Bai Qiuhe and Jiang Ruorong walked towards Qin Qing.
The accompanying Elder Guan also noticed this direction and followed them over.
"Master! Elder Bai, Senior Sister Jiang!"
Seeing Bai Qiuhe and the others, Qin Yue hurriedly got up to greet them.
Qin Tong also quickly stood up to greet the people from the Great Qian Martial Institute.
However, what Qin Yue didn't expect was that Bai Qiuhe simply nodded at her with a smile and then turned his gaze to Qin Qing.
Qin Yue's master was Guan Hao. She thought Guan Hao and his party had come over to greet her.
But Bai Qiuhe and Jiang Ruorong actually sat down at this table.
This caused some confusion in Qin Yue's mind.
Equally puzzled was Guan Hao, who had followed Bai Qiuhe over.
"Are you Mu Yunlan's fiancé, Qin Qing?" Bai Qiuhe asked Qin Qing with a smile.
Qin Qing was somewhat taken aback internally, but his expression did not change much. He also did not see any mockery on the face of the elder from the Great Qian Martial Institute, so he nodded slightly, acknowledging this awkward identity.
Elder Guan raised his eyebrows in surprise, showing an expression of realization.
Originally, he didn't understand what it meant for Elder Brother Bai Qiuhe to head directly towards this corner.
As for Qin Yue, she was indeed his disciple, but she was merely a nominal disciple. He had received quite a few benefits to bring Qin Yue to the Great Qian Martial Institute, so Guan Hao did not think much of this nominal disciple in daily life.
Now that he found out Qin Qing was Mu Yunlan's fiancé, Guan Hao also sat down.
"So, young friend, you are Mu Yunlan's fiancé?" Guan Hao asked Qin Qing with a smile, then turned to Qin Yue and asked, "Qin Yue, is this your..."
"Master, this is my third brother, Qin Qing," Qin Yue quickly answered, "Qin Qing, this is my master, Elder Guan Hao of the Great Qian Martial Institute."
"Elder Guan, hello!" Qin Qing politely stood up and saluted with a fist.
"Sit, sit!" Guan Hao laughed and said, "By the way, Qin Yue, there's something I'd like to ask for your help with. To be exact, I'd like to ask your third brother for help."
Qin Qing frowned slightly. He had a vague idea of Guan Hao's intention.
"Elder Guan, please speak frankly," said Qin Qing.
Guan Hao chuckled, "Alright, I won't beat around the bush. Since you are Mu Yunlan's fiancé, I hope you can come forward and talk to her about joining our West Courtyard."
"The Great Qian Martial Institute is divided into the East Campus and the West Courtyard, which have always been in competition."
"If Mu Yunlan could join our West Courtyard, our competitiveness would certainly increase greatly..."
"This..." Upon hearing Guan Hao's words, Qin Yue, Qin Tong, and the others all changed their expressions.
"Sorry, Elder Guan, I'm afraid I cannot help you with this!" Qin Qing said.
"Why?" Guan Hao was puzzled and laughed, "You don't have to worry about my ability to persuade her. I'm aware that she has the intention to become a disciple under Elder Jun Jiulin. But as long as you make the introduction, I have my ways of persuading her!"
"There's no need to continue!" Qin Qing said with a slightly stern expression.
Guan Hao was taken aback.
On the side, Bai Qiuhe appeared to smile though not smiling, not joining the conversation and minding his own drink.
Jiang Ruorong was bowing her head, as if quietly cultivating.
"Master..." Qin Yue spoke softly, explaining, "My third brother, he, is planning to dissolve the engagement with Mu Yunlan…"
"Dissolving the engagement with Mu Yunlan? Why is that?" Guan Hao was even more puzzled.
Qin Yue showed a hint of difficulty on her face and looked at Qin Qing.
Qin Qing smiled faintly, "Because I cannot awaken my Martial Soul, Mu Yunlan thinks I am not worthy of her, hence she wants to dissolve our engagement!"
"Oh?" Guan Hao's expression changed slightly, "Unable to awaken your Martial Soul? What is your current realm?"
"I have been in the Late Stage of the Tempering Body Realm for three years..." Qin Qing said.
A hint of mocking coldness appeared on Guan Hao's face. Late Stage of the Tempering Body Realm, starting from the Seventh Level...
The Martial Path Realm is divided into major realms such as Body Refining, Soul Refinement, Divine Might, and Golden Core.
And each of these major realms is further subdivided into Nine Levels.
The First to Third Levels are considered the Preliminary Stage, the Third to Sixth Levels are the Middle Stage, and the Seventh to Ninth Levels constitute the Late Stage.
For a martial artist in the Body Refining Realm, once they step into the Seventh Level, they begin to Temper their Soul Palace; at this time, those with exceptional talent will gradually start to sense the Heavenly Soul, thereby awakening their own Martial Soul.
But for someone like Qin Qing, three years have passed without any sign of awakening a Martial Soul.
Generally speaking, it would mean there is no hope of awakening a Martial Soul in this lifetime…
"An Abandoned Soul Palace!" Guan Hao's expression turned completely cold, and it seemed like he had suddenly lost all interest and patience with Qin Qing.
"Master…"
Hearing Guan Hao outright call Qin Qing an Abandoned Soul Palace, Qin Yue and the others changed their expressions slightly, with Qin Yue speaking out directly in reminder.
Although all martial cultivators share the understanding that a Soul Palace unable to awaken a Martial Soul is deemed an Abandoned Soul Palace,
usually, one would not bluntly state it, especially between two strangers.
"Master, perhaps my third brother... just hasn't awakened it yet!" Qin Yue said.
"Just hasn't awakened yet?" Guan Hao scoffed, "Three years and still no awakening, and yet you still dare to daydream. Such a waste, no wonder Mu Yunlan wants to dissolve the engagement with you. What a waste of my time!"
Guan Hao stood up and then addressed Bai Qiuhe, "Elder Bai, you heard as well, Mu Yunlan and him are about to dissolve their engagement, you needn't bother with such a waste any longer!"
A surge of anger rose in Qin Qing's heart.
He really wanted to stand up and furiously condemn this Elder Guan from the Great Qian Martial Institute.
But he quickly suppressed his rage, the angry glint in his eyes likewise hidden, like a sword edge sheathed.
It was Qin Tong, however, who found it hard to contain his fury as he spoke out, "Elder Guan, the way you speak seems quite inappropriate, doesn't it?"
"What's inappropriate about it?" Guan Hao glanced coldly at Qin Tong.
"Elder Guan, you're a person of esteemed status, and as the Elder of Transmission of the Great Qian Martial Institute, you should be a role model. My nephew has never offended you, and just because he cannot meet your demands, you verbally humiliate him—I believe you owe my nephew an apology!"
"Hahaha…" Guan Hao, as if hearing the world's biggest joke, laughed, "You want me to apologize to him? Does such a waste deserve one?"
Qin Tong trembled with anger, his neck flushing red, while Qin Qing remained as if nothing had happened from beginning to end.
This actually made Bai Qiuhe, seated at the same table, take note; it seemed this young man was much more composed than he had imagined.
Being able to keep his emotions hidden despite his young age was indeed a commendable trait.
Jiang Ruorong, who had been keeping her gaze lowered, couldn't help but quietly observe the handsome and calm young man. In her heart, she felt a touch of sympathy for the youth who had raised his younger sister, no more than three years old, on his own.
At the same time, she was quite puzzled.
Why would Qin Qing, this young man who had depended on his sister to survive, choose to conceal such an extraordinary and shocking talent?
"Qin Yue!" Guan Hao's gaze fell sharply on Qin Yue.
He pointed at Qin Tong and asked, "This man is your father, right?"
Qin Yue nodded and answered in affirmation.
Guan Hao sneered, "Heh, how do you have such a stubbornly ignorant father? I'm worried about your future. Perhaps… you're not suited to continue your martial cultivation at the Great Qian Martial Institute!"
At these words, Qin Yue's face instantly turned pale.
Qin Tong also couldn't hide his disappointment.
Originally, to get Qin Yue into the Great Qian Martial Institute, Qin Tong had nearly exhausted all his family wealth; he had given all his savings to Guan Hao.
But today, in one fell swoop, Guan Hao crushed Qin Yue's hope of continuing her cultivation at the Great Qian Martial Institute.
Qin Qing's brows furrowed involuntarily. If Qin Yue lost her qualification to cultivate at the Great Qian Martial Institute because of him, he feared he would be guilt-ridden for life.
"Elder Guan, this matter arose because of me and has nothing to do with my sister, Qin Yue. I hope you can show some leniency!" Qin Qing said.
Guan Hao, however, sneered, "Show some leniency? Who do you think you are for me to listen to you?"
"Xiao Qing! There's no need to beg him!" Qin Tong bellowed, loudly declaring, "I am ashamed to have Qin Yue recognize such a person as her master. Had I known of his character, I would never have entrusted my daughter to him. Qin Yue, listen well, from today onwards, you are no longer to address this man as your master, nor shall there be any more master-disciple relationship between you two! Do you understand?"