Chapter 8.01 – Don’t You Think He Looks Good?

At present, it has been five years since the protagonist transmigrated and this was when he was about to slap the Liu Clan's face for the first time.

As soon as Xiang Han stepped out of the cave, he saw a paper crane hovering outside. He reached out and pinched it, only letting it go after listening to the message. However, the paper crane had been crumpled. With two crooked flaps, it fell to the ground with a crash.

Xiang Han had no choice but to use a technique to send it back on its original path before he stepped onto his sword and flew to Qing Xuan Sect.

The paper crane was sent by Liu Meng'er's father to inform that he had sent his daughter to Qing Xuan Mountain, and requested him to take care of her.

Children from cultivation clans began to test their aptitude at the age of three. Once they were tested to have good potential, they would be able to enter a cultivation sect. After Liu Meng'er's aptitude test, she worshipped Liu Han Zhou as her master.

However, Liu Han Zhou wholeheartedly focused on reaching the Golden Core stage and had no time to teach her. In addition, the Liu family had some resources and Father Liu indulged her, thus allowing her to cultivate at home. Now that she was in the seventh stage of Qi Condensation, she was sent to participate in the Qing Xuan sect's disciple selection.

This wasn't a rare occurrence in the cultivation world. There were many children from noble families, who despite being unable to enter a sect, had their names listed as a disciple. Originally, the male protagonist was a Qing Xuan Sect inner sect disciple, but after having his spiritual root destroyed, he could only become an outer sect disciple.

For the Qing Xuan sect, this was normal. Since you couldn't cultivate any longer, what was the point of hogging the title of an inner sect disciple? However, the male protagonist felt it was unfair. It was as if the faction he had applied for had changed in the blink of an eye when it was time for reporting.

Thus, he never cultivated at the Qing Xuan Sect in the last five years. After reaching the Foundation Building stage, he took part in the disciple selection as an outer sect disciple and pushed Liu Meng'er to the bottom.

According to the rules, cultivators with only the title of an inner sect disciple had to take part in the selection along with the rest. Although they had such a title, no one knew how they were cultivating since they stayed at home all the time.

Therefore, among those who dared to hold such a title, at least nine out of ten were confident of their abilities. Take Liu Meng'er for example, she had worshipped Liu Han Zhou as her master. As long as her ranking in this competition wasn't too embarrassing, there would be no problem for her to officially enter the sect. However, she was unluckily pushed down because of the male protagonist. Her rank, which should have been steady, suddenly left her without a chance.

It didn't stop there. After winning against her, the male protagonist even said 'In the past, I was a poor boy. Did your Liu clan ever think such a day would come when you cancelled the engagement?' and words like that. Afterwards, everyone present despised the Liu family for being untrustworthy and breaking their word.

Liu Han Zhou was a prideful person. He immediately expressed that he had been completely unaware of such a matter and admonished Liu Meng'er before telling the protagonist, "You've suffered. Since you won against Meng'er, why don't you become my disciple?"

However, the protagonist only swept a disdainful glance over him and said, "Your Liu clan is full of untrustworthy people, I don't want to be associated with you."

Once these words were out, Liu Han Zhou was so angry that he wanted to beat him to death on the spot.

However, Elder Gu of the Qing Xuan Sect admired the male protagonist very much. Adding to the fact that he and Liu Han Zhou didn't get along, he immediately said that he wanted to accept the male protagonist as his disciple. Liu Han Zhou was furious and naturally made trouble for him at every turn. But no matter how much he obstructed the protagonist, he couldn't overpower the protagonist's halo. Instead, he had utterly offended the male protagonist and was completely destroyed without mercy.

Xiang Han felt that the male lead was a bit too egotistical. To put it bluntly, he was just too self-righteous. Take for example, annulling an engagement was originally a matter between Liu Meng'er and the original Chu Ming. What was a book transmigrator like him feeling humiliated for? Moreover, he felt humiliated for five years. Besides, the competition was usually composed of people of similar cultivation level, but as someone in the Foundation Building stage, he actually ran over to beat up a little girl in the Qi Condensation stage. Did he not feel any embarrassment in flaunting such a victory?

In short, Xiang Han didn't feel an ounce of goodwill towards the protagonist. In fact, he was especially irritated thinking about how Chen Shu Ze was his good friend.

Returning to Liu Han Zhou's dwelling in Qing Xuan Sect, Xiang Han immediately saw the lady the moment he stepped in. Noticing her white robes and simple hairstyle, as well as her tom-boyish aura, he immediately understood that this was Liu Meng'er.

Seeing him return, her expression turned respectful and she bowed. "Greetings, Shizun."

"En." Xiang Han gave a dull sound of acknowledgement before asking, "How is your preparation for the competition going?"

Though Liu Meng'er wanted to be humble, her eyes couldn't help but curve upwards in front of the person she respected. "Shizun need not worry. This disciple will not embarrass you."

Xiang Han sighed internally: Not only did you embarrass me, you even embarrassed me big time.

However, this couldn't be blamed on her. It would be more strange to not be defeated in the face of the protagonist halo.

In his opinion, Liu Meng'er was not at fault. Instead, it was all to be blamed on their arranged marriage. When it came to arranged marriages, if the two sides were on par, they would probably get by. However, if one side suddenly becomes an ordinary person, it is normal for the other party to be unable to accept the huge difference between them. Wasn't it just like how, in the last world, Meng Ze had annulled their engagement?

But Liu Meng'er lived in a different world after all. In the secular world, women are regarded as inferior to men, and this has more or less affected the cultivation world. Therefore, although this marriage was not what she wanted, and despite to the fact that she had never met this person before and did not have any basic emotional attachments to him, she was still scolded for her betrayal after withdrawing from the arranged marriage. She was unlucky enough to be hated by the male protagonist who suddenly transmigrated.

The first thing he needed to do was to help Liu Meng'er.

Thinking of this, he immediately pulled out a blank talisman and brush. He stabilised the talisman and waved his brush before giving it to Liu Meng'er. "Keep this with you and use it when there is danger."

Liu Meng'er's combat skills weren't lacking. In a normal situation, her success rate wasn't low. However, for the sake of face-slapping, the protagonist deliberately hid his real cultivation level and entered the competition for the Qi Condensation stage cultivators, defeating Liu Meng'er in three moves.

With this talisman, Liu Meng'er would… most probably still lose since her cultivation level was too low. But at least, Xiang Han could ensure that this would expose the protagonist's true cultivation level. The competition was divided into various stages. For a Foundation Building stage cultivator to run over to the Qi Condensation stage competition to abuse rookies, it was too embarrassing. Xiang Han did not believe that the protagonist would still be able to humiliate others when that time comes.

Liu Meng'er's eyes lit up at his words. She carefully accepted the talisman and Xiang Han continued.

"The competition is the day after. Go prepare for it."

"Yes." Liu Meng'er was extremely reverent of him and immediately left.

After getting rid of her, Xiang Han began to think again about how to pry Chen Shu Ze away from the male protagonist. Speaking of which, Chen Shu Ze actually had a fiancée. He couldn't be a straight man again, right?

Nevermind, sometimes, the data collected by the system may not necessarily be accurate, just like in the previous world.

System: […]

Moreover, his fiancée already fell for the male protagonist, yet Chen Shu Ze wasn't angry in the least. Instead, he continued to be best bros with him.

Erm… he couldn't have fallen for the protagonist, right?

Having thought of this possibility, Xiang Han was immediately overcome by disgust. He decided to take a stroll at the nearby mountain top to relax.

However, as soon as he walked out, he ran into Chen Shu Ze and his fellow male protagonist.

Xiang Han had no expression on his face while the other two were stunned.

After a while, the protagonist suddenly asked, "Are you Liu Meng'er?"

Chu Ming had seen Liu Meng'er's portrait previously, so when he saw Xiang Han, he felt that he was somewhat similar to the woman in the painting. In addition, he heard that Liu Meng'er liked to wear men's clothing.

An inner disciple even said that she had entered this courtyard before, thus, he came to this conclusion.

However, a seed of doubt sprang in his heart. He felt the 'Liu Meng'er' dressed as a man… really seemed too much like a man.

Xiang Han's lips twitched. He wanted to ask: Is your head filled with water or are your eyes for decoration? Can't you see my adam's apple?

However, his persona was of an aloof and sinister man. Thus, he only glanced at them. "Outer-sect disciples? How have you come to the inner sect?"

The protagonist was immediately embarrassed upon hearing his voice and realised he had recognised the wrong person. However, he was still unhappy after noticing the resemblance between him and Liu Meng'er. "Naturally, it is through appropriate channels. Who are you?"

Xiang Han did not answer, only leaving behind a dull line, "Outer sect disciples cannot stay in the inner courtyard for too long. You should leave."

Saying so, he went past them…wait, more accurately, he went past Chen Shu Ze. His sleeves lightly brushed across the other in the process.

Chen Shu Ze stood rigidly the entire time without a word.

Xiang Han seemed to leave calmly, but he was actually quite puzzled. In his eyes, Chen Shu Ze stood stupidly still the whole time. He did not display a single hint of intelligence or arrogance, and neither was he overbearing and indifferent. He was far from the personalities he had in the previous worlds.

[Is it because he hasn't yet transmigrated?] Xiang Han couldn't help asking Big A.

[No, he is the general.] Big A affirmed.

[Really?] Xiang Han was a little skeptical. He wanted to go back and observe again.

After watching Xiang Han walk away, the male protagonist couldn't help muttering, "Really looking down on people, just like Liu Meng'er. I guess they all belong to the Liu clan."

After muttering, he noticed Chen Shu Ze was still standing there in a daze. He couldn't help smacking the other person. "What are you in a daze for? It's time to go."

Chen Shu Ze abruptly returned to his senses. He hurriedly turned around and asked, "Brother Chu, that person just now…is he your ex-fiancée?"

"Ahem, no way. He is a man." Chu Ming shook his head awkwardly and then asked a little strangely, "Did you not hear it just now?"

"A man?" Chen Shu Ze repeated.

Chu Ming quickly dragged him to a secluded corner and waved a hand in front of him speechlessly. "Shu Ze, why are you acting like a love-struck fool?"

Chen Shu Ze once again came back to his senses. He quickly cleared his throat and replied in embarrassment, "Don't you think… he is quite attractive?"

"What's so attractive about a man?" Chu Ming scoffed.

Chen Shu Ze shook his head in disagreement. "I feel like I've seen him somewhere before."

"Your words, I've seem to have heard them before too." Chu Ming was speechless for a moment before dragging him away. "Go, go. It's time to leave."