Chapter 579: Trouble Brewing

Chapter 579: Trouble Brewing

February 11, 2025

Inside the canvas tent, the atmosphere suddenly became peculiar.

Qiu Xi Yu glanced at her younger sister, then turned her head to look at Su Chen.

She was still unaware of what had just transpired.

But from her younger sister's expression, it seemed like something unpleasant had occurred.

Anxiety filled her heart, and she didn't know how to continue the conversation.

In the midst of the silence, Qiu Ruo Shuang spoke first.

"Xi Yu, you should go back first. I'd like to have a private chat with your Su Shixiong."

"Younger Sister, Su Shixiong..."

Qiu Xi Yu wanted to say something more, but seeing Qiu Ruo Shuang's expression, she swallowed her words.

She glanced at Su Chen once more and then slowly exited the tent.

Outside the tent, Qing Yuan frowned and immediately approached Qiu Xi Yu.

He wanted to inquire about the situation from Qiu Xi Yu, but all she knew was that Qiu Ruo Shuang's expression was unusual.

Qiu Xi Yu couldn't provide any further details.

At that moment, inside the tent...

It was the peak of summer, and the weather was hot.

When setting up the tent, they intentionally left some ventilation holes to ensure it wasn't too stuffy.

Additionally, they positioned it near a dense, tall tree for added shade.

Even so, the tent wasn't particularly cool.

But at this moment, with only Su Chen and Qiu Ruo Shuang inside, the atmosphere felt somewhat chilly.

"So, the Su Shixiong that Xi Yu has been talking about is you."

A ripple flashed through Qiu Ruo Shuang's eyes as she spoke first.

Her tone was calm, revealing little emotion or turbulence.

However, this situation was completely beyond Su Chen's expectations.

Upon seeing him, he had thought she would be delighted and overjoyed.

At the very least, he expected a smile to grace her face.

But the reality before him differed greatly from his expectations.

"I'm sorry for showing up unannounced like this."

Su Chen was a bit confused and apologized.

Perhaps his uninvited arrival had upset Qiu Ruo Shuang.

As he pondered this, Qiu Ruo Shuang didn't respond to Su Chen's words.

Instead, she continued with her previous question.

"How did you and Xi Yu get to know each other?"

"We met during the Eighth-grade Formation Wizardry Exam in Pi Shi City. She happened to be sitting not far from me."

Su Chen answered truthfully.

"So, you have such impressive skills, even mastering the challenging art of array engineering."

Qiu Ruo Shuang's tone turned stiff, almost to the extreme.

There was even a hint of mockery in her words.

Su Chen had known Qiu Ruo Shuang for a long time, and he had never heard her speak in such a manner.

In his eyes, she always exuded a graceful and gentle demeanor.

However, it was undeniable that at this moment, Qiu Ruo Shuang appeared more playful and adorable.

It was a side of her that he rarely saw.

Seeing her like this, Su Chen couldn't help but feel delighted, a smile curving his lips.

Just then, Qiu Ruo Shuang noticed his smile, and her expression seemed to grow even more severe.

"It seems like you're not happy to see me."

Noticing Qiu Ruo Shuang's increasingly stern expression, Su Chen quickly composed himself and asked.

"Since I promised Xi Yu that I would meet you, I will naturally keep my word.

There's no question of whether I want to see you or not."

After hearing this, Su Chen couldn't help but feel a bit amused.

Qiu Ruo Shuang seemed genuinely angry, and the issue seemed serious.

"My niece Xi Yu is quite exceptional, isn't she?"

Qiu Ruo Shuang added another question after her statement.

"Xi Yu's talent in array engineering is remarkable. Her comprehension of array-related matters is outstanding, and she grasps concepts with remarkable ease."

"That's good to hear. Since you both recognize each other's abilities, that's wonderful.

My elder brother, Xi Yu's father, has already discussed this with me.

I'm satisfied with you, and I won't stand in your way. Later, I will..."

As Qiu Ruo Shuang spoke, Su Chen's eyebrows furrowed involuntarily, and he quickly interjected.

"What do you mean by Xi Yu's father being satisfied with me? Why would he be satisfied with me?"

"How can he not be satisfied if you're going to be his son-in-law?"

"Whose son-in-law?"

Qiu Ruo Shuang looked at Su Chen's bewildered expression and smiled lightly.

"Didn't you come here for this matter?

I'll speak highly of you, so don't worry about your relationship with Xi Yu."

Upon hearing this, Su Chen's bewilderment turned into shock.

"How can I be her father's son-in-law? There must be some huge misunderstanding here!"

Su Chen was slightly agitated.

Realization dawned on him, and he understood why Qiu Ruo Shuang had been acting this way.

"So, you don't have any feelings for Xi Yu, and you have no intentions towards her?"

"No, I've never had any romantic thoughts towards Xi Yu."

Su Chen's words were firm and decisive.

"But I heard that you've helped her multiple times and had interactions with her?"

Upon hearing Su Chen's explanation, Qiu Ruo Shuang felt her tense heartstrings relax significantly.

Although she didn't know the specifics, hearing Su Chen's words made her heart feel much lighter.

"I helped Xi Yu because she's a member of the Qiu family, and she's related to you.

I never had any unusual thoughts about her, never!

I visited the Qiu family's estate and came here because I wanted to see you.

It was Xi Yu who said I could meet you, so I came."

Su Chen explained without pausing for a moment.

Hearing this, Qiu Ruo Shuang also thought of many things.

There seemed to have been a series of misunderstandings.

The coldness in her expression gradually softened, returning to normal.

"Was it also because of my absence that you left the Qiu family's estate after only two days?"

Su Chen nodded, giving an affirmative response.

Qiu Ruo Shuang recalled the father-daughter pair, Qiu Xing Chuan and Qiu Xi Yu, and thought that Su Chen had left because he was upset.

She even asked her to smooth things over so that Su Chen wouldn't take it to heart.

Looking back, there must have been a series of misunderstandings.

"I've hinted at it so many times, and Xi Yu is smart enough to understand.

How could she still misunderstand?"

Qiu Ruo Shuang understood the hint Su Chen was referring to.

This hint implied that Su Chen's affections were actually for her.

Qiu Xi Yu's failure to understand this hint was clear to Qiu Ruo Shuang.

The age gap was obvious, and Qiu Ruo Shuang's unique identity and extraordinary status were well-known.

Throughout the Jin Kingdom, how many men would dare to have feelings for her?

So, Qiu Xi Yu had always thought that Su Chen admired her younger cousin.

During their conversation, Qiu Xi Yu had even used the word "admire" multiple times.

She never considered that Su Chen might have feelings for Qiu Ruo Shuang.

Qiu Xi Yu had never truly thought that Su Chen had feelings for Qiu Ruo Shuang.

Even if she had such thoughts, in Qiu Xi Yu's eyes, it was impossible, absolutely impossible.

"Let's sit down and talk."

Qiu Ruo Shuang's heart had calmed down and was no longer as agitated as it was at the start.

She invited Su Chen to sit down, and the two began a calm conversation.

"It seems I've caused some trouble.

Can I ask Xi Yu and her father to come so I can explain?"

"It's fine, I'll go and clarify things."

Qiu Ruo Shuang assured Su Chen not to worry about this matter, trying to ease his concerns.

In reality, Qiu Ruo Shuang was well aware that this situation had become very complicated.

Typographical error, content redacted for clarity.

Qiu Xi Yu and Qiu Xing Chuan had both already regarded Su Chen as their future son-in-law.

Over the years, any man who walked by the side of a Qiu family woman would want to marry into the family.

If they didn't have such intentions, they wouldn't get close.

Su Chen also had similar thoughts, but his target was not Qiu Xi Yu; it was Qiu Ruo Shuang.

With this mindset, when Qiu Xing Chuan and Qiu Xi Yu saw Su Chen, they naturally assumed he had feelings for Qiu Xi Yu.

Qiu Ruo Shuang also felt it was a tricky situation.

If Qiu Xing Chuan found out about her connection and romantic feelings for Su Chen, it would be hard to explain.

Perhaps, in Qiu Xing Chuan's eyes, it would seem like Qiu Ruo Shuang, the younger cousin, was trying to take a man from her niece.

Qiu Ruo Shuang shook her head, trying to stop herself from overthinking.

At least, there wasn't that kind of relationship between Su Chen and Qiu Xi Yu, which was already good news.

"Last time, when Qing Yuan met with you, he told me that the preparations were delayed again.

He only told you about one place for training. Did you gain anything from it?"

Qiu Ruo Shuang proactively changed the topic, asking about the previous matter.

Upon hearing this, Su Chen immediately exuded the aura of a Hua Jing master.

The might of a Hua Jing master instantly enveloped the canvas tent.

For Qiu Ruo Shuang, a Hua Jing master no longer had the qualifications to challenge her.

However, seeing Su Chen's strength and cultivation realm still startled her.

Su Chen's progress was astonishingly fast, even faster than her own initial pace.

Turning to look at Su Chen, Qiu Ruo Shuang couldn't help but glance at him again.

It was worth noting that, aside from his martial arts cultivation, Su Chen also had achievements in array engineering.

For someone his age to excel in either of these fields was already remarkable.

Su Chen had raised his martial arts cultivation realm, and he also wanted to master the art of array engineering.

Su Chen continued the conversation without bringing up Qiu Xi Yu's situation.

The original purpose of this visit was to discuss the matter of the Yuan Shi Seal with Qiu Ruoshang.

The strange issue with the Yuan Shi Seal had made Qiu Ruoshang feel that something was amiss even before.

Previously, she hadn't delved deeply into this problem, perhaps because Su Chen's understanding of it was insufficient and not profound.

However, after thoroughly studying the legacy left by Jingbo Immortal, Su Chen wanted to clarify the matter of the Yuan Shi Seal.

Upon hearing Su Chen's words, Qiu Ruoshang also engaged in a relatively serious conversation.

The oppressive pressure of the Yuan Shi Seal, the kind that made people submit, was still fresh in Qiu Ruoshang's memory, even today.

Its power was overwhelming, even in the face of Return to Unity Realm martial artists.

Su Chen and Qiu Ruoshang shared their impressions of the Yuan Shi Seal.

The oppressive pressure that made people submit was a feeling shared by both of them.

After Qiu Ruoshang's promotion to the Return to Unity Realm, she had also carefully contemplated this issue.

"I won't hide it from you. When I was stuck at the peak of the Hua Jing realm, the image of the Yuan Shi Seal often appeared in my thoughts.

It guided me and gave me hints.

It was as if my path of cultivation had to follow it, go along with it.

Only by obeying its arrangements would there be a future.

That pressure of submission, when my heart was feeling particularly stifled, reached its peak.

For a while, I even felt that besides submitting to it, there was no other way to be promoted to the Return to Unity Realm."

Su Chen, upon hearing this description, asked if she had felt this pressure of submission elsewhere.

After a moment of thought, Qiu Ruoshang shook her head.

Su Chen had felt it in Jingbo Immortal's secret realm, but Qiu Ruoshang hadn't experienced this, only seeing it at the Yuan Shi Seal.

The two of them talked for so long that they directly spoke for an entire hour.

"Qing Yuan, can you go and take a look?

See what Su Shixiong and Xiao Gu are talking about."

Outside the tent, Qiu Xi Yu was clearly getting impatient.

She was anxious and worried.

The attitude Qiu Ruoshang initially displayed made her very uneasy about Su Chen's situation.

Hearing this, Qing Yuan, standing beside her, repeatedly took a step back.

"Miss Xi Yu, Sister Shuang is still discussing matters. I shouldn't disturb her."

Qing Yuan didn't tell the truth; it wasn't that she shouldn't disturb them, but that she dared not.

She knew who Su Chen was and was also aware of the subtle relationship between Su Chen and Qiu Ruoshang.

Today, however, she had come as the one who had won Qiu Xi Yu's heart, and she didn't know what kind of mood Qiu Ruoshang was in, so she didn't dare to disturb her.

In the midst of their conversation, there was finally some movement from the tent.

Qiu Ruoshang, with a hint of seriousness, walked out of the tent and came to Qing Yuan's side.

"When people look for me, I'll talk to them. I need to leave for a while and will be back within half a month."

As soon as Qiu Ruoshang finished speaking, Qiu Xi Yu, standing beside her, couldn't help but ask.

"Xiao Gu, Su Shixiong..."

"He's going with me."

Qiu Ruoshang didn't explain further, and seeing her solemn expression, she didn't intend to say more.

Qiu Xi Yu felt a little uncomfortable in her heart, but in the end, she didn't say much more.

Within the Qiu family, Qiu Ruoshang's current status and position were truly extraordinary.

Her arrangements and some of her affairs were not something Qiu Xi Yu was qualified to inquire about.

Looking at Su Chen, Qiu Xi Yu hoped to get some answers from him.

However, Su Chen didn't say much more and directly followed Qiu Ruoshang, leaving together.

Watching the backs of the two of them, both Qiu Xi Yu and Qing Yuan fell into deep thought.

However, the matters they thought about in their hearts were vastly different.

What Qiu Xi Yu wanted to know the most now was what attitude her little aunt truly had.

Was it supportive or not?

Her opinion on the matter between her and Su Chen was very important.

Additionally, she was truly curious.

She didn't know why her little aunt wanted to take Su Shixiong away with her.

She was curious, but Qiu Xi Yu wasn't so anxious.

Su Chen had always been very concerned about martial arts cultivation.

Qiu Xi Yu guessed that this time, Qiu Ruoshang taking Su Chen away was probably because of martial arts.

It was very likely that she wanted to give Su Chen some guidance in his martial arts cultivation.

However, Qiu Ruoshang's willingness to guide Su Chen didn't mean she approved of him.

Qiu Xi Yu's mind was in a mess, thinking wildly, even guessing that her little aunt might make Su Chen leave her.

As a reward for his departure, Qiu Ruoshang would give him some guidance.

Her mind was in disarray, filled with various thoughts all mixed up.

Qing Yuan, standing beside her, was more or less the same, also feeling a bit lost.

It was just that Qing Yuan didn't have too many worries; after all, she was an outsider, and many matters didn't directly concern her.

It was more of curiosity and surprise.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end