201: Chapter 21 Beauty and Martial Arts!

February 1st, early morning.

Qin Yan, dragging his suitcase and carrying his bundled long spear, quietly left the tranquil Modu University of Martial Arts campus.

He boarded the high-speed train bound for Linhai City.

...

Hours later, the train smoothly pulled into Linhai City High-Speed Rail Station.

Familiar local accents came through the broadcast, carrying an indescribable sense of intimacy.

Qin Yan picked up his luggage and followed the crowd out of the carriage.

He passed through the exit security, re-wrapped ink trace, and slung it over his back.

After exiting the station, his gaze habitually swept through the crowd waiting to pick people up.

With almost no effort, his sight locked onto three figures not far away.

His father Qin Shouzheng, his mother Chen Juan, and his younger sister Qin Xiaoxi.

In the crowd, his father's face was expressionless, but his slightly narrowed eyes revealed a trace of imperceptible anticipation and nervousness.

His mother, on the other hand, occasionally adjusted her scarf, murmuring, "He should be out soon, right?"

The most active was undoubtedly his younger sister Qin Xiaoxi.

After more than half a year apart, the little girl seemed to have slimmed down a bit.

Wearing a goose-yellow down jacket, she looked like a vibrant little oriole.

She refused to stay quietly by her parents' side and instead squeezed to the very front of the waiting crowd.

She stood on tiptoes, trying to lift her head higher.

Her big, dark eyes were wide open, staring unblinkingly at the exit, afraid of missing her brother's figure.

Her small face was filled with undisguised anticipation, excitement, and a hint of impatience from waiting too long.

Qin Yan's nose tingled slightly, and then a wonderfully warm smile bloomed on his face.

He didn't call out loudly, but simply quickened his pace.

Thirty meters, twenty-five meters, twenty meters...

Until Qin Yan was less than twenty meters away from them.

The sharp-eyed Qin Xiaoxi suddenly turned her head, her gaze meeting Qin Yan's, who was walking towards them with a smile!

At that instant, the little girl froze, her eyes widening even more.

The next second, immense joy exploded on her face!

"Brother!!!"

A clear cry, mixed with surprise, grievance, and longing, rang out.

Qin Xiaoxi rushed over, arms wide open, and threw herself firmly into Qin Yan's embrace.

Her small head buried in his chest, she hugged him tightly.

"Qin Yan! You're so mean! So mean!"

Qin Xiaoxi's muffled voice came from Qin Yan's embrace, with a strong nasal tone and undisguised grievance and dependence.

"You left for seven months! You didn't even come back early for New Year's! And you didn't call often!"

"Did you make new friends in Modu and forget your cutest and prettiest sister?!"

Qin Yan felt the real warmth and slight trembling of his sister in his arms, and the softest part of his heart was deeply touched.

He didn't speak, but simply put down his suitcase.

Freeing one hand, he naturally and gently stroked his sister's soft, fluffy hair, just as he had countless times before.

He ruffled it lightly, messing up her carefully styled hair.

"Alright, haven't I come back?"

His voice carried a rare gentleness and indulgence.

In the past, if Qin Yan dared to mess up her hair like that, the little girl would have long since jumped up to protest or even 'counterattack'.

But this time, she didn't.

She just buried her face deeper, as if she wanted to make up for all the brotherly presence and sense of security that had been missing for seven months, all at once.

This silent dependence and longing were more powerful than any words.

"Alright, Xiao Xi, quickly let go of your brother, so many people are watching."

His mother Chen Juan and father Qin Shouzheng also walked over, Chen Juan's face beaming with a relieved smile as she gently patted her daughter's shoulder.

"University courses are tough, training is hard, your brother must be very busy. It's good that he could come back for New Year's."

Hearing her mother's words, Qin Xiaoxi reluctantly let go of Qin Yan.

But one hand still tightly clutched her brother's clothes, as if afraid he would run away again.

She looked up, her eyes still a little red, but now sparkling as she looked at Qin Yan, revealing a big smile.

"Dad, Mom." Qin Yan looked at his parents, his voice steady.

"Xiao Yan..." Chen Juan stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over his face and body, finally sighing with a pained heart.

"You've lost weight. Is training at school too hard, are you not eating well? Your face looks like it has no flesh left."

Qin Yan couldn't help but smile at her words, a warm current flowing through him, yet also feeling a bit amused and helpless.

In these past seven months, he had been consuming various body tempering pills, fierce beast meat, and nutritious meals daily.

Coupled with high-intensity training, his physique was well-defined, and his weight had increased by more than ten jin since he left home.

His bones, tempered to the jade bone level, had astonishing density and were truly substantial.

Sure enough, in a mother's eyes, a child far from home is always 'thin'.

His father Qin Shouzheng still said nothing, merely walked up to Qin Yan, extended his large hand, and first patted Qin Yan's strong arm.

Then, silently, he took the slightly heavy suitcase from Qin Yan's hand and the long spear bag from his back.

The family reunited, exchanged a few simple words, and then left the bustling high-speed rail station.

...

As soon as they returned home, his mother tied on an apron and went into the kitchen to start bustling about.

Soon, the enticing aroma of food wafted from the kitchen.

Dish after dish was brought to the dining table.

Braised pork, steamed fish, sweet and sour pork ribs, home-style tofu, garlic greens... all were dishes Qin Yan had loved since childhood.

The ingredients might be ordinary, and they certainly weren't as beneficial to martial artists as the medicinal meals in the Modu University cafeteria.

But Qin Yan felt that this was the most delicious meal he had eaten in seven months.

At the dinner table, Qin Xiaoxi quickly recovered her lively nature from the excitement of their reunion.

Chewing on her chopsticks, her big eyes darted back and forth, staring at Qin Yan, then she suddenly leaned closer, asking mysteriously and curiously:

"Brother, let me ask you something... does becoming a martial artist make people prettier... oh no, handsomer?"

She propped her chin in her hand, carefully examining Qin Yan, and the more she looked, the more she felt her brother was different from before.

The old Qin Yan was merely delicate and proper, with bright eyes but a youthful naivety.

But the current Qin Yan had smooth, firm skin with a subtle glow;

His facial features also seemed more defined due to abundant qi and blood and slight bone adjustments.

The youthful awkwardness in his brows was replaced by a sense of composure and steadfastness;

Simply sitting there, he exuded a natural, restrained sharpness and a calm, mountain-like aura.

This transformation from within indeed made him appear more handsome and outstanding.

Qin Yan smiled and nodded, following his sister's lead: "Yes, you could say that.

Cultivating martial arts, strengthening the body, and having abundant qi and blood can indeed make one look prettier and feel better."

"Wow!"

Upon receiving a positive answer, Qin Xiaoxi's big eyes immediately sparkled, filled with longing.

"Then I want to become a martial artist too! I want to become prettier... bah, stronger!"

What teenage girl could resist the temptation of 'becoming more beautiful and charismatic'?

(Can't move anymore~ Rest~)