Across the long street, stood a graceful figure. Her raven hair cascaded down her back, veiling her slender waist, the ends gently resting upon her rounded hips.

It was a truly captivating silhouette, one that instantly justified the ardent cries of the man with the prominent forehead.

Under the gaze of what felt like a thousand eyes, the woman turned around.

A sigh escaped lips.

Zhu Biqiong heard herself sigh.

Even as a woman, she couldn’t help but feel a touch of disappointment.

The woman’s face was, to put it kindly, ordinary. Not unattractive, but with unremarkable features that lacked distinction. It was… it was simply inadequate for her captivating figure.

A glance at the expressions of disappointment on the faces of others nearby confirmed that she was not alone in this feeling.

The woman, a hint of annoyance on her face, turned to the approaching man with the high forehead. “Xu Xiangqian, I must ask you to cease following me.”

Xu Xiangqian displayed no sign of rejection, his smile dazzling. “The road is open to all, Senior Sister. How can you say I am following you?”

*What a scoundrel,* Zhu Biqiong thought to herself.

The woman retorted, exasperated, “If the road is open to all, then why did you call out to me?”

“You stopped when I called.” Xu Xiangqian’s face was alight with what appeared to be genuine emotion. “Senior Sister, your heart must hold some place for me.”

“If you speak any more nonsense, I will tear your mouth.” The woman’s expression darkened. “Zhao Wuyan always keeps her word.”

Xu Xiangqian wore a wounded expression, his voice dropping to a mournful tone. “We are both disciples of academies. Why must you be so distant, Senior Sister?”

Zhao Wuyan paused for a moment. “If I recall correctly, we do not belong to the same academy.”

“All academies under heaven are one family. We Confucian disciples share a common root; why distinguish between you and I?” Xu Xiangqian proclaimed righteously. “Senior Sister, with such a fortunate encounter and such close ties between our lineages, how can you keep me at arm’s length?”

“Dragon Gate Academy and Azure Cliff Academy are at each other’s throats every other day! I fail to see where our lineages are so closely tied. And I certainly do not know what ‘fate’ you speak of! I merely said I was going to the islands near the coast for some rest, and you followed me all the way here!”

“Fighting only proves how close you are!” Xu Xiangqian argued vehemently. “Do you ever argue with the Diligent Study Academy? No, because you look down on them and they look down on you. There’s no point in arguing with those you despise!”

The Diligent Study Academy was filled with scholars who dedicated themselves to the classics, often calling themselves bookworms, the kind who could bury themselves in a book until their dying breath. They rarely argued with anyone. But in Xu Xiangqian’s words, it became “despising.”

“As for my presence on the islands near the coast, Senior Sister, you truly misunderstand. I am simply traveling the world, having just finished my studies in the state of Qi. Though vast, I have seen all of its sights. So, what better direction to travel than east, to the sea? And then, I encountered you!”

Xu Xiangqian clapped his thigh, his eyes bright. “If that isn’t fate, what is?”

At that moment, a woman in white Confucian robes standing beside Zhao Wuyan exclaimed, “That’s called shameless!”

She had two dimples on her cheeks, and her angry expression only made her appear more endearing. “What traveling? Senior Sister Zhao goes wherever she goes, and you follow. You’re nothing but a philanderer. You probably hounded other women like this back in Qi, and got chased out!”

“Are you a scholar? How can you slander someone without proof?” Xu Xiangqian looked indignant. “I, Xu Xiangqian, am known as a virtuous gentleman. How could I be fickle? My affections for Senior Sister Zhao are not new. You can insult me, but you cannot insult my feelings!”

He *had* confessed to Li Fengyao back in Qi. But later, under Li Fengyao’s “patient persuasion,” he had returned to his senses. Such a fleeting experience, in Xu Xiangqian’s view, was completely negligible. He had merely been momentarily distracted! Who hasn’t spaced out at some point? It didn’t count as fickleness!

Seeing Xu Xiangqian’s aggrieved expression, Zhao Wuyan couldn’t comprehend the source of such abundant emotion.

As a genius Confucian cultivator of Dragon Gate Academy, she naturally had no shortage of suitors, but persistent stalkers like Xu Xiangqian were indeed rare.

Zhao Wuyan was at her wit’s end. “The last time we met was during the debate between Master Chen and Master Mo. It hasn’t even been a year. Xu Xiangqian, where have you been harboring these feelings for so long?”

Xu Xiangqian’s expression was earnest, his eyes gleaming. “Before we met, though unseen, my heart yearned for you. And after one glance, my life was forfeit.”

“Ugh.” The woman with dimples sucked in a breath. “That’s so disgusting!”

Xu Xiangqian looked at her disapprovingly. “Though I am charming, don’t always look for opportunities to speak to me. I am loyal and will never waver. My heart belongs to Senior Sister.”

The woman with dimples stepped forward, so infuriated she was on the verge of tears. “I’m not blind!”

“Eh!” Xu Xiangqian’s voice rose and fell several times, retreating a step. “Young lady, men and women should not touch. Please do not come so close. My heart is with my Senior Sister. You have no chance.”

“Alright, Zishu.” Zhao Wuyan pulled the woman with dimples, who was near tears, behind her, and looked at Xu Xiangqian seriously. “Junior Brother Xu, as fellow disciples of Confucianism, I will call you Junior Brother. I’ve warned you to watch your words, haven’t I?”

She was clearly about to teach him a lesson.

Xu Xiangqian immediately spread his hands, even deliberately relaxing his vital energy, feigning helplessness. His face was full of grievance. “I haven’t slandered Senior Sister. I’m simply expressing my inner thoughts. Is that not allowed?”

Zhao Wuyan was speechless.

Although Xu Xiangqian was spouting nonsense, he hadn’t actually slandered her. To punish him now would make her seem unreasonable.

Xu Xiangqian was, after all, a talented disciple of Azure Cliff Academy, and his teacher was known for being protective of his students. Even if she were to teach him a lesson, she couldn’t go too far.

Zhu Biqiong was about to leave, unable to endure the high-foreheaded man’s shamelessness. But the following conversation caught her attention.

She heard Zhao Wuyan say, “Alright, you say you like me, but I despise those who are ignorant and untalented. You say you just finished your studies in Qi. I would like to ask, where do you rank among the younger generation of Qi?”

Xu Xiangqian didn’t hesitate. “Naturally, I am among the best!”

Zhao Wuyan had intended to discourage him, but Xu Xiangqian’s thick skin exceeded her imagination. Wasn’t he just spouting nonsense now that he wasn’t in the state of Qi?

The girl named Zishu laughed angrily. “Among the best? What boasting! Did you defeat Wang Yiwu, or vanquish Lei Zhanqian? Are you stronger than Jiang Wang?”

The islands near the coast were close to the state of Qi, and they were always concerned about Qi’s affairs. Recently, the most famous among the younger generation was undoubtedly Jiang Wang.

Zishu and Zhao Wuyan had heard about Jiang Wang several times on the islands, and were therefore deeply impressed.

“Hahaha.”

Talking about others would have been fine.

But talking about Jiang Wang made Xu Xiangqian laugh.

He laughed loudly, filled with triumph. “To be humble, Jiang Wang and I are neck and neck. We can be considered evenly matched. We are as close as brothers and are known as the Twin Prides of Ganma Mountain! If you don’t believe me, you can ask around in Linzi!”