He Qiu was serious—he wasn’t exaggerating.
He had just skimmed through these spiritual cultivation tomes, and they didn’t seem very difficult.
In fact, they were far less complex than the sword manual Senior Sister An Lingran had gifted him back then.
Compared to the Fine Snow Sword Manual, the techniques Nangong Qiongxiao had given him were practically elementary school textbooks.
‘As expected, compared to the Xueyin Lineage’s high-threshold assessment, Fairy Nan’s side is much more manageable…’
Having already studied a seventh-rank sword manual, He Qiu now found this first-rank spiritual cultivation manual child’s play.
Anyone could learn it with ease.
Back then, he couldn’t even decipher the characters in the Fine Snow Sword Manual.
But this time, Fairy Nan’s books were all written in standard Chinese characters—any Celestial Dynasty native could read them without needing to grasp the depth of character meanings.
That was why he had declared with such confidence:
“Three days won’t be necessary. One day is enough for your disciple to commit it all to memory.”
The youth’s expression was serious, without a hint of jest.
It even made one wonder if he had already entered a state of study.
But of course, Nangong Qiongxiao—this ‘new master’—had no idea what He Qiu was thinking.
She only knew that he had secretly trained in a seventh-rank sword manual, and she assumed that someone so young achieving such a feat must be exceptionally gifted with extraordinary comprehension.
However, how could Nangong Qiongxiao know the truth behind the Fine Snow Sword Manual?
How could she know that An Lingran had only given He Qiu three months to comprehend it?
And even more absurdly, that He Qiu had mastered the Fine Snow Sword Manual in just seven days?
Unless An Lingran or the others spoke up, no one would know.
Everyone simply assumed He Qiu had already taken a master in secret, working hard for years, and that his natural talent, combined with effort, had finally allowed him to make a stunning breakthrough.
That was already a high assessment.
Even the Kyushu Celestial Dynasty’s Empress, who had seen countless wonders, could not imagine beyond that.
“He Qiu… are you sure? One day?”
After a brief silence, Nangong Qiongxiao gave him the same astonished look that An Lingran and An Daosheng had once given him.
He Qiu nodded in response, still holding the book as he continued reading.
“Yes, just one day. Can I take these books back to read slowly? I’ll come find you on time tomorrow.”
“…”
Another silence.
Finally, Nangong Qiongxiao regained some of her composure and sighed.
“Fine. Take them back and study.”
She had no idea where He Qiu’s confidence came from, but recalling all the strange reactions An Lingran had shown back then, her sharp instincts sensed something unusual.
She had a premonition that this youth really could accomplish such an astonishing amount of reading.
Over the years, she hadn’t held the dual titles of Elder and Empress of Kyushu for nothing.
She was confident in her ability to judge people—what she called the Empress’s sixth sense.
But while her sixth sense was accurate, it was still just an emotional intuition, not rational.
Nangong Qiongxiao cleared her throat and gave a serious reminder:
“He Qiu, when studying these techniques, the key is to experience the moment of enlightenment—not just read through them.”
She had seen too many students who studied just to save face, so she couldn’t help worrying.
Even if it sounded like a teacher’s annoying nagging, she had to say it.
“Don’t worry, your disciple understands.”
He Qiu still hadn’t looked up.
He seemed completely immersed in the world of the book.
For a moment, Nangong Qiongxiao felt as though she and the youth were sitting across the table yet in two separate worlds—a vast gulf between them.
She couldn’t bear to disturb him.
‘Indeed, He Qiu harbors a shocking secret. His talent is extraordinary…’
And that secret—terrifyingly—was likely known only to that old man An Daosheng in the current Longyin Sect.
Otherwise, when He Qiu first emerged from the mountains, it wouldn’t have been An Daosheng who found him first and immediately took him on as a Progeny Disciple.
There had to be something behind it that Nangong Qiongxiao couldn’t guess.
She was intensely curious.
For the rest of the afternoon, He Qiu sat quietly at the desk, leisurely flipping through books.
The mountain of books slowly shrank as time flew by.
All of this was under Nangong Qiongxiao’s watchful eye from across the table.
She rested her chin on her hand, silently observing, studying the youth’s every expression—even his handsome profile and blue eyes.
Though He Qiu, lost in his reading, seemed to exist in another world, Nangong Qiongxiao felt an inexplicable pull from him, as if he were both far away and right before her—within reach, yet she didn’t want to break the atmosphere.
Honestly, in all her years as Empress, this was the first time she had encountered a youth who captivated her attention like this.
An entire afternoon of sitting across from him, observing—her gaze had barely left his face.
His features were like a flawless work of art.
At first glance, they were stunning, but not so enchanting that she couldn’t look away.
Yet the more she studied him, the more she realized his face was impossible to tire of.
The more she appreciated it, the more captivating it became, compelling her to take another look—and another—until she was hooked.
Throughout that time, Nangong Qiongxiao’s eyes were fixed on the youth alone.
She couldn’t think of anything else.
Without realizing it, she was drawn in by his profile as he read, by the refined, scholarly aura that surrounded him.
“Such a feast for the eyes…”
She murmured to herself in admiration.
Nangong Qiongxiao had noticed He Qiu’s unique aura, but she didn’t resist its pull.
Instead, she let her attention be seduced by it, continuing to stare at him, greedily taking in every inch of his skin and features.
She was the Empress who held the world in her hands.
Was there anything she liked that she didn’t dare admire?
If she liked looking, she’d look for a few more hours.
She had been worrying that there was nothing she enjoyed anymore—that life had become bland.
Snap—!
At some point, He Qiu closed the book in his hands, rubbed his eyes, and stretched.
Nangong Qiongxiao snapped out of her trance, straightened her posture, and waited for his reaction.
He Qiu seemed so absorbed in his reading that he hadn’t noticed Fairy Nan watching him the whole time…
“Master, it’s getting late.”
“It is.”
The fairy looked out the window and saw the sun already resting on the western mountain ridge.
It would soon be dark.
When He Qiu had arrived, it was noon.
Now, the afternoon had passed, and night was approaching.
“Time flies so fast… Are you leaving, then?”
A sudden reluctance welled up in her heart.
Nangong Qiongxiao found herself wanting to keep He Qiu here.
How strange.
Even though she was an Empress with a strong desire for control, it wasn’t a possessive urge toward people.
In the past, she only wanted to have everything in her grasp—talents and generals at her disposal—without necessarily needing to own them as personal possessions.
But today, she felt a desire to possess He Qiu, to have him stay with her a little longer.
“Yes, Master, it’s time to go.”
“Hmph, won’t you stay a little longer and keep me company?”
Testing the waters, Nangong Qiongxiao gave a slight smile and casually voiced her thoughts.
He Qiu figured it was just polite talk, so he didn’t overthink it.
He politely declined.
“There’s a servant waiting for me at home. Your disciple appreciates your kindness, Master.”
“I see…”
Her request was gently refused.
Nangong Qiongxiao felt a little disappointed.
Although she had deliberately spoken in a ‘polite’ tone, deep down she had hoped He Qiu would agree, just to satisfy her selfish desire a bit.
But her hopes were dashed.
Still, she couldn’t blame He Qiu.
The fault lay with her own inability to express herself, pretending to be polite.
“By the way, the servant you mentioned—is she the woman you rescued from demon cultivators the other day?”
Before he left, Nangong Qiongxiao asked casually.
In fact, she already knew about that incident.
Several Righteous Path cultivators who had been present had come to court to report it to her personally.
She remembered clearly how her subordinates had praised young He Qiu endlessly before the Empress.
So Nangong Qiongxiao had taken note of the details.
She remembered a young woman named Li Mengxin who had said she’d devote herself to He Qiu, claiming she only wanted to follow him out of gratitude.
A commoner—a nobody—but Nangong Qiongxiao had still committed it to memory.
Now that He Qiu mentioned it again, she realized that Li Mengxin was also in the Longyin Sect and even living with He Qiu.
That piqued her curiosity.
A young man and woman alone, both in the prime of youth with burning passions—something was bound to happen?
But He Qiu simply answered without overthinking.
“Yes, Miss Meng’er is currently staying in my pavilion as a servant.”
“I see. I won’t pry into your personal affairs. Then… see you tomorrow?”
Nangong Qiongxiao saw him out to the entrance of the All-Books Pavilion, giving a light smile as she bid him farewell.
“Yes, your disciple takes his leave.”
Gathering his books, He Qiu left with a full bounty.
He had learned the foundational codes of spiritual cultivation—a great gain for the day.
…
After He Qiu left, Fairy Nan leaned alone by the window inside the All-Books Pavilion, her gaze lingering on the seat he had occupied.
She was reluctant to let go.
To be honest, she was looking forward to his visit tomorrow.
Her interest in this youth was growing more and more.
“He Qiu, I will make you willingly submit to me sooner or lat—!!”
“Master, did you call me?”