"Li Zixuan: top genius of Jianghai Martial Arts Academy, the school's undisputed belle, disciple of the academy's dean, a prodigy of the Sword Dao…"
In the library, Xia He held his phone, scrolling through his research notes and reading them out word by word.
As he spoke, he kept glancing over at Qin Yang.
He watched Qin Yang's expression carefully, hoping to see some sign that he was ready to give up.
However.
Qin Yang's face remained blank. He was focused only on processing the information from Xia He, occasionally asking for more specific details.
'When it comes to the future Empress, the more I know, the better.'
'Only with a deep enough understanding can I prevent any unexpected situations from arising later on.'
Just then,
Xia He suddenly stopped.
He set his phone down and looked Qin Yang up and down with a particularly complicated expression.
"Why'd you stop? What are you looking at me for?"
Seeing Xia He pause, Qin Yang frowned slightly and urged him, "Keep reading."
"Dude, seriously. You've really fallen for Li Zixuan, haven't you?"
Xia He's face fell, his brow furrowed. "Can't you just snap out of it? You've heard all this; shouldn't you be ready to back down? It's hopeless, Old Qin. Let's just give up…"
As he spoke, he put on the air of someone who'd seen it all, sighing and shaking his head in despair.
The reason was simple.
In Xia He's eyes, there were far too many cases like Qin Yang's—a toad lusting after a swan.
It never ended well for any of them.
It didn't matter how handsome Qin Yang was; that couldn't change the fact that he was garbage at Cultivation.
"Old Qin, I know this sounds harsh, but it's the bitter truth. I'm just looking out for you."
Xia He draped an arm over Qin Yang's shoulder, trying to talk some sense into him. "She's one of Heaven's favored daughters. Why would she ever look twice at an ordinary guy like you?"
"Maybe she'll like my looks?" Qin Yang chuckled, unconcerned.
"Yeah, Old Qin, you're handsome, I'll give you that. But have you ever stopped to think? She's powerful, she has high status. If she wants a handsome guy, she can have her pick. Why on earth would she choose an ordinary person like you?!"
Xia He looked at him with an expression of pure exasperation. "I'm always on your side, bro, but your level of strength… it's just not up to par.
Take it from me, Old Qin. This girl… she's way out of your league…"
"Alright, enough of your useless chatter."
Qin Yang rolled his eyes and continued, "You still haven't mentioned where Li Zixuan lives."
The moment he said that,
Xia He's heart leaped.
'Holy crap. They've only met once and he's already asking for her address…'
'What's he going to want next…?'
'I don't even dare to imagine!'
At that thought, he quickly grabbed Old Qin, asking worriedly, "What do you want her address for? You're not planning to do something stupid, are you?!"
"??? What kind of person do you think I am? Do I seem like some kind of maniac to you?"
Qin Yang shot Xia He another eye-roll.
"I'm not joking, Old Qin! You really can't do this! If you get caught, it'll be a disaster!"
Xia He's voice trembled. "She's a master of the Sword Dao! All it would take is one strike from her, and at your level, you'd probably drop dead on the spot!
If something really goes wrong, I'll be attending your funeral before I ever get to your wedding!"
"…"
Qin Yang was speechless for a long moment. 'So that's the kind of person he thinks I am?'
At that thought, Qin Yang couldn't resist giving Xia He a sharp flick on the forehead.
"OW! What'd you hit me for?" Xia He whined, clutching his head.
"That's enough out of you. Now keep reading," Qin Yang said impatiently. "Otherwise, the next time you get caught by the Police Chief, there'll be no one to bail you out."
"Whoa! Don't do that! I was wrong, Master Qin!" Xia He's tone changed instantly. "I'll tell you everything I know right now."
...…..
「Three days later, at the Pingyang Martial Arts Hall.」
A steady stream of people flowed into the hall, students in training uniforms constantly coming and going.
Li Zixuan, a single-strap bag slung over her shoulder and her hair tied back in a sharp ponytail, moved with the surging crowd into the Martial Arts Hall.
Her stunning looks made her stand out in the crowd, like a Celestial Being who had descended to the mortal realm.
Meanwhile, in a nearby corner,
Qin Yang, holding a bottle of water, watched Li Zixuan enter the hall and couldn't help a small sigh.
'This girl's pretty disciplined.'
Ever since he'd pried Li Zixuan's address out of Xia He, Qin Yang had been coming to the Jianghai Martial Arts Academy to stake it out whenever he had free time.
Once he confirmed Li Zixuan's location, he would tail her.
What Qin Yang hadn't expected, however, was that after class, the girl would go straight to the Martial Arts Hall for her Cultivation.
Her daily routine was a straight line between two points.
She was incredibly diligent.
What concerned Qin Yang more was that, sure enough, there were people watching her—bodyguards, it seemed, assigned by her family.
These hidden bodyguards were all top experts at the Late Stage of the Postnatal Realm.
It was a clear sign of how much her family valued her.
'That middle-aged woman on the street corner, five guys together on the third floor, another one on a bike... Damn, there are a lot of them. They're watching her pretty closely.'
With just a few casual glances, Qin Yang had pinpointed the location of every last bodyguard.
It didn't matter, though.
These bodyguards were weak; no need to pay them any mind.
Besides, no security detail is perfect.
They couldn't possibly watch her twenty-four hours a day.
Eventually, Li Zixuan would have to be alone.
'I refuse to believe you can keep this up every day. You'll have to go out alone eventually.'
Qin Yang shook his head. With a flicker of his body, he activated the Seven-Star Dragon Roaming Step and vanished from sight.
...…
「One day.」
Qin Yang clocked out of work, just like any other day.
He started on his usual route, heading toward the Jianghai Martial Arts Academy.
But after only a few steps, he suddenly sensed a familiar aura behind him, tailing him relentlessly.
'Hm? This is...'
Qin Yang focused his senses for a moment and understood at once.
It was Xia He.
'How did that guy manage to follow me?'
'Time to mess with him.'
A playful smirk touched Qin Yang's lips. He immediately activated the Seven-Star Dragon Roaming Step and vanished in a flash.
…....
"Huh? Weird. Where'd Old Qin go?"
From around the corner, a tailing Xia He scratched his head and slowly emerged.
He scanned the area but couldn't find any trace of Qin Yang.
But he'd been looking right at him a second ago! How could he just vanish around a corner!?
'This is so weird.'
Xia He wondered to himself. For the past few days, he had noticed that Qin Yang's movements were suspicious; he wasn't taking the route home.
'Today I finally had some free time to see where he was going, only to fail before I even started? I lost him on my very first attempt at tailing?'
But just as Xia He was puzzling over it,
Suddenly!
Qin Yang's voice came from right behind him!
"What're you looking at?!"
"HOLY SHIT!"
Xia He's heart nearly leaped out of his chest.
He spun around, only to find Qin Yang standing right behind him!
"Jesus, Old Qin, are you part cat?! How do you walk without making a sound?!"
Xia He's heart was hammering in his chest, his pulse all over the place.
"Instead of going home after work, you're following me? Why?" Qin Yang asked with a shrug.
"You're asking *me*?"
Hearing this, Xia He immediately shot back, "I should be asking you! Where do you run off to every day after work instead of going home?"
He glanced at a nearby street sign. "This is the way to the Martial Arts Academy, isn't it? You're not… going to tail Li Zixuan, are you?"
"Old Qin, I can't believe you're that kind of person!"