too liberally can lead to physiological risks, including but not limited to syphilis and gonorrhea..."

"Enough, enough, this topic has gone way off track!" Li Wanqing rubbed her temples in frustration, then said, "Actually, I was partly asked by Sister Xin to check on you... I thought that Shan Heqiu was just a weakling, with Wang Jiu pulling the strings behind, it should have been a sure victory. Didn't expect it to end so embarrassingly. Had I known, I should have withdrawn when the committee informed me of the registration!"

Shen Qingming shook her head: "Don't be ridiculous, withdrawing just to watch a second-round elimination match? Are you competing with Wang Jiu in stupidity... By the way, Sister Wanqing, how did your match go?"

Li Wanqing shrugged: "Very boring, the committee assigned me probably the weakest contestant on the field, I didn't even remember his name, he knelt down with a wave of my hand. My opponent for the second round will take some time to be decided, but it shouldn't be anything high-stakes, no need to worry."

After speaking, Li Wanqing suddenly thought of something: "By the way, since your injuries don't affect you much, why not watch the next match with me? It's in five minutes, Lu Fangchen versus Li Junyi!"

Shen Qingming exclaimed: "Junyi?! Why is it her?! Did they encounter each other in the second round?!"

Li Wanqing spread her hands: "In the regular knockout stage, only the first round is strictly assigned by top versus bottom, middle versus middle grouping, after that, it's all left to fate, and Junyi's True Essence Realm is insufficient, her pre-match ranking was only at middle rank, encountering strong opponents in the second round can only be said to be bad luck. Don't worry, I'll comfort her after the match."

Shen Qingming asked suspiciously: "This comfort you speak of, is it also related to Dual Cultivation?"

Li Wanqing said: "There's no way I'd do something like that in front of you, you're underestimating my loyalty."

Wang Jiu supported: "For someone who has maintained virginity for 17 years, her loyalty attribute is still trustworthy."

"No need to wait for the competition to end, I want to duel you right now!"

——

The group noisily arrived at division area No.3.

At this time, Lu Fangchen and Li Junyi had already reached the registration point inside the venue, undergoing the last round of checkups by the judges to confirm their physical and equipment status as compliant, ensuring no prohibited drugs, forbidden techniques, or banned treasures were used. Viewing from afar, Li Junyi seemed a bit nervous and distressed, clearly understanding she is no match for Lu Fangchen, the journey in this QingCyan Cloud competition might end here. On the other side, Lu Fangchen remained expressionless, eyes tightly shut, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

Nearing the start of the match, the stands were almost fully seated. Li Wanqing and the others, as main event contestants, had a dedicated seating area at the front, but it was also packed, clearly no one wanted to miss Lu Fangchen's match.

Li Wanqing led the way, relying on her formidable reputation in QingCyan Cloud City, easily securing a row of empty seats in the front row. She carefully pushed Shen Qingming's wheelchair along, loudly shouting towards Li Junyi in the arena, "Junyi! We're here!"

Upon hearing this, Li Junyi was taken aback, turned to see Li Wanqing and the others in the front row, paused for a moment, then broke into a bright and sweet smile, waving her hand to signal to Li Wanqing, and fist-clenched to indicate she will give her utmost effort.

Seeing Junyi adjusting her mindset, Li Wanqing said with a smile, "I'll treat you to the E-Lan feast at Drunken Immortal Tower when we get back!"

Li Junyi's eyes lit up: "Deal, no take-backs!"

——

"Players, please enter the arena."

As the judges' indifferent voice echoed, Li Junyi collected her smile, took a deep breath, adjusted the cloud-like True Essence within her, readying herself in the best condition.

This battle might be undoubtedly doomed to failure, but even if losing, it must be lost gracefully, never letting Sister Wanqing down!

And gazing across the vast arena, to the other side, Lu Fangchen was still with eyes shut, expressionless, like an aloof True Immortal beyond this world.

Humph, posing confidently eh? Hope you'll remain as composed when I unleash my best moves!

Li Junyi internally made her judgment, deciding to display all her skills right from the onset, not seeking victory nor delay, merely aiming to bloom gloriously like an ephemeral flower in the briefest moment!

Moments later, the judges announced the start of the match.

Three seconds after the match began, the judges announced its end.

Lu Fangchen won.