Chapter 2: A Calculated Kindness

Qin Yangjun’s face alternated between ashen and purple. He had initially believed he could avoid contact with the female lead, yet, to his surprise, he was being forcibly sent to her.

‘This plot point had certainly not existed before. Could it be that his reclusive lifestyle since transmigrating had triggered some hidden storyline?’

At that moment, Hua Yaoyao also noticed Qin Yangjun’s somewhat grim expression.

“Senior Brother… are you alright? Has focusing on studying sword manuals harmed your spirit?”

“I’m fine. Since the Sect Master himself has spoken, how could this Senior Brother refuse? Go back and inform the Sect Master that I will certainly attend when the time comes.”

‘Since there was no escaping it, he would simply have to brace himself.’

Recalling the plot, the first encounter between Yu Lingyue and Qin Yangjun, though merely a brief meeting, marked the beginning of all conflicts.

Yu Lingyue was originally a celestial maiden exiled to the mortal realm, possessing the bloodline of the Upper Realm.

The unique aura surrounding her was attractive to both men and women.

The Qin Yangjun in the novel was precisely drawn by this aura, beginning to pay attention to Yu Lingyue, and even desiring to possess her.

This series of conflicts originated from that very point.

‘Avoiding this point was simple enough for him: all he had to do was not harbor such thoughts.’

Yet, things were far from that simple.

This lust was merely the beginning of the conflict. Yu Lingyue, as the female protagonist, possessed exceptionally heaven-defying luck, and also had the ability to appraise treasures.

And his own treasured sword, Coldwater, was one of the female lead’s early fortuitous encounters.

This sword, hollow within, concealed a map to a Nascent Soul (TL Note: A cultivation realm) cultivator’s tomb.

In the early stages, precisely because of this sword, Yu Lingyue began to pay attention to Qin Yangjun’s movements, thus discovering that Qin Yangjun was a wolf in sheep’s clothing (TL Note: Literally ‘a beast in human attire’).

The conflict between the two extended far beyond this. In the future during the Calamity of Weapon Masters, Yu Lingyue would become the master of the Nine Yang Blade.

While he, in turn, would be chosen by the Nine Nether Sword.

Countless conflicts would entangle him and the protagonist, making them fated enemies in the future.

It wasn’t that Qin Yangjun hadn’t considered stifling her in the cradle beforehand.

The current Yu Lingyue was merely at the Qi Condensation (TL Note: A cultivation realm) stage, and in front of him, a Core Formation (TL Note: A cultivation realm) cultivator, she was far too weak.

However, as the protagonist and possessing the Upper Realm bloodline, her bloodline would erupt at the brink of death.

Her cultivation realm would then ascend to an exaggerated degree, and he, a Core Formation cultivator, might very well stumble and fall.

This was also the reason Qin Yangjun wished to avoid the protagonist.

Now, he found himself in a predicament, unable to advance or retreat. In the distant future, the fate of being a ‘Heavenly Lantern’ (TL Note: Slang for someone who sacrifices themselves to highlight the protagonist’s greatness, often dying tragically) seemed to beckon to him.

‘Damn it all!’

“Senior Brother?”

At this, a soft murmur pulled Qin Yangjun’s thoughts back. Hua Yaoyao had, at some point, drawn close to him.

As Qin Yangjun was slightly lowering his head, that pair of snow-white ‘buns’ (TL Note: A euphemism for breasts) came into his line of sight…

Though Hua Yaoyao showed no expression on the surface at that moment, her heart was actually filled with extreme shyness.

‘This outfit was one she had meticulously chosen, and had it not been for seeing Qin Yangjun, she would never have worn a top with such a low neckline.’

‘She wore this outfit also to test Qin Yangjun’s attitude.’

Gazing at the blushing Hua Yaoyao, a sudden idea flashed through Qin Yangjun’s mind.

‘That Nascent Soul cultivator’s tomb was sealed by a special formation, and his own attainments in formations were virtually nil, making it impossible to break.’

‘Therefore, this Coldwater sword was currently a hot potato. Why not simply toss it to someone else?’

‘The current Hua Yaoyao was filled with admiration for him. A sword gifted by him, she would undoubtedly cherish greatly.’

‘For Yu Lingyue to obtain this map, she would have to destroy Coldwater.’

‘At that time, Hua Yaoyao might very well come into conflict with the protagonist because of it. He could then directly instigate her to join his faction.’

‘The protagonist would gain another enemy, and he would gain another helper.’

‘Wasn’t this killing two birds with one stone?!’

‘I’m truly f*cking brilliant!’

With this thought, he once again grasped Hua Yaoyao’s arm.

This startled Hua Yaoyao’s heart. Gazing at his handsome face, now so close, her heart instantly leaped into her throat.

‘Could Senior Brother be…? Surely he doesn’t mean here…? This is far too embarrassing, but… if it’s Senior Brother, then perhaps it’s not entirely out of the question…’

With that thought, Hua Yaoyao slightly closed her eyes, her lips parting slightly…

“Junior Sister! I heard you’ve been having some trouble with your sword dao (TL Note: The path or way of the sword) recently, isn’t that right? This Senior Brother happens to have a sword dao insight manual I acquired by chance. Take it!”

A book was placed between Hua Yaoyao and Qin Yangjun.

In Qin Yangjun’s memories, Hua Yaoyao’s talent in the sword dao was not exceptional, which was why she later resorted to using a blade.

‘But if she didn’t use a sword, the protagonist wouldn’t discover Coldwater’s secret.’

‘Then no conflict would arise.’

‘In that case, it would be better to simply give Coldwater to the sect.’

‘Therefore, Hua Yaoyao had to use a sword, and he had to give her a push.’

Qin Yangjun’s voice instantly jolted Hua Yaoyao out of her sensual fantasies.

As the book blocked his view, Qin Yangjun did not see Hua Yaoyao’s flustered face.

‘What in the world was I thinking…? In broad daylight, how could Senior Brother possibly make a move on me? How utterly mortifying… so utterly mortifying… Senior Brother won’t think I’m some loose girl, will he…?’

With that thought, Hua Yaoyao hurriedly snatched the book, holding it up to cover her face.

A moment later, she subtly peered around the edge of the book, secretly observing Qin Yangjun’s expression.

Qin Yangjun still, as before, bore a faint smile on his face.

This allowed Hua Yaoyao to sigh inwardly with relief.

“Thank you, Senior Brother.”

“Oh, and Junior Sister, I heard before that you’ve been lacking a suitable weapon, is that right?”

‘Now that the appetizer had been served, it was time for the main course.’

“Ah… yes.”

No sooner had Hua Yaoyao’s words fallen than a sword appeared in Qin Yangjun’s hand. Without a word, Qin Yangjun pressed the sword into Hua Yaoyao’s hand.

“This sword is a gift for Junior Sister. Its name is Coldwater, and it is a top-grade Tier 3 spiritual artifact. Oh, and Junior Sister, you’re at the peak of Foundation Establishment (TL Note: A cultivation realm) now, aren’t you? With it…”

As she watched Qin Yangjun enthusiastically describe the elixirs (TL Note: The original text states ‘elixirs,’ though he is clearly describing the sword ‘Coldwater’), Hua Yaoyao’s heart felt a little strange.

She did indeed lack a suitable sword, and her sword dao seemed to have reached a bottleneck. If she couldn’t break through in a few months, she had even planned to switch weapons.

However, she had never mentioned this to anyone except her master, so how did her Senior Brother know?

A moment later, a thought, both exciting and bold, suddenly bloomed in her heart.

‘Could Senior Brother have been paying attention to me all this time?’

‘Is that why he knows so much about me?’

“Thank you… Senior Brother. Junior Sister dares to ask, why are you so good to me? I am merely one of your many junior brothers and sisters, with mediocre talent and slow cultivation, not comparable to Senior Sister Yueyao…”

Hua Yaoyao spoke these words with considerable shyness, eager to know how her Senior Brother truly viewed her.

At this, Qin Yangjun’s expression suddenly turned serious, and he looked at Hua Yaoyao with a grave face.

‘How could she be so self-deprecating? With such a mindset, how would she ever contend with the protagonist in the future?’

“I forbid you from seeing yourself this way. In my eyes, your talent is outstanding, and you cultivate diligently.”

“When others are asleep in the dead of night, you are cultivating assiduously. When others are resting and chatting, you are still cultivating. Even after your training session ends, you remain in the training grounds until the sun sets.”

“Your talent is exceptional, and you cultivate harder than others. In the future, you will certainly have a place within the Yuqian Sect. You must never underestimate yourself!”

📚 Also on NHV Novels

I Was Born, and the Vixen Was Already Waiting

Ancient SettingsDarkRomanceDragons

Read Now →
Not interested