Chapter 72: Depravity

The next day.

Jiang Fan went to the Soaring Dragon Path again to practice his movement techniques.

Xu Yining had been waiting for a long time. Her fair cheeks were faintly flushed, and her eyes held a hint of anticipation and shyness.

"Go in," Jiang Fan said expressionlessly.

He continued to teach her movement techniques within Chen Zhengdao's projection.

After half a day, having instructed her through most of the techniques, he entered the twelfth floor to cultivate the Soaring Dragon Palm.

After two days of cultivation, his first level was nearing completion. One more day of practice and it would be perfected.

He looked forward to seeing if he could spar with Zhong Qizhen once he mastered it, wanting to see how powerful the Soaring Dragon Palm truly was.

Dragging his tired body, he returned home. From a distance, he saw a graceful figure holding a dim, yellow lantern, waiting for his return.

"You Ran," Jiang Fan said. Seeing no one around, he intimately put his arm around her shoulder.

Xu Youran, however, had a complex expression. "Chen Siling was here," she said.

Jiang Fan uttered an "Oh." She must have come to congratulate Xu Youran on becoming Li Qingfeng's disciple.

"She was looking for you," Xu Youran said, her eyes fixed on Jiang Fan with a hint of resentment.

Jiang Fan was surprised. "For me?"

Xu Youran said, "When did your relationship become so close? She's meeting someone for an arranged marriage, and she needs you to vet him?"

Uh-oh. So, that's what it was about.

Jiang Fan explained with a mix of truth and fabrication, "Master Chen requested it. I once helped him, which made him feel I was very reliable."

So it was Chen Siling's father who arranged it?

Xu Youran's mood brightened. "No wonder. You're now at Foundation Establishment Layer Three, one of the top experts in Lone Boat City. It makes sense for them to ask you to vet him." After a brief thought, she said, "I'll go with you tomorrow. I also want to know what Chen Siling's fiancé is like and if he's better than you."

Uh-oh. She wants to compare them too? A woman's competitive spirit is truly ubiquitous.

At dawn, Jiang Fan and Xu Youran hurried towards the Chen family estate, passing a shop selling high-end gifts along the way.

"Since Master Chen personally invited us, it would be inappropriate to go empty-handed." Xu Youran called for the carriage to stop. "Wait here in the carriage; I'll go buy some gifts."

Dressed in a simple yet elegant emerald green dress, she was as refreshing as a lotus leaf in summer, captivating the eye. Her fair skin and enchanting face drew the gazes of the shop's customers.

"Oh? Junior Sister Youran?"

Xu Youran looked up and saw that it was Li Qingfeng's disciple. It was also the person Jiang Fan was about to challenge, Zhong Qizhen. Whether Jiang Fan could enter the Azure Cloud Sect depended entirely on his spar with this person.

She didn't dare to be disrespectful and performed a courtesy bow. "Senior Brother Zhong."

Seeing her gentle and charming appearance, Zhong Qizhen's face was flushed with desire. He stepped forward and reached for her hand. "Junior Sister Youran, no need to be so polite."

Xu Youran was startled. Just as he was about to grasp her hand, she quickly dodged, a hint of panic on her face. "Senior Brother Zhong, it's improper for men and women to touch. Besides, I am already betrothed."

Zhong Qizhen immediately looked displeased. "That Jiang Fan? He's nothing but a good-for-nothing. Junior Sister, you are such a beauty. Don't you feel wronged marrying him? I heard you were forced into it? How about this, I'll make the decision for you and break off the engagement!" As he spoke, he moved closer again.

Hearing his slander, Xu Youran felt disgusted, but Jiang Fan's fate depended on this person. She could only suppress her anger and softly said, "Senior Brother, Jiang Fan and I are deeply in love. There's no question of being wronged or not. Please stop saying such things."

Zhong Qizhen's eyes narrowed. Growing somewhat impatient, he said, "Junior Sister, to be honest, I fell in love with you at first sight. Coincidentally, I need a companion in the sect. Would you be willing?"

What? He knew she had a fiancé, yet he made such an absurd request? Angrily, she flicked her sleeve and said, "I have other matters to attend to. Farewell." She didn't want to spend another moment with Zhong Qizhen.

Unexpectedly, Zhong Qizhen said coldly, "Do you still want Jiang Fan to pass the assessment? Whether he can enter the Azure Cloud Sect is entirely up to me. If I go easy on him, he might pass. If I were serious, do you think his limited strength could withstand ten moves from me?"

Xu Youran suddenly stopped, turning to him with a furious expression. "Senior Brother Zhong, what exactly do you want?"

Zhong Qizhen's gaze shamelessly lingered on her graceful figure, and he said heatedly, "Accompany me for a little fun right now. I can guarantee I'll go easy on Jiang Fan." He played a word game; he only said he'd go easy but didn't guarantee Jiang Fan would pass the assessment.

Xu Youran felt deeply insulted and stood up to leave. Zhong Qizhen, however, sneered, "Try to step out of this shop, and I'll immediately crush Jiang Fan's hopes!"

Xu Youran walked to the shop's entrance, but she dared not step out further. Seeing the beauty frozen by his intimidation, Zhong Qizhen felt a surge of wicked desire. He walked up with a smile, extending both hands to embrace Xu Youran from behind.

But suddenly, Xu Youran stumbled abruptly forward, and his hands grasped empty air. Looking closer, it was Jiang Fan who had pulled Xu Youran away, holding her in his arms. At the same time, he kicked a thorny fruit into Zhong Qizhen's hand. Instead of embracing her, Zhong Qizhen ended up with a hand full of thorns, gasping in pain.

"You!" Zhong Qizhen furiously pulled out the thorns. The sharp thorns drew a few streaks of crimson blood.

Jiang Fan's eyes narrowed slightly. He raised his brush and wrote, "I'm not sure about your strength, but your character is rotten."

Zhong Qizhen snorted. "Who are you to judge me? Don't forget, your fate is in my hands! Kneel and apologize to me now, and I might consider going easy during our spar. Otherwise..."

Jiang Fan remained unperturbed and wrote, "Then don't go easy. Winning wouldn't be interesting."

Zhong Qizhen was utterly infuriated. He laughed in anger, "Fine! You said it! Don't blame me when I take you down in one move!"

Jiang Fan turned his back to him, embracing Xu Youran, and walked straight out.

At the Chen family estate.

Upon their arrival, Chen Yuqiu was exceptionally happy. Only Chen Siling was restless, sighing repeatedly. Seeing Jiang Fan and Xu Youran sitting side by side, a perfect match in talent and beauty, she felt even more disheartened.

Chen Yuqiu perceived her thoughts and said, "What is meant to be yours will eventually be yours; do not force what is not. Your other half isn't bad either. He's an inner disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect, a favorite student of Elder Li, and from a prominent family in Azure Willow City, making him a suitable match for your family."

Hearing this, Chen Siling felt a pang of bitterness. How could she not understand that she wasn't worthy of Jiang Fan? Yet, people always like to compare. If Jiang Fan's fiancée had been a peerless woman she looked up to, she would have accepted her fate. But it was her good friend, Xu Youran, who had once lived a much less fortunate life than her own. She only hoped that Zhong Qizhen wouldn't be too inferior to Jiang Fan.

At this moment, the butler led a person who strode in confidently.

"Master, Young Master Zhong has arrived."

Jiang Fan couldn't help but straighten up, curiously scrutinizing the newcomer. The Chen family had a profound foundation and a vast enterprise. Chen Siling herself was pure, refined, and uniquely business-savvy, a beauty endowed with both grace and wisdom. Her fiancé must also be exceptionally outstanding.

But with just one glance, he was stunned. Xu Youran, beside him, was equally astonished.