Volume One, Chapter 12: There's Something Off About This Woman
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Jiang Heng had walked to the Alchemy Academy again today, so he arrived somewhat later than usual.
Gong Huimin had been waiting eagerly for quite some time. At last, she spotted Jiang Heng arriving late and hurried over to greet him. “Oh? Why didn’t you ride Little White here today?”
Jiang Heng’s brows drew together slightly. “You should know that spirit beasts aren’t allowed in the Ten-Thousand-Forest Mountain trial, shouldn’t you? If I brought Little White, where would I leave him afterward?”
The journey from Ten-Thousand-Forest Mountain back to the Profound Origin Sect was several hundred miles. Little White was only a second-rank spirit beast, equivalent to a human cultivator in the middle or late stages of Energy Refinement. If they encountered some fierce bird of prey along the way, things could turn dangerous.
“So that’s how it is!” Gong Huimin said with an awkward smile.
“Jiang Heng, you haven’t formed a team with anyone else yet, have you? Why don’t the two of us team up? We worked well together in the past, didn’t we?” Gong Huimin said with a smile.
Yes, it had worked very well—only you benefited while I did all the hard work.
Jiang Heng gave her a faint smile, ignored her, and walked straight inside.
Gong Huimin hurried after him. “Hey, hey! Are you in or not? At least give me an answer!”
“No. I prefer being alone,” Jiang Heng replied.
“I know you like Han Jingyue!” Gong Huimin failed to understand what he meant. “But she’s teamed up with Gu Lan this time. Since that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better for the two of us to help each other?”
“Gong Huimin, so that’s how you talk about me behind my back!” Han Jingyue said quietly.
Gong Huimin nearly jumped out of her skin. She immediately turned around. “Jingyue? When did you get here? Why didn’t you make a sound? You scared me to death!”
“Hmph. If I hadn’t, how could I have heard your heartfelt words?” Han Jingyue’s expression was cold. “You can forget it. I’ve decided—I’m still going with Jiang Heng this time. While everyone else hasn’t set out yet, go find someone else to form a team with.”
“You…” Gong Huimin was deeply displeased by Han Jingyue’s interference. “Hmph!”
Back when Young Master Jiang Heng had liked you, I was your good friend, so naturally I had to bless you and help bring you together.
But now that he has seen through your true nature and no longer wants to be with you, you’ve decided to go crawling back.
You really aren’t giving your sisters even the slightest chance!
She stepped back several paces, her eyes reddening as she watched the two of them. Over the past two days, she had seen how resolute Jiang Heng was toward Han Jingyue. Perhaps the two of them really had severed ties for good.
Then again, it was difficult to say. What if Han Jingyue cried, acted coy, and apologized? Would Jiang Heng put the past behind him once more?
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She simply watched their little performance in silence. The result, however, did not disappoint her.
Jiang Heng said coldly, “You’ve decided, and that’s all there is to it?”
Han Jingyue lowered her eyes and assumed a meek expression. “I’m sorry. I know I was wrong. I’ll change from now on, all right?”
For the future her mother had described, she was willing to endure humiliation and make sacrifices.
“There’s no need!” Jiang Heng shook his shoulders and put a little more distance between them. “Why bother? You have no shortage of admirers, and neither do I. Can’t we simply leave each other in peace?”
“Jiang Heng, you weren’t such a petty person before!” Han Jingyue stamped her foot in anger.
“Then I’m sorry to disappoint you. I’m exactly this petty now.” With that, Jiang Heng turned and walked away.
When it was time to depart, more than a dozen instructors led over four hundred students on their journey.
The group left the Alchemy Academy in grand fashion, affixed Swift-Travel Talismans to themselves, and hurried toward Ten-Thousand-Forest Mountain.
Gong Huimin employed her shamelessness and her special talent for pretending not to see or hear anything, clinging stubbornly to Jiang Heng’s heels. Han Jingyue was no less determined and traveled alongside them as well.
To outsiders, the three of them appeared to be together once more.
The people from the Alchemy Academy could not help feeling disdainful.
“Hmph. Their breakup caused such a commotion a few days ago, and now they’re together again. Hmph. A leopard can’t change its spots. Jiang Heng simply can’t let go of Han Jingyue.”
Because they disliked Jiang Heng’s character, most of them avoided coming near him, leaving a large empty space around the three.
Jiang Heng was unhappy with the two women as well. He had told them twice to keep their distance, but Han Jingyue merely said, “This road doesn’t belong to you. What right do you have to stop me from walking on it?”
There was nothing wrong with that argument, leaving Jiang Heng helpless. He could only do his best to avoid them.
The journey was five hundred miles. Even with Swift-Travel Talismans, it would take five hours to complete.
When they reached the foot of Ten-Thousand-Forest Mountain, the instructors told everyone to set up camp and rest, entering the mountain at dawn the following day.
Jiang Heng put up his tent, then took out the food container prepared in advance by Luo Bo. Inside were four prepared dishes, a soup, and spirit-rice.
He infused them with fire-element spiritual energy, and the somewhat chilled food instantly became steaming hot, filling the air with fragrance.
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Gong Huimin had originally planned to take out some spirit-rice cakes to gnaw on, but now found it rather embarrassing to do so. As for Han Jingyue, who had brought only ordinary rice cakes, the sight was even more torturous.
Gong Huimin curled her lip. “In the past, he would have brought enough for both of us long ago!”
Han Jingyue had arrived without even a tent and could only squeeze in with Gong Huimin for the night.
Hearing this, she could only sigh silently. Gong Huimin suddenly rolled over to face her.
“If you can’t let him go, then go talk to him again! I’m telling you, men are easy to coax.”
Han Jingyue glanced up at her. “Weren’t you trying to get together with him? Why do you still care about me?”
Gong Huimin burst into laughter. “Of course I want to! Unfortunately, he won’t even acknowledge me. At first, I thought that since you didn’t want him, it would be a shame to let this opportunity go to waste, so why not give him to me? But now that you’ve changed your mind, naturally I have to put you first!”
Han Jingyue could not tell whether she was being sincere, and her thoughts churned restlessly.
“Hey, I’m telling you—if you want to get back together with him, this is your chance.” Gong Huimin leaned close and whispered, “Use a few tricks. If that doesn’t work, just seduce him outright. He’ll definitely fall for it.”
Han Jingyue sighed. “He won’t let me into his tent.”
“That’s easy!” Gong Huimin gave a low chuckle. “If you have nowhere to stay, wouldn’t he have to take you in for the night? Setting aside your former affection, as fellow senior and junior disciples, he can’t simply leave you out in the cold, can he?”
Han Jingyue took the suggestion to heart. “But how can I make him let me stay with him?”
“Simple!” Gong Huimin gave her a crafty smile. “We’ll have a quarrel. I’ll drive you out, and then you’ll have nowhere else to go. Looking so pitiful, you think he won’t take you in?”
Han Jingyue was no fool. She smiled and said, “Were you planning to drive me away from the beginning so you could have the tent to yourself?”
“Hmph!” Gong Huimin rolled her eyes. “Think whatever you like. Do you still want to win Young Master Jiang back or not?”
“Of course I do!” Han Jingyue said softly.
“Exactly. So tell me, are we having this quarrel or not?” Gong Huimin asked, planting her hands on her hips.
“Of course we are!” Han Jingyue smiled sweetly. “Let’s begin!”
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