Chapter 656: Chapter 316: So This Is What It Means to Support Each Other Through Thick and Thin

"You, you put me down!"

"Oh, fine."

Bang!

Qin Gengyun let go, and Xue Wen, caught off guard, fell straight to the ground.

He jumped up, glaring at Qin Gengyun, "Again!"

In their earlier clash, Xue Wen thought he could easily send this waste of a pretty boy flying, so the Saintess would see his true colors.

But to his surprise, it was himself who was sent flying.

And it was he who ended up making a fool of himself in front of the Saintess.

He couldn’t accept it and leaped several meters away, ready to go again.

Qin Gengyun advised earnestly, "Taoist Friend Xue, you are not a Body Cultivator. Competing in such a disadvantageous way is too risky. I admit that my cultivation is not as advanced as yours; let’s just call it my loss."

"What do you mean by ’call it your loss’?"

Xue Wen was furious, "Stop putting on a show in front of Junior Sister Qiu. Today, I’ll teach you a lesson with body cultivation skills!"

Xue Wu quickly ran to Qiu Zhihe and whispered, "Saintess, please stop my brother; he only listens to you."

Qiu Zhihe said calmly, "Xue Wen is loyal to the Cyan Lotus Sect and brave in battle, but his temper is too impatient. A little tempering might be good."

Xue Wu was helpless, knowing that his brother’s earlier rude words to the Saintess’s husband had angered her, so he could only watch the scene with a frown.

Faced with Xue Wen’s challenge again, Qin Gengyun said helplessly, "In that case, please go easy on me, Taoist Friend Xue."

"Enough talk, come on!"

Xue Wen roared and charged at Qin Gengyun once more.

Qin Gengyun sighed and also charged toward Xue Wen.

Boom!

Another loud crash and a scream followed.

Once again, Xue Wen was sent flying and this time fell straight into the lotus pond, splashing in like a stone and sinking.

Everyone stared at the pond, but Xue Wen didn’t surface for a long time. Qin Gengyun’s face changed slightly, and he leaped into the pond.

Moments later, Qin Gengyun emerged from the pond, holding an unconscious Xue Wen in his arms.

"Brother!"

"Elder Xue!"

Everyone was shocked and gathered around quickly. Qin Gengyun said,

"Elder Xue fainted. I’ve already used spiritual power to protect his meridians and Spirit Field; he’s out of danger."

Everyone looked awkward and speechless.

Elder Xue had been knocked out cold?

If it hadn’t been for Taoist Friend Qin’s quick reaction, Elder Xue might have drowned?

So he was saved by a rival in love?

Qin Gengyun placed Xue Wen on the ground, and everyone rushed to help. Xue Wen coughed up a mouthful of water and slowly regained consciousness, seeing Qin Gengyun and wanting to jump up again.

"Enough."

Qiu Zhihe walked over, her voice icy.

Xue Wu, seeing the Saintess a bit upset, quickly held Xue Wen down, and Qin Gengyun cupped his hands to Xue Wen, saying,

"Taoist Friend Xue, you lowered your cultivation by several layers and even sparred with me using body cultivation skills, showing your noble character. I, Qin, concede graciously."

Qin Gengyun wasn’t saying this as a sarcastic remark after winning; he genuinely believed it and spoke from his heart.

If Xue Wen had fought him with full strength, being a Nascent Soul Third-Layer, six small realms ahead of him, even with Soul Stabilizing and Moon-breaking, the best he could do was trade injury for injury, and it would be hard to defeat Xue Wen.

Therefore, Qin Gengyun had considerable respect for Xue Wen.

His words came from the heart, and everyone could see his sincerity, though they weren’t happy that the Saintess had been won over by him, they couldn’t say much more.

Xue Wu quickly intervened, "We’re all just sparring, no need to hurt our harmony. Haha, come on, let’s keep drinking!"

Liu Xiaotang hurriedly brought out a long table, set up the drinks, and soon, along with Fang Chao, stirred up a table full of dishes.

Xue Wen, held down by Xue Wu, sat with his head down, not speaking. Everyone else joined him, though the atmosphere was a bit awkward.

Liu Xiaotang, eyes sparkling, raised her cup and said to Xue Wen,

"Uncle Master, thank you for guiding my practice these days. Your cultivation level is extraordinary, and a few words from you can enlighten me. To me, you’re the most amazing!"

Xue Wen was taken aback, but meeting Liu Xiaotang’s sincere eyes filled with admiration offered a bit of solace to his wounded spirit, prompting him to finally raise his cup:

"Still, the niece speaks honestly!"

He said that and clinked glasses with Liu Xiaotang, downing his drink.

Xue Wu seized the moment to toast Qiu Zhihe, and others clinked glasses too, gradually restoring a lively and harmonious atmosphere.

Qiu Zhihe looked appreciatively at Liu Xiaotang, who understood her glance and playfully winked back at her.

Xue Wu, contemplating for a moment, lifted his cup toward Qin Gengyun, "Brother Qin, let me toast you once more!"

"Thank you, Brother Xue. Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

The two clinked glasses and drank their fill. Xue Wu smiled and said,

"Junior Sister Qiu is the jewel of our Cyan Lotus Sect, admired by countless disciples, yet she’s never favored anyone. How did you and Junior Sister Qiu get to know each other, Brother Qin?"

For a moment, everyone quieted down, looking at Qin Gengyun.

Qiu Zhihe gazed at him, seemingly lost in memories of the past, her eyes becoming gentle.

Qin Gengyun turned to Qiu Zhihe, "My dear, may I share?"

Qiu Zhihe rolled her eyes at him, "He’s asking you, why are you asking me?"

In her coquettish and bashful manner, she appeared more enchanting than even the lotuses gliding in the nearby pond.

The Cyan Lotus Sect’s members had never seen the Saintess display such a girlish demeanor and were completely captivated.

Yet this beautiful Saintess only bloomed for Qin Gengyun, causing Xue Wen’s eyes to blaze with fire, nearly prompting him to spar with Qin Gengyun again.

Under the complex gazes of all present, Qin Gengyun set down his cup, his eyes softening as he spoke slowly,

"Back then, I was suffering from Pill Poison, which not only halted my cultivation but left me with only a few years to live. I had lost hope until I met Zhihe..."

He then recounted the story of how they met, got to know each other, and fell in love.

Skipping over certain details not meant for outsiders.

But from his narration, everyone could sense how the couple had supported each other to reach this day.

Liu Xiaotang, resting her chin in her hands, listened enviously and couldn’t help but exclaim,

"So this is what marriage is like? How wonderful!"

In her Wind Bell Village, life was merely survival, fraught with cases of imprisoning and even killing wives; she’d never heard of such beautiful feelings before.

The people of the Cyan Lotus Sect also fell silent, realizing that although the Saintess had married an outsider and grown so close, there were things they hadn’t considered.

They hadn’t contemplated the horrors of the Celestial Ridge Mountain battle that the Saintess endured, nor how unlikely it would have been for her to persevere without meeting Qin Gengyun.

The Saintess and this man truly embodied the phrase "mutual support in difficult times."

Xue Wu glanced at the silent Xue Wen, sighing with a hint of intention,

"So that’s how it is. This is the way of relationships between people; they can’t be forced."

Xue Wen said nothing, taking one drink of alcohol after another, ignoring others’ attempts to persuade him against drinking in light of his recent injuries.

In the end, Xue Wen had to be carried to his room by several people.

As night fell, everyone having drunk to their heart’s content, they dispersed one by one.

Qiu Zhihe gave Liu Xiaotang a few instructions, and Liu Xiaotang nodded in agreement, soon leaving.

Qin Gengyun, slightly tipsy and a bit injured from his clash with Xue Wen earlier, was supported by Qiu Zhihe to their room.

The room, previously occupied by Xue Wu temporarily, had been cleaned by Liu Xiaotang, with new bedding, including a careful touch of a red duvet adorned with playful waterfowl designs.

Qin Gengyun was led by Qiu Zhihe to the bedside and was promptly tossed onto the bed. Her beautiful face flushed slightly, she looked at him from above, saying coldly,

"Take off your clothes!"

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