Chapter 214: Crying Yan Yuqing

She was fully aware of Shangguan Sheng's plans. However, she wasn't truly interested in the medical path. Her original intention in becoming Shangguan Sheng's disciple was merely to acquire the prestigious title of a divine physician's apprentice, which would allow her to build connections both within and outside the sect. Such connections would be instrumental in furthering her martial arts cultivation, as for her, medicine was merely a stepping stone on her journey to mastering martial arts.

Thus, even though she knew Jiang Fan's medical skills were superb—perhaps even surpassing Shangguan Sheng's—she felt no admiration whatsoever. This was because what she truly desired were martial arts resources, and martial arts were her sole focus! As someone with no spiritual roots, Jiang Fan simply couldn't provide that.

Watching him ignore her advice and head towards the Heart Refining Stele, she could only follow him, exasperated. "You're just asking for humiliation! When you get upset later, don't you dare blame me for not warning you!" she huffed, picking up her skirt and muttering under her breath. "Every disciple who meditates under the Heart Refining Stele for extended periods is highly perceptive and arrogant. Without true ability, you'll only be scorned there."

Even she, as a divine physician's disciple, felt a certain reluctance towards the Heart Refining Stele because her martial arts comprehension wasn't particularly outstanding. She had once attempted to comprehend a challenging cultivation method while under the stele, yet made no progress for an extended period. She was then sarcastically mocked by a group of highly perceptive disciples, who uttered unpleasant remarks such as, "A divine physician's disciple is nothing special," and "She's not worthy of being Senior Sister Xia Chaoge." This experience left her with no courage to approach the Heart Refining Stele again. However, since Jiang Fan insisted on going, she had no choice but to gather her courage and return to that place.

By the time she arrived, a considerable number of disciples had already gathered around the Heart Refining Stele. They were watching a girl in red, their faces full of envy. The girl had a good figure, and her appearance was merely pretty. Her thin lips and somewhat fierce gaze gave her a rather harsh impression. As the crowd watched, she demonstrated her movement technique back and forth beneath the colossal stone stele. Like a dragonfly skimming the water, she lightly tapped the ground with her toes, effortlessly leaping two *zhang*, and then landed with equal grace. She covered a distance of several dozen *zhang* in mere moments. This performance earned her thunderous applause and cheers from the entire crowd.

"This is our sect's sole movement technique, 'Wild Goose Soaring Through the Sky,' and no one has successfully comprehended it in three years!" one disciple exclaimed. "Junior Sister Jiang Qin is truly a prodigy with unparalleled comprehension. Among all of the Grand Supreme Sect, those who have comprehended this technique can be counted on one hand." Hearing these remarks, Yan Yuqing felt deeply uncomfortable. This was because she had once overestimated her abilities and attempted to master this very movement technique, which was reputed to be the most challenging to comprehend. She had subsequently been ridiculed by everyone, and the person who had mocked her the most was none other than Jiang Qin. Yan Yuqing's beauty, figure, and status as a divine physician's disciple had all fueled Jiang Qin's jealousy, and consequently, Jiang Qin's words were always exceptionally malicious. Now, watching Jiang Qin effortlessly comprehend the very technique that had eluded her, Yan Yuqing felt an indescribable ache in her heart.

She glanced at Jiang Fan in the distance, walked over, and subtly tugged at his sleeve. In a low, dispirited voice, she said, "Uncle-master, let's go somewhere else." Jiang Fan had only come out of curiosity about the so-called Heart Refining Stele. Upon discovering that the stele merely emitted a refreshing aura that calmed the mind and aided comprehension, he quickly lost interest. As for Jiang Qin's movement technique, it held even less appeal for him, given his own high proficiency in movement arts. He nodded, then turned and said, "Let's go. We can look around elsewhere." Yan Yuqing breathed a sigh of relief. Every moment she spent there made her feel prickly and uncomfortable. She took light, graceful steps, walking away. Yet, while others were erupting in thunderous applause, their departure made them seem out of place. It was difficult for Jiang Qin not to notice them, and she immediately recognized Yan Yuqing.

"Oh! If it isn't the renowned divine physician's disciple, Yan Yuqing!" Jiang Qin spoke in a sneering tone. "Do you think you're capable again and want to try practicing movement techniques? My apologies, but I've already mastered it ahead of you." Yan Yuqing's body stiffened. She turned, casting a look of indignant embarrassment. "I'm merely accompanying my uncle-master here!" However, Jiang Qin never missed an opportunity to belittle Yan Yuqing. This was because Jiang Qin herself had once tried to become Shangguan Sheng's disciple, yet Shangguan Sheng had chosen Yan Yuqing instead, claiming Yan Yuqing's talent in medicine surpassed hers. This had always bothered Jiang Qin; she consistently believed that Yan Yuqing's superior beauty was what had truly won Shangguan Sheng's favor.

"Where did you get an uncle-master? That boy who hasn't even fully matured?" Jiang Qin scoffed. "If you want to cultivate, then cultivate. Why bother with excuses? What's wrong? Are you afraid of failing to comprehend it and embarrassing yourself again? Don't worry! Aren't I here? If you beg me, I might even teach you if I'm in a good mood." These words provoked widespread laughter among the female disciples who were jealous of Yan Yuqing's beauty. "She's just a pretty face, useless in medicine and martial arts," one sneered. "Hmph! All she's good for is currying favor with the senior brothers in the sect." "Who truly takes her seriously?" Yan Yuqing's face flushed crimson with shame and indignation. She retorted, "Jiang Qin! How have I offended you to warrant such viciousness?" Jiang Qin's smile vanished, and she coldly snorted, "Calling me vicious? You insolent woman, how dare you slander me! Apologize to me! Now! Otherwise, you won't be leaving today!" Yan Yuqing was so enraged that tears welled up in her eyes, wondering what exactly she had done wrong to be subjected to such aggressive bullying. "What good is crying?" Jiang Qin pressed on aggressively. "Cry in front of those senior brothers, and someone might pity you. But it's useless in front of me! Apologize to me immediately! Otherwise, I won't hesitate to slap you across the face twice!"

Jiang Fan frowned. Although Yan Yuqing wasn't particularly fond of him, she was, after all, his junior grand-niece. He couldn't simply ignore her being aggressively bullied as her uncle-master. "You're Jiang Qin, aren't you?" Jiang Fan gazed at her indifferently. "You're not very old, but you certainly have a temper. Just now, you verbally insulted my junior grand-niece. Apologize to her! Now, immediately!" The disciples present were all stunned, looking at Jiang Fan with puzzled expressions. Was he truly Yan Yuqing's uncle-master? Yan Yuqing was also slightly taken aback. She hadn't expected Jiang Fan to stand up for her at this moment, and a surge of emotion stirred within her. However, recalling Jiang Fan's martial arts capabilities, she quickly interjected, "Never mind, Uncle-master. Let's just ignore her. I'll take you somewhere else!" Jiang Qin became enraged. She had failed to force Yan Yuqing to apologize, and now she was being demanded to apologize instead? How outrageous! "Did I say you could leave?" She pushed through the crowd, her features contorted in a fierce scowl. "I don't care if you're Yan Yuqing's uncle-master. This is between her and me. What business is it of yours to interfere? Get as far away from here as possible! Yan Yuqing, kneel down and apologize to me! Otherwise, when I slap you across the face—" She was still speaking when, suddenly, Jiang Fan's arm twitched, effortlessly freeing himself from Yan Yuqing's grasp. Spiritual light rippled beneath his feet, and his figure became like a phantom. The distance between them was only a few *zhang*, but for Jiang Fan, whose movement technique allowed him to cover more than ten *zhang* in a single step, it was covered in an instant. Without hesitation, he raised his hand and slapped her across the face. *Slap!* The sharp sound of the slap stunned everyone present. "The slap you mentioned—was it like this?"