16: Chapter 016 Yu Qing goes missing, Senior Sister Chen Yaojia verifies her identity.

Li Siwen (Li Shiwen) wasn't angered by Liu Feng's malicious words; he merely tilted his head.

"Senior Brother Liu, those words are unfair!" Li Siwen said softly, with a hint of grievance, "You were the ones who blocked me in my room and forced me into women's clothing to mock me. Now you're saying I deliberately cross-dressed..."

"Could it be that Senior Brother feels he didn't bully me enough before and wants to find another reason to stir up trouble? I am weak and alone. If Senior Brother is angry, I will bear it!"

These words, though not loud, publicly exposed the disgusting things Liu Feng had done before.

Several passing Disciples happened to hear it, and their gazes towards Liu Feng immediately changed.

That incident had spread throughout the Utility Area, and after learning that Li Siwen was actually "Li Shiwen," Liu Feng and the others had suffered countless verbal attacks.

If they continued to knowingly offend, they would likely become universally despised street rats.

[From Zhang Tie's Embarrassment +15]

[From Zhao San's Shame +10]

[From Onlooking Disciples' Indignation +18]

[From Liu Feng's Humiliation and Anger +25]

Liu Feng's face turned a pig-liver color, choked speechless, feeling a belly full of anger with nowhere to vent.

He was already uncomfortable from being unable to win but unable to swallow his Qi. Now that his old secrets were exposed in public, he became even more enraged and humiliated: "Stop pretending with me! You're just a Pulse Forging Stage cultivator propped up by Medicinal Pills. Do you really think you're so amazing?"

Before his words finished, he suddenly clenched his fist and smashed it towards Li Siwen's chest with the brute force of Body Tempering Perfection.

Even if he couldn't win, he had to vent his anger. Even if he was punished by the Law Enforcement Team, he had to make this "pretentious woman" suffer a bit!

The onlooking Disciples gasped in surprise. Awed by Liu Feng's reputation in the Utility Area, even those who wanted to stop him couldn't react in time.

But Li Siwen just stood there, not even moving his feet. Only when Liu Feng's fist was close did he extend his right hand, condensing a wisp of pearly white Internal Energy at his fingertips, gently resting it on Liu Feng's wrist.

"Senior Brother Liu, making a move like this is wrong!"

Li Siwen's tone remained gentle, but he showed no mercy with his hand.

His Internal Energy gently guided Liu Feng's arm, while simultaneously injecting a trace of numbness.

Liu Feng only felt his fist hit cotton, his force instantly dissipated, and his arm suddenly went numb, making it impossible to exert strength. His body uncontrollably stumbled two steps forward, falling with a "thump" onto the bluestone slab, his knees aching badly.

"You..." Liu Feng propped himself on the ground, trying to get up, but looked up into Li Siwen's calm gaze.

There was no mockery in those eyes, only disdain and indifference, as if he wasn't even worth noticing, which was more humiliating than a direct insult.

Low gasps came from the surroundings. The Disciples looked at the disheveled Liu Feng, then recalled the rumors of Li Siwen defeating Zhou Yan in one move, completely abandoning the notion that "she only relied on Medicinal Pills."

This control over Internal Energy was clearly stronger than that of an ordinary Pulse Forging Stage cultivator; it was not something Body Tempering could contend with.

Li Siwen slowly withdrew his hand, tidying his sleeves which weren't even slightly disheveled.

His tone remained calm, even carrying a hint of "helplessness" as he said: "Senior Brother Liu Feng, the Sect forbids private fights. Why bother? Isn't it better to spar and know when to stop?"

Liu Feng clutched his sore and numb arm, his face pale, his eyes filled with disbelief and humiliation.

He stared fixedly at Li Siwen, gritting his teeth and growling, "Don't get too complacent! Your old lover isn't coming back. You'll have your time to cry later!"

After speaking, he didn't dare to look at the crowd, dragging the equally stunned Zhang Tie and others, and ran off without looking back.

Li Siwen watched his retreating figure, his brows slightly furrowed.

"Old lover?"

There was no such person in the original owner's memories. Was Liu Feng deliberately making it up to disgust him, or was there something he didn't know?

He stroked his chin, temporarily suppressing his doubts, and prioritized finding Yu Qing.

[From Liu Feng's Humiliation and Anger +55]

[From Onlooking Disciple A's Shock +30]

[From Onlooking Disciple B's Awe +25]

...

The sound of emotion points being credited rang out, but Li Siwen didn't pay much attention, heading straight to Yu Qing's residence.

But after knocking on the door for a long time, there was no movement inside. He asked the Disciple next door and learned that Yu Qing had packed his things and left two days ago, saying he was going to the Back Mountain Forest.

"Back Mountain Forest?"

Li Siwen's heart stirred. He then went to the Law Enforcement Team courtyard, wanting to ask Chen Mingtao.

Chen Mingtao had been in the Utility Area for a long time, and Yu Qing was his subordinate, so he should know what he went to the Back Mountain for.

As he reached the outside of the Law Enforcement Team courtyard, he heard familiar voices from within.

He paused, looking through the half-open door. He saw Chen Mingtao standing in the courtyard, facing a woman dressed in Outer Sect Disciple attire. She had delicate features and a gentle demeanor; it was Chen Yaojia, who had previously looked after the original owner, and also Chen Mingtao's cousin.

Chen Mingtao had initially given Li Siwen special treatment because of his cousin's 부탁.

"Yaojia, do you really want to take Utility Disciples to the Back Mountain to hunt beasts?" Chen Mingtao frowned, his tone tinged with worry, saying, "There are Second-Order Demonic Beasts deep in the Back Mountain. Most of those Utility Disciples are inexperienced. What if something happens?"

Chen Yaojia smiled helplessly: "The Outer Sect just issued a mission requiring ten second-tier Molten Fire Lizard cores. I can't do it alone, so I can only find some reliable Utility Disciples to help. Don't worry, I'll only take them to the outer perimeter and not venture deep inside."

She paused, then asked, "Oh, right, cousin, what about that 'Li Siwen' I mentioned before? I heard she's actually a woman disguised as a man?"

Chen Mingtao nodded, his tone filled with emotion: "If not for an accident, probably no one would have discovered it. To blend in with male Disciples as a woman, this Junior Sister is quite remarkable."

"That's truly a pity..." Chen Yaojia, upon hearing this, showed a look of regret instead.

Chen Mingtao was slightly startled, then his eyes widened: "You wouldn't be..."

"I'm not, I didn't, don't talk nonsense!" The usually fiery Chen Yaojia rarely showed a trace of embarrassment.

Li Siwen outside the courtyard almost choked on this sudden turn, accidentally making a small sound.

"Senior Brother Chen, Senior Sister Chen!" He quickly knocked on the door and slowly entered.

Chen Yaojia turned and saw him, her eyes brightening, completely devoid of her previous embarrassment. Her tone was affectionate: "Junior Sister Li... you're here? We were just talking about you! I was thinking of finding an opportunity to see you!"

As she spoke, she walked over, put her arm around Li Siwen's, and subtly brushed his chest, seemingly to verify his identity.

Li Siwen's heart tightened, and he subconsciously wanted to dodge, but feared that being too deliberate would arouse suspicion. He could only stand stiffly, his mouth twitching slightly: This Senior Sister is too direct...

Then he heard Chen Yaojia murmur to herself, "Tsk, it's really true... How did Junior Sister's figure manage to deceive so many people back then?"

Li Siwen couldn't help but awkwardly clear his throat, changing the subject: "Actually, I wanted to find Senior Brother Yu Qing to ask about the three-hundred-year bone-quenching spiritual flower, but I heard he went to the Back Mountain..."

"A three-hundred-year bone-quenching spiritual flower? Why do you need that?" Chen Yaojia frowned slightly: "That item is not easy to find!"

Although the bone-quenching spiritual flower is a low-grade herb, it is extremely rare, with few circulating in the market, always having value but no supply.

"Yu Qing, ah..." Chen Mingtao said, "He went to the Back Mountain for the Outer Sect's Annual Assessment, to hunt a first-tier Yao Beast in the Back Mountain Forest by himself. But speaking of which, he's been gone for two days, why hasn't he returned yet?"

Li Siwen's heart sank, thinking of Liu Feng's last words. Could Yu Qing have been plotted against?