I bought a secret manual of the Hehuan Sect for ten yuan.

"So?" Zheng Qiuyi was still full of questions. "Do you think she shouldn't have this name, or do you know other people with this name?"

"Forget it, I can't explain it to you!" Qin Ge was too lazy to explain, and didn't know how to explain it anyway. "By the way, why would someone from Dongyang participate in this kind of competition?"

"Are you asking me?" Zheng Qiuyi said smugly. "If you're asking me for advice, then I'll reluctantly tell you!"

"Then you should just shut up!"

"Just beg me, and I'll tell you."

"I don't ask for anything."

"Well, I'd also say this: this is a competition organized by the wealthy, essentially their form of entertainment. To put it bluntly, it's similar to cockfighting or cricket fighting in ancient times..."

I told you to shut up.

Qin Ge wrapped his arms around Zheng Qiuyi's neck and covered her mouth.

The outcome on stage had already been decided: Misako won, defeating her opponent in one move!

The audience erupted in cheers.

Qin Ge released Zheng Qiuyi and turned her gaze to Jiang Chaoning.

Jiang Chaoning was staring intently at Misako on the stage, his gaze serious.

Although unwilling, judging from Misako's performance just now, she knew she couldn't possibly be a match for her.

"This woman from Dongyang looks so delicate and frail, I never expected her to be so formidable. I wonder who she is, her or Jiang Chaoning..."

Zheng Qiuyi muttered to herself, only to find that Qin Ge had already disappeared.

"Emiko?!"

"Long time no see! I never expected to run into you here!"

Qin Ge warmly and excitedly grasped Jiang Chaoning's hands, her face beaming with smiles.

Caught off guard, Jiang Chaoning's brows furrowed instantly. "You've mistaken me for someone else. I'm not Yue Meizi!"

She tried to break free from Qin Ge's grasp, pulling until her wrist ached, but to no avail. "I don't know you, let go of me!"

This person is incredibly strong; he's probably no ordinary person. Could he really have just mistaken someone for someone else?

Qin Ge's face appeared to be full of expressions, but in reality, the moment he grasped Jiang Chaoning's hands, his body stiffened due to the shock he felt inside.

That's right, it really is a spiritual root!

If nothing unexpected happens, Jiang Chaoning should be able to cultivate spiritual energy, just like me!

"I told you to let me go, are you deaf?"

Jiang Chaoning's tone was tinged with anger.

Qin Ge snapped out of her daze and released her grip. "Excuse me, but you look just too much like my friend Yue Meizi!"

He extended his hand again. "Let me introduce you. My name is Qin Ge."

"How inexplicable!" Jiang Chaoning rubbed her hands and turned to leave.

From a distance, Zheng Shaoqing saw that Jiang Chaoning seemed to be harassed and was heading this way in a huff.

When he got closer and saw Qin Ge's face clearly, he stopped in his tracks. "Qin Ge?!"

"What is he doing here?"

Just as he was completely bewildered, another familiar figure appeared in his line of sight, "Qiu Yi?"

Zheng Qiuyi stepped forward and patted Qin Ge on the shoulder, "They've all disappeared, are you still looking?"

"My mouth is practically watering! Is it really that good?"

"I thought you were going to do something special, but it's just this cliché pickup line. I despise you!"

Qin Ge hugged her and whispered in her ear, "I'm looking at Jiang Chaoning but not at you. Shouldn't you reflect on yourself?"

"You're getting bolder and bolder these days. Have you forgotten that I'm your creditor?"

"Go find out when the finals start!"

Zheng Shaoqing took in the intimate moment between the two, and the wrinkles in his brain were almost smoothed out.

"Young Master Qing, isn't that Miss Qiu Yi?" Yun Yichuan was also stunned. "How come Miss Qiu Yi is with Qin Ge? When did they meet?"

"It seems like their relationship is quite special..."

"They're not in that kind of relationship, are they?!"

"You're asking me? Who the hell am I supposed to ask?!" Zheng Shaoqing clenched his fists, his heart tightening.

That bastard Qin Ge, he made me suffer so much, and now he's messing with my sister too!

That's not all, he even set his sights on Jiang Chaoning, whom I've liked for a long time!

Zheng Shaoqing is gay, but not completely gay.

While enjoying the passive role, one also retains the desire to take the initiative.

"Young Master Qing, we don't know how long Qin Ge will stay in Beidu this time. Aren't we going to do something about it?"

Zheng Shaoqing already knew that Qin Ge had come to Beidu, and Yun Yichuan, as his personal bodyguard, naturally knew as well.

"Do you think I don't want to?"

Zheng Shaoqing's eyes blazed with fury. "Qin Ge has something on me, and now he's a member of the Shadow Martial Hall. What am I supposed to do?"

"Are you going to ruin my reputation and then drag the Zheng family down with me?"

Yun Yichuan looked embarrassed. "Should we go say hello?"

He thought it was not bad for Zheng Qiuyi and Qin Ge to get along, and it would be even better if Qin Ge could become Zheng Shaoqing's brother-in-law!

Qin Ge is a tough guy to deal with. If Zheng Shaoqing continues to oppose him, his bodyguard will be beaten up by Qin Ge sooner or later, and might even die!

Go, Qiuyi! My ability to enjoy my retirement depends entirely on you!

Zheng Shaoqing left without responding, bypassing Qin Ge and Zheng Qiuyi, heading in the direction where Jiang Chaoning had disappeared.

Why bother with a greeting? If Qin Ge humiliates me in front of my sister, should I retaliate?

If I remain silent, how can I save face?

How could he possibly retaliate? He couldn't win a fight anyway. Relying on Yun Yichuan was less effective than simply killing himself on the spot.

Besides, Qin Ge still has dirt on him!

"Chao Ning, long time no see!" Zheng Shaoqing found Jiang Chao Ning by a pond. "Your performance in defeating your opponent in one move on the stage just now was truly amazing..."

"Is there something you need?" Jiang Chaoning glanced at Zheng Shaoqing, looking quite impatient.

"Let me have some peace and quiet. I have a match to play later, and I'm not in the mood for idle chatter!"

At this moment, Misako's image was all she could think about, and she couldn't shake it off.

Jiang Chaoning believes that Misako's choice to defeat her in one move, just like hers, was clearly intentional, meant to intimidate her and make her back down.

She wasn't afraid of losing, nor was she a sore loser, but the feeling of powerlessness—knowing before even exchanging blows that she couldn't possibly defeat her opponent—was just too unbearable!

Zheng Shaoqing had no idea what Jiang Chaoning was thinking. He only knew that she showed no mercy and he was left standing there awkwardly.

"Miss Jiang!"

Just then, a pedestrian crossing appeared, relieving Zheng Shaoqing's embarrassment.

It was Misako who greeted Jiang Chaoning with a gentle smile, "Miss Jiang, what a coincidence."

Jiang Chaoning saw it was Misako and initially intended to ignore her, but when the other spoke again, her pride wouldn't allow her to pretend she didn't see her anymore, "Whether it's a coincidence or not, you know in your heart!"

"We'll see who's the real fighter in the ring soon, is it really necessary for you to come all this way to show off?"

Misako paused for a moment, her expression slightly embarrassed. "It's not like that, Miss Jiang. We just happened to be passing by and saw you here, so..."

"There's no need for this pretense!" Jiang Chaoning interrupted her. "This place is so big, why did you have to come here of all places?"