180: Chapter 18 Dual Personality!

"Qin Yan, on the arena, we each represent our schools, fighting for life and death; neither of us had a choice."

"But your strength and will, I, Chen Tian, am thoroughly convinced by them."

"Especially that last move... you've got guts! I respect you as a real man!"

Qin Yan also solemnly raised his glass: "Brother Chen, you flatter me. Your Prairie Fire Sword Art is overbearingly peerless, and those ten Sword Runes were truly breathtaking."

"In that battle, I only won by a stroke of luck."

"It should be said that it is I who admire Brother Chen's valiance."

The two looked at each other and smiled. Many unspoken words seemed to be resolved within this cup of wine and their mutual gaze.

"Regardless, it was a satisfying fight."

"Exchange contact info? If there's a chance in the future, perhaps we can spar again."

"I couldn't ask for more," Qin Yan readily agreed.

Chen Tian's strength and character were both worth befriending.

After chatting casually about the sights of their respective martial universities and their insights on cultivation, Chen Tian took his leave to greet other acquaintances.

Qin Yan continued to converse with several geniuses who had newly gathered around him, and the liquid in his wine glass had unknowingly decreased by more than half.

Qin Yan could no longer remember how many cups he had drunk.

The banquet provided a specially made fine wine with a high alcohol content.

For an ordinary person, it would have been excessive long ago, but for a Rank 2 peak martial artist with vigorous blood and qi like him, the alcohol was rapidly metabolized and broken down, bringing only a slight warmth and relaxation; he was far from drunk.

His eyes remained clear, with only a slight, healthy flush on his cheeks.

Just then, an elegant fragrance with a faint, indiscernible hint of charm quietly approached.

Qin Yan turned his head and saw Liu Ruyan approaching gracefully.

At this moment, she wore a well-tailored fiery red dress; the hem was like flowing flames, accentuating her snow-white skin and graceful figure.

She was completely different from the cold and aloof person on the arena during the day.

Right now, her eyes seemed to ripple with watery light as she looked around, her gaze bright and captivating.

In those eyes that were originally cold, there was now a lingering, indescribable charm.

Like peach blossoms in a spring mist, blurred and alluring, yet not frivolous; instead, she possessed a unique, soul-stirring elegance.

With a faint, enigmatic smile on her lips, she came before Qin Yan.

"Student Qin Yan."

Her voice had also softened a bit, carrying a perfectly measured, husky magnetism.

"On the arena today, your bearing was truly captivating. Ruyan toasts to you."

Her slender fingers held the wine glass, the amber liquid inside rippling slightly.

She looked directly at Qin Yan, and that lingering charm seemed as if it wanted to probe into his heart.

"Miss Liu overpraises me. On the arena, your sword techniques also benefited me greatly."

There was some sincerity in his words; had he not personally experienced Liu Ruyan's determination to trade her life for an injury, he might not have been able to summon the same resolve when facing Chen Tian.

The two wine glasses clinked gently in the air.

Liu Ruyan elegantly finished her wine, her gaze lingering on Qin Yan's face for a moment. That hint of charm seemed to thicken, yet deep down, she remained sober and observant.

"I hope that in the future, I will have the chance to experience Student Qin Yan's even more exquisite long spear techniques."

Leaving behind those words, she gave a slight nod to the others beside Qin Yan and then, like a swaying red cloud, walked gracefully toward another group of people.

Qin Yan looked at her back, feeling a slight sense of strangeness in his heart.

The Liu Ruyan on the arena was calm, decisive, and possessed a determination that spared nothing;

Yet the her before his eyes displayed such a completely different style.

Was this change due to the occasion, or was there another reason?

After Liu Ruyan left, Lu Youyou leaned into Qin Yan's ear and whispered, "Little Junior Brother, stay away from this Liu Ruyan in the future. She's sick."

A look of bewilderment appeared in Qin Yan's eyes.

Why was Little Senior Sister insulting her?

Seeing the expression on Qin Yan's face that clearly indicated he had misunderstood her meaning, Lu Youyou immediately reacted, waving her hand and whispering, "Oh, it's not the kind of 'sick' you're thinking of!"

"I'm not insulting her. I mean... she might really have... some unusual issues with her spirit state."

"You saw Liu Ruyan's state just now. Compared to that cold-as-ice, almost emotionless appearance on the arena, isn't she like two different people?"

"It's almost as if she changed into someone else."

Qin Yan recalled Liu Ruyan's eyes on the arena—unwavering and filled only with frigid sword intent—and then looked at her just now, with her rippling eyes and overflowing charm. It was indeed like ice and fire.

He nodded slowly.

"I don't know much about this either; it's considered relatively secret information."

Lu Youyou lowered her voice even further. "I only happened to hear a knowledgeable elder in my family mention it."

"Supposedly... because Liu Ruyan encountered some 'taboo' level event or change in her early years, her spirit suffered a massive shock, leading to... the formation of an extremely rare 'schizophrenic' symptom."

"Inside her body, there are very likely two completely different, even independent 'personalities'!"

"A taboo event?"

Lu Youyou shook her head, a hint of confusion and wariness flashing in her eyes. "As for what the specific taboo reason was, I'm not sure either."

"That elder was vague, only faintly mentioning that it seemed... to be related to that long-retired, elusive Old Chancellor of Longhua Martial University."

"But the deeper details are not something I can access."

The Old Chancellor of Longhua Martial University? Qin Yan felt a chill in his heart.

That was one of the big shots standing at the pinnacle of China's martial arts education system; his strength was at least at the level of an 8th-rank Great Grandmaster.

For Liu Ruyan's matters to actually involve an existence of that level, one could imagine the depth of the waters behind it.

"However," she changed the subject, her tone becoming even more solemn, "that's not entirely the point. The most critical and unsettling thing is that whenever Liu Ruyan's 'personality' switches, her strength—and even her combat style—might undergo significant changes!"

"You never know which 'her' is standing in front of you, or what kind of unknown power and temperament she possesses."

"Her strength also changes?!" This time, Qin Yan was truly shocked, even finding it somewhat hard to believe.

This exceeded his conventional understanding of martial arts.

Blood and qi circulation, and the comprehension of realms—these were all based on the foundation of the unity of body and soul. How could a split personality lead to fluctuations in strength?

Seeing the shock and deep thought on Qin Yan's face, Lu Youyou knew he had realized the severity of the problem.

She gently tugged on Qin Yan's sleeve and cautioned him again, "So, Little Junior Brother, just remember: this person is very, very eerie."

"The connections behind her are very deep, and her own state of existence is extremely unstable."

"In the future, if you ever encounter her again on a battlefield or some special occasion, try to keep your distance. Don't have too much interaction, and especially don't be easily fooled by any of her appearances. Safety first!"