Chapter 174: Xue Jing, the Innate Show-Off, and Xue Wan, the Sister Lacking Dignity (5K)

Chapter 174: Xue Jing, the Innate Show-Off, and Xue Wan, the Sister Lacking Dignity (5K)



As the tsunami of cheers and noise showed no signs of abating, Xue Jing made her way back to the backstage area.

"Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!"

The moment she stepped through the door, she was greeted by the enthusiastic applause of her agent, Jiang Siwei.

Her palms were bright red, and her delicately made-up face was flushed with excitement as she exclaimed, "Amazing, Xiao Jing! You were truly amazing!"

"You're a natural-born martial arts superstar, a super star!"

Xue Jing waved her hand, gesturing for her to calm down, as she seemed ready to pounce with excitement.

"It's not that big of a deal, Sister Wei. I told you I don't want to be a celebrity."

Jiang Siwei shook her head. "I know you have no such intentions, and I won't try to persuade you anymore... But you can't hide your talent. You were born to attract attention. You don't need to put on a show; it comes naturally to you... Even if you don't want to be a celebrity, you'll become a famous superstar wherever you go. There's no escaping it!"

Xue Jing smiled noncommittally. "Maybe."

Jiang Siwei counted off on her fingers, "Look, you've only participated in three matches so far, but each one has been a huge hit. Let's not even talk about the first two; what about that last match?

"You made a dramatic entrance, arriving late and descending from above like the main character. You defeated your opponent with your ultimate technique, leaving an unforgettable scene of Silver Cherry Blossoms under the Full Moon. And the scariest part is that you didn't even do it on purpose!"

"It just comes naturally to you, as if heaven itself is especially biased in your favor and deliberately arranges for you to make a grand entrance!"

Xue Jing was speechless.

"In the current parlance," Jiang Siwei continued with a serious expression, "you're what they call an 'Innate Show-Off.'"

She pondered, "There's really no need to arrange any special promotions or create a public image for you. You naturally attract everyone's attention all on your own."

Xue Jing was at a loss for words. "That's ridiculous. These are just coincidences..."

Jiang Siwei crossed her arms confidently. "Once or twice may be a coincidence, but not the third time and beyond."

Xue Jing's lips twitched. "Well, I'm glad you're happy."

After chatting a while longer, Xue Jing casually asked, "By the way, Sister Wei, did I hear the commentator mention that I advanced to the finals?"

Jiang Siwei nodded. "Yes, that's right."

"The U19 tournament starts with the preliminaries, followed by the elimination rounds, and then the final round."

"The timing of the elimination rounds varies by region, as we need to allow some time for the participants to rest after their matches. Therefore, the timing of the finals isn't fixed either."

"Our Fengcheng division is held in the middle, so there's probably about half a month left for the other regions to finish their elimination rounds. After that, there will be another two weeks of rest."

"So, the finals will likely be held in about a month."

Xue Jing nodded thoughtfully. "A month... That should be enough."

His ultimate goal in participating in this tournament was to obtain the [GOD-519: Unbreaking Blade] from the Far East's Okina Suzuru.

This blade, with its [Unbreaking] concept, had the unique trait of 'choosing its master.' When its owner wholeheartedly acknowledged defeat at the hands of another, ownership of the blade would transfer to the victor.

As for whether he could defeat Okina Suzuru now, Xue Jing believed he could.

With the full power of his divine skills, he was confident that he wouldn't lose to anyone his age. This assessment was endorsed by the [Man in the Mirror], who had lived for over two centuries.

However, the issue wasn't that simple.

The condition for the [Unbreaking Blade] to change hands was for its owner to wholeheartedly acknowledge defeat.

And Okina Suzuru was a martial arts fanatic, an adherent of the old ways who sought to attain the true limits of humanity through pure, unenhanced flesh and blood.

Therefore, it was safe to assume that only by defeating him in the pure realm of 'old martial arts,' without resorting to any other means, could Xue Jing truly earn his respect and obtain the blade.

If he relied solely on his own martial arts prowess, however, Xue Jing wasn't sure he could win.

A year ago, Okina Suzuru had been certified as having a strength of at least the professional fifth dan.

Given that he was in a period of rapid growth in strength, it was possible that he had reached the sixth dan, or even the seventh, in the time since.

Determining dan rankings involved complex considerations and required practical battle testing. According to the [Man in the Mirror], Xue Jing's current martial arts prowess was equivalent to the sixth dan.

Of course, due to his training in the versatile Dragon Concealment style and his possession of cheating skills like [Dragon's Will] and [Visualization: Truth], his actual combat power far surpassed that of a typical sixth dan.

With this level of strength, coupled with the various doubling effects of [Twin], he was already extremely powerful for his age. However, when it came to Okina Suzuru, it still wasn't enough to guarantee victory.

There was another saying about this Far Easterner—that his strength with a sword was nine times that of his empty-handed combat.

"A month... It should be enough for me to improve by another dan," Xue Jing muttered to himself.

......

The next match was about to begin, and Xue Jing put on a pair of ordinary glasses before leaving the lounge and heading to the contestant viewing area beside the stage.

His arrival caused the young contestants seated there to glance at him, but no one spoke up.

The atmosphere was silent and tense.

Xue Jing, however, paid it no mind. He sat down next to Xue Wan and casually asked, "Hmm? Sis, where's Yin Mei?"

Xue Wan finally noticed her little brother's arrival and pouted, "So, the first thing you say to your dear sister after not seeing her for so long is to ask about another woman?"

Xue Jing paused for a moment, then replied, "Are you an insecure girlfriend in a long-distance relationship or something? Don't give me that crap, it's creepy."

Xue Wan giggled.

She was dressed in a black Japanese-style JK uniform today, with a pleated miniskirt that revealed her long, plump bare feet. On her feet were a pair of black loafers.

She looked like a manga schoolgirl come to life, and perhaps due to being blessed by the Flower God, she exuded a subtle floral fragrance.

"Little Yin was called backstage by the staff. She'll be up for the next match."

As she spoke, Xue Wan wrapped her arms around Xue Jing's neck and gave him a kiss on the cheek, leaving a shiny mark.

"Ah Jing, you were pretty cool just now. I felt very proud as your sister, so this is your reward!"

Xue Jing's mouth twitched as he moved his hand to wipe away the shiny mark on his face.

Seeing this, Xue Wan immediately protested, "Hey, what are you doing?"

Xue Jing glanced at her and said, "Can't I dislike it?"

Xue Wan patted his shoulder, annoyed. "A kiss from a beautiful girl, and you dislike it?"

"I'm not disliking the beautiful girl, I'm disliking you." Xue Jing sighed.

At that moment, the commentator's voice rang out from the arena.

"The brief intermission is over, and now let's invite..."

...

Yin Mushu took the stage and, after a fierce battle, emerged victorious with some injuries. She secured one of the four tickets to the finals.

Her use of the Vajra Ruyi Hand's killing move, 'Transverse Ruyi', gave Xue Jing some new insights into the application of Ruyi Jin, making it a fruitful experience.

Afterward, the group stayed to watch the final match. By the time it ended, it was almost 6:00 pm, and the sky was growing dark.

With that, the Fengcheng elimination rounds came to a complete close.

Xue Jing, Xue Wan, Jiang Siwei, and Yin Mushu left the arena and made their way to the parking lot.

Xue Jing spoke up, "Yin Mei, do you want a ride back to the hotel first?"

Yin Mushu, with her arms crossed and her muscular frame hunched, shook her head. Her voice, a crisp and contrasting tone, replied, "No need. I already booked a ticket and will be heading back to Rongcheng soon."

Xue Jing nodded, "I see."

Xue Wan, standing beside him, looked a little reluctant. "Little Yin, you're leaving so soon? Why don't you stay a few more days? There are still so many places in Fengcheng I haven't shown you yet."

Yin Mushu scratched her head, "No... Time is tight."

"I've already fallen too far behind Xue Jing. If I don't catch up quickly, I might not even be able to see his back anymore."

Xue Jing smiled and gently said, "You're exaggerating... My situation is unique, so don't use me as a benchmark."

Yin Mushu insisted, "But you're right there in front of me."

Hearing this, Xue Jing paused for a moment, then nodded with a smile. "You're right."

Yin Mushu turned and strode away, her back facing Xue Jing as she raised her hand. "It's a long road ahead in the martial world. We'll meet again at the finals!"

After she left, Jiang Siwei asked, "Xiao Jing, Wanwan, where are you two headed next?"

Xue Jing thought for a moment and replied, "Let's go to Feng Da Na Cat first, then back to the hotel... Feng Lun is at your dorm, right?"

He looked at Xue Wan.

She nodded.

"Okay, let's go then."

The car started and slowly drove away from the parking lot.

What Xue Jing didn't notice was that not far from the parking lot, hidden among the dense leaves of a camphor tree by the road, were two tall figures with black scarves wrapped around their heads, looking hunched and sinister.

"This guy must be the 'Xue Jing' that little snake was talking about... The woman with the sacred object is living with him, so we can find the sacred object by following him."

One of them spoke, his voice deep and beast-like.

"Beliru, should we make our move?" He looked at the other person.

"Wait," Beliru narrowed his beast-like eyes. "This is the city center, too eye-catching... The official government isn't a problem, but if we attract the attention of those fanatics from the 'Secret Martial Society', it'll be troublesome."

"Let's hold off for now... This guy is heading back to Qingcheng. He'll be taking a boat, so we'll wait for him at the pier."

...

The car came to a stop in front of the Fengcheng University gate.

Earlier, due to the battle between Xue Jing and the Flower Goddess's disciple, named A Qin, the ground had been damaged.

Although it had mostly been repaired over the past few days, the new cement patches stood out in contrast to the surrounding area.

Xue Wan hopped out of the car, her pleated skirt fluttering as she revealed a glimpse of her safety shorts underneath.

"I'll go get Feng Lun and be right back."

Xue Jing stayed in the car, chatting with Jiang Siwei. About ten minutes later, Xue Wan returned, carrying the cat in her arms, and walked out from the school gate.

From a distance, the moment Cat laid eyes on Xue Jing, it immediately jumped down from Xue Wan's arms and sprinted towards him at full speed.

With a swift leap, it jumped through the open car window, landing on Xue Jing's lap. The cat's face wore an almost human expression of displeasure as it meowed indignantly, as if complaining about something.

Xue Wan followed close behind, opening the car door and climbing in. She sighed and said, "Hey, little Fengwan is so ungrateful. I treat you so well, and as soon as you see your 'dad,' you forget all about me."

Amusement flickered in Xue Jing's eyes as he scratched Cat's chin.

"You call me your dad now, huh?"

The cat angrily bit down on his finger.

Through the rearview mirror, Jiang Siwei glanced at the cat and exclaimed, "Wow, your family genes are incredible! Not only are you both good-looking, but even your cat is stunningly beautiful."

Xue Wan stroked her chin thoughtfully. "Sister Wei, you sure know how to sweet-talk people. No wonder you're a career woman!"

Xue Jing withdrew his finger from the cat's mouth and smiled. "Let's go. We're heading back to the hotel."

By the time they returned to the Yunlu Hotel, darkness had fully enveloped the sky.

After bidding farewell to Jiang Siwei, Xue Jing and Xue Wan entered their hotel room.

Thanks to the diligent cleaning staff, the room was spotless despite their absence for several days.

Xue Wan immediately flopped onto the sofa and called out to the cat in Xue Jing's arms, "Come here, little Fengwan~"

The cat turned its head away and buried its face in Xue Jing's embrace.

Xue Wan's eyes widened slightly in dismay. "You ungrateful little cat!"

Xue Jing placed the cat on the floor and casually mentioned, "I'm going back to Qingcheng tomorrow, sis."

"Huh? Why so soon?" Xue Wan sounded a little disappointed.

"Stay with me a few more days... I barely get to see you, and you've been busy with other things, so we haven't really spent much time together."

She pouted.

Xue Jing took a bottle of mineral water from the refrigerator, twisted open the cap, and took a sip before replying, "The New Year's holiday is coming up soon anyway. You can come back to Qingcheng then. Mom and Dad said they'll be home for the holidays too."

Xue Wan stood up, walked over to Xue Jing, wrapped her arms around his arm, and pleaded, "Then stay with me until the New Year. We can go back together, okay? Please~"

Xue Jing remained unmoved, his tone indifferent. "You're the older sister. Show some dignity, will you?"

Xue Wan immediately crouched down, finding the cutest angle to look up at Xue Jing with innocent, wide eyes. She formed her hands into cat claws and placed them on her cheeks, tilting her head slightly as she batted her eyelashes and cooed, "Woof~"

Then, in a high-pitched, wheedling tone, she added, "Please~"

Xue Jing: "..."

He sighed. "Fine, you win."

"Hehe," Xue Wan beamed with a triumphant smile.

"By the way, has there been any change in your mutation rate while I was gone?" Xue Jing asked.

"That's a bit strange," Xue Wan mused. "Before, about a month after I became a recipient, my mutation rate rose above 10%."

"But after you touched my Stigma and took something out of it, my mutation rate dropped below 1%. Yet now, after only eight or nine days, it's back up to 10%."

"I wonder what caused that..."

Xue Jing pondered her words and offered an explanation. "The mutation rate needs to be actively suppressed, right? You must have relaxed and become less vigilant against the divine power's mental corrosion after discovering a way to deal with the mutation. That's why your mutation rate increased so quickly."

Xue Wan's eyes widened in realization. "Oh? Now that you mention it, that does make sense."

As she spoke, she took off her JK uniform jacket and unbuttoned a few buttons at the bottom of her inner lining, lifting the hem to reveal her slender and sexy waist. Her beautiful belly button, adorned with a ruby-like Stigma navel piercing, was exposed.

"Here, suck it out."

Xue Jing: "..."

"Don't use such a weird phrase," he said, exasperated.

Xue Wan remained silent, wearing a mischievous smile.

Xue Jing extended his hand and gently touched the Stigma on her belly button.

[Detecting divine substance. Absorbing divinity...]



As his divinity began to increase, Xue Wan felt the warmth of her little brother's fingers, and her face flushed slightly.

"Ah~ This feeling of being freed from something binding me... It's a bit pleasurable."

Xue Jing shot her a glare. "Don't make those weird noises!"

"What's the big deal?" Xue Wan shrugged.

Xue Jing ignored her and fell silent.

A while later...

[Divinity absorption complete.]



[Divinity in possession: 1566]



It had increased by more than three hundred.

Although he had earned a substantial amount in the Borderland earlier, Xue Jing was still pleasantly surprised by this number.

After all, this was a sustainable source of divinity.

The look in Xue Jing's eyes towards his sister softened, losing some of its previous disdain.

He looked like a seasoned farmer admiring a well-grown patch of chives.

Xue Wan shivered under his gaze and quickly lowered her clothes, buttoning them up. She placed her hands on her chest and protested, "Why are you looking at me like that... I'm your older sister, okay? Even if I'm good-looking and have a hot figure, you're not allowed to have any naughty thoughts about me!"

Xue Jing: "Hehe."

...

(There's one more part coming, so don't wait; check back tomorrow!)

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end