This junior brother came to deliver the message, and before long, Kunlun sent someone with an invitation, inviting "Qingyun Han Yi" to the appointment.
The disciples of Qingyun Sect had already gotten familiar with Jiang Kai these past few days.
Seeing Jiang Kai make the shortlist, everyone got excited along with him.
"Han bro, amazing, out of so many people, the big beauty picked you!"
"Senior brother, you look kind of nervous… Senior brother, you've never been on a date with a girl before?"
Jiang Kai shot him a glare. Bringing up exactly what shouldn't be brought up!
"No worries, Han Yi, your senior brother has experience. Let's hurry and help Han Yi come up with some ideas so he doesn't step on any landmines when the time comes."
"Right right right, we gotta mention the do's and don'ts."
Jiang Kai frowned. "It's just a meal, why are there do's and don'ts?"
"Of course there are!"
Everyone dragged Jiang Kai back to the dorm. One person after another started pitching ideas.
The one presiding over this project was Senior Brother Sun Yuan. The guy was about thirty-three or -four. At first glance he looked handsome, but looking closer felt a bit iffy. Still, he was extraordinarily enthusiastic.
After the group's discussion, Sun Yuan held the notes and said to Jiang Kai, "Junior brother, based on my twenty years of experience as a player in the sea, and the years of battlefield hardening in the arena of love from all your senior brothers and junior brothers, we've summed up these key points for you."
Jiang Kai's gaze grew more serious.
Twenty years as a sea king… Senior Brother Sun Yuan might be on the same level as Zhao Tiequan!
And with so much accumulated wisdom from everyone else, it did have reference value. He really should listen.
"For your first solo date, you must leave a good impression. Otherwise you won't get another chance." Sun Yuan looked at Jiang Kai solemnly. "First: don't be servile and don't be arrogant. Too servile makes you a simp who can only be a backup. Too arrogant makes you an average-confidence guy. Both are bad."
Jiang Kai frowned. "Senior brother, is how I am now okay?"
Everyone looked at Jiang Kai. Judging from how he'd been behaving recently…
"Uh… We're fellow sect mates, so of course we think everything you do is fine. But from a girl's perspective, I always feel you're not… not bad enough!"
"Yes yes yes!" everyone echoed. "If men aren't bad, women don't love them! Senior brother, remember this!"
Jiang Kai nodded thoughtfully.
"Second: Kunlun should be the one paying, but don't be scared. Go ahead and pay. Don't let the junior sister think you're stingy."
Jiang Kai frowned. "Wouldn't that just benefit the restaurant?"
"Relax. We'll go get the money back afterward." Sun Yuan winked. "The key is the paying gesture. You must look carefree. Understand!"
"Oh, as long as we can get it back!" Jiang Kai breathed out in relief.
"Third, most important of all: don't take off the mask!"
"Huh? A solo date, wearing a mask isn't good, right?"
"What's not good about it? That's called mystery!" everyone said.
Jiang Kai blinked. Mystery… But he wasn't even Han Yi. If he didn't take off the mask, how would Chang Siyao know?
"But change to a more handsome mask. Looks are still important. The monkey mask isn't formal enough. I'll go buy you a new one. And change clothes too!"
After all the preparations, that night Jiang Kai headed to the Kunlun guild.
Chang Siyao was already waiting at the entrance.
Under the witness of elders from both sects, they headed for Main City No. 1's recreation district.
Jiang Kai had originally been in a pretty good mood. He finally had a chance to meet Chang Siyao alone.
But the two of them were walking in front, and behind them trailed a whole group of people…
It suddenly felt like the date was being livestreamed!
Chang Siyao didn't look very happy and didn't speak to Jiang Kai. Jiang Kai's attention was all on the tailing group, so the two walked in silence all the way until they found the designated restaurant and went in.
The restaurant atmosphere was nice. Rumor had it the owner was a gourmet.
They were the only table there. The environment was quiet. Jiang Kai and Chang Siyao sat facing each other, waiting for the dishes to arrive.
Jiang Kai frowned. Outside the door, those people were pressed against the doorway watching. This wasn't a solo date at all. With so many people monitoring them, it was impossible to relax.
Chang Siyao lowered her head, looking at the menu, showing no intention of speaking to him.
She had run away from home to avoid a blind date, so she clearly didn't want this. Back on the arena stage she had been polite, but he could tell she wasn't happy inside.
As for Jiang Kai, it was his first solo date with a girl, and with so many people watching, he was extremely uncomfortable.
The atmosphere was painfully awkward.
Out of boredom, Jiang Kai picked up a menu and looked through it.
He had just looked when he suddenly shouted.
"What the hell—vinegar-sautéed blackfish essence meat, 280 star coins a serving? Robbery!" Jiang Kai yelled. "No wonder there are no customers. It's a miracle they aren't bankrupt!"
280 star coins, equal to 2800 Huaxia yuan. Enough for Jiang Kai to live on for a month!
As soon as he spoke, Jiang Kai suddenly remembered his sect mates reminding him a thousand times that he needed to pay…
"This expensive… If we can't get the money back, I'll lose big!" Jiang Kai's eyes widened. He felt restless.
Chang Siyao was amused by his comment.
"Senior brother Han Yi, our Kunlun will pay for the meal. After all, since Master accepted your gift, we can't let you foot the bill," she said.
The more Jiang Kai thought about it, the more wrong it felt. His sect brothers' warnings echoed in his ears. A single dish costing several hundred star coins. Wouldn't the whole meal end up in the thousands?
He couldn't waste money like this!
After thinking a moment, Jiang Kai suddenly stood up. "Siyao, let's go somewhere else!"
"Go… go somewhere else?" Chang Siyao hesitated. "Senior brother, actually… To be honest, the reason I came today was because the elders forced me. I, I… sigh, I don't want a blind date. I'm really sorry…"
She was being very straightforward, making her stance clear from the beginning. She meant they were just having a casual meal, no need to obsess over everything.
But while she was being honest, Jiang Kai didn't hear a single word.
"Let's go, we're changing places. This place is too much of a ripoff!" Jiang Kai said angrily. "Blackfish essence? Do they think it's dragon meat!"
With that, he grabbed Chang Siyao and bolted out the door.
After checking nearby places, he found all the prices were about the same. A meal would cost at least several hundred star coins, which converted to several thousand yuan.
"It's just a meal. Spending that much money? I'd rather buy my sister a nice outfit!" The more Jiang Kai thought about it, the more it felt like a loss. He took Chang Siyao and left the city entirely.
At a lakeside on the outskirts, Jiang Kai built a fire. He took some raw meat from his card pouch and set it on the grill to roast.
Chang Siyao stared at Jiang Kai like he was some kind of strange creature.
This guy actually dragged her out here and started barbecuing himself…
"At least I didn't get ripped off by those swindlers. Trying to scam me? Dream on!" Jiang Kai roasted the meat happily, sprinkling on seasoning. While busy, he looked up at Chang Siyao and suddenly remembered what his sect mates said, that men should be generous. He then said, "Ahem, don't worry, this meal is on me!"
Chang Siyao held her forehead. This Han Yi was way too stingy.
But watching "Han Yi" seriously grilling meat suddenly reminded her of someone.
In the unknown region, that guy was always the one grilling for her. His card pouch had endless ingredients, able to be self-sufficient anywhere…
Chang Siyao sighed softly.
The time she spent with him was the most unforgettable time of her life.
But unfortunately, he wasn't someone from the ancient martial world, while she had grown up in her sect since childhood.
As the ancient martial forces rose, Kunlun had raised her from young so she could contribute to Kunlun's glory. Her marriage was their biggest bargaining chip.
Chang Siyao had never thought of rebelling against this fate. She was only a pawn of the sect, alone. But after meeting him, seeing him rely on his own strength to create miracle after miracle, it felt like he opened a door for her.
This time, she tried to resist for the first time and ran away. But in the end she was still brought back.
"Senior brother Han, I… I told you earlier that this date was actually my elders' idea. The truth is… I don't want to start dating so early." Chang Siyao walked over and said softly.
Jiang Kai looked up at her. "I worked so hard to win that match."
"I know. Senior brother Han Yi's strength truly amazed me, but I'm really sorry, actually I…"
Jiang Kai frowned. "You like someone else?"
Chang Siyao stammered, "A little… I have some feelings, but I'm not sure if he likes me… But that's not the main point. I don't like letting others control my fate. I want to pursue my own happiness…"
Jiang Kai's mood dropped instantly. He put down what he was doing, sat to the side, and sighed.
What Chang Siyao revealed was important: the person she liked did not like her.
Which meant the person she was talking about wasn't him! He had confessed to her directly before!
"Sigh… Looks like I'll grow old alone after all… Siyao, I wish you happiness. Eat first. When you're full, I'll walk you back."
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