28: Chapter 28 is my favorite!

"Lin Xue, how can you not use your brain? If he were just an ordinary disciple, would Elder Kong personally bring him to see His Majesty the Emperor to demand an explanation?"

Being pointed out by His Majesty the Emperor, Xu Linxue finally realized what kind of person she had provoked.

To be accepted as a disciple by Kong Deming at such a young age and to be so protected by him, it meant that his talent had reached an unprecedented level.

Such a prodigy would be able to stand at the pinnacle of the continent within twenty years. If he held a grudge, her whole family would be finished.

"Brother, I... I didn't know he was Elder Kong's disciple. What should I do?"

Xu Linxue was completely panicked at this moment. Provoking such a future top-tier powerhouse was not a good thing for anyone.

"Sigh, the matter has reached this point. His Majesty the Emperor has already given him sufficient compensation. Just don't provoke him again in the future."

Regarding that level-eight melee spirit tool, the sword of blazing sun, Mu Qingci had already decided on its destination.

He thought of the sword of judgment that eventually fell into the hands of Ji Juechen in the original work. In Mu Qingci's view, that was the most suitable melee spirit tool for him, possessing both light and dark attributes, which matched his Spirit perfectly.

If the sword of judgment were to fall into Mu Qingci's hands later, this sword of blazing sun would be the best substitute for Ji Juechen.

However, right now, this was not what Mu Qingci needed to consider most. The sword of blazing sun could wait until the time was ripe to be given to Ji Juechen.

Although he had experienced the trouble brought about by Xu Tianyu these past few days, there was one thing Mu Qingci had not forgotten: Meng Hongchen's birthday.

Three days later would be Meng Hongchen's fourteenth birthday. As for the gift, Mu Qingci had already prepared it.

Three days passed quietly, and today happened to be the academy's day off.

"Knock, knock, knock."

The door was knocked on early in the morning.

However, this time it was not Meng Hongchen knocking on Mu Qingci's door, but Mu Qingci who took the initiative to find Meng Hongchen.

Such a handsome youth appearing in the girls' dormitory building attracted the attention of several people.

"Who is it?"

Meng Hongchen opened the door and was greeted by that incomparably familiar, handsome face.

Facing the morning sun, Mu Qingci's temperament added a touch of lively vitality to his ethereal nature, making him look quite like a sunny boy.

"Qingci, why are you here?"

Meeting Mu Qingci's smile, which had just the right curve, a blush immediately appeared on Meng Hongchen's fair face.

"Happy birthday! Sister Meng, this is the gift I prepared for you."

Mu Qingci did not intend to play any games of suspense; he believed that the most direct blessings were the ones that could touch people's hearts the most.

Mu Qingci held a box made of peach wood in his hand, with a pink ribbon tied into a bow wrapped around it.

Meng Hongchen took the box expectantly and, with other girls witnessing it, opened it.

Unlike the gold and jewelry she had received for birthdays in the past, a seemingly ordinary wooden hairpin lay in the wooden box.

But when the sunlight shone on the wooden hairpin, it reflected a gilded glow.

The head of the wooden hairpin was a peach blossom made of pink gemstones, which Mu Qingci had also carved by hand.

"I know that for Sister Meng, any precious gift is not worth mentioning, so I taught myself wood carving and made this wooden hairpin."

Meng Hongchen looked at Mu Qingci in a daze, her eyes full of emotion.

This wooden hairpin might be the cheapest gift she had ever received since she was a child, but it was the most sincere one.

Others gave her expensive gifts mostly to curry favor with their Hongchen family.

But Mu Qingci giving this wooden hairpin was truly from the bottom of his heart to thank Meng Hongchen for her help.

"I like Qingci the most!"

Overcome with emotion, Meng Hongchen even forgot that there were so many people watching around her, hugged Mu Qingci, and with a "smack," left a faint lip print on his cheek.

Mu Qingci was caught off guard, and a look of awkwardness instantly hung on his face.

"Alright, come in first, there are so many people watching!"

Meng Hongchen pulled Mu Qingci into her dormitory.

Like Mu Qingci, she also lived in a single room.

When Mu Qingci entered the room, the air was filled with the fragrance unique to Meng Hongchen.

"Oh, right, Sister Meng, I have one more thing to give you."

Although that wooden hairpin represented Mu Qingci's sincerity, having just received a large sum of money, it was impossible for him to have prepared only this one gift.

He reached out and took off the Suns Protection necklace from his neck.

"This is a level-eight defensive spirit tool, Suns Protection. It is one of the compensations given to me by His Majesty the Emperor. I already have the Silver Moon Guardian given by my teacher, so I will give this to Sister Meng."

Without waiting for Meng Hongchen to refuse, Mu Qingci had already walked in front of her.

He gently gathered her hair behind her head with both hands and put the necklace on her.

Looking at the little sun in front of her neck, and then at the little moon on Mu Qingci's chest, the blush on Meng Hongchen's face deepened a little.

"Thank you... Qingci."

If the previous wooden hairpin represented affection, then this expensive level-eight spirit tool represented sincerity.

With the dual blessing of affection and sincerity, the emotion in Meng Hongchen's heart had reached its peak.

"Alright, since it's a day off today, let's go for a walk on the street. Always tensing your nerves with cultivation is not good for your body."

Looking at Meng Hongchen, who was still in a daze, Mu Qingci stroked her hair and said softly.

"Mm, okay."

Mu Qingci took the initiative to hold Meng Hongchen's hand, just as she usually took the initiative to hold his.

Feeling her hand being held, Meng Hongchen lowered her head even more, her gaze landing right on the little sun on her chest, her heart filled with warmth.

The two walked together on the streets of Mingdu, their outstanding appearances attracting envious gazes from many people.

Although they were both youths under fifteen years old at this moment, the premature development of Spirit Masters made them look like a young couple.

Mu Qingci walked to a candied hawthorn stall, bought a skewer, and handed it to Meng Hongchen.

"Thank you."

Meng Hongchen took it with a smile and started eating it in small bites.

Arriving at a mirror stall, Mu Qingci picked up a simple and beautiful bronze mirror and held it in front of Meng Hongchen.

"Mirror, mirror, who is the most beautiful woman in this World?"

Then, he changed his voice, squeaking, and said: "Of course, it is this Miss Meng in front of me!"

Meng Hongchen was amused by his act and smiled: "Alright, the owner is still watching."

The owner of the stall was a middle-aged man who looked honest and simple.

He looked at the two playfully with a smile: "No problem, no problem. You two can look around as you please. Whichever you like, uncle will give you a discount!"

Mu Qingci looked around, and finally bought the first bronze mirror.

"Come, Sister Meng, let me help you put on the hairpin."

Meng Hongchen nodded obediently, handed the hairpin to Mu Qingci, and finally lowered her head slightly to wait.