Loyal Heart Roaming the Skies

Song Qifang discussed the matter of obtaining the Ziqi Donglai Sword Manual with Jiang Wang and Dong A.

It wasn't to complain, but because he had gone against the vice dean's wishes, Dong A needed to know. Otherwise, if Song Qifang used any means behind his back, Jiang Wang would suffer.

Of course, Song Qifang might not do such a thing. He had been in the Maple Forest City Dao Academy for many years and had an excellent reputation. Asking for the sword manual could also be seen as being for the academy's benefit.

But the two sides had a huge difference in strength and status, and Jiang Wang had to be prepared to prevent any problems.

Dong A raised her eyebrows and said, "I'm old and don't need to bother with him."

Jiang Wang was impressed by the directness of the dean, but he didn't have the qualifications to respond.

Dong A asked, "How's your cultivation recently?"

"Before the middle of next month, I'll be able to complete the construction of the second Dao cycle."

"Not bad. The later the construction of the Dao cycle, the faster it becomes. Before reaching the gate of heaven and earth, cultivation is mostly hard work. From the Meridian Realm to the Circulating Realm, the only obstacle is the construction of the Small Circulation. For you, it's not difficult. So when you reach the Circulating Realm, you should start considering the Dao arts engraved in the Tongtian Palace. You must understand that the first instant Dao art engraved in the Circulating Realm is crucial for every cultivator. It's not about how powerful it is, but finding the one that suits you best."

Dong A thought for a moment and added, "If there's anything like what happened in Jiangcheng again, you can report it to me in advance. As long as you have a reason, the Maple Forest City Dao Academy will never ignore its disciples. Remember, your senior brother Zhu may not be able to protect you, but the academy can."

Jiang Wang was moved by the mentor-like affection he felt from Dong A.

But Dong A didn't give him a chance to express his gratitude and waved him off.

...

In the middle of the night, Jiang Wang was startled awake from his sleep.

He put on his clothes and sword and went to the courtyard.

The woman in black veil was laughing at him, still dressed thinly in the cold winter night, as if she would be blown away by the wind.

"Do you remember the three things you promised me?" she asked.

Her voice was gentle and light in the night.

Jiang Wang was surprised. "Now? Today?"

It was already past midnight, and it was the day of the county academy's election.

The three major county academies were the most direct reserve of cultivators for the national academy.

Those like Lin Zhengren, who obtained a place in the national academy through the Three-City Dao Competition, were considered recommended. Those like Zhu Weiwo, who received a direct invitation from the national academy, were considered special admissions. Both were a minority.

The five-yearly joint competition of the three major county academies was the broadest way to enter the national academy, with 100 cultivators being admitted each time.

Students who had been studying at the Maple Forest City Dao Academy for more than five years, including Li Jianqiu, had signed up for this election. Jiang Wang had planned to go and see him off today.

The woman in black veil said softly, "The first thing is today."Jiang Wang thought for a moment before turning back to his room. "Wait a moment," he said.

He left a note for An An, telling her that he had to go out for something and if he couldn't come back to pick her up today, she should go find Linghe.

Actually, An An was no longer a concern for Jiang Wang. Tang Dun had taken on the responsibility of escorting An An to school when Jiang Wang was busy. They were both receiving martial arts guidance from Jiang Wang and could be considered fellow disciples, with a good relationship.

Jiang Wang came out again, and the woman in the black veil had already floated up to the roof and disappeared into the moonlight.

Jiang Wang chased after her. The figure in front of him seemed within reach, but there was always a distance between them.

"Miss, what should I call you?" Jiang Wang asked as he ran, about four steps away from her.

"Didn't I tell you? Call me sister," the voice came from ahead, sweet but not clear.

"'Sister' is too general, it can't represent someone as special and specific as you," Jiang Wang replied sincerely and confidently. He had asked Zhao Rucheng this question before, and Zhao Rucheng had taught him this answer.

"Oh?" The woman in the black veil stopped and waited for Jiang Wang to catch up before turning her head to look at him, her expression a mix of annoyance and amusement. "Who taught you to say that?"

"No one," Jiang Wang looked to the side. "I made it up myself."

"When men lie, their eyes usually avoid me," she said.

"I'm avoiding you?" Jiang Wang thought, deliberately turning his head to look at her with a firm expression.

"Sometimes, in order to cover up their guilt, they become more stubborn."

"I better shut up," Jiang Wang thought.

"Hehe," the woman changed the subject. "Since this is our first meeting, I've seen your naked body..."

Jiang Wang blushed slightly, and she continued, "The lotus behind your naked body, well, you can call me White Lotus."

"Okay, White Lotus Miss," Jiang Wang felt relieved and made up his mind to avoid chatting as much as possible.

But he soon asked again, "What are we going to do?"

"You'll know when we get there," White Lotus replied casually.

"Then where are we going?" Jiang Wang asked.

"You'll know when we get there."

They traveled in silence.

White Lotus seemed to be intentionally testing Jiang Wang's speed limit, accelerating after leaving Maple Forest City until Jiang Wang showed signs of exhaustion, then slowing down.

As the sky changed, the scenery along the road changed too.

"We're going to San Shan City, aren't we?" Jiang Wang couldn't help asking.

"You'll know when we get there," White Lotus teased, laughing to herself.

Jiang Wang had to hold back his doubts and follow her with his head down.

By the time White Lotus finally stopped, the sun was high in the sky.Gazing at the peak before him and hearing the faint roars of beasts, Jiang Wang felt uneasy and asked, "What are you planning to do on Jade Balance Peak?"

Bai Lian looked at him, her eyes seemingly smiling. "Don't worry, I won't do anything that goes against your principles or gets you killed."

"So, what exactly are we doing?"

"Follow me up first."

"Wait? We're going up Jade Balance Peak? With so many fierce beasts, just the two of us?"

Bai Lian seemed to have been prepared for this, bending down and crawling into a cave. After a short while, she came out with two beast skins.

She put on one of them and threw the other to Jiang Wang.

"Put it on."

It was probably a tiger skin. It felt nice to the touch, but it didn't seem to have been treated very carefully, giving off a fishy smell.

"What's the point of wearing this? Pretending to be a fierce beast?" Jiang Wang felt that everything today was a bit absurd.

"Didn't you ask me how to get up Jade Balance Peak?" Bai Lian wrapped herself in the huge beast skin—it looked like fox skin or something, with a beautiful pattern—and walked past Jiang Wang. "This is the answer."

"No." Jiang Wang felt a headache coming on. "You mean, wearing a beast skin will make the fierce beasts treat you as one of their own?"

"Fierce beasts have no wisdom. Didn't you know that?"

"Well, yes, but…"

"It's too absurd, right? To think that such a simple method can be used to blend in with such difficult-to-deal-with fierce beasts? Sometimes what confounds us is not the reality of the situation, but our own mental barriers."

Bai Lian took out a bottle of ointment, smeared some on her hand, then picked a little bit and gestured for Jiang Wang to extend his hand. She applied it to the back of his hand as well.

As she applied the ointment, she explained, "With this ointment to mask our scent, we won't have to worry about being discovered by the fierce beasts."

Her fingers were cool and had a subtle softness to them. After gently swirling the ointment on the back of his hand for a few circles, she withdrew her touch.

"To put it simply, difficulties can be solved, but stupidity cannot be cured," she concluded.

"I feel like you're insulting me…" Jiang Wang muttered as he draped the tiger skin over himself.

At that moment, his gaze froze.

It was fixed on a cave in the distance, where he could see a few shadowy figures of killer rock bees coming and going.

But he distinctly remembered that not long ago, Dou Yue Mei, the Lord of Three Mountains City, had exterminated these fierce beasts.

"Weren't these killer rock bees supposed to have been wiped out?" Jiang Wang asked.

In his voice, there was a hint of panic that he himself hadn't noticed.

"What do you think?"

Bai Lian's voice was teasing, yet not quite a laugh.