Systemless Villain

Chapter 55 Confrontations and Confessions

A car stopped not far from the entrance gate, parked alongside the other vehicles. A beautiful blond girl got out of the car, accompanied by a middle-aged man.

It was Liu Qian and her father. Today was a special day, so Liu Hai wanted to capture the moment.

As Liu Hai's gaze drifted, he spotted an old friend, prompting him to address his daughter, "Qian'er, the event isn't starting just yet, is it? I'd like to catch up with someone. Would that be alright with you?" His tone was warm, seeking her consent.

"It's fine, Dad, take your time," Liu Qian replied.

"Great, I'll catch up with you later," Liu Hai smiled and then walked away from there.

With her father's departure, Liu Qian continued her walk into the heart of the school. The air buzzed with excitement as she entered the school grounds, a sense of anticipation amplifying her eagerness for the martial spirit awakening.

Amidst the vibrant environment, students congregated around the corridors. Today's grand event had suspended the routine of classes, paving the way for the day's spectacle.

"Liu Qian, wait up," at this very moment, she heard a familiar voice from behind.

She turned around and saw Ye Chen running towards her.

Their reunion was a moment of delight, marked by Ye Chen's warm greeting, "Hey, good morning."

"Good morning, Ye Chen," Liu Qian responded, her lips curving into a gentle smile.

Ye Chen was utterly captivated by Liu Qian's smile; it was so sweet and soft. But today, he wanted to hear the truth.

"Shall we walk together? There's something I'd like to discuss," Ye Chen's words carried a note of hesitation, his eagerness mingling with nerves.

"Sure," Liu Qian agreed, her nod an affirmation of their connection.

With that, the two of them walked among the crowd.

Ye Chen was quite nervous; since he started dating Liu Qian, they hadn't spent much time together, and even they had never been out alone together.

The vibrant atmosphere prompted him to initiate a conversation, his tone cautious as he broached a topic, "It's quite lively, isn't it? How do you feel about the upcoming martial spirit awakening?"

Liu Qian's response was tinged with confidence, "I'm fairly optimistic. Throughout our family's history, no one has encountered failure when it comes to awakening their martial spirit."

"I see. It seems nice to have such a long family history," Ye Chen smiled bitterly.

He came from a poor family, and both his parents died in an accident when he was in middle school. Fortunately, they left him a house and some money, so he managed to survive.

Liu Qian, on the other hand, held Ye Chen's hand, "Don't think like that, Ye Chen. You might not have a long family history, but I believe that in the future, you'll become a strong cultivator and create your own history," she comforted, smiling sweetly.

Ye Chen's heart raced as he saw the smile on Liu Qian's face. Unconsciously, his cheeks reddened. He felt incredibly lucky to be dating someone as beautiful as Liu Qian.

"Thank you, Liu Qian," he said sincerely, a smile on his face.

Liu Qian smiled back, and they walked together, having a pleasant conversation.

***********

In a present moment, Liu Qian and Ye Chen find themselves seated under the shade of a grand tree, a bit distant from the bustling surroundings.

Ye Chen was feeling a bit more optimistic now. Before asking about yesterday, he wanted to spend some good time with Liu Qian and hoped she would honestly answer his question.

"Liu Qian, there's something I've been wanting to ask," Ye Chen finally broached the topic.

Liu Qian's demeanor remained relaxed as she inquired, "What's that?"

"Yesterday, after school, where did you go?" Ye Chen asked, his curiosity was evident in his tone, his gaze fixed on her.

"I went home as usual," Liu Qian responded casually

Hearing this, Ye Chen, who was previously elated, gradually felt his mood darken. Liu Qian hadn't even mentioned that she went to the market with another guy.

He took a deep breath; he was still convinced that Liu Qian wasn't cheating on him. "Is that all?" he inquired.

"Yes," Liu Qian affirmed with a nod.

Ye Chen's disappointment deepened as he listened to her words. Liu Qian had yet to reveal the truth, and he couldn't help but release a heavy sigh, a cloud of frustration settling over him.

"Why did you lie to me, Liu Qian?" he asked, his tone displeased with frustation.

Liu Qian raised her eyebrows, "What do you mean, Ye Chen?"

"You said you just went home yesterday after school, but you lied to me. I know you went out with another guy," Ye Chen said, his tone rising.

"What?" Liu Qian was surprised; she hadn't expected Ye Chen to know that Long Tian had driven her home yesterday.

"Why weren't you honest with me?" he demanded.

Liu Qian sighed, answering, "Fine, I'll tell you the truth. Yesterday, I went home with my friend."

"Just that? What about this?" Ye Chen said, taking out his phone and showing a photo. "How do you explain this? Being together with another guy at the market when you're my girlfriend?" he wondered, his tone frustrated.

Seeing that photo, Liu Qian was taken aback. It was a photo of her with Long Tian at the market. She immediately responded, defending herself, "Ye Chen, he's just my friend. His name is Long Tian, and I was just accompanying him to the market to find ingredients he wanted, that's all."

"Oh, really? Why did you look so intimate with him? Chatting and laughing together?" Ye Chen scoffed.

Liu Qian's patience wore thin as she absorbed Ye Chen's words, her fingers involuntarily tightening around the soft fabric of her dress. "Alright, I'll tell you. Long Tian Is my childhood friend. We used to spend times together, but our paths diverged about five years ago, and we lost touch. Yesterday, by chance, we managed to reconnect. Is it really wrong for me to catch up with someone I haven't seen in so long?" Her voice held a mixture of exasperation and explanation.

"But still, Liu Qian, he's a guy, and you're my girlfriend. Why did you choose to spend time with him? Did you plan to meet up with him?" Ye Chen asked, his words held a tinge of frustation, his brows furrowing.

Liu Qian's patience was visibly tested by Ye Chen's persistent questions. "You know what? Yesterday, my dad forgot to pick me up, and Long Tian kindly give me a ride home. Meanwhile, you, my boyfriend, was nowhere to be found. Even after my triumphant return from abroad and winning that fighting competition, I didn't hear a word of greeting or congratulations from you. Frankly, I'm more curious about your whereabouts!" She retorted, her eyes flashing with a blend of irritation and disappointment.

Ye Chen found himself momentarily at a loss for words as he absorbed Liu Qian's pointed remarks. It dawned on him that his commitments had prevented him from meeting her yesterday.

"That's, I was just..." he began, his voice trailing off as he searched for an appropriate response.

Before he could finish his sentence, Liu Qian's voice interjected, "I'm really tired of all these questions, Ye Chen. Maybe we should just stop here."

Without waiting for Ye Chen's response, she turned away and walked off.

As he watched Liu Qian's retreating figure, an urge to stop her tugged at Ye Chen's thoughts. Yet, a sense of guilt tempered his intentions, realizing that his inquiries might have been too intense.

"Was I too harsh on her? Sigh, I should've been more gentle," he pondered, a sense of regret in his tone.

*************

In a different corner of the area, Long Tian approached a well-dressed middle-aged man.

"I didn't expect to see you here, dad. Did Uncle Ling inform you?" Long Tian asked, his eyebrows raised in curiosity.

"Do you really think I wouldn't know about the martial spirit awakening day? Who do you think organized this whole event?" Long Zhan replied, his lips curling into a knowing smile.

"Of course, you are the owner of this school," Long Tian said, a hint of resignation in his voice.

"Surely I wouldn't miss out on such a special occasion. Unfortunately, your mother couldn't make it," Long Zhan said.

"No worries," Long Tian reassured.

"Anyway, are you feeling optimistic about awakening your martial spirit?" Long Zhan inquired.

A confident grin spread across Long Tian's face as he replied, "If I manage to awaken a martial spirit that is more than just an ordinary dragon, would you be open to granting me a gift?"

"I'll give you anything you want," Long Zhan replied, a grin gracing his feature.

"In that case, I want the Seven Forms Pagoda owned by the Ning family," Long Tian revealed, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"What?" Long Zhan's eyebrows shot up in surprise. He was well aware of the Seven Forms Pagoda's significance—a prized possession of the Ning family.

"Is it possible?" Long Tian asked, his curiosity evident.

"If you manage to impress me with the martial spirit you awaken, I'll consider handing over the Seven Forms Pagoda to you. It won't be an easy thing, but it's not impossible," Long Zhan answered, a challenge in his tone.

"You can count on me to hold you to that, Dad," Long Tian said firmly.

"Rest assured, if I make a promise, I'm confident it's achievable," Long Zhan stated, crossing his arms.

"Alright then, I..."

Before Long Tian could finish his sentence, an announcement interrupted him, "All students, please take your seats in the designated area. The martial spirit awakening ceremony is about to begin."

Excitement buzzed through the air, infecting everyone around, including Long Tian. "I better get going, Dad," he said, ready to head to his seat.

"Good luck," Long Zhan nodded.

With that, Long Tian headed toward the seating area, his confidence soaring as he anticipated the possibility of awakening a remarkable martial spirit—perhaps a super dragon or even a dual martial spirit...