
Cheng Shaoqing had transformed from a cold and stunning beauty into a gentle and demure woman, and Jiang Feng had witnessed the entire process. He hadn't noticed it before, but perhaps due to their days apart, this feeling now struck him with intensity.
"Shaoqing, I'm back," Jiang Feng called out as he jumped off the car, his broad smile as bright as the sun.
Cheng Shaoqing was momentarily stunned, her expression shifting slightly. She quickly retracted her head and then walked out gracefully, feigning surprise, "Oh, you just called and you're back already? I was just about to go for a walk."
"Where to? Want me to join you?" Jiang Feng teased with a mischievous grin.
Seeing Jiang Feng's grin, Cheng Shaoqing realized her little act had been seen through, and her face flushed with embarrassment. "I was just going for a casual walk, no need for you to come."
"Alright, I just got back today, so why don't you stay in and welcome me home?" Jiang Feng knew she was too proud to admit it, so he gave her an out to avoid further awkwardness.
"Since you're back, I naturally won't go out. Let's head home," Cheng Shaoqing wasn't stubborn; she took the opportunity to retreat gracefully.
"Wait a minute," Jiang Feng said, then turned and waved to the car.
Bao Dalong was the first to step out, holding his belly, his eyes fixed on Cheng Shaoqing with an unabashed gaze.
"What a beautiful lady, may I know your name? How old are you?" Bao Dalong quickly tidied his appearance and asked smoothly.
Cheng Shaoqing was taken aback, unsure of who Bao Dalong was, but his demeanor made her a bit uneasy, like a wolf eyeing a lamb.
"I..." Cheng Shaoqing was about to respond.
Whoosh!
A dark shadow darted between them—it was Yao Yaoling.
Cheng Shaoqing looked down to see a short figure, resembling a five-year-old child, yet with an old and wrinkled face, not unlike a dwarf from the news.
Startled by such a sight, Cheng Shaoqing retreated a few steps, hiding behind Jiang Feng.
"I want this pretty girl too," Yao Yaoling's eyes were even more direct than Bao Dalong's, staring straight without blinking.
"Yao Yaoling, watch it. Where did you learn the word 'pretty girl'? It's quite trendy," Jiang Feng quickly interjected.
"I just learned it by the roadside. I saw a guy say it and then a woman threw herself at him. It must be a good word, otherwise, it wouldn't work so well," Yao Yaoling explained.
"Oh my, who are you people? I'm telling you, if you mess around, I'll kick you out," Jiang Feng said with a frown.
"Jiang Feng, where did you find these two? Who are they, and why are they with you?" Cheng Shaoqing asked, slightly annoyed.
"Let me explain. These are friends I made on my trip. Let me introduce you. This chubby guy is Bao Dalong, you can call him Fat Bao," Jiang Feng pointed to Bao Dalong.
Then he pointed to Yao Yaoling, "This is a congenital dwarf, named Yao Yaoling, you can also call him Ganggang Circle."
"You’re the congenital dwarf, I'm a great Earth Spirit," Yao Yaoling corrected.
"Same thing, just bear with it for now. This isn't the Yinyang Tomb. If people knew your true identity, they might capture you for research. I'm saying this for your own good," Jiang Feng whispered in Yao Yaoling's ear.
"That's more like it," Yao Yaoling nodded in satisfaction but questioned, "Then why did you tell her to call me Ganggang Circle? What does it mean?"
"Let me explain. Aren't you called 110? 110 is Ganggang Circle, hahaha, how did I not think of it before? It's a brilliant name," Bao Dalong laughed and explained.
But Yao Yaoling didn't understand, as he had no idea what 110 meant, so he pretended to understand and said, "Never mind the name, today I want to pursue this beautiful lady."
"Step aside, I spoke first. You should know the rule of first come, first served," Bao Dalong puffed out his belly, refusing to back down.
Yao Yaoling stood on tiptoe to confront Bao Dalong, the two like male lions ready to duel over a lioness.
Jiang Feng, however, pulled Cheng Shaoqing aside, saying, "Let's go inside, don't mind them. They'll stop once they're tired of arguing."
In the living room, Cheng Shaoqing's mother, Huang Chunlian, was watching TV. Seeing Jiang Feng return, she quickly stood up and warmly greeted him, "Oh my, Jiang Feng, you're finally back. I've missed you so much. Actually, it's fine for me to miss you, but poor Shaoqing here, she's been looking out the window every day, probably thinking about you."
Huang Chunlian, being experienced, saw things clearly and spoke her mind.
"Mom, what are you talking about?" Cheng Shaoqing blushed, "Jiang Feng just got back, let's make a nice meal and have a gathering."
"Alright, I'll listen to my daughter. I'll go buy groceries now, you all wait," Huang Chunlian said cheerfully, then changed clothes and went out.
By this time, Bao Dalong and Yao Yaoling had finished arguing and reached an agreement to compete fairly, with the winner getting the girl.
Bao Dalong approached Cheng Shaoqing with utmost gentlemanliness, "Beautiful lady, is there anything I can do for you?"
"No, nothing," Cheng Shaoqing shook her head.
"Charming lady, Yao Yaoling is willing to do anything for you, just command," Yao Yaoling jumped over, placing one hand on his chest and bowing.
"No need, you both go about your business. I'll call if I need anything," Cheng Shaoqing had learned to be smart, knowing the strategy of advancing by retreating. By refusing first, she left them with hope, preventing further pestering.
Sure enough, Bao Dalong and Yao Yaoling quieted down, standing aside trying to present their best selves to Cheng Shaoqing.
Jiang Feng looked at these two weirdos with a sense of helplessness. Their current behavior perfectly illustrated the saying: men live for women, die for women, and strive for women their whole lives.
To ease the awkwardness, Cheng Shaoqing quickly changed the subject, "Jiang Feng, you're back just in time. We have ten days until the college entrance exam. While you were away, your homeroom teacher Xia Qinghe asked about you several times, saying everything is arranged, and you just need to come back for the exam."
"What, only ten days left? Wow, that was fast," Jiang Feng exclaimed.
He remembered leaving with about fifty days to go, and now only ten days remained. His trip had taken nearly two months.
Time really is fleeting, impossible to hold onto.
"Exactly, if you hadn't come back, you might have missed the exam," Cheng Shaoqing said with a sidelong glance.
"But there are still ten days, it's fine, there's still time," Jiang Feng smiled, quickly putting his mind at ease. It's just an exam, no need to stress, it's a casual thing.
"Aren't you worried at all?" Cheng Shaoqing asked.
"Worried about what?" Jiang Feng replied, "Does worrying solve anything?"
"True, worrying doesn't help. Better start reviewing, time is short. If you don't understand something, come to me, I'll explain," Cheng Shaoqing offered.
"Sure, hehe," Jiang Feng agreed without hesitation.
...
In the evening, Huang Chunlian personally prepared a lavish dinner for them, and the time passed in eating and drinking.
Bao Dalong and Yao Yaoling temporarily stayed there, but to prevent them from causing trouble, Jiang Feng arranged their rooms downstairs, avoiding any nighttime disturbances to Cheng Shaoqing.
As Jiang Feng lay in bed ready for a good night's sleep, he suddenly heard a noise outside the window, a shadow flitting by.
Startled, Jiang Feng immediately got up and chased after it.
"Who goes there, stop!" Jiang Feng shouted.
The shadow ahead abruptly halted, turning to point, sending a streak of light from a sword finger shooting towards Jiang Feng.
Jiang Feng's eyes widened, and he dodged behind a tree.
With a "bang," a small hole appeared in the tree trunk, black smoke rising, about a finger deep.
Jiang Feng gasped at the power.
"Wait, why does this seem so familiar?" Jiang Feng suddenly recalled, "This looks like the Floating Flower Flowing Cloud Finger technique."
Realizing this, Jiang Feng quickly looked at the shadow opposite him, and upon seeing clearly, who else could it be but Cheng Shaoqing.
"How's that for power?" Cheng Shaoqing asked with a proud smile.
"So it was you, trying to test your skills on me in the middle of the night. You should have said so, I could have sparred with you," Jiang Feng sighed in relief.
"I've made some progress with the Compassionate Heart Manual, and I've mastered the Floating Flower Flowing Cloud Finger, so I wanted to test my skills, hence the nighttime lure to surprise you," Cheng Shaoqing explained.
"It certainly surprised me. From an ordinary person to a martial artist in such a short time, you truly have exceptional talent," Jiang Feng praised.
But Jiang Feng wondered if leading her down this path was right or wrong.
Everything was unknown, unpredictable. They could only take it one step at a time, trusting in fate and destiny, believing she would forge a unique path.
"Come on, let me test your skills, but I won't hold back," Jiang Feng gestured.
"Alright, here I come," Cheng Shaoqing said, her sword finger emitting streaks of light.
The Floating Flower Flowing Cloud Finger was characterized by its flamboyance, launching like flowers in the sky, like clouds drifting, confusing the enemy.
It was easy to activate, consumed little True Qi, and was well-suited for women to practice.
As Cheng Shaoqing used it, she fully demonstrated the technique's characteristics.
Petals flew everywhere, clouds drifted among them, and the streaks of light from her sword finger shot like meteors, tracing lines in the void.
Cheng Shaoqing managed to unleash multiple streaks of sword light at once, an impressive feat for a beginner.
Jiang Feng was moved by Cheng Shaoqing's growth, feeling a surge of excitement and a desire to fight.
"Great momentum, come on, let me see how strong you really are," Jiang Feng shouted, charging forward, unfazed by the incoming streaks of light.
Dodging, Jiang Feng swiftly closed in on Cheng Shaoqing.
Caught off guard, Cheng Shaoqing was a bit flustered. After all, it was her first time using the Floating Flower Flowing Cloud Finger, with zero combat experience, she didn't know how to handle unexpected situations.
"Watch out, I'm about to strike," Jiang Feng warned to avoid hurting her.