Cohabitation with Sword Spirit-Chapter 134 - 107: Buy a Crutch or Buy a Car?

September 13, 2017, in the last moments of lunch break

In the Underground Sword Cave, Li Chaolu was earnestly trying to convince Shen Qingming, who was attempting to stay behind.

"I'll say it one last time, if you really do this, it means you've completely fallen into the Qian Family's plot. Stirring up internal strife for no reason, benefiting outsiders, it's absolutely a foolish act that brings pain to those close and joy to enemies."

To this, Shen Qingming only responded with a cold laugh.

"First, don't think I'm stupid just because that guy gave me some absurd IQ test! I had excellent grades in Inner Sect cultural classes back then! Second, tell me, what's Qian Yue's plan?"

Li Chaolu replied, "It's obvious, stirring up a fight between you and me, while she just benefits from it. She's currently locked at home by her father, unable to be with Mr. Wang Jiu day and night, falling behind in our competition, so she's using you to disrupt my time with Mr. Wang Jiu."

Shen Qingming continued to laugh coldly: "And what if I don't disrupt you?

Li Chaolu flashed a bright and charming smile: "Then I will surely live happily with Mr. Wang Jiu."

"So, why should you alone reap all the benefits?"

Li Chaolu said, "Do you want a share of it?"

Shen Qingming's face turned crimson instantly: "Share, share what..."

Li Chaolu pointed at Wang Jiu guarding the entrance of the Sword Cave in the distance: "You like Mr. Wang Jiu too?"

"I, haha, how could I, he, he is just..."

"Alright then, since you don't like him, you have even less reason to affect my interests for the sake of the Qian Family, right?"

"I..."

Li Chaolu said, "Even if, just hypothetically, you like Mr. Wang Jiu, so what?"

"Who said I liked him!?"

"Just assuming. But anyway, as the heir of your family, you'll have to shoulder the family's political missions, obeying arranged marriages by your parents. So whether you like him or not doesn't really matter."

Shen Qingming, exasperated: "You're the one who'll obey arranged marriages!"

"I won't, I have an older brother. My father never meddles, and my mother, she's all about supporting her husband and educating children, and I'm just a daughter, not a son. My mother won't force me to do anything."

Shen Qingming gritted her teeth: "Family heir... I never said I must take over. Besides, even if I do take over, being an heir doesn't mean having no freedom in marriage. Didn't my father choose his own wife? Who else could interfere with him!"

Li Chaolu said, "Uncle is exceptionally talented, overwhelmingly strong, he naturally has the right to be willful. But do you have Uncle's skills? Didn't Uncle break the Wind Barrier at eight or nine years old, and how old were you?"

"..."

"So objectively speaking, political marriage is your fate." Li Chaolu attempted to pat Shen Qingming's head gloatingly.

Shen Qingming swatted Li Chaolu's hand away fiercely: "Get lost! Although I'm weaker now, it doesn't mean I can't catch up in the future. Haven't you heard the old saying, thirty years..."

"Thirty years east, thirty years west, never despise the youth for being poor... I read that to death back when I used to read novels." Li Chaolu laughed, "Of course, though it's been cliched, it's not wrong. Maybe, Sister Qingming, you might truly become a legendary figure in the future. But first, you must focus on cultivating diligently, right? The characters in those novels set their ambitions and braved hardships to finally become powerful. So instead of staying here distracted and fighting with me for the Qian Family to benefit, you might as well return to Shen Garden and train hard, not wasting precious time on adolescent impulses."

Shen Qingming, though clenching her teeth in anger, found herself truly speechless, and could only grit her teeth and stomp her foot in the end: "Write off my debts of a thousand Spirit Stones and I'll leave!"

"Go to my brother for that, and say if he doesn't pay, I'll recommend him to Mr. Wang Jiu for extra lessons, he'll surely give it."

"..."

Just as Shen Qingming was thoroughly outplayed by Li Chaolu's intellect, the voice of a third young girl sounded in the Sword Cave.

"I really can't listen to this anymore! Shen Qingming, do you have to be this weak, just a few words and you let yourself get manipulated, are you really going to hand over Mr. Wang Jiu to someone else so easily!"

The voice came from a colorful hair ornament pinned in Shen Qingming's hair, and as the voice spoke, it projected the face of a remarkably beautiful girl with an expression of anguish.

Li Chaolu's expression turned solemn: "Qian Yue? Ha, I knew you wouldn't be content with solitude and would find a way to secretly follow... Shen Qingming. Unfortunately, your plot has utterly failed! Shen Qingming, after all, is a Li Family member just like me; she won't fight amongst ourselves because of your sweet words."

"How ridiculous, your plot is the one that has utterly failed!" Qian Yue said, suddenly turning to Shen Qingming, "Little Sister Qingming, well, isn't it exactly as I said in the beginning?"

Shen Qingming unwillingly lowered her head and mumbled a response.

Li Chaolu growing cautious: "What did she tell you?"

Qian Yue replied, "It's simple, I told Little Sister Qingming that the fatty is sinister and cunning, and with her skills, she can't play against you. Now, just a few words and she's been persuaded to turn away... Little Sister Qingming, the situation is clear now, you and I must join forces, defeat this fatty first, then we have a hope of winning."

Li Chaolu, hearing this, felt a chill run down her spine, hurriedly interrupting Qian Yue, and said to Shen Qingming: "Qingming, don't listen to the nonsense of the Qian Family, you really have no need to be involved in this competition, after all, you don't even like..."

Qian Yue interrupted, "What do you mean there's no need to get involved? From the start, you're the third party trying to come between Little Sister Qingming and Mr. Wang Jiu, yet you demand others not to compete with you. How shameless can you be!"

"They aren't lovers who admire each other! Shen Qingming admitted herself she doesn't like Wang Jiu, so what's wrong if I come between them!?"

"What's wrong if they're not lovers? Do they not have human rights!? They could be master and disciple, brother and sister, or even close friends! Are these relationships something you can intrude upon? Little Sister Qingming might not like Mr. Wang Jiu, but she definitely dislikes you!"

Li Chaolu angrily replied, "Nonsense! Maybe Qingming and I had some misunderstandings, but they've long been resolved!"

Qian Yue sneered, "Well then, Little Sister Qingming, let me ask you, do you like Li Chaolu?"

"Are you kidding, who would like that big thigh?"

Qian Yue continued to sneer, "Did you hear that? She hates you!"

"Stop playing word games in front of me. Disliking and hating are two different things!"

Qian Yue said to Shen Qingming again, "See, when she can't win the argument, she accuses others of playing word games, yet when she does it, she feels justified. Against such a despicable person, with your upright nature, you'll definitely suffer, which is why you should join forces with me..."

Li Chaolu quickly persuaded Shen Qingming, "Don't fall for it. Look at her, already playing so many tricks at her own home, relying on an accessory that can transmit audio and video. Can you trust such a cunning woman to be your ally? It's a wonder you won't get completely betrayed!"

Qian Yue solemnly said, "The Qian Family values integrity above all. Have you ever heard of a Qian Family member acting treacherously!?"

"..." For a moment, Li Chaolu indeed couldn't think of any!

And just as Qian Yue felt she had victory in her grasp, about to persuade that shorty to join forces with her against the big thigh...

Out of nowhere, disaster struck!

In the next moment, Li Chaolu and Shen Qingming in the Sword Cave heard Qian Yue's exasperated voice coming from the accessory.

"Dad!? You can't be unreasonable! What did I do wrong for you to forbid me from speaking! Ah, this is my personal item, you have no right to dispose of it! Sure, I used the money you gave me, but once gifted, without my permission, you have no right to take it back! Dad, why are you being so overbearing like a gorilla! Dad, you..."

Before she could finish, there was a cracking sound, and the colorful accessory on Shen Qingming's head shattered.

While Shen Qingming was left stunned by this sudden change, Li Chaolu snorted coldly, "Are you really going to team up with someone who can't even secure her own interests?"

"..." Shen Qingming opened her mouth, wanting to speak but not knowing what to say. Deep down, she felt a twinge of regret; she really shouldn't have been instigated by Qian Yue to wade into these murky waters today.

If not for this, would she have been swayed back and forth by these two lumps of flesh, completely treated like an idiot!

Thinking of this, Shen Qingming calmed down and shook her head, "I'm leaving."

Li Chaolu smirked, "Take your time, I'm not seeing you off."

After sending Shen Qingming off, Li Chaolu lost interest in continuing the intimate time with Wang Jiu, especially since the lunch break was over, necessitating focus on training.

Even though Wang Jiu was gentle and easygoing, and there weren't any consequences for slacking off, Li Chaolu truly didn't want Wang Jiu to be disappointed in her in the slightest.

Once immersed in training, time seemed to fly by without noticing, and when Li Chaolu came to her senses, it was already evening. The day's training had finally come to an end.

Watching Wang Jiu's departing figure, Li Chaolu could only sigh silently.

Why wasn't it her?

——

Upon returning to Shen Garden, the night was gradually falling.

Wang Jiu carrying a beautiful lunchbox, walked into the room, just in time to see Shen Qingming limping, sleepy-eyed, coming out from the inner room.

Wang Jiu looked her up and down, then checked her bodily functions through the Master-Servant Contract and asked, "Did you double your training load this afternoon?"

Shen Qingming mumbled a response, dragging herself like a zombie to the table, uncovering the box, and sure enough, it was filled with her favorite dishes.

"Ah Jiu, thank you."

"You're welcome." After all, it was just his leftovers.

As Shen Qingming slowly savored her meal, she suddenly asked.

"Ah Jiu, I have a question, if...if the person who woke you up back then wasn't me, but Li Chaolu, or Qian Yue..."

At this point, Shen Qingming stopped speaking, looking at Wang Jiu with eyes full of hidden expectations.

Wang Jiu pondered for a moment, deciding to seriously respond to the girl's question.