In Fang Xiao's eyes, Lü Shaoqing was undoubtedly the best candidate.
However, thinking back on her interactions with him, Fang Xiao couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
He was an utterly shameless person, someone who seemed not to understand the concept of embarrassment. Just thinking about dealing with him made her head hurt.
The most frustrating part was that this guy was incredibly strong.
Even if she wanted to beat him up, it wouldn't be possible.
Fang Xiao looked at her cousin in front of her.
Although she was the chief disciple of Shuangyue Valley and commanded great respect in the cultivation world of Qizhou, her beauty also earned her the title of the most beautiful woman in Qizhou.
No matter where she went, she was the center of attention.
If Ji Yan was the dream lover of all young women in Qizhou, then Xia Yu was the dream lover of all men in the region, with admirers even from other states.
However—
Fang Xiao didn't believe that even someone like Xia Yu would be able to gain the upper hand with Lü Shaoqing.
Nor did she think that Lü Shaoqing would care about Xia Yu's status or beauty.
After all, Fang Xiao herself was considered a beauty, yet Lü Shaoqing had ignored her completely.
Seeing Fang Xiao's troubled expression, Xia Yu asked curiously, "Sister Xiao, is there a problem?"
Fang Xiao replied, "It's not that his strength is lacking; it's whether he'd be willing to help."
"He wouldn't be willing?" Bian Rourou asked incredulously. "Sister Xia Yu is who she is—who wouldn't give her face?"
The logic was sound. As the chief disciple of Shuangyue Valley and the most beautiful woman in Qizhou, she commanded a great deal of respect.
Fang Xiao smiled wryly. "I can't quite explain it, but this person…"
She didn't know how to describe him.
Shameless? Thick-skinned? Brazen?
Though these words fit, she couldn't bring herself to criticize someone behind their back.
In the end, she could only say, "Let's just say he's difficult to deal with."
After thinking it over, "difficult to deal with" was the best description she could manage.
"He's a man?" Bian Rourou asked.
Fang Xiao nodded.
Bian Rourou immediately scoffed, "Then there's nothing to worry about. With Sister Xia Yu here, no man would refuse."
Fang Xiao forced a smile.
She didn't believe Lü Shaoqing would be swayed by Xia Yu's presence.
Lü Shaoqing was the most unique person she had ever encountered.
She doubted even Xia Yu's influence would work on him.
Xia Yu asked, "Sister Xiao, is this person very strong?"
Fang Xiao nodded. "Very strong. In my opinion, he's not any weaker than you, Yu'er."
This was high praise.
Xia Yu's expression grew more serious.
Xia Yu wasn't just a pretty face; she was a representative of the younger generation of Shuangyue Valley. She, Ji Yan, and Zhang Conglong were considered the three strongest cultivators in Qizhou's younger generation.
Ji Yan was undoubtedly ranked first.
There was no consensus on the second, but Xia Yu was a strong contender.
Now, hearing Fang Xiao say this person's strength rivaled her own, how could Xia Yu and Bian Rourou not be surprised?
Bian Rourou was skeptical, "No way, are you talking about Zhang Conglong?"
Fang Xiao shook her head, "Of course not."
Bian Rourou then asked, "Could it be Ji Yan?"
"But a Nascent Soul cultivator can't enter the secret realm."
Cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage would cause the secret realm to collapse due to spatial pressure if they entered.
If Ji Yan had not advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, Xia Yu would have personally gone to Tianyu Peak to ask for his help.
Xia Yu was certain. "It's not Ji Yan."
"If it were Ji Yan, Sister Xiao wouldn't have said he's only as strong as me."
Even before entering the Nascent Soul stage, Ji Yan had already been stronger than Xia Yu.
Fang Xiao continued, "It's not Ji Yan, but someone closely related to him."
"He's Ji Yan's junior brother, a personal disciple of Tianyu Peak in the Lingxiao Sect."
"His name is Lü Shaoqing."
"Lü Shaoqing?" Xia Yu and Bian Rourou exchanged glances.
Bian Rourou asked, "Does Ji Yan have a junior brother?"
Lü Shaoqing kept such a low profile that no one outside knew about him. Of course, Ji Yan's brilliance often overshadowed those around him.
Fang Xiao nodded. "Yes, I only learned about it by chance after coming here. It turns out that Ji Yan has a junior brother and a junior sister."
Bian Rourou was even more surprised, "He has a junior sister too?"
Fang Xiao explained, "Her name is Xiao Yi, and we get along quite well."
"She's a recently accepted disciple of Ji Yan's master."
Bian Rourou remarked, "I've never heard of her before. Is it because his junior brother's strength is average, so he remains unknown?"
Fang Xiao shook her head. "Lü Shaoqing is very strong, truly strong."
Recalling that terrifying sword intent and the blade that had grazed past her head that night, Fang Xiao couldn't help but shiver.
She continued, "He has also comprehended sword intent."
"What?" Xia Yu and Bian Rourou were both taken aback.
In their generation, Ji Yan was the only one known to have comprehended sword intent.
Apart from him, they had never heard of anyone else managing this feat.
Even Xia Yu had not yet grasped sword intent.
Xia Yu's eyes showed a hint of interest. "Sister Xiao, is that really true?"
Bian Rourou added, "Are you sure you're not exaggerating?"
"Could someone really have such talent?"
Fang Xiao replied, "What reason would I have to lie to you?"
She then recounted the events of that night.
Initially, she had intended to keep it as her own secret. But since it was her cousin Xia Yu, she felt it was okay to share.
Besides, it had been weighing on her mind for too long, and she needed to talk to someone.
Keeping it to herself was suffocating.
After hearing Fang Xiao's story, Xia Yu and Bian Rourou were deeply shocked.
A single sword strike had taken down a Core Formation stage expert—what kind of terrifying power was that?
Xia Yu was silent for a moment before saying, "I never imagined that the Lingxiao Sect had such a genius."
"No wonder he's Ji Yan's junior brother; he's not inferior to Ji Yan at all."
"If he's really as Sister Xiao described, then his help alone would be enough."
Comprehending sword intent before reaching the Nascent Soul stage was vastly different from comprehending it afterward.
Before the Nascent Soul stage, it indicated a peerless talent.
After reaching the Nascent Soul stage, one's understanding of the Dao deepened, making the comprehension of sword intent as easy as drinking water—nothing worth boasting about.
Xia Yu then had a thoughtful expression as if recalling something.
She said, "I remember when I sparred with Ji Yan and lost. I told him he was the number one among the younger generation in Qizhou."
"But Ji Yan shook his head and said, 'That wouldn't be the case if you counted that person.'"
"'That person?'"
Bian Rourou and Fang Xiao were both surprised. Had this really happened?
Xia Yu added, "It seems that Ji Yan was referring to his junior brother."
Bian Rourou asked, "If he's that strong, why hide it?"
Fang Xiao shook her head; she too was curious.
Xia Yu responded, "Some people are solely focused on their cultivation, indifferent to fame and status. What's so strange about that?"
Xia Yu furrowed her brows and tilted her head slightly, as if deep in thought.
After a moment, she turned to Fang Xiao, "It seems we'll have to pay him a visit."
Xia Yu was now genuinely interested in Lü Shaoqing. She decided to visit Tianyu Peak and see just how powerful Lü Shaoqing truly was.