Swing the sword at the future female devil

Chapter 382 A Breakup Contest with Yan Qiuxi

Duan Huaige pondered for a moment upon hearing this. He had already broken through to the Core Formation stage, so if Taiqing were to reappear, he wouldn't be beaten into a corner.

Going to the Zen temple to find the remaining map, and incidentally obtaining the Daoist teachings on cause and effect for Miss Yan Wang, seems like it should be put on the agenda soon.

However, the imperial court has not yet shown any such intention, so even if Duan Huaige wanted to go, he could only wait. After all, obtaining the fragments of the "Map of the Land and its People" was easy; the difficulty lay in how to protect them.

Under heaven, perhaps only the imperial court and the military have the confidence to prevent the Qing from seizing the fragmented map—those guys in the military are not to be trifled with.

"Let's wait a bit. I estimate the imperial court needs more time to discuss what happened at Longhu Mountain," Duan Huaige replied. "Perhaps in the end we won't even need to retrieve the fragmented map; the Zen sect will naturally hand it over to the court obediently."

"If it were any other force, perhaps it would be possible, but the Zen sect... they themselves can't produce the incomplete map." Yan Qiuxi explained, "The Zen sect's incomplete map is sealed within the Bodhidharma Wall; only those with great fortune can retrieve it."

Throughout history, many talented individuals have gone to Zen temples to practice Zen meditation, hoping to retrieve the incomplete map, but all have failed.

Hmm? So, the old Zen masters completely sealed away the incomplete map, saying that it would be obtained by someone with a predestined connection... and that would allow them to openly refuse the imperial court's summons?
The Zen practitioner explained that it wasn't that he didn't want to hand it over, but rather that he was simply not destined to possess this incomplete map, so he couldn't hand it over even if he wanted to. He said, "If you want it, come and meditate with yourselves and take it. As for the fact that no one has taken it, we'll gladly accept the benefits the incomplete map brings to Zen."

Monks and nuns believe in cause and effect.

Duan Huaige originally thought this was a conspiracy by the old Zen masters, and whether or not there was a predestined relationship was up to them. But then he thought... wasn't Prince Yan the one who comprehended the law of cause and effect in Zen Buddhism?
Perhaps it's not that there's absolutely no chance, but rather that it truly depends too much on fate? Only someone as exceptionally gifted and extraordinary as Yan Qiuxi, who appears only once in a century, could possibly comprehend the Dao of Cause and Effect from this!

Duan Huaige's heart stirred slightly. He had already obtained the inheritance of the Dao of Cause and Effect. If he were to give the inheritance to Yan Qiuxi at this moment, would he be trapped in a vicious cycle, making the origin of the Dao of Cause and Effect unsolvable?

[It seems we still have to make a trip.] Duan Huaige thought for a moment and continued typing: [After the New Year, Taiqing was severely injured by Little Jiang the Great Demon King (in his corrupted form), and several of the Heavenly Demon Emperor's Soul Banners self-destructed, so his recovery shouldn't be that quick.]

[Understood! I'll apply to go with you later!] Yan Qiuxi replied: [This trip is to retrieve the cultivation technique inheritance for me. I will try my best to create memories that are only for the two of us!]

[Series Quest: The True Story of the Fiancée. True love transcends time and distance. Although various reasons led to a misunderstanding and forced separation between you and your ex-fiancée, Yan Qiuxi, though your bodies may be apart, your hearts remain irresistibly drawn to each other. After a long silence, your ex-fiancée proposes a breakup trip together, a visit to a Zen temple, retracing the path you once walked.]

[Task Content: Accompany Yan Qiuxi on a revisit to the Zen Buddhist site, reminiscing about the past;]

[Quest Reward: Kunxu Pearl x1]

[Hidden Mission: If we can't meet again with blushing faces, at least we can meet with tears in our eyes~ Have a thrilling breakup contest with your ex-fiancée during your travels.]

[Quest Rewards: Earth Vein Source x1; Heavenly Grade Spirit Essence x1; Profound Infant Nine Transformation Pill x1;]

[Series Quest: The Childhood Sweetheart's Counterattack! "The boy rode a bamboo horse, playing with green plums around the bed." You returned to your childhood home, seeing people and things you hadn't seen in a long time, including the demon Jiang Xiyu. Now, her eyes held no murderous intent; she appeared innocent and beautiful. She smiled and invited you to her house for dinner, just as she always had. For a moment, you were dazed, remaining silent for a long time before finally agreeing.]

[Task Objective: Have dinner with Jiang Xiyu and reminisce about the past.] [Task Reward: Crimson Lotus Holy Blood]

[Hidden Mission: Bringing it doesn't count as giving it away! Engage in a thrilling battle with your childhood friend, Xiao Jiang, and reminisce about the past! But be careful and protect her properly.]

[Quest Reward: Crimson Lotus Demon Blood]

Duan Huaige: "..."

You're something else, Yan Qiuxi. When you were my proper fiancée, you told me to uphold male virtues. But now that the King of Qin has ascended the throne, you're telling me that breaking up and running away doesn't count as giving, and taking things with me doesn't count as giving!

So you mean even if I cuckolded the King of Qin, it doesn't count as giving anything away? Our Qiuqiu team has a flexible moral bottom line, right?
You even gave Xiao Jiang a "Green Plum Comeback" series of missions! Why didn't she think about making a comeback when she was always being suppressed by you?
Duan Huaige was speechless for a moment and could only reply with an "okay".

If he weren't worried about the chaotic situation escalating, he would have taken on the task directly.

However, the reward for the first mission, a return visit to a familiar place, the Kunlun Ruins Pearl, piqued Duan Huaige's curiosity. This was his first time encountering anything related to Kunlun Ruins, so he figured the reward from the mission wouldn't be too bad.

Although she didn't know what her parents were up to by going on vacation at this crucial time, Duan Huaige would definitely have to go to Xiao Jiang's house for a few meals since they weren't there.

It's just like when I was a long, long time ago, when I was a child.

The winter wind, carrying the damp chill unique to the south, seeps into the depths of the alley and brushes against the faded old lanterns under the eaves.

Standing in the gnarled shadow of the old locust tree, Xiao Jiang wrapped her fluffy white scarf tightly around herself, curling up into a ball. Her adorable appearance drew the attention of many passersby, for this girl was simply too beautiful.

The air was filled with the unique pre-festival restlessness and sweet warmth—the aroma of freshly steamed rice cakes, the scent of caramelized melon seeds wafting from the roasted nuts shop, and the faint smell of sulfur in the distance, all swirling around the girl's heartbeat, making it beat a few beats faster than usual.

The trip to Longhu Mountain came to an end, and her tense nerves gradually relaxed. There were no Qin Chacha and Yan Chacha here, only memories of her and Duan Huaige living together since childhood. The years they spent together floated into Xiao Jiang's mind, and a smile unconsciously appeared on the corner of the girl's mouth.

How slow I am! I only realized how important Xiao Duan is to me now. If I had woken up sooner, we would have been betrothed by now! Qin Chacha and the other two wouldn't have had a chance to act so rashly.

However, being forced to the point where I had to secure the first kill to win is a feat that Qin Chacha can brag about for a lifetime~
Question: Why are Qin Chacha and Yan Chacha both in Yanjing, while I'm in Jiangnan? Is it because they don't want to meet? Or are they avoiding my attention?
The crisp sound of footsteps on the bluestone pavement grew louder as it approached, a familiar sound etched into her very bones. Before Xiao Jiang could turn around, she felt a light tap on her shoulder.

"Jiang Xiyu! I'm not trying to be mean, but what are you doing standing here like an ice sculpture in this freezing weather?"

(End of this chapter)