NOVPUB"The Saint Heir of Heavenly Emperor Gate?" Xu Zimei paused for a moment, then chuckled.
"Xiang Kunlun, huh."
"I didn’t pay much attention to that," Qin Shuang pouted.
"Try the food, see if it’s to your liking."
After freshening up, Xu Zimei glanced at the breakfast. Today’s meal wasn’t like the previous medicinal ones.
There was only a bowl of porridge, a few steamed buns, and a plate of lightly stir-fried vegetables.
"Did you make this?" Xu Zimei asked as he sat down.
"What are you thinking?" Qin Shuang instantly blushed.
Watching Xu Zimei eat, she asked expectantly, "How does it taste?"
"Not bad," Xu Zimei smiled.
"Really?" Qin Shuang’s smile revealed a dimple on her left cheek, followed by a satisfied nod.
"Where’s Xiang Kunlun?" Xu Zimei asked.
"He’s in the front hall," Qin Shuang asked, puzzled.
"Why are you so interested in him?"
"Perhaps he’s looking for me," Xu Zimei smiled.
"Ah, you know him?" Qin Shuang asked in surprise.
"Take me to the front hall for a look. After all, he’s gone to such trouble to find someone," Xu Zimei laughed.
"Why do I feel like there’s something strange about the way you talk?" Qin Shuang inquired.
"Yin and yang, odd and quirky," Xu Zimei joked.
After finishing their meal, Xu Zimei and Qin Shuang left the courtyard, heading towards the Qin Residence’s front hall.
"When we get there, don’t say anything rash," Qin Shuang cautioned.
"We might not fear the usual Imperial Rule Immortal Sects, but the Heavenly Emperor Gate, with its three Emperors, is not to be underestimated.
Father would not dare offend them."
The two walked along a gravel path through the woods, and halfway through, they met Steward Long walking towards them with a middle-aged man and a young man.
Upon seeing the young man, Qin Shuang’s eyes instinctively darted away.
"What’s wrong?" noticing something amiss, Xu Zimei inquired.
No sooner had he spoken than the young man also spotted them, eyes lighting up, he called out, "Shuang’er."
Qin Shuang didn’t respond to the young man but instead pulled Xu Zimei’s arm and hid behind him.
"Who are you?" the young man glanced at Xu Zimei and frowned.
"Shouldn’t you introduce yourself before asking about others?" Xu Zimei replied calmly.
The young man frowned, looked at Xu Zimei, and answered, "I am Qin Fusu, the Saint Heir of Great Qin."
"Let’s go, don’t bother with him," Qin Shuang whispered while pulling on Xu Zimei’s arm.
"My name is Xu Zimei, just a Loose Cultivator," Xu Zimei waved it off and walked away with Qin Shuang.
The young man seemed to want to say something but was stopped by the middle-aged man behind him.
"Fusu, you must not be rude."
...…
After they had walked a distance, Qin Shuang finally loosened her grip on Xu Zimei’s hand.
"What were you nervous about just now?" Xu Zimei asked.
"You should know, I’ve had a marital arrangement with that Qin Fusu since I was young. Father originally wanted to create an alliance with Great Qin through marriage," Qin Shuang explained.
"But then, because of my constitution, Great Qin publicly broke off the engagement."
"I see. It seems that Qin Fusu still rather likes you," Xu Zimei chuckled.
"Hypocrite," Qin Shuang huffed coldly and fell silent.
As they spoke, they reached the front hall.
A green-clad guard stood watch outside the front hall.
Upon seeing the arrival of the two, the guard hurriedly greeted them, "Miss, young master-in-law."
"Where is my father?" Qin Shuang asked somewhat shyly upon hearing that address.
"The master is inside entertaining distinguished guests. Miss, perhaps you should wait a while," said the guard.
Xu Zimei was in no hurry and led Qin Shuang to sit down in the pavilion outside.
He lay on the long bench in the pavilion, resting his head on Qin Shuang’s lap.
He could feel that Qin Shuang’s entire body had stiffened.
Neither of them spoke; a breeze blew through the withered trees in the courtyard before suddenly disappearing.
Meanwhile, Steward Long, accompanied by Qin Fusu and a middle-aged man, also walked over.
Seeing Xu Zimei’s head on Qin Shuang’s lap, his eyes reddened completely.
"Boy, you’re courting death," the sound of a sword’s cry arose around him, and the longsword at his waist began to tremble slightly.
"Saint Heir Qin, this is Qin City. You’d better restrain yourself a little," Steward Long said from the side.
"Elder Qin Shang, don’t say I didn’t give you face."
The middle-aged man beside him smiled, patted Qin Fusu on the shoulder, and suppressed his aura.
"Fusu, don’t forget the purpose of our visit."
While everyone was speaking, Qin Feng was seen walking out of the front hall, accompanied by a young man and an old man.
The young man was clad in a purple robe exuding an aura of immense authority.
His features were as sharp as a carved sculpture, exceedingly handsome.
The old man’s presence was inscrutable, his endless aura sinking all around him like the sea.
"City Lord Qin, I appreciate your troubles with this matter," Xiang Kunlun spoke somberly.
Qin Feng’s expression was somewhat unnatural, but he still nodded slightly.
Turning his head, Qin Feng also noticed Qin Fusu and the two with him.
"Saint Heir and Elder Qin Shang, what brings you to the Qin Residence?" Qin Feng asked coldly.
Qin Shuang’s broken engagement was related to the two of them and, despite being aware of his daughter’s problems, he still felt uncomfortable.
"Uncle, we’ve come to discuss my betrothal to Shuang’er," Qin Fusu hastily replied.
"Betrothal? Saint Heir, you jest," Qin Feng scoffed.
He retorted, "You have no relation to my Qin family anymore; where does this talk of a betrothal come from?"
"Uncle, I know you’re upset, and I was inconsiderate before, but now I’ve inquired around and have found a way to treat Shuang’er’s constitution," Qin Fusu quickly added.
"What way?" Qin Feng’s eyes flashed with keen interest, and his expression changed abruptly as he asked urgently.
"Shuang’er’s constitution is the Extreme Yin Constitution; to treat it, one must use an object of extreme yang," Qin Fusu responded.
"The yang-attributed objects we have are of too low a level; they can only suppress the Nether Ice Physique, not cure it.
To truly cure her, we must find the most extreme yang object."
"What are you talking about?" Qin Feng asked.
"One of the Five Spirit Beads—the Nirvana Bead," Qin Fusu articulated each word.
"The Nirvana fire within this bead can not only completely cure the Nether Ice, but it can also allow Shuang’er to be reborn anew."
"Is what you’re saying true?" Qin Feng took a deep breath and asked excitedly.
"Absolutely true; such constitutions were mentioned in the Mythical Era," nodded Qin Fusu.
"Then where is the Nirvana Bead now?" Qin Feng asked.
"That," Qin Fusu hesitated for a moment before saying, "We are still making inquiries. The Five Spirit Beads are not so easily obtained."
"Fine, whoever can find the Nirvana Bead will be Shuang’er’s future husband and successor to my position as the lord of Qin City," Qin Feng declared decisively.
"Father, I will marry no one," Qin Shuang, hearing this, immediately shouted.
Only then did everyone’s attention turn to Xu Zimei and Qin Shuang in the pavilion.
