Chapter 2157: 2160: Jinli Qianning’s Fluttering Heart

The koi mermaid beauty Jinli Qianning in front of him had an unusually serious look in her beautiful eyes, and there was no hint of falsehood in her tone either. That made Shen Qiang, who had instinctively assumed that the reason she didn't get along with the Sea Demon King Yu Jiang was that he hadn't treated her mother well enough so she didn't like Yu Jiang either, realize he was probably wrong. And clearly, that idea was very wrong.

Ridiculously wrong, in fact.

Because judging from Jinli Qianning's completely matter‑of‑fact reaction, Shen Qiang's plan to make a fuss about the Sea Demon King Yu Jiang having tons of women and being unable to walk straight whenever he saw one would only make her feel he was stupid to the extreme.

"What I mean is, he set his sights on my woman and then got into a fight with me."

Shen Qiang immediately corrected himself.

Jinli Qianning said in surprise, "You fought him? And didn't die? How is that possible?"

Hearing this, Shen Qiang could only feel helpless.

The whole Cultivation World knew about what had happened between Shen Qiang and the Sea Demon King, but Qianning—who neither contacted Cultivators nor bothered with other Demons—obviously still didn't know any of it.

On second thought, that made sense. No one would be bored enough to run up to her and tell her that Shen Qiang and the Sea Demon King had had a big fight over a woman.

After all, that matter was just a little bit embarrassing.

"If it really came down to a fight, I probably wouldn't be able to beat your dad. The problem is, my butler is pretty badass. He sent your dad flying with one kick, and then your dad didn't dare say a word." Shen Qiang raised his brows with a smile.

Jinli Qianning followed beside Shen Qiang, looking at him in curious astonishment as they walked.

"You're bragging. My dad has a small tolerance and a big temper. Whenever he makes a move, blood is guaranteed. How could he possibly get sent flying by one kick and then not say a word? How is that possible!"

Shen Qiang looked at her, her face appearing especially cute under the lights, and said, "Because my butler is your uncle, your dad's biological older brother. When the older brother kicks the younger brother, of course the younger brother doesn't dare say anything."

At those words, Jinli Qianning's beautiful eyes instantly widened. She exclaimed, "What did you say? My uncle is working as your butler? How is that possible? That's impossible."

Shen Qiang laughed. "It's the truth. He's gone home with your dad right now to pay a visit. He took a month's leave."

Jinli Qianning stopped walking, her Liu Mei brows knitting tightly, her tender cherry lips curling into a doubtful arc.

"You're definitely lying!"

Shen Qiang said, "Do I look like the sort of guy who loves to lie?"

Jinli Qianning nodded hard. "You do."

Shen Qiang sighed. "That kind of evaluation really hurts my feelings."

Jinli Qianning stared at Shen Qiang, unmoved. "You know I don't like contacting my family, so you specifically came to trick me, didn't you?"

"You're this beautiful; how could I possibly bear to trick you?"

Shen Qiang frowned, his serious expression making Jinli Qianning's pretty face flush for no reason. She immediately shifted her gaze to the side, her expression turning ice‑cold in an instant.

The speed of the switch left Shen Qiang a little dumbfounded.

But once Jinli Qianning entered her ice‑cold mode, she didn't say a word, like a pure white lotus that could only be admired from afar.

Anyone else in this situation would definitely be at a loss.

But it couldn't stump Shen Qiang.

"Tell me, why do you think I'm lying to you, okay? Because I honestly don't know why you'd have that kind of misconception."

At Shen Qiang's words.

The absolutely stunning Jinli Qianning stopped, and under the streetlights and the hazy drizzle, she looked so beautiful it took one's breath away.

"You definitely don't know how powerful my uncle really is." Jinli Qianning raised her brows and said seriously, "My father has said more than once that my uncle is the true Sea Demon King. If he didn't hate having his hands and feet bound, the one who truly makes the entire Sea Clan tremble wouldn't be Yu Jiang."

Hearing this, Shen Qiang smiled. "You're making me sound like an idiot, but that's the truth. If you don't believe me, you can contact your family. Then you'll know whether I'm lying or not."

"I will." Jinli Qianning said.

Looking at her beautiful, icy, seemingly unapproachable appearance.

Shen Qiang hesitated for a moment, then said, "Actually, the reason I came to the Listening‑Waves Bar tonight was that I wanted to see you."

Jinli Qianning glanced at Shen Qiang in surprise. "You need something?"

Shen Qiang raised his brows, then felt that bringing up the matter of asking Qianning to help retrieve the Divine Corpse right now was a bit abrupt. Their relationship had only just eased somewhat; it wasn't the right time to mention such a sensitive matter. It would make her wary and feel that Shen Qiang was approaching her with ulterior motives.

But he couldn't just not say it.

On the one hand, Qingxuan had waited too long.

On the other hand, Shen Qiang's Heshenghe was indeed already strong enough to be called powerful, but still far from the point of subduing others without a fight.

Once Qingxuan, with Cultivation in the True Immortal Realm, was resurrected, she would absolutely be an invincible existence.

Things were quiet for now on Gong Ziyi's side, and there weren't many Blood Clan in Huaxia; they didn't seem like much of a threat.

But this had to be prepared for in advance. Only with strong enough power could they resist all risks. If they didn't have that capability and waited until danger struck to start scrambling for solutions, it would be too late.

Besides, even if Shen Qiang didn't bring it up now and instead tried every way to cozy up to her, by the time he finally mentioned it, she'd still inevitably overthink it.

So it was better to just be straightforward.

"Here's the situation. I have something that requires going into the sea, and it might lead to a conflict with the Sea Emperor Clan. Your father agreed to help me, but he told me that if I can't bring you back, this matter can't be done. So I wanted to ask for your help."

Shen Qiang spoke calmly.

But as soon as the words fell, he strangely noticed that Jinli Qianning beside him not only trembled slightly, her pretty face also flushing in an instant all the way down to her neck. She turned her head completely away from him, refusing to look at Shen Qiang, and even her body temperature inexplicably rose in the slightly chilly, rainy night.

It was very strange.

Jinli Qianning was the daughter of the Sea Demon King, possessing powerful strength not inferior to the Dao Fruit Stage.

Logically, with Shen Qiang asking her for help, she shouldn't be reacting so intensely.

And what was with her face suddenly turning red all the way down to her neck?

Shen Qiang was curious.

At the same time, Jinli Qianning, who didn't even dare glance in Shen Qiang's direction, had her heart pounding wildly, and her subconsciously clenched delicate fists were now drenched in fragrant sweat.

Because at that moment, her mind suddenly recalled the scene from when she left home, and the iron‑blue face of the Sea Demon King Yu Jiang.

"He may be an enemy, but I still think that Prince of the Sea Emperor Clan is a good match for you. If even he doesn't meet your standards, are you planning to stay alone for the rest of your life?"

"I've spoiled you rotten. I don't even know who you learned it from, pulling stunts like running away from an arranged marriage and leaving home. Fine, go then. But Qianning, listen carefully: if you end up alone in the future, then never come back. Never step through the doors of this house again!"