The Ancient Strengthening Technique

AST 2353 - Could This Be the Feeling of Falling in Love...?

Qing Shui saw Nalan Qing blush. This sight was distinct and clear. She was absolutely breathtaking. Qing Shui was dumbfounded for a long while and when he snapped out of it, he saw the Water Emperor looking at him jokingly, while Nalan Qing gave him a weird glare.

"Sister Qing, you're simply too stunning. I couldn't help but stare. Please don't take offense." Qing Shui laughed awkwardly.

If it was only Qing Shui and Nalan Qing, it would not be that weird. He was too shameless to care about that. However, her dad was there, too. No matter how shameless he was, he wouldn't dare to be so in front of him.

"Haha, you can keep your composure around her and have such a righteous aura. If you think you can get my daughter then go ahead. I'll support you." The Water Emperor laughed.

Qing Shui rubbed his nose. Initially, Beihuang Liefeng had encouraged him to chase his daughter, but the Water Emperor also brought this girl in as well. Were their daughters really this unmarriable?

"Daddy, how could you team up with an outsider to bully me?" Nalan Qing said, dumbfounded.

"I'm doing this for your future happiness. Trust my judgment." The Water Emperor laughed.

In a bit, the Water Emperor ordered a large table's worth of dishes and wine, inviting Qing Shui to join. The meal was just for the three of them. It was not good for outsiders to know of the Water Emperor's recovery.

"Come. You are the Nalan Clan's benefactor. Here's a toast to you." The Water Emperor stood up as he held the wine glass.

"It's fine. Let's stick to drinking wine and not talk about this. I couldn't possibly beat the weight of this label. It is fate that I met elder sister Qing. Without her, we wouldn't have met," Qing Shui said truthfully.

Nalan Qing and Qing Shui were sitting side by side so she turned around and pinched his forearm with all her might.

Qing Shui realized that she resembled a young girl and stealthily extended his arm to stop her, holding her hand for a brief moment before letting go. Nalan Qing's heart began to race, but she dared not take action with her father present. Her face was as red as a tomato during this whole exchange.

Their flirtatious moves were picked up by the Water Emperor, but he pretended to be none the wiser. The sight made him happy. Qing Shui and the Water Emperor drank a cup. The Water Emperor then shared another drink with his daughter. Naturally, Qing Shui and Nalan Qing also drank a cup.

They agreed to start treating three people every day from the next day onwards. The Water Emperor did not know if the others suffered under the Divinity Scattering Powder as well, but Qing Shui did tell them the powder was rare, expensive, and precious. There couldn't be many victims with insufficient powder.

There could be exceptions, but then it would be too wasteful.

The imperial palace had a hall for Nalan Qing so the Water Emperor left arrangements for Qing Shui to Nalan Qing, not deigning himself to do it.

Nalan Qing and Qing Shui walked out of the hall and toward Nalan Qing's hall. They reached their destinations not long after. The hall's main doors read "Qing Palace".

Upon walking in, there was a courtyard leading to a hall. However, in the middle of the hall was a hallway that led to the back. On the side of the courtyard were various flowers and plants, the floor made of quartz steps. It was already evening. The quartz dispersed warm rays of light, which lit up the hall like the heavenly imperial palace.

With a jade-like beauty by his side, Qing Shui looked up and stared into space. There was a round moon, risen in all its bright glory. When he turned around to look at Nalan Qing, she, too, was mesmerized by the brilliance of the moon.

The moonlight was like water, dispersing endless rays of shining white light, making everything seem like a dream.

"Moonlight and a beauty. The night is young and I am not in the mood to sleep. How about we talk throughout the night? We can talk about life, talk about our aspirations..." Qing Shui smiled as he looked at Nalan Qing.

She blushed once again. After Qing Shui had cured her father, she was feeling a lot more optimistic. The stress and burdens were leaving her body, and her thoughts were gradually changing.

"Turns out you have such a glib tongue as well. Definitely not a good person," Nalan Qing rebuked.

"Good and bad are only separated by a thin line. Today's good may become tomorrow's bad, and may return to good again. There are also big baddies and small baddies. Some are detestable, some are cute. Would you want me to turn bad?" Qing Shui smiled smugly.

Nalan Qing understood Qing Shui's expression and could see where he was coming from. She actually laughed, letting out a light chuckle. It was unbelievably attractive. She then told Qing Shui, " I am just a widow with a horrible reputation that's only gotten worse. You're an eagle in the sky. With your wings extended, very quickly, you'd be able to soar. I'm grateful for you. If you're interested in someone like me, I'm willing to be yours."

Qing Shui was confused by her statement. He looked at her, " Do I look like the sort to just lust after your body?"

"No, I know you're not. That's not what I meant, but I'm…"

"You're a heavenly jewel in my heart. Elder sister Qing, Young miss, little grandaunt, I'm not helping you in hopes of getting something in return. I don't know if I feel that way, but if I fall in love with you, I'd pursue you till you become my wife. I never seek rewards when I actively help others, especially not in such a way. If I didn't know that you were a virgin, I would've pounced on you with just that statement."

Nalan Qing blushed even more. This rascal had said it so explicitly. What she had said before was indeed meant to probe his character.

"I'm sorry. Please don't be angry. You're a real man," Nalan Qing said as she lightly tugged on Qing Shui's sleeve.

"Alright. It's fine if you were just testing me." Qing Shui understood and gave her butt a light slap. It felt good and bouncy.

He was caught up by the moment, purely out of habit. He rubbed his nose and awkwardly said, "I wasn't trying to take advantage of you. It was just how I used to tease the women at home…"

Nalan Qing was not very mad, just slightly shocked. She glared at Qing Shui, "That's a great domestic disciplining method."

Qing Shui felt even more embarrassed and awkward, "Why don't you do the same to me?"

"Go to hell!" Nalan Qing got to see the shameless side of him.

However, she still laughed, thinking of how they had barely met and how they were now. Even though their relationship took a strange turn and how this man was so shameless, she didn't dislike this. Instead, she was slightly happy.

"Let's sleep there tonight," Qing Shui said as he looked around and realized there were quite a few rooms.

Nalan Qing naturally heard the error in his sentence, but chose to ignore it, saying "I'll help you find a room."

"Is your room big?" Qing Shui said as he walked.

"Don't even dream about it!" Nalan Qing said scornfully.

"Miss, get your mind out of the gutter. I'm just asking how big your room is." Qing Shui laughed.

"It's your thoughts that are dirty." Nalan Qing had never been mocked in such a way before. Being near Qing Shui, she said things she had never said before. It was a new experience for her. Both her brain and her emotions were being assaulted, and her heartstrings tugged at.

Could this be the sensation of falling in love…?