37: Make some friends

“Reporting today? What kind of joke is that…”

He had more important things to do.

Like checking if the Liu Siblings were being bullied by those three rascals, and perhaps he should just AFK until he reached Dou Master... Time to make a quick exit!

Before Mo Xuan could get too far, Jiang Donghua greased his feet, his figure flashed, and he directly shot off in the opposite direction, disappearing at the end of the corridor in a few breaths.

As Mo Xuan walked, he suddenly felt something was off.

“Why didn’t that kid follow?”

He paused, slowly turned his head, but behind him, it was empty; where was Jiang Donghua’s shadow?

Mo Xuan.

“…?”

He froze for a second, then reacted, his entire face instantly turning as black as a pot bottom.

“That scoundrel… actually dared to stand me up?!”

“Boom—!”

An invisible surge of anger suddenly erupted, the surrounding air seemingly ignited, and a scorching wave of heat swept out with Mo Xuan at its center, scaring away the passing students who retreated in fear, their faces full of terror.

“Hiss… Why is Master Mo Xuan suddenly so furious?”

Someone whispered softly.

“I heard a New Student was favored by him just now, but that kid turned around and ran off!”

“What?! Someone actually dared to refuse Master Mo Xuan’s personal guidance?!”

“More than refusing, this is practically a slap in the face!”

Everyone discussed animatedly, their gazes towards Mo Xuan filled with reverence, while also silently lighting a candle in their hearts for that talented New Student who didn't know his place.

Mo Xuan stood rooted to the spot, veins throbbing on his forehead, his fists clenching with a cracking sound.

How many years… how many years had it been since someone dared to so blatantly defy his will?!

Even the academy elders treated him courteously, yet today he was played by a mere greenhorn?!

“Good… very good!”

Mo Xuan laughed in extreme anger, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes.

“Jiang Donghua, is it? I’d like to see how far you can run!”

Meanwhile, Jiang Donghua, who had already slipped back to his dormitory, suddenly sneezed.

“Strange, why do I have an ominous feeling?”

He rubbed his nose, muttering.

Mo Xuan returned to the Alchemy Pavilion with a gloomy face, flicked his sleeve, and sat heavily in the Grand Tutor’s chair.

“The bone-mending pill assessment.”

He narrowed his eyes, tapping his fingertips lightly on the table.

“If this kid doesn’t complete it this year!”

Thinking of this, a cold smile played on his lips.

“At that time, we’ll see how you beg me!”

He had seen many talented young people, but without the guidance of a renowned teacher, even the best talent was useless!

Alchemist apprentice?

Heh, that would be enough to make that kid struggle at the bottom for several years!

“Let you be arrogant, kid.”

Mo Xuan snorted coldly.

“When you hit rock bottom, you’ll naturally understand what it means to say ‘a renowned teacher is hard to find’!”

He picked up his teacup and took a sip, a calculating glint flashing in his eyes.

“At that time, it won’t be me begging you to learn, but you kneeling and begging me to teach!”

Jiang Donghua was completely unaware that he had already been targeted by a certain petty Master Alchemist.

Three One-Star Dou Zhe stumbled into Chen Ming’s cultivation room, their faces still bearing unvanished terror.

“Senior Brother Chen, Senior Brother Chen! Something terrible has happened!”

Chen Xiao, the leader, his voice trembling, didn’t even have time to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.

Chen Ming was meditating with his eyes closed; hearing this, he abruptly opened his eyes, a hint of anger flashing within them.

“You scoundrels! Didn’t I tell you I was at a critical moment for breaking through to Five-Star Dou Zhe?”

He grabbed the teacup from the table and threw it.

“You couldn’t even handle two wastes who aren’t even Dou Practitioner yet?!”

The teacup smashed at Chen Xiao’s feet, hot tea splashing all over him, but Chen Xiao ignored it and said urgently.

“Senior Brother, that Jiang Donghua has Master Mo Xuan backing him!”

“What?!”

Chen Ming’s face changed drastically, and he suddenly stood up.

“Fifth-Grade Alchemist Mo Xuan? Are you sure?”

“Absolutely certain!”

Another follower cried out with a long face.

“Master Mo Xuan personally intervened, and even Instructor Lin of the Hall of Enforcement didn’t dare to say a word!”

Chen Ming’s face was overcast and uncertain, his fists unconsciously clenching. Of course, he knew the weight of a Fifth-Grade Alchemist.

That was a big shot even his father had to curry favor with!

“Useless!”

He suddenly erupted, kicking over the tea table in front of him.

“Why didn’t you say so earlier?!”

The three followers huddled together in fear, Chen Xiao bravely said.

“Senior Brother, what do we do now? That Jiang Donghua has Master Mo Xuan protecting him, what about us?”

Chen Ming paced around the room with a gloomy face, then suddenly stopped, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

“Heh…”

He chuckled softly, turning to look at his three trembling subordinates.

“Then the three of you will have to suffer.”

Before the three could react, Chen Ming suddenly struck like lightning, delivering three fierce punches to their already injured chests!

“Pfft—!”

The three simultaneously spat out a mouthful of blood, staggering and collapsing to their knees. Chen Xiao clutched his chest, his face full of disbelief.

“Senior… Senior Brother…?”

“Stop with the nonsense.”

Chen Ming shook his wrist, saying coldly.

“Now, drag your miserable selves and come with me to find the Liu Siblings.”

“Senior Brother, are you going to…?”

“If we can’t be opponents, then at least we should become good friends.”

Chen Ming narrowed his eyes, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

“Since Jiang Donghua has Master Mo Xuan backing him, we naturally have to… change our way of interacting.”

As he spoke, he grabbed Chen Xiao by the collar.

“Remember, when you see the Liu Siblings later, apologize properly. If you mess it up…”

The unfinished words were full of threats, and the three followers immediately shivered.

A moment later, in the cultivation area.

The Liu Siblings were practicing basic Dou Technique when they suddenly saw Chen Ming approaching, dragging three heavily injured followers. They immediately adopted a defensive stance.

But Chen Ming revealed a surprisingly amiable smile and kicked Chen Xiao in front of them.

“Hurry up and apologize to Junior Brother Liu and Junior Sister Liu!”

Chen Xiao and the other two staggered from the kick, directly kneeling before the Liu Siblings.

They endured the sharp pain in their chests, their foreheads touching the ground, their voices trembling.

“Senior Brother Liu, Junior Sister Liu, we were blind…”

“We offended you greatly before, please be magnanimous…”

The Liu Siblings exchanged glances, completely unprepared for this turn of events.

Junior Sister Liu cautiously stepped back half a step, whispering.

“Brother, what kind of act are they putting on?”

Senior Brother Liu frowned, staring at Chen Ming, Dou Zhi Qi secretly gathering in his hand.

“Senior Brother Chen, why are you so… courteous today?”

Chen Ming’s smile didn’t fade; he stepped forward and cupped his hands, saying.

“It was all a misunderstanding. These few incompetent subordinates of mine acted on their own and offended you two. Today, I specifically brought them to apologize.”

As he spoke, he took out an exquisite jade box from his Huai.

“These are three Qi Nurturing Pills, consider them compensation.”

Junior Sister Liu’s eyes widened; Qi Nurturing Pills were rare treasures for Dou Zhi Qi stage practitioners!

“This…”

Senior Brother Liu, however, dared not accept them rashly.

“Senior Brother Chen, such sudden generosity makes us truly unworthy.”

Chen Ming’s smile deepened.

“Junior Brother Liu, you worry too much. Actually…”

He lowered his voice.

“I heard you two are good friends with Jiang Donghua? I wonder if you could help introduce us?”

The Liu Siblings suddenly understood.

Junior Sister Liu couldn’t help but sneer.

“So it’s for Senior Brother Jiang.”

Chen Ming’s expression remained unchanged.

“Junior Brother Jiang is exceptionally talented, and he has Master Mo Xuan’s favor, so we naturally…”

Before he could finish, a cold snort suddenly came from a distance.

“Chen Ming, you certainly are good at currying favor.”

Everyone turned around, only to see Jiang Donghua standing not far away, his eyes full of sarcasm.