Zhang Xiaofan scratched his head, a little sheepish. "I just did what anyone would do."
"No," she said, her tone gentle but firm. "Most people wouldn't. But you did."
Their eyes met. Something unspoken passed between them—a flicker of trust, a shared moment neither could explain.
Zhang Xiaofan smiled but said nothing more.
As the sun dipped lower, casting golden rays across the tiled rooftops of Dazhu Peak, a soft wind stirred the trees, whispering through the leaves.
In that fading light, everything seemed changed.
Qi Hao's pride had been crushed.
Zhang Xiaofan's spirit had awakened.
And so, with the final echoes of battle fading into twilight, the road toward the Seven Clans Martial Arts Tournament began....not just as a contest of strength, but as the next step in a destiny that would shake the world.
The next morning, the main hall of Dazhu Peak's Shoujing Hall was bustling with warmth and lively chatter.
The fragrance of freshly cooked dishes floated through the air as the disciples of Dazhu Peak gathered for breakfast.
Around the long wooden table, the mood was light and cheerful.
Zhang Xiaofan sat among his fellow disciples, a relaxed smile on his face.
Su Ru, dressed elegantly in a light blue robe, picked up a piece of spicy rabbit head meat with her chopsticks.
After chewing thoughtfully, she smiled with genuine warmth.
"Xiaofan, I didn't expect you to be so talented in the kitchen.
Ever since you started cooking, our meals at Dazhu Peak have improved greatly."
Zhang Xiaofan scratched his head shyly. "Thank you, Master's Wife, for the compliment. I'm just doing what I can."
Tian Ling'er leaned over and gave Zhang Xiaofan a playful pat on the shoulder. "Of course he's good! He's my junior brother—what did you expect?"
The group laughed together. Even Song Daren and his fellow senior brothers chuckled warmly, making for an especially pleasant morning.
As the meal continued, Su Ru glanced at her husband and said casually, "Buyi, after breakfast, I'll be taking Ling'er to Xiaozhu Peak."
Tian Buyi didn't even look up from his food. "Alright, alright. Go ahead."
Then, Su Ru turned to Zhang Xiaofan. "Xiaofan, you're coming with us."
Zhang Xiaofan was taken aback. "Me?"
The entire hall quieted.
Everyone knew that Xiaozhu Peak was home to the sect's most prominent female disciples, and it had always been strictly off-limits to men.
Su Ru's invitation made everyone freeze in surprise.
Several senior brothers cast Zhang Xiaofan envious glances.
One of them whispered, "Isn't that where Lu Xueqi trains?"
Another sighed dramatically. "He's really going? The luck this kid has…"
Zhang Xiaofan could feel his ears turn red.
Su Ru noticed his hesitation and explained, "When I visited Xiaozhu Peak last time, I mentioned to my senior sister Shuiyue that you reached the third level of the Yuqing Realm within three months.
She was skeptical and asked me to bring you along so she could verify it herself."
"I understand, Master's Wife," Zhang Xiaofan replied, bowing lightly. But deep down, he felt a surge of anxiety.....mixed with curiosity.
A certain image flashed in his mind: the moonlight gently illuminating a white-robed figure standing silently on a platform....cold, distant, and breathtakingly beautiful.
Lu Xueqi.
Ten minutes later, the trio took flight. Su Ru stood atop her elegant flying sword.....Mo Xue, a powerful divine weapon that gleamed under the morning sun.
Tian Ling'er followed close behind, her amber red robes fluttering like silk in the wind, her posture light and graceful like a celestial fairy.
Zhang Xiaofan, meanwhile, flew awkwardly atop a wooden staff barely fit for flying.
Xiao Hui, the little monkey, rested lazily on his shoulder, yawning.
Dazhu Peak and Xiaozhu Peak were over twenty miles apart.
As they soared above the misty mountain ridges, Zhang Xiaofan couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and nervous anticipation.
Finally, Xiaozhu Peak came into view.
The group landed in a spacious square at the mountain's summit. Before them, hundreds of Xiaozhu Peak's female disciples were gathered, practicing sword techniques in elegant unison.
Their movements were sharp and graceful, and the spiritual energy in the air hummed with intensity.
The arrival of Su Ru and Tian Ling'er caused only a few glances.
The two women were familiar faces here.
But when the female disciples noticed Zhang Xiaofan trailing behind them, the atmosphere shifted.
"Wait, who's that?"
"Is that… a man?"
"How dare he step foot on Xiaozhu Peak!"
A wave of shocked whispers broke out across the square.
Some looked confused, others offended, and a few....curious.
"He's probably Tian Buyi's disciple," someone muttered.
Zhang Xiaofan kept his eyes down and tried to act invisible, but it was no use.
He was the center of attention now.
Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the chatter.
"Focus on your sword practice!"
Senior Sister Wen Min had arrived. Dressed in pristine white, she carried herself with the stern dignity of a true cultivator.
She frowned at the group of gossiping disciples.
"This is Xiaozhu Peak, not a marketplace. Are we so easily distracted by a single visitor?"
At her words, the square fell into a heavy silence.
Wen Min walked toward Su Ru and Tian Ling'er and bowed respectfully. "Wen Min greets Senior Sister Su Ru and Junior Sister Ling'er."
Then her gaze landed on Zhang Xiaofan. "And this junior brother is…?"
Before she could finish, Tian Ling'er spoke up, smiling proudly. "This is my junior brother, Zhang Xiaofan.
He reached the third level of Yuqing in just three months, and now.....he's already at the sixth level."
Wen Min's eyes widened in disbelief. "Sixth level… already?"
Her lips parted in astonishment. She covered her mouth briefly, unsure if she had heard correctly.
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