On a street corner.
The last rays of the setting sun faded as people flowed endlessly from work.
Xia He pulled on Qin Yang's arm, shaking his head and sighing.
Having caught Qin Yang red-handed, his previous suspicions were undoubtedly confirmed.
It was all because of Li Zixuan's appearance the other day that Qin Yang had become like this.
"What else do you have to say for yourself, Old Qin? You're definitely infatuated with that Li Zixuan!"
Xia He was deeply distressed. He looked at the street sign with an expression of regret. "If I'd known that woman would bewitch you like this, I never would have gotten you that information about her."
As he spoke, he seemed to remember something. He suddenly pulled out his phone and urged Qin Yang, "Come on, Old Qin, we're going somewhere!"
"What for?"
Qin Yang asked in confusion, wondering why the guy had suddenly changed his tune.
"Where else? Platinum Han, of course!"
Seeing his reaction, Xia He said indignantly, pulling out his phone to make a reservation. "There are plenty of fish in the sea! Bro, today I'm taking you out to see the world!"
Qin Yang: "..."
"Ah, don't be so stubborn. Just come with me quietly. I'll book a good one for you right now."
Xia He pressed the call button on his phone and began tapping the screen to make a reservation for Qin Yang.
No matter what, he had to drag Qin Yang to Platinum Han this time.
Otherwise, if he let Qin Yang continue this obsession with Li Zixuan, the consequences would be unimaginable.
For Qin Yang, it would definitely not end well...
After all, a heaven-sent beauty like Li Zixuan was one in a hundred, a figure who drew everyone's attention. Even at Jianghai Martial Arts Academy, she had countless pursuers.
Furthermore, the gap between Qin Yang and Li Zixuan was as vast as a chasm between heaven and earth.
What was the difference between Qin Yang throwing himself at her and a moth flying into a flame?
If he ended up angering Li Zixuan, or if her other pursuers found out, the consequences would be disastrous!
Thinking of this, Xia He connected the call to Platinum Han. He sized up Qin Yang beside him, sighing inwardly.
'How did Old Qin turn into this mess?'
In his memories, Qin Yang had always been a quiet, reserved type—the kind who never said much.
'This love-sickness is seriously toxic!'
The once-quiet guy had become possessed over Li Zixuan, and it had only been a few days.
'And as his good brother, how could I just abandon him?!'
"Old Qin, don't worry. Your brother will definitely save you this time!"
Xia He was filled with righteous indignation. Looking at Qin Yang's harmless, handsome face only strengthened his resolve.
Meanwhile, Qin Yang looked at Xia He, completely baffled. He had no idea what the other guy was up to, but the look in his eyes...
...it was like he was resolutely sacrificing himself for some great cause.
Just then, the call on Xia He's phone connected. A woman's soft voice came through, backed by the decadent sounds of music and laughter.
"Hello? Little Hong? It's Xiaoxia... Right, the usual package—no, wait, bah! I have a friend... No, that friend isn't me... My buddy is coming over..."
As he spoke, Xia He recalled that Qin Yang's preference seemed to be Li Zixuan's type, so he hurriedly began describing her appearance.
He was just getting into it when he suddenly realized Qin Yang hadn't said a word. He couldn't help but turn to look. "What do you think of... Huh? Where'd he go?!"
Only then did he realize the spot beside him was completely empty.
At some point, Qin Yang had already slipped away.
He was left alone, haggling on the phone.
"??? Where's Old Qin?"
Xia He froze for a moment, looking around blankly, at a loss for what to do.
'He left without making a sound. It's like I've seen a ghost...'
"Hello, Xiaoxia? Your package for two has been booked. When are you coming?"
The voice on the phone urged him again.
Xia He felt his head go numb. Qin Yang had left right after he'd made the reservation. If he canceled now, he'd lose VIP points.
'I was looking forward to a night of entertainment, a true display of brotherly camaraderie with Old Qin.'
'Two dragons playing with a pearl, wouldn't that have been magnificent?'
'But now... I'll have to face the horde all by myself!'
"Damn it, Old Qin, you're a lost cause!"
"You didn't listen to your Brother Xia, and now you'll pay the price! Old Qin, you'll regret this sooner or later!"
Xia He fumed as he answered the phone, steeling himself and continuing, "I'll be right over. You just wait there!"
...
After quietly slipping away from Xia He, Qin Yang followed his previous route and arrived near Jianghai Martial Arts Academy.
Students were streaming in and out of the school gates. Qin Yang concealed his presence and moved to the vantage point he had scouted earlier to continue his observation.
Before long, he saw Li Zixuan walk out from the school gates.
'Huh, that's not the way to the Martial Arts Hall.'
Qin Yang noticed that after leaving, Li Zixuan got into a car and headed directly for the suburbs.
'Where is she going?'
Qin Yang was a little puzzled, but seeing a development, he didn't hesitate. He hailed a cab and had it follow her.
The two cars drove unhurriedly down the evening roads. It was a bit congested during rush hour, but Qin Yang wasn't in a hurry and followed patiently.
After some distance, the destination grew closer, and the area became more sparsely populated.
Qin Yang looked ahead and suddenly found the surrounding scenery a bit familiar.
The green mountains rose and fell like ocean waves, and the calls of migrating birds returning to their nests echoed through the forest.
Not far away stood a strangely shaped mountain. It was majestic and towering, but its peak was as smooth as a mirror.
"Young man, are you a tourist here to check out the spot, or a student from the academy?"
The driver held the steering wheel, gazing at the distant green mountain. "If you're not a student from the Martial Arts Academy, Broken Peak Mountain is hard to get into."
"I'm not going into the mountain. I just have some business to take care of."
Qin Yang dodged the question and made something up. "What's the story with this mountain?"
"You don't know? It was all over the news a while ago. Some immortal came and cleaved this mountain in two... Tsk tsk, how awesome is that!"
The driver couldn't help but sigh. "The mountain's sealed off now. I heard it's so those students can comprehend some Sword Intent. Ordinary folks like us can't even get close."
"..."
Hearing this, Qin Yang was suddenly at a loss for words, and then he chuckled.
'Well, I'll be. I just casually sliced it back then, and now the academy's treating it like some kind of treasure.'
'Wait a minute...'
'Li Zixuan is heading towards this peak now... Don't tell me she's going to comprehend Sword Intent?'
Just as Qin Yang was thinking this, Li Zixuan, who was up ahead, did indeed stop her car. She then got out and immediately used a Body Technique to head into the mountains.
At the same time, the auras of the Postnatal Experts around her all remained outside the mountain, no longer following.
After all, comprehending Sword Intent was a major affair that required solitude. No outsiders could be allowed to observe.
'Excellent. I've finally got you alone!'
Now that all the Postnatal Experts were outside the mountain, it was the perfect moment, with Li Zixuan isolated.
'This opportunity can't be missed!'
Qin Yang got out of the car and immediately executed the Seven-Star Dragon Roaming Step, easily avoiding the lookouts outside the mountain as he vanished into it.
At the same time, he couldn't help but feel a little puzzled.
He vaguely noticed a hint of excited, secret joy on Li Zixuan's face.
'For her to be so obsessed with entering the mountain that she'd even skip the Martial Arts Hall...'
'Could it be...'
'...that this girl is actually my fan?'