At the Baili Manor, both Zhou Xuan and Lu Ling'er received Qin Qingya's request for a visit, feeling as if a weasel were paying a New Year's call to a chicken.
"What does she want to do?"
"I have a feeling she's up to something. I noticed it yesterday."
Lu Ling'er tilted her head, trying her best to explain to Zhou Xuan why she felt Qin Qingya was acting strangely.
Zhou Xuan asked, "What is it? Your intuition is usually spot on, so there must be something wrong."
"Yesterday, I was playing with Linglong jie jie and the others. Ruo Lin jie jie was also there, and she saw Qin Qingya with a man."
"Later, Linglong also said that man made her feel uncomfortable."
"A man? Did you know him?"
"Not really, he was a stranger, but he seemed to have approached Qin Qingya personally and said something to her."
"The next day Qin Qingya wants to see me. I just have a feeling things aren't that simple."
Zhou Xuan patted her shoulder comfortingly.
"It's alright, I'm with you. She can't do anything to you in front of me. Don't worry, Brother Xuan is here for you. For now, don't go out to meet her. Cultivate properly in the Void Space first."
"Okay, I'll listen to you."
Lu Ling'er agreed obediently, but the unease in her eyes did not dissipate.
"Then, you go back and rest first. I'll go meet this person."
Zhou Xuan looked at Lu Ling'er, smiling gently, and after he spoke, Lu Ling'er turned and left the room.
...
Zhou Xuan was unaware of Lu Ling'er's worries. He thought Lu Ling'er was afraid of Qin Qingya causing trouble, which was why he didn't let her go out.
Although the Qin family disliked Lu Ling'er, she was still the little princess of the Lu family and someone he cared about. No matter how much the Qin family disliked her, they wouldn't dare to do anything too blatant.
Zhou Xuan had been cultivating in the Void Space for these past few days. Although his cultivation level remained at the peak of the mid-stage Transcendence realm, his actual combat strength had improved to the late stage and was still growing, bringing him closer to breaking through to the early stage of the Saint realm.
However, Zhou Xuan's original intention was not to quickly break through to the Saint realm, but rather to go to the Dragon Ridge Ruins earlier to retrieve the other ring.
This way, he could use the formidable combat strength brought by consecutive advancements to seize the item in one go, fearing that there might be complications later on.
In fact, since obtaining the gourd magical artifact.
His progress could be described as rapid.
But the Ancestor had said that he could not yet resist and enslave such powerful spatial energy, so he could only slowly build a solid foundation.
Therefore, Zhou Xuan had been trying his best to restrain himself, avoiding pushing towards the Great Perfection stage of the late-stage Transcendence realm, as it would lead to an unstable cultivation foundation, ultimately causing an unstable realm and resulting in qi deviation and self-destruction.
Qin Qingya wanted to visit.
Qin Qingya was the eldest daughter of the Qin family's direct lineage. Although she had not inherited the family business, she was still a person of standing.
When she came to visit, the people at Baili Manor would not refuse her entry.
Qin Qingya had specially dressed up before coming, wearing high heels and light makeup. She looked very elegant and beautiful, even walking with a swagger.
Unfortunately, just as she was about to step into the manor villa, she was stopped.
"Miss Qin, do you have an appointment? If not, our young master does not see visitors." The butler stopped Qin Qingya.
Qin Qingya smiled and said, "I know, what's wrong? Master Zhou Xuan is my savior. Is it not allowed for me to come to thank him with money?"
"In that case, please go back. My young master does not welcome you." The butler still did not let her pass.
"Why are you so rigid?"
"If you won't let me in when I'm here to give you money, who can you let in? Don't think I don't know, Zhou Xuan is at home."
"Let me report to Mr. Zhou first."
The butler, helpless, could only leave her aside and made a video call.
"Let her in."
After Zhou Xuan finished speaking, he walked into the hall outside.
"Master Zhou, please sit!"
Qin Qingya stood up with a smile and poured Zhou Xuan a cup of tea.
Zhou Xuan took it and took a sip.
"Miss Qin, I'd like to know why you've come today?"
Zhou Xuan asked directly.
Qin Qingya's eyes darted around twice, then she said with a smile, "I just want to tell you, since you saved me, I'd like to invite you and Miss Ling'er to dinner. And this is a small token of my personal regard. Please accept it."
"Why?"
Zhou Xuan looked at Qin Qingya in surprise. This was not her usual behavior!
"No reason to be attentive unless you're plotting something. Miss Qin, you make me very uneasy. Your elder sister, Qin Huaiyu, has already given me sufficient compensation. Please take these back. I cannot accept them."
Could it be a change of heart?
Or was this woman trying to retaliate?
Looking at her radiant demeanor, Zhou Xuan understood somewhat.
No matter the reason, Zhou Xuan could not accept it.
"Miss Qin, don't say I didn't warn you. Your Peach Blossom Gu was only recently resolved. It's really not suitable for certain activities. You understand, right?"
Qin Qingya snorted coldly, then placed the cup in her hand back on the table with a thud.
"You are insulting my character. I, Qin Qingya, would not be so unappreciative of life even after a trip to the gates of hell."
"Oh, is that so? That's good. Consider me meddling. If there's nothing else, you can go back. There's no need for this meal." Zhou Xuan refused.
"Young Master Zhou, please don't drive me away. You know, I owe you my life, and... and... and I..."
As Qin Qingya spoke, she lowered her head, appearing very shy.
Zhou Xuan raised an eyebrow, "Miss Qin, if you have something to say, just say it. Don't be so coy."
He didn't believe she had fallen in love with him at first sight. Ever since he met this woman, he knew she was all surface and no substance.
Qin Qingya gritted her teeth and mustered her courage, saying, "I want to be friends with Young Master Zhou. Is Young Master Zhou willing to give me this opportunity?"
"Miss Qin, are you proposing to me?" Zhou Xuan looked at her with feigned surprise, but his tone was full of disdain.
He, Zhou Xuan, was a man of integrity. How could he like this kind of girl?
"Young Master Zhou, please don't make fun of me. I just want to be ordinary friends with Young Master Zhou, not lovers!"
Qin Qingya quickly waved her hands to argue, a hint of anxiety flashing in her eyes.
Zhou Xuan smiled, "Miss Qin, how about we make a deal?"
"A deal?"
Qin Qingya looked at him, confused, her eyes filled with bewilderment.
"Yes, since Miss Qin wants to be friends with me, then I hope we can maintain the current situation, and you'd better not harbor any ulterior motives towards me!"
"You're overthinking it. I truly want to repent and apologize by treating you to a meal."
Qin Qingya's words were sincere. A young lady of high status had lowered herself and pleaded with Zhou Xuan with tear-filled eyes to believe her.
Zhou Xuan, unable to resist her persistence and genuinely moved by her attitude.
Although he could not completely fall out with the Qin family at this moment, the five families had once again reached a certain balance.
He still needed Qin Qingya for now.
So he also put on a smile and said, "Then it's settled. Pick me and my girlfriend up tonight."