You college loser, what are you even after?
The night was cool and still. As she strolled through the quiet campus, the Princess of Qin's eyes reddened.
It was this guy who first discovered the assassin group's plot to kill her and gave her a warning.
This guy suddenly appeared in the small mountain town, not only eliminating a large number of assassins, but also massacring the bandit stronghold that colluded with the assassins.
It was this guy who, at the risk of offending all the powerful officials, managed to uncover the assassin group and resolve her worries.
It was this same guy who sent her a warning letter at Xianxia Pass and helped her annihilate the three thousand orc soldiers.
All these things are haunted by his shadow, and none can escape his shadow.
But what's in it for him?
He carried the bad reputation of being a spoiled brat, and none of the powerful figures in the capital respected him.
His credit was stolen, and even, through Yin Tianzheng's deliberate promotion, he became a bad example to be used for comparison.
Despite the ridicule and mockery of so many people, he still grows chili peppers and opens a distillery to produce high-proof liquor. What is he after?
Others might not know, but how could the Qin princess not know that these two supplies were of strategic importance?
Just to marry me, are you willing to endure so much hardship?
But am I that good? Am I worth so much from you?
Is it really worth it?
The Qin princess felt a pang of heartache, and she felt sorry for Chen Ke.
How could she not understand the Emperor Emeritus's intention? Marrying her to the son of a merchant was to limit her power and prevent the Qin state from breaking away from the control of the Great Xia Dynasty in the future.
Therefore, as the son of a royal merchant, Chen Ke can be excellent, but he absolutely cannot be too excellent.
As a newly rich man, Chen Ke could have the status of an earl or even higher, but he absolutely could not conform to the crowd.
Chen Ke can possess considerable cultivation, but he absolutely cannot have a deep background or powerful connections.
Only in this way can this marriage be more in line with the interests of the Xia royal family.
Only in this way could Chen Ke marry her.
The Qin princess could hardly imagine how Chen Ke had managed to endure such forbearance, conceal his talents, and even risk tarnishing his reputation.
The Qin princess became so engrossed in the girl's imagination that she could not extricate herself.
The more she thought about it, the more guilty she felt, and the more she felt she had let Chen Ke down.
You college loser, if you don't let me down, I will never let you down, and I will never let your Chen family down!
The Qin princess breathed a sigh of relief; she couldn't wait to return to Qin.
Only there could she truly breathe freely; only there could Chen Ke not live such a hard and tiring life.
Yes, I need to leave here as soon as possible; I need to take him with me.
We'll weather the storm together, and share life and death!
The Qin princess wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, smiled sweetly, and walked into the high walls of the engineering college.
"Young Master Chen, are you there?" A woman's voice rang out from outside the courtyard, accompanied by a knock on the door.
"Please come in!" Chen Ke had already heard the commotion. He sheathed his longsword and casually picked up a handkerchief to wipe his face.
The door opened, and a young girl dressed in green, with two red circles under her eyes, quietly walked in.
Chen Ke became wary and asked in surprise, "Miss Shui, you're still up so late?"
Shui Changqing shook her head slightly and said softly in her gentle southern accent, "I came to thank you. I was out of line earlier."
Chen Ke smiled nonchalantly: "It's hardly a loss of composure. The way of martial arts is profound and complex. Sometimes when I can't understand it, I even pull my hair out and bang my head against the wall!"
Shui Changqing looked at Chen Ke with admiration and even worship: "Young Master Chen is too kind. Although you started late, your talent is so amazing. If I hadn't seen you with my own eyes that day in the swamp of the Three Passes of Dragon Gate, I simply wouldn't have believed it!"
Something's not right with the art style, what's going on?
Chen Ke felt a chill run down his spine and was at a loss for what to do when Shui Changqing looked into his tender, watery eyes.
When you give a gift, you must have something in mind.
What's this girl's purpose?
Regardless of his purpose, Chen Ke didn't want to have anything to do with this girl, and it would be best if they never crossed paths again.
He knew perfectly well that beneath that exterior lay a completely different person!
Shui Changqing pursed her red lips, stepped forward, and said softly, "Actually, the reason I want to become a student of the Divine Dragon Academy is to enter the second floor of the Divine Dragon Pavilion and read the notes left by Master Molin."
Chen Ke was astonished; he hadn't expected Shui Changqing to be so candid and tell him all this.
A hint of sadness flashed in Shui Changqing's eyes: "Back then, my Shui family's ancestor received a great favor from the immortal Mo Lin, and my Shui family is still grateful to this day. However, the immortal's whereabouts are unknown, and the descendants of the Shui family have never had the chance to meet him, which is truly a great regret!"
Shui Changqing stepped forward again, looking at Chen Ke up close. Her eyes were glistening with tears as she whispered, "Young Master Chen, would you be willing to help me?!"
An invisible thought instantly entered Chen Ke's mind, but was also instantly detected by Chen Ke.
Little girl, are you trying to seduce me?
Chen Ke remained calm and, following the method taught to him by Senior Mirror Serpent, silently eliminated the infiltrating intent.
He feigned confusion and asked blankly, "How do you want me to help you?"
Shui Changqing breathed softly and said, "I want your help to copy of Master Molin's notes. Don't worry, I just want to burn the copied notes in front of my ancestor's tomb, which can be considered as fulfilling a wish of my Shui family ancestor."
"Young Master Chen, please help me, please help me!" Shui Changqing pleaded, her face filled with despair, before leaning against Chen Ke's chest.
Chen Ke felt a chill run down his spine. Looking at Shui Changqing's swan-like white neck, he instantly thought of thirty-six ways to strangle her.
But he dared not. It was easy to kill Shui Changqing, but it was impossible to kill the Eight-Winged Goddess!
Just as Chen Ke was at a loss, a cold glint flashed in Shui Changqing's eyes, and she instantly broke free from Chen Ke's embrace.
Almost simultaneously, Chen Ke also spotted the girl in military uniform standing under the courtyard gate, her hand on the hilt of her sword.
The girl's face was obscured in the darkness, but her two cold gazes, like sharp icicles, pierced directly into Chen Ke's body.
The next moment, an even colder gaze was cast upon Shui Changqing.
What a murderous aura!
Who is this? Could it be a female spy who followed Shui Changqing?
Has the Hidden Dragon Pavilion become suspicious of Shui Changqing's identity?
Chen Ke was filled with doubt and unease.
Shui Changqing probably thought so too. Her gaze was cold as she stared at the girl with the sword at the door, a faint killing intent emanating from her body.
Oh no, if a fight breaks out, none of us will survive.
Seeing the two girls with fire flashing in their eyes, Chen Ke knew something was wrong and pulled Shui Changqing behind him.
He looked at the girl at the door and said rudely, "Who are you? Don't you know that trespassing is illegal? Get out of here!"
Shui Changqing also realized what was happening. The murderous intent in her eyes subsided, and she revealed a hint of shyness and unease, hiding behind Chen Ke like a little bird.
The Qin princess trembled with rage at the sight, her chest heaving.
Well, so you endured it all, concealed your shortcomings, and even went so far as to tarnish your own reputation. Now I finally understand how you, a slacker from university, managed to get through it all.
It turns out that I was just being delusional!
The Qin princess bit her red lips so hard they almost bled. She glared at Chen Ke hatefully, then turned and strode away.
Tears finally streamed down my face.
You college loser, you bastard, you just wait, I, I will castrate you!