Chapter 66 - Xia Xue’s Surprise

“Heave-ho!” With a light leap, Xue Qilin skipped the last step leading to the outer temple of Merak Temple.

A great number of buildings appeared before her.

The building complex at the outer temple is located halfway up the Merak Temple Mountain, with the Middle Peak as the center and the East, South, West, and North Peaks as the boundary. This land is not only open, but is also relatively flat. It’s fairly suitable for constructing buildings.

“Hurry up, we’ve arrived!” Xue Qilin turned around and waved to Xia Xue and the others who are still climbing the stairs. Shui Yuner glanced at her and revealed an ugly smile.

To get here from the foot of the mountain, you need to climb about 6,000 steps.

This isn’t considered very burdensome. Needless to say, let alone Heaven Ream and Earth Realm powerhouses, even Human Realm experts can easily climb them.

However, for those who have started to practice martial arts but have yet to pry into the way of martial arts, it is another matter. Without the boost from true qi, their stamina is only slightly better than that of ordinary people. For them, it must be quite difficult to deal with these 6,000 steps.

As proof…

Shui Yuner and the Nangong siblings are panting, their faces red and full of hardship.

Even so, Xia Xue didn’t let them take a break midway, and even their pace didn’t slow down by much. As for Xue Qilin, she just watched silently, neither helping nor proposing to rest.

Strictly speaking, the lass can only be regarded as a novice martial practitioner. But in her view, whether it is practicing martial arts or learning magic, what is required, apart from opportunities, talent, and other factors that aren’t under our control, is “unyielding perseverance”.

If you can’t even endure this minor suffering, then you won’t go far on the martial path – Xue Qilin thinks so.

Thankfully…

“Huff… huff…”

Under Xue Qilin’s watchful gaze, Shui Yuner following Xia Xue finished the 6,000 steps and reached the lass, panting.

Without giving up, or complaining, the girl clenched her teeth and went through with this challenge.

Xue Qilin who saw everything nodded secretly.

Suddenly, Shui Yuner stumbled.

“Careful!” Xue Qilin exclaimed and quickly helped Shui Yuner who nearly fell.

Borrowing the support, Shui Yuner stood up straight. She didn’t sit down on the ground. Then, she raised her head and locked eyes with Xue Qilin.

“Thank…”

Perhaps feeling that her voice is so hoarse that it can be hardly understood, Shui Yuner pushed the rest of her words down and smiled in return.

A sweat bead reflecting the sunlight slid down the outline of her beautiful face, and finally dropped on the ground.

The sweat of success.

“You worked hard.” Noticing that the girl’s legs are shaking, Xue Qilin praised from the bottom of her heart.

In the next moment, the lass caught the color of purple from the corner of her eye.

The Nangong siblings have also arrived.

“Hey, I’m exhausted!” As soon as Nangong Mingye arrived, he collapsed on the ground in spite of appearances and laid with his hands and arms outstretched, looking like the 大 [1] character.

“Huff… what to say… ha … fool! You… like this… ha-ha… where are… your manners…?” Even though she was so tired that she propped herself up on her knees and gasped for air, but Nangong Mingming didn’t forget to rebuke her brother.

Looking at them, Xue Qilin couldn’t help but smile.

“Drink some water.” The lass untied the wine gourd at her waist and handed it to Shui Yuner.

The gourd is filled with water.

“Thank you.” Shui Yuner smiled gratefully.

Then, she uncorked the gourd and took in big swigs of water.

Instead of finishing the water, she glanced apologetically at Xue Qilin and handed the wine gourd to Nangong Mingming, “Mingming, have some water.”

After a moment, Nangong Ming threw Xue Qilin an inquiring look and and asked, “May I?”

“Go ahead, Mingming!” Xue Qilin didn’t mind that her wine gourd is being ‘passed around’, “Give Mingye as well.”

Nangong Mingming nodded gratefully, then kicked Nangong Mingye lying on the ground.

“Hey, Older Sister Mingming, why did you kick me!” Nangong Mingye raised his head weakly and protested.

In response, Nangong Mingming raised her eyebrows sharply, “Hurry up and thank Senior Disciple Sister!”

“Thank you, Older Sister!” Perhaps his upbringing was very strict. But even though he is extremely tired, Nangong Mingye still propped his upper body up and thanked.

“Ah, it’s fine.”

That’s too polite – Xue Qilin waved her hand.

Nangong Mingming once again expressed her gratitude to Xue Qilin with her gaze.

Then, she gave the wine gourd to Nangong Mingye and told him to drink first. After he finished, she drank herself.

What a good big sister! Xue Qilin sighed secretly.

Nangong Mingming hesitated for a while, and then asked, “Senior Disciple Sister, isn’t there a better way to go up?”

“Well…” Xue Qilin smiled wryly, “Yes, there is, but that way is a road for carriages, and makes a big detour.”

In order to drive carriages, the road must be fairly flat. This way, many things have to be sacrificed, such as distance.

“So ah…” The look of disappointment appeared on Nangong Mingming’s face, and she glanced worriedly at her brother.

Is she worried that her brother can’t bear the hardship of going up and down the mountain? Xue Qilin guessed.

In the next moment…

“Are you done yet?” Xia Xue standing aside with her arms crossed in front of her chest suddenly interrupted.

“It’s not early anymore. Go register immediately. After that, you have to settle down.” She reminded.

“Yeah, okay.” Shui Yuner blinked her eyes and answered.

Then, she turned to Xue Qilin and uttered, “Thank you, Senior Disciple Sister, for accompanying us all the way here.”

“Why are you being so polite?” Xue Qilin rolled her eyes.

She has always disliked things like paying attention to manners. They can’t be eaten, so to hell with them!

“Well, in for a penny, in for a pound. I will take you there.”

“Do you know the way?”

Xia Xue snorted in response to Xue Qilin’s show of goodwill.

“Uh…” The lass’s expression turned sluggish. She really doesn’t know the way. After all, she has never been to the outer temple.

Seeing the awkward look on Xue Qilin’s face, Shui Yuner has probably guessed the truth of the matter, and she said quickly, “It’s fine, we’ll find it ourselves.”

“I will take you there.” Xia Xue said suddenly.

The other party’s proposal came really unexpected. Xue Qilin blinked her eyes, in a daze.

“What are you plotting!” After Xia Xue’s words finally pieced together in her mind, Xue Qilin blurted out.

“What do you mean by plotting?” Xia Xue frowned, “That sounds really harsh. Can’t I be happy to help others?”

Doesn’t she think that she has insulted the words “happy to helpful”? Xue Qilin mused, an odd expression on her face.

“What’s with that expression in your eyes? Are you thinking of something rude?” Noting the look of skepticism in the lass’s eyes, Xia Xue asked with a smile that isn’t a smile.

“You’re seeing things.” Xue Qilin shrugged her shoulders. Past experience tells her that Xia Xue is in no way better than Qi Qiqi.

“If you have no objections.” Appearing to have seen through everything, Xia Xue took a deep look at Xue Qilin, “Then let’s go.”

Taking the lead, Xia Xue started walking, and Xue Qilin followed with a strange expression. Struggling to support their tired bodies, Shui Yuner and the Nangong siblings also followed.

“Yeah, that’s right!” As if she suddenly remembered something, Xia Xue stopped in her steps and slapped her palms together. This sudden action startled Xue Qilin.

Xia Xue turned back and looked at Xue Qilin meaningfully, “Later, I have a surprise for you.”

“What surprise?” The lass blinked.

“You will know later.” Having no intention to explain herself, Xia Xue turned around and continued walking.

“…”

Looking at Xia Xue’s back, Xue Qilin somehow had an indescribable premonition, an anything but reassuring premonition.

[1] – 大 is the character for big, among others