Chapter 49 (1/2)

49 – Xuzhou's [1] Nangong Family

After a while, Qian Duoduo returned. He was followed by a pet.i.te figure.

The first person to be tested is a girl.

Elegant light purple dress, exquisite embroidered shoes, graceful hairstyle – it is a familiar figure. Xue Qilin knew her.

“Huh?” It's the sister of that pair of siblings? Xue Qilin didn't expect the first one to be one of the applicants that she paid attention to.

“Why are you surprised? Do you fancy her? Would you like me to propose to her on your behalf?” Xia Xue asked three questions in a row and left Xue Qilin dumbstruck for a while.

“No, that's not it, this little girl has good apt.i.tude.” Xue Qilin lowered her voice and answered.

Xia Xue kept silent first, and then looked carefully at the girl in purple.

“You're right.” She agreed with Xue Qilin.

As she probably didn't want to disturb Xia Xue and Xue Qilin who were talking, the girl in purple waited silently next to the door. But when the two ended their conversation…

“I am Nangong Mingming [2]. Greetings, Elder Xia.” The girl saluted and greeted in a clear and bright voice, all very appropriate.

“Mhm. Please take a seat, Miss Nangong.” Xia Xue pointed at the chair on the other side and said expressionlessly.

The girl nodded, and then walked straight to the chair with elegant steps. The distance between each step is extremely uniform, showing ample education.

Mhm, her family background should be good! Xue Qilin speculated secretly.

Whether her clothes, words, or behavior, they all brimmed with a n.o.ble air. This n.o.ble air is cultivated from an early age. It isn't something than can be achieved over a short period of time. However…

This girl is really something! Xue Qilin smiled secretly.

Although she has prepared herself to conceal her inner tsundere [3] mixed with confidence. But unfortunately, she didn't succeed. After all, the eyes are the window to a person's soul, and are hard to disguise.

The girl sat on the chair as told. Sitting upright, an appropriate smile on her face, her behavior was very natural. She didn't look nervous. Perhaps she was nervous, but it didn't show on her face.

Confident – strong self-confidence and appropriate pride.

Not bad, worth extra points! While Xue Qilin nodded her head inwardly, she caught a faint smile on a corner of Xia Xue's lips from the corner of her eye. The latter also seems rather satisfied with the girl's performance.

A confident person has it always easy to win the favor of others.

“A personage from Xuzhou?”

The girl in purple nodded.

“What is your relations.h.i.+p with Chang'an's Nangong family?” Xia Xue narrowed her eyes, apparently rather mindful of the surname Nangong.

Facing Xia Xue's sharp eyes, the girl hesitated for a moment, and then answered, “Xuzhou's Nangong family is a branch family of Chang'an's main Nangong family.”

“Not directly related?”

“No, and in fact, there is little connection.”

The two confronted each other with their eyes. Xia Xue examined the veracity of the other party's words, while Nangong Mingming expressed frankness.

“Mhm, I understand.” Xia Xue retracted her gaze first, then opened a notebook that has been prepared on the table beforehand on a blank page, dipped the brush in ink, and wrote a line of words: “Nangong Mingming, family history should be clean, yet has to be checked.”

Unable to suppress her curiosity, Xue Qilin yanked on Xia Xue's sleeve.

Xia Xue raised her eyebrows and asked softly in a slightly dissatisfied tone, “What's wrong?”

“Why are you so rigorous in your questioning?” Xue Qilin whispered in Xia Xue's ear.

“The previous Prime Minister was from the Chang'an's Nangong family. Two years ago, the Chang'an's Nangong family was wiped out in a large fire [4], and there were no survivors.”

“That so… an Imperial Court dispute?”

Because of some imperial harem struggle novels she read in her original world, Xue Qilin is very sensitive in this respect.

Xia Xue put on a surprised expression on her face that read “how do you know”.

I seem to have hit the nail on the head. Am I clever or what?! Xue Qilin smiled proudly.

The Fifth Elder of the Merak Temple didn't pour cold water on Xue Qilin's complacency, but instead shot Nangong who had an expression of doubt on her face yet remained silent a glance, and then said in a low voice, “Therefore, we have to be careful.”

We have a bad relations.h.i.+p with the Imperial Court to begin with – Xue Qilin mused.

“Miss Nangong, you should have learned martial arts. Have you taken a teacher before?”

“I haven't, I learned martial arts from my father.”

“Since you have prior experience, the difficulty of your a.s.sessment will be increased. Do you have any problems with that?” Putting an expression of indifference, Xia Xue spoke to Nangong Mingming again.

“I already prepared, and can start at anytime.” The girl in purple clothes nodded and gave her a.s.sent. Not being afraid of sudden challenges is a sign of confidence.

“In the first a.s.sessment, we will evaluate your ‘qi perception'.”

Qi perception is related to the sensibility to true qi. Without sensibility to true qi, there's nothing else to talk about.

“There will be true qi blowing towards you. As best as you can, you have to identify from where the true qi is coming. Of course, you can also point out who released it.”

“Okay.” The girl took a deep breath, “I understand.”

Without instructing Xue Qilin to stand by, Xia Xue quietly started the a.s.sessment, “Let's get started, you must sense it carefully.”

Then, suddenly a gust of wind blew in the hall. It was naturally true qi.

A burst of true qi came out of Xia Xue's sleeve, went around Gong Tianqing, and blew towards the girl from her left.

Although in Xue Qilin's perception this flow of true qi is “wind”, but for the girl dressed in purple, it should probably feel like a weak flow of air – her tightly knitted eyebrows are evidence of this.

Silence – everyone from the Merak Temple was waiting for the answer.

“From the left… the source is the Fifth Elder or…” Nangong Mingming pointed at Xue Qilin and spoke in an uncertain tone: “… this Senior Disciple Sister.”

“Hmm, all right.” Without telling the other party whether she was right or wrong, Xia Xue wrote in the notebook “Good qi perception” in front of Nangong Mingming's name.

“Next, you need to answer a question.”

Nangong Mingming nodded, her expression no longer as calm as before.

“You are driving a carriage for the Temple Master along a mountain road. But suddenly, you find a martial arts secret book and a box of jewelry on the edge of a cliff. Would you pick them up?”

What the h.e.l.l is this question? Xue Qilin's eyes almost popped out.

Clearly, she's not the only one who thinks that this question is strange. Although Nangong Mingming tried her best to maintain an appropriate smile on her face, but the jerking of her cheeks still betrayed her.

Xia Xue, Gong Tianqing, and Qian Duoduo are all composed. It doesn't look like this is a prank.

Nangong Mingming probably realized this, and pondered the question seriously.

When she saw the troubled expression on the other party's face, Gong Tianqing spoke in a rare fas.h.i.+on: “There is no set solution to this question. Just answer as you want.”

“Thank you, Senior Disciple Sister.” Nangong Mingming expressed her thanks first, and then replied, “I think that I can pick it up after ascertaining that there is no danger.”

If Little Seven sitting in the carriage knew that there is a box of jewelry nearby, she'll stop right away, and then pick it up and use it to help the Merak Temple with its finances! Idle, Xue Qilin let her imagination run wild.

After Xia Xue got an answer, she made a hmm sound, and then wrote in the notebook: “Has a spirit of adventure, takes responsibility into account, but isn't thoughtful enough.”

“This is the final test.” Xia Xue put down the brush, and then looked at Qian Duoduo and instructed: “Leave for a moment.”

Qian Duoduo nodded and left quickly.

While Xue Qilin was wondering what was going on…

“Miss Nangong, please undress.” Xia Xue requested.

Xue Qilin suspected that she has heard wrong, but when she saw Nangong Mingming stand up and undressed, she was sure that she hasn't.

Along with rhythmic rustling sounds, Nangong Mingming's clothes came off piece by piece.

What's going on! Xue Qilin finally returned to her senses. She looked at Xia Xue and Gong Tianqing and found that the two didn't have vulgar expressions. Otherwise, she would have believed that the Merak Temple is actually a brothel, and is hiring girls.

“…” Under Xue Qilin's unnatural gaze, Nangong Mingming shed all her clothing. Oh, no, there's still underwear left.

“Qing'er, your turn.”

“Ok, okay.” Gong Tianqing responded, and then stood up and walked up to the half-naked girl. Under Xue Qilin's surprised gaze, she put her hands on Nangong Mingming, pinching and touching left and right. It looks like Gong Tianqing is ascertaining something.

“Did she hide poison?” Xue Qilin asked a nonsensical question.

“Oy, our Merak Temple's Young Ancestor not only has a high cultivation base, but also has a rich imagination. Her thoughts fly out of control.”

“Then why is Little Qing touching her all over?”

“Your lack of knowledge raises one's hackles. You're no batter than an earthworm in this regard.” Xia Xue carried on with amus.e.m.e.nt, “This is bone touch, and it serves to examine a person's physique.”

“Hey hey hey, there's even such a technique!”

Should I also learn it? If I did learn it, won't I be able to use it as an excuse to touch everywhere? As she imagined the beautiful future, Xue Qilin didn't realize that she was drooling. Only after Xia Xue reminded her in a disgusted tone did she quickly react and wipe off her saliva.

“Elder Xia, it's okay.”

Xia Xue nodded, and then stood up and walked to Nangong Mingming's side.

“Next, I will infuse true qi into your body. The true qi will circulate inside you. Try to control and release it in the most suitable way.”

“I understand.” Nangong Mingming a.s.sented, and then Xia Xue put her palm on her shoulder.

Introduction of foreign true qi will inevitably cause a certain degree of discomfort, and the girl from the Nangong family gradually furrowed her eyebrows.

“You can start at any time.” Xia Xue retracted her hand and observed the girl.