Cohabitation with Sword Spirit-Chapter 152 - 122: I Firmly Believe the Future Is Bright

Evening of October 16, 2017

Wang Jiu helped the crippled Shen Qingming from the floor back to bed, feeling quite puzzled. It was just a bunch of flowers, why did Shen Qingming react so dramatically?

"These aren't ordinary flowers, they're from Sister Wanqing! It means she's starting a serious pursuit! It's like, it's like the Heart Sword Seal of the Thousand-Mile Flying Sword, a mark for the prey!" Shen Qingming explained seriously, "And among the girls she's interested in, not many can escape her clutches. I don't want to become a lesbian!"

Wang Jiu was even more curious: "Why? Do you hate lesbians? In the current Cyan Cloud social environment, that's politically incorrect."

"I, I don't actually dislike them," Shen Qingming said, blushing a little, "I've occasionally read some of Aunt Wenjun's collections, and I don't find it disagreeable. But I don't want to be part of it myself! Whether it's lilies or whatever, they look beautiful, but personally getting involved is a no-go!"

Wang Jiu nodded: "I see, so you still prefer men."

No matter how she listened, Shen Qingming found this annoying and retorted, "I don't like men either!"

Wang Jiu was puzzled: "So you don't like women or men? Could it be you're a fetishist?"

"What fetish..." Mid-sentence, Shen Qingming suddenly realized something, her face turning as red as a lobster as she almost got up from the bed in anger, "You're the fetishist!"

Wang Jiu thought for a moment and, considering his usual high self-regard, nodded: "Indeed, I am a fetishist."

"...Can't be bothered with you anymore." Shen Qingming huffed and lay back down. After a while, she realized they'd completely strayed off-topic, and asked, "So, what happened after she came yesterday?"

Wang Jiu replied: "She left after losing a duel to me."

Then, Wang Jiu briefly recounted the subsequent events. When Shen Qingming heard that Li Wanqing had visited wearing a little dress, she held onto Wang Jiu, begging him to draw the scene. Afterward, she couldn't stop laughing at the sketch, even though it triggered her injury, causing her to roll in pain in bed, she couldn't stop giggling.

When she heard that even Qian Yu came to offer gifts and gratitude, Shen Qingming was laughing almost to the point of suffocation.

"Hahaha, Bai He Demoness is truly mighty and domineering, even the Qian Family couldn't escape her grasp haha! That Qian the Third must be secretly laughing; he's always suffered from his lonely fate and was envious and jealous of his second brother who, despite having unclear investments, always had a beauty by his side. This time, at least, he got some psychological balance, haha!"

After Shen Qingming had finally laughed enough, she spoke, still out of breath: "Anyway, Qian Ye wants to meet you at Drunken Immortal Tower tomorrow? Don't worry and go, I'll be at home cultivating steadily."

—— 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

The next day at noon, Wang Jiu arrived at the top floor of Drunken Immortal Tower with an invitation.

Qian Ye was already waiting in the private room, and beside him was a gentle and quiet girl, his reconciled girlfriend, Zhou Yu.

Upon seeing Wang Jiu, Qian Ye immediately stood up, flashing a bright and enthusiastic smile: "Mr. Wang Jiu, I've long heard of your name, and today's meeting finally shows it's not an empty reputation! Being this handsome, it's no wonder you could make Li Wanqing mend her ways."

Zhou Yu lightly patted him on the back: "What mending ways, Sister Wanqing never strayed down an evil path."

Qian Ye laughed heartily, not arguing, but instead introduced, "This is my girlfriend Zhou Yu. Originally, she had nothing to do with today's banquet, but since my vacation is limited, I can't neglect my beloved girl, so I brought her along. I hope you don't mind."

Then, Qian Ye warmly invited Wang Jiu to take a seat, and called for the attendant to present an array of luxurious dishes like flowing water.

Wang Jiu didn't stand on ceremony. Since he was being treated to delicious food, he comfortably sat down, picked up his chopsticks, and started sending the dishes into his mouth—or rather into the Sword World.

Qian Ye couldn't keep his mouth idle, talking endlessly while eating meat and drinking wine: "I've truly admired Mr. Wang Jiu for a long time. It all started when the third brother mentioned you, after he lost miserably to you in a duel at the Mountain Shifting Sword Dao Club without even seeing what happened..."

"Oh right, the third brother also said you're a genius designer. His current Spirit Cat Plan was inspired by you. But recently he's been complaining that you haven't submitted any new design proposals for a long time."

They chatted about various topics for a long while, until Zhou Yu couldn't help but tug on Qian Ye's sleeve, slightly cooling his heightened excitement.

"Ah, ah, sorry, I got carried away with idle chatter... This morning my father made me do 20 sets of Spirit Gathering Circulation. Now, I feel somewhat like I've taken Five Stone Powder, though I've never actually had it; just a metaphor. Anyway, I wanted to thank Mr. Wang Jiu, thank you for subduing that Bai He Demoness and venting the anger for us men of Cyan Cloud."

Hardly had his voice faded, when a cold mocking laugh sounded from outside the door.

"Ha, Bai He Demoness? Vent anger? Is this how you talk behind people's backs? Ha, when you were beaten to the brink of questioning your existence that day, why didn't you vent your anger so straightforwardly for the men of Cyan Cloud then? Such two-faced behavior, truly a model among scoundrels."

As the words were spoken, a tall and glamorous figure entered the private room—none other than Li Wanqing!

Seeing Li Wanqing, Qian Ye's face changed dramatically, as if facing a great enemy, all his muscles tensed, his True Essence swirling wildly: "What are you doing here!?"

Li Wanqing glanced at Qian Ye, giving a disdainful snort: "Relax, I'm not here to beat you up, just sit tight. I'm here to find Yu'Er."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yu's eyes lit up, and she stood up to walk to Li Wanqing's side: "Sister Wanqing, you're looking for me?"

Li Wanqing immediately switched to a warm smile: "Yes, last night when we were chatting through writing, weren't we talking about that 'Dream-Stealing Star River' which you've always wanted to read but is out of print? I happened to dig it out from my mother's study and brought it for you."

"Ah, it's really 'Dream-Stealing Star River'! Thank you, Sister Wanqing!" Zhou Yu bounced lightly in place, cradling a thick, illustrated novel, her face radiating endless happiness.

"You're welcome." Li Wanqing shrugged generously, "Being held by a beautiful girl like you is this book's honor. And being able to serve such a lovely girl is my honor."

"Sister Wanqing, you're exaggerating, you're the truly beautiful one..."

Li Wanqing laughed heartily: "That's only because my eyes are always reflecting your figure."

Zhou Yu was made bashful by this cheesy line, gently patting Li Wanqing's shoulder: "Sister Wanqing, please stop it."

Li Wanqing laughed, leaning forward, and whispered beside Zhou Yu's cheek: "Ha, Yu'Er, don't you know? A girl is most beautiful when she's shy, just like you now!"

With that, she gently kissed Zhou Yu's cheek before gracefully departing. Zhou Yu, flushed and indignant, chased out of the room.

--

Meanwhile, Wang Jiu, while eating, witnessed the entire scene and then turned to ask Qian Ye: "Aren't you going to do something about it?"

Qian Ye, guzzling wine, forced a smile: "Haha, I'm not petty. Although Li Wanqing is my nemesis, honestly, if it weren't for her enlightening words before, I'd never realize how many mistakes I made... So now that Zhou Yu wants to be friends with her, I wouldn't object."

Wang Jiu frowned: "Though I may not understand much about relationships and emotional affairs, your girlfriend was just kissed on the cheek. According to Cyan Cloud's customs, that shouldn't be a normal friendship—unless Zhou Yu emigrated from Golden Jade City."

Qian Ye replied: "The other person is also a girl, isn't it normal for girls to be affectionate with each other?"

"If it's so normal, why are people calling her Bai He Demoness?"

After a long silence, Qian Ye finally lowered his head and cried out indignantly: "Of course I know! Li Wanqing, that demoness, is inhumanly seductive. She's ensnared countless girls' hearts over the years. Her reputation as Bai He Demoness is widespread in Cyan Cloud, causing countless young lads to fear her. How could I not know? But what can I do? Compared to understanding a girl's mind and pleasing them, all the men in QingCyan Cloud City can't compare to her. The girls she's set her sights on have never escaped her grasp! Now, besides consoling myself that she's also a girl, there's simply no other way!"

As he spoke, Qian Ye drank heavily, consuming over two pounds of Immortal Brew, his consciousness already blurred.

"Of course, we could look on the bright side. She recently lost a bet to you and had to wear women's clothes... Maybe that could awaken some girls to escape her grip. After all, not all girls, like her, prefer women over men. Previously, she dressed like a man, deceiving many girls into infatuation. Now, wearing such a girlish long skirt, her demoness charm should be largely hindered, no longer as invincible as before. Moreover, if she wears it for a long time, perhaps she might develop a normal personality and reform! For your Li Family, this might be quite welcome, right?!"

These words, though completely wishful thinking, were heartfelt and profoundly moving.

At this point, Qian Ye stood up, holding his wine glass, earnestly toasting Wang Jiu: "Mr. Wang Jiu, I'm taking the liberty today to represent the men of QingCyan Cloud City, imploring you to continue the effort, completely subdue that demoness, and return QingCyan Cloud City to a bright and clear sky!"