Seeking the Dao in the Seemingly Mundane Mortal World

Chapter 36: First Love

Translator: Henyee Translations

Editor: Henyee Translations

Sometimes Qin Yi wondered how he could’ve sounded so resolute when he told the king things he couldn’t have possibly said before. He couldn’t tell if he had spoken his mind or if he had told himself that he had to say it.

Did he try so hard because he couldn’t let Li Qingjun marry Mang Zhan, or was he really in love with her?

He had no idea.

He even felt that he wouldn’t be ready if he had to marry Li Qingjun now…

But he had no doubt that he was fond of her.

It wasn’t just because of her extremely good looks. He was even more attracted by her chivalrous spirit, her braveness, her independence, and her valiant and heroic demeanor. Although he often mocked her reckless behaviors, he would also forget about his complaints almost right away and found them adorable instead.

The strangest thing was that her personality couldn’t have been more unlike his—to the point that they were polar opposites. But somehow, he found such a contrast very attractive.

Involuntarily, he recalled what he told her in the Zhang Manor: “Traveling the world and helping others in the face of injustice is my dream as well.”

Maybe he saw in her the unfulfilled dream he used to have.

Just like she saw in him her dream of meeting a real immortal.

That was why they were attracted to each other.

“Why… why are you so quiet?!” Li Qingjun had waited for so long that she had forgotten about her shyness. Stomping her foot, she said, “Did you just say those things to get rid of Mang Zhan?”

“No,” Qin Yi finally replied. “I meant every word.”

“What?” Li Qingjun had jumped to her feet in frustration a moment ago, but now, she felt so awkward that she didn’t know where to put her hands.

Qin Yi slowly moved closer and stopped in front of her. Li Qingjun stumbled back involuntarily, which was very unlike her tough self, and stammered, “B- But I…”

“But you’re not ready, right?” Qin Yi smiled. “I know.”

Surprised, Li Qingjun finally raised her head and met his gaze; the look in his eyes was very kind.

The two of them actually felt the same way.

She gradually calmed down and murmured, “I- I think I like you, but… aren’t we moving too fast? W- We’ve only known each other for less than 20 days… I don’t even know how old you are…”

“I see.” Qin Yi then offered her his hand. “Wanna take a walk?”

After a moment of hesitation, Li Qingjun took his hand.

The electrifying feeling from their hand-holding the day before didn’t happen this time nor did they feel as flustered as they were a moment ago. Instead, they both calmed down.

“I’m 16 now and will be 17 in three months,” Qin Yi said slowly. It was the age of this body, and all the villagers knew that, so he had to give that answer. In fact, he was already a university student in his early 20s before he came here, and when he didn’t have classes, he would stay in his dorm playing games, reading novels, watching videos, and happily talking nonsense in various chat groups.

Qin Yi believed that many of his senior transmigrators were just like him, but for some unknown reason, they became ruthless and decisive the moment they arrived in a new world and could even change the way they spoke…

That wasn’t the point here.

The point was: she was his first love, his previous life included.

Qin Yi suddenly felt proud of himself when he recalled how his fellow classmates used to show off their girlfriends. “Anyone ready for some bragging? My first love is a princess!”

“So, you’re 16. I’m a year younger than you,” Li Qingjun said in a bewildered tone. She didn’t even know why she asked his age. What difference would it make if he was 16 or 17? Did she think he was some old demon disguising himself as a young man?

All she knew was that it felt quite nice to walk with Qin Yi hand-in-hand in his small garden, and she was already very happy. It didn’t matter what they were going to talk about…

She wondered when she stopped finding him annoying and started treating him like a friend.

Was it after he helped her a few times on their way back to the capital city, or was it because of their intimate moment down in the cave and his considerate reaction afterwards? Li Qingjun was confused, for she couldn’t pinpoint the moment the change took place.

Things just seemed to happen like that, and the attraction was so natural.

She finally asked, “Qin Yi…”

“Huh?”

“Did you dislike me before?”

“No.” Qin Yi smiled and said, “I found you quite nice from the very beginning.”

“You found me nice even after I broke into your yard like that?”

“Because as reckless as you might’ve seemed, you were very reasonable. You didn’t pester me endlessly.”

“I see…” Li Qingjun seemed a little disappointed.

Qin Yi looked up at the sky and spoke in a brooding voice. “I could never forget the silver spear charging at the demon spider during a downpour, or when you said ‘they’re my subject’. I know I’ll never meet a princess like you no matter how many lives I live.”

Li Qingjun beamed at him.

“Qingjun…”

“Yes?”

“You said you didn’t want to live in the capital city as a noblewoman and get trapped in such a life. I don’t want to live in this scheming city and watch over my shoulder all the time either. After we… Well, once we’re done here, let’s go look for immortals together. We can travel the world and eradicate evil from this land. What do you think…” He knocked his own head before he finished.

Why did I say that? I’m going to jinx it! Qin Yi thought.

Li Qingjun didn’t know what was going on in his head and asked in bewilderment, “You? Travelling the world? I thought you’re the type who would rather live a comfortable life in some mountain village.”

Qin Yi woke up from his reverie, halted, and said earnestly, “I would travel the world with you.”

Li Qingjun stopped as well and looked up into his eyes.

Qin Yi met her gaze.

Their eyes gradually lost focus.

Li Qingjun was a beautiful girl, and Qin Yi had realized that many times. Right now, her cheeks were flushed, her glossy red lips were so attempting, and her unfocused eyes were like whirlpools, dragging him down. Before he knew it, he was leaning closer and closer.

Li Qingjun pressed a hand lightly on his chest, as though trying to push him away, but she was so nervous that she felt too weak. She tried to step back, but something seemed to have nailed her to the ground.

Her long eyelashes quivered, and she slowly closed her eyes.

Just then, a streak of dark energy shot up into the sky. Qin Yi spun around and saw that it came from Night Wing’s little courtyard.

“What’s that?” Li Qingjun pushed him away and looked confused. “Why would my brother have something so ominous here?”

All hell broke loose, and there were footsteps everywhere. Qin Yi could even hear shouts outside and realized that people were quickly approaching the residence.

He asked hastily, “Didn’t your brother come back with you after the funeral?”

Li Qingjun said, “No, he didn’t. He went away with some men, acting all mysteriously.”

“I see…” Taking a deep breath, Qin Yi spoke in a serious tone. “Go to the front gate and stop any outsiders who try to come in. We can’t allow them to enter the residence while your brother is away. We have to stall until he comes back.”

Li Qingjun knew that now wasn’t the time to ask what her brother was keeping in his residence, and her top priority was to stop the outsiders. She had always been a decisive person, so she promptly left Qin Yi’s courtyard after saying “Be careful”.

Qin Yi sighed in relief. That was the best part about having a heroic girlfriend—she wouldn’t give him the “you’re keeping things from me” or “you don’t love me” crap in a moment like this. He acted quickly as well. After running back to his room and picking up the spiked club, he dashed off towards Night Wing’s courtyard.

Liusu sounded quite sorry when it said, “What a shame. I haven’t seen such a scene for tens of thousands of years…”