https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-371-The-Mysteries-of-Qinglian-Jiantai/13686957/
Chapter 370: I'm Not a Stingy Person, Wen Wuya
Looking at the photo sent by Qingqing God, Wen Wuya abruptly turned his head toward Zhang Yu, who was busy stuffing food into his mouth at the banquet.
“They’re close?” Wen Wuya’s first instinct was disbelief. He couldn’t fathom how two people who clearly didn’t know each other could be so intimate.
But as he continued observing, he began to notice something strange.
“Though they appear to be eating in silence, not speaking to each other at all—each absorbed in their own meal…”
“…Yet Bai Zhenzhen keeps glancing at Zhang Yu. And Zhang Yu, in turn, keeps looking back at her.”
“They’ve been exchanging glances the entire time.”
Still, doubt lingered in Wen Wuya’s mind.
“How could a Civil Engineering student possibly be close to Bai Zhenzhen?”
He wasn’t looking down on Civil Engineering students. He didn’t harbor prejudice, nor did he believe in unfair treatment. But from a scientific, Daoist, social, and rational standpoint, he’d long believed that Tianjian University should discontinue its Civil Engineering Department and transfer it to one of the thirty-six affiliated college campuses.
Yet then he recalled their last encounter… Could they have met outside?
Just as Wen Wuya resumed chatting with a friend, he suddenly realized Zhang Yu was gone. Bai Zhenzhen was gone too.
“Did they… disappear together?”
He sent a message to Bai Zhenzhen:
“Zhenzhen, where are you?”
No reply.
He tried a call. No answer.
…
Zhang Yu: “Someone reached out?”
Bai Zhenzhen: “That guy from before. Ignore him.”
Bai Zhenzhen: “I’m leaving tomorrow. Let’s make the most of this time—let me give you more Divine Spirit Root.”
…
After a long while, when Wen Wuya finally saw Bai Zhenzhen reappear at the banquet, he noticed Zhang Yu shortly after, slightly sweating.
His heart jolted.
Did they just go off together?
Could it be true? Is it really true that she’s so close to this Zhang Yu?
Seeing Zhang Yu about to leave the party, Wen Wuya followed him out.
In a quiet alleyway, he blocked Zhang Yu’s path and asked, “Do you know Bai Zhenzhen?”
Zhang Yu blinked, startled. His mind raced.
He quickly sent a message to Bai Zhenzhen:
“What do I do? How should I respond?”
Bai Zhenzhen: “How did he find you? Did he sense something?”
Bai Zhenzhen: “Should I just say I’ve been cultivating you? Offer him a fee—earn some Lingbi, and explain the relationship.”
Bai Zhenzhen: “No… He’d suspect more if he thinks you’re not worth cultivating. That’d only deepen his suspicion.”
Bai Zhenzhen: “What if I just happened to run into you? But you’re not even injured…”
At that moment, Fujie chimed in:
“Zhang Yu, your relationship with Bai Zhenzhen won’t hold up under scrutiny.”
“Just because you both come from the First Layer, Songyang City, and Songyang High School—those shared origins alone are enough to expose your connection.”
“Your concealment only works because most people assume you’re not linked, so they never bother to check.”
“But once someone starts suspecting, a quick investigation will confirm you’ve known each other.”
“So don’t lie. Not now. If you’re caught in a lie, you’ll only trigger deeper suspicion and curiosity.”
“Stay calm. Stay composed. The more relaxed you appear, the more believable you’ll be.”
Fujie concluded:
“Just say you’re high school classmates. That’s perfectly normal.”
After Fujie’s words, Zhang Yu gradually relaxed.
Right. Even if he knows I know A Zhen, that’s not a problem—so long as he doesn’t suspect we’ve been switching Divine Spirit Roots.
So Zhang Yu nodded and said, “We were high school classmates.”
Wen Wuya let out a soft, knowing breath.
Ah, so that’s it. They were both poor kids from the First Layer, so they became friends through basic, outdated methods.
Recalling Qingqing God’s words, Wen Wuya narrowed his eyes and stared at Zhang Yu.
“As high school classmates, how close are you two?”
Zhang Yu forced a sheepish smile. “Not bad… I guess.”
“Zhang Yu, right?” Wen Wuya said coolly. “I can offer you some money…”
Zhang Yu’s heart skipped.
Is he trying to scare me off? Wants me to stay away from Bai Zhenzhen? That I shouldn’t use our old friendship to latch onto her now?
Wen Wuya continued, “I’ll teach you how to build feelings with Bai Zhenzhen.”
Zhang Yu froze. “Huh?”
Wen Wuya added, “Come to think of it… Have you ever mutually cultivated with Bai Zhenzhen?”
“Huh? No! No way!” Zhang Yu waved his hands frantically.
Wen Wuya sighed. “Too bad. I could’ve paid you even more if you had. But hey—don’t worry. I’m not a stingy man. If I can pay for something, I will.”
Fujie whispered urgently in Zhang Yu’s mind:
“Opportunity, Zhang Yu! A golden chance to make money!”
“Team up with Bai Zhenzhen—this guy’s got deep pockets. We’ll squeeze every Lingbi out of him!”
“Don’t panic. Don’t stress. I’ll guide you through every word.”
Zhang Yu sent the situation to Bai Zhenzhen, asking for her take.
Bai Zhenzhen: “Seriously? We’re not taking this money? Of course we are!”
Bai Zhenzhen: “But wait—first, ask him why he wants to learn from you.”
Bai Zhenzhen: “Normally, someone like him would just send me money directly.”
Zhang Yu looked at Wen Wuya and asked, “Why not just send money directly to Bai Zhenzhen?”
Wen Wuya paused, then replied, “I have my reasons. I must build a real connection with her—without spending a single coin. Can you help me with that?”
Bai Zhenzhen read Zhang Yu’s message and her heart sank.
This kind of condition… Could this be a trial set by my master?
Is he trying to use Wen Wuya to help me cultivate my Jiqing Sword Dao?
She wasn’t certain—but one thing was clear: she hated that possibility.
“Wen Wuya,” she said, “you should focus on helping Yu climb the Dao path first.”
Meanwhile, Wen Wuya stared at Zhang Yu. “Name your price. How much Lingbi for your experience of being with Bai Zhenzhen?”
Zhang Yu shrugged. “We’ve known each other for so long—how do you summarize that in a moment?”
Wen Wuya said, “Then sell me your entire chat history.”
Zhang Yu shook his head. “Different times, different settings. Just reading messages won’t help.”
“Then let me guide you,” Zhang Yu said. “For example, right now, you could message Bai Zhenzhen and ask her the standard concrete ratio used at Wanfa University City.”
Wen Wuya frowned. “What’s the point of that?”
Zhang Yu smiled faintly. “You don’t even know she’s interested in Civil Engineering? To build a relationship, you must start with what the other person cares about.”
Wen Wuya scoffed. “Bai Zhenzhen? Interested in Civil Engineering? That’s impossible.”
Zhang Yu chuckled. “You think that’s why I’ve stayed in contact with her? Because I’m a Civil Engineering student.”
“A Zhen dreamed of working on construction sites ever since high school—she wanted to be a proud Civil Engineering cultivator.”
Wen Wuya’s chest tightened. He still wasn’t fully convinced—but out of curiosity, he sent the message to Bai Zhenzhen.
Zhang Yu logged into Bai Zhenzhen’s account and watched as the reply came through:
[Smiling Emoji] Just happened to look it up—Wanfa University uses the classic mix…
Wen Wuya stared at the long reply, stunned.
This was the first time he’d ever received a smiley from Bai Zhenzhen. And the first time she’d ever replied so thoroughly.
He looked up at Zhang Yu. “How much?”
Zhang Yu blinked. “Huh?”
Wen Wuya repeated, “How much for your guidance?”
Zhang Yu pondered: 50 Lingbi? 100 Lingbi? Fujie, what do you think?
Fujie said, “Calm down. This is a long-term source of income. Don’t scare him off with a high price.”
After a moment of observation, Fujie added, “Ask for 10 Lingbi per month.”
Zhang Yu said, “Ten Lingbi a month.”
Wen Wuya, surprised by the low price, instantly dropped his last hesitation. He added Zhang Yu as a friend and sent 10 Lingbi.
Seeing the money hit his account, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but mutter:
“Damn… After days of panicking over crypto trading, I barely made 3 Lingbi.”
“And now, in a few sentences… 10 Lingbi. And it’s monthly.”
Fujie nodded, matter-of-factly:
“What do you expect? Crypto needs capital. With your meager savings, what could you possibly earn?”
“I’ve told you a hundred times—fraud is the best path for Kunxu’s poor.”
Zhang Yu tried to send 5 Lingbi to Bai Zhenzhen, but she refused.
Bai Zhenzhen: “It’s better if we don’t have financial ties.”
Bai Zhenzhen: “Besides, I don’t need the money.”
Bai Zhenzhen: “I’ll log out and transfer Wen Wuya’s friend list to you. From now on, you’ll handle all our chats.”
Bai Zhenzhen: “Just keep it clean—no nonsense.”
Zhang Yu understood. This “friend list transfer” meant he’d now be impersonating Bai Zhenzhen—replying on her behalf while Wen Wuya believed he was talking directly to her.
At that moment, Wen Wuya asked again:
“What should I say next?”
Zhang Yu replied, “Wait 12 hours.”
Wen Wuya frowned. “Twelve hours? Isn’t that too long?”
Zhang Yu said, “Trust me. It’ll work. She’ll message you. Don’t reply.”
For now, he’d bought some time.
Zhang Yu slipped away to a secluded corner on the 88th floor of Wanfa University.
As Gang Qi surged and martial energy flowed, he began another round of cultivation.
One last night, Zhang Yu thought.
I must fully replicate the Qinglian Jiantai.
(End of Chapter)
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