NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 3:
Chapter 3: The Childhood Friend Declares—“I Will Win”:
Nangong Liuyun’s lips were just about to touch Jiang Xuan’s cheek…
But a sudden voice interrupted them.
Her expression instantly turned terrifyingly cold.
The reason she had brought Jiang Xuan out to this secluded mountain outside the Imperial City was specifically to avoid being disturbed. Even the guards she normally kept around had been dismissed earlier.
And since she had taken Jiang Xuan out from the Jiang family herself, she naturally didn’t allow any of their guards to follow.
In the Imperial City, the name Nangong Liuyun alone was enough to walk unhindered. With her around, no harm would come to Jiang Xuan.
At this moment, only one thought filled her heart—
She was going to send whoever interrupted her moment straight to hell.
However, before she could unleash her fury, Jiang Xuan spoke in slight surprise.
“Xia Xiaoyu, you’re back?”
In the distance, a girl dressed in blue with a long sword in hand flashed over and appeared before Jiang Xuan.
She had long black hair, golden eyes, and an exceptional temperament. Her beauty was already striking despite her youth, and her figure only enhanced her overwhelming charm.
Seeing her, Jiang Xuan inwardly thought, This is bad.
This was his childhood friend… and also, once, his “sponsor.”
Three years ago, she had left without a word.
Later, Jiang Xuan learned that Xia Xiaoyu had a rare martial body and was taken away to a powerful sect for special training.
He hadn’t expected that their reunion would happen like this…
Before Jiang Xuan could speak again, Xia Xiaoyu pointed her sword at Nangong Liuyun.
“Who are you? Why did you lure my Brother Xuan to a place like this? And… and shamelessly try to do that kind of thing…”
“Hm? You’re my husband’s sister? That can’t be. I’ve never heard him mention having one. But it doesn’t matter who you are anymore. What matters is that you’re too late. He belongs to me now—we’ll be getting married soon. If you want, I’ll consider sending you a wedding invitation.”
Xia Xiaoyu: “！！！！！！！！！”
“Impossible! Brother Xuan clearly said he only liked me. There’s no way he’d marry you!”
Jiang Xuan: “？？？？？”
Xia Xiaoyu’s words made Jiang Xuan recall some memories from three years ago.
That day, the Xia family head had brought Xia Xiaoyu to visit the Jiang family.
While the two heads of house were in discussion, Xia Xiaoyu had—as usual—rushed to Jiang Xuan’s room.
Though Jiang Xuan had repeatedly told her not to come in, this time, the offer she brought was too good. He had been short on spirit stones for his cultivation plans, and in the end, temptation won.
But once he accepted that so-called “gift,” things changed drastically.
“Brother Xuan, I accidentally damaged your pillow. I’ll pay you ten times the value, and take care of disposing of it for you.”
“Brother Xuan, I accidentally dirtied your clothes. I’ll pay you a hundred times over. Don’t worry, I’ll take the clothes for cleaning.”
“Huh? I really didn’t mean to touch your hand. Please don’t tell Aunt Jiang—I’ll make it up to you, I swear. You don’t want this to ruin your reputation, right?”
“Brother Xuan, what do you think of me? Do you like me or not?”
“If you say you do… I’ll give you these 200,000 top-grade spirit stones. Consider it a gift.”
…
Using such shady methods to test a sheltered young man?
What kind of boy could resist that?
As the person involved, Jiang Xuan admitted that this rich young lady really knew how to target people.
And as a righteous young man who followed the motto “paid service, quality delivery,” he naturally did his best to please her.
To him, it was an easy way to earn spirit stones—why not?
Jiang Xuan had thought he was about to get rich and quietly walk the path to success.
But then his sugar mama ghosted him.
He had sulked about it for a long time—how could a kind, naive, rich girl like that just disappear?
Thinking back now, Jiang Xuan suddenly realized something…
Did she really take all those “transactions” seriously?
This is bad. Really bad!
If Nangong Liuyun were just a regular spoiled heiress, he could probably smooth things over.
But this girl was a hidden boss! If she got upset over this, the consequences would be…
Jiang Xuan knew that trying to explain now would only make things worse—and he might end up offending both of them.
And in this situation, no explanation would hold water anyway.
Suddenly, an idea struck him.
His expression turned cold.
“Xia Xiaoyu, put your sword down. You left without a word three years ago. From that moment on, there was nothing between us.”
Xia Xiaoyu froze, her body trembling slightly.
“Brother… Brother Xuan… it wasn’t like that back then… I had a reason. Please let me explain…”
“It’s too late. I’ve already been granted a marriage by the Empress. My wife and I are deeply in love. You should leave now.”
As his words fell, Xia Xiaoyu’s golden eyes trembled. The sword in her hand fell to the ground with a metallic clang.
“Granted a marriage? Brother Xuan is really becoming someone else’s husband? No—I won’t accept that!”
A crazed light flickered in Xia Xiaoyu’s eyes.
Then, her gaze fell on Nangong Liuyun.
“Now I remember… You’re that infamous good-for-nothing from the Nangong family. The one everyone calls a martial waste.”
“You’re not worthy of Brother Xuan. Even your so-called genius sister isn’t worthy. Only I am.”
As she finished, a powerful aura erupted from her.
Her cultivation had already reached the Half-Step Heaven Martial Realm!
With this level, she could completely dominate most of the younger generation in the Imperial City.
Even many veteran experts wouldn’t dare underestimate her.
But just then, Nangong Liuyun laughed lightly.
“Your strength’s not bad. But tell me, was it for this strength that you abandoned Jiang Xuan back then?”
“You made your choice. Now you crawl back, shamelessly trying to pursue him again? Too late. He’s mine now.”
“But still—thank you for disappearing back then. You gave me a chance. Don’t worry, I’ll invite you to our wedding. You can be a bridesmaid and witness everything.”
Nangong Liuyun’s words pierced right through Xia Xiaoyu, breaking her momentum entirely. Her imposing aura faded, and she looked like she was about to collapse.
She stared at Jiang Xuan with pleading eyes.
“It’s not like that, Brother Xuan, I…”
“Stop. I don’t want to hear it. Xia Xiaoyu, leave now.”
As he spoke, Jiang Xuan subtly mouthed a message:
[Just go. Don’t say anything more here.]
Back then, to please this wealthy childhood friend and patron, Jiang Xuan had said a lot of sweet nonsense.
Hey, it was business—who skimps on effort when there’s money involved?
And since it only took words to earn spirit stones, why not?
But if those words were misunderstood now, and Nangong Liuyun heard about them…
That would be catastrophic.
This woman was a hidden boss above all others. No one could handle her wrath.
For the sake of their past friendship, Jiang Xuan was kindly hinting for Xia Xiaoyu to retreat.
However, seeing his lips move, Xia Xiaoyu’s once-dim golden eyes began to shine again.
Her inner thoughts:
So that’s it! I understand now. Brother Xuan is being cold only to protect me!
He’s stuck in a political marriage forced by the Empress. He’s afraid I’ll go up against the empire for him. Even though he doesn’t love that spoiled girl, he admitted to the relationship just to protect me.
It’s all because he still cares about me. Even if he keeps denying it…
Mother always taught me—boys never say what they truly feel. They’re shy and reserved. You can’t believe what they say. You have to look at their actions.
To pursue a man, you need courage, patience… and wealth!
Brother Xuan still loves me! Even though we were apart for three years because of that one incident!
If Jiang Xuan knew what kind of story Xia Xiaoyu had made up in her head because of his kind gesture…
He’d be shouting:
[No! That’s not what I meant! Please don’t frame me like this, big boss!]
Meanwhile, as Jiang Xuan thought Xia Xiaoyu would quietly leave, she instead stepped forward and picked up her sword.
The blade’s reflection shimmered with her bright golden eyes.
“Brother Xuan, I’ve finally figured it out. This marriage is just an arrangement by the Empress. You only denied your love for me to keep me safe.”
“It’s fine. I understand now. But I refuse to step back.”
“I will cut down anything that dares to bind you—even the Empress’ decree.”
“I will show the world that only I am worthy of being with you.”
“Don’t worry, Brother Xuan… I’ll win.”
Jiang Xuan: “？？？？？”
What… what is even happening?!
Totally lost, Jiang Xuan stood frozen in confusion.
Beside him, Nangong Liuyun looked on with great interest and asked calmly:
“Oh? Don’t tell me you think that with your current strength, you can fight the entire empire?”
“Let me remind you—the Empress’ strength is unfathomable. Even my mother isn’t confident she could win against her.”
“Not to mention, deep within the palace, there are rumored to be several old monsters far beyond the Heaven Martial Realm. How would you deal with them?”
Xia Xiaoyu just sneered.
“That’s the extent of your empire’s power? I’m the Holy Maiden of the Hundred Flowers Sect.”
“My Master is a Martial Spirit Realm expert. My Sect Master is already at Half-Step Martial King. Just one step away from the legendary Martial King Realm.”
“You think your empire can force Brother Xuan to marry someone? Dream on.”
She looked tenderly at Jiang Xuan again.
“Don’t worry, Brother Xuan—I’ll win.”
Hearing it again, Jiang Xuan shuddered slightly.
Not because he was touched.
But because he recalled how badly someone else ended up the last time they crossed Nangong Liuyun.
He secretly activated his system’s scan function and confirmed once more—
Nangong Liuyun’s cultivation: Peak Ninth Level Martial Emperor Realm.
Yeah. This was not going to end well for Xia Xiaoyu.
Even if the Hundred Flowers Sect Master showed up, she’d probably only be able to say:
[Lady Liuyun, I apologize for not entertaining you properly… and for not being strong enough to make you exert yourself.]
Seeing things spiraling out of control, Jiang Xuan knew he had to intervene.
He took the initiative to grab Nangong Liuyun’s hand.
“My wife, don’t listen to Xia Xiaoyu’s nonsense. Let’s go home.”
Nangong Liuyun looked at him with a half-smile, then leaned in and whispered in his ear:
“Husband… you didn’t actually do anything shady with that little brat, did you?”
“N-No! Of course not! She’s just the childhood friend next door who disappeared for three years!”
At that moment, Jiang Xuan felt a chill.
His scan system suddenly showed Nangong Liuyun’s affection level drop to -9999 for just a split second—then it returned to normal.
He couldn’t help but doubt whether he’d imagined it.
On the other side, just as Xia Xiaoyu was about to stop them, Jiang Xuan’s voice rang out again:
“Xia Xiaoyu, if you try to stop me again… I won’t recognize you as my childhood friend anymore.”
She froze in place, not daring to move.
Watching Jiang Xuan and Nangong Liuyun walk away, she murmured to herself:
“Brother Xuan must be afraid I’ll provoke the Nangong family… so he’s saying that on purpose. He’s still the kind, thoughtful person I remember.”
“I’ll prove to him soon that a mere empire is nothing to the Saintess of the Hundred Flowers Sect.”