Chapter 10

The first thing Ye Qi did when he woke up was to check out his soul force. The experience of yesterday was motivating, so his cultivation should give him better results. Today, he had passed the limits of the Bronze Rank 5th star. However, he has yet to reach the silver rank, as he is at the peak of the current level.

If Ye Qi isn't wrong, there was a technique that helps one forcefully to reach the silver rank, once he reaches the very peak.

He had found that in the library in one of the books, which happened to be a medical book about meridians and soul force.

That technique was designed to help people. As breaking to the silver level would take time, it was better to use needles to force one to break through.

However, his soul force should be near 900 first, before he could reach the Silver Rank as a spiritualist.

As he had examined his soul force, he was 700. That was a good one. Just after one night of cultivation, and he would be good to break through to Silver rank.

"Feeling better?" Ye Ziyun asked him as soon as he got out of his courtyard.

After the incident that happened two days ago, most of the family had visited Ye Qi. His parent and brother were also worried about him, which somehow was heartwarming. Ye Qi had asked his brother for one favour, which is to annoy Shen Fie as much as possible. In the original work, Ye Hong was annoying Shen Fie. Now, Ye Hong should be able to bully him, as he has the new cultivation pills and elixirs from the family, which should have helped him to surpass the level of his peers quickly.

"Yes, you…" Ye Qi said, not showing a bad mood at all. In fact, he was in a quite good mood.

"Mm…" she nodded. "By the way, I heard that father is leading an investigation team to look for who had done that to you."

"Uncle is hard working for sure." Ye Qi nodded.

Although he knew who had hired the assassins, Ye Qi wanted to have vengeance with his hands. One of his future nephews must pay a price for their sins. But that wasn't the only reason. The fact that the Demon Lord's pupils are Legend rank and above, should delay dealing with the Sacred Family, at least, until his family get their hand on the Demon Beast Arrays, which his father should bring soon. Or, when he at least get his hand on the Temporal Demon Spirit Book.

But well, for now, Ye Qi should have earned a Black Gold elder to guard him.

"I know. Yet he barely has time for me. " Ye Ziyun lowered her head. Ye Qi let a sigh and gave her back a pat.

"Don't worry about that. Tell me, how was your cultivation. What do you think about the technique that I gave to you."

Ye Ziyun lifted her head and her mood changed suddenly. She turned to Ye Qi, smiled, and joined her hands together.

Ye Qi stared at her face. Damn, she looked so pretty, like a maiden, as she smiles. That smile was so appealing to the eye. If she smiles more like this, then he may not control himself and steal a kiss. 'She said she's okay since we're cousins…'

"I'm nearing the 3rd Star Bronze Rank. With elixirs and a good amount of time, I managed to break through." Since she was cultivating a cold attribute, it didn't harm her to cultivate at night. "By the way, how did you find that method? It really was helpful for me. "

"Just found it."

That was Ye Qi's creation. He, after studying many cultivation methods, got the experience of their creators. So he could create something better that requires them to gather. Although his understanding doesn't surpass the legendary rank, it still the best within it.

But he couldn't just say, he created it.

"Happy you did."

Ziyun kept smiling. They left the City Lord Mansion and now were on their way to the Orchid Institute.

On their way to the Holy Orchid Institute, Ye Ziyun suddenly brought a topic. "By the way." She stopped and Ye Qi stopped as he saw that she was serious.

"Yes."

"I don't know if I should tell this." She looked around as if she was careful.

Ye Qi raised an eyebrow.

She continued. "The young master of Chen Family is preparing to lead an expedition to the ruins, in the coming days. Would you like to come…" Ye Ziyun was inviting him to the ruins outside the Glory City, which happened to be within the range of the Ancestral mountains.

Ye Qi nodded. He remembered this. Outside, there should be quite a ton of treasures. The most important one of them is a page from the Temporal Demon Spirit Book.

"I'll be there."

"Great."

"You look excited more than I should be."

"No, not that. I'm just happy that one of the family has a chance to get an extra treasure." She smiled. "More for our family."

"Ha~" Ye Qi rolled his eyes and sighed, before giving her head a pat.

His action made him feel that her breaths stopped for a second.

Ignoring her reaction, the two of them made it to the class.

-x-X-x-

Shen Xiu proceeded with her class as everyone had taken their seats. While explaining, she was throwing glances at Ye Qi, which he noticed.

Ye Qi just looked at her. Although he knew she wasn't a part of the assassination attempt, he suspected that she knew something. But still, the glance she is giving was somehow, warm and had a hit on wariness. When their eyes met, Ye Qi only smirked, and she turned to continue with her lessons.

"Class dismissed." Shen Xiu said and put her hands on the tables, making a sound that made the students stand up. "Ye Qi, you stay behind." She pointed at him.

"Are you going to be okay?" Ye Ziyun approached him. "Do I stay here?" She seemed to want to have a talk with him as they get out.

"It's okay, you leave first. Seems we need to talk." Ye Qi smiled at her face. "Besides, I've missed a class, I need to catch up."

"I don't know. You were almost assassinated… and you don't need to catch up really." Ye Ziyun leaned closer until her mouth was next to his ear. "You don't have to worry. There is an elder, Dark Gold, who is watching over you. Stay within his range."

"How come you to know that before I do." Ye Qi pulled back and stared at the beautiful purple-haired girl.

Ye Ziyun leaned back and giggled. "We crossed the market, the school, so, it was better to tell you when there are fewer people around us."

"Thanks, I appreciate that." Ye Qi smiled at her. Both of them had eye contact that lasted more than a half-minute, without one saying a word.

"I'll go home first; be sure not to come back late…" Ye Ziyun's cheeks started to turn pink, giving her a new astonishing cute look. Ye Qi glanced at her cheeks, his eyelids shook. "Father would get angry." Ye Ziyun, realising how awkward the situation is becoming, faked a cough and turned, leaving the class.

"Take care then." Ye Qi murmured at her back before turning.

"You have a nice family there."

Shen Xiu was leaning back on her desk; her full smooth snowy thighs were clashing as she put a leg above another.

"Ah…" Ye Qi turned and nodded. "Family. They are the ones you can trust in such a place."

She just clicked her tongue when he said the part about the families. "The only ones you have. Anyway, I heard about what had happened. Are you hurt?"

"No." Ye Qi shook his head as looked at her, giving her different gazes than the usual ones.

His eyes were on her hair tie, focusing on her hairpin.

The conversation went along, with her asking questions about his health, and about the incident and where it happened.

From what Ye Qi had learnt that day, Shen Fie secretly has used his direct subordinates. Shen Xiu here seemed to be more interested in the details of the look of the assaulter, their strength, and how they looked like, as the poison had ruined their look.

"I don't remember, honestly." Ye Qi said, "what happened, has happened."

"Mmmm." Shen Xiu looked at the ground. "Just, always have a guard from the family beside you. It's better if he was a Dark-Gold one. You never know how strong your enemies are."

Ye Qi smiled, his eyes were still on her hairpin.

The sacred family has a secret alliance with the Dark Guild. Shen Xiu was the sister of the patriarch, who allied himself with them.

Having that pin, to Ye Qi, would be like having a spy on the Sacred Family. Ye Qi, although his plan was to cultivate to surpass everyone before submitting them, he wanted to have information about what's happening to him.

Nowadays, Ye Qi is eating his food, only after using the Eyes of Present and Past.

"By the way, Teacher Xiu, you seem to be more caring about me." He asked. Maybe, it's time to hit two birds with one rock.

Shen Xiu's lips went up slightly. "Well, other than you. Most of these commoners just stare blankly at me while I'm teaching. When you didn't come yesterday here, I felt like I had been wasting my time."

Why did she look pretty with a smirk like that?

"So, you've missed me?"

"It was like a day. If it was any longer, I would've forgotten about your existence." When she heard such a question, she turned her eyes and rubbed her nose.

Ye Qi smirked, seeing her dodging his eyes.

"Ah, you're so cold, teacher Shen Xiu." Ye Qi, alone here with her, couldn't help but having some ideas, as his head started wandering.

"Depending on how warm you are." Shen Xiu rolled her eyes again.

"Really…" Ye Qi waved his hand, and a silver pill appeared there.

Shen Xiu sniffed the herbal aroma all of the sudden. Looking at his hand, she opened her eyes widely.

"This…"

"Something used to help 3rd and 4th star Silver Rank Spiritualist to breakthrough. It required very rare herbs in the testing process. And the alchemists managed to make three ones before the herbs are over. Now, they are waiting for the herbs to grow again.

"This is quite rare, you know. I needed to owe the alchemist a favour to get this." Ye Qi, not look like he was lying, said.

"Wow, you didn't forget." Shen Xiu seemed quite shocked, as she extended her long slender arm to him.

Ye Qi pulled his hand back.

"I can't help but be a bit disappointed. I didn't forget you. Yet, you would forget about my existence if you don't see me for two days." Honestly, Ye Qi had this on the storage ring all of the time, so he wouldn't forget even if he wanted.

Shen Xiu opened her eyes widely.

She just told that to Ye Qi when he had asked if she missed him.

Come on, she can't just say that to a man while they are in a room all alone.

Although he is younger than her, Ye Qi was an adult in this world, and people in his age start their families… unlike her, who was so spoiled by her father and bypassed the marriage age.

"Humph. If you are upset, then I won't take it for free. Name your price." Shen Xiu still has her pride. Crossing her arms and making her huge chest jiggle, she harrumphed and turned her face.

Ye Qi couldn't help smiling. "Come on, can't you joke with me, teacher."

Shen Xiu looked at him with her lips twitching. "I won't take that for free. Name, your, price." She was someone who is proud of her family, and mostly, herself.

"If you insist." Ye Qi gave her a glance and made eye contact for more than ten seconds with her crimson eyes.

"What."

Okay, the only reason Ye Qi is saying this, is because it's normal to say it in this world. Not to mention, he is in adulthood age here.

"Can we get engaged?" Ye Qi said.

At least getting her before screwing her family, would make her a part of the Snow Wind Family.

Shen Xiu's facial expressions froze for a second. Although she had a good impression on Ye Qi, hearing his words made her doubt her ears.

"Hahaha…" her chest jiggled as she laughed. "You got me with this one, I'll give you that."

Ye Qi sighed, as she took his serious attempt with laughing.

"I'm too old for marriage," she sighed and stopped laughing as her face drew a frown. "Some people in my age would take it as an offence. People like you would only look for those who are younger than them."

"Not fair." Ye Qi said as if sympathising with the teacher who is taking this as a joke. "You are still a top charming beauty."

Shen Xiu was like Huyan Lanruo. A typical spoiled noble young mistress, whose father has spoiled too much. When she had passed 16 years old, she became too old for nobles marriages.

Even if she is beautiful, nobles would only prefer to take young girls to their sides, as the younger ones have less loyalty to their previous families.

"Enough with that." Shen Xiu couldn't help but sigh before frowning. "Name your price, and don't joke."

"Fine, give me your hairpin." Ye Qi said.

"I said no joking." Shen Xiu heart pumped with blood. Asking a girl for her hairpin, what was supposed to mean. He was flirting clearly.

"Fine, if you don't give me that." Ye Qi shrugged his shoulders. "We have no deal."

"You're serious?"

"Yes."

Shen Xiu blinked twice, seeing that he is totally honest here. But still. It's a good deal to have that pill. According to him, the alchemists in their family are still trying to make pills for Silver Rank. Ye Qi had gotten this early for her…

'it's just a hairpin.'

'But isn't it quite... romantic for a man to ask a girl to give her pin to him.'

'Come on, a pill is better than that.' She nodded and took down her hairpin, before extending her hand to him. Before Ye Qi could snatch it, she said, "You're not doing something pervert with it."

Ye Qi tilted his head as if not understanding. "Like what?" Ye Qi wondered, forgetting that he can see her most private secrets with this.

"Nothing."

Ye Qi took the hairpin before throwing the pill toward her, which she put quickly into her storage ring.

"Don't forget to do your homework." Shen Xiu said as she turned her face.

"Mm…"

Ye Qi nodded.

Shen Xiu shook her head when he closed the door behind her. Never crossed in her mind that someone would flirt with someone old like her — 20 years old.

"He clearly was flirting…not flattering ."

Shen Xiu shook her head as she took another barrette from her spatial ring. She should think more of advancing in her cultivation rather than the flirting she had in this class.

Ye Qi, who just had closed the door behind him, looked at the pin in his hand.

'Let's hope she wears it more than once a week.'

He thought as he put it back to his storage ring. With this, he would be able to see her past, and how she lives in the Sacred family.

-x-X-x-

Now, Ye Qi has to chat a bit with Chen Linjian, from the third Major Family, the Divine Family.

Chen Linjian would lead a group of students to the ruins tomorrow or after it.

According to TDG, there are a lot of treasures there.

Ye Qi, who has the Eyes of the Present and the Past, didn't worry about finding any treasure. All he has to do is to look into the history of the area. And he may even find hidden treasures as well.

Surely, anything related to Time-Space is broken.

On his way out of the class, Ning'er was standing there, with her hands together.

When she saw him, her face drew a modest smile that seemed to be emotional, which made Ye Qi almost take another step. 'Fantasy beauties are brighter than Instagram models.' He thought as Xiao Ning'er gave a whole different mood than she used to do.

"Hey." Ye Qi said as he walked. Ning'er started walking aside him.

"Hey…" Ning'er said. "So, how have you been."

"Fine, you."

"Mmm…"

After some formalities, Ning'er waved her hand and asked. "Are you hungry?"

Ye Qi, since he knew what this means, didn't mind and nodded. "Sure, Xiao'er." He knows that she needs to like a guy to prepare him breakfast. "Do you have any lunch boxes?"

Ning'er, who was affected by the fact that he had told her not to worry about her marriage, exclaimed. Xiao'er!"

Did he just gave her a pet name! She couldn't help but opening her eyes widely.

"Don't you like it?" Ye Qi raised an eyebrow, wondering how pretty a fair brown haired girl can be when she blushes.

"No… No… I mean, yes, I like it." Ning'er looked down, joined her hands together, and said. "So, you gave me a name… that's…"

Does he mean that he likes her… he must do; after all, she had sensed his boner when she had hugged him yesterday.

"It's okay." Ye Qi said. "You have a box lunch for me."

Xiao Ning'er shook her head. "No. I was thinking if we can eat at a restaurant outside. Or go somewhere else."

"Like a date." Ye Qi said, not beating around the bush.

Ning'er froze, took a deep breath, and nodded. "Yes. A date…" she then looked at his face, biting her bottom lip, waiting for him to say anything while praying inside that he doesn't refuse it. Just saying that alone made her feel embarrassed.

"But aren't you engaged?"

"I don't care. You've said I shouldn't care, as you will." Ning'er lifted her head and looked at his eyes.

"Sure I will." Ye Qi smiled. With the right women on his side, Ye Qi believes that he would reach where he wants.

Ning'er's eyes shook briefly before she looked around. "So, when would you have time?"

"Probably after I come back from the expedition outside." Ye Qi said as he would be leaving this place for few days.

"You were invited?" Ning'er asked. A cousin of hers was invited, so she knew about that.

"Mmm…"

"Well… shouldn't we eat something until then." Ning'er looked at him. " I know a nice location where no one can see us. I can prepare a quick meal. And we would be alone…"

'Except my guard.' Ye Qi thought as his gaze swept to the corner of his eye. Ever since the assault, there should be someone from the family guarding him. But he is hiding so well.

"Sure, I'd love to." Ye Qi said.

"Great, great…" Ning'er increased her walking speed. "I will just change my clothes and meet you by the City Lord Mansion." Since she and Ziyun came back to be friends again, she was more frequent on the City Lord Mansion.