A Failed Seduction

The hall was very empty.

He had only taken a few steps inside when he caught a glimpse of a figure "coincidentally" stepping out from the corner of the side hall's corridor.

Shen Qingqing.

She had clearly dressed up with care, wearing light makeup and intentionally slowing her pace to appear delicate and fragile.

Upon seeing Fang Xuan, a look of pleasant surprise immediately crossed her face, as if it were truly a chance encounter.

"Junior Brother Fang Xuan?"

Her voice was soft as she hurried toward him. "What a coincidence! Why have you come to the Main Hall? Is there something you need?"

Fang Xuan didn't stop, nor did he even glance her way. Treating her as if she were thin air, he walked straight toward the depths of the hall.

The smile on Shen Qingqing's face stiffened.

She carefully adjusted her angle and gauged the distance just as Fang Xuan was about to pass her—

"Oh!"

With a delicate cry of alarm, she lost her balance and fell squarely toward Fang Xuan’s chest.

The timing, the angle, and the posture were all handled perfectly.

This fall would naturally land her in his arms, allowing him to catch her in a delicate embrace, bolstered by the panicked and pitiful expression she wore.

There was also the alluring fragrance she had specially applied... based on her numerous past successes, no man should have been able to push her away.

But Fang Xuan's pace didn't falter in the slightest. He simply tilted his upper body to the side, perfectly dodging her path.

Her carefully planned embrace turned into a solid face-plant on the floor.

Shen Qingqing slammed onto the floorboards, her meticulously styled hair becoming slightly disheveled.

She lay there, unable to react for a moment, completely stunned.

How... How could he just dodge like that?

Did he not even intend to help her up?

She had dressed up so specifically and even forced her voice to be even more delicate than usual; why did this Fang Xuan treat her with such disdain?

Was he blind? Or had that wench Ning Xian cast some kind of spell on him!

Fang Xuan finally stopped, turning slightly to look down indifferently at the fallen Shen Qingqing.

'A fake accident? This trick is way too clichéd.'

The original novel's influence was still too strong. Would someone really like...

'Well, chocolate-flavored trash?'

He didn't want to waste time on her. Ultimately, Shen Qingqing was just a minor nuisance, a tool for the plot; the real issue was Shen Chen behind her.

Once he dealt with Shen Chen, she would naturally stop jumping around.

However, that old fox Shen Chen had managed to push Ning Xian to the brink step by step, so he definitely had some skill. He couldn't afford to be careless...

Though those methods in the original novel... now they seemed quite foolish...

He said nothing, retracted his gaze, and continued walking.

"Sob..."

A sob came from behind him.

She struggled to push herself up, not even bothering to fix her disheveled appearance. Instead, she let her hair remain messy as her eyes instantly filled with tears.

She looked up at Fang Xuan’s back with a tear-streaked, aggrieved face, her voice trembling.

"Junior Brother Fang... do you... do you really hate me that much? You won't even... even help me up..."

As she spoke, she wiped away tears with the back of her hand and stumbled toward him.

It seemed she wanted to lunge at him again for comfort, her target even clearer this time—Fang Xuan's arms.

"I know I was wrong... It's my fault for making you angry... Junior Brother, you can hit me or scold me, just please don't ignore me..."

She cried with such apparent sincerity that anyone else would have felt their heart soften.

They would have felt they were being too harsh and hurting a beauty's heart.

Fang Xuan couldn't stand it and just wanted to leave quickly.

Damn, it was like a demonic screech in his ears.

He truly couldn't understand why, in this cruel cultivation world where strength was everything and killing for treasure was common, Shen Qingqing’s tricks—which relied on nothing but crying and playing the weak victim—could charm a bunch of so-called geniuses into becoming her loyal dogs.

Was the plot really forcing everyone to lose their intelligence?

Just as Shen Qingqing, sobbing all the while, was about to "fall" into his arms again—

The light at the entrance dimmed.

Ning Xian had heard the commotion and, still worried, decided to enter.

As soon as she stepped in, she saw the tearful Shen Qingqing lunging toward Fang Xuan.

Ning Xian’s steps instantly froze. Her cold eyes narrowed, and her hands at her sides clenched instinctively.

Her slender fingers pressed into her palms until they turned white.

But the expected scene of Shen Qingqing landing in Fang Xuan's arms did not happen.

Fang Xuan frowned and kicked her aside.

Was she crazy?

Shen Qingqing cried out again, falling to the floor even more clumsily than before.

Only then did Ning Xian’s clenched fingers loosen slightly.

Fang Xuan looked up toward Ning Xian at the door.

"Senior Sister, why did you come in?"

Lying on the ground, Shen Qingqing heard Ning Xian’s name and snapped her head up.

When she saw Ning Xian, a flash of pure malice crossed her eyes.

It must be her. That wench Ning Xian must have said something bad about her to Fang Xuan.

Otherwise, with her beauty and methods, how could Fang Xuan be so cold—he even used his foot?!

It had to be Ning Xian’s jealousy. That wicked woman.

After stealing her spirit bone, her status, and her father’s favor, Ning Xian must be trying to drive a wedge between them out of spite.

She struggled to stand, truly in pain from the fall this time, tears flowing uncontrollably.

But when she looked at Ning Xian, her expression shifted back to one of pitiful misery, as if she had been gravely wronged.

"Senior Sister Ning... are you... are you here to laugh at me too? I know I was immature before and upset you... but, but I really didn't mean it..."

She spoke while looking at Ning Xian with eyes full of self-blame and grievance.

Ning Xian didn't look at her at all. Her gaze was fixed only on Fang Xuan.

Seeing that he was unharmed and merely looked annoyed, the strange agitation in her heart finally settled.

"Stay... away from her."

After saying it, she felt a bit nervous. Was she overstepping? Fang Xuan probably didn't like being told what to do... after all, she was no one to him...

Hearing this, Shen Qingqing was secretly delighted, almost wanting to laugh.

Such a cold, commanding tone—what man could stomach that?

Especially a proud genius like Fang Xuan. There was no way he would listen to a useless sister like her, especially in front of another beautiful and delicate woman.

Men cared most about their dignity. The more Ning Xian acted like this, the more likely Fang Xuan was to do the opposite just to prove his independence and gallantry.

She looked at Fang Xuan through teary eyes, waiting for his reaction—waiting for him to rebuke Ning Xian and come to her.

Then, she saw Fang Xuan scratch his head and give a simple smile.

"Alright, Senior Sister."

The expression on Shen Qingqing’s face froze instantly.

"Mm." Ning Xian gave a soft response, finally relaxing her fingers. Her tense shoulders seemed to ease as well.

She didn't give the frozen Shen Qingqing another glance. Turning around, she began to walk out of the hall, leaving only one sentence:

"I’ll wait for you outside. Don't take too long."

"Understood, Senior Sister," Fang Xuan replied quickly. He glanced at the stunned Shen Qingqing and didn't bother saying anything more.

Shen Qingqing was left alone in the cold, empty hall.

She stared deathly at Ning Xian’s retreating back, her nails digging deep into her palms until they nearly drew blood.

Ning Xian...

Just you wait!