My Core is the Boss

At once, Xie Tang's excited gaze fell upon a young boy and girl standing nearby.

The Profound Heaven Sect had been in decline for far too long. Even within the Fire Spirit World, good talents were hard to come by. Hence she had pinned her hopes on this new world. Finding Wang Zhiqi had already been a pleasant surprise. Now, she had come across two individuals with even greater talent!

Tianyue City, the birthplace of Profound Heaven Sect's disciples!

Wang Zhiqi's eyes went wide with delight. "Principal, are you referring to those kids? What a coincidence! I know them! They're refugees that Brother Qi Yuan brought back from Wugui!"

Xie Tang casually asked, "Oh? Who is Qi Yuan?"

Wang Zhiqi explained with an animated expression, "He's my neighbor, my dad's best friend, and the owner of that viral cat. He's really, really handsome! My bestie saw him once and said she wanted to confess her feelings. But when Brother Qi Yuan came back last time, he'd already married this incredibly beautiful wife. My bestie was absolutely devastated!"

Her best friend was a hopeless romantic. In middle school, she'd had a crush on a street delinquent who rode a ghost-flame motorcycle. In high school, she'd fallen for the biology teacher. She'd probably end up smitten with her military training instructor in university.

"Is that so? He has quite the luck, picking up two such promising talents." In all honesty, Xie Tang had no interest in Qi Yuan himself. But before long, her expression shifted. "Jiang Qingjiao and the Freedom Lord?"

She had just spotted a sworn rival she deeply disliked beside the young boy and girl. It was Jiang Qingjiao of the Fighting God Sect. The other man was a renowned rogue cultivator known as the Freedom Lord. As a Nascent Soul powerhouse, he was someone most people had to show respect to.

The Freedom Lord was performing a technique. A small bird materialized out of thin air in his palm, holding a fresh flower in its beak. The sight was rather charming.

Hmph. What is someone from the Fighting God Sect doing in my city?

After watching for a moment, Xie Tang marched straight over with Wang Zhiqi in tow. She glared at Jiang Qingjiao.

Jiang Qingjiao glanced up and was briefly surprised. "Ah, if it isn't the Turtle Star Second Fairy of Profound Heaven Sect. As you can see, the Freedom Lord happened to cross paths with these two and wishes to take them as disciples. I merely followed out of curiosity. Anyway, our junior brother lost to my sect brother. Why shouldn't I be allowed in Tianyue?"

His tone was especially provoking—and it was effective!

Xie Tang's anger surged. "The one who lost wasn't our representative for Tianyue!"

Jiang Qingjiao's sneer deepened. "Since you're already here, why don't we settle this once and for all? By sundown, Tianyue may very well belong to my sect."

Xie Tang's face went ashen then red.

Jiang Qingjiao was a Holy Son, the strongest of the younger generation. Xie Tang, by comparison, was not as talented. Only her senior sister, Xie Xinsu, could push Jiang Qingjiao back. Her disappearance left the younger generation without a true leader, and naturally, they couldn’t compete with the Fighting God Sect.

If she let him goad her into a duel, she would be playing right into his hands. A defeat would mean not only humiliation, but also the loss of recruitment territory. Unable to risk that, she could only swallow the mockery in bitterness.

Jiang Qingjiao smirked even wider. "I mean, isn’t it only fair? My sect can only accept them as disciples if the Freedom Lord loses interest in them. Naturally, only if we decline will your sect have a chance.”

His tone was domineering, leaving no room for argument. Utterly crushed, Xie Tang had to stop herself from throwing hands.

Taking his sister’s hand, Yaji stared straight at Jiang Qingjiao, his voice firm and clear. "I have already turned him down. Nor will I join the Fighting God Sect. Stop wasting your time on me. It isn't worth it."

Jiang Qingjiao blinked, genuinely taken aback. He hadn't expected an ordinary mortal to speak to him like that. Though displeased, he hid it well. "Join us, and you'll have everything you've ever wanted, and more! Power, wealth, beauty... whatever you desire will be yours!"

Yaji's voice did not waver. "I need none of those things. My lord saved my life, hence it belongs to him."

Gratitude aside, Yaji had witnessed his power firsthand and knew it was far beyond what these gimmicky cultivators could match. Besides, he hadn’t forgotten that Qi Yuan wanted his blood.

Like a doting grandfather, the Freedom Lord sighed. "If you were to take me as your master, you could repay your lord far more handsomely. Above all, you should live for yourself. Freedom is what matters most.

"I know you feel indebted toward your lord for saving your life. But if you study under my tutelage, I guarantee that within a few decades, repaying him with a mountain of gold will be no difficulty at all."

Yaji shook his head again. Without Qi Yuan's consent, not even the Jade Emperor himself could change his mind.

The Freedom Lord's eyes flickered with disappointment. His patience had run out. Furthermore, Yaji's absolute loyalty and his path were like oil and water.

He sighed. "What a pity. It seems we are simply not fated."

Jiang Qingjiao felt a small satisfaction. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before the Freedom Lord would leave. And when that happened, these two would have no choice but to enter his sect. He certainly wasn't about to be as nice as the Freedom Lord.

If the Fighting God Sect couldn't have them, no other sect could!

***

White clouds rolled past in waves as a fine spring rain fell. The world was lush and endless.

Qi Yuan savored the taste of the girl's lips, occasionally brushing aside the cascade of dark hair that spilled across her chest before leaning in closer. Whenever he did, Canary seemed to lose her composure entirely, ruining her impersonation of Ning Tao. She climbed on top of him, looking as though she meant to push him away, yet drawing him closer instead..

After some time, the rain ceased. Like a small cat, she curled into Qi Yuan's arms and listened as he recounted what had happened in the Death Qi World.

"You should have spared the Fish Girl."

"Oh? Why?"

"Didn't you say you wanted to find Han Xianyun a wonderful wife? I think she would have been quite wonderful."

He nodded sincerely. "You are right!"

The Fish Girl's delicate jade feet were rather wonderful.

"Next time I go there, I'll keep an eye out and see if I can find Han Xianyun a wife."

Qi Yuan had always been enthusiastic about this sort of thing. If he found a suitable candidate for Han Xianyun, he'd happily play matchmaker.

Sure, the two would be separated by the distance of space and time, but that wasn't his problem to solve. If they truly loved each other, they'd find their way across any horizon. After all, appearing at the ends of the earth was romantic, whereas appearing at the wrong end of the earth was simply impolite.

Then again, since Qi Yuan would be the one playing matchmaker, Han Xianyun and his wonderful wife would never have met. He would not concern himself with how strong they would be in love.

He shifted his arm around her and casually tossed out a handful of things he'd picked up from the outpost. "Oh, I brought some rocks and wood from the outpost." [1]

He wanted her to study them and see whether she might use them as a key to enter the Death Qi World.

Canary's expression shifted into focus, a stark contrast of her easy and relaxed look. Now, she seemed like a menacing Yin Spirit.

After a while, her eyes widened with surprise. "The aura of time!"

1. E/N: Such a romantic. ☜