Chapter 673 - 622: Reaching the Peak 31 (4,000 words)
Tan Shuangshuang gave Tan Feiyu a disdainful glare, took out the Communication Golden Bell, and reported that she was taking Liang Ziqian and Tan Feiyu for cultivation. This action quashed Tan Feiyu’s excuse to escape, leaving him no choice but to follow Tan Shuangshuang reluctantly.
The three of them discussed their cultivation plans, never once sparing a glance at Hua Qingcheng, a mere maid whose opinions were not significant enough to concern them.
Before leaving, Liang Ziqian asked Hua Qingcheng to return to the Tan Family on her own and explain to the elders visiting from the Liang Family that he had gone to cultivate with Tan Shuangshuang, so they wouldn’t think something had happened to him.
Hua Qingcheng stood in front of Liang Ziqian, reluctant to leave, and said, "How can there be no one to serve the young master? I can accompany the young master and serve him during his cultivation."
Liang Ziqian’s brow furrowed immediately. To him, cultivation was a rigorously solitary task, and having someone serve him seemed out of place. So he coldly replied, "No need, just head back obediently."
Seeing Liang Ziqian unhappy, Hua Qingcheng dared not argue further and reluctantly turned to leave. After she left, Tan Shuangshuang took Tan Feiyu and Liang Ziqian along to purchase a large set of spare clothes, and they directly set off towards Hurricane Valley.
Along the way, Tan Shuangshuang was habitually silent, but she felt a bit uneasy as she sensed Liang Ziqian secretly observing her. This made Tan Shuangshuang extremely uncomfortable.
Tan Shuangshuang was unaware of Liang Ziqian’s inner astonishment. As the foremost young scion of his family, much like Tan Shuangshuang, he was immensely proud, having been pre-selected by a Major Sect before reaching the age to formally enter, receiving annual cultivation resources prepared as an Inner Sect Disciple, with even his mentor predetermined.
Both Tan Shuangshuang and Liang Ziqian had somewhat cold personalities, but Tan Shuangshuang’s coldness was more tranquil; she did not inherently categorize herself against others, nor did she hold a superior mentality.
Liang Ziqian’s coldness, however, bore traces of arrogance and pride. Although he did not bully the weak, he held disdain for those inferior to him. Facing Tan Shuangshuang, a peer in talent, he instinctively felt a sense of competition.
Upon their first meeting, Liang Ziqian was surprised to find Tan Shuangshuang also a warrior, as he had never believed the tales from his family’s elders about this talented fiancée who allegedly equaled his own potential, now engaged to him.
Although shocked that Tan Shuangshuang could indeed compete with him, Liang Ziqian’s surprise was limited. Despite sharing the same realm, combat effectiveness could vary, and female cultivators traditionally did not match up to their male counterparts.
This was not out of belittling women but was a harsh reality because women’s physical conditions naturally lagged behind men’s, leading to slight disadvantages given equal cultivation hardship and level.
Of course, exceptions existed where some women, keen to overcome these gender-based shortcomings, pushed themselves harder in cultivation than men. Such women achieved far beyond their male peers at the same stages, though such cases were rare.
Upon first seeing Tan Shuangshuang, Liang Ziqian perceived her as an affluent young lady, sheltered and indulged, meant only to focus on peaceful cultivation. Therefore, despite Tan Shuangshuang’s level being similar to his, Liang Ziqian did not initially see her as a comparable rival.
But to Liang Ziqian’s surprise, when all the Tan Family’s younger generation was distracted by romantic pursuits linked to the visiting Liang Family, Tan Shuangshuang unexpectedly went off to cultivate on her own, which amazed him.
Liang Ziqian himself, during his time at the Tan Family, engaged in closed cultivation aside from necessary social interactions. He did not expect Tan Shuangshuang to similarly run out to practice, indifferent to the youth’s flirty exchanges.
Even more astonishing was that soon after leaving, Tan Shuangshuang helped the Tan Family eradicate a den of Evil Cultivators, an achievement beyond ordinary practitioners focused merely on cultivation, requiring courage and precision.
This unexpected encounter with Tan Shuangshuang further astonished Liang Ziqian, as he perceived her now as being at the Half-step Martial Master Realm, mere steps from breaking through to become a full Martial Master!
Liang Ziqian himself was still only a Sixth Rank Warrior, and the mere short absence had seen Tan Shuangshuang advance to a Half-step Martial Master, a blow to his pride. For the first time, he seriously regarded this often-dismissed fiancée, whose genius reputation rivaled his own.