Chapter 96: What Exactly Have You Understood?

Having truly grasped the immense power of the Tai Chi Diagram, Xiang Nan grew increasingly restless. Pocketing the diagram, he decided to step outside.

Behind the villa complex stood a modest hill, neither too large nor too small, its scenery simple and unpretentious. Occasionally, villagers would climb the hill to fetch spring water, but few ventured there to appreciate its quiet beauty.

Finding a secluded spot, Xiang Nan began to fervently practice the Serenity Chant.

Spirit energy! I need you!

He wished he could absorb all the surrounding spirit energy within a ten-mile radius into his body.

Not far off, on a flat patch of ground, Meng Qingwan held her breath in deep concentration, entering a meditative state. Since the death of the Sacred Maiden and the severe blow to the Hundred Flowers Alliance, Meng Qingwan had devoted every spare moment to cultivating her skills.

Blessed with great talent, her cultivation was hardly inferior to her senior sister’s. Yet, her gentle heart made her reluctant to harm others, so she had always remained quietly in the background.

But now, with her senior sister dead, the Hundred Flowers Alliance’s headquarters in ruins, and hundreds of disciples scattered, she suddenly felt the weight of responsibility pressing heavily upon her shoulders.

She was now the sole disciple entrusted by the Alliance leader.

Half a year ago, when the leader disappeared without a trace, all affairs of the Hundred Flowers Alliance had rested on her senior sister, Ruan Xiaoxiao.

At that time, she could still avoid responsibility and live as an ordinary disciple.

But now, with no one to bear the burden, if she remained so lackadaisical, the Hundred Flowers Alliance would truly perish.

Originally disheartened, she had recently been contacted by many dispersed disciples, all eager to revive the Hundred Flowers Alliance and unanimously endorsing her as the new Sacred Maiden.

What she once refused to do, she now had no choice but to undertake. Perhaps this was what growth truly meant.

Meng Qingwan exhaled softly.

Under her master’s guidance, though still only at the third level of cultivation, she had opened her Qi Sea and could perform simple exercises to draw spirit energy into her body.

Of course, constrained by her level, the amount of spirit energy she could absorb was limited. Often after an entire afternoon of practice, she could only intake a faint trace of spirit energy, which then had to be refined by her own true Qi to be stored within her Qi Sea.

Yet this did not prevent her from perceiving the spirit energy around her.

As she concentrated on drawing the energy inward, a subtle frown crossed her delicate brow.

“Why does the spirit energy around here seem alive, all surging in one direction? This is so strange! I’ve never seen anything like this before!”

Meng Qingwan opened her eyes deliberately but continued to sense the spirit energy.

The surge was so pronounced she didn’t even need to hold her breath to discern its direction.

Following the flow, she soon saw Xiang Nan sitting cross-legged on a stone, his palms facing upward, deeply immersed in cultivation.

Thinking she must be mistaken, she closed her eyes again to focus.

Confirming that all the spirit energy was rushing toward Xiang Nan, she opened her eyes wide in disbelief.

At this moment, Xiang Nan was drinking in the spirit energy with great satisfaction.

Why hadn’t he come to this hill to cultivate earlier? The spirit energy here was far more potent than in the villa’s courtyard.

And owing to the elevation, spirit energy naturally gathered here with ease.

This brief session was worth two hours elsewhere.

Just as Xiang Nan’s heart swelled with joy, he sensed a subtle shift in the surrounding air.

“Someone’s coming?”

He inhaled deeply and slowly opened his eyes.

At that instant, a current of energy shot out. Meng Qingwan, who had been intently observing Xiang Nan, shuddered involuntarily.

She couldn’t describe the sensation—it was as if her entire body had been electrified.

Inwardly, she lamented that despite her third-level cultivation, Xiang Nan’s gaze alone had unsettled her.

Clearly, she was still far from being a formidable presence, lacking both cultivation and composure. Could the Hundred Flowers Alliance truly be rebuilt?

Suddenly, a thought flickered through her mind, and her gaze toward Xiang Nan grew fervent.

Having spent some time in the capital, Meng Qingwan found Xiang Nan a constant source of astonishment—the shock of his spiritual treasure, the surprise at his defeat of the Fire Cloud Evil God, and the repeated near-death escapes.

His true strength was far greater than it appeared.

Like now, a second-level cultivator absorbing spirit energy on such a terrifying scale—only Xiang Nan could accomplish this.

“Meng Qingwan, what are you doing here?” Xiang Nan withdrew from cultivation and asked calmly.

“I…I have something to tell you,” Meng Qingwan bit her lip, as if steeling herself for a significant decision.

“What’s so urgent that you had to come all the way into the mountains to find me? Wait, how did you know I was here? I didn’t tell anyone,” Xiang Nan recalled.

“That doesn’t matter. What matters is that I truly have something important to say,” Meng Qingwan’s expression grew more anxious.

Seeing her like this, Xiang Nan felt a flutter in his chest.

“You… you weren’t following me, were you? Wait!”

Important words to tell me? That must mean she’s going to confess, right?

Ah! This damn charm!

What should I do? What should I do?

Xiang Nan had a good impression of Meng Qingwan—she was pure-hearted, kind, and guileless, truly endearing. But this?

Could he be misunderstanding?

“Are you in a hurry to find me because someone in the Eagle Alliance bullied you? Tell me who it was, and I’ll deal with them,” Xiang Nan said, a little nervously.

“No, it’s not that,” Meng Qingwan shook her head, showing a hint of shyness.

Oh no, not here to complain—then it must be a confession.

“Qingwan, I just remembered I have something to do. I have to go,” Xiang Nan said, waving his hand as he tried to escape.

At times like this, the best strategy was to run.

“Hey! Xiang Nan, don’t go yet. I really have something important to tell you,” Meng Qingwan hurried forward and grasped his arm.

“You don’t need to say it. I already understand,” Xiang Nan patted her shoulder, feigning regret.

“You understand? I haven’t even said anything. What do you understand?” Meng Qingwan was baffled.

“Isn’t it obvious? Your expression and actions have told me everything. I’m not stupid. Now, I really have to go,” Xiang Nan gently pried her hand away and pressed forward.

Meng Qingwan was utterly bewildered. Was her expression really that clear and convincing?

Had he truly seen through her plan to ask him to act as the interim leader of the Hundred Flowers Alliance?

“Then, do you agree or not? You have to give me an answer!” she called loudly after him.

Xiang Nan froze.

This girl was so straightforward, so bold?

They’d only known each other for a few days, meeting no more than three times. To confess so quickly—that was a bit too fast!