80: Chapter 80 Conflict at Drunken Immortal Pavilion

Not long after Zhang Wen and Ding Siyi walked out of the Martial Arts Field, they were blocked by two figures.

"Well, look at you, Junior Brother! You've hidden it well!"

Zhao Yu laughed as he slapped over, his palm carrying years of internal strength, yet he skillfully withdrew his force when it touched Zhang Wen's shoulder.

"SSS-Rank Talent, top arena champion! You've almost made us senior students lose all Face!"

Beside him, Su Qingyue was dressed in a plain white long dress, holding a half-flipped Cultivation Technique annotation in her hand, but her eyes were full of smiles.

"When I saw you this morning, you looked so calm; it turns out you were already confident. Tell me, did you expect to take first place all along?"

Zhang Wen smiled helplessly: "It was just good luck."

"Luck?" Zhao Yu raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling on Ding Siyi beside him, his eyes suddenly lighting up.

"This must be Junior Sister Ding Siyi, right? Crimson Pearl Immortal Fire is a rare talent. That fire control technique on the stage earlier—even my Senior Brother would have to praise its precision."

Su Qingyue also looked at Ding Siyi, and seeing that although she was a bit shy, her eyes were clear and bright, she couldn't help but feel a sense of affection.

"It seems Junior Brother isn't just lucky; he has a helper."

Ding Siyi's cheeks flushed slightly at being said so. Just as Zhang Wen was about to speak to relieve the situation, Zhao Yu grabbed his arm.

"Don't just stand there talking! Such a big happy event must be celebrated! I know a Drunken Immortal Tower in the capital where the food is authentic. My treat today!"

Just as Zhang Wen wanted to decline, Su Qingyue gave him a push.

"Don't be a killjoy. You are the most outstanding New Student our Elemental Academy has seen in recent years; Senior Brother and Senior Sister are overjoyed for you."

She winked at Ding Siyi on purpose, "Junior Sister Ding, come along too. It'll be lively."

Ding Siyi looked at Zhang Wen, and seeing him nod slightly, she agreed.

Arriving at Drunken Immortal Tower, Zhao Yu specifically ordered a private room by the window, and as soon as they sat down, he poured juice for both of them.

"Speaking of which, Junior Brother, you really aren't being fair. Hiding such an impressive confidante and not telling us sooner."

"Senior Brother is joking. Junior Sister Ding and I are just classmates." Zhang Wen explained helplessly.

"Oh? Classmates?"

Su Qingyue drew out her tone, picked up a piece of osmanthus cake, and handed it over, "But I noticed that when you two walked out side by side earlier, the sunset made your shadows overlap."

Ding Siyi almost choked on her juice, and her cheeks turned even redder.

Afraid she would be embarrassed, Zhang Wen just wanted to change the subject when Zhao Yu leaned in again.

"Junior Brother, honestly speaking, Junior Sister Ding's Crimson Pearl Immortal Fire and your Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder—one is extremely Yang, the other is extremely intense. If you join forces to fight an enemy, you could probably sweep across the same rank, right?"

"I heard that Junior Sister Ding previously beat that kid from the Feng family from fifth to ninth place. So cool!"

Su Qingyue added, "It's a perfect match for our Junior Brother."

"Senior Sister!" The tips of Zhang Wen's ears also turned hot.

Watching the two looking slightly embarrassed but not annoyed, Zhao Yu and Su Qingyue looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh.

The atmosphere in the private room gradually became warm and lively. They chatted from talents to Cultivation Techniques, from the competition on the arena to future cultivation plans. Although the teasing didn't stop, there was also a bit more sincere concern.

Outside the window, the twilight grew thicker, and the lanterns of Drunken Immortal Tower lit up one by one, casting a warmth onto the shadows on the window paper.

Zhang Wen looked at Ding Siyi beside him, who occasionally lowered her head and smiled softly, and then looked at the joking Senior Brother and Senior Sister in front of him.

He suddenly felt that life at this academy seemed much more lively than he had imagined.

The laughter in the private room had just subsided when a crisp sound of tables and chairs colliding suddenly came from downstairs, accompanied by a few shouts laced with the smell of alcohol.

Zhao Yu frowned, stood up, and lifted a corner of the curtain to look down. When he turned back, there was a bit more impatience on his Face.

"It's that kid from the Feng family. He lost in the Martial Arts Field earlier and wasn't convinced, and now he's picking a fight with someone."

Su Qingyue tapped her fingertips lightly on the dining table: "The Feng family is the most vengeful. This morning, Junior Sister Ding kicked him to ninth place, so he's probably holding a grudge."

Zhang Wen looked at Ding Siyi and saw her fingers gripping the cup tighter, but there was no fear in her eyes, instead, there was a glimmer of eagerness.

Just as he was about to speak, the noise downstairs suddenly heightened. He vaguely heard someone shouting, "Is being the top New Student something to be proud of?", followed by the sound of cups and plates shattering.

"Well, they're calling us out by name."

Zhao Yu rolled up his sleeves, "Junior Brother, Junior Sister, shall we go down and take a look? We can't let people ruin our reputation here."

Su Qingyue put down her utensils and stood up, her plain white skirt sweeping past the corner of the chair.

"Although the Feng family has some influence in Jiangnan, they don't have the guts to cause trouble in the capital, especially not in Drunken Immortal Tower."

"I'm afraid someone is egging them on behind the scenes, wanting to use the Martial Arts Field incident to stir up trouble."

When the four of them went downstairs, they saw that the casual seating area below the private rooms was in a mess.

Feng Yingcai was grabbing the collar of a waiter, followed by three lackeys, all of them looking vicious.

Seeing Zhang Wen and the others come down, Feng Yingcai's eyes widened. He released the waiter and rushed over: "Zhang Wen! Ding Siyi! We haven't settled the score from this morning yet!"

A young man in a black brocade robe suddenly darted out from behind him, slowly waving a folding fan.

"Why be so angry, Young Master Feng? This must be Junior Brother Zhang Wen, right? I am Lei Tian, from the capital's Lei Family, and also your senior student."

Zhao Yu sneered: "The Lei Family dares to cause trouble in Drunken Immortal Tower? Lei Tian, didn't your elders teach you the rules?"

Lei Tian closed his folding fan, his gaze falling on Zhang Wen.

"Rules? The capable are respected—that is the rule. Junior Brother Zhang has an SSS-Rank Talent, I admire that."

"But I heard you use the Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder? Such an overbearing talent, if not controlled well and you hurt fellow disciples..."

Before he finished speaking, Ding Siyi suddenly stepped forward, a cluster of pink flames rising from her fingertips.

"I don't know about hurting fellow disciples, but there are people who act like rogues after losing in the arena."

"Bullying even a waiter—is this the rule taught by the Lei Family?"

Upon the appearance of the Crimson Pearl Immortal Fire, Lei Tian's expression changed slightly.

Zhang Wen gently pressed Ding Siyi's wrist and said to Lei Tian.

"The outcome in the Martial Arts Field has been decided. If you are unconvinced, compete again on the arena next time. Harassing others—what kind of skill is that?"

Just as he finished speaking, an old voice suddenly came from the staircase downstairs: "Who is making noise in my Drunken Immortal Tower?"

Everyone turned around to see an old man wearing a gray cloth short jacket coming up, leaning on a cane. Although he looked tottering, wherever his gaze swept...

Feng Yingcai and the others couldn't help but shrink their necks.

Lei Tian's Face turned even paler—this old man was the owner of Drunken Immortal Tower, rumored to have been a Loose Cultivator who dominated a region in his early years.

Even the principal of Qinglan University had to give him some Face.

The old man didn't look at anyone else and walked straight to Zhang Wen, suddenly smiling: "Young man, this Thunder Element spiritual power of yours looks a lot like that person from thirty years ago..."

Zhang Wen was stunned, and before he could ask for details, the old man had already turned to Lei Tian.

"Little brat of the Lei Family, if you dare to cause trouble here again, don't blame me for throwing you outside the city to feed the Yao Beast."

How could Lei Tian dare to say anything more? He dragged Feng Yingcai away, and the few lackeys also hurriedly followed him out.

The farce subsided. The old man looked at the faint thunder mark on Zhang Wen's wrist again and stroked his beard, saying.

"I'll treat you to tonight's bill, consider it a welcome for you, young man." After saying this, he slowly went downstairs, leaning on his cane.

Zhao Yu touched his chin: "This old owner doesn't show himself easily. Junior Brother, do you know him?"

Zhang Wen shook his head: "I have never seen him before."

But he kept feeling that the old man's phrase "that person from thirty years ago" implied something.

When they returned to the private room, the food on the table was still steaming.

Su Qingyue picked up a piece of braised pork for Ding Siyi: "Don't let those people ruin your mood. Feng Yingcai and the Lei Family will likely find opportunities to pick fights in the future."

Ding Siyi bit her chopsticks and nodded: "I'm not afraid. I'll just beat them again in the arena next time."

Zhang Wen looked at the light in her eyes and suddenly felt that the doubt from just now had faded a bit.

No matter what the old man's words meant, and no matter how many troubles lay ahead, at least at this moment, he had classmates standing by his side and caring Senior Brother and Senior Sister.

This lively life had only just begun.

The lanterns outside the window shone even warmer. Zhao Yu had already started planning to take them to the spirit plant garden outside the city next time to see rare medicinal materials.

Su Qingyue was flipping through the Cultivation Technique annotation, saying she wanted to give them both a remedial lesson on the basics of Element Fusion.

Zhang Wen picked up his juice, exchanged a look with Ding Siyi, and they couldn't help but laugh.

Perhaps, life at this academy was not just lively, but also hid many unexpected stories.