Cultivation Nerd: Chapter 212

Chapter 212 - Alabama 

I studied Liu Qian's controlled expression, trying to read her thoughts. Her eyes darted everywhere except directly meeting mine. It seemed like she was looking me in the eyes, but she focused on my nose, brows, and the space between them.

It was remarkable what enhanced vision and experience with shady people could reveal. She was skilled for her age, but I had seen much better. Also, she wasn't as guarded with me as she might have been with a stranger.

It was weird yet fascinating how someone's competence could fluctuate based on their emotional state. The Liu Qian I knew from the Blazing Sun Sect was colder and more methodical. But here, surrounded by family, her defenses were down.

Of course, I wasn't here to psychoanalyze her. I didn't care much about other people's thoughts—unless they had some cool information.

"What do you think is the best way to solve this?" I asked.

Liu Qian was nearly twenty and would soon bear the weight of the Liu Clan. While I wasn't keen on getting involved in civil wars—too inconvenient—I believed she had the potential to be a strong leader and I would support her rise when the time came.

I believed she could find a solution as long as she stayed calm, and thought this out thoroughly. She must forget whatever her father or elders wanted out of her. At the end of the day, in most cases, an individualistic mindset was better when it came to cultivating.

Unexpectedly, my words sparked something in her. She glanced me over, her discomfort clear as day. However, it was hard to tell whether it was nerves or fear of her current situation. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking. Still, it was better than nothing, now that she had started to think things through.

The best way to help someone grow was to teach them to make their own decisions. It had worked with Song Song... to a degree. She was an extreme case, where sometimes it was better if she didn't act on her decisions, or half the Blazing Sun Sect might end up dead under her rule.

"My father told me to spend time with you... and try to seduce you," Liu Qian said suddenly. "Also, whether you want the seat or not doesn't matter. For now, you're the best candidate for the opposition, but if you're too opposed, they'll just find someone else."

That was true. In times like these, no amount of scheming would help. Maybe a more straightforward approach was necessary—something bold, like what Song Song would do.

Actually... no, not something she would do. Definitely not.

"What do you want from me?" I asked, quickly adding, "By the way, if it's marriage, the answer is no. I see you more like an older sister."

My marriage agreement with Fu Yating still stood, mostly because breaking it would be too much of a hassle. I had no interest in adding more drama to my life.

"You're Song Song's advisor, right? Give me some advice," Liu Qian said.

Her gaze was firm, and for the first time today, she met my eyes with the same unshakable confidence I was used to seeing in her at the Blazing Sun Sect.

"The younger generation is on your side," I told her. "Me, Liu Bo, Liu Heng, even the twins. As long as you buy time, you win. No one else in our generation really wants to challenge you."

"It's not the younger generation I'm worried about," Liu Qian replied, though my words seemed to ease her a little. "And hearing that you don't want the Clan Head position takes a lot of pressure off my shoulders," she added with the smoothness of a seasoned politician. "But if we refuse, they'll try to marry me off to someone from the older generation. Probably one of the elders. Someone whose beard has been growing longer than we've been alive."

I couldn't help but smile at her comment.

I had almost forgotten the customs here. The idea of Liu Qian being paired with someone over a hundred years old was repulsive, though not uncommon in this world.

Take the Sect Leader of the Blazing Sun Sect, for example. He was at least five centuries older than most of his wives and concubines.

At least he still looked youthful. Even so, I couldn't understand the mindset behind such relationships.

"Either that or people will revolt," Liu Qian sighed.

"You're wrong there," I reminded her. "There are always more options than you think. For instance, you could train harder and become powerful enough to make your own choices. Or you could rise to be an elder in the Blazing Sun Sect. The Liu Clan can't force a sect elder to do anything."

Besides, I doubted the Liu Clan Head had more resources than even a low-level outer elder of the Blazing Sun Sect. The resource gap was just that vast.

Liu Qian nodded, staring at the pond with a thoughtful look. At this time, I could almost see the gears turning in her head as she mulled over the possibilities.

Finally, she sighed and smiled at me. "You seem so nonchalant about all this. Anyone would think you don't even care what happens."

She wasn't entirely wrong. These kinds of matters were usually out of my hands. Even if I tried to do something, it was unlikely that it would lead anywhere. Why stress over something I had so little control over? Besides, this situation felt trivial compared to the storms I had weathered in the Blazing Sun Sect.

“Well, my advice is simple: just keep pushing forward and don’t waste time worrying about things like this,” I shrugged. “By the time you’re ready for marriage, you and the younger generation will be much stronger than the dying one.”

“So we’re just prolonging the inevitable?” she frowned.

“Well, the hope is that the schemers will eventually drop the issue. But no one can ever truly know what’s going on in someone’s head, and maybe they won’t agree,” I shrugged again. “If they want civil war and blood spilled within the family… that’s their choice.”

Though I liked my family and even my clan, I wasn’t about to roll over. Worst case, I could always bring Song Song for a visit. A few might die, but that’s the game they chose to play. I wasn’t going to waste too much time on this nonsense.

If it came down to it, I could force both sides to unite under the threat of complete annihilation by Song Song.

Liu Qian exhaled, looking down at the damp, slightly frozen ground in the green forest.

“Many men have done dangerous things for beautiful women. I might not be Ye An before her injury, but I’d still consider myself a beauty,” Liu Qian sighed, though this time in mock disappointment, a teasing smile playing on her lips. “Though, I guess I don’t have that deadly glint in my eyes that you find attractive.”

“Is that the report you’re going to give your father?” I asked, catching her teasing tone.

“Yes, something along those lines,” she nodded.

“That might cause some trouble. It’ll just fuel the rumors about us,” I said, meaning the rumors about me and Song Song.

Liu Qian’s stress seemed to vanish as she stared at me, narrowing her eyes.

“I don’t think you’d lie in this situation,” she said, “but no matter how you look at it… no matter how anyone looks at it, there’s clearly something there!”

“Yeah, it’s called friendship,” I replied.

But Liu Qian only smirked, her gaze glinting with something mischievous.

“You were more tolerable when you were worried about stupid stuff,” I said bluntly.

My words didn’t faze her. She continued, “You live under the same roof, tease each other, and she’d never let anyone else talk to her like that. She’d cut off her own brothers’ heads if they did.”

Okay? So what was that supposed to mean?

“Don’t you people have anything better to do?” I asked, turning and walking away.

As I left, my dear cousin started cackling like a witch. I was glad she wasn’t as stressed as before, but she clearly needed a better hobby than prying into my personal life.

I took a leisurely stroll through the inner city, observing the area. Though it was efficiently built, there was nothing particularly exciting about it.

By the time I got home, it was already midday. The first thing that greeted me was the pleasant smell of chicken and spices.

I made my way to the kitchen, which was surprisingly small for such a large home. It was perfect, though, since only a few people lived here—ideal for someone like my mother.

However, today there was a new addition in the kitchen. Wu Yan was watching my mother cook, and my mother had a pleased smile on her face as she explained different recipes and cooking methods.

It was surprising how well my mother got along with Wu Yan. It seemed like she was finally getting to experience raising a normal child.

“Oh, Feng, you’re back already? We’re almost done cooking, and your workaholic father will be home soon for his break,” she said.

“It smells delicious,” I said, stepping closer to get a look at the pot. “What’s cooking?”

As my mother answered, I placed a hand on Wu Yan’s shoulder, channeling some Qi into her body. It had become a daily routine—checking whether her spirit roots had returned.

But whatever my mother was saying, I no longer heard. I sensed something unusual happening inside Wu Yan.

How? Everything was normal yesterday!

When it came to people like Ye An, she usually slowly recovered her talent as new spiritual roots grew. However, what I sensed in Wu Yan was different. Endless roots that looked like cracks in the dark sky leaked light, blinding and dizzying. It was like they had come out of nowhere!

Words could not describe the sensation, and I immediately withdrew my hand. Yet even then, I was stunned for a second, as my breath was caught in my throat.

How come her Qi was so calm, and nothing leaked out?

Over a hundred spiritual root branches were what scholars used to qualify someone who had an extreme physique. So, what did it mean to have 199 spiritual roots?

I wasn't even sure this could be called an extreme physique. How was she not dead yet?

"Wu Yan, do you feel any pain?" I asked.

She turned toward me, her mask gleaming from the light that came through the window. Wu Yan tilted her head, confused.

Though I was a bit jealous of her amount of spiritual root branches. Another part of me was so overwhelmingly curious about how fast someone's cultivation with that amount of talent would progress.

How exciting!