Xiaoshanhe Institute.
Ye Heng, dressed in a profound garb, carried two large cauldrons on his shoulders as he ran rapidly around the martial arts field.
His speed was incredibly fast, each cauldron weighing several thousand pounds, yet he carried them with ease. His tiptoes touched the ground as if he were a dragonfly skimming water, barely making contact before taking off again.
His swift pace kicked up clouds of dust behind him.
He had been persisting in his training since before dawn.
The martial arts field measured a couple thousand meters in circumference, and only after fifty laps did he stop, placing the two cauldrons back in the corner of the field.
The cauldrons landed with a resonant sound.
A clear voice suddenly came from behind him; a graceful young lady approached him, her white dress flowing as she moved.
Ye Heng paused, wiping the sweat from his forehead, and said, "Nangong!"
The lady of a collateral branch of the Nangong Clan, one of the Great Qian Dynasty's four main noble families, and also the goddess in the hearts of all male disciples in Ye Heng's cohort.
Nangong Liuyun rarely even gave him a second glance.
He hadn't expected her to initiate a greeting today.
With a gentle smile on her face, Nangong Liuyun took out a handkerchief attempting to wipe Ye Heng's sweat, but he dodged her, looking at her questioningly, "Nangong, do you need something from me?"
Seeing that Ye Heng refused to let her wipe his sweat, Nangong Liuyun showed no displeasure, simply putting the handkerchief away. A radiant smile appeared on her face, which was as beautiful as a portrait, "Ye Heng, actually, from the first time I saw you, I already liked you."
Ye Heng was taken aback, raising an eyebrow, "Nangong, don't joke with me. You are the pride of heaven, how could you possibly have taken a liking to me?"
"I knew you wouldn't believe me, which is why I didn't know how to tell you!"
Nangong Liuyun looked hurt, sighed, and said, "But now I'm afraid, if I don't speak my feelings, I may never have another chance. I don't want to miss out on you, Ye Heng. Would you be willing to be with me?"
Nangong Liuyun tilted her head slightly, blinking her watery large eyes.
Her exquisite face bore an expression of slight grievance and expectation, truly mesmerizing.
Ye Heng swallowed, after all, she was once his goddess!
Ye Heng hesitated for a moment, then grabbed Nangong Liuyun's hands, rubbing them in his palms, and said, intoxicated, "Nangong, actually, I have always liked you too. Can, can I hug you?"
Nangong Liuyun was stunned.
Ye Heng looked injured, "Forget it, just pretend I never said anything. I know, it was indeed too presumptuous of me!"
"Oh, no, it's not that."
Nangong Liuyun's complexion changed, she quickly embraced Ye Heng, saying hurriedly, "I'm not unwilling, it was just... a bit sudden!"
Ye Heng's lips curled up slightly, his hands gliding across Nangong Liuyun's body.
She felt extremely uncomfortable, twisting her body continuously.
Ye Heng said, "Nangong, since we're both willing, why don't you come to my room?"
Nangong Liuyun was shocked, unable to break free from Ye Heng's embrace, his body rubbing against hers. She steeled herself and said, "Ye Heng, we can't be . You, if you want to have me, you must at least marry me in a proper ceremony!"
Ye Heng said, "But... I have no power or influence, would the Nangong Family be willing to let you marry me?"
"This, this might be a bit difficult, but..." a flash of anticipation and excitement crossed Nangong Liuyun's eyes as she said, "If you are willing to marry into my Nangong Family, I am sure I can persuade my parents!"
At this moment, Nangong Liuyun's heart was filled with excitement.
She had received a message from her family instructing her to win over Ye Heng at all costs and preferably have him join the Nangong Family.
Nangong Liuyun had braced herself to find Ye Heng, this insignificant person who had never caught her attention before.
If Ye Heng hadn't awakened the Battle War Holy Body and become the target of contention among various powers, she, Nangong Liuyun, would never have had anything to do with such a small character in her entire life.
Upon hearing Nangong Liuyun's words, Ye Heng's lips curved slightly, and he sneered in his heart: As expected, no one visits a temple without a cause!
He took a deep breath and agreed outright, "Nangong, I am willing to marry into your Nangong Family, but... I need to find a master, and I want to prepare a gift for my future mentor... I've heard that the master of the Tianjian Sect also intends to take me as a disciple, and the gift must not be taken lightly..."
"What? The master of the Tianjian Sect?" Nangong Liuyun was flabbergasted.
Her first reaction was that Ye Heng was lying.
But then she thought...
Ye Heng had awakened the Battle War Holy Body, which, although inferior to Xiao Tianjiao's Supreme Overlord Holy Body, was also not much different.
It wasn't impossible for the master of the Tianjian Sect to want to take him as a disciple.
If she could win over Ye Heng and help the Nangong Family forge a connection with the Tianjian Sect, that would be a great achievement!
Nangong Liuyun clenched her teeth and said, "You will marry into our Nangong Family sooner or later, so let the Nangong Family prepare the gift for the master for you. But Ye Heng, you are sure you will marry into our Nangong Family, right?"
Ye Heng nodded, cradling Nangong Liuyun's cheeks in his hands, and said sternly, "Nangong, my admiration for you flows like the endless rivers and shines like the sun and moon that never fall..."
Nangong Liuyun was very confident in her own charm and nodded, "I will go back to my family now to fight for you, wait for my good news!"
"Nangong, I'll wait for you!"
As Ye Heng watched Nangong Liuyun leave, the smile on his face gradually vanished and looking at his hands, he murmured, "They do smell rather nice!"
A series of light coughs made Ye Heng's body shake, and he quickly stood up straight, turning to look at Xiao Yi leaning casually against the corner of the wall, wearing a strange expression as he looked at him; Ye Heng chuckled, "Master, what brings you here?"
Although they hadn't officially become master and disciple yet, in Ye Heng's heart, Xiao Yi was already his master.
Xiao Yi rolled his eyes, "Did I interrupt you?"
"No, not at all!" Ye Heng scratched his head.
Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, gesturing towards the direction Nangong Liuyun had left, "What's going on?"
Ye Heng curled his lips and disdainfully said, "What else but knowing I've awakened the Battle War Holy Body and thinking about winning me over!"
Xiao Yi's face showed amusement, "Did you agree?"
Ye Heng quickly shook his head and sneered disdainfully, "Back when I was worthless, she couldn't avoid me fast enough. Now she suddenly comes up and says she likes me, how could I possibly believe her?"
Xiao Yi uh'd, "So you still let her help you prepare the master's gift? When has anyone from the Tianjian Sect contacted you?"
Ye Heng touched his nose and grinned sheepishly, "Master, please don't misunderstand! Not to mention the master of the Tianjian Sect hasn't looked for me, even if he really came to me, I wouldn't accept him as my master. In my eyes, there is only one master, and as for Nangong Liuyun... heh heh, didn't you say we needed money? The four great aristocratic families are all very rich, so I thought, why not take advantage of it and get some..."
Take advantage of it and not be a fool?
Xiao Yi's eye twitched, looking at Ye Heng's naive and earnest laughter, speechless: "Who the hell did you learn this from?"