I Just Won't Play By The Book
I Just Won't Play By The Book - Chapter 8: I Did Not Expect a Sleeping Dragon and a Young Phoen

Bowing at Jiang Beiran, Liu Zijin's vermilion lips parted lightly. "In three days, I will descend the mountain and have my first trial. I would like to ask you to be our Iron Seal, Brother."

As soon as Liu Zijin's words left her lips, three options popped up in front of Jiang Beiran.

[Option One: Immediately answer, "Sure, it's a small matter. No problem." Reward for completion: Cultivation Technique of Ancient Qi (Earth Grade Medium Tier)]

[Option Two: "What kind of quest have you received for your trial, Sister?" Reward for completion: Claw of Still Quiescence (Black Grade High Tier)]

[Option Three: "I'm busy with my studies, goodbye!" Reward for completion: Random basic skill point +1]

When he saw the reward of Earth Grade Medium Tier, Jiang Beiran's eyes were about to pop out. He didn't even read the content of Option Two and directly chose Option Three, replying, "Sorry, I am busy with my studies recently, and as you heard, Etiquette Master Cheng called me over to play Go. The etiquette master is a Go fanatic and definitely won't let me out for four or five days once we start playing. So, please find another person, Sister.

"Farewell!"

After saying that, he joined his hands in a salute, then turned around and left.

[Chosen Quest completed. Reward: Medicine +1]

"Brother Jiang, when has Etiquette Master Cheng ever played Go with you for more than a day? I…"

Seeing that the junior that was helping to run errands was going to ruin his grand plan again, Jiang Beiran quickly covered his mouth and dragged him towards the Pavilion of Blue Heart.

"Uh-uh-uh!"

The young junior who was dragged away had one part pain, one part incomprehension, two parts resentment, and seven parts intense reluctance in his eyes!

‘She's such a good-looking Sister! Let me take a few more looks!'

Unfortunately for him, he was not as strong as Jiang Beiran and had no choice but to be dragged along all the way.

"I… have been rejected?" Liu Zijin froze in place, looking at Jiang Beiran making a rapid departure as if he was fleeing, and actually felt her heartbeat inexplicably speed up a little.

"Is this what it feels like to be rejected? Since childhood, no one has ever rejected me. This Brother… is so special. No, now is not the time to think about this," she said.

Coming back to her senses, Liu Zijin chased after him, shouting under her breath, "Brother Jiang, don't rush off. I have not finished speaking yet, Brother Jiang!"

But the strange thing was, although Brother Jiang seemed to be walking normally, he was moving at a faster pace than her even though she was running. She couldn't catch up despite her attempts.

Seeing that Jiang Beiran was about to disappear from sight, Liu Zijin suddenly saw a pretty green silhouette walking towards her, so she hurriedly shouted, "Qiuyao! Quick, stop that Brother! Don't let him get away!"

Fang Qiuyao had come there together with Liu Zijin. However, she was not as patient as Liu Zijin, so after waiting for a while she made an excuse about getting drinks and then toured around other places. Upon her return, she heard Sister Zijin asking her to stop the Brother who was walking towards her in an urgent tone.

Fang Qiuyao couldn't help but make up one image after another in her mind given the current situation. Her senior must have been faced with all kinds of unreasonable and incomprehensible demands from this person.

"Lecher! What have you done to my Sister Zijin?!" she called.

Then, with a clanking sound, Fang Qiuyao directly pulled out her Sword of White Rainbow and stabbed it towards Jiang Beiran.

‘Indeed, a Sister who could generate an Earth Grade Middle Tier reward. It's so hard to even slip away from her!' Jiang Beiran thought.

He hastily dodged Fang Qiuyao's sword, which was thrusting towards him. Seeing that the other party was going to attempt to stab him again, Jiang Beiran said repeatedly, "It's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!"

"I believe you, my *ss!" Fang Qiuyao said as she made use of the Rhymed Formula of Returning Hearts and was about to stab again. However, she heard Liu Zijin's shouts from behind.

"Qiuyao, stop it! Brother Jiang didn't do anything to me," she said.

Only then did Fang Qiuyao realize that she seemed to have really misunderstood, and looked at Liu Zijin rather confusedly.

Seeing an opportunity to take advantage of, Jiang Beiran hastily dragged his junior along and continued his escape. Before he could take two steps, he heard Liu Zijin shout, "Brother Jiang, can you please let me finish talking first? It's not too late for you to reject me when I'm done."

The commotion of the fight just now had already attracted a group of disciples of the Order of Blue Heart and they gathered around. Hearing Liu Zijin's pleasant voice sound as if she had been wronged, they felt a significant increase of chivalry in their hearts, and all gathered towards Jiang Beiran, their eyes full of anger.

"I'll be d*mned!"

Seeing that he had no way to slip away, Jiang Beiran felt really desperate. Why weren't these sons of b*tches so chivalrous usually?

Sighing resignedly, Jiang Beiran let go of the almost suffocating junior and turned to look at Liu Zijin.

Seeing Jiang Beiran stop, Liu Zijin hurried forward and bowed again. "I'm really sorry for the trouble I caused you, but this trial is very important to me, so I really hope you can help me."

Liu Zijin's words left the onlooking disciples baffled, and some of the older disciples were even more confused.

‘This Jiang Beiran has such a great reputation?'

As a disciple of the Order of Blue Heart and living relatively close together, to say that they completely did not know Jiang Beiran was certainly impossible. But their biggest impression of Jiang Beiran was that this old fella had been a named disciple for a full five years. To put it bluntly, no master wanted him. What could such a person be capable of, for such a pretty young Sister to beg him like this?

Hearing Liu Zijin's sincere tone, even Jiang Beiran could not help but soften. But once he thought of that Earth Grade Middle Tier reward, he hurriedly hardened his heart again.

So, he joined his hands together in a salute and said, "Sister, I'm sorry. I also have important things to do recently, and I really have no time to spare."

Without waiting for Liu Zijin to reply, Fang Qiuyao stepped forward first and said, "Brother, you're using such a poor excuse to reject us. Surely you're not afraid, are you?"

Only then did the onlookers shift their gaze from Liu Zijin to Fang Qiuyao, and their hearts were immediately filled with the thought that this Sister was also very good-looking.

Fang Qiuyao's beauty was different from that of Liu Zijin. She was more like a neighborhood girl, with curved eyebrows, a small nose slightly upturned, a face like white jade, and beauty like sunlight at dawn. She wore no makeup, and the only ornament that adorned her was a string of pearls hanging from her neck, emitting a faint glow, which made her skin look even fairer and more jade-like.

Just as Fang Qiuyao finished asking, three options popped up in front of Jiang Beiran.

[Option One: Answer immediately, "Are you kidding? How would I be afraid?" Reward for completion: Secret Treasure in Sleeve (Earth Grade Low Tier)]

[Option Two: "I know you are trying to provoke me, Sister, but it won't work on me." Reward for completion: Sword of Sun, Moon, Heaven, and Earth (Black Grade Medium Tier)]

[Option Three: "Yes, that's right." Reward for completion: Random basic attribute point +1]

‘D*mn! Another Earth Grade Low Tier reward! F*ck, it's incredible!'

Jiang Beiran really wanted to cry at this time. He did not know why a sleeping dragon and a young phoenix [1] had both showed up here today at the same time. It was going to cost him his life!

Decisively choosing Option Three, Jiang Beiran nodded at Fang Qiuyao and said, "That's right."

[Chosen Quest completed. Reward: Mind +1]

"You!"

Fang Qiuyao's beautiful eyes paused. She had clearly thought that no matter how this Brother Jiang was to make excuses to explain that he was not afraid, she had arguments to refute him, but she didn't expect him to just admit it in front of everyone's eyes!

"Hmph!" Pouting in anger, Fang Qiuyao walked back to Liu Zijin and said, "Let's go, Sister Zijin. He refused to be our Iron Seal, but there are plenty of people who are willing to take on the position."

But Liu Zijin shook her head and said, "Qiuyao, do not talk like that. We are the ones who have inconvenienced him, and he naturally has his reasons for refusing, so how can we be angry because of it?"

"Oh… I see." Fang Qiuyao nodded her head with a pout.

Seeing that Liu Zijin was so reasonable, Jiang Beiran was also relieved. He thought that the matter had finally come to an end, so he hurried to leave.

But just as the onlookers realized that there was no more action to watch and were ready to disperse, a figure suddenly appeared in the air and landed between Jiang Beiran and Liu Zijin..[1]: Metaphor for two impressive individuals.