Itchy for Trouble

“Palace Master, you can’t seriously think this guy is the Heavenly Master, right?” Yi Chengying asked, her face full of disbelief. “Didn’t you say the Heavenly Master is a noble and virtuous gentleman? How could someone like him—who writes things like ‘Fresh and Juicy Enlightened Body’—possibly be the same person? What kind of Avatar Realm cultivator would call themselves ‘pure and tender’?!”

“I’ve actually seen it before,” Ye Qishuang said, her eyes glinting with a hint of nostalgia and a playful smile. “Most of the time, my master is indeed a gentleman. But only those who live with him get to see his true self.”

“And what is the real Heavenly Master like?” Yi Chengying asked, her curious eyes sparkling.

“He’s someone who doesn’t care about the process as long as the result is right. Someone cold and sharp in action but soft-hearted inside. Someone who cares deeply for the world but shuts himself away. A man full of schemes but with dreams as vast as rivers and mountains.”

“Kind, sharp-tongued, reliable, ridiculous, pitiful, lovable, and… loves me.”

“Do you want me to keep going? I could talk about him for a day and a night.”

“Palace Master, I’ve heard enough! You’re describing someone who’s clearly not normal!”

“Slap yourself.”

“But he’s definitely someone worth relying on!”

“Smart girl.”

“Hehe!”

Yi Chengying beamed. I, Yi Chengying, escaped a slap today. Life is good.

—

Qin Gou’s banners had stirred up a hornet’s nest. While the couplets were passable, the bold declaration “Ladies, Come Fight” was a death wish in the Mystic Maiden Palace, where gender dynamics were starkly skewed.

“Qin Yue, what’s the meaning of this?”

“We’ve been ignoring you, and now you’re asking for trouble?”

“I’m Lu Ling, a disciple under Sister Cuiyan. I’m at the late stage of the Hidden Artifact Realm. Do you dare face me in battle?”

Several Mystic Maiden Palace disciples, fists clenched and eyes blazing, approached Qin Gou in fury.

Still lounging in his chair, Qin Gou smiled warmly. “I have a question. If I defeat Sister Lu Ling, who’s at the late stage of the Hidden Artifact Realm, will I earn less time in the Rebirth Tower than Chi Yu did for defeating Yan Huixue at the peak stage?”

“You think you can beat Sister Lu Ling? With your early-stage Hidden Artifact Realm cultivation?”

“The reward is the same—half an hour in the Rebirth Tower.”

“Meanwhile, we have to challenge stronger opponents to get more time! I don’t even know who the real disciples are anymore. I heard they brought you men here to humble us, and now I believe it.”

“Good to know,” Qin Gou said, standing up with a smile. He gestured politely. “Sister Lu Ling, please.”

Lu Ling’s gaze was icy. “At least you have some guts. I’ll be merciful and only break two of your bones.”

The two moved to an open area, standing ten meters apart.

“Teach that arrogant brat a lesson, Sister Lu Ling!”

Qin Gou smiled faintly and cupped his hands. “You may begin.”

—

Lu Ling didn’t bother returning the gesture. Instead, she summoned a pair of gleaming swords, which shot toward Qin Gou like meteors.

Qin Gou stomped the ground, summoning a massive ironwood tree to block the attack. At the same time, he hurled a pale purple Universal Seed into the air. It transformed into a giant mushroom, releasing a cloud of white mist.

The sudden change caught Lu Ling off guard. Unsure if the mist was poisonous, she quickly recalled her swords, spinning them like shields to disperse the fog.

—

Out of the mist, Qin Gou emerged, his eyes vacant as he charged directly at Lu Ling.

“What an idiot, rushing to his death,” Lu Ling sneered, sending one of her swords to pierce his chest. It struck true, splitting him open—but instead of blood, two writhing vines burst forth, wrapping around her and binding her tightly like a mummy.

“Mmph!”

Lu Ling’s eyes widened in shock as she struggled, her screams muffled by the vines.

The real Qin Gou stepped out of the mist, sheathing a sword he hadn’t needed to use. “Did I win?”

He had.

—

The crowd erupted in chaos. Qin Gou had been the last to be challenged, yet his fight ended first. No one had even figured out what his life-bound spiritual tool was, as it seemed to change constantly.

“Yes, you’ve won,” Gu Caihe said through gritted teeth, her eyes burning with frustration. “You’ve earned half an hour in the Rebirth Tower.”

Qin Gou nodded, not bothering to engage further. Sure, I wasn’t exactly honorable, but Gu Caihe isn’t a saint either. We’re even.

“Anyone else want to challenge me?” Qin Gou asked, scanning the crowd with a faint smile. “I hear the Rebirth Tower is amazing. Half an hour doesn’t seem like enough.”

—

“Is Qin Yue really at the early stage of the Hidden Artifact Realm?”

“They say he’s the top seed of the Seed Demon Holy Sect. His aura feels like early-stage, but who knows if he’s using some trick to hide his true level?”

“Exactly. How could the top seed be so weak? He probably tricked Sister Lu Ling into underestimating him!”

“You can gossip all you want,” Qin Gou said with a laugh. “But at least pick someone to fight me next.”

—

Gu Caihe’s eyes glinted coldly. “Jiang Qiu, you’re up.”

“Yes, Sister Caihe!”

A petite girl stepped forward, her aura far more imposing than her stature suggested. “I’m Jiang Qiu, a disciple under Sister Caihe. I’m at the peak of the Hidden Artifact Realm—or rather, half a step into the Forging Realm. Do you accept my challenge?”

“Nope!” Qin Gou said immediately, waving her off. He turned to Gu Caihe and said, “Beating Lu Ling gets me half an hour. Beating this half-step Forging Realm gets me the same. Only an idiot would agree. Caihe, are you itching for trouble?”

—

The crowd fell silent.

Rumors had already spread that Gu Caihe had offended the Palace Master by trying to monopolize Qin Yue’s Enlightened Body. But now, hearing him call her “Caihe” and “itching for trouble” in front of everyone, they were stunned. Aside from the Palace Master, no one had ever dared address the Saintess so casually.

Gu Caihe froze, pointing at herself in disbelief. Her voice trembled. “Are you… talking to me? What did you just call me?!”

—