Chapter 342 – Date (1/2)

Li Qingshan suddenly sat up and shook his head, as if he had yet to wake up from his dream from earlier. He found her question to be startlingly familiar.

“Don’t play dumb! Tell me!” Han Qiongzhi’s face was red as she pinched Li Qingshan’s cheek with a fuming expression.

This question, compared to the original version, was obviously much easier to answer. Li Qingshan said, “I’d obviously save you. If there’s danger that even she can’t resolve, what am I supposed to be able to do?”

Originally, he thought his quip would displease Han Qiongzhi, but he never thought she would smile and say, “That’s more like it.”

Her slender finger stroked past his cheek, leading to a gentle itch. The small boat rocked gently, producing ripples that radiated away from them. The warm spring breeze filled the sail. Her sweet smile deeply infected him too. He felt fortunate that he could be here.

Under his smiling gaze, she suddenly felt this was rather improper of her. After all, this was the first time they had gone on a date together, yet she just found all of this so familiar, having been anticipating this for the longest time.

She had a fiery character. If she were uninterested, she could even ignore a handsome man like Hua Chengzan. However, if she were interested, then her feelings would erupt like a volcano and she would be completely hopeless, unable to remain particularly reserved. However, she still managed to melt away the firmness of Li Qingshan’s heart.

“If it’s just you, then you won’t even be able to get close to her even in your next ten lives, so don’t have those wild thoughts like little Hua!” Han Qiongzhi pinched her nose. She could look down on Qiu Haitang’s irresistible charm, but even she felt rather powerless before Gu Yanying.

Not only was Gu Yanying the main commander of the entire Hawkwolf Guard of the Ruyi commandery, but she was also something akin to an idol. It was not just Hua Chengzan. There were countless people who were enchanted by her. Even the Marquis of Ruyi was no different, let alone others.

Li Qingshan smiled confidently. “Hah, just you wait. I’ll marry her too and turn the two of you into sisters.”

“Don’t you even think about it! Who agreed to marry you anyway?!” Han Qiongzhi said in irritation. Her gentle touch immediately turned into a firm pinch.

Li Qingshan said, “You’d best hurry up then. If you’re a little slow, you’ll have to be the younger sister.”

Han Qiongzhi leaned on him heavily and grabbed him by the collar. The small boat rocked as a result. They were outside the Formation of Dragons and Snakes, on the Lake of Dragons and Snakes that seemed to stretch on endlessly. There were within a large patch of yellow reeds, which was sheltered and serene.

A clear and melodious voice alarmed a few water birds.

“Li Qingshan, let me tell you! You’ll have to listen to me in the future!”

“Because I’m your senior sister and your senior!” Noticing Li Qingshan’s gaze, Han Qiongzhi’s face reddened slightly, but she held her chest high proudly.

“Then I need to work hard and get promoted soon so that I can try out the position of commander.” Li Qingshan conveniently placed his hand around her waist. Her thin, spring dress wrapped around her tightly, smooth to the touch.

Han Qiongzhi trembled slightly, but she let his hand remain there. She moved off him and threatened viciously, “From today onwards, I am the only person you’re allowed to touch. If you cheat on me, I’ll- I’ll…”

“What’ll you do?”

“I’ll cut it off.” Even Han Qiongzhi struggled to hold back her laughter.

“Sigh, but it’s still brand-new! Surely you have to use it first!” Li Qingshan’s hand conveniently slid down to her bottom.

Han Qiongzhi leapt up. She became bright red at first before suddenly laughing aloud. She rubbed Li Qingshan’s head and said, “So you’re still a… How pitiful. If you behave well, I’ll show you pity and let you try the taste of a woman.” She recovered her usual boldness. As she looked at Li Qingshan, she seemed to be looking at something that was hers, completely content with him.

Sometimes, she would suddenly remember that he was actually a few years younger than her. Of course, a difference of a few years was not the end of the world to cultivators who lived for centuries. However, she would often forget about this, as the feeling he gave off had always been mature and composed, so she felt like she was the younger one instead.

Li Qingshan rolled his eyes. “Then I’ll have to trouble the experienced big sister Han in guiding me.”

“What’re you saying? I’m obviously a…” Han Qiongzhi said furiously.

“A what?” Li Qingshan snickered.

Only then did Han Qiongzhi realise he was teasing her. She prodded his forehead firmly. “You’ll know in the future!”

Li Qingshan studied her up and down. His gaze seemed to have penetrated her clothes already, taking in all of her delicate, perfectly proportioned body and imagining matters of the future.

Han Qiongzhi readjusted her posture slightly unnaturally. If other men ever stared at her like this, she would roar at them, “I’ll dig out your eyes if you keep looking!” Many of the times, she was not saying this just for show. Neither the school of the Military or the school of Legalism taught their disciples to be soft-hearted.

Li Qingshan suddenly shook his head. He opened the cabin and made his way out from under it. He looked at the endless reeds and said, “I want many wives and consorts. I want all the beauties of the world to be my wives and consorts. How can I just stop here?”

“Why don’t you keep going?” Han Qiongzhi lunged over and wrapped her arm around his neck firmly.

However, it would be difficult for her to cause Li Qingshan any discomfort with her physical strength. Instead, she seemed like she was hanging off him, with her chest pressing firmly against his back. It was quite the sensation for Li Qingshan, who only smiled. “I’m just talking from the bottom of my heart.”

“You just love bullying me because I like you. You’re only spending time with me because you want to take advantage of me!” Han Qiongzhi suddenly released him and backed away to one side.

Li Qingshan turned around, but what he saw was that her eye rims had already reddened as she glared at him. It was true. Whenever he saw how brusque and simple-minded she was, he could not help but bully her. He went up and wrapped his arms around her waist, saying gently, “Qiongzhi.”

“What?” She spoke viciously, but her heart softened.

“Nothing. I just find you even more adorable than before.”

“Do you really think you can- you can…” Han Qiongzhi’s face was flushed, but her complaints had already vanished into thin air.

“Just you is enough.” This truly came from the bottom of Li Qingshan’s heart. Although he always said he wanted all the beauties in the world, she had already taken up all his attention whenever he spent time beside her. Yes, she possessed the charm.

And, a person’s time and energy would be limited at the end of the day. He had to spend time with Xiao An, he had to cultivate, and he had to learn alchemy too. Even if he could obtain everything, he would not have the time to enjoy them all! Was he supposed to waste away all of his time in the arms of women? There were still a lot of things he wanted to do!

Even Han Qiongzhi’s gaze became lost. She was filled with utter joy. So this was what reciprocation between two lovers felt. Just a single word from the significant other was enough to elate them.

She had once looked down on these feelings of love and attachment, but she deeply understood their wonders now. She raised her head. “That’s what you’re promising!”

“That’s what I’m promising. It’s quite late now. I need to go learn alchemy, and you still need to return to the school of Legalism to handle official business!” Li Qingshan let go of her waist at the cost of tremendous willpower and took a step back, separating from her warm, enchanting body.

“Are you going to go find Ru Xin?” Han Qiongzhi could not help but wonder whether Ru Xin and he got along like how they were just then. Combined with her reluctance to part with him, a strange feeling filled her heart.

“Yeah. I’m going to go learn alchemy. Trusting your man is a woman’s duty!” Li Qingshan caressed her hair. Although he was tempted to spend an entire day here with her, it would probably only worsen Han Anjun’s impression of him. Since he wanted to be with her, he had to consider what his future father-in-law thought about him.

Han Qiongzhi heard his explanation and felt warm and at peace inside. She bit her lip and agreed with his saying about men and women through silence. She had never been a fussy woman. This had just been her first encounter with love, so she had lost her usual composure.

“Alright, you should go back then. I’ll come find you on Cloudwisp island at night.”

“A lone man and woman spending the night together doesn’t sound like a particularly good idea!” Li Qingshan knew that the culture of this world was still quite conservative. If they were both from ordinary backgrounds, then no one could say anything if they decided between themselves to get married. However, Han Qiongzhi was the young lady of an aristocratic clan after all. Although she was quite casual most of the time, she still cared about her reputation at the end of the day.

“What’s so wrong about that? It’s decided then.” As Han Qiongzhi said that, she made her way over to the nose of the boat and took off ahead of Li Qingshan.

The small boat rocked for quite a while longer. Only then did Li Qingshan think it through. She was probably afraid he would spend a night alone with Ru Xin instead! It was quite rare of her to think of a tactic like this. Sure enough, those dramas about power struggles within the imperial harem were not for show. If he really did end up with multiple wives and consorts, it would probably drive him crazy.

What was this tactic supposed to be? Sating the tiger with your own body? Li Qingshan could not help but look forward to it. He stowed the exquisite boat into his hundred treasures pouch and leapt off as well.

On Benevolence island in Ru Xin’s alchemy room, a huge pill cauldron stood in the centre. It stood on three legs, surrounded by a design of cranes with unfurled wings. It was called the Three Cranes cauldron. It was completely snowy-white, standing elegantly and delicately, just like her.

Ru Xin sat before the cauldron in white clothes. Her hair levitated in the air; the few strands of hair that drooped down were simple and elegant, contrasting against the pill cauldron.

As soon as she saw Li Qingshan, she let out her usual, warm smile. “Your face is glowing, and your time for marriage is approaching. Qingshan, are you expecting?”

Li Qingshan sat down on the cushion beside her and said sternly, “Oh right. Ru Xin, from today onwards, don’t tease me anymore. It’s impossible for anything to happen between us. You’d better just stick to teaching me alchemy!”

She tried playing cute and let out a slight grumble, but it sounded like a cat’s meow. She turned her head away and glanced at Li Qingshan. Just her soft glance was enough to drive men crazy. She was basically purposely destroying the usual, elegant image she had cultivated, but she still gave off a different form of attractiveness.

“Quit it!” Li Qingshan rolled his eyes. He had gotten to know her from the time they spent together. This woman basically had no limits with how far she could go with her jokes, but he could not help but admit she was extremely enchanting.

Ru Xin frowned sadly. “My darling Li, you really would forget about the old when you have someone new.” She shivered. “Urgh, that’s sickening. I feel like I’m the one who’s suffering here. Alright, the joke ends here. Today, I’ll go through the gentle and fierce flames for alchemy.”

The effects of spiritual herbs, the manipulation of the pill cauldron, and the control over time were all explained through her crimson lips, allowing Li Qingshan to learn exactly how much detail alchemy involved. If he were off by just a short moment, the effects of the pills would be worlds apart.

There were plenty of snide comments and remarks during the process. The greatest benefit of learning from her was that it would never be boring.

However, they never made anymore bodily contact, and it was not because Li Qingshan had reformed himself and decided to be a good, faithful man.

Instead, it was Ru Xin who smiled. “If you lay another finger on me, I’ll tell first young miss Han.”

“How did you know it was her?” Li Qingshan was taken aback.

“Apart from her, who else would take a fancy to a man like you? You’re not graceful, charming, or honest. You’re only slightly stronger when it comes to fighting, which is barely a virtue.”

Li Qingshan raised his index finger and waggled it around gently. “Ru Xin, oh Ru Xin. That’s what you call sour grapes. That’s no good.”

“Huh?”

“And, fighting is where the souls of men lie. Aren’t you captivated too when you watch me fight?”