Zhang Heng watched as Mr He walked away. He wanted to drag him back and question him further, but he didn't know what to ask him. The man had made himself very clear.

The young punk wasn't a simple character. He had gained the sect leader's favor. He would have remained in the dark if Mr He had not told him.

"This won't do. If Third Miss does marry that young punk, then what about my..."

He frowned slightly. An icy glint flashed across his eyes, vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.

Nothing showed on his face. There was nothing but calm, and another icy glint flickered imperceptibly within his dark eyes.

Meanwhile.

Back at Liu Qing's courtyard.

"Brother Jiang, we just received these

fruits. Try them"

A guard presented a basket of fruits to Jiang Ning. The fruits had been washed and cleaned. He smiled brightly. "Please let me know if you need anything else."

Jiang Ning nodded slightly. "It's alright. Focus on doing your job well. I have high hopes for you."

The guard's eyes lit up upon hearing the brief compliment and quickly clasped his hands together with respect. "Yes, of course. Thank you, Brother Jiang, for your advice."

Jiang Ning was the man who had spoken to the sect leader as an equal. He must be someone important.

They had served as Liu Qing's guards for many years. They had never come across anyone who could make Liu Qing behave or anyone whom the sect leader had treated with as much respect. Above all else, Jiang Ning was young and quite good looking. No one knew how far he would go in the future.

It wouldn't hurt for them to make a good impression now.

Jiang Ning waved the guard away. The latter retreated to a corner immediately. He raised his chin and puffed his chest out. He seemed more alert than he had ever been.

"You're too slow."This text is © NôvelDrama/.Org.

Liu Qing was training fiercely in the distance. Her speed had increased visibly in the past few days.

She had found her own improvement miraculous.

But Jiang Ning still found her too slow. Her failure to meet his expectations was driving her crazy.

Honestly though, she still had a long way to go before she could reach the target that Jiang Ning had set for her.

"That cursed Jiang Ning. That stupid Jiang

Ning. Where the hell did you come

from? Did the gods send you here to make me suffer?" Liu Qing cursed secretly. She dared not voice a word of complaint though. "Humph. There's nothing I can do to you, but there must be someone else who can!"

She didn't know that there was only one person in this world who could do that and it wasn't her.

"You're still too slow. Are you trying to fail the test?"

"I'm going to wash my hands off you if that's the case. You're a disappointment."

"You call yourself Third Miss when you can't even get something so simple done? Who do you think you're embarrassing? Not me, definitely."

Jiang Ning wouldn't stop talking. Liu Qing was ready to blow up, but she had to fight to keep her anger under control.

Control. Control. Control!

She couldn't make him mad now. At least not now.

Liu Qing muttered secretly to herself, spewing curses at Jiang Ning in her head as she quickened her pace.

She was doing this because of the impending test. She wouldn't be so accommodating otherwise.

She was the sec leader's daughter, so why should she listen to Jiang Ning? Why should she accord him any respect? He didn't deserve it.

Her fist shot forward and sent the sandbag flying across the training ground!

A female servant stood outside the gates. Panic and worry lined her face. She didn't want to disrupt Liu Qing's training. But if she didn't, something worse might happen.

"Third Miss!"

She decided to speak in the end. Her voice was fraught with anxiety.

Liu Qing turned and looked when she heard the servant's voice. She frowned slightly. She was in the middle of her training.

But she saw that it was the servant closest to her. This servant knew her temperament the best and wouldn't disrupt her training unless there was an emergency.

Liu Qing stopped in the middle of her training. She turned, gave Jiang Ning a look and feigned a look of anger. It seemed to be a hint. She was telling Jiang Ning that she was going to take a break now.

She walked up to the servant. "What is it? Hurry up and tell me."

"Third Miss, something terrible has happened. There are...there are rumors spreading outside. They're smearing your good name!"