Chapter 2

"Lu Qinghe, be obedient when the time comes. If you dare to act rudely, your life will be in danger."

Outside the exquisitely decorated courtyard, a girl in a bright red dress spoke harshly and imperiously.

Behind her, Lu Qinghe remained silent, his expression calm.

But he still stood straight.

Life is tough!

But this is not a reason for him to bow and scrape.

"If it weren't for you being the only one in the entire Qingyuan City who can be called a master of mathematics, I wouldn't have chosen you."

The girl spoke with malice.

In half a month, Lu Qinghe had already made a name for himself in Qingyuan City through his mathematical skills.

Beizhen really wanted to eliminate Lu Qinghe, but since Lu Qinghe rarely went out, he never got the chance. As a result, he could only try to strike back through other means, and he spread the word that Lu Qinghe had attacked him, breaking his meridians, and smeared him as much as possible.

Therefore, when the first swordsman of Qingyuan Academy gave up his sword to study mathematics, countless people looked down on him and rejoiced at his misfortune, causing his reputation and popularity to plummet.

But Lu Qinghe watched all this with a cold eye.

History is always written by the victors.

"There is a person inside whom even I cannot offend. Don't cause any trouble for me."

The girl gave another solemn warning, then finally pushed open the courtyard gate and led Lu Qinghe into the courtyard.

Inside the courtyard, there was a small bridge over a stream, green grass, and blooming flowers. On the side of the stream, there was a pavilion under a hundred-year-old tree, with dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves, creating a leisurely and elegant atmosphere.

"Big Sister Lin, I've brought the person."

The girl, upon entering the courtyard, immediately changed her haughty demeanor, her face breaking into a sweet smile as she quickly headed for the pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, a woman in a white dress, with long hair flowing over her shoulders, sat quietly on a sandalwood chair padded with sable fur, her brows furrowed in deep thought.

Although she wore a white veil due to the presence of outsiders, the ethereal and lively gaze in her star-like eyes made anyone feel inferior.

She was a woman of celestial beauty.

"Yoyo, thank you."

The woman in white stood up, said a word of thanks, and then nodded slightly to Lu Qinghe: "Thank you for your trouble."

Lu Qinghe nodded at the woman in white, took a step forward, and was about to enter the pavilion.

Should he introduce himself?

Given the vast difference in their status, what difference would it make whether she knew or not?

"Wait!"

Just as Lu Qinghe was about to step onto the pavilion stairs, a female swordsman in a green sash and a heroic outfit, who was behind the woman in white, suddenly spoke.

"Hand over all sharp metal objects on your person."

"Big Sister Ke'er has spoken. Hand over any sharp objects you have."

Without waiting for the female swordsman Ning Ke'er to act, the girl in the red dress had already turned around and shouted at Lu Qinghe.

"No need."

The woman in white looked at Lu Qinghe: "If I'm not mistaken, this gentleman has no true qi and is not a practitioner."

"Hehe, Big Sister Lin has keen eyesight, but we still need to search him. Hey, didn't you hear Big Sister Ke'er? Hand over any sharp objects you have."

The woman in white shook her head, spread a golden thread scroll on the stone table, and gestured to Lu Qinghe.

"Nine Palace Arithmetic?"

Lu Qinghe glanced at the golden thread scroll, not expecting that this world also had Nine Palace Arithmetic.

"Do you know how to solve this?"

Lu Qinghe nodded.

"Two and four are the shoulders, six and eight are the feet, three and seven are the waist, five is the center, and nine and one are the head and tail."

Lu Qinghe's words made the woman in white's heart stir, and she quickly filled in the numbers.

"The Nine Palace can be a 3x3, 5x5, or any odd number, or even an even number. This Nine Palace Arithmetic is a 3x3, one of the basic algorithms."

"Indeed, it works."

The woman in white smiled.

"Very good, Lu Qinghe, you're done. Go to the steward for your reward and leave."

Lu Qinghe said nothing and retreated from the courtyard.

"Lu Qinghe?"

The woman in white seemed to recall something from the name, pondering for a moment: "I think I've heard this name somewhere."

"Lu Qinghe, the former first swordsman of Qingyuan Academy, poisoned his competitor during the competition for a place at Beiyue Royal Academy, was detected, and had his meridians broken, losing all his cultivation. Miss, we heard about this person when we entered the city."

"Poisoned his competitor? As the first swordsman of Qingyuan Academy, he should have easily obtained the place. Why would he do such a despicable thing?"

"Because his competitor, Beizhen, also reached the peak of the third level of True Qi cultivation. Their cultivation levels were similar, and he had no guarantee of winning."

The girl in the red dress pursed her lips, looking at Lu Qinghe with disdain.

"Lu Qinghe... This person has clear eyes, indicating a firm character. Besides, he was the first swordsman of Qingyuan Academy... I don't believe he would poison someone."

The woman in white looked at Lu Qinghe, who had retreated to the courtyard entrance, and said to her attendant: "Give him a Continuity Spirit Pill."

"Continuity Spirit Pill?"

Ning Ke'er was stunned: "Miss, the Continuity Spirit Pill is an invaluable treasure, even the sect..."

"Go ahead."

Seeing her mistress's determined attitude, Ning Ke'er had to agree: "Yes."

She then caught up with Lu Qinghe, who was about to leave the courtyard, and took out a delicate jade bottle: "This is a Continuity Spirit Pill, which is highly effective for meridian damage. It is a gift from my mistress."

"Continuity Spirit Pill."

Lu Qinghe, who had been severely injured, had tried every means to raise money for his treatment and had inquired about the necessary spiritual medicines to heal his meridian damage. The Continuity Spirit Pill was the best choice.

"Quickly thank her!"

Lu Qinghe paused for a moment and finally, under the somewhat jealous scolding of the girl in the red dress, accepted the bottle of Continuity Spirit Pill.

The moment he took the bottle, his body trembled slightly.

"Thank you!"

Lu Qinghe took a deep breath, his expression solemn, and bowed deeply to the woman in white in the pavilion: "I will repay this kindness someday."

"Ha."

Lu Qinghe's words made the girl in the red dress laugh, her body shaking with laughter: "Repay? With you?"

Even the woman in white in the pavilion smiled: "No need."

They were in different worlds, and their paths might never cross again.

Lu Qinghe did not repeat his promise but looked at the woman in white, who was veiled, her star-like eyes already etched in his heart.

"Leave now. With the Continuity Spirit Pill, focus on your cultivation and uphold your principles. Don't let my mistress's kindness go to waste."

The female guard Ning Ke'er clearly did not take Lu Qinghe's words seriously.

"I will."

Lu Qinghe bowed again.

Then, he straightened his back, his not-so-broad shoulders seeming to bear the weight of the world, and walked out of the courtyard with his head held high.

A man's backbone should stand tall!

This scene made Ning Ke'er pause for a moment.

"Lu Qinghe..."

Muttering the name, she shook her head and soon forgot it.

...

"Continuity Spirit Pill."

He did not collect the ten gold coins as a reward.

Leaving the courtyard, Lu Qinghe took a deep breath.

Continuity Spirit Pill!

Finally, he had obtained the spiritual medicine to heal his meridian damage.

And it was the best one.

In the past half month, Lu Qinghe had been solving mathematical problems for others, trying to raise money, but so far, he had only earned eight gold coins and some silver coins. At this rate, it would take at least ten years to gather enough money to buy a Unity Spirit Pill.

Ten years, I have no regrets!

The true path is endless, and Lu Qinghe was not afraid of difficulties.

Now, the Continuity Spirit Pill from the woman in white saved him ten years of perseverance, giving him ten more years.

The path of cultivation is fierce! How long is life?

"I will repay this favor..."

...

Qingyuan Academy.

High-level student dormitory.

"Click."

The door opened.

Standing before Lu Qinghe was a tall, slender young woman in a swordswoman's uniform, with a ponytail.

Qingyuan City has three famous academies.

Qingyuan Academy, Dongfang Academy, and Lanxiang Academy.

Yi Yingying, the first swordsman of Dongfang Academy.

True friendship is revealed in times of hardship.

When he was the first swordsman of Qingyuan Academy, he had many friends. Now, the only one who still visited him regularly was Yi Yingying.

"Senior Brother Qinghe, you should focus on recovering from your injuries."

"Thank you."

Lu Qinghe glanced at the food box in Yi Yingying's hand and nodded slightly.

Seeing this, Yi Yingying knew that Lu Qinghe had his priorities and took out the food box, placing it on the wooden table: "Blood beef, with a small amount of Body Strengthening Powder. Fortunately, the chef is skilled, and it tastes good."

"Blood beef, Body Strengthening Powder..."

Lu Qinghe calculated for a moment and took out a gold coin.

Yi Yingying shook her head: "Keep it. I know you are trying to raise money to treat your meridian damage. It's not easy. Consider this food as my gift. I hope that one day, I can see the invincible senior brother from Qingyuan Academy again."

Lu Qinghe shook his head and handed the gold coin to her.

"I'm afraid of you."

Yi Yingying, helpless, took the gold coin.

"Do you trust me?"

"I trust myself."

Yi Yingying smiled proudly and tapped her sword: "The person I consider as a rival cannot be someone who would secretly poison someone in a competition."

Lu Qinghe looked at Yi Yingying, his words unspoken.

"Any news from Snow Sword Manor?"

"The Unity Spirit Pill is priceless. Lu Qinghe is not worth that much."

"Sad reality."

Yi Yingying shook her head: "For half a year, I have been using you as my goal for cultivation. You, however, refuse to give me a fair chance to defeat you. The acceptance letter from Changkong Academy has arrived, and in six days, I will go to the capital, Qiangu City, for further cultivation."

"Congratulations..."

"Finally catching up to your cultivation level, and leaving without a proper fight. What is there to be happy about?"

Lu Qinghe thought of Yi Yingying's care over the past month...

This is a favor!

"Six more days. In six days, anything can happen."

"Your sword skills can defeat even a beginner practitioner. You can hold your own against someone who has completed twenty-four small cycles. But I have completed the small cycles, and you have damaged meridians, unable to move true qi..."

To avoid making Lu Qinghe feel sad, Yi Yingying changed the topic.

"Rest well. I'll come to say goodbye in six days."

Yi Yingying looked at Lu Qinghe, who was calm and not dejected, and secretly admired his firm character.

But thinking of his current injuries, she sighed inwardly.

"Leaving for the capital, we may never meet again. The Snow River Sword Technique will become a lost art."

Yi Yingying shook her head and left.