Chapter 8: The Candidate for Campus Belle

“I know exactly what kind of person Yang Weiyang is. Don’t worry, if he ever dares to bother you again, just come tell me.” Ms. Su smiled and winked.

It was only then that Qin Xuan realized that Yang Weiyang had actually been played by this beautiful and commanding woman.

“I can handle my own matters. Since that’s the case, I’ll take my leave.” With these words, Qin Xuan turned and left without hesitation, together with Dongfang Qingwan.

Watching his retreating figure, Su Muqing recalled the enigmatic way he had moved earlier. Someone capable of dodging bullets surely wouldn’t need her help if trouble arose, would he?

Nevertheless, it wouldn’t do not to repay this favor, especially since she’d misunderstood him before.

……

Jinling University’s campus was quite vast; it was said that even cycling from south to north took twenty minutes, let alone walking, as Qin Xuan and Dongfang Qingwan were doing now. Of course, if Qin Xuan had been alone, the distance would have been nothing. The key was that Dongfang Qingwan was with him. Judging by her delicate appearance, she clearly wasn’t a fast walker, and because of her unique constitution, she was even frailer than most.

As they walked, Qin Xuan noticed many freshmen hauling luggage and belongings, some paired off like themselves, wandering the campus. The whole place was filled with the vitality and energy of youth.

With Dongfang Qingwan at his side, Qin Xuan suddenly felt a peculiar illusion.

It was as if he had become just another ordinary person—no longer a swordsman, no longer the cultivator who had descended from the remote mountains. The feeling was both familiar and distant, for he had no memories of living in the bustling, mundane world.

Since the age of eight, he had followed his master into the mountains to practice the way of the sword, and eleven years had slipped by in the blink of an eye. Only when he finally condensed his Sword Heart this year did his master permit him to descend the mountain to train in the world. In terms of cultivation, the successful condensation of the Sword Heart was akin to the Foundation Establishment of a Daoist, marking the true beginning of one’s path.

As for memories before he turned eight, his mind was a complete blank. Logically, a child of that age should remember some things, but Qin Xuan simply couldn’t recall anything.

He had, of course, asked his master about it, but the old man always gave him flippant answers: “You came as a bonus when I topped up my phone once—showed up at age eight, so how could you expect to have any memories?”

His master was notorious for his eccentricities throughout the entire cultivation world of China, so Qin Xuan could only smile wryly and accept it.

By noon, Brother Fu had finally finished handling the registration procedures and joined them to sample Jinling University’s cafeteria food. As rumored, the quality left much to be desired.

Of course, that was only true for Dongfang Qingwan and Brother Fu. For Qin Xuan, who had only recently left the mountains, this food was already quite good.

Noticing Qin Xuan’s ravenous manner, Brother Fu removed his sunglasses, revealing a strong, angular face. He smiled and said, “So, Brother Qin, you really are a cultivator from the mountains?”

“Heh, yes.” Slightly embarrassed by Brother Fu’s words, Qin Xuan slowed his eating.

He’d realized many people in the cafeteria were staring at him, their eyes full of disdain. They’d been drawn here by Dongfang Qingwan’s beauty, but were now disappointed by the inelegant Taoist at her side, pitying the lovely girl.

“I’ve met people from the cultivation world before,” Brother Fu continued, a hint of reverence on his steely face.

“Oh?” Qin Xuan looked at him with interest.

The cultivation world had an unspoken rule: under normal circumstances, they did not interfere in the affairs of ordinary people. That Brother Fu had encountered someone from that world meant his own past was anything but ordinary.

“Two years ago, I was still in the army, tasked with protecting a high-profile figure. An invisible creature attacked us, causing heavy losses to my team—we couldn’t even touch it. Luckily, a cultivator arrived and dealt with the thing. It was then that I realized how formidable cultivators truly are.”

Brother Fu spoke solemnly, his gaze toward Qin Xuan burning with respect.

“Heh, it’s nothing special. Cultivators are indeed stronger than regular people, but flying through the sky or burrowing through the earth—those are still very difficult feats.”

“It’s more than just a bit stronger; it’s a whole different level. Sigh, it was during that incident that I injured my leg and had to retire and become a driver. But the old man has always treated me well. Brother Qin, the young lady’s safety is in your hands now.”

“Don’t worry. As long as I draw breath, she will not come to the slightest harm.” Qin Xuan nodded firmly.

Not only did he have to fulfill the task his master entrusted him with, but facing challenges was also necessary for his own cultivation. Any failure along the way would affect his Sword Heart, and its refinement essentially determined a swordsman’s destiny.

“Then I can rest easy.”

Brother Fu laughed heartily and devoured half a chicken leg in one bite.

Dongfang Qingwan listened quietly throughout, sitting with poise, as if untouched by the mundane world. Her delicate, poetic beauty was a striking presence in the cafeteria.

Within half a day, word had already spread: among this year’s freshmen, there were several beauties, but the most outstanding was a gentle girl in a blue dress—many speculated she would soon be crowned the university’s new campus belle.

That gentle girl, of course, was Dongfang Qingwan.

……

After lunch, Brother Fu drove Dongfang Qingwan home. Qin Xuan wandered the campus alone for the rest of the day, gradually familiarizing himself with the mundane world.

By dusk, he stood at the university gate, waiting for his senior, Zhao Long, to arrive. Qin Xuan was curious—his senior had promised to make a grand entrance, but just how ostentatious could he be?

Suddenly, a pure white convertible BMW drove straight toward him. At the wheel was none other than the red-haired youth he’d met that morning: Yang Weiyang.

“Well, standing here all by yourself?”

Yang Weiyang whistled smugly, parking the car beside Qin Xuan.

A white convertible BMW parked at the campus gate immediately drew the attention of everyone nearby. For a student at Jinling University, driving such a car was already impressive, especially since his family would likely buy him an even better one upon graduation—something that filled him with pride.

Unfortunately, Qin Xuan merely glanced at him indifferently, hardly interested in conversation.

“Where’s Miss Dongfang? Oh, by the way, I have a proposal for you.”

Yang Weiyang snapped his fingers and leaned closer, looking down at him.

Qin Xuan frowned. This guy had already managed to find out Dongfang Qingwan’s surname?