#250 - Qingwan is out of quarantine

Xu Ming held Shengsheng's small hand as they walked back to the courtyard.

Shengsheng skipped along, her little feet bouncing, looking incredibly cute.

Xu Ming watched Shengsheng's happy little face, and a smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

He hoped Shengsheng would remain so carefree and innocent even when she grew up.

However, recalling his conversation with Wu Yanhuan earlier, Xu Ming couldn't help but sigh softly in his heart.

Xu Ming genuinely hoped that Yanhuan could leave this place.

This wasn't because Xu Ming looked down on Yanhuan or considered her a burden.

Rather, in the face of cultivators in the Upper Five Realms, there was truly nothing a cultivator in the Middle Five Realms could do; the difference in strength was like heaven and earth, inspiring despair.

Yanhuan's future achievements were undoubtedly immeasurable.

But right now, what Yanhuan needed to consider was giving herself more time to develop, rather than knowingly heading towards a dead end.

But Yanhuan was simply too stubborn.

Once Yanhuan had decided on something, he couldn't persuade her no matter what.

It had been like this since childhood, always the same.

"Xu-gege frown... frown... not... not pretty..."

Just as Xu Ming was lost in thought, Shengsheng gently tugged at the corner of Xu Ming's clothes and spoke timidly.

Xu Ming snapped back to reality and picked up Shengsheng: "It's nothing, just thinking about some things."

"What has Yanhuan-jiejie been teaching Shengsheng these days?" Xu Ming asked with a smile, changing the subject.

"Fist techniques!" Shengsheng said happily.

"Fist techniques, huh?" Xu Ming's lips curled up. "Is it the set of fists that Shengsheng and Yanhuan-jiejie were practicing in the courtyard just now?"

Xu Ming had previously seen the fist techniques in the courtyard, which belonged to the basic fist forms of the Blood Floating Pagoda, the kind for building a foundation.

"No... not that..." Shengsheng shook her head.

"Not that?" Xu Ming asked doubtfully, "Then what fist techniques did Yanhuan-jiejie teach Shengsheng?"

"Taught Shengsheng... Shengsheng..."

Shengsheng frowned her little brow.

Shengsheng had also forgotten the name of the fist technique that Yanhuan-jiejie had taught her.

"How about Shengsheng show me?" Xu Ming said with a smile.

Xu Ming was also quite curious about what fist techniques Yanhuan had taught Shengsheng.

"Okay, okay."

Shengsheng struggled a few times in Xu Ming's arms.

Xu Ming let go, and Shengsheng jumped down, assumed a horse stance, and began to practice the fist techniques.

After two punches, Xu Ming immediately recognized that the fist techniques Shengsheng was practicing were actually the Nine Dragons Azure Cloud Fist.

The Nine Dragons Azure Cloud Fist was the royal family's fist technique of the Wu Kingdom.

Only members of the royal family were allowed to practice it, or those who had made outstanding military achievements would be rewarded with this set of fist techniques.

Unexpectedly, Wu Yanhuan had directly taught it to Shengsheng.

Wu Yanhuan was really good to Shengsheng, truly treating Shengsheng like her own younger sister.

Of course, if Yanhuan wasn't sincere towards Shengsheng, he wouldn't have entrusted Shengsheng to Yanhuan's care.

Following that, what surprised Xu Ming even more was that Shengsheng seemed to have a real talent for fist techniques.

Although Shengsheng's movements weren't that standard at the beginning, and were even a little clumsy.

But gradually, Xu Ming noticed that Shengsheng had entered a mysterious state of enlightenment.

Under normal circumstances, at least a Quicksilver Realm martial artist was needed to enter this state.

But Shengsheng hadn't even started as a martial artist, right?

Could it be that Shengsheng was really a genius?

"Roar woo!"

After finishing a small set of fist techniques, Shengsheng put away her stance, looking quite impressive.

"Xu-gege... I... did I do well?" Shengsheng looked at Xu Ming happily, her little eyes full of anticipation, hoping for Xu-gege's praise.

"Yes, you did very well." Xu Ming squatted down, rubbing Shengsheng's little head, "Shengsheng actually has a lot of talent, I believe that as long as you practice hard, you will definitely be able to surpass Xu-gege."

"Really?" Shengsheng's eyes sparkled.

"Of course." Xu Ming pinched Shengsheng's nose, "But Shengsheng, why did you want to learn fist techniques? Learning fist techniques can be very hard, you know."

Shengsheng shook her head: "Bec-because Yanhuan-jiejie said... learn-learn fist techniques then... then can always protect-protect Xu-gege..."

"..."

Listening to Shengsheng's answer, Xu Ming's little hand stroking the girl's head paused slightly, and a warm current flowed through Xu Ming's heart.

"It's okay, Shengsheng doesn't need to protect me, I will protect Shengsheng." Xu Ming said softly.

"No, can't!" Shengsheng put her hands on her hips, looking very stubborn, "Shengsheng... Shengsheng must protect Xu-gege... Shengsheng always wants to be by Xu-gege's side..."

"Alright." Xu Ming stood up, took Shengsheng's hand and continued walking back, "Then when Xu-gege has time, he will teach Shengsheng to practice fist techniques, looking forward to the day when Shengsheng protects Xu-gege."

"Mmm mmm ~" Shengsheng jumped a few times happily.

About an incense stick's worth of time later, Xu Ming brought Shengsheng back to the courtyard and saw a woman standing at the gate of his courtyard.

"Miss Yue." Xu Ming stepped forward and bowed.

Seeing Xu Ming, Yue Lou breathed a sigh of relief: "Xu Ming, you're finally back."

Xu Ming: "I wonder if Miss Yue has any urgent matter?"

"No urgent matter, but there is good news." Yue Lou said with a smile, "Qingwan has come out of seclusion."

"Boom!"

Inside a cave on Three Stone Peak, only a loud noise was heard, and Xia He flew out of the cave.

Following Xia He out was also a storm of spiritual energy and sword qi.

Xia He turned around, pinched his fingers to form a magic seal, and thrust the bronze longsword into the ground.

The Bagua formation spread out from the bronze longsword as its center, and the storm of sword qi quickly dissipated.

Xia He stood firm and stood at the entrance of the cave, staring intently into the cave.

Xia He had just seen two people rush out, but he didn't engage in a prolonged battle, wanting to break out.

But Xu Cang's sword qi directly blocked him.

Only now did Xia He emerge from the cave.

"Why did you leave? Don't you want to spar with this old man a few more times? Didn't you always want to see me? Why are you leaving so quickly now?"

An old man's voice came from inside the cave.

"Hmph! You old, undying thing, in a few days, I'll see how you talk."

Xia He snorted coldly, ignored him, and turned to leave.

After Xu Cang's seal was broken, although he couldn't do anything to Xu Cang, so what? Xu Cang couldn't even think about leaving Three Stone Peak, he would eventually become a stepping stone for him to enter the Ascension Realm.

As for the two cultivators who escaped, he would look for them, but there was no need to take them too seriously.

Five days later, the Violet Dawn Ceremony would begin, and he didn't believe that anything could happen again in these five days!

Five days!

He only needed to wait five more days!

Xu Cang and these old guys would all have to die!

He would step into the Ascension Realm, and by that time, no one could stop him!