75 – Opportunity
After leaving Qi Qiqi’s room, Xue Qilin went to her room subconsciously.
When Xue Qilin fished out the key and was about to open the door…
“Wait, where are you going?”
The sudden voice made Xue Qilin freeze mid action.
“Where else? I’m going back to my room of course.” Xue Qilin turned her head and answered.
Standing in front of her room, Qi Qiqi who watched the other party leave raised an eyebrow. “Really, you’re just an ‘outer temple’ disciples now!”
Outer temple disciples don’t live in Snow-Facing Abode, but live in Heyun Dorm – this is probably what Qi Qiqi means.
That’s right – Xue Qilin woke up.
“I almost forgot.” The lass pulled the key out of the lock and put it in a chest pocket.
Crossing her arms and leaning on the door frame, Qi Qiqi couldn’t help but sigh, “What don’t you forget?”
That’s going too far – Xue Qilin shrugged her nose, indignant. Feeling that talking from a distance is tiring, she walked towards Qi Qiqi.
“Didn’t I remember that I agreed to to have dinner with you?”
Though, the reason why I didn’t forget is because I’m afraid that you’ll get angry and hit me otherwise – Xue Qilin hid this thought deep in her heart.
“If you’d even forget the thing you agreed on today at noon, then you’d really need to see a doctor.”
“Don’t worry, I’m still young and bright.”
Xue Qilin rolled her eyes at Qi Qiqi who rarely has a sharp tongued, and the girl snorted in response.
After a brief silence, Qi Qiqi broke the ice, “Anyhow, what are you going to do about Shui Yuner?”
This question is laced with concern.
“Mhm, I already decided.” There was no hesitation in Xue Qilin’s answer.
She didn’t told Qi Qiqi what she decided.
Nonetheless…
Qi Qiqi smiled and nodded gently. She understands.
“Mhm, I won’t hesitate again.”
Xue Qilin whispered softly as if to repeat to herself: “I won’t.”
She already made up her mind.
The past is the past. People cannot live in the past.
All things flow ceaselessly.
No matter how much you lose, time will still flow, tomorrow will still come. People must keep on moving.
However, if you are afraid of tomorrow because you are stuck in the past, and bury hope in the dark…
Then that’s really lamentable.
What is more painful is the inability to respond to the call of the heart.
The purest call.
So, the lass decided to…
“I will accept Shui Yuner as a disciple.”
In an instant, a smile blossomed.
“That’s good.” Qi Qiqi smiled sweetly.
There is a touch of joy on the gentle face.
It’s like a summertime flower blooming under the moon.
*
“Ah, that’s right.” Suddenly remembering something, Qi Qiqi once again stopped Xue Qilin, who had turned around and was about to leave.
“What?” Xue Qilin turned back, dissatisfied.
“You can’t use true qi during the tournament.”
“Tournament?”
“Hah, you don’t know?”
The lass shook her head vacantly. She hasn’t heard of any tournament.
The expression of amazement lasted for a moment, and then Qi Qiqi rubbed her temples and said with a wry smile: “I forgot, the announcement hasn’t come out yet.”
Xue Qilin spoke in a smug tone: “Yo yo yo, who is it again that has a problem with their memory?”
Qi Qiqi glared at the lass, but didn’t pursue it. She said in an unquestionable tone: “In short, you’re not allowed to use true qi.”
Unable to stand it, Xue Qilin pointed out helplessly: “Hey, I don’t even know what the tournament is about… Shouldn’t you explain it to me before warning me?”
More importantly, Xue Qilin’s curiosity has been piqued. If she doesn’t understand what the tournament is all about, she’ll have a hard time falling asleep.
“Oh…” Qi Qiqi lowered her head and pondered.
After a few seconds, she looked up: “It’s okay to tell you. After all, you’ll have to know sooner or later. This is already the norm once a year. In fact, it is mainly a platform for outer temple disciples to compete against each other in terms of martial arts. At the same time – ah, it is a competition for them to go all out and distinguish themselves.”
There was a very short pause, and then she carried on, “Additionally, it is a chance for them to show off in front of the Elders from the inner temple. Of course, those who perform well and are fortunate enough to catch the eye people from the inner temple will have the opportunity to be accepted as a disciple and join the inner temple.”
In other words, this tournament serves for the people from the inner temple to explore talents and select disciples. Hey, it really looks like a sports competition, but sports are fairly simple.
Xue Qilin made this association in her mind.
“So for the sake of fairness, you are not allowed to use true qi.”
Xue Qilin finally understood Qi Qiqi’s intention.
If she a Heaven Realm master uses true qi in the tournament, she’ll be invincible. Let alone one at a time, even if she fought everyone else at the same time, it’ll still be overkill.
Because of this, Qi Qiqi had to specially warn Xue Qilin.
However, all of this is based on the premise that Xue Qilin will participate in the tournament.
Why is that? Xue Qilin is puzzled.
“Are you certain that I will participate?”
“Come on.” Qi Qiqi showed a look of disdain in her eyes, “You won’t join in the excitement, who’d believe that?”
“If it’s troublesome, then I won’t join! But…”
This tournament is a bit interesting! Xue Qilin grinned.
“This doesn’t seem too troublesome. Moreover, it’s quite interesting.”
“When all is said and done, you’ll still participate…”
“Hey, I can’t not live up to your expectations!”
“If I may say so, I have no expectations.”
“If you don’t, and you aren’t sure that I will participate, then why did you warn me not to use true qi in the first place?”
“I don’t have any expectations, I’m just worried whether you will make trouble or not!” As if she couldn’t bear it any longer, Qi Qiqi ridiculed, agitated.
“So that’s the case…”
Truth be told, Xue Qilin has taken a blow.
However, she soon recovered and asked about the details of the tournament.
“That said, is the participation mandatory, or do we have to sign up?”
“We at the Merak Palace don’t like to force people.”
Why do I feel like I heard the same thing from someone else? Xue Qilin thought.
“So I have to sign up myself?”
“You don’t say.”
Any more questions – this is what Qi Qiqi’s expression says.
“If you want to participate, just go to the Internal Affairs Department and register.”
“Really, so troublesome.”
Xue Qilin fears troublesome things like the pest.
And if there are many people, you may have to wait in line. She Is also afraid of queuing.
Thus…
“Little Seven, please help me sign up.” Without waiting for the answer, the lass added: “Help Little Yun sign up as well.”
She will want to participate.
There is no basis for this, it’s just her intuition.
Qi Qiqi who finally reacted said promptly: “Wait, why should I help you register!”
How do I respond? Xue Qilin tilted her head, looking for the right justification in her mind. Finally, she remembered Xia Xue’s words.
“It’s not that I want you to open the back door, I just want you to fill out a name… oh, I mean two names on the roster. It’s not a violation, right? Besides, if you think about it, isn’t that a piece of cake for you – as for us, we have to line up to register. At most, you’ll just go to the Internal Affairs Department, ask for the application form, and fill out two names, that’s all.”
However, Xia Xue’s trick doesn’t seem to work.
“That’s a load of bull. You want to take advantage of me the Temple Master, isn’t it?” Qi Qiqi asserted, “You’re just lazy!”
Xue Qilin wrinkled her nose and asked, “Will you help me?”
Qi Qiqi rubbed her eyebrows wearily and sighed softly, “Only this once.”
“Hey, that’s nice of you. Then I’ll have to trouble you.”
“… You’re really shameless sometimes.” Qi Qiqi cast a disdainful look at the other party, and then asked doubtfully, “However, didn’t you say you want to accept Shui Yuner as a disciple? Then why sign her up? Do you want her to fight in the tournament?”
“It is as you say. But Little Yun has a special physique, so I need to prepare something.” Xue Qilin continued in a conferring tone: “I will write you a list tonight, can you help me get the things on the list?”
“Are they difficult to get?”
Xue Qilin recalled carefully the things she needed, and then answered: “No, they’re ordinary things.”
“But the amount is sizable.” She added.
“So, ah…”
Then followed a brief silence as Qi Qiqi contemplated.
“Alright, give me the list, and I will let someone procure the things for you. But I must warn you, you’ll have to pay from your own pocket.”
Seeing Qi Qiqi fussing over some money, Xue Qilin felt displeased.
“You’re really stingy sometimes…”
“That’s none of your business! Besides, she is your disciple, not mine, so why should I pay?”
Qi Qiqi’s angry rebuttal left Xue Qilin speechless.
“Anyhow, don’t you plan to tell Shui Yuner your identity?”
“This…” There is an awkward look on Xue Qilin’s face, “If I tell her that I’m the Young Ancestor now… If it was you, would you believe me?”
“… I wouldn’t?”
Qi Qiqi asked back, hesitant, and Xue Qilin spread her arms helplessly.
“Then…”
“But this cannot be dragged on like this, can it?” Qi Qiqi looks worried.
Is she worried that long delays can cause complications? But what complications can there be? Xue Qilin feels that Qi Qiqi’s fears are unfounded.
“It’s fine, I have a sense of propriety. And if you think about it, isn’t it fine to give her a surprise when everything is ready?”
This time it was Xue Qilin pacifying Qi Qiqi.
However, isn’t this a case of the bystander is more worried that the involved party? Xue Qilin smiled.
Then…
“Besides…”
The smile suddenly disappeared from her face, and the lass looked at the crescent moon in the sky.
“I am still waiting…”
The bright yellow eyes full of spirit suddenly became distant.
A full moon night is yet to come.
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