After being reborn, all I want to do is run away.

Chapter 146 Old friends meet

As the saying goes, "a bet is a bet," and the next morning Shen Xu came to Li Xiaoyi's house for dinner as promised. He figured he might as well take advantage of the free meal, and only the dishes in front of him could tempt him while he ate.

"What are you and Zuo Chen hiding from everyone?" Li Xiaoyi asked calmly.

"Cough~" Shen Xu almost choked on his food.

“Everyone has secrets. Giving each other some space is better for both of us,” Shen Xu said earnestly.

Li Xiaoyi's tone immediately turned cold: "You mean I'm too close to you?"

Shen Xu immediately explained, "No, I wouldn't mind being close to a beauty like you. I just feel that some things are better left unsaid."

"When you're flirting with other girls, are you just as smooth-talking?" Li Xiaoyi couldn't help but frown.

"Huh? Miss, you've missed the point!" Shen Xu was a little confused. Li Xiaoyi seemed to have a problem with him today.

"Xiao Yi, you've probably misunderstood. I've always been sincere, and what I've said is my true feeling," Shen Xu replied solemnly.

"Call me Miss Li. We're not close enough to call each other by our first names!" Li Xiaoyi's tone was somewhat gentle, but it still carried a clear sense of distance.

Shen Xu knew he had to leave quickly. Li Xiaoyi was clearly targeting him. She was the one who asked him to call her name, and yet she turned against him so soon.

"Since Miss Li does not wish for me to stay here, then I shall take my leave." Shen Xu stood up and said goodbye.

Upon hearing Shen Xu's words, Li Xiaoyi immediately asked, "Where are you going?"

"I want to earn some more money to buy some healing pills and the like, since the sword selection is starting the day after tomorrow, and I still need to prepare some things."

Li Xiaoyi said calmly, "I also need to buy some things. Come with me after we finish eating!"

"Let Qingyun go with you! It's not really appropriate for me to go."

"She's been taken away by Zuo Chen for special training and can't get away for the time being. I'd also like to see how you make money?"

……

Li Xiaoyi was very tall, and Shen Xu was only less than half a head taller than her when he stood next to her. In particular, her high, shiny black ponytail hanging down her back was a sight to behold for Shen Xu.

However, walking side by side with her on the street was not such a friendly experience. Not only did she have to endure the complicated looks from people on the street, but the atmosphere between the two of them was also very tense.

"How do you plan to make money this time? Still rock-paper-scissors?" Li Xiaoyi asked curiously.

Shen Xu shook his head and said, "I already angered everyone last time. If I go again this time, I'm afraid they'll overturn my business."

“The people of Heavenly Sword City aren’t that rude. They’ll just find someone stronger to challenge you, and then make you eat that token when you lose,” Li Xiaoyi said softly.

"Xiao Yi, did you go see it yesterday?" Shen Xu couldn't help but ask.

Upon hearing Shen Xu's words, Li Xiaoyi chuckled and said, "The famous King of Rock-Paper-Scissors, you have faced nearly a thousand people in one afternoon, from peddlers to top-ranked swordsmen, and you have never lost a single match. Your story has spread throughout Tianjian City."

"The rumors are too exaggerated. I have never faced a thousand people, let alone defeated a Sword Selection Seed," Shen Xu explained.

Li Xiaoyi suddenly stopped, then stared into his eyes and slowly said, "Actually, some of the chosen ones have already gone, but you didn't notice, which means that in your eyes they are no different from others."

"Is that really possible?" Shen Xu couldn't help but be a little doubtful.

"Can you tell me how you manage to win every time?"

"In fact, as long as you have keen enough observation skills and fast enough reaction speed, you can be invincible."

"It's like you didn't say anything at all! Can you play with me once? If I lose, I'll give you ten Nourishing Yuan Pills too."

"Okay! But Xiao Yi, you have to promise me one thing."

"What is it?" Li Xiaoyi asked curiously.

"Could you please keep my Qi-Nourishing Pill safe? I'm afraid it will disappear before I even put it in my pocket. I don't even know how it disappeared from my possession," Shen Xu said helplessly.

"Of course, you're welcome to deposit money here anytime. The more you deposit, the more benefits you'll receive," Li Xiaoyi said with a gentle smile.

"Could you tell me what benefits are included?"

"It's a secret!" Li Xiaoyi gently placed her long, slender, white fingers on Shen Xu's nose, looking softly into his eyes.

A very cold sensation instantly traveled from the tip of his nose to his mind, shattering all of Shen Xu's romantic thoughts.

For the next while, the two were silent. Li Xiaoyi didn't understand why she would suddenly make such a bold move. It seemed that as long as she saw this man, her heart would become very chaotic. She would involuntarily care about everything related to him, want to get closer to him, and want him to pay more attention to her. She would even sulk for a long time over a simple form of address. She had become a stranger to herself.

Shen Xu remained silent because he didn't know what to say. It seemed that nothing he said would be appropriate, so he had no choice but to stay silent.

"Junior Brother Shen!" At this moment, a long-unheard voice rang out from in front of him.

"Senior Brother Lu! It's you?" Shen Xu was immediately surprised and puzzled. He didn't understand why Lu Qingshan would take the initiative to greet him when he saw him, since he had already greeted Elder Huang.

"Why can't it be me? I haven't even blamed you for not coming to find me! When I first came to Tianjian City, I was thinking of going to find you, but Elder Huang said that you only met him once and left in a hurry, and told me not to go to find you."

"I know he wanted me to avoid any suspicion with you because of Elder Su's matter. If I hadn't seen you, it would have been fine, but now that I've seen you, I can't pretend I don't know you," Lu Qingshan said sincerely.

"Senior Brother Lu, you didn't need to do that." Shen Xu couldn't help but sigh softly.

“Junior Brother Shen, you don’t need to worry about me. You also told me that only with unwavering determination can one comprehend the sword’s power. If I’m afraid now, my future achievements probably won’t be very high.”

"Qin Qing, this is the junior brother Shen I've been telling you about. He's an unparalleled genius who has grasped the essence of swordsmanship at such a young age. If it weren't for some special reasons, he should be in a core position in the Tianhe Society." Lu Qingshan introduced to a pretty girl in a blue dress beside him.

"Is he Shen Xu?" Qin Qing asked Lu Qingshan to confirm.

"Xiao Qing, how do you know Junior Brother Shen?" Lu Qingshan asked, puzzled.

"It wasn't me, it was Jialin."

"I wonder if Young Master Shen still remembers Jialin?" Qin Qing asked Shen Xu.

After thinking for a moment, Shen Xu replied, "Could it be the girl who came to guide me back then?"

"It's her! Jialin would be so happy if she knew you still remembered her, Young Master Shen. She's still thinking about you!" Qin Qing said with a smile.

Upon hearing Qin Qing's words, Lu Qingshan immediately tugged at Qin Qing's sleeve and then asked with a smile, "Junior Brother Shen, who is this person beside you?"

"Oh! I forgot to introduce her to you. This is..." Shen Xu hesitated at this point. He didn't know if Li Xiaoyi was willing to let Lu Qingshan and the others know her name, after all, Li Xiaoyi's identity was not simple.

“Li Xiaoyi, Shen Xu’s friend,” Li Xiaoyi said calmly to the two of them.

Upon hearing this name, Qin Qing's eyes widened in shock. She then covered her red lips and exclaimed in disbelief, "You are the goddess Xiao Yi!"

"I am Li Xiaoyi, not some goddess Xiaoyi." Upon hearing Qin Qing's words, a hint of impatience flashed in Li Xiaoyi's eyes.

"I'm so sorry! I was so excited that I forgot which title you hate the most," Qin Qing hurriedly bowed and apologized.

Lu Qingshan suggested, "This isn't the place to talk. Why don't we find a place to sit down and chat?"

"Senior Brother Lu, just pretend this meeting never happened. Especially during the sword selection, don't mention that you know me," Shen Xu refused without hesitation, not wanting to bring unnecessary risks to Lu Qingshan because of him.

"Then Junior Brother Shen, please take good care of yourself!" Lu Qingshan said sincerely.

Shen Xu smiled and replied, "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

After the two had walked away, Qin Qing said to Lu Qingshan with a beaming smile, "If I go back and tell them that I met Goddess Xiao Yi today and even spoke to her, they will definitely think I've gone crazy."

"Is that girl next to Shen Xu very capable?" Lu Qingshan couldn't help but ask.

"Not a girl, but a goddess! How can a goddess be compared to a mortal?" Qin Qing immediately emphasized.

"Legend has it that the goddess was born embracing a jade, and on the day of her birth, there were extraordinary celestial phenomena. In Tianjian City, where it had never snowed before, auspicious snow suddenly fell. Her cultivation talent, as determined by the test, is almost at the Heavenly Rank level. She can become the second disciple of the Four Sword Saints once they emerge from seclusion."

A year ago, when she was known as Goddess Xiao Yi, she visited the Tianhe Sword Sect once. She challenged all the disciples in the Qi Cultivation Realm of the Tianhe Sword Sect with her sword. Apart from Senior Sister Bai, no one could defeat her in a single blow. Coupled with her peerless beauty and incomparably aloof temperament, she captured the hearts of countless male and female disciples in the sect, and gradually the title of Goddess spread.

However, she seemed to dislike being called that. I was too agitated at the time; I hope she won't be angry.

"So that's how it is. But how did Junior Brother Shen get to know such a powerful person?" Lu Qingshan murmured.

Qin Qing frowned and said, "Qingshan, your junior brother Shen might be in trouble. Goddess Xiao Yi has an extremely cold attitude towards everyone, and coupled with her awe-inspiring background and talent, basically no man dares to approach her."

But the fact that she was seen on the street with Shen Xu this time makes even me jealous. What do you think those people who have designs on the goddess will think?

"Junior Brother Shen, you really do always pick on the biggest troublemakers!" Lu Qingshan couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

"Xiao Qing, promise me you won't tell anyone about meeting Junior Brother Shen!"