Two Realms: I Will Become the Immortal Emperor

Meng Qingxuan picked up the painting and grew incredibly excited after just one glance.

”You’re... actually not so bad.”

”...Heh.”

Chen Che remained noncommittal.

After getting the painting, Meng Qingxuan actually took up residence in the Market.

She spent her days searching on her Fire Crane and returned at night, keeping a very regular nine-to-five schedule.

Sometimes, when passing the Pill Shop, she would buy some pills, and occasionally she would even pay for a chat.

Chen Che paid her no mind. They each went about their own business.

Unexpectedly, Lu Yi heard the news and came to the Pill Shop in person. After a few moments of pleasantries, he finally asked,

”I hear Meng Qingxuan has been coming here often?”

”That’s right.”

Chen Che nodded.

”This is a rare opportunity!”

After pondering for a moment, Lu Yi asked tentatively,

”Tributor Chen, you are a man of great talent, and Meng Qingxuan is as pure and intelligent as they come—a match made in heaven! I wonder, does Tributor Chen have any inclinations? I could speak to the Meng Family on your behalf.”

’Do Tributors get matchmaking services, too?’

Chen Che scoffed inwardly, then politely refused, ”Miss Meng has high standards. She wouldn’t necessarily look twice at me.”

”Not at all! Meng Qingxuan has a willful personality, but she treats you as a special case. If Tributor Chen is willing, it’s not impossible that you could capture her heart. Besides, Miss Meng’s family background is anything but ordinary...”

Lu Yi assumed Chen Che was young and naive about the ways of the world, so he subtly pointed out Meng Qingxuan’s background.

Besides, once a man is married into a powerful family, he will seek stability above all else. By facilitating this marriage—whether it succeeded or not—he would be creating a debt of gratitude.

”Besides, you know how a young woman’s heart is... When you see her, say a few sweet things. If she fancies something in the Market, buy it for her. Shower her with attention and concern. Over time, she’s bound to fall for you.”

”Valley Master Lu, I appreciate the thought, but my heart is set on the Path. I have no plans to start a family.”

Chen Che’s expression was odd.

’The esteemed Vice Valley Master is an expert in the art of simping? And he’s so practiced at it, too. Doesn’t he know that simps end up with nothing?’

Seeing that Lu Yi was about to persuade him further, he quickly changed the subject.

”I have some urgent business to attend to, so I’ll need to leave the valley for a while—a week or two, maybe. If Meng Qingxuan comes looking for me, please explain the situation for me, Valley Master Lu.”

”...Sigh. Very well.”

After a few more attempts at persuasion, Lu Yi saw that Chen Che was completely unmoved and that there was no room for discussion, so he had no choice but to agree.

He himself had suffered a hidden injury that prevented him from reaching Foundation Establishment, making him unworthy of pursuing someone like Meng Qingxuan. But Chen Che was different. He was young, promising, and full of potential; he had a real chance. Yet he was using ”urgent business” as an excuse to avoid her.

”So young...”

Lu Yi lamented outside the Pill Shop before striding back toward Jinyun Valley.

With the Valley Master away, he needed to hold down the fort.

’I wonder when the Valley Master will return, and how the collection of materials is going.’

...

But how could he have known that Chen Che’s ”urgent business” wasn’t an excuse at all, but the absolute truth? The provincial competition was starting in three days, and the out-of-town students like them had to travel to He City a few days early to see the exam site and get familiar with the area.

At Xianmen First Middle School, the air was filled with the sound of students reading aloud.

Yan Jun walked into the Class One classroom, a book tucked under his arm.

”Teacher Li is away on business for a while, so I’ll be taking over his classes. My surname is Yan...”

Meanwhile, Chen Che had already reached the sports field, where a bus was parked. Li Xiaoshuang was there, thermos in hand, chatting with the driver. The other competitors—Zong Yudao, Lin Yi, and Su Peng from Class Three—were already waiting.

”Everyone’s here. Let’s move out!”

Seeing Chen Che arrive, Li Xiaoshuang gave a grand wave of his arm.