A man holding a long sword strode through the air as the voice faded.
He was clad in a black robe and wore a half-silver mask. Though his features were hidden, his presence exuded immense power.
His robe fluttered in the wind, and as he landed, a gust of wind swirled around him.
A moment later.
As the masked man lunged towards Ouyang Qinglin with his sword, he suddenly grabbed Gu Qianying's hand, gently pulling her from Ouyang Qinglin's embrace. As they both turned, the masked man unexpectedly embraced Gu Qianying from behind.
His hand rested on her waist.
They spun in the air and landed together, standing firm on the ground.
Around them, leaves swayed, and the remaining pink flowers on the branches scattered their petals instantly as the two landed, like a celestial scattering flowers.
"You dare to snatch someone from my hands, national preceptor? You have quite the nerve!"
As Ouyang Qinglin raised his palm, he sidestepped the masked man's sword.
The masked man's arm around Gu Qianying did not move. He looked at Ouyang Qinglin with cold eyes, "Dare to touch her, and you die!"
As he spoke, Gu Qianying turned to look at him.
With only half a silver mask on his face, his profile was sculpted and handsome, and seemed somewhat familiar.
But Gu Qianying was certain she had never met anyone with such formidable skills.
Shifting slightly, Gu Qianying moved her waist away from the masked man's hand still resting there.
The masked man's hand paused for a moment, then he gently lowered it.
Meanwhile.
Ouyang Qinglin, hearing the masked man's arrogant words, laughed and said, "Heh, such bold words!"
Suddenly.
Ouyang Qinglin drew the sword hanging from his waist and, using his qinggong, appeared before the masked man in an instant.
Both attacked simultaneously.
The masked man abruptly pulled Gu Qianying behind him and faced Ouyang Qinglin with his sword.
As they fought, fierce winds raged, and lightning flashed.
Gu Qianying watched.
The masked man and Ouyang Qinglin fought from the ground to the treetops, one standing steady on a very thin branch.
Both possessed excellent qinggong.
One, dressed in red, was ethereally beautiful and alluringly seductive. The other, in black, was aloof and noble, with a captivating demeanor.
Judging by their intensity, they would fight until they were exhausted, day and night.
Gu Qianying withdrew her gaze and unceremoniously woke up Zi Jin, Zi Yin, and Nangong Xuanning, leading them away from the scene.
As they left, the masked man and Ouyang Qinglin were still locked in combat.
On their way, Gu Qianying and the other three encountered an elderly woman with difficulty walking. The old woman seemed lost and was asking passersby for directions back home.
Nangong Xuanning, who had no intention of getting involved, accidentally not only identified the old woman as someone needing medical attention due to a long-term illness but also, by sheer luck, cured the old woman's ailment.
For this, Nangong Xuanning earned some points.
Zi Jin and Zi Yin's abilities were, of course, no less. To stay by Gu Qianying's side, and without affecting Gu Qianying's assessment scores, they casually earned a few dozen points.
After the second round of assessments concluded, the scores of all participants were announced as quickly as possible.
Gu Qianying and the other three were, naturally, on the list of those who passed into the next round. As for the others, two men and three women also advanced to the third round of assessment tests.
The night before the third round of entry assessments was to begin, the nine participating contestants were arranged to rest in separate rooms.
Seven women shared one room.
The remaining two men occupied another room.
As night fell.
Gu Qianying quietly slipped out of the room after everyone else had fallen asleep.
Beside a pavilion.
Gu Qianying looked at the man with his back to her and said in a clear voice, "May I ask why you asked me to come out?"
Before sleeping, she had received a letter.
The content of the letter read: Under the moonlight, with fireflies filling the sky, such beautiful scenery, would you care to come out and meet?
Sender: The one who saved you, you know who.
Upon receiving the letter, the first person Gu Qianying thought of was the masked man who had saved her that day.
When she arrived and saw the man's back, she thought, it was indeed him.
The man slowly turned around.
He still wore the half-silver mask on his face.
"I saved you."
The masked man suddenly uttered this sentence.
Gu Qianying seemed to understand the implication of his words. Her expression faltered for a moment, then she replied, "Are you perhaps asking for me to pledge myself to you in return for saving my life?"
As she said this, Gu Qianying's tone was light, clearly speaking casually and as a joke.
But the masked man seemed to take it seriously, "If so, it is not impossible."
Gu Qianying was stunned.
She looked at the masked man, and before she could speak, a hand suddenly landed on her waist, gently pulling her.
Fireflies and the pavilion flashed past her eyes.
A cool breeze brushed her cheek, making her feel completely clear-headed.
When she turned again, the masked man had already brought her to the rooftop.
The masked man embraced her as they sat down on the roof.
"If you must repay me, then spend the night admiring the moon with me."
A deep, sexy, and magnetic voice pulled her from her daze.
"Okay."
As she pushed his arm away, Gu Qianying shifted to the side, creating a distance between herself and the masked man.
The masked man noticed her subtle movement and, though he said nothing, his tone turned somewhat cold, "What? Afraid I'll eat you?"
"You jest, sir. I am, after all, an unmarried young lady. It is inappropriate for us to be so intimate at this moment. I ask that you please conduct yourself with more propriety."
"Heh!" The masked man chuckled and turned to look at Gu Qianying, "I've heard that Miss Gu is the uncrowned princess of Prince Jiunangong Mo. If that's the case, why are you so distant towards me today? Are you afraid Prince Jiunangong will be jealous?"
"Ha."
This time, Gu Qianying laughed, "Why should I fear his jealousy? Besides, he is a high and mighty prince; why would he be jealous of a mere girl like me?"
As she said this, the masked man sensed an anomaly in Gu Qianying's tone and asked, "What? Is it that you...?"
Before he could finish speaking, Gu Qianying suddenly looked at him, "Are you perhaps an old acquaintance of Prince Jiunangong Mo?"
"No?"
"Then a colleague?"
"Nor that."
"Surely, you are not someone who dotes on him?"
The masked man's expression turned cold, "Certainly not!"
"Then why are you so concerned about his affairs?"
"I care about you!"
The masked man suddenly looked directly at Gu Qianying.
Gu Qianying was slightly taken aback.
Meeting the masked man's cold gaze, Gu Qianying felt that his familiar eyes seemed like something she had seen somewhere before.
This fleeting thought immediately brought Gu Qianying back to her senses, "Could you please remove your mask and let me see your true face?"
"My face is ugly, you shouldn't look."
The masked man withdrew his gaze and subconsciously raised his hand to adjust his mask.
"I don't mind if you're ugly, please let me have a look."
Gu Qianying reached out her hand.
"There's nothing to see." The masked man dodged Gu Qianying's outstretched hand.
"But I must see!"
Gu Qianying suddenly lunged towards the masked man.